Chapter 158: Universal and Extensive

The facts were just as Zhu Yijun thought.

The debate sparked by Gu Xiancheng's lecture did not stop even after everyone returned to their own homes.

Instead, the situation has intensified because they all control the newspaper mouthpieces.

Early this morning, Gu Xiancheng reviewed and summarized the content of yesterday's lecture, published it in the "Donglin Journal", and disseminated it everywhere - the speed of output showed that he had obviously not slept all night.

As usual, he first discussed his proposition, which is that the essence of life is good, and the effort is to be careful.

For the sake of gradual progress, the article mainly focuses on the former theory of human nature and the transition from ontology to kung fu.

Disagreements with other schools also focus on ontology.

If there are dissenting opinions, they will naturally be pulled out in the article and criticized. The theory that there is no good or evil and the theory that human nature is evil are both included, and the one that spends the most space is Li Zhi's theory of following the world.

A special edition was even opened for this purpose, with a short story inserted into it.

Let’s talk about Gu Xiancheng’s lecture yesterday. The ceiling was falling and golden lotuses were emerging from the ground. Everyone present nodded in agreement.

Li Zhi, the founder of the theory of conscience and following the world, was worried about the threat posed by Gu Xiancheng's doctrine. He lost his appetite and sneaked in to eavesdrop.

If you don't listen, then it's fine. But once you listen, you will know that your theoretical flaws have been pointed out and the key points have been exposed.

So Li Zhi became angry and humiliated, and went on stage to speak nonsense, saying that the sage was dead and that he was the supreme leader.

However, he avoided talking about the academic deficiency pointed out by him, which was like a shrew scolding in the street, which was really ugly.

Gu Xiancheng described Li Zhi's words and deeds as "the true face of a hypocrite who always uses the whole world and the people as a pretext", and advised everyone to stay away from such doctrines that sound better than they sound.

In fact, Gu Xiancheng's newspaper had just emerged, and its workmanship was not as good as that of the Tongzhengsi. It also lacked the interest brought by novels and current affairs pages, and its sales were very average.

Even if it is published in newspapers, few people will read it.

But after all, he was a famous teacher, and Gu Xiancheng did not expect to make money from this. He simply waved his hand and came up with the gimmick of "one-article promotion".

There are no useless products, only useless prices. Gu Xiancheng sold three thousand copies in the morning almost for free, which means the total sales amounted to three taels of silver.

The market price of rough-edged paper was fifty-six wen for a pack of ten sheets, so Gu Xiancheng's approach was definitely not profitable.

Regardless of whether it makes money or not, the discussion about it instantly became a hot topic.

The candidates who came to Beijing to take the imperial examinations used it as a pastime.

The students of the Imperial College regarded it as a fun thing.

Official families used this to gauge the trend of the scholar community.

Even the Buddhist and Taoist sects cast curious glances.

In particular, Gu Xiancheng's theory has a solid foundation, probably because he was taught by a famous teacher and his ontology is so complete that it is almost the culmination of all the theories of the past dynasties.

He cited Confucius and Mencius at the top, absorbed King Zhu in the middle, and had a sense of change at the bottom.

Everyone who saw him praised him highly, saying that he would become a great scholar in time.

For a time, Gu Xiancheng gained great reputation, and everyone knew that there was such a handsome scholar from a famous family in the capital.

Correspondingly, the other protagonist of the story, Li Zhi, naturally became the focus of everyone's attention.

Gu Xiancheng has made his move. How should this heretical "celebrity" from the Taizhou School respond?
People are all preconceived.

As Gu Xiancheng said, whether Li Zhi was disdainful or had not thought of the wording well, he did not respond to the theoretical flaw pointed out by Gu Xiancheng, which is the word "confusion".

You say that morality follows the world and conscience changes at any time, so isn't the standard of morality and conscience chaotic and unclear?

If the principles are confused, how can we have a clear conscience?

So how would Li Zhi respond to Gu Xiancheng's questioning? Would he make a specious argument? Or come up with something original? Or would he just ignore it?
The audience had high expectations for Li Zhi's reaction.

Fortunately, the spectators did not have to wait too long.

The day after Gu Xiancheng's article appeared in the newspaper, the Xin Bao finally came out after much anticipation.

"The New Paper! The latest issue of the New Paper!"

"The Taizhou School versus the Nanzhong Wang Sect!"

"Shock! Conscience follows worldly theory and breaks through again! See first and get first!"

As expected, an article by Li Zhi was published in this issue of the newspaper.

As soon as the newspaper came out, it was sold out.

The scholars, Confucian scholars, Buddhists and Taoists in the capital were all eager to read it.

