People in Hongwu, from heavenly master to emperor master

The front page headlines of the "Sun and Moon Times" rarely contain such serious content.

Generally speaking, except for the emperor's speech every year, or when Ming Dynasty needs to announce major policies, other times it is mainly entertainment.

But once a title like this appears, it proves that the court is sending some serious messages.

Hu Weiyong finished reading the newspaper and let out a heavy breath.

But the knot in his chest didn't seem to dissipate yet.

The emperor used another method to respond to their request.

Repaying resentment with virtue, why repay virtue?

When they used benevolence to kidnap the emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang used Kong Ne's article to tell him his idea of ​​repaying grievances directly.

The carriage slowly stopped at the door.

When Hu Weiyong got out of the car, the eyes of other officials suddenly focused on him.

Everyone has a newspaper in their hands.

He immediately understood that this matter was already known to everyone.

Hu Weiyong walked to the front and stood without saying a word.

"Hu Xiang!"

Wang Guangyang also came. He turned around and said hello to Hu Weiyong, shaking the newspaper in his hand.

“How to repay kindness with evil!

The future Duke Yansheng of the Kong family is so majestic!
However, his report is also in His Majesty’s favour. I’m afraid it’s time to mention the status of the Kong family again! "

Wang Guangyang smiled with a sarcastic expression.

newspaper……

After this thing came out, within three years, it changed the lives of people all over the world.

Even those who oppose newspapers themselves cannot do without newspapers.

With newspapers, the voices of many people can travel further.

In the past, if someone became famous, it depended on word of mouth among scholars.

It can be said that reputation among scholars is equivalent to reputation in the hearts of people all over the world.

Therefore, even if he is an emperor, it is very easy for literati to make him infamous for eternity.

Because the channels for people in the world to express their opinions are all in their hands.

All of this started with the promotion of simplified Chinese characters in newspapers three years ago, or even longer ago.

In just a few short years, the world has become incomprehensible to them.

On the road, they can see a hawker at a rest stall picking up a newspaper and reading it with gusto.

This is supposed to be an illiterate person, but he is telling the illiterate people around him news about thousands of miles away.

This scene was full of disappointment in their eyes.

Once upon a time, these people would have looked at them with adoration and listened to their obviously cliché allusions.

Only then will the smart people among them wake up. What was the real purpose of promoting simplified Chinese characters in Longhu Mountain?
But by the time they realized it, the trend was already irreversible.

Wang Guangyang and Hu Weiyong are the leaders of the world's literati, so they can feel the despair in this.

"Prime Minister Hu, after you go to court, are you interested in meeting that Taoist with me?"

Wang Guangyang turned his head and said to Hu Weiyong.

Hu Weiyong was stunned for a moment and went to see Zhang Yi?

They are both gentle people, are they going to fight?

Although he is not sure what Wang Guangyang means, this guy has indeed been cooperating with him over the years.

He nodded silently and agreed to Wang Guangyang's request.

At the city gate, whips were fired, and officials began to prepare to enter the palace.

On the other side, Zhang Yi and Kong Ne were in the building of Spring and Autumn College, looking at the students who were practicing in the morning.

"I heard someone say that history is like a little girl dressed up by everyone... In fact, classics are also..."

Zhang Yi made an outrageous comment when he opened his mouth, which made Kongner next to him roll his eyes, but when he thought about it carefully, he started to laugh.

Although this guy likes to make some shocking remarks, most of them are reasonable.

"The classics do have a tendency to be over-interpreted..."

Kong Na echoed Zhang Yi's words in a low voice.

"Because everyone is essentially a human being. Even if he is not a human being, he cannot say something that transcends that era!
If the sage didn’t say something, or didn’t say it properly, people will have their own interpretations!

When one person's understanding becomes mainstream, that is the so-called school!

