Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 253 Saint True Biography

   This group of scholars only realized the pain of farming after experiencing it for themselves.

Wang Shouren looked at the anger of the crowd, but he said calmly: "The pain of the farmers, I am here today, and I can only get a glimpse of it. We have only been farming here for half a day, and we are already complaining. , Planting seeds and planting seedlings in spring, diverting water for irrigation in summer, harvesting in autumn, and in winter, they have to deal with the government’s corvee, all year round, which shows how hard they are.”

After all, Wang Shouren smiled, and then continued: "We always say that agriculture is the foundation of the country. This is the foundation of the country, and everyone attaches great importance to it. But throughout the ages, so many scholars have attached importance to farming. How many people are willing to bend down and try the hardships of farming? I don’t know the hardships, but talk about farming, so how can we realize the "benevolent government" that the saint said?"

  Everyone fell silent. The one who scolded was no longer the person who wrote the persuasive book, but even them all scolded.

  But... Surprisingly, no one stood up to refute Wang Shouren's words, and even those scholars who were going to criticize Wang Shouren also chose to remain silent at this moment.

Wang Shouren said again: "Taking advantage of this gap, let me talk about the same reasoning again. The so-called same reasoning is actually very simple. Look at the persuasive book just now. The person who wrote this article is not well-educated? Books... are you not good at reading? Or, are you not smart enough?"

   Everyone shook their heads, even Zhu Houzhao shook his head.

  Such a wonderful article, and it was designated as a model by the imperial court, so the person who wrote this article was at least an Hanlin. In this world, who dares to say that Hanlin learning is not good enough, not smart enough?

"But why do you disdain this article? In fact... the problem is obvious. It is because the person who wrote this article lacks empathy. He has no way of knowing the hardships of farmers. How to harvest, so he only has a good imagination about farming."

"Scholars have beautiful imaginations. This is not a bad thing. Poems and songs have been sung for thousands of years. Which one is not touching? It's just... If you want to use this imagination to realize the benevolent government of the saints, that's bad. At least it's just making trouble. Make a joke, say it to Dali, it will harm the country and the people, and in the end...a benevolent government has turned into a tyrannical government, and good intentions have done bad things."

   "Since the Ming Dynasty, there have been countless virtuous ministers and capable ministers, which one is not extremely intelligent, but do you think that in the past hundred years, there has been a scene of what the sages call a world of great rule?"

   Everyone shook their heads again, and Zhu Houzhao also shook his head.

  The truth is easy to see! Although everyone can say that today is a peaceful world, but if you talk about great governance, you can only talk about it at best. Such things can't be taken seriously. Everyone's heart is like a mirror.

Wang Shouren said with a smile: "But in the past hundred years, no, even if it didn't start from the Ming Dynasty, there was no great rule in the Tang and Song Dynasties. At most, the world has been peaceful for a hundred years. So, where is the problem? It is in the temple. , It also comes from the government and the opposition, from you and me. We are all people of fame and reputation, and we have received the grace of the country, but scholars like you and me, although we claim to be smart and knowledgeable, we have no empathy. How difficult is it to govern the country and the world, how can it be done easily by just learning, if you can govern the country and the world just by studying, then the world would have been governed by the time of Confucius and Mencius.”

  Everyone was silent again.

   This time, it seemed that he was slowly digesting Wang Shouren's words.

  Wang Shouren's words are very simple, without much meaning, just like his current image, his body is covered with dirt, his long sleeves have already been rolled up, and he doesn't have the elegance of a scholar.

   Liu Jian, who was standing not far away, also began to think about it.

  Whether he agrees with it or not in his heart, listening to everyone yelling at that ridiculous persuasion book makes him lose the slightest bit of temper now.

   This made him blush a little, but he realized that even if he wanted to refute the book of persuasion to agriculture, or Cheng Zhu Neo Confucianism, it was difficult to find any excuses.

  …

   "The next step is the simplicity of the great way. So what is the way? What does the sage advocate?"

  Wang Shouren looked at everyone with a smile and asked.

  Scholars are silent again, the knowledge of the sage is so profound, they have studied hard for decades, but they can only catch a glimpse of the leopard, thinking that they have picked up a little bit of wisdom, who dares to claim that they have obtained the truth of the sage.

  However, one person stretched out his hand and said, "I know, I know."

   Everyone looked at that person, isn't it the bragging scholar Zhu Shou?

  Seeing Zhu Shou speak so boldly, everyone's faces dropped.

  Who is this person, so shameless?

   Are you also worthy to know the truth of the saints?

  Wang Shouren took a look at Zhu Houzhao and smiled. His mentor had secretly instructed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would come to study, so Wang Shouren need not be surprised, just treat the Crown Prince as an ordinary person.

  Wang Shouren is a very down-to-earth person. He will do what his mentor says. After all, he is a person who has seen the world.

