People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 401 Quarrel
"We must adhere to the public line. This has nothing to do with other things, but it is the foundation of our Xuanxia country. Since the foundation of our Xuanxia country is from the people, we must focus on people's livelihood. This is our responsibility. To seek benefits for the general public, this path cannot be shaken in the slightest!"

In the playground of the academy, the students gathered together, they stood around and watched the debate on the podium together.

When a student on the stage shouted out this sentence, the powerful momentum immediately resonated with many students, and immediately there was a burst of applause.

Just from this one scene, the heated and intense atmosphere on the scene can be clearly seen.

However, a debate is never a one-man show. Immediately, a student on the opposite side of the stage stepped forward and started talking while shaking his head.

"No, no, although Xuan Xia is based on the people's livelihood, it does not mean that we must take on all the responsibilities. If the court does not do these things, can the people do them too? Obviously not!"

At this time, all the students fell silent, and many of them nodded slightly, thinking that this statement made a lot of sense.

When the student who was speaking noticed the crowd's reaction, his confidence grew, and he began to speak louder.

"Why do we in Xuanxia want to promote industry and commerce? Isn't it because the vast merchant community can allocate social resources more flexibly and efficiently? If everything were handled by the government, would Xuanxia be so prosperous today?"

Having said this, the student paused and waved his index finger.

"Now, Xuanxia also has various government-run mines and privately-run mines. I believe everyone has a judgment on which one has better output quantity and quality. This example may illustrate the problem. For example, private enterprises can do the same or even better in such businesses as education, roads, medical care, grain, oil, salt, and iron. They can completely help the court share these social responsibilities for the people's livelihood!"

After he finished speaking, there was another round of cheers from the students in the audience. Regardless of whether his remarks were recognized by his classmates, they were at least quite convincing, so they naturally did not hesitate to praise him.

The student on the other end frowned, but was not stumped and responded quickly.

“This matter cannot be discussed in this way. Although merchants are flexible and efficient in running their businesses, it is nonsense to say that merchants help the court share social responsibilities.

Businessmen are profit-seeking in nature. Haven't you seen how they have been tirelessly corrupting the officials of Xuanxia and how they are cunning and deceitful in running their businesses? Every year, there are countless cases of tax evasion, counterfeit products, and food.

Merchants seek profit rather than justice. If we really hand over the livelihood of the people to them, I am afraid that one day the people will not be able to afford education or medical treatment. They cannot bear the social responsibility of the Xuanxia court!"

The students shouted and cheered one after another. In the distance, Xu Chen and Zhang Zhongjing had different reactions to this lively scene.

Xu Chen had a smile on his face and was quite interested, while Zhang Zhongjing looked more like someone who loved and hated him.

Needless to say, Xu Chen has never been afraid of the clash of ideologies. Although he has his own stance, he also allows different voices to exist.

Even if he himself knows what the right direction is, the general public does not know.

Rather than completely marking out a path for scholars, it is better to let people think and debate on their own.

The emergence of social consensus never happens suddenly. It either requires tremendous social changes, sufficient practice, or a sufficiently profound collision of social thoughts. Only then can people slowly reach a consensus after stumbling over it.

The last time such a critical moment occurred was during the time of the Hundred Schools of Thought in the pre-Qin period.

Now that a new era is about to begin, it also means that new social thoughts will emerge one after another. The current social debate is just a small part of the process.

As for Zhang Zhongjing's love and hate, it is not surprising. "These students in the academy are full of vigor and passion, but sometimes they are too much for us old guys to handle. Even if these guys see me, the principal, they will confront me. They are like calves who refuse to obey, and their hearts are higher than the sky."

Although Zhang Zhongjing was complaining, his lips were curled up while he spoke, and it was obvious that he was not really angry.

Xu Chen knew Zhang Zhongjing very well, but when he saw Zhang Zhongjing acting like a good boy after getting the upper hand, he curled his lips.

"Zhong Jing really can't control a group of young boys? If you are really willing to discipline them, I believe they will be more obedient when they see you than when they see their parents!"

"No, no, that would be meaningless."

Zhang Zhongjing laughed out loud, finally feeling comfortable with his joy.

Seeing such an era of flying ideas and colliding with each other and gathering of heroes, Zhang Zhongjing only regretted that he was no longer young and could not participate. How could he really be angry about it?

Today is a time when many schools of thought are emerging. Perhaps the second era of various schools of thought will be born in his hands. Whenever he thought of this, Zhang Zhongjing treated his students as treasures and would never let their spiritual energy be dampened.

Discipline does not exist. I am happy to be contradicted by them.
"The Prime Minister promoted this great debate, but never expressed his own views from beginning to end. This makes me very curious!"

Zhang Zhongjing changed the subject, looked around, and leaned over, pretending to speak in a low voice: "Whether the Prime Minister prefers a government-run or privately-run organization, why don't you tell me? I will definitely not leak it and will never affect the direction of this debate."

Xu Chen's attitude is also a mystery to the world, and no one is sure which side Xu Chen stands on.

If we stand on the side of government-run enterprises, then the sudden promotion of this debate seems redundant. But if we prefer private enterprises, then the previous system is indeed mainly government-run, which makes it very difficult to understand.

But it is precisely because of this that this debate was so intense. If Xu Chen's attitude had been exposed, the debate would not have continued.

The influence of the saint Xu Chen is too great. Even just one sentence can change the world's inclinations. Once Xu Chen expresses his attitude, the debate will lose its meaning because no one will choose to be against Xu Chen.

However, in response to Zhang Zhongjing's private inquiry, Xu Chen did not hide anything. He just raised his eyebrows and glanced at Zhang Zhongjing, then he spoke.

"Even if I don't say anything about this, Zhong Jing should have guessed it. With the system of Xuanxia, ​​we can only insist on government-run operations. As for the reason, the student just now has made it very clear that the merchant group cannot bear such social responsibility. The work of transfer payments can only be done by the court."

"I had some guesses, but I wasn't sure. Now I know, and it's exactly what I guessed."

Zhang Zhongjing looked as if he had expected this, but then he asked again: "Since the line is so clear, why did the prime minister push for this debate? Isn't it unnecessary and creating trouble out of nothing?"

Xu Chen shook his head and said quietly, "Arguing is never about convincing your opponent, but about convincing the audience."

Zhang Zhongjing was startled when he heard this. He savored the words carefully and felt that they were very clever. The simple and easy-to-understand words made him understand Xu Chen's intention: "In other words, this debate is fake, and the real purpose is to promote the court's line?"

Xu Chen smiled and said, "That's right. We need to break down the truth and explain it clearly. A nationwide debate is much more effective than reading from a script. When it comes to ideological matters, I always hope that people will think for themselves rather than accept complete indoctrination."

Zhang Zhongjing couldn't help but bow when he heard this: "Prime Minister, your opinion is great. I will learn from it."

(End of this chapter)