It’s just that when a hundred schools of thought contend, Confucianism is just Confucianism!
But what Brother Kong is facing now is a huge Confucian religion! "

Zhang Yi paused and said:
“When Neo-Confucianism appeared, Confucianism, as a religion that was not a religion, had actually closed the loop!
Everyone believes in this truth, and now you want to take back the right to interpret scripture, which is no less than the Protestant Reformation..."

"What is Protestantism?"

"It's okay, don't worry about these details..."

Zhang Yi blurred the topic casually.

Kong Ne lowered his head, wondering what he was thinking?
After a while, he raised his head and said:
“Whether it’s possible or not, I just want to do it!

During my years in Yingtian, I have learned from my husband and seen your hard work!

I accept your theory of productivity and believe in the future you describe.

But although you didn’t say it, I know that the future you mentioned has no place for Confucianism!

Is it because Confucianism represents backward productivity? "

Kong Ne turned to stare at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi opened his mouth, but had no way to answer his question.

Fortunately, Konne himself didn't need an answer from him.

"Except for meeting you and Teacher Xu, my days in Yingtian were full of depression!

At first, I thought this depression came from the imperial power, from the fear that my Kong family might be confiscated and exterminated at any time...

But after this fear disappeared, I didn’t know what to do?
It’s you who gave me some advice on following the path that our ancestors walked!
It was only after walking for a few years that I figured out one thing. That invisible pressure was not given to me by anyone!

Rather..."

Kong Ne did not continue talking here, but Zhang Yi understood very well.

He was supposed to be a carefree son of an aristocratic family, but he encountered the current situation, leaving an indelible shadow in his life.

And what Kong Ne is doing now is just to make up for the loss of his people.

"But the path you choose can be regarded as the enemy of the whole world!"

"But I think it's right. I don't want anyone in our Kong family to be called a traitor in the future!"

The two looked at each other and immediately laughed.

"Dean, there are two noble people outside asking to see you!"

Unconsciously, they chatted a lot. The appearance of Lao Mo interrupted Zhang Yi and Kong Ne's chat.

"Who can you call noble?"

Zhang Yi knew Lao Mo. He was from a school inspection, and other officials would hardly call him a noble person.

"They are the two prime ministers of Zhongshu Province!"

Lao Mo lowered his head and revealed their identities.

"Hu Weiyong and Wang Guangyang?"

Zhang Yi and Kong Ne looked at each other and stood up immediately.

Regardless of his relationship with those two people, at least they were indeed honored guests.

He hurried downstairs and went to the door to greet them.

"I didn't expect that the two prime ministers are busy with state affairs, but they still have time to come to my place?"

Zhang Yi waited for Wang Guangyang and Hu Weiyong to get off the car and greeted them warmly.

"The real person has returned to Beijing and hasn't had time to visit yet. You should forgive us for our neglect!"

Both sides are foxes who have been together for thousands of years, so naturally they will not be at odds with each other.

Even Hu Weiyong, who had a vengeance with Zhang Yi for killing his son, looked happy.

Zhang Yi invited the two of them to enter the college. He originally wanted to take them to the Spring and Autumn Temple to rest, but Wang Guangyang and Hu Weiyong were more interested in this college, so Zhang Yi simply took them to visit the college.

Visit and marvel at it.

It seems very harmonious.

However, both Zhang Yi and Kong Ne could feel their disdain and alienation towards this college.

The two looked at each other, and Zhang Yi made a face.

The two of them would definitely look down on this kind of place that did not take sacred learning as its teaching goal.

Even if one day in the future, the steam engine will be born here.

For people like them, it's just a miraculous skill.

Although Zhang Yi wanted to change the world, he never expected to change some people.

Wang Guangyang and the others also felt that they and others were rotten wood that could not be carved.

After going around in a circle, all the polite words that need to be said are finished.

It’s time to get down to business.

"Today, I read the headlines of the newspaper..."

During this meeting, Hu Weiyong was almost invisible, but Wang Guangyang was very active.

He spoke first, bringing up the topic.

"Your Majesty read the article written by Mr. Kong and was full of praise!

