Chapter 57

The capital, the 29th of the tenth month, early morning.

Yu Youding and Shen Shixing had already occupied a seat in the mutton soup shop early to eat breakfast.

The two were chatting casually.

Yu Youding looked at Shen Shixing's official robe and said with envy: "The three of us were in the same cohort, and you and Yuanyu are already wearing third-rank scarlet robes."

With the new Emperor's ascension, a new ruler brings new officials; Shen Shixing became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Wang Xijue became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice in Nanzhili.

Yu Youding looked at his own blue official robe as a mere fifth-rank Junior official in the Secretariat, and couldn't help but feel jealous in his heart.

Shen Shixing shook his head: "Serious Illness, you are in the situation and cannot see clearly. Since you are so favored by the Emperor, His Majesty must have reserved a better place for you."

Yu Youding was stunned and doubted himself: "Really?"

Shen Shixing smiled: "Look at your batch of daily lecture officials."

"Leaving aside Zhang Gelao Gao and Minister Zhang, Ma Ziqiang became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Tao Dalin was promoted to the position of Libationer of the Imperial Academy, and even that dull person Chen Dong was promoted to Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and it looks like he is about to follow Hai Gangfeng to the two Huai regions to make contributions."

"Could you, the Yu Tanhua whom the Emperor alone praised, be left behind?"

When Yu Youding heard this, it seemed that this was indeed the case.

But he was still worried about whether Shen Shixing was coaxing him, and became even more anxious.

Shen Shixing let him struggle with his own thoughts, while he himself drank the mutton soup comfortably.

Yu Youding thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so he simply shook his head and threw it to the back of his mind, talking about other things: "Speaking of Chen Dong, after this trip to the Jianghuai region with Hai Gangfeng, and after a few more years of polishing upon his return, I'm afraid he will have a chance to become one of the Nine Ministers."

Chen Dong is now the Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; if he really gets things done in the Jianghuai region, he will surely become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in the future.

Shen Shixing recalled the news that came out of the palace yesterday, and a trace of yearning couldn't help but flash in his eyes: "This time, His Majesty is playing for real. I heard that he mobilized the Capital Battalion, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Grain Transport Commissioner, the Grain Transport Regional Commander, and even the newly appointed Nanjing Garrison Eunuch, who is also taking the Imperial Horse Monitor to suppress the situation."

Just this level of trust is enough to make people's hearts race; I don't know what kind of fortune Chen Dong has to be able to bask in Hai Rui's light.

The two looked at each other, and Yu Youding sighed again.

Everyone says that this Emperor is virtuous, benevolent, and treats his ministers well, so why hasn't he bestowed grace upon him yet?

Just then, on the street outside the mutton soup shop, shouts rang out: "Buy the paper, buy the paper!"

"The latest issue of the Sun and Moon Riyue Riyue Zao Bao!"

"First release by the Tongzheng Office, His Majesty's insights from the Classics Mat!"

Shen Shixing stretched out his hand and beckoned the boy to come closer.

He took a few copper coins from his bosom: "Little brother, give me two copies."

He exchanged money for goods with ease, and handed one copy to Yu Youding.

This wasn't the first time Shen Shixing had bought this newspaper; it could be said that any official with some political sense would not miss the new newspaper.

Ever since the Earl of Ding'an rushed to Songjiang Prefecture, the forces in the court had almost all been cleared out and replaced by the people of the several big shots today.

There were only a few lone seedlings left among the students and old subordinates, and there were only two among the Nine Ministers: the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Ge Shouli, and the Right Vice Commissioner of the Tongzheng Office, He Yongqing.

Without Gao Gong's protection, who could still stand firm in the court? Everyone knew who was protecting them.

Since they knew whose person He Yongqing was, they could naturally guess whose newspaper it was.

Therefore, this Sun and Moon Riyue Riyue Zao Bao, issued by the Tongzheng Office along with the court gazette, became a legitimate way for court officials to peek into the Emperor's heart.

Both of them browsed through it very knowingly.

It seemed that by coincidence, both of them saw the big spread of this issue—"From the experience of distinguishing good and evil, realize the attitude and method of studying the classics."

