I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 577 Extra Chapter 10: Su Liang’s Curse - Scholars
The first year of Huangyou, the third day of the twelfth lunar month.

A list of winter gifts given by teachers from the Hundred Schools of Thought Academy set the entire city of Bianjing in an uproar.

A first-class division receives six pieces of winter silk, fifteen taels of cotton, ten dou of rice, a sheep, and three strings of cash for clothing.

A second-class soldier was given four pieces of winter silk, ten taels of cotton, eight dou of rice, a sheep, and two strings of cash for clothing.

A third-class soldier was given two pieces of winter silk, five taels of cotton, five dou of rice, half a sheep, and one string of money for clothing.

First-class students will receive a piece of winter silk, five dou of rice, half a sheep, and one string of money for clothing.

Second-class students were given a piece of winter silk, three dou of rice, a leg of lamb, and one string of money for clothing.

Third-class students were given a piece of winter silk, three dou of rice, and one string of money for clothing.

Based on the annual assessment, Baijia Academy divides teachers into three categories, and selects one hundred outstanding students, also divided into three categories.

The rewarded.

They are all skilled craftsmen who have made discoveries or inventions in their industry.

This award was initiated by Su Liang and distributed as a year-end prize by Cao Yi, Cao Guojiu, with the aim of encouraging teachers and students of Baijia Academy to continue to invent and create.

The two called it: year-end bonus, which was given out once a year.

After the people of Bianliang learned about it, they got used to calling it: Winter Gift.

After this "Winter Gift List" was spread to the streets, countless people became upset.

"How could a group of farmers, artisans, and craftsmen who engage in eccentric and cunning skills deserve such a huge reward? The winter reward of a first-class carpenter is higher than the annual reward of a county lieutenant of a large county with 3,000 households. It's really ridiculous!"

"Alas! Scholars like me have studied hard for more than ten years, but even if we pass the imperial examination and get an official position, within five years, our salary will not be as high as these people's. Isn't this ridiculous?"

"What can you do? Uncle Cao said that the Hundred Schools Academy is a civilian school. He is no longer an official. He can give out as many winter gifts as he wants. I heard that all teachers will receive an extra month's salary at the end of the year!"

"It's chaos! It's chaos! A bunch of carpenters, letterers, and blacksmiths are riding on our heads. Some of those fifteen or sixteen-year-old apprentices can even get a piece of winter silk, five dou of rice, half a sheep, and a coin for clothing. And we, the scholars who are familiar with the books of sages and worry about the affairs of the country every day, are struggling for money every day. We don't even have money to stay in a hotel or buy wine!"

……

"Everyone, this matter may seem to have nothing to do with us, but it actually affects the fate of our Song Dynasty! Uncle Cao's actions will inevitably lead many people to not regard studying as the most important thing, but to regard strange skills and tricks as the most important thing. If this continues, everyone in our dynasty will fall into strange skills and tricks. Who can still govern the country?"

"As a scholar, I think we should unanimously oppose it. Although we cannot defeat Uncle Cao and Su Yushi behind him, we can write poems and articles to oppose it and publicize our ideas. The Hundred Schools Academy's chaotic actions are misleading the country and the people. We should let the court hear our voices and punish them. Isn't this an act of usurpation?"

"Yes, in Bianjing City, as long as we unite and speak out, the court will definitely take it seriously, and the government will definitely cancel this presumptuous reward."

……

At present, it is the New Year's Day and people are having free time.

Within two days, the news of the Baijia Academy's winter gift had spread like wildfire and everyone knew about it.

Some people say that the Baijia Academy is advocating an abnormal theory of money supremacy, which goes against the teachings of Confucius and Mencius.

Some people claim that the Hundred Schools of Thought's move was intended to suppress scholars throughout the world and allow strange and tricky skills to override poetry, books, and Confucianism.

Some people even said that the Hundred Schools Academy acted presumptuously in the name of winter gift and broke the rules of the world. It was actually a way to attract popularity and steal the public opinion, bringing shame to scholars all over the world.