  Wang Shouren smiled and said: "Zhu Xiucai, tell me."

  Seeing Wang Shouren pointing to him, Zhu Houzhao excitedly said with his hands behind his back: "Isn't the principle of a sage very simple? It is nothing more than diligent study, filial piety, loyalty to the emperor, and benevolent government. It is clearly written in the Analects of Confucius!"

   "..."

  The scholars around him all wished to strangle Zhu Houzhao to death, you are so shameless, you are still in good spirits.

  You can sum up the sage's truth in one sentence? Who are you, have you read the Four Books, and you still talk about the Analects of Confucius, have you read the Spring and Autumn Annals? How many thought-provoking truths there are in the allusions in the Spring and Autumn Period, what a shameless person...

   At this time, Liu Jian's footsteps were gradually approaching. When he heard that Zhu Houzhao was going to answer the question, he couldn't help pricking up his ears, but after hearing Zhu Houzhao's answer, he couldn't help but smiled wryly.

  His Royal Highness, the ignorant are really fearless.

  …

   But at this time, Wang Shouren said: "That's right, it's all right. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness are the essence of the saint's way. Zhu Xiucai revealed the truth of the saint with one word, which is very admirable..."

  Zhu Hou is happy.

  He suddenly discovered that this knowledge is really interesting.

Compared with Yang Zhan, he is a person who cares about everything at every turn. He has learned a lot of knowledge from him for several years, but in the end, he still said that there are roads in the mountains of books, and that the sea of ​​learning is boundless. Loaded, nothing is done.

  Is this kind of book read by humans? After reading it for more than twenty years, every day you talk about how you are hanging on your shoulders, but in the end you have achieved nothing, you have achieved nothing, and you still teach me to follow it? Doesn't this Gong study for a lifetime, but also want to achieve nothing? Then what's the use of learning...

  Mr. Wang's speech sounds very pleasant.

   Seeing many people is puzzled.

Wang Shouren said with a smile: "You must have a lot of doubts in your heart. In fact, most of the people who came here today are newcomers. The reason why I asked this question involves the simplicity of the Tao. The study of sages is like Buddhism. The Buddha said compassion, and if one has good thoughts in one’s heart, one is a Buddha. If one abandons the root of goodness, what is the use of living alone in an old temple in the mountains and reciting Buddhist scriptures all one’s life? The same is true for the study of saints. It is nothing more than loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness. The Four Books and Five Classics are just to tell everyone why loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness should be upheld. It can be read, but it should not be over-interpreted. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness are knowledge. That is conscience."

"Thus, with conscience, there is a unity of knowledge and action. As long as people stick to their conscience and then let go of doing it, this is action. Just like we just plowed the land, plowing the land is action, and the process of arable land In the process, even though you and I have empathy, at the same time, you have actually learned more knowledge. The more you practice, the more you learn. Now that you have learned the way of a sage, you will be able to distinguish what is good Yes, what is bad, what is unkind, what is disloyal and unfilial, such personnel, you have to avoid him."

"But if you think this is beneficial, why don't you do it? The great sages of ancient times, such as the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, Shennong who tasted a hundred herbs, and Dayu who controlled the water, all of these sages were implementing benevolence and righteousness, just like us Zhu Xiucai, he already knows what loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness are. Today, when he cultivates the land, he has sympathy for the farmers and has learned a lot of knowledge. During the process, he has also mastered the method of farming. Then, in the future, if he can be named on the gold list and become an official in the court, he will not make the same mistakes as the book that advises agriculture. Actions can also implement true knowledge. The avenue will only make the avenue farther and farther away from you.'

  Zhu Houzhao laughed triumphantly. He had to say that this should be the first person in this world who said that he had understood the way of a sage. He was a talented person who had received the true biography of a sage.

   But the scholars are all thoughtful, and the negative teaching material of the book of persuading agriculture makes them laughable, and the Hanlin who wrote this article is not the person who pursues the Tao in the study that Mr. Wang said?

  Someone couldn't help but said, "How can scholars plow the land?"

  Wang Shouren glanced at the person who raised the question: "It's not just the cultivation of land, the six arts of a gentleman. It can be seen that scholars not only need to learn etiquette, but also need to know vocal music, riding and archery, driving chariots and horses, running script, and arithmetic."

"Since all of the above needs to be learned, why not learn to farm? Scholars, if you don't learn more about the world, how can you help the world? My brother Xu Jing, who knows astronomy at the top and geography at the bottom, is very helpful to me. Admired. Another senior brother, painting is a masterpiece, and I am also very impressed. The world is full of knowledge, and the principles of saints are used to correct your mind. There is no way to tell you how to do things. You already have it in your heart. The way of a sage, if you can be honest and sincere, do you still expect the sage who was more than a thousand years ago to guide you how to help the world and implement benevolent government?"

  (end of this chapter)