I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

Chapter 471: When we debate the scriptures in the future, we will force the emperor to admit defeat; if he dares to go back on his word, the Confucian scholars will beat him to death!

Not only did these two people not come, but many Confucian scholars of the younger generation also did not come?

Tonight's gathering was planned by Wei Xian, and there was no way these people would be left out due to negligence.

If they are not here at the moment, there is only one possibility, that is, they do not want to come.

Sure enough, Wei Xian was a little embarrassed. After hesitating for a long time, he said: "I have excused myself..."

The hall was silent once again. Unexpectedly, this scholar community was divided into two factions in just a few days.

In the flickering lights, Kong Ba's expression became even more unhappy. He didn't expect that there would be so few people here today.

Wei Xian naturally saw Kong Ba's displeased expression and quickly analyzed the situation in the Scholars carefully.

"Among the scholars, the only ones who really support the county magistrate are Wang Shi, Wang Ji, Gong Sui and others, but the county magistrate is a magistrate after all, and Confucian scholars are jealous and afraid of him."

"Don't forget, gentlemen, that the county magistrate just ordered the killing of tens of thousands of people a few years ago. Not only the scholars were shocked, but also the common people and ministers in the world were frightened."

"Hou Cang, Xia Housheng, Xue Guangde and others are just trying to protect themselves."

"In addition, many of the younger generation of Confucian scholars come from poor families. They believe that the implementation of the imperial examination system and the popular version of Confucian classics will be beneficial to the common people, and they are not opposed to it."

"For example, Mr. Tian's disciple Shi Yu is one of the leading figures."

A few days ago, Wang Shi also analyzed the general trend of scholars for the emperor, which was much better than Wei Xian's "too pragmatic and high-minded".

Wei Xian still doesn't know where he made a mistake, let alone that this mistake may lead to unexpected results.

"Mr. Tian, ​​Shi Yu is your disciple. Can't you persuade him to return to the right path?"

"If he continues to behave like this, you can simply expel him from the school!" Yan Pengzu looked at Tian Wangsun with squinting eyes.

"I have told him many times, but everyone has his own ambitions. If he doesn't agree, what can I do?"

"He is now a Ph.D. disciple and has achieved some success in his studies. There is nothing I can do against him." Tian Wangsun said.

Tian Wangsun's character was gentle and respectful. Although his words were reproachful to Shi Yu, he still continued to protect him.

Just when Yan Pengzu wanted to attack again and continue to force Tian Wangsun to punish Shi Yan, Wei Xian interrupted him.

Although Shi Yan is a bit hateful, he is not a key person. What is the use of punishing him? It will only create additional problems.

"Now is not the time to deal with these juniors, the overall situation is more important!"

Wei Xian finished this sentence with some displeasure, cut off Yan Pengzu's words, and turned his eyes to Kong Ba again.

"So, do many Confucian scholars really support the county magistrate's new policy?" Kong Ba asked.

"People's hearts are fluctuating. The new policy proposed by the county magistrate also has merits. Those Confucian scholars who were born in poor families and have no hope of becoming officials will naturally be moved." Wei Xian said helplessly.

"The imperial examination system and the Xiang academic system are both good, and the 'Hundred Schools of Thought Convergence, Unique Confucianism' is also extraordinary. It can take my Confucianism's status to a higher level..."

"So the key to this problem lies in the popular version of the scriptures..." Kong Ba once again sorted out the issues before and after, so that the people present were no longer as panicked as before.

"If a Confucian teacher in the Xiang School can decide on his own what kind of scriptures to teach without being restricted by the popular version of the scriptures, this Xiang School system is a good deed with no harm at all."

"Similarly, if the questions in the imperial examination system are not from the popular scriptures, but are decided by the examiner each year, it can also give Confucian students an additional path to become an official."

Kong Ba's explanations made everyone in the hall nod frequently.

If the emperor's new policy is revised according to what Kong Ba said, it will indeed turn decay into magic.

The Xiang Academy founded by the emperor became a refuge for various sects, large and small.

The big sect occupies the Imperial College, the middle sect controls the county schools, and the small sect occupies the schools and counties - the layers are stacked, which is in line with the Confucian concept of "there are differences in love."

As for the imperial examination system, it would probably turn into a game of taking turns: whichever sect of great Confucianists would be the examiners, the Confucian students of that sect would benefit in the examination.

Of course, the big pie can eat more and occupy more, but the small pie is also derived from the big pie, and can also get more or less opportunities.

Everyone in the hall kept nodding. In this way, Confucianism could really create a new situation - he was worthy of being a great Confucian, and Kong Ba saw the problem thoroughly.

"Therefore, the biggest problem lies in the general version of the classics. Once the general version of the classics is determined, the Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty will have no choice but to be at the disposal of the county magistrate."

Kong Ba finally pointed out the problem to the point, which was exactly what Wei Xian thought.

"Wei Gong, has the county magistrate ever said how to debate scriptures in this Shiqu Pavilion?"

Kong Ba asked another key question.

In fact, not only Kong Ba, but other people are also very concerned about this issue.

The debate at Shiqu Pavilion was a groundbreaking event that had never happened before.

Therefore, what Kong Ba and the others are most concerned about is how to calculate winning or losing?
When Confucian scholars of the same school debate the classics, it is natural for them to have their mentors to decide the outcome.

