I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

The newly brought books were placed on top of the "Thirteen Classics". Although the number was much smaller, they were still eye-catching.

"Please help yourself!" After Liu He said this, he sat back on the couch with his sleeves fluttered and looked away from the place without looking at anyone.

With full of doubts, everyone came to the piles of newly brought books, hesitantly took them over and started to look through them.

This set of books is divided into four volumes and eighteen or nineteen volumes, sealed in a thick cardboard box, with the words "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" written on the spine.

Kong Ba and Kong Anguo watched one together. As they flipped through the pages, their expressions gradually changed from doubtful to serious.

The "four books" here are The Analects of Confucius, Mencius, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean.

Needless to say, The Analects and Mencius are books that are often read by Confucian scholars of the day.

I have never seen "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean", but the words Zengzi and Zisi are written on the covers of the two books, which are also true Confucian classics.

Whether it is "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius" that I have seen, or "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" that I have never seen, they are all refreshing.

The annotations in it were written using a method of annotation that Kong Anguo, Kong Ba and other Confucian scholars had never seen before.

For example, among the three biographies of "Spring and Autumn", "Gongyang Zhuan", "Gu Liang Zhuan" and "Zuo Shi Zhuan" have three different interpretation ideas.

"Gongyang Zhuan" interprets the Bible from the perspective of Wang Ba's unity; "Gu Liang Zhuan" interprets the Bible from the perspective of moral education; "Zuo Shi Zhuan" focuses on completing the historical materials of "Spring and Autumn" and does not elaborate on the principles.

This is the case with the "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" in the hands of Kong Anguo. The interpretation of the Bible revolves around the "theory of heaven" that has never been seen before, and involves many aspects.

A quick look through them shows that these commentaries all regard "reason" as the highest standard of ethics and morals, advocating "preserving natural principles and destroying human desires", and also pay attention to self-cultivation methods and moral practice.

This is similar to the views currently advocated by various schools, but it is more rigorous and neat, involving human nature, character, ethics, education, politics and many other contents that people want to find out.

This "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" naturally still belongs to the category of Confucian classics, but it is a brand-new way of thinking, which is different from the current thinking of various schools.

Although "preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires" is a bit shocking, the person who can write this "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" is not only a great Confucian, but a giant Confucian.

Kong Anguo felt dizzy. After closing the book, the pale body like a dead tree suddenly began to sway.

If Kong Ba hadn't hurriedly supported him, Kong Anguo would have fallen to the ground on the spot.

His cloudy eyes looked at the emperor above him, and the thoughts in his heart were flying like withered grass in the wind.

Although I didn't believe it in my heart, I had to admit that I had lost and there was no need to continue the competition.

In other words, there is no need to compare all the sutras present. The "Thirteen Sutras" presented by the emperor are the best in the world.

The emperor took out this "Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books", which settled all the disputes.

What defeated Kong Anguo was not the result of this comparison, but his own words and deeds that came out to "confront each other".

When he saw the "Thirteen Classics" and the "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books", Kong Anguo suddenly remembered his original intention - to study the meaning of the scriptures and educate the world.

In this case, why should we insist on comparing scriptures?

If the "Thirteen Classics" personally annotated by the emperor are the best Confucian classics in the world, then if they can be spread throughout the world, isn't it also a prosperous age of Confucianism?

If he stood up to block this matter today, wouldn't he be like a mantis who raised his arms to block the car? Not only was he petty, but he was also suspected of being greedy.

Kong Anguo suddenly realized that he should not come to Chang'an for the false reputation of official education.

"My dear friends, have you finished reading?" Liu He asked.

"I've finished reading..." A sparse voice rang out.

"This book has not been published yet. I have to correct it again. Please return it first."

"promise……"

Everyone stood up one after another and put back the "Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" with some reluctance.

Kong Anguo thought this book was exquisite. Of course, these Confucian scholars could also see the beauty and naturally couldn't put it down.

Xia Housheng, Wang Shi and others were even more hesitant to speak, wanting to ask the emperor for a letter.

But when they saw the emperor's displeased expression, no one dared to speak rashly.