The title was "Conscience is universal and follows the world." It was rare for the Xin Bao to publish classical Chinese articles, so they even used space to translate it into vernacular Chinese, apparently to take the audience into consideration.

The article does not start with a direct statement, but instead creatively adds a subheading below, which even seems to be forcibly inserted - people are the starting point and the end point.

The curious person savored it for a while and finally got a slight taste of it before continuing to read on.

"I have seen that having sex in the wild among mulberry trees was a proper custom in ancient times, but is now considered unchaste; a son committing adultery with his mother is a custom of the barbarians, but is incest in the Han. I cannot impose on others what I do not wish for myself."

"Why?"

"Times and the consciences of the peoples show differences in morality."

"Is this the difference in the principles of heaven? Is this the difference in the nature of the body? This is the difference in the essence of the body!"

"I have already said it above, so I won't repeat it again."

"Some say, the laws of nature are in chaos, the times are in chaos, the universe is confused, you and I are confused, how can there be any conscience?"

"I believe that filial piety and respect for parents are principles that have been followed by all ages; killing someone means paying with one's life, and both barbarians and savages believe that being gentle, kind, respectful and frugal is something that you and I share."

"Why?"

"The times and the morals of all peoples are converging, which is also the same in essence, the so-called common essence that emerges from the abstraction."

"I have always believed that morality and conscience are the pursuit of the common interests of all people. What I do not want, I will extend to others, and what others do not want, I will extend to myself."

“To extend one’s own kindness to others is the nature of all people; to be common to all ages is the principle of civilization; to exist universally is the way of heaven and earth.”

“Therefore, the good moral principles of the world are not mixed and without standard, but are universal in the world and abstract in one.”

"The bridge between the essence and Kung Fu, this is what is called..."

"Universal morality!"

……

When it comes to war debates, of course, there is more to it than fierce clashes on the surface; the undercurrents beneath the surface are also indispensable.

An uninvited guest arrived at Xu Jie's residence.

Young Master Xu is already quite old, but today he had a rare look of respect on his face. He helped an old man to sit down in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

The old man's face was full of wrinkles, and his whole body exuded the aura of the five signs of decay.

"You should take good care of yourself while your uncle is not at home. Why do you have to come to Beijing for no reason?" Xu Jie looked at the old man and thought to himself that this was a difficult matter.

The old man was already out of breath just from the simple action of sitting down.

Just as Xu Jie was about to let go of the old man, he suddenly found his arm being gripped by a dry hand.

He turned around and saw the old man lying on a chair with his eyes half closed. He said with his lips slightly parted: "I will probably die as soon as the weather warms up."

"You have always liked to be alone. Before I die, I will try to be alone by your side and see if I can become a saint in this period of time."

Xu Jie didn't take the joke seriously and sat down next to the old man: "Even if Master Uncle wanted to help Gu Xiancheng, why did he come to me? I am so miserable now."

The old man leaned his head on the chair and scared Xu Jie. Fortunately, he continued to speak: "He is at most Ouyang De's disciple, and he is not as close to me as I am. How can I use the word 'open eyes'? He is just taking care of the new talent."

Xu Jie remained silent.

The old man in front of me, whose name is Qian Hongde, is a serious student of Wang Yangming - the kind of student who was responsible for sorting out Wang Yangming's manuscripts after his death.

Xu Jie's teacher Nie Bao was at best an outer disciple of the School of Mind.

At the moment, it is almost like a saint's outer disciple meeting the saint's direct disciple. Every time he calls him "uncle master", he is honoring his deceased teacher.

This is also the reason why Xu Jie was respectful. He might not care, but his teacher who considered himself as Yangming's student definitely cared.

The meaning of Qian Dehong's words is also very clear. This is the consensus of the cultivation and verification school, not just his own opinion.

Seeing that Xu Jie didn't say anything, Qian Dehong waved his hand and continued, "I have already gone to look for Gao Yi, Lu Diaoyang, Wang Zongmu and others. Don't worry about me causing trouble for you."

"Besides, when you were the Prime Minister and held the Lingji Palace Conference, you invited Ouyang De but refused to invite me. I was jealous but dared not say anything. It is precisely because you are in such a bad state that I dare not come to your house without asking for permission."

Gao Yi, Lu Diaoyang, and Wang Zongmu, these three are all disciples of the School of Mind. For example, Lu Diaoyang was taught by Cheng Wende, and Gao Yi was a student of Qian Dehong.

As one of the world's professors with three masters and seven certificates, Qian still has some respectability today.

Hearing this, Xu Jie sighed and said, "Uncle Master, just speak frankly."

Qian Dehong nodded, tapped the table with his dry fingers, and said, "Have you read the debate in today's newspaper?"