The new newspaper was always in such plain language, and the two were not surprised; after all, the inner treasury had money, so there was no need to save on paper.

It was just that the content of this headline immediately made the two alert.

Yu Youding frowned and asked: "Is this to make a final conclusion on the matter at the previous Classics Mat?"

Yu Youding naturally experienced the dispute over the theory of good and evil at the Classics Mat.

Such a matter as the goodness or evil of human nature has had no conclusion for thousands of years; how could a Classics Mat argue out a result?

But the Emperor insisted on a conclusion.

This was like poking a hornet's nest.

What is the official learning today? Naturally, it is the uncrowned king, the Learning of the Mind.

However, within the Learning of the Mind, views on this are not consistent; some believe that good and evil are heaven-sent and expressed from the heart, some believe that good and evil are formed after birth and require cultivation, and some even believe that there is no good or evil in the world and one can act willfully.

Once the debate was provoked, it was not so easy to calm down.

Especially since the Emperor was still at the Classics Mat, acting as if he would get to the bottom of it.

For this matter, they have been arguing for over a month.

Shen Shixing shook his head, his expression complex: "A final conclusion is not quite the case, but it leaves no room for discussion."

This assignment of the Emperor cannot be said to be very exquisite; great Confucian scholars debating the classics can turn the dead into the living, so how could they care about your clear evidence and examples?

But the Emperor's current behavior has one point that cannot be ignored—that is, the voice is loud.

The power of publication is not something that ordinary bookstores or academies can have, but for the Emperor who holds the Tongzheng Office, it is as simple as eating and drinking.

The comprehensive coverage of Beizhili is not just talk, and this is still restrained; it hasn't been copied and sent to the whole world along with the court gazette.

Now it is just a test; if the court officials' reaction is not intense enough, it might be reprinted and sent to the two capitals and thirteen provinces for everyone in the world to see.

Moreover, this new newspaper is all in plain language, and how loud the voice is is only limited by the number of literate people in the world.

The voice is loud, the base is large, and there is clear evidence to support it, so the persuasiveness among the people is naturally more powerful than empty speculation.

This is not coming to debate the classics, but to use power to suppress people.

Yu Youding also said: "This Emperor, really, whatever he does, he has to pull up a big banner; he wants to take advantage of the wind of the Learning of the Mind, but he pulled Gaozi in."

At this time, people pay attention to restoring the ancient ways, and pulling a master of the various schools to stand on the platform has an effect that goes without saying.

Just this posture of "The Six Classics are my notes," this Emperor will surely not fail to be a great Confucian scholar in the future.

But Shen Shixing did not agree with this, but instead smiled bitterly: "What is this Emperor arguing about? It's not the theory of good and evil; he doesn't care about these at all."

"The so-called 'the drunkard's heart is not in the wine, but in the mountains and rivers'."

"What this Emperor wants is to redefine what is 'correct'."

He poked the newspaper heavily—at the last sentence, "In all disputes of theories, evidence comes first."

Academic disputes have never had a referee.

But now, with the Emperor's move, it is hard not to think in this direction.

Shen Shixing poked it six or seven times unconsciously, until he poked a hole, before he stopped resentfully.

Yu Youding also saw the clues.

He exclaimed: "This Emperor, could it be that he wants the Sage and the King to be one?"

It's one thing for the source of power to return to the Emperor, but does he also want to gather the source of classical learning to himself?

This is probably a bit wishful thinking.

Shen Shixing's expression was solemn: "It shouldn't be that far. I think, perhaps he wants to provoke disputes among the various schools of learning to act as a judge."

It doesn't matter what views the judge holds; what matters is having the power of judgment, which can naturally gather all the schools of classical learning.

Yu Youding frowned: "How can you tell?"

Shen Shixing muttered: "It is said to follow 'clear evidence', but whether or not to recognize this 'clear evidence' is still up to the Emperor, right?"

"This is borrowing the wind of disputes among the various schools to achieve his own way."

"Before, I was still wondering why this Emperor, in the eighth month, let the inner officials raise a pile of rotten grass in the palace and let several Grand Secretaries watch it one by one."

