Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 335: A scholar should have the style and elegance of a scholar!
"Tell us clearly from beginning to end what is going on." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a cold face.

Liu Sanwu said: "Since Xia Zhibai came back, he has been dissatisfied with the content compiled by us Hanlin scholars. He said in the "Yu Shu" that our words are too clichéd and too superficial. However, the articles we quoted from the saints and sages are not superficial.

"In arithmetic, it's even more bizarre."

"Xia Zhibai actually adopted many Mohist views and discarded all the laws we have summarized. He also openly said that the 'doctrine of the mean' is only suitable for human relationships and not for academic research."

“In terms of history, it’s also very exaggerated.”

"I was looking forward to describing the prosperous times, but Xia Zhibai ignored it and told me that history should be described in a rough way rather than in detail."

"As a result, he himself devoted a lot of space to the Five Poison Powder of the Jin Dynasty, and also devoted a lot of space to the Yuan Dynasty's conquest of the Song Dynasty. He also wrote a lot about the migration of scholars to the south. What is even more unacceptable to us is that Xia Zhibai does not agree with the Song Dynasty, but uses the wrong ideas of the Yuan Dynasty, trying to put the Song, Jin and Liao dynasties together in one book."

"Although we are helpless about this, we dare not act rashly and can only let it go. However, when Xia Zhibai came back this time, he saw the history we compiled and became furious again. He thought that the book we compiled did not conform to current events and asked us to revise it to 'all history is contemporary history'."

"Such a strong and overbearing approach really makes us scholars miserable."

"But we all know that we are paid by the emperor, and compiling books is indeed beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, so we have been patient again and again. However, after so many harsh demands, we really can't stand it anymore, so I dare to write a letter of impeachment."

"I hope your Majesty will learn from this."

Liu Sanwu knelt on the ground, banging his head on the ground, with an extremely miserable attitude.

As if he had suffered a great injustice.

Seeing Liu Sanwu crying, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bear it and said in a deep voice: "We know, this Xia Zhibai is really bold, he wants to abolish and change the rules we set. We asked him to compile a book to unify people's thoughts, not to shake their minds."

"I think so too," said Liu Sanwu.

immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt something was wrong again.

Liu Sanwu said that he felt so wronged and that Xia Zhibai was so hateful to both humans and gods, so why did only Liu Sanwu come? Where were the others?

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Sanwu and said in a serious tone, "Submit your memorial. Also, why are you the only one here? Where are the others? Aren't they angry? Don't they have anything to impeach?"

Liu Sanwu was stunned.

His face looked even more aggrieved, and he said in a tearful voice: "Your Majesty, when I came here, Xia Zhibai was still boasting in the Hanlin Academy. I couldn't stand the humiliation, so I took the initiative to leave. The others must have been forced to stay by Xia Zhibai. Xia Zhibai has always been a strong person, and his word is final in the Hanlin Academy. If he had forced the other scholars to stay, they would have been embarrassed to leave directly because of their face."

"But everything I said just now is true."

"My grief and indignation are shared by other Hanlin scholars."

"How about your majesty wait for a while? Fang Xiaoru and other Hanlin scholars will come to impeach me."

"In other words, you don't know what Xia Zhibai said next?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and asked with some doubt: "Then can we assume that you don't know why Xia Zhibai said this or did this? You only listened to half of it and came to complain to me? Let me punish Xia Zhibai."

"We are very angry."

"I really want to skin Xia Zhibai alive."

"But I am the emperor after all. Everything I do must have a basis. I must know why Xia Zhibai did this. Otherwise, if I convict him so easily, wouldn't it be too arbitrary? Or maybe the sentence I gave to Xia Zhibai is too light!"

Liu Sanwu's face changed slightly.

He looked nervously at the entrance of the palace, eager to see other people, but he looked again and again, but he still didn't see anyone. Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Pu Gou'er, go to the Hanlin Academy and see what's going on there."

"See if it's as Liu Sanwu said."

"Yes." Park Gou'er accepted the order.

After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's order, Liu Sanwu relaxed. If Zhu Yuanzhang did not send anyone, he would still be a little uneasy. But as long as Zhu Yuanzhang sent someone to check the situation, he would definitely see that other scholars in the Hanlin Academy were unanimously attacking Xia Zhibai.

Liu Sanwu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

half an hour.

Park Gouer came back trotting.

"What's the situation at the Hanlin Academy?" Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Pu Gou'er glanced at Liu Sanwu with a bit of sympathy in his eyes. This look undoubtedly fell on Liu Sanwu's heart. He cried out in his heart that something was wrong, and then he heard Pu Gou'er say: "Your Majesty, the Hanlin Academy is peaceful and there is no dispute. The atmosphere is extremely harmonious, and everyone is immersed in the fragrance of books."

"Impossible." Liu Sanwu said suddenly.

Then, he realized that he had lost his composure and apologized quickly, "Your Majesty, I was just excited, but what Eunuch Pu said is impossible. When I left the Hanlin Academy, I clearly heard Fang Xiaoru and others scolding Xia Zhibai. Otherwise, how could I dare to go first?"

"There must be something fishy going on. I beg Your Majesty to investigate further."

"Or maybe Xia Zhibai forced him."

Pu Gou'er sneered and said indifferently: "Master Liu, you are joking. Who in the world doesn't know the nobleness of the Hanlin scholars? They even dare to oppose Your Majesty, so how could they allow Xia's white riders to bully them? Moreover, I just asked some scholars, and at first many people did have opinions about Master Xia, but after hearing Master Xia's explanation, they all lost interest and honestly re-edited the book according to what Master Xia said."

"It was Master Liu instead."

"According to what I have heard, you have been removed from the book editing team!"

"It's understandable that Master Liu has resentment in his heart, but how can he defame someone's innocence like this?"

"As a bachelor, this is really inappropriate!"

Pu Gou'er sneered sinisterly.

As a eunuch, he relied on the trust of His Majesty, and Liu Sanwu dared to slander him and deceive His Majesty. If His Majesty took it seriously, would he still be able to survive? Since Liu Sanwu was unkind, he would not let Liu Sanwu off with his words.

Liu Sanwu's face turned blue and red.

Of course he could hear the ridicule and sarcasm in Park Gou'er's words.

But I didn't dare to get angry.

He gritted his teeth and said, "May I ask, Eunuch Park, what did Xia Zhibai say next?"

Pu Gou'er said, "Xia Zhibai said that when editing a book, one must be pragmatic, not empty, and must be fair and objective, because the book is not for the scholars of today, but for the young people of the future. These people are the hope and future of the Ming Dynasty. They cannot be delayed, let alone harmed."

"A scholar should have the character and grace of a scholar!"

(End of this chapter)