When Confucian scholars from different schools debate the meaning of the classics, there is no need to reach a conclusion.

However, the final result of this debate in Shiqu Pavilion is related to the direction of Confucianism and the life and death of Confucianism. How could Confucian scholars give up easily?
In other words, Kong Ba would also be worried that the emperor would arbitrarily decide Qian Gang, and even if he lost the argument, he would force the passage of the Tongbian scriptures.

If the emperor cheats, the Confucian scholars will have no choice but to remonstrate.

At that point, the Confucian scholar lost his life and the emperor lost his majesty.

"You can rest assured, the county magistrate asked me to go to the palace for a discussion a few days ago and explain the process of this debate." "Oh? What did the magistrate say?" Kong Ba asked.

"The county magistrate said that he would not decide the outcome alone, but would let the Confucian scholars vote to decide."

"Vote?" Everyone was a little confused. They had never heard of this new word.

The Emperor has always had his own tricks, and I'm afraid this time it's something they've never seen before.

Before anyone else could ask questions, Wei Xian went on to explain.

"Voting is a way for everyone to decide things."

"Confucian scholars participating in the Shiqu Pavilion debate can have one vote. During this debate, all matters that require a result will be decided by voting."

"For example, if A has two options: agree or object, the Confucian scholar can write yes or no on the ticket, and then put it into the box..."

"In the end, whichever one has more votes will be used as the final result. No one is allowed to violate this matter."

Naturally, no one had heard of this method before. After hearing the explanation, they all became a little interested and a little happy in their hearts.

Now that the emperor has come up with this voting method, he really has no intention of being arbitrary. This is a bit of the legacy of the ancient wise kings who consulted the people.

After Wei Xian explained what voting was, he continued to explain the entire process of Shiqu Pavilion debate.

"The county officials will issue an edict to select famous Confucian scholars to form the Shiqu Pavilion Confucian Debate Group. All selected Confucian scholars have the right to vote."

"The county magistrate will raise several issues, and after the Confucian scholars participating in the debate have spoken freely, the final result will be decided by voting."

"Whether we should implement the popular version of the classics, how many Confucian classics should be established as official schools, and which Confucian classics should be selected as official schools..."

"The matter of which Confucian classics are selected to be admitted into the official school is first recommended by the Confucian students and then decided by vote."

"In short, all matters related to the popular version of Confucian Classics in Shiqu Pavilion will ultimately be decided through voting."

Wei Xian carefully explained the joints of the voting method based on his own memory, stopping from time to time to explain to everyone.

He kept talking like this for more than half an hour, and finally no one in the audience wanted to ask any more questions.

Kong Ba silently poured himself a cup of tea, drank it silently, and let out a long sigh.

"I really can't understand what this county magistrate is thinking. How did he come up with such a wonderful idea? I really admire him!"

"In the future, I can also use this wonderful method when debating sutras in the monastery or debating sutras with each other."

The rest of the people, including Yan Pengzu and Cai Qianqiu, nodded frequently and could not raise any objections.

"As for the list of Confucian Scholars, although there has not yet been an edict to announce it, the county magistrate has already drawn it up and handed it over to me. I invite you to consult for details."

After Wei Xian finished speaking, he took out several copies of the directory and distributed it to everyone.

Looking at the names on the rice paper, the people in the hall once again exclaimed in affirmation. The emperor is very fair and considerate.

There are all the people who should be there, and none who shouldn't be there - the emperor has not placed any unqualified cronies in it.

There are only two people who can be called the emperor's confidants, one is Wang Shi and the other is Wang Ji.

Wang Ji was proficient in "Han Shi". Although this degree has never been established as an official school, it is a Confucian classic as famous as "Lu Shi" and "Qi Shi".

Gong Sui was not selected among them.

It seems that what the emperor wants is a justifiable person, and what he wants is a person who cannot be criticized.

However, despite their admiration, many people present felt that it was a bit difficult to understand - the emperor was too conceited.

By using this one-person-one-vote voting method, wouldn't the emperor be "seeking his own death"?
Although the Emperor was also in the debate group and had the support of Wang Shi and Wang Ji, they only had three votes after all, while the Confucian group had nearly 20 people.

Among these nearly 20 people, there are only "Tianmen Three Masters" among the young Confucian scholars, and at most one Shi Yu will agree with the emperor.

In this situation, it is impossible for the emperor to win.When the time comes, not only will they not win, but they will also lose their majesty.

Or maybe the emperor thought he could persuade the Confucian scholars to change their families?This is a bit of a fool's errand.

An imperceptible smile appeared on Kong Ba's stern face: The emperor was too concerned about his reputation and being right, so he came up with a way to vote, but it was self-defeating.

He coughed hard several times to silence the people who were talking in the room, and then made a decision.

"When voting, you must vote against the publication of the standard version of the scriptures."

"If I win this round, then this matter will end here."

"If there is any accident and we lose in the first round, then when the scriptures are judged, we will vote for the scriptures we selected."

"What the county magistrate wants is justice, then we will make the magistrate convinced of his defeat..."

"If the county magistrate goes back on his word, then I will hit the pillar in Shiqu Pavilion and die on the spot, forcing the magistrate to withdraw the edict!"

"No!" The Confucian scholars in the hall replied in unison, looking like they shared the same hatred.

But upon closer inspection, several people had different expressions, as if they had other ideas.

　Ask for full order!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)