Today I originally wanted to find Mr. Kong through the Taoist priest, but I never thought that Mr. Kong was also here..."

Only then did Kong Ne understand that Wang Guangyang was here for him.

He quickly stood up and saluted:

"Students talk nonsense, which will not catch Wang Xiang's eyes..."

"nonsense……"

Wang Guangyang smiled playfully.Said something:
"It is indeed nonsense, but His Majesty still likes Mr. Kong's nonsense, so that is a big problem!

The Kong family is also a family of sages, but they don’t distinguish between importance and importance.

I don’t know how misleading the young master’s remarks now will be…”

Wang Guangyang assumed the position of a superior and began to scold Kong Ne.

He quoted scriptures and talked about Kong Ne till his face turned red.

Zhang Yi was on the side, smiling but not smiling, but did not interrupt Wang Guangyang's words.

In his opinion, since Konne decided to do what he thought was right, he should bear this pressure.

If Wang Guangyang couldn't stand it, there was no need for him to recommend Kong Ne to the emperor.

Sure enough, after experiencing the initial pressure, Kongne smiled:
"The students' opinions are different from Wang Xiang's..."

Seeing that he was condescending and still unable to convince Kong Ne, Wang Guangyang couldn't help but snorted.

In his eyes, both Kong Na and Zhang Yi were heretics.

Zhang Yi rolled his eyes and quickly came out to smooth things over:
"Discuss Tao, discuss Tao, since everyone is discussing, there is no need for such a strong smell of gunpowder!

The so-called reason is not clear, but justice is also in the heart of the people..."

Wang Guangyang heard this and said sarcastically:
"It's a pity that the real person is soft-spoken, but he doesn't have the ability of a Taoist master to reach the sky!"

"What do you say?"

Zhang Yi was not afraid when the fire accidentally burned him. He smiled at Yan Yan and asked Wang Guangyang.

"That's all, what he said can be circulated throughout the country, but what's the use of arguing with you here about the truth?"

Wang Guangyang stood up and prepared to leave.

Zhang Yi quickly stopped him:
"Wang Xiang, do you think Kong Ne's remarks are too misleading?

So you want to refute Konne?
Just in time, Pindao just wanted to reset a section of the newspaper, and Wang Xiang is always welcome to contribute!

If Wang Xiang could submit an article, wouldn't he be able to debate Kong Ne in the newspaper?

Moreover, there are also royalties? "

Wang Guangyang and Hu Weiyong were stunned. What medicine was Zhang Yi selling in this gourd?

They knew that the emperor was behind the article about Kong Ne. Why did he give himself and others a chance to speak out?
"You mean, the truth can also be published in a newspaper article?"

"That's natural. This newspaper never takes a position, it only serves as a platform for people to express their opinions!

However, if Mr. Wang wants to write, it is best to use vernacular, and there is a word limit...

Our standard for manuscript fees is fifty for one thousand words, but if you want, I can give you one hundred for one thousand words..."

Money is a trivial matter to Wang Guangyang, but Zhang Yi's solution really moved him.

He looked back at Hu Weiyong, who nodded.

"Okay, I will hand over the article to you tomorrow!"

Wang Guangyang glanced at Zhang Yi, his eyes full of fighting spirit...

He must write an article to defeat Kong Na's argument.

Kong Ne watched Wang Guangyang leave with a confused look on his face. He didn't understand why Zhang Yi did this?
Zhang Yi gave him a look, telling him not to worry.

On the second day, Wang Guangyang kept his promise and sent the article.

Zhang Yi did not break his promise and quickly arranged for others to typeset it and publish it as soon as possible.

The new newspaper will come out in a few days.

Officials in the capital saw Wang Guangyang's eloquent words and scolded Kong Ne.

All the officials in the capital were shocked when they saw this article.

The Sun and Moon Times is not without writers who have contributed articles, but most of those people are not on the stage and are just civilian writers.

Senior officials like Wang Guangyang took the initiative to contribute articles and debated with the heir apparent of the Confucius family.

