The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 469: I have a great scholar to argue for me
Wang Su smiled as he left Zhuge Dan's residence in a car.

After returning to Situ Mansion, he called his chief secretary and told him what he was going to do.

At this moment, Chief Secretary Kong Chao could not help but speak up: "Master Wang, although Zhuge Gong understands the classics and can debate, his attainments in classic studies are not profound enough."

"Among all the ministers in the court, only Lord Zhong has the deepest attainments in the classics. As for the others, I dare not rashly comment on their knowledge."

The Zhong Gong that Kong Chao mentioned refers to the big bell, that is, Zhong Yu.

There are two most popular academic thoughts at present. The first is Zhengxue, headed by Zheng Xuan, and its followers include Zheng Xiaotong, Sun Yan, Ma Zhao and others. The second is Wangxue.

That is Wang Su's theory, and those who supported him included Kong Chao, Zhong Yu and others.

This Kong Chao was originally a doctor of Confucian classics. After Wang Su became the prime minister, he brought him to his side and asked him to help him with his work.

Kong Chao had great attainments in Confucian classics, and he also had the ability to look down on the ministers of the time on the basis of Confucian classics.

Wang Su sat in the upper seat with a smile on his face.

"I went to them just to give them something to do. I never thought I could rely on them to accomplish this."

Wang Su waved his hand and said, "I can do it by myself."

Wang Su was not bragging. It is hard to say anything else, but if we only talk about Confucian classics, let alone Zhuge Dan, even if Zhuge Liang came, it would be useless, provided that he came alone without an army.

Wang Su developed his own academic theory and was always fighting against Zheng Xuan.

The relationship between Wang Xue and Zheng Xuan is a bit like the Confucianism and Mohism in the past, that is, everything is the opposite of you!
Wang Su disliked Zheng Xuan's knowledge very much. His knowledge was a criticism of Zheng Xuan's Confucian classics. Wang Su himself was a student of ancient literature, and was naturally opposed to Zheng Xuan, a student of modern literature. Therefore, he tried every means to change the official doctrine into his own knowledge.

Although Wang Su was a student of ancient literature, he learned everything. The sources of his knowledge were very diverse and he never looked at his standpoint. Even if it was modern literature, he would use it if it was useful.

There is a big difference between Wang Su and Zheng Xuan. Zheng Xuan is a very pure scholar, and many of his ideas come from a scholar's thinking about the world.

For example, Zheng Xuan deified the king and believed that ministers and people should obey the ruler unconditionally, and even if they were asked to die, they should die with a smile.

He combined filial piety with the relationship between the emperor and his subjects, advocating that the emperor should be treated like one's own parents, with absolute obedience. He believed that subjects should not retain property or possess too much power, and that the emperor was the one with the mandate of heaven.
This later seemed very pedantic and was often criticized as servility.

However, considering the era in which Zheng Xuan lived, the princes were divided and the emperor's prestige plummeted. The people suffered from war and chaos, and nine out of ten houses were empty. It is understandable why Zheng Xuan had such an idea.

This little old man wanted the princes to listen to the emperor, lay down their weapons, stop killing people, stop fighting, and stop thinking about fighting for power.

When I think about it this way, I even feel a little sad.

Wang Su himself was a minister, even a very powerful minister. Therefore, his knowledge was more practical and did not contain too many idealistic elements.

His learning was for the purpose of his own political ideas.

In the early period, Wang Su advocated "valuing credit", "lightening corvee", "ensuring the people", "being cautious in punishment", etc.

In his middle period, Wang Su advocated "light corvee labor" and "comfort for the people".

In his later years, Wang Su advocated "thriftiness".

Later he died.

His various propositions have been changing with the changes in the world. As for why they changed, well, everyone knows it.

However, it is undeniable that Wang Su's proposition was still somewhat based on facts and was carried out in accordance with the needs of governing the country at that time.

He found that the social atmosphere was not right and believed that credit should be valued, even though his relative Luoshui farted. He found that the punishment was too severe and believed that the whole family should not be executed at will, even though his relative was an expert in executing the whole family. He thought that the scholars were too extravagant and believed that frugality should be practiced, even though his son was one of the protagonists in Wang Shi's "Fighting the Wealth".
At this moment, Wang Su was discussing Confucian classics with Kong Chao.

Obviously, Wang Su's position changed again.

Wang Su said seriously, "The saints of the past had discovered the laws of how things would evolve, and therefore left behind documents long ago."

"what???"

Kong Chao was stunned. You're going to do this again?

Wang Su's most famous behavior was not his opposition to Zheng Xuan, but his special love for forging books of ancient sages.

At this point, he should pay patent fees to Xun Yi and others.

Xunzi was a master who liked to use stories about ancient people to express his own ideas. Several of his disciples perfectly inherited his character and each of them was a master of storytelling.

The same is true for Wang Su. His favorite thing is to express his own ideas through the mouth of a saint.

Wang Su had used this method several times, so when he mentioned the books of saints again, Kong Chao felt very confused.