Of course Liu He would not promote this "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" to the world.

Because Zhu Xi's "preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires" has no place in the future Han Dynasty.

Today, the "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" suddenly appears in Shiqu Pavilion, which is its final appearance.

"Kong Ru, please put the book back where it belongs." Liu He said calmly.

"No..." Kong Anguo handed the book to Kong Ba in despair and let him put it back.

In just half an hour, Kong Anguo seemed to have aged many years again, and his remaining strength passed quickly.

Although it was shaky, the seat left by the emperor for Kong Anguo was always empty, and he had no intention of sitting down.

"Kong Ru, is there any merit in this "Collected Commentary on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books"?"

"Old man...Old man..." Kong Anguo's throat wriggled several times with difficulty before he frowned and squeezed out a sentence: "It's so profound."

"Is there any overlap or entanglement with the teachings of other schools of thought in the world?" Liu He asked again.

"The method he injected created the world. I sat in a well and looked at the sky. I saw nothing I had ever seen before..." Kong Anguo replied calmly again.

"Then did Confucius still suspect that "The Biography of the Chu Family" was copied from somewhere else?"

"Old..."

At this time, every wrinkle on Kong Anguo's face exuded an aura of decline.

Under this aura of decline, he hesitated for a long time before saying: "The Biography of the Chu Family written by His Majesty was not copied from elsewhere."

As soon as these words came out, there was a small discussion in the main hall, but it subsided after only a moment.

"Kong Ru, honestly speaking, who do you think is better compared to "The Biography of the Kong Family" and "The Biography of the Chu Family"?"

Originally, they were supposed to compare the scriptures one by one and vote one by one, but Liu He didn't want to waste this time now.

He will take the opportunity of defeating Kong Anguo to win the Shiqu Pavilion debate in one fell swoop.

After a moment of silence, Kong Anguo seemed to have made a big decision and finally gave his answer.

"The "Biography of the Chu Family" annotated by His Majesty is even more majestic and profound, putting me to shame."

After Kong Anguo said these words, the last bit of expression on his face drained away.

The already deep wrinkles became extremely dry and lifeless.

However, he also seemed to be relieved of the burden in his heart, and his body, which was a little rickety, stood up straight again.

"Uncle!" Kong Ba, who looked annoyed, seemed to want to argue again, but Kong Anguo raised his hand to stop him. “As soon as the ‘Thirteen Classics’ came out, the world’s scriptures and ideas were unified, which was a great event for scholars..."

"It's a blessing for Confucian scholars, a blessing for scholars, and a blessing for our generation..."

"We Confucian scholars should study it carefully and carry it forward. Those who are more capable can also make new interpretations based on it."

"Your Majesty's conclusion about the Confucian scholar of the gentleman and the Confucian scholar of the villain is shocking and enlightening."

"When I am old, I can only be a villain. If I am young, I am willing to be a gentleman again."

At this time, Kong Anguo had completely relieved the heavy burden in his heart. He bowed casually to the silent crowd around him and had something to say.

"You gentlemen still have a lot of youth, don't just be a villain, you must be a gentleman."

After Kong Anguo said this, he said nothing more, and the hall became extremely silent.

People knew the profound meaning of these words: not only did they admit defeat to the emperor, but they also supported the emperor's new policy.

A gentleman is a friend but not a party; a villain is a party but not a group.

Kong Anguo not only bowed his head in front of the emperor, but also supported the emperor, which can be called a gentleman.

How could Liu He not see this? He had already stood up from the couch, and he was very serious, but also respectful.

"Your Majesty, I am old and tired today. I cannot stay long. Please allow me to retire."

"Come here, arrange a chariot to take Confucius home." Liu He said solemnly.

"No!" Naturally, someone immediately went to deal with the matter.

Kong Anguo saluted the emperor again, and then, with Kong Ba's support, slowly walked out the door.

When he was about to go out, he suddenly stopped, turned around and said to Liu He: "Your Majesty, can I take away a copy of the Thirteen Classics?"

"I will send someone to deliver it to your house."