The smell of gunpowder suddenly triggered a huge sales of newspapers.

Everyone wanted to watch the debate between the prime minister of the dynasty and the heir apparent of the Kong family. When they saw the highlights, they also wished they could say a few more words.

Zhang Yi was very considerate and placed an advertisement in the newspaper.

Support everyone in this debate.

Even if you quarrel, you still get money?

These officials, especially those who are good at quarreling, are gearing up.

In the Sun and Moon Newspaper Office, before the King of Japan came to Yingtian, everyone started to quarrel.

This controversy brought huge traffic to the newspaper.It is human nature to watch the excitement, not to mention that ordinary people have no chance to see the upper class rolling up their sleeves and fighting.

Zhang Yi was very considerate and temporarily changed the newspaper to a daily to satisfy the people's gossip.

However, he was quite comfortable making money, and Lao Zhu was a little unhappy when he heard this.

He called Zhang Yi to the palace and asked:
"You kid, why did you let those people go up there?
My platform for speaking out, can any cat or dog be on it now? "

Lao Zhu's voice was a little angry.

Zhang Yi had long expected that Zhu Yuanzhang would be like this. He smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, do you think I am someone who will suffer a loss? In fact, it is a good thing to let them vent their emotions...

Otherwise, if they can't find an outlet for their emotions, who knows what they can do?

Besides, since I dare to let them go up to argue, I am not afraid that they can guide public opinion...

They will soon discover that the good feeling they feel about themselves is just an illusion caused by their long-term separation from the people!

The people will be on our side, and this outcome is already determined.

What does it matter if we let them provide some entertainment to the people? "

Zhang Yi's tone was relaxed, and Zhu Yuanzhang's anger gradually subsided.

“Kill to pay for life, debt to pay for money…

This is the most simple view of good and evil among ordinary people. Any idea that attempts to violate the most simple cognition of human beings is counter-intuitive!

In the past, ordinary people had no choice. The only channels for them to receive information were scholar-bureaucrats.

These people have a monopoly on information, so the voices of the people cannot be heard.

But Wang Guangyang and the others were exhausted, because they had been standing there for too long, and they had forgotten...

The position of the people!
When they stand complacently on the opposite side of the people, every time they speak, they will increase the people's support for Kong Ne...

So it doesn't matter whether you win or lose the debate, even if the people in the scholar community overwhelmingly support Wang Guangyang, so what?

The people Pindao and Kongne wanted to win over were never these people!
Besides, even among scholars, is it true that no one supports Kong Ne?
Even among scholars, there are those from the lower class and those from the great Confucian class..."

After listening to Zhang Yi's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment, and his hair stood on end.

Zhang Yi saw it more clearly than he did on how to guide public opinion.

Zhang Yi not only easily resolved the pressure exerted by Wang Guangyang and others.

And he also tricked them by the way.

The controversy spread throughout the country through newspapers.

You can also take a look at the thoughts of those executives.

Wang Guangyang's theory can be put simply in four words, which is not grounded.

In the past, they talked in vague words, and the common people could not hear and understand them. Everyone still had beautiful illusions about the elites at the top.

But now, they are trying to convince the people to forgive those who killed their loved ones for the sake of so-called "benevolence and righteousness". This is different from the simplest human understanding.

The emperor's approach of repaying grudges with pleasure and taking revenge is the result that the people want.

This debate never came to a conclusion.

Because the outcome was determined from the beginning.

“The more they debate, the more popular Konne will be, and the more they will lose their mass base...”

Zhang Yi's words revealed the essence of this debate.

Winning or losing is never the key, but the human heart is.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly understood:
"Very well, then let them continue to argue...

You go back and wait for the King of Japan. Now, everything is business as usual! "

Zhang Yi stood up and bowed to leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his back, his eyes flickering.

"People's hearts!"

……

"Your Majesty didn't blame you?"

Kong Ne's life has not been easy recently. Even though he was in Spring and Autumn College, no one touched him.

