I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 188 The idea of ​​a library
The emperor's preparations to open the Capital Tongwen Museum were quickly sent to the six ministries through the cabinet.

Liu Yisui, Ye Xianggao and other Donglin people were already on good terms with the Western French Party, so they were happy to see the success and did not stop it.

Only the Zhejiang Party and other people were excited, secretly saying that Your Majesty is really confused. These Western monks asked the believers not to respect Confucius and not to kneel down to worship their parents and ancestors.

How can the imperial court reuse such people who violate family relations and are treasonous and unethical? It is really a big joke in the world to have to translate their classics.

In particular, Shen Guan's reaction was the most intense. He was the main person in charge of the Nanjing Teaching Project. If this was opened, all his previous efforts would be in vain. How could he maintain his authority?

Therefore, when he saw the emperor's criticism, he did not care about the emperor's opinion. When he requested to see the emperor, he had to make a statement in person.

Zhu Youxiao had also expected Shen Guan's reaction. After all, such a large-scale translation work was rarely seen before, not to mention that many people in the West had never heard of it. Naturally, there was great resistance and violent reactions. I believe it won’t be long before not only the Zhejiang Party but also other conservative officials will write letters opposing this matter.

"Your Majesty, this Western religion has ulterior motives. It makes believers not be filial to their parents and not worship their ancestors. This is contrary to Chinese etiquette and is completely contrary to the ulterior motives. I beg your Majesty not to let this kind of evil religion do whatever it takes just for temporary gain. Spread it and destroy the foundation of China."

As soon as Shen Guan came up, he labeled the Western religion as unfaithful and unfilial. In the Ming Dynasty, which ruled the world with filial piety, this was an unforgivable crime.

When Zhu Youxiao heard what he said, he knew that this idea was not groundless. It was the view of many conservative officials and scholar-bureaucrats. What was the use of this unfaithful and unfilial Western religion?

It's just that if Zhu Youxiao was an ignorant child, he would really believe it. Unfortunately, he was from later generations, so he naturally knew that although what Shen Guan said had some truth, it was also a generalization.

What is disloyal and unfilial is too much to say.

Some Catholic etiquette and rules are indeed not in line with China. Zhu Youxiao’s idea is to make it the same as Buddhism. You must follow the local customs, carry out local transformation, and cut off ties with Europe. When the time comes, the pope will appoint bishops and you will not be able to kneel down except God. Wait, all are abolished. Since it is spread in the Ming Dynasty, it must abide by the rules of the Ming Dynasty, otherwise it cannot be spread.

"Okay, okay, get up. When Buddhism was introduced to China in the Han Dynasty, the situation was even worse than this. The precepts of not being able to marry, not being filial to your parents, etc. were even worse than those of Western Buddhism. Aren't they doing it well now? How about Western Buddhism? Teaching is not enough. Besides, I only asked him to translate Western works, and I did not allow them to preach on a large scale. My dear, there is no need to be so anxious."

Although the emperor patiently explained it to him, Shen Guan could not accept it. In his opinion, translating Western books was more terrifying than spreading Western religion. In the past, China paid tribute to the surrounding countries or spread culture to barbarian lands. Now these people actually pay tribute to the Chinese. If the spread of culture continues like this, many people will inevitably learn Western knowledge. Wouldn't this make it easier for Western religion to spread and poison the people of our country?

He is now willing to fight for it. Now it is no longer a dispute over political opinions, but a battle over culture. If the emperor is not allowed to take back his orders today, how will he face the Confucian sages?

"The difference between your Majesty's words is that Buddhism is exquisite and can make up for the shortcomings of China. How can it be compared with Western religion? The distance between the West and the Ming Dynasty is no less than ten thousand miles. The people of Fo Langji came here by boat and were lawless. They first wanted to invade the border, but were repulsed by our dynasty. , and colluded with the Japanese pirates to cause trouble. After the Japanese pirates were defeated, the imperial court took pity on them and leased Macau for them to do business. Unexpectedly, these people were not satisfied and wanted to erode Chinese culture. Your Majesty had to prohibit it."

"I am in the south of the Yangtze River. I have long known the sinister intentions of these foreigners. The Francois are attacking our Southeast Asian vassal country, and they are massacring Chinese people in Luzon, Manila and other places and enslaving the natives of Luzon. Now I dare not let loose in the Ming Dynasty. It is completely Because they can’t defeat the Ming Dynasty, if the Ming Dynasty weakens one day, they will definitely come in like tigers and wolves, so please be aware of it, Your Majesty.”

The more Shen Guan talked, the more excited he became. By the end of the sentence, he knelt at Zhu Youxiao's feet, crying for him to take his life back.

Zhu Youxiao looked at him helplessly and quickly motioned for He Ning and others to help him up quickly. What Shen Guan said made sense, wasn't this the future.But it is precisely because I am afraid of this situation that I have to translate Western works. Only by learning from each other's strengths can Ming Dynasty continue to progress.

Seeing He Ning and Zhang Chang helping the trembling Shen Guan up, Zhu Youxiao shook his head, knowing that it would be useless even if he told him what he was thinking in his heart. You have your reasons, and he has his. Literally, when a chicken talks to a duck, he will feel that you don't understand him or understand him.

If you can convince others through persuasion, then things will be simple, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh.

"Okay, okay, you are a bachelor of the cabinet, how can you behave like this?"

"As long as your Majesty takes back his orders, I am willing to be punished."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and interrupted his words directly.