……

Because Su Liang once said that studying is useless, "scholars are the most useless", some scholar-officials who opposed the reform gradually shifted their target of attack to Su Liang.

They impeached Su Liang for fawning on the people and trying to curry favor with them. They wanted to use the Hundred Schools of Thought to undermine the learning style among the people, suppress scholars for personal fame, and violate etiquette to shake the aspirations of young people throughout the world to study and enter officialdom.

After receiving these impeachment memorials, Zhao Zhen only replied with one sentence and asked these scholar-officials to stop speaking.

The question is: Does this action violate the laws of the Song Dynasty?
The president of the Baijia Academy is actually Zhao Zhen, but this has not been made public yet.

Zhao Zhen also knew about this.

And I agree with this high year-end bonus.

He intended to use this incident to stimulate the scholars in Bianjing City, to make them feel pressured, and thus to study harder and think about ways to reform the law.

Who would have thought that it would arouse jealousy.

At present, the reform is in full swing.

The matter of the Hundred Schools of Thought had already been decided in the court, and Zhao Zhen naturally would not indulge these officials.

Baijia Academy was the private property of Cao Yi, Cao Guojiu's uncle.

Cao Yi, who resigned from his official position, did not receive a penny from the court. The year-end bonus he gave had nothing to do with the court and did not violate the laws of the Song Dynasty at all.

With Zhao Zhen's words.

The scholars and some smart students in Bianjing City stopped talking.

The heat of this matter gradually subsided.

However, there are still some scholars who refuse to give in.

Whether for the sake of fame or because of the self-righteous arrogance in the hearts of scholars, they still criticized the Hundred Schools of Thought for violating the etiquette.

In the eyes of these people.

Only they can serve as the backbone of the Song Dynasty, and only they deserve sufficiently high welfare benefits.

Su Liang was too lazy to pay attention to them.

……

Another day, dusk.

After dismissal.

Su Liang was riding on his way home in a carriage. When he passed by Xiangguo Temple, he suddenly saw a group of people gathered in front of him, most of them were scholars.

A guard ran over from the front and said, "Boss, the uncle of the emperor is surrounded by scholars, and the two sides are debating the matter of the winter gift of the Hundred Schools Academy!"

Hear this.

Su Liang frowned, got off the carriage and walked forward.

now.

The area in front of Daxiangguo Temple was crowded with people, three layers inside and three layers outside.

Cao Yi, the uncle of the Cao State, and his several guards were surrounded in the middle, and outside was a group of scholars in long gowns.

Su Liang could hear the quarrel inside even from a distance.

The officials from Kaifeng Prefecture were also present.

The public security in Bianjing City was good, and speech was free.

Cao Yi and the scholars are all smart people, and they would never take action without losing their reason.

Otherwise, they would probably have to spend this year in the prison of Kaifeng Prefecture.

at the same time.

If they debated on the streets, the officers would not interfere.

"My Lord, you must answer us today. Did the Hundred Schools Academy use the winter gift to corrupt the folk learning style and violate the etiquette? Is your purpose to shake the aspirations of young people in the world to study for the development of the Hundred Schools Academy?"

"Nonsense, Baijia Academy is my private property. I can reward you however I want. What does it have to do with you?"

"What does it have to do with us? Uncle, you are too selfish to say that!"

"Didn't you and Censor Su claim that the Hundred Schools Academy was established for the country? But now it has become your private property. You are destroying the etiquette. If everyone learns some strange and lewd tricks from the Hundred Schools Academy, who will read the books of sages? Who can educate the world? Your actions are to make everyone in the world a mercenary. You deserve to be killed!"

"We demand that you immediately withdraw the winter gift and publicly admit your mistake to all the scholars in the world!"

"Apologize to all the scholars in the world!"

"Apologize to all the scholars in the world!"

"Apologize to all the scholars in the world!"