However, in the face of the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and articles and criticisms from all directions, it seemed very hard for him to fight alone.

But the more he fought, the more determined his thoughts became.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, the poor man can handle it!

It's you, okay? "

"Come here and help me take a look. I feel like I can't win the argument at this point..."

Kong Ne pulled Zhang Yi over and asked him to analyze it for him.

Zhang Yi was not good at Confucianism, but Jian Zheng was hundreds of years ahead of his time.

Ever since Wang Guangyang launched his attack, the prime minister did not take action in every issue of subsequent debates.

As everyone became more noisy and angry, their words became less polite.

Kong Ne made the point clearly, but quarreling was not enough, and there was no explosive point that the people liked to see.

Zhang Yi polished him up, and as expected, the hatred level was full.

Conner was satisfied and handed the manuscript to the newspaper staff for review.

"If you have accomplished this, His Majesty will probably reuse you...

New era, new Confucianism!
Only by redefining [Confucianism] can Confucianism avoid being eliminated in the new era..."

Kong Ne nodded when he heard this. He finally got the emperor's approval. This was a very important experience for him.

The emperor took him back to the capital and became a de facto proton.

While he was full of fear for the future, he was also full of awe of the Ming Emperor.

"Brother Zhang, thank you very much!"

Kong Ne stood up and saluted Zhang Yi respectfully.

"Don't be polite to me. Speaking of which, your argument should come to an end..."

Zhang Yi looked back to the southeast, which was the direction of Zhejiang.

During the days when they were arguing, Zhu Xi was escorting the Japanese king to Yingtian Mansion.

……

"Ying Tian is coming soon, have you informed father?"

A few days later, outside Yingtian Mansion.

After getting the affirmative answer from his men, Zhu Ping turned back and wanted to go to a carriage.

There were some people in strange clothes standing guard around the carriage, and the man in the carriage was the titular king of Japan.

People over there call them emperor...

Zhu Xi felt very unhappy when he mentioned this name. People from small and foreign countries just had no manners.

He has given numerous instructions to never mention the word "Emperor" in front of the Emperor.
Back then, the Zhang family had the title of Heavenly Master, but even the emperor disliked it, let alone the word "Emperor".

He walked over and opened the door.

Inside was a young man about about [-] years old.

When he saw Zhu Ping, he was even more frightened. Zhu Ping said to the people around him:
"You tell your king to behave well later..."

A Japanese envoy quickly said:
"General Tianguo, we will definitely tell His Majesty the Emperor..."

Snapped!
Without even thinking about it, Zhu Feng hit the man to the ground on the spot with his palm, causing everyone to fall into silence.

"Say the Emperor again, and say His Majesty again!
You guys, don’t even think about getting out of Yingtian alive! "

"Yes Yes Yes……"

Only then did the little boy realize that he had said the wrong thing and quickly kowtowed.

"Humph!"

Zhu Xi had an angry look on his face. In his eyes, Japan had long been his home land.

His name is the Emperor, what will his future self be called?
Zhang Yi is right, these people just need to be dealt with.

"Your Highness..."

The men who went to explore the road came back:

"Your Majesty is waiting for His Majesty outside the city!"

"Let's go, everyone, hurry up..."

When Zhu Fang heard that Zhu Yuanzhang was waiting for him, he quickly asked the team to speed up.

Not long after, Yingtian's city wall was already vaguely visible.

Zhu Xi also saw the figure of the emperor standing outside the city with all the civil and military personnel of the dynasty.

His father personally went out of the city to greet him?

Zhu Xi felt slightly excited.

He galloped forward and rushed to Zhu Yuanzhang's location.

"Father..."

Zhu Xi jumped off the horse, knelt directly in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, bowed his head and said:

"The son brought the guilty minister, the Japanese king harmoniously came to Beijing to meet the saint!

Our army of the Ming Dynasty fulfilled its mission and lasted two years, killing Prince Huaira and destroying the Ashikaga Shogunate...