Xu Jie finally showed some expression on his face. He couldn't help but sneer, "Your disciple is very courageous, but his ability is sparse. I think he is no match for Li Zhi."

It would be strange if Xu Jie had a good face. After all, Gu Xiancheng had insulted him in public the day before, and used him, a member of the Guiji sect, as a target to be shot.

Now, seeing that Li Zhi won countless followers as soon as he put forward his theory, it is inevitable to feel a little refreshed.

Qian Dehong waved his hand gently and said, "Children don't know much. Just polish it a little bit and it will be ready."

He paused, then tremblingly took out a newspaper from his sleeve, and said with some lingering fear: "It is this Li Zhi... He is a little too unorthodox and shocking." Unorthodox refers to the argument and shocking refers to the level.

Xu Jie did not go to pick up the newspaper, as he had read it countless times.

Xu Jie, who had just shared the same hatred for the enemy, nodded his head as if possessed by ghosts when hearing this, and muttered to himself: "Universal morality... is indeed like the words of ghosts and gods."

Li Zhi's theories are so misleading.

As soon as the news was published in the newspaper today, the situation immediately reversed.

Those who had previously been hesitant and fond of Gu Xiancheng's theories began to recite the sutra of universal values ​​on the spot.

The two were silent for a moment.

After a while, Qian Dehong finally made a move.

He pointed at the line of words above, raised his head and looked at Xu Jie, his voice hoarse and serious: "The second one is fine, but the one about universal values, is Li Zhi trying to promote the emperor's tricks, or is it simply the emperor's attitude!?"

"The New Newspaper is the backyard of the academy. Lu Diaoyang said that only you can tell the difference. What do you think?!"

It is certain that the emperor has his back behind Li Zhi, otherwise Li Zhi would not have been set up as a target. Wasn't it just to correct the emperor's evil intentions?

But there is also a saying in it.

The original intention of the above statement is good, but it has been misled, which is completely different from the original intention of the above statement being distorted.

If this article really contains the shadow of the emperor, then compared with the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty, he was probably wise enough to reject advice and eloquent enough to cover up his mistakes.

But the sentence "People are the starting point and the destination" carries the shadow of the emperor.

And there is no coincidence in the world.

According to Li Sancai, someone who looked like the emperor appeared at the venue that night. Although no news spread in the palace, no one dared to treat it lightly.

Being at a disadvantage in the academic dispute is only a temporary thing. Even if Gu Xiancheng is not capable of it, these old guys can still help behind the scenes - isn't this the benefit of running a newspaper?
But what if the emperor relies on the power of his bloodline to overturn the table?
So, Qian Dehong had to drag his old body around to inquire while shouting that it was a lack of martial ethics.

As soon as Qian Dehong finished asking this question.

Xu Jie immediately shook his head and said firmly: "Uncle Master, Your Majesty is of such status that he would never lower himself to co-author something with others. And Li Zhi is so arrogant that he would never become a mouthpiece for others."

"This great article has nothing to do with Your Majesty. At most, there is a sentence in the subtitle, which Your Majesty added on a whim."

Qian Hongde was skeptical and frowned without saying anything.

Xu Jie comforted him again: "Uncle Master, even if Shen Shixing and Gao Yi guarantee Gu Xiancheng, as long as His Majesty does not agree, the Donglin Journal will not be published."

"Now that the newspaper has been established, isn't it obvious that Your Majesty wants to open up the channels of public opinion?"

"Uncle Master, based on my understanding of His Majesty, he will definitely not do anything treacherous."

These words made sense, and Qian Dehong's expression eased slightly.

His face gradually became a little rosy, and he was no longer panting. Instead, he stood up, patted Xu Jie on the shoulder and said, "I believe you. If I really offend the emperor, I will die in your house."

Xu Jie smiled bitterly on his old face: "Uncle Master, please stop teasing me. I'd better go back and prepare to debate with Li Zhi. This universal moral theory is really hard to deal with."

After saying that, he wanted to help Qian Dehong out.

Qian Dehong waved his hand and left.

Xu Jie walked back into the house only after seeing Qian Dehong's figure completely leave. He saw the newspaper that Qian Dehong did not take away and picked it up.

He subconsciously looked at the line that Qian Dehong had just pointed at.

"..."

"In the pre-Qin period, the whole country was ordered to transport hay and millet from Huang, Shui, and Langya counties across the sea to the north of the Yellow River, with thirty zhong for every dan."

"Today, 4 million dan of grain was transported to Beijing, but only 70,000 dan was lost. Why is that? It's because the grain transport is becoming more and more sophisticated."

"From the slash-and-burn farming to the rise of waterwheels, plows, plow carts, and levers."