……

The scholars raised their fists and shouted in unison. They always thought that the louder the voice, the more reasonable it was, and that the louder the voice, the more they could control public opinion. "You pedantic scholars, what do I have to say to you?"

After saying this, Cao Yi prepared to leave.

However, the scholars gathered together and would not let him leave.

Just as the officers from Kaifeng Prefecture were about to step forward, Su Liang's voice came from behind.

"Let me give you an explanation!"

Everyone heard this and went away.

When they saw it was Su Liang, everyone around made way for him.

The officers from Kaifeng Prefecture nearby also suddenly became nervous, tightened their grip on the swords at their waists, and moved forward.

Cao Yi was protected by several guards and would not be beaten, but Su Liang's guards stood behind and did not come forward.

Su Liangruo was beaten.

All of these officials will be severely punished, or even lose their official positions.

After Su Liang walked to Cao Yi's side, the scholars around him couldn't help but take a few steps back, and some even lowered their heads.

The person that the scholar-officials and scholars of the time were most afraid to offend was Su Liang.

Other scholars and officials would not quarrel with them in the streets, but Su Liang dared to do so, and he could scold them so badly that they could not even raise their heads.

When Cao Yi saw Su Liang coming, he immediately became excited and straightened his back.

Su Liang looked around.

"Apologize to all the scholars in the world? Who among you is qualified to represent all the scholars in the world? Stand up and let me see it!"

Suddenly, there was complete silence around, and most of the scholars lowered their heads.

at this time.

A young scholar took a step forward.

"Imperial Censor Su, during the Song Dynasty's Reform Movement, the government advocated freedom of speech. We are speaking out for the country and arguing for the country. Is that wrong? You... you... you should not use your power to oppress others!"

As soon as these words were spoken, more than a dozen young scholars immediately raised their heads and looked at Su Liang with their chests puffed out.

Su Liang smiled faintly.

"Did I just use my power to bully people?"

"If I really use my power to bully people, based on what you just said, I can arrest all of you for 'disturbing the reform of the whole Song Dynasty'!"

"At this moment, all the officials and people in Song Dynasty are busy with reforms, but you are making up stories and talking nonsense on the streets. If you want to argue, I will argue with you. Who will go first?"

The young scholar looked at Su Liang.

"Imperial Censor Su, when you and the uncle of the emperor planned to establish the Hundred Schools Academy, you claimed that it was established for the country and for the people."

"However, the winter gift at the end of the year is beyond the etiquette, and the treatment of the Master's students is better than that of the Imperial College. Isn't this corrupting the style of study, advocating the theory of money supremacy, suppressing the world's scholars in order to win public opinion, and completely putting the cart before the horse?"

"A mere engraver is paid better than a county lieutenant. A mere retired lyricist is paid three times more than the chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and he even has servants to take care of him. Isn't this an act of usurpation?"

The carver refers to Bi Sheng; the lyricist refers to Liu Yong.

"If all the young people in the future learn strange skills and forget the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, then what is the difference between our Song Dynasty and barbarians? This behavior is actually a contempt and insult to all scholars in the world!"

……

After the young man finished speaking, the scholars around him straightened their backs and raised their heads.

They felt that Su Liang would definitely suffer a loss this time, because the Hundred Schools Academy's move insulted all the scholars in the world.

Su Liang looked around.

After making eye contact with the scholars, he slowly spoke.

"First of all, you cannot represent all the scholars in the world. If all the scholars in the world think this way, then the future of our Song Dynasty is probably really hopeless!"

"You can look at the people around you, or look at yourself, is there anyone who has made contributions to the court and the people? Who has contributed a little to the reform of the whole Song Dynasty?"

At this time, a scholar retorted: "After we pass the imperial examinations and enter the government, we will work for the country, help the government, and uphold justice for the people!"

Su Liang smiled disdainfully.

"Humph! Without the help of your ancestors, how many of you can pass the imperial examination? Those of you who are confident that you will pass the next imperial examination, please stand up and let me take a look!"