"Your Majesty, I won't stay in Chang'an for too long. I would like to ask your Majesty to send it to you as soon as possible so that I can read it on my way to the old age."

"Kong Ru, just don't worry."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After Kong Anguo left, Shiqu Pavilion became quiet, and everyone watched this man go away.

An era is over.

In other words, the old era of Confucianism is over, and the new era of Confucianism has begun.

Kong Anguo has admitted defeat, and the overall situation of Shiqu Pavilion has been decided.

……

After that, all the competitions and voting became just a formality.

……

The bell of Shenshi had just rang, and among the "His Majesty's Holy Ming" who filled the hall with roaring waves, the "Thirteen Classics" unified the meaning of scripture and was designated as the popular version of the Confucian Classics of the Han Dynasty.

Seventy percent of the people were convinced, and [-]% had no choice but to take it—this result was enough.

Is there any reform that can satisfy everyone?

Liu He looked at the more than a hundred volumes of "Thirteen Classics" in the hall and felt very calm.

Once the metaphysical ideological obstacles have been removed, the state machine will begin to operate.

"Cabinet Grand Scholar Zhang Anshi!"

"Wei Chen is here!" Zhang Anshi knelt out.

"The edict is being prepared. The results of Shiqu Pavilion's debate on scriptures will be communicated to the world today. There must be no mistakes!"

"No!" Zhang Anshi replied.

"Taichang Su Wu, Tai Xue Ling Wang Shi."

"Wei Chen is here."

"Within three months, each county must establish a school according to the system, recruit students, and teach the popular version of the classics."

"In front of the northern palace of Weiyang Palace and the Imperial College, a stele of scriptures was erected, and the popular version of the scriptures was engraved on the stele to show the correct meaning."

"The county school has one teaching envoy with a rank of [-] shi, three Confucian lecturers with a rank of [-] shi, and ten lecturers on hundreds of schools, all of whom are concurrently held by subordinate officials in the county."

"The county school has one teacher with a rank of [-] shi, a Confucian lecturer with a rank of [-] shi, and five lecturers of [-] schools, all of whom are concurrently held by county officials."

"The Imperial Academy has one Taixue Order, with a rank of one thousand shi, and under it there are thirty doctoral officers, with a rank of [-] shi, and hundreds of doctors from hundreds of schools, all of whom are concurrently held by Chang'an subordinate officials."

"Officials who are proficient in practical matters in various yamen and hold concurrent lectureships in Taixue and Xiangxue will receive additional lumi every month according to the rank of Confucian lecturers, and they can also accumulate merit."

"The teachings, teachers and Confucian lectures of each Xiang school were first selected from among the great Confucian scholars, Langguan of Guanglu Temple and doctoral disciples. In the future, they will still have to take the imperial examination."

"This matter will be discussed by Guang Luxun and Taixue Ling, and then submitted to the cabinet for approval. I will approve it again..."

"The matter of education is related to the Han Dynasty's century-old plan. The ministers must choose carefully and not be careless."

"promise!"

Liu He talked about the contents of the New Deal in an orderly manner. These contents had already been discussed at the cabinet office, and he was speaking out today mainly for Confucian scholars.

I just slapped them hard, so now it’s time to give them a few candies to eat.

There are more than a hundred county schools and more than a thousand county schools, which require tens of thousands of teachings and lectures in total, and these are all officials.

Taixue has [-] doctoral disciples, and Guangluxun has [-] to [-] officials.

As the original reserve officials of the Han Dynasty, they were very large in number, and each of them received a share of money and food.

However, only one-third of them can hold actual positions, and the rest will just be Langguan all their lives.

Over the years, more and more officials have accumulated under Guang Luxun, and many people have become worms who only take money and food without doing practical work.

From now on, the imperial examination system will gradually be rolled out, and there will be no possibility for them to become officials.

Instead of doing this, it would be better to let them serve as lecturers in Xiangxue, so that they can at least teach people how to read.

Anyway, what they want to teach is only Confucian classics, so they are not incompetent - their right is to educate the people about illiteracy.

The radish given by Liu He was still attractive. As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the Confucian scholars present lit up. (End of chapter)