Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

The emperor's accusation against Han Xu and Li Qiyuan caused a great stir among the senior officials of the court.

But the most talked about thing among the people is the death of officials who gave gifts to ministers on the same day.

Because of the momentum caused by Huang Zongxi and others, this matter attracted much attention in Beijing. Even though there were very few reports in newspapers, it could not stop the literati from caring about it.

Now that the results have finally come out, it has naturally aroused heated discussion in Beijing.

The imperial court posthumously gifted Gao Panlong, Crown Prince Taibao, and Minister of the Ministry of War, who were the former censor of the left capital of the Ducha Yuan; Yang Lian, the former censor of the left and deputy capital of the Du Cha Yuan; the former censor of the left and right capital of the Du Cha Yuan; He was the censor; he was formerly the Minister of Taichang Temple, Zhou Shunchang, a member of the Ministry of Civil Affairs; he was the Minister of Taichang Temple in Wei Dazhong, the official official department; he was the Minister of Taichang Temple, Huang Zunsu, the censor of Shandong Province, etc. Each of them was a student of Taipu.

Such a generous gift of shirts satisfies most people. It is believed that these Donglin gentlemen who were killed by the eunuchs can rest in peace in Jiuquan.

Zhou Maolan, the son of Zhou Shunchang, is one of them. This time he went to Beijing to not only successfully avenge his father, but was also written into the "Qing Zhongpu" and became recognized as a loyal minister and filial son.

Now Zhou Shunchang was posthumously given the title of Minister of Taichang Temple, and the emperor also granted him the imperial edict for the third generation, allowing him to build a temple and grant him a quota. Zhou Maolan is already satisfied with this result and plans to return to her hometown to take care of these things and complete the system at the same time——

His father, Zhou Shunchang, was killed on June 17, the sixth year of Tianqi. According to the system of observing filial piety for twenty-seven months, he still needed to observe the system for half a year.

As a filial son recognized by the world, he must abide by ancient etiquette.

Li Yu felt very sad about Zhou Maolan's departure. After all, he was able to live in Liu Zongzhou's house because of Zhou Maolan's relationship. The "Qing Zhongpu" for which he became famous was also thanks to Zhou Maolan's deeds of redressing his father's grievances.

The two young people helped and supported each other along the way and formed a deep friendship. Zhou Maolan admired Li Yu's talent very much and said:
"With Brother Li's talent, it is absolutely no problem to win a scholar, let alone a Jinshi."

"It's a pity that Xiongtai is born... It's such a pity!"

Li Yu used to feel sorry for himself, but since he was summoned by the emperor a few days ago to help Zhonggusi with work, he no longer has this thought and said casually:
"There is no need to feel sorry for my brother. Brother Zhou must study hard after returning to his hometown."

"Brother, I'm still waiting for you to serve as an official. I'll take care of you from now on!"

He laughed loudly as he spoke, which surprised Zhou Maolan, feeling that his whole person had changed after being summoned by the emperor a few days ago.

It's just that the emperor's orders are confidential, and it's not easy for him to pry. He could only press down his expression and said with a wry smile:
"I know my talents well. If I can pass the exam, I should have no problem getting into the exam."

"But Brother Li also knows how difficult the Jiangnan Provincial Examination is. Even a talented man like Zhang Pu has not passed the exam yet!"

The number of Jinshi candidates has been expanded, and there are also additional candidates with deputy rankings. Zhou Maolan thought to herself that if she could become a candidate, she would have a good chance of passing the exam. However, although the Jiangnan Provincial Examination has the largest number of admissions in the country, it is still too few compared to the large number of scholars in South Zhili. He felt that with his knowledge, it would be difficult to pass the exam.

Li Yu also knew the difficulty of the Jiangnan Township Examination and advised him:

"Brother Zhou Enyin is a student of the Imperial Academy, and he has clearly stated that as long as he can pass the etiquette, law, and mathematics exam, he can be an official. Why do you need to take the Jinshi exam?"

"You only need to study at Taixue for a few years and pass the exam to become an official."

"Why bother focusing on the imperial examination road and competing with poor scholars for opportunities."

Zhou Maolan was a little moved after hearing this, but thinking about his father's reputation, if he became an official with kindness, it might damage his father's reputation as a gentleman. So he still had some hesitation in his heart.

Seemingly seeing his embarrassment, Li Yu said:

"Brother Zhou, does he feel that Enyin's reputation as an official is not good, so he is a little reluctant?"

"But your thoughts like this are betraying the Holy Grace."

"When the Holy Spirit read the "Qing Zhongpu" written by me, he repeatedly praised Brother Zhou as a loyal minister and filial son, who should set an example for the sons of officials."

"If you don't serve in the imperial court, wouldn't you be wasting your holy will?"

As he spoke, he remembered that the emperor had asked him to recruit personnel from the Bell and Drum Division to form a royal orchestra, and said:
"Brother Zhou, if you are worried about someone criticizing you, you don't have to take an official position in another court."

