fifth form

Chapter 2302: Agricultural Warfare Power
Zhang Xuezhou and Dong Zhongshu talked a lot.

It involves using the position of Taizhong Daifu to promote rituals, targeting the King of Huainan, influencing the new emperor's thinking, fortune-telling, and Dong Zhongshu's extremely special practice of true self.

The topic they talked about was so complicated that even Dong Zhongshu had to adjust his mentality.

Zhang Xuezhou also chose to take a carriage to the palace in the early morning after spending half a day preparing.

He always likes a fast pace and has no intention of procrastinating at all.

"What, Dongfang Shuo went to the palace?"

The sage's theory of great unification originated from Dong Zhongshu, but when Dong Zhongshu heard Zhang Xuezhou's exchange of ideas on martial arts, he once again fell into thinking and revision, and the time it took him to regain his senses was actually longer than that of Zhang Xuezhou.

It was not until the third watch when Dong Zhongshu was eating that he learned the news that Zhang Xuezhou had gone to the palace.

"He...what is he going to say?"

Dong Zhongshu was well-versed in the classics and could speak eloquently, and he spoke many of them with his mouth.

However, the request raised by Zhang Xuezhou put him in a dilemma, and he had to revise the content he had prepared before coming.

Before Dong Zhongshu could start to explain the contents of his compilation, Zhang Xuezhou had already run to the palace.

Obviously, Dong Zhongshu compiled one copy and Zhang Xuezhou also compiled one copy.

However, Dong Zhongshu did not know what Zhang Xuezhou would say, or whether it would have a sufficiently beneficial impact on Confucianism.

"Only when the world respects Confucianism and Confucianism is the only one respected, can I achieve the unification of Confucianism and literature, and thus obtain the simplest basic conditions for great unification!"

Dong Zhongshu looked towards the direction of the imperial palace in Chang'an City. He couldn't help but blink his eyes, with all kinds of thoughts in his mind.

In the imperial palace, Zhang Xuezhou this time stood obediently in a row in the main hall of Weiyang Palace, listening drowsily to the court officials' arguings. The new emperor, sitting on the throne in the main hall of Weiyang Palace, listened to the officials' discussions with an expressionless face.

"Lord Dongfang, it's rare for you to participate in government affairs. I wonder if you have any suggestions for correcting the etiquette?"

The ministers were noisy for two hours, and Prime Minister Xu Chang only politely asked Zhang Xuezhou when the discussion was almost over.

There were also ministers who looked back and forth at the officials, paying attention to the official uniforms they were wearing.

In the end, everyone felt that there was nothing wrong, and even the picky doctor Taizhong couldn't find any fault.

In the early days of Zhang Xuezhou's etiquette reform, there were many people who cursed him, but after everyone got used to it, they felt that it was no big deal. They just wore the official uniform provided by the court, and it was not difficult. If they wore the wrong one, they could just change into another one and enter the palace. After finishing their official business, they could change back if they didn't want to wear it anymore.

It wasn't a hassle, and after everyone stopped complaining, they found that this etiquette was pretty good.

At least everyone in the court was dressed clearly and their seats were clearly distinguished, so there would be no more mistaking people for each other.

This small change caused some initial discomfort, but it worked out great after the change.

At this time, no one made a mistake, no one was punished, and no one had any complaints against Zhang Xuezhou.

If we encounter some etiquette reforms again, everyone will be able to accept it to a certain extent.

"I have a method to make the country strong, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not?" Zhang Xuezhou said after thinking for a few seconds.

"Not talking about the reform of etiquette?" Prime Minister Xu Chang asked in surprise.

"Am I only allowed to talk about etiquette reform in my position and not other matters?" Zhang Xuezhou asked. "If I can't, then I have nothing to say!"

"The court officials have their own duties, but they cannot stop talking." Xu Chang said: "If Lord Dongfang has a way to strengthen the country, you can present it in the court!"

"Dongfang Shuo, if you have any method to make the country strong, please tell us!" In the court, the new emperor sat on a high position, which was rare.

But the government affairs remained the same as usual. This was the home turf of Xuchang and Zhuang Qingzhai, and many court officials were headed by these two.

Rather than saying that the court officials respected Xu Chang and others, it would be more accurate to say that the court officials respected Anle Palace.

The new emperor was not happy with this kind of court discussion, but the timing for his replacement was not yet right, so he could only endure it for the time being.

Suddenly seeing his people making statements in the court, the new emperor felt more delighted and interested, and expressed his support from the high seat in the court.

"The foundation of a country's prosperity is farming and warfare. Farming can provide people with ample food and clothing, while warfare can protect the Han Dynasty," Zhang Xuezhou said. "But the court's method of seeking official positions and titles is not farming and warfare, but relying on clever words and connections. This forces the people to learn to be treacherous and cunning, or to be obsessed with personal connections. This style of work will not only fail to prosper the country, but will mislead the people and damage the foundation of our Han Dynasty. A monarch who is good at governing the country will teach the people to obtain official positions and titles by concentrating on farming. This will make the people simple and not dissolute."

"Oh?"

"When the people see that the benefits the country brings to them are all through farming and warfare, they will inevitably move in this direction, thus making our Han Dynasty even more powerful!"

The new emperor sitting on the high throne in the court just said "Oh", but many of the ministers in the court changed their expressions drastically.

Everyone has to have three points of strength in the court, three points of connections, and three points of sweet talk to be able to enter the court.

Zhang Xuezhou's remarks were extremely critical, and even Prime Minister Xu Chang was embarrassed.

The reason why Xu Chang was able to ascend to the position of prime minister was because of his relationship with the Empress Dowager of Anle Palace. He also obeyed Anle Palace's orders, thus being able to become one of the Three Dukes.

"It's easier said than done. Lord Dongfang's words are just a kind of sweet talk," Xu Chang frowned.

"It seems that Lord Dongfang's official position is not derived from farming and fighting," Zhuang Qingzhai said.

"indeed!"

"That's right!"

"It's easy to talk when you're standing still. Dongfang Shuo, your own position doesn't even qualify you to be a strong country!"

"Why does Dongfang Shuo's words sound a bit like those of the Agricultural School?"

"The same is true for the Legalists. The tyrannical Qin ruled the country according to the Legalists, and carried out the practice of conferring titles through war, which led to the demise of the second emperor!"

……

Xu Chang and Zhuang Qingzhai, the weather vanes of the court, spoke at the same time, and all the ministers immediately echoed them, and some people also blamed Zhang Xuezhou.

"If you think I hold this office unjustly, impeach me!"

Zhang Xuezhou shouted, which suppressed the complaints of many officials.

No matter how wide-ranging the criticisms made by Zhang Xuezhou today are, these are the officials chosen by Anle Palace.

For the officials of Anle Palace who belonged to the mainstream faction of the Empress Dowager in the court, they could curse him, but everyone had a clear sense of propriety. As long as Zhang Xuezhou did not overthrow anyone blatantly, no one would take the initiative to overthrow Zhang Xuezhou.

After Zhang Xuezhou had been shouting for a while, everyone laughed at him, but no one came to criticize him or overthrow him.

This inevitably made Zhang Xuezhou very disappointed.

He had already fired the cannon, and there was a wave of opposition from everyone, but no one held a grudge against him for it, and no official impeached him for his long absence from government affairs.

A great opportunity was right before their eyes, especially since the new emperor was also waiting eagerly on the high throne, and would immediately agree as soon as someone mentioned impeaching Zhang Xuezhou.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xuezhou made a lot of noise for a while, and even though everyone was scolding him, no one took the initiative to jump out.