Suddenly, no one dared to stand up.

Those who are truly interested in the imperial examination will not make trouble here.

Su Liang said again: "Everyone, you overestimate yourselves and are too self-righteous. You have studied for a few years and talked about state affairs in teahouses a few times, so you think you are capable ministers who can govern the country?"

"The annual award from Baijia Academy is given to those who have made contributions to the world and the people."

"Just now you mentioned 'a mere engraver'. Without him, there would be no movable type printing and no flourishing of folk tabloids. With this technology, he enabled thousands of people in Bianjing to support themselves and their families through tabloids. Is his contribution not as great as yours? The Hundred Schools Academy will not only give him a generous reward, but will also write a book and biography for him, so that he will be remembered in history!"

"What you just said about 'a mere lyricist', his lyrics have spread all over the world, and are destined to be passed down to future generations. Thousands of years later, perhaps no one will remember who will be the top scorer in the next imperial examination? No one will remember who I am, Su Jingming, but there will definitely be people who will continue to sing his lyrics, and there will be countless artists engaged in the lyric singing industry who will pay tribute to him, because he can feed generations of poor people with his craft!"

"Your so-called tricks and shabby skills can't help you study, but they can save farmers and workers more effort, so that a common person can get more rewards with the same effort. Everything they do is beneficial to people, the Song Dynasty, and future generations. Shouldn't they be rewarded generously?"

"What are you doing? You shout that you want to pass the imperial examinations and share your worries for the emperor, but how do you do it? You spend your parents' money on eating, drinking and having fun, going to the tile houses to find singing girls, and going to the boats to visit prostitutes. You only benefit yourself and not others! You talk about morality, but you are full of thieves and whores!"

"What qualifications do you have to criticize the craftsmen and artists who work for the people? You say that the Hundred Schools Academy is suppressing scholars. I admit that, but it is suppressing scholars like you who have made no contribution to the country. You don't deserve the treatment you are receiving today!"

"What have you done for the people? Even if you become officials in the future, what can you do? The Song Dynasty is not short of scholars. Without you, the Song Dynasty will still be fine and will still flourish. You may become parasites in the flourishing times!"

"I have never insulted educated people. Education is very useful, but 90% of you are educated trash. You should put aside your arrogant and self-righteous faces!"

"Here, I would like to advise those who rely on studying to make a living or think that they will be rich and prosperous after passing the imperial examination to change their profession as soon as possible, otherwise, they will end up in jail sooner or later!"

"In the current Song Dynasty, anyone in any profession, as long as they can do things that benefit others and the world, will be respected by the world and will be remembered in history!"

……

After Su Liang finished speaking, he looked around and asked loudly: "Is there anyone else who wants to argue?"

There was sudden silence below.

The young scholars were dumbfounded. They had no way of refutation.

The present them.

He completely relied on his father's generation and the remaining wealth of his family, and regarded himself as a future scholar-official. He talked big in the city of Bianliang and satisfied his own vanity.

In fact, they are greedy for pleasure and achieve nothing.

Su Liang relaxed and his tone softened.

"It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep have been lost. Wasting other people's time is a waste of money and life. While you are young, do more valuable things!"

After saying that, Su Liang strode away, and the scholars around him retreated one after another.

Cao Yi followed closely with his chest puffed out.

At this moment, he felt that quitting his official position and going into business was the right choice. He would also make contributions to the Song Dynasty that no foreign relatives could make and become the pride of the Cao family, a military family.

at this time.

The scholars bowed to Su Liang one after another, performing the etiquette of students paying respect to their teacher.

Today, they benefit greatly.

Not only did he understand the significance of studying and becoming an official, but he also understood how to be a valuable person.

The many onlookers around also had tears in their eyes and were very excited.

They suddenly realized that studying and becoming an official was not the best way out in life.

Doing things that benefit others and the world will make you respected in any field, make you a national hero, and leave your name in history.

(End of this chapter)