"You are now deeply favored by the emperor and can serve in the inner court like a brother."

"The current inner court is no more filled with eunuchs than before. In order to prevent the emergence of another Wei Zhongxian, the Holy One intends to promote some noble and loyal ministers to serve in the inner court yamen."

"To be honest with Brother Zhou, Brother Yu has already planned to serve in the inner court in a few days."

"If Brother Zhou comes, you can help me!"

Zhou Maolan was extremely surprised by this. He never expected that Li Yu had already planned to enter the inner court. Thinking of the eunuchs in the inner court, he said in a sincere manner:

"Brother Li, aren't you afraid? Are those eunuchs... eunuchs making things difficult for you?"

Thinking of the tragic death of her father and others, Zhou Maolan felt both hatred and fear. I don't want to serve in the inner court, and I don't want to deal with eunuchs.

Li Yu was actually a little scared, because someone like him who could not see the emperor often might be slandered by the eunuchs and make the emperor lose his trust.

But considering Jin Yiwei's current status and the emperor's emphasis on ritual and music, he felt that this possibility was not high and said seriously:

"Precisely because some eunuchs with sinister intentions may confuse the Holy Emperor, we should serve in the inner court."

"If a gentleman does not participate in government affairs, the court will be controlled by villains."

"Brother Zhou, when it comes to remaking rituals and music, we must bravely shoulder the important task!"

The hesitation in Zhou Maolan's heart was finally touched by this sentence. Because Liu Zongzhou was responsible for remaking ritual music, he had heard a lot about it these days.

One of them is that remaking rituals and music is a redistribution of power and wealth.

This made him realize that everyone's power and wealth may change after the reform of rituals and music is implemented.

If he insists on giving up his kindness for the sake of a little reputation, it is very likely that the Zhou family's family status will be difficult to maintain.

If you are an official in the imperial court or serve in the inner court, the situation will be completely different. He will have great initiative in redistributing power and wealth.

So Li Yu's persuasion had already impressed him.

However, as the eldest son of Zhou, he has to consider the entire Zhou family and cannot make decisions at will.

So Zhou Maolan did not continue on this aspect, but said:
"Brother Li's "Qing Zhongpu" has been completed. It will definitely be included in the Yuefu after it is performed."

"I will ask my late father's close friends to recommend Brother Li to Yuefu."

"As for the appointment, we can wait until I pass the etiquette, law, and calculation exam."

Li Yu was overjoyed when she heard this and knew that Zhou Maolan was already interested and planned to become a student of the Imperial Academy and Enyin to become an official in the future.

So after he thanked Zhou Maolan for his recommendation, he made an agreement with him to meet again in half a year.

The two said goodbye reluctantly. Li Yu looked at Zhou Maolan's back, and an impulse arose spontaneously, wanting to express his feelings through music. It was just because I didn’t have an instrument on hand that I couldn’t finish it for a while.

After returning home, he was about to write down the music he thought of, but he saw Huang Zongxi at the door of Liu's mansion, and heard Liu Zongzhou shout:
"return!"

"What else do you want to make a fuss about?" "Aren't you dissatisfied with His Majesty's treatment?"

Huang Zongxi stopped when he heard this and did not continue to move. But he was still a little dissatisfied in his heart, thinking that although the emperor's gift was high, it did not fully deal with the person who killed his father.

So he turned around, knelt in front of the teacher, and cried:

"Teacher, do you think His Majesty's treatment is fair?"

"Why are evil people like Xu Xianchun still not executed?"

In my heart, I still felt dissatisfied with the emperor's treatment.

Liu Zongzhou couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.

To be honest, he was also somewhat dissatisfied with the emperor for not executing Xu Xianchun and others.

But considering Xu Xianchun's background, he could understand the emperor's difficulties and said:

"The eight principles of discussion are to discuss relatives and discuss matters of value."

"Xu Xianchun is a maternal relative. Even if Dali Temple sentences him to death, the emperor will be lenient."

"If even someone with his status has to be executed, then where is Tian Ergeng? Where is Cui Yingyuan?"

"Do they all have to be executed to satisfy you?"

"If this revenge continues, when will it end?"

"Do you want His Majesty to kill all the eunuch ministers?"

"Let everyone in the world be in danger?"

Thinking of Huang Zongxi's performance these days, and the fact that he had been faced with the eight words "I forgot Goujian to kill your father" written by his grandfather Huang Yuezhong all day long, Liu Zongzhou felt that his disciple was now full of hatred, which was contrary to the rules of the sages and sages. road.

So in his heart, he blames himself more now. Thinking that he had neglected to teach before, Huang Zongxi was obsessed with hatred.

Thinking back to his previous advice to the emperor to be benevolent and righteous and to practice the ways of Yao and Shun, he was even more sure that the emperor was not wrong in this matter. What was wrong was that Huang Zongxi was too persistent in hatred.

If Xu Xianchun and others were killed according to Huang Zongxi's idea, then many people would be killed for the same crime as him. The ministers who had previously relied on Wei Zhongxian would definitely be in danger.