In our land of Central Plains, the people who have been killed by Japanese prodigals and pirates over the past decades have finally been avenged! "

He spoke so sincerely that Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but said loudly several times:
"Good good!

This is God's favor for our Ming Dynasty..."

The surrounding soldiers also shouted:
"God bless Daming!"

"God bless Daming!"

"God bless Daming!"

The sound was thunderous and resounded throughout the sky.

Beside the carriage, the Japanese king and his subordinates were shivering in the carriage.

Have they ever seen the power of the Central Plains Dynasty?
Emperor Yuanrong peeked out of the carriage and looked at the wise and mighty emperor with only heartfelt envy in his eyes...

"Bring out the King of Japan!"

Zhu Xi turned around and asked someone to take Emperor Yuanrong to him.

The Japanese king stepped out of the carriage tremblingly.

He walked up to Zhu Yuanzhang and saluted Zhu Yuanzhang respectfully using the etiquette Zhu Ping had taught him.

But he didn't speak Chinese, so he could only chatter...

"what did he say?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled, but fortunately Zhang Yi stayed with him.

"What this guy means is that pirates have nothing to do with him, and he is just a useless person who has been ignored, so I beg the Ming Emperor not to kill him..."

"Humph, it's so frustrating to be the king of Japan!"

A strange look flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes. Zhang Yi really knew everything.

"You can speak Japanese, then you can translate for me and tell him...

The dignity of our heavenly kingdom cannot be violated. As a king, he is not strict with his subordinates. He has his own responsibility!
The people and soldiers of our Ming Dynasty cannot die in vain, he must atone for the sins of our people of the Ming Dynasty! "

Zhang Yi nodded and spoke to the other party in Japanese.

The emperor was extremely excited when he saw that Zhang Yi could speak Japanese.

He chatted a lot with Zhang Yi, and Zhang Yi screamed.

Kick him to the ground directly.

His action shocked everyone.

"What did he say?"

"This guy explained that he should go to General Zu to let the Japanese pirates go. The Ming Dynasty should not invade their land because of such things..."

"Are you really looking for death?"

Lao Zhu stared at Yuan Rong, who was still a little young and energetic, with an unkind look on his face.

Knowing that he had said the wrong thing, Yuan Rong immediately trembled.

"Lock him up first, and I will deal with him later..."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave an order, and the surrounding soldiers escorted Yuan Rong into the car again.

Emperor Yuanrong's face turned pale. According to his Japanese classics, didn't the emperor of the Central Plains really care about face?
The emperor in front of him seemed different.

"Brother Zhang!"

Zhu Xi had seen Zhang Yi for a long time, but had never had a chance to say hello.

When the emperor got on the chariot, he hugged him immediately.

"Hahaha, I haven't seen you for four years. You are much older..."

"His Royal Highness King Qin!"

"You know how to ride a horse? Come on, let's talk while we walk!"

Zhu Xi has experienced the baptism of war for two years, and his whole person has become completely different.

He asked someone to pull over a horse, and Zhang Yi mounted directly without any pretense.

The two rode side by side and talked about Japan over the years.

The two of them acted as if no one was around, and the emperor didn't care.

It's just that Zhang Yi and Zhu Xi's appearance is very dazzling in the eyes of others.

"It is easy for a person to gain His Majesty's trust, but it is also a skill to be able to trust the prince and all the princes to be irresistible to him..."

Wang Guangyang watched the interaction between Zhang Yi and Zhu Ming from a distance and felt a little emotional.

"That's right, this means that no matter who inherits the throne, Longhu Mountain will always be a holy family, and we will never get ahead..."

Hu Weiyong intentionally or unintentionally stimulated Wang Guangyang.

The other party was silent for a while, but didn't say much.

“I don’t know if Mr. Li’s methods are of any use!”

Hu Weiyong muttered to himself, and Wang Guangyang raised his head.

Li Shanchang?
Could it be that he, who was far away in his hometown, had his own thoughts about Zhang Yi? (End of chapter)