Yu Youding looked at Shen Shixing in confusion, waiting for his follow-up.

But Shen Shixing remained silent.

He couldn't help but ask: "I also know about this matter, and the several Grand Secretaries kept their mouths shut afterwards. Could there be something to this matter?"

Shen Shixing had some guesses, but didn't want to say them out loud, only speculating: "Perhaps, after today's matter provokes a dispute, in the next issue, the matter of the rotten grass will be in the newspaper."

When the two said this, their words became fewer, and they looked at each other in silence.

Shen Shixing didn't want to say it; after all, he couldn't quite grasp the pulse of this Emperor.

Yu Youding didn't care much; now there was no such thing as a school community, and even if the Emperor had the heart to integrate classical learning, it was unlikely to be done.

After the two finished breakfast, they each had their own thoughts and went to the Imperial City together.

Shen Shixing is now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and in the absence of the Minister of Personnel Lu Shusheng, he is almost equivalent to the Minister of Personnel.

As for whether Lu Shusheng will take office... anyway, the imperial court has invited him twice, and this person still shows no signs of moving.

In short, now Shen Shixing is acting as the Minister of Personnel and participating in court deliberations.

In other words, this handsome talent who is only thirty-seven years old is already a court official who influences the political situation of the Ming Dynasty, and he is the kind of court official who carries weight.

Therefore, after arriving at the Imperial City, Vice Minister Shen could only regretfully part ways with his cohort friend and rush straight to the Wenhua Hall to prepare for the court deliberation.

When Shen Shixing arrived, several Grand Secretaries were already standing at the head of the class.

He wanted to ask his teacher Lu Diaoyang about the Emperor's Classics Mat and the new newspaper, but seeing that the Emperor was already high above the imperial desk, he had to press it for now and wait until after the court deliberation.

Not long after entering the ranks, the Minister of Works Zhu Heng was also the last to arrive.

This Minister of Works has been busy with the Yellow River and the mausoleum since the new Emperor ascended the throne.

After finally finishing his work, he heard that he had been assigned new tasks by the new Emperor recently; he is also a natural life of toil.

After Zhu Heng arrived, the court deliberation began normally.

Zhang Juzheng took the lead and said: "May I ask if Your Majesty is well?"

Zhu Yijun nodded slowly: "I am well."

Now that the Classics Mat has started, the Emperor's schedule has naturally changed.

The Chief Zhang Gelao, the Second Zhang Gelao, the Minister of Rites, and the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel are all serving as Classics Mat officials, so naturally they cannot have court deliberations here and Classics Mat there.

Neither side can proceed if anyone is missing.

Therefore, it was changed to explaining the classics to the Emperor after the court deliberation ended.

As for what the Emperor does before the Classics Mat, that is freely arranged—this was won by the Emperor with his own intelligence and wisdom.

In the previous several examinations, the Emperor had no errors or omissions, and obtained the recognition of all daily lecture officials with excellent grades.

The last time, the difficulty was already on par with the child examination.

The Emperor still passed easily, so much so that both palaces praised him endlessly, and their trust doubled.

Therefore, it is reasonable for the Emperor to want to transfer part of his intelligence and wisdom to listening to government affairs.

After Zhu Yijun was asked about his well-being, he also smiled: "Are you all well recently?"

This is a polite greeting, and also to create a good political atmosphere; atmosphere can always infect people, moistening things silently.

The court officials hurriedly saluted and replied: "We are well."

Zhu Yijun nodded: "Ministers, let the court deliberation begin."

As soon as the words fell, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites Ma Ziqiang immediately stepped out.

He bowed toward the imperial steps, but his face turned to glare at the Tongzheng He Yongqing: "I, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites Ziqiang, have a memorial to submit!"

The crowd looked at Ma Ziqiang one after another.

Only to see Ma Ziqiang say angrily: "I want to impeach the Tongzheng He Yongqing for peeking into the Classics Mat and desecrating the holy will!"

"Monopolizing key secrets and expanding power!"

"Spreading rumors to confuse the public!"

(End of chapter)