Faced with this situation, the emperor might not be able to hold back and kill many people.

For Liu Zongzhou, this was something he did not want to see. So he now believes that although the emperor's punishment for Xu Xianchun is a bit light, it is better than a mass killing.

Especially when he thought about the fact that the emperor had executed Yang Hao according to law before, and he would also execute Wang Huazhen. Liu Zongzhou felt even more that the emperor could not be allowed to kill.

So he called Huang Zongxi to him and said seriously:
"Zengzi said: The master's way is only loyalty and forgiveness."

"You only have hatred in your heart now and have forgotten loyalty and forgiveness."

"Remember, you must be loyal to Your Majesty, and you must be kind and forgiving."

"Now His Majesty has favored you as a student. After you return to your hometown to observe filial piety, you will come to Beijing to study in half a year!"

Huang Zongxi's father, Huang Zunsu, committed suicide in the sixth month of the sixth year of Tianqi. Huang Zongxi's observance of filial piety ended about half a year later.

When Huang Zongxi was unwilling to give up his hatred and was still making trouble in the capital, Liu Zongzhou sent someone to send him back to his hometown. He also wrote a letter to Huang Yuezhong and asked him to teach Huang Zongxi.

After arranging this matter, Liu Zongzhou sent Zuo Guangming away again. This man is Zuo Guangdou's younger brother. After Zuo Guangdou gets the gift shirt, he wants to tell his family.

Lu Taigong and others also left at this time because this matter was successfully concluded.

For a time, the Liu Mansion, which had been bustling with people before, suddenly lost many people.

Liu Zongzhou watched them leave, and then thought about Huang Zongxi's affairs, and about Zuo Guangdou and Yang Lian's donation of shirts to hundreds of households in the Dongning Guard. He suddenly thought of another thing, and wrote a memorial to be presented to the emperor. It was planned that when Huang Zongxi could not let go of his hatred, the emperor would send the family members of these murdered people to Dongning Guard to supervise Xu Xianchun and others to serve their sentences.

After writing the memorial, Liu Zongzhou heard a burst of music and realized that Li Yu had not left with others and was still staying at his home.

Thinking of the emperor asking him to train him well and assist him in recreating rituals and music. Liu Zongzhou called Li Yu over and said with a pleasant expression:

"Are you still getting used to being in the capital?"

"What did His Majesty discuss with you during his last summons?"

It can be said to be a secret to others Li Yu, but to Liu Zongzhou, a court minister who knows almost all secrets, he can't make excuses. He hesitated and said:
"The Holy One asked me not to publicize it. He said it was a surprise for the Queen."

"Sir, you will know in a few days. It is a very novel scene."

When Liu Zongzhou heard what he said, he shook his head dumbly and did not ask further questions. Thinking of what Li Yu was busy with these days, he said:
"I heard that you want to build a piano. Do you need any help?"

"The collection of Prince Duanqing's writings and musical instruments has been completed now?"

Li Yu did need help before, but after accepting the emperor's order to form the Royal Orchestra, he didn't need to ask for help from others now. Those Western churches even wanted to give him pianos.

As for Prince Duanqing's writings and musical instruments, the Bell and Drum Division has been collecting them for a long time. So Li Yu said to Liu Zongzhou:

"There is no place to trouble sir yet."

"But the Holy One said that after the new musical instrument is completed, Mr. Liu should be asked to compile the "Yue Jing Zhengyi" just like he compiled the "Book of Rites and Justice"."

"To remake rituals and music, we need to re-compile the scriptures of rituals and music."

Liu Zongzhou opened his mouth wide when he heard this, and then he understood what the emperor meant:
The emperor asked him to guide Li Yu as a polite statement, but the real purpose was to let him endorse Li Yu and promote the reformulated Da Ming Le.

Thinking again of the article in the Beijing News, Liu Zongzhou knew that the emperor had his own views on music. What you need to do is turn these into scriptures.

This made him a little relieved, but also a little frightened, lest the compilation was not good enough and could not support the title of "Yue Jing Zhengyi".

As a lost scripture, the Music Classic is too difficult to annotate:
"The Music Classic has been lost for so long, and it is really difficult for Your Majesty to ask me to compile "The Music Classic of Justice". 』

"But if the "Yue Jing Zhengyi" is compiled well, in the future the Four Books and Five Classics may become the Six Classics——"

"This is a reputation that will last forever!" 』

The Music Classic has been lost for so long, and he does not expect to be able to completely reproduce it, but as long as the "Yue Jing Zhengyi" is well compiled, it will be no worse than the other commentaries on the Five Classics. Liu Zongzhou dared to say that he would definitely become a sage and his reputation would not be inferior to that of Zhu Xi.

Therefore, he attaches great importance to this in his heart. He also values ​​Li Yu’s talent very much——

Because his understanding of music is not as good as Li Yu, the drama creator. There may be more when you need him in the future! (End of chapter)