However, this does not affect Kong Chao's admiration for Wang Su. The teachings of this sage are not something you can make up just because you want to. It requires a little bit of ability so that people will believe it, otherwise you will be criticized!
Wang Su picked up the pen and fell into deep thought.

He thought about the many policies that the emperor would implement after he came to power, and then slowly wrote down a few proposals.

"Great unification", "eliminating extravagance", "emphasizing pragmatism", "keeping promises", and "emphasizing frugality".
Others first look for classics and then shape their own ideas based on the classics.

But Old Man Wang was different. He did the opposite. He first formulated a few ideas. It didn't matter if there were no classics to back them up. He could write a few classics himself.
In fact, these cannot be considered as Old Man Wang’s ideas. He was thinking about the emperor’s ideas.

The emperor's actions and thoughts these days are all based on Wang Su's ideas. He wants to transform the Five Classics and the Taixuan Sutra into the theoretical basis for the emperor's current governance policies!

Not only Wang Su, but several ministers in the court were also busy with this matter.

Soon, the news reached another master of Confucian classics.

Zheng Chong sat in the study, looking at the letter in his hand, and fell into deep thought.

The servant beside him carefully poured him tea.

Zheng Chong is also a leading figure in the study of classics at the moment. His reputation is not good, but his attainments in classics may not be as good as Wang Su's.

He glanced at it quickly, shook his head, and put the letter aside.

"If Wang Su is personally involved, why do we need him?"

"What a waste of time."

He sighed, picked up the tea and took a few sips.

At this moment, he saw the servant beside him hesitate to speak.

Zheng Chong is a peaceful person. These people were introduced to him by Zhang Hua. They are quite honest and hardworking. Zheng Chong has never seen such hardworking people. They clean the study four or five times every day and keep it spotless.

This couldn't help but make Zheng Chong even more moved.

Zhang Hua is really a good person.

After being served for a long time, Zheng Chong saw that he seemed to have something to say, so he asked with a smile: "What's the matter with you? It's okay to speak frankly. Do you want to go home for once?"

The servant said hurriedly, "Duke Zheng, your son will be here soon. We are all former slaves and have committed crimes. After you leave, we will have nothing to do and may be sent to a cold and bitter land. Everyone is terrified at the thought of this."

"Therefore, I would like to ask you to write some letters of introduction for all of us, so that we can get a job in Luoyang and avoid being sent to Youbing."

The servant spoke very sadly.

Zheng Chong couldn't help but sigh, "You have served me well these days. Okay, I will do you a favor. Let them come over, and I will write for you."

"Thank you, Lord Zheng! Thank you, Lord Zheng!!"

"Oh? Compiling a classic?"

In the Taiji Hall, Cao Mao narrowed his eyes as he looked at the letters sent by Liu Lu.

That's a bit interesting.

Cao Mao knew that Wang Su was originally doing this job, and he would give whatever suggestions the court needed.

Moreover, Sima Yan elevated his Confucian classics to a very high level, directly surpassing Zheng Xuan's theories. However, his ideas also declined with the demise of the Jin Dynasty.

You can say that Wang Su has no moral integrity, or that he does not know how to educate his children and his personal morals are not that high, but the only thing you cannot question is his academic level.

After all, he was the first person to combine metaphysics with Confucianism and create a new Confucianism with the characteristics of Wei and Jin Dynasties.

In an era when metaphysics and Confucianism were competing with each other, this person simply merged the two into one.

With the Five Classics in one hand and the Taixuan Sutra in the other, he made all the great men of his generation flee in fear. Those who did not flee were executed by his son-in-law.

What new knowledge is he developing?

Could it be saying?

Cao Mao had a vague guess in his mind, and this guess immediately made him feel extremely excited.

This person couldn't be making something up on the spur of the moment. Oh, is he just looking up the saints' teachings to provide a basis for his own policies?
Cao Mao had always wanted to do this, but although Cao Mao was good at classics, he had not studied many classics and did not have the kind of accumulation that Wang Su had. Besides, he could not study classics all day long as there were many important things to do in the court.

If Wang Su can accomplish this for himself, then he will be the number one in the new era, and no one else will be able to help him!
Cao Mao looked at Liu Lu who was standing aside and said, "I know about this matter. You did a good job in getting so many letters."

Liu Lu laughed, "This is all because of Zhang Jun's help."

"Don't be so complacent. You've only just begun your work. There will be more and more things to take care of in the future. I'm looking forward to the day when you can assign people to Liu Chan and Sun Xiu!"

Liu Lu smiled and said, "This matter is not up to me, but your Majesty. I am willing to do it, but I am afraid that before this person is arranged to go there, they will be arrested by your Majesty!"

Cao Mao threw his head back and laughed.

"When did you start learning He Zeng?"

"Your Majesty, He Zeng seems to know who we sent. He's been praising Your Majesty in front of everyone lately. Even when there's no one around, he'll kneel down in the direction of the palace, muttering something."

"Oh, it's okay if He Zeng saw it, don't worry."

"only!!"

(End of this chapter)