Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 14 The Age of Great Conflict
Hearing that the emperor did not want to use Western Yuan, Yu Huang felt relieved a little.

The era is about orthodoxy. As a scholar, he certainly does not want to adopt a religious era. Even in Yu Huang's opinion, this word should not appear in the emperor's mouth, so as not to affect orthodoxy.

However, when he heard that the emperor asked him to establish an era, Yu Huang suddenly felt confused:
"I am incompetent and cannot deduce it."

"Your Majesty should summon the courtiers and scholars to determine the first year of the era."

Shocked by Yu Huang's reaction, Zhu Youjian felt that this matter should not be taken lightly. But he was worried that if the discussion continued, some people would make a fuss about it, so he said:

"This matter really requires caution. I am going to make a sacrifice to the ancestors of heaven and earth, hoping to get a response."

"Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy can also discuss the matter, and it will be finalized at the court meeting tomorrow."

I have decided in my heart that no matter what the outcome of the discussion is, I will decide this matter in the name of the Emperor. In order to avoid the imminent outbreak of the bandit rebellion, some people will shout slogans such as "You are as young as the age of sixty years".

Before leaving, he also issued a verbal message:
"Zhang Juzheng has made great contributions to the establishment of a living society, and he has made a living for one of his descendants."

"Let the cabinet draft a decree and send it to Zhang Juzheng's descendants."

After this oral edict, the three articles Yu Huang was ordered to compose, and the matter of determining the era were spread to the outer court, not only it caused an uproar, but it also made many people's minds wander. Especially the descendants of Enyin Zhang Juzheng, many people feel that the new emperor admires Zhang Juzheng.

However, because it was in the name of Zhang Juzheng's meritorious service, the courtiers could not express their objections. After all, living notes can restrain the emperor, which is a dream for officials.

Moreover, Zhang Juzheng's political opponents were dead, and he himself was rehabilitated in the second year of Tianqi, restored to his old position, and allowed to be buried. Neither the cabinet ministers nor the ministers will object blindly and obstruct this favor.

What people discuss more is the article written by Zhu Youjian and Yu Huang:
"Your Majesty is familiar with etiquette and follows ancient rituals. The saying that 'two names are not taboo' is actually the original intention of the sages. In the past, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty issued the "Order on Two Names Not To Be Tabulated". Although His Majesty did not formally issue the edict, he ordered the remaining number one scholar to make a fuss. It’s all about it!”

"Although Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had the "Order of Unbiased Names", people in the Tang Dynasty did not follow it very much. Otherwise, why was the Ministry of Civil Affairs changed to the Ministry of Household Affairs? Why did Li Shiji become Li Ji?"

"What's even more strange is Li He. Because his father Li Jinsu's 'Jin' is similar to the 'Jin' of Jinshi, people say he needs to avoid taking the Jinshi exam. Even Han Yu wrote "Taubian" to no avail. This book The most evasive taboo in court can be said to be a great virtue."

"That's right! That's right! If we still follow the previous dynasty, the descendants of the old Mr. Wang Zaijin will not be able to take the imperial examination. Moreover, the lack of pens has also occurred since the Tang Dynasty. His Majesty has clearly ordered that there is no need to lack pens, which is also a virtuous policy. "

The avoidance of taboos was almost always praised. After all, as a literati, no one wants to be careful to avoid taboos when writing articles. The method of avoiding taboos in the Ming Dynasty has always been very light. Except for Zhu Di's "Di" which needs to be avoided separately, other times you only need to pay attention to what the names of the previous emperors are connected. There are very few places that need to be avoided. Now that the emperor has reiterated this point after ascending to the throne, it is very suitable for them.

However, some people expressed confusion about the emperor's request to be addressed directly by his name:

"Calling one's ancestral home, official position, and posthumous title shows respect."

"Why does Your Majesty prohibit this and let people call you by name?"

A person next to him heard this and asked him directly:
"Everyone knows Han Changli, so how many people know Li Changgu's name?"

The man immediately replied:

"Li He's ancestral home is in Longxi, and he was buried in Changgu Township after his death. Is there anyone who doesn't know that?"

The person next to me asked again:

"So, do you know who the name Li Anyi is?"

The man thought for a long time, but did not expect that there was any famous person named Li in Anyi. When he was embarrassed, someone had already answered:
"Li Deyu lived in Anyi for a long time, and his father Li Jifu was known as Prime Minister Li of Anyi." "Brother, don't you think it's too much to ask with such a title? The name of Li Anyi is not recorded in ancient books."

The man shook his head and said:

"Otherwise, there is this title in ancient books."

"The Supplement to the History of the Tang Dynasty says: In recent times, officials in power are called by their residences, and Li Anyi is the most famous, just like the title Yan."

"If we follow the ancients' method of honorific naming, today's people would not only have to remember the ancients' names and trade names, but also their ancestral home, official position, posthumous title, and even the place where they lived."

"Your Majesty lets us address each other by our names, which is actually a good policy!"

Many people nodded upon hearing this, feeling that this was indeed the case. Not to mention those historical celebrities, many people have to think twice about the names they call some important ministers. Now the emperor has someone write a special article, saying that you can just address people by their names, and you can address people with the same name. It is simple to address other people in this way. At most, you can call them by their first names when showing respect.

As a result, there was not much debate about the title issue. But there is a big debate about the twenty-four-hour clock and the era. Not many people dare to talk loudly about the Era, but when it comes to daily use, they feel they are qualified to discuss:

"Zi Chou Yin Mao, Chen Si Wu Wei, Shen You Xu Hai, these twelve hours have been used since ancient times."

"Why does Your Majesty want to switch to the twenty-four-hour clock just because of the chiming clock? Wouldn't it be better to add hours to the chiming clock?"

Someone next to me corrected:

"It's not about switching, it's about using them together."

"There is nothing wrong with using hours and hours together."

Someone else looked a little complacent, took out a finely carved pocket watch, and said to the people around him:

"I think the 24-hour clock is more convenient, but the time is troublesome. Just use digital records."

"For example, now, it's 10:20 on August 25th, the seventh year of Apocalypse. See how intuitive it is!"

People around looked at the pocket watch and their eyes were opened. I used to only hear that it was convenient to use a clock to tell time, but now I actually see it and realize how convenient it really is. No wonder the emperor adopted a twenty-four-hour clock in conjunction with the traditional twelve-hour clock.

Some people looked at the exquisite pocket watch and fell into deep thought. I vaguely understood the emperor's intention of ordering people to formulate a new era method after changing the Yuan Dynasty to Chongzhen:
"Your Majesty is telling us that Ming Dynasty has fallen behind in timekeeping tools and must make changes. If we don't set a twenty-four-hour system now, people will use other hour systems in the future."

"The dating method is the same. We are not sure about the new era method now. In the future, some people will use the Christian era to record the events of our ancestors."

"So Your Majesty must take the initiative to change to prevent Westerners from using their era to attack the Ming Dynasty's orthodoxy."

The thought of "an era of great strife" vaguely flashed through their minds, and some people had actually realized that the Ming Dynasty was no longer the only one in the world. The Western learning passed down by Matteo Ricci and others gave many scholars in the Ming Dynasty a new understanding of the outside world and affected their ideas.

The emperor's establishment of a new dating method can also be seen as an attempt to adapt to changes and proactively make changes.

　Han Yu's "Taubian": Yu wrote to Li He, urging him to be promoted to Jinshi. It is right to congratulate a Jinshi who is famous, but those who compete with him will destroy it. He says that his father's name is Jinsu. It is right not to congratulate a Jinshi, but it is wrong to encourage him to do so.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)