"My decision has been made, and this matter has been sent to the six ministries for implementation. A gentleman's words are hard to follow, not to mention that I am the emperor. To change my mind so easily will make all your ministers think of me, so this matter cannot be discussed again!"

Seeing that the emperor was so determined, Shen Guan knelt down again to make a suggestion. He had already made up his mind. If the emperor disagreed, he would not be able to kneel down. If he still did not agree, he would kneel outside the Meridian Gate with the courtiers who also opposed it. , until the emperor takes back his orders.

But how could Zhu Youxiao give him a chance? He immediately gave He Ning a look and immediately restrained Shen Guan so that he could not kneel down. "Don't kneel down or persuade me. Since I have issued the edict, there is no room to take it back, but there is no room for maneuver in this matter."

When Shen Guan heard that there was no room to take it back, he immediately wanted to kneel down again, but when he heard the last sentence, he suddenly felt hope again and wanted to hear what the emperor had to say about the room.

"Although I have ordered the translation of Western works, what are the benefits of Western works? Apart from the firearms aspect, I have heard about the other contents and don't know much about them. It's just that Xu Guangqi and others said that stones from other mountains can attack jade, and I think the same is true. As long as a part of it is useful in translation, it will be a great achievement. If anyone wants to learn or read it, I will put it in the library for everyone in the world to check. This can be considered a blessing."

Looking at Shen Guan Qiyi's eyes, Zhu Youxiao also delayed, pacing back and forth while explaining in detail.

"But after thinking about it, I feel that as you said, the Ming Dynasty is a huge country, and the Kingdom of Heaven has countless classics and treasures from ancient times to the present. How can it be compared to the West?"

These words sink into my heart. I don’t know how many classics there are in China, how can it be compared to those in the West?

"So I decided that since we set up a pavilion to translate Western classics, then naturally our books cannot be left behind. Didn't Xu Guangqi say that the Western power is not only the calendar, but also the water method, algorithm, observation, instrument, and date? Medicine, medicine, musical instruments, etc., then let’s compete.”

"I have also specially issued an edict to set up a library in the capital, and asked the Hanlin Academy to collect books on water law, algorithms, predictions, medical science, etc. from all over the world, and edit them carefully. Then we will compare them with these Western books to see who is better. Bad, what do you think?"

This was a compromise that Zhu Youxiao thought about beforehand.

He thought that the reason for Shen Guan and other conservatives' opposition was simply an imbalance in their minds. They felt that they valued Western learning and did not value Chinese classics, so he should pay more attention to it. He also gave them the same task, collecting books, and then they would be the same as Western scholars. Comparing knowledge will not only give these opponents something to do, but also take the opportunity to collect Ming Dynasty science and engineering books and make a general summary.

After Xu Guangqi has translated the more than [-] European classics brought by Jinni Pavilion, he will make a summary, so that the essence of Western culture can be concentrated and lay the foundation for the future reform of Confucianism and the creation of a new study.

Zhu Youxiao's abacus clicked, and Shen Guan was stunned when he heard the words. He didn't expect the emperor to have this idea, but it was not impossible. As long as Western books can be compared by then, it will naturally prove the uselessness of Western learning.

Besides, collecting classics and passing on culture is also a great thing with immeasurable merit. Naturally, I am happy to see it succeed, but this will soon allow Xu Guangqi and others to translate their works in disguise.

"Your Majesty, although this is a good idea, it is really difficult to collect it."

"Is there any difficulty? Didn't Emperor Chengzu order someone to compile the "Yongle Dadian"? This book is a collection of classics and history, and a collection of books from hundreds of schools of thought. As for astronomy, geographies, yin and yang, medical divination, monks and Taoism, and skills, it is a collection of ancient and modern There are seven to eight thousand kinds of books, claiming to be all-encompassing.

This book is usually hidden in the palace, and the common people and scholars cannot see its contents. I am very sorry, and I want to take out the Jiajing copy of this book and place it in the palace. As long as this book is used as a blueprint, I will collect it again. Books will do. "

After the compilation of "Yongle Dadian" was completed during the Yongle period, only one copy was copied, called the "Yongle Original Edition"; in the Jiajing Dynasty, fearing that the Dadian would be damaged, another copy was re-recorded, called the "Jiajing Copy."

Because the two canons were hidden deep in the palace, unprinted, and rarely circulated, even Shen Guan had never seen them. Now I heard that the emperor was willing to take them out as a copy for their reference, even with his many years of Qi nourishing skills. Excited.

There is even a feeling that it is thanks to the Western Party, otherwise there would be such a good thing, but this book is still too important. If it is placed in a pavilion in the capital and the Yongle Ceremony is placed in it, and people come and go, in case there is any loss, Then he really regretted it.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, if you have this book as a basis, it will be easy to collect it. However, this book was originally meant for His Majesty's royal reading. Since it was written, it has been almost destroyed by fire many times. If you take it out rashly, it may be damaged. , I can’t bear it.”

Zhu Youxiao didn't really care about this. Zhu Youxiao had been thinking about the idea of ​​this library for a long time.

"What's the use of keeping it in the palace? Since Jiajing also copied it again, the copy of this book has been stored in Wenyuan Pavilion and the original copy has been stored in Emperor Shicheng. There are few borrowed books on weekdays. In my opinion, it is better to take it out.

When the time comes to set up a library in the capital, you will use this as a basis to collect books, and the people and scholars of the Ming Dynasty can also come to borrow and copy them to enlighten their minds. Wouldn't it be wonderful? "

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(End of this chapter)