I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

No matter who came up to salute, Liu He returned the salute with a smile, without any anger, showing the peace that an emperor should have.

Although it is already known that many of them are "unintentional", they still have to show the proper attitude of courtesy and virtuous corporal.

Liu He looked at these Confucian scholars and his mood gradually calmed down.

These great Confucians, who are famous in history books, look like this from the outside, and there seems to be nothing special about them.

Liu He couldn't help but think of Huo Chengjun who was waiting for his triumphant return in the Greenhouse Palace, and he felt much more calm and relaxed.

Since we are all carrying a head on one shoulder, what is there to be afraid of?
  With this thought in his mind, Liu He straightened up on the imperial couch.

He just looked beyond the main hall and towards the disciples and servants outside the courtyard: The biggest ambush today is probably still outside.

While Liu He was observing the Confucian scholars to his heart's content, weren't the Confucian scholars observing the Emperor?

Just now, Kong Ba was the first to stand up and greet the emperor, and he didn't think there was anything extraordinary about the emperor in front of him.

If Wei Xian hadn't reminded him repeatedly before that the emperor was talented, thoughtful, and had a delicate heart, he would have despised the emperor.

Such a young person can actually put forward the saying that "a hundred schools of thought merge into one, and Confucianism is the only one", and he can also have a high theory of "managing the world and applying it", which is really a malleable talent.

If there were more Confucian scholars in the court who could assist and advise, the emperor would surely become a wise king.

Therefore, today in this Shiqu Pavilion, we must first persuade the emperor to give up the idea of ​​"printing the popular version of Confucian classics", and then make other plans.

The "whimsical" Kong Ba didn't know yet that he had unknowingly made the same mistake Zhang Anshi had made - wanting to control the emperor!
  Zhang Anshi paid the price for this, and Kong Ba didn't know if he could die well.

Finally, all the false rituals were over, and the Shiqu Pavilion debate got down to business.

At this time, the main hall of Shiqu Pavilion fell into a strange silence, and no one spoke.

Liu He knew that they were all waiting for him to speak first.

Today, the cabinet is a bystander, with no one to help him.

"I think today is a good day to study and debate scriptures. What do you guys think?" Liu He finally asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty is wise, we agree with your Majesty." Dozens of people quickly followed, as if they had gone through a rehearsal.

"This year's reign name is Dingxin, and it means reforming the old, Dingxin, and I think you all knew what I meant years ago."

"After the first month of the year, I first restructured the court. Now that the dust has settled, the court is running smoothly, and the government orders are unimpeded, I am very relieved."

"The three ministers were dismissed, the Shangshu Office was abolished, the cabinet system was implemented, and the officials of the Chinese and foreign dynasties were governed separately..."

"It was all very difficult, but with the help of cabinet scholar Zhang Anshi and others, it was finally possible."

Liu He sat on the couch and talked slowly about the achievements of the first round of the New Deal. It seemed like he was simply reviewing, but in fact he was conveying a sense of determination.

The court hall has been completely changed, so naturally the Confucian Academy will also move: the trees want to be quiet but the wind does not stop, and the Confucian Academy cannot escape the wind.

The Confucian scholars in the hall were not pedantic, and they understood what the emperor meant, and they did not have any refutation.

"There is a saying among the people that it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice..."

"Taoist Lao Tzu once said that governing a big country is like cooking small dishes..."

"This big man is like a chef in the East, I am the skillful woman who wants to cook, and the only talent in the world is rice..."

"If I didn't have the talent and the rice, I would certainly not be able to make rice that would satisfy everyone in the world!"

"My dear friends, do you think what I said makes sense?"

Although the emperor's words were a bit vulgar, the metaphors he used were very appropriate. The Confucian scholars in the hall all sat up straighter knowing that the emperor was about to get to the point.

"I believe that although the imperial examination system, the appointment system and the recruitment system have been implemented for a long time, the range of talent acquisition is too small... That's why I have to implement the imperial examination system."

"Only through the implementation of the imperial examination system can the world's talented people, both good and bad, be given a place and not be buried."

"Then what is a talent? Of course, it is a Confucian scholar who can 'manage the world and apply it', rather than a Confucian scholar who can't distinguish between grains and grains..."

"That's why I came up with the idea of ​​'merging a hundred schools of thought into a single Confucian school', and adding the schools of thought from a hundred schools of thought to the imperial examination system and the Xiang school system."

"This means taking the studies of hundreds of schools of thought as a supplement and Confucianism as the mainstay."

"Then, since the imperial examination system and the academic system are to be implemented in the Han Dynasty, of course the same classics must be taught and the same classics must be tested..."

"Only in this way can Confucian scholars all over the world have the same opportunity."