"Why has the yield per mu increased so much? Because the craftsman's skills have become more advanced."

"Strange skills and tricks have brought countless benefits to the people, and are of great benefit to all. Isn't this the morality of the changing times?"

“Isn’t this morality universal?”

"Therefore, one of the universal morals, I would say..."

"progress"

……

Yanfu Villa.

Wang Shizhen gently handed the new newspaper in his hand to the Minister of Justice Zhang Han.

He sighed, "What a universal morality! Li Zhi has already escaped the cage of the Taizhou School and formed his own school. I am really amazed."

Although he was a leader of the literary world who was involved in forming societies and discussing politics, and who delved into poetry, songs and influence, his attainments in classics were also not bad.

In Wang Shizhen's opinion, once Li Zhi published this article, he wondered how many people would become his disciples.

If he were given the opportunity to run it... he couldn't imagine how big a stir it could create. By then, he might be able to create the largest association.

Zhang Han took the new report in his hand and sighed, "I was wondering why there were so many people blocking the way outside the Ministry of Justice today. It turns out that it was Li Zhi who did it."

During the Chinese New Year, although there is no court attendance, people in the government office still have to take turns on duty. He, the Shangshu, and two vice-ministers serve as hall officials, and they take turns on duty every three days.

Wang Shizhen couldn't help but laugh at the misfortune that befell this friend of his age difference: "We are only talking about the essence now, and haven't started to discuss the skills yet."

"A person who likes to do something nostalgic cannot wait to find out. Since there is no follow-up information, he will naturally look for the best place to find it."

Zhang Han subconsciously poked his fingers at the new newspaper.

He murmured to himself: "It's easier said than done."

Apart from anything else, all officials know that the Ministry of Justice is only responsible for maintaining stability.

Once Li Zhi's theory came out, people's minds changed, and troubles were bound to follow.

Wang Shizhen was indifferent to the matter and even praised aloud: "So you have to work hard on your 'Kung Fu' to become a saint! I'm already looking forward to what Li Zhi will say about 'Kung Fu'."

"Universal morality, universal conscience, what a universality!"

"I don't know how Gu Xiancheng will respond."

Zhang Han shook his head: "Take it? Isn't the purpose of his newspaper to facilitate Xue Yingqi and other great scholars to come forward? If not now, when?"

He lost interest in talking, rolled up the new newspaper in his sleeve, and bowed to leave.

Wang Shizhen did not keep Zhang Han and stood up to see him off.

He looked at Zhang Han's back, his thoughts wandering.

This is just ontology. If the argument has reached this point, when it comes to talking about kung fu, won’t it be a complete commotion?
Wang Shizhen turned around and looked at the manuscript written by himself, which was hidden deepest in his bookshelf. For a moment, he felt a little scared.

But after Zhang Han bid farewell to Wang Shizhen and left the manor, he felt upset as soon as he got into the carriage.

He took out another new newspaper from his sleeve, looked at the article by Li Zhi, frowned and thought deeply.

"..."

"What is the use of progress? To benefit the people."

"The heart of one person is the heart of thousands of people."

“When the nobles wear brocade, the people also love beautiful clothes; when the nobles enjoy delicacies, the people also hope to have enough food and clothing; when the nobles live in luxurious houses, the people also want to sleep peacefully.”

"How can the nobles want gold to be higher than the pivot of the Big Dipper, but not allow the common people to have even a small amount of chaff?"

"Why is this against universal principles? It's unfair!"

"So, the second universal morality, what I foolishly call it..."

"fair"

……

"Fair! Progress! Universal!"

"Fair! Progress! Universal!"

In a classroom in the Imperial College, the students spoke in unison, as if they had become followers of Li Zhi.

Li Kun passed by unintentionally and shrank his neck in fear.

He originally came to return borrowed books and borrow a few new ones - when students from provincial schools went to Beijing to take the imperial examinations, they could also borrow books from the Imperial College. This was the benefit of being a student.

Who would have thought that as soon as I went out, all the scholars and candidates I met were talking about fairness and progress.

I don't know where I learned this trick from.

I thought the Imperial College would be better, but it turned out not to be much better.

The exam is in half a month, but instead of focusing on taking the test calmly, you just keep following the crowd all day long. What is this?
Li Kun shook his head, holding a few books in his arms, and quickly left the school and walked towards the classics hall - he didn't care what others said, he would definitely turn a deaf ear to the outside world and concentrate on reading the books of sages.

After a while.

Li Kun walked out of the Imperial College, shaking his head, holding three newly borrowed books and a new newspaper.

He murmured to himself: "Fairness...progress...fairness...progress..."

(End of this chapter)