"So, whether it is the imperial examination system or the academic system, although it has been decided, the gateway is based on the popular version of the Confucian classics."

"That's why we invite all the sages and great scholars to this Shiqu Pavilion to discuss the issue of the popular version of the Confucian classics."

"Today, since we are debating and comparing scriptures, you can speak freely and don't have to worry about being punished for speaking."

"Do you understand what I mean?" Liu He repeated his thoughts in one breath.

Although he was a little tired of talking, he still looked kind and respectful to the Confucian scholars present.

If you can convince them, it will be a good result.

Of course, Liu He was also observing the reactions of the Confucian scholars.

When talking about the imperial examination system and the academic system, most Confucian scholars nodded frequently.

When it was mentioned that Confucian scholars wanted to "manage the world for practical purposes" and further wanted to "merge hundreds of schools of thought and develop a unique Confucianism", the Confucian scholars not only nodded, but also commented and praised.

But as soon as the issue of the popular version of the scriptures came out, the discussion in the hall fell silent.

The twists and turns were all within Liu He's imagination.

"The imperial examination system and the academic system have been approved by the cabinet... Regardless of whether a common version of the Confucian classics can be formulated, they will still be implemented, so these two matters will not be discussed today."

"I hope you will have a clear target and not deviate from today's issue."

"My dear friends, you can give me your words."

As soon as Liu He finished speaking, someone stood up with an unkind expression. This person was none other than Yan Pengzu of the Gongyang School.

"Your Majesty, the humble minister Yan Pengzu has something to say."

Liu He frowned, feeling a little displeased in his heart; while Kong Ba and Wei Xian were also a little surprised, having never thought that this would happen.

"You don't have to be polite, Qing Yan, just tell me what you have to say."

"No!" Yan Pengzu, who looked mean, flicked his sleeves and walked into the hall with a bit of arrogance.

The leader of the Gongyang School made a pretentious salute to the Emperor and other Confucian scholars in the hall before he began to speak.

"The academic system proposed by His Majesty is a good deed. We Confucian scholars are grateful to Your Majesty."

"Of course the imperial examination system has its merits, and if implemented properly it can also be beneficial to the world."

“‘A hundred schools of thought merge into one, and Confucianism is the only one’. It is a great way to allow Confucianism to merge with hundreds of schools. It is also the vision of a sage with great foresight.”

"However, the imperial examination system relies on the knowledge of hundreds of schools of thought, and the Xiang school system relies on the learning of hundreds of schools of thought. This is ultimately the wrong path of neglecting the fundamentals and pursuing the weakest."

Then, there was a remark that "even if heaven does not change, so does Tao." It was a cliché, without any new ideas, and the air of staleness came over my nose.

Yan Pengzu was actually not yet fifty years old. He was obviously not old, but he had a beard that was half a foot long and looked very old-fashioned.

When speaking, he even put his hands behind his back and spoke in a tone of voice. His attitude of commenting on the emperor's new policies was palpable.

He was obviously a subordinate standing in the hall, but he exuded an inexplicable sense of superiority, really treating the emperor as a ignorant boy.

The last person to despise the emperor so much was Huo Guang, who had been in power for decades. Now, the grass on his grave should be half a foot high.

Liu He just made it clear that the Xiang school system and the imperial examination system have been finalized and must be implemented no matter what, and are not within the scope of today's debate.

This is like two armies confronting each other. The Xiang school system and the imperial examination system are two cities that Liu He has captured and will never give up.

However, Yan Pengzu turned a deaf ear to the emperor's words and actually wanted to overturn the court decision that had been made.

This is a counter-offensive and a calculated change.

Liu He will never allow it!

A Confucian scholar is a Confucian scholar, and he may one day become a cabinet scholar and a highly respected minister, but at least not now.

As a Confucian scholar, it was reasonable to discuss the popular version of the scriptures, but if you wanted to interfere in the government's affairs, you would cross the line.

It is a bad thing for Confucian scholars without official status to interfere in public discussions about settled government affairs and should never be allowed to do so.

However, when Yan Pengzu stood up to oppose the imperial examination system and the Xiang school system finalized by the cabinet, he did not really want to speak out for the world's Confucian students.

Just to use the platform of Shiqu Pavilion to debate scriptures and gain a future for myself.

If you can persuade the emperor to change your mind, you will be favored by the emperor; if you are refuted by the emperor, you will also gain the reputation of speaking out for Confucian scholars.

Both sides win, so it is naturally a very profitable deal.

What he talks about is doctrine, but his heart is all about business.

Liu He smiled and kept nodding, but the displeasure in his heart became more and more serious.

It is simply wishful thinking to use me as a stepping stone and climb up step by step.

Yan Pengzu, who was talking excitedly, naturally did not see the murderous intention gradually rising in the emperor's heart. (End of chapter)