The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 672: Taking Advantage

Qiao Zhou took a deep breath, holding a thick book in his hands, and walked towards the Taiji Hall with his head lowered.

The good news is that he was finally valued by the emperor and became a great Confucian scholar in his service.

On weekdays, he would follow the emperor, help him solve his confusions in the classics, help the emperor to interpret the classics, and promote the knowledge of the deceased kings and nobles.

The bad news is that the emperor's demands are increasing, and the direction of governing the classics is about to go astray.

When he reached the door, he saw the familiar man again.

Cheng Ji looked at him rudely and didn't look at him well.

Although the emperor treated them equally, the surrendered Shu and Wu people were discriminated against by the Wei people everywhere.

Even if two people are fighting fiercely, they will instantly stand together when they meet people from Shu or Wu.

Qiao Zhou had been in Luoyang for a long time, but he had not been accepted by any famous scholar. Even if he took the initiative to visit them, they would still treat him with a businesslike attitude. They would not let him in, but once he left, there would be no further contact.

Even a famous scholar like Qiao Zhou was treated like this, so the treatment that other officials received was obvious.

At this time, Qiao Zhou felt vaguely guilty.

It was he who called on everyone to surrender in the first place, but what else could they do if they didn't surrender?

Die more heroically?

Qiao Zhou sighed, but still spoke: "I have come here by order of His Majesty, and I hope to report to the general."

Cheng Ji nodded, turned and walked in.

Soon, Qiao Zhou arrived in the East Hall.

Cao Mao was reading at this moment.

Cao Mao was a man with a self-discipline that was somewhat scary.

After so many years on the throne, he has never changed his lifestyle.

I exercise on time every day and read on time every day.

Cao Mao liked to read all kinds of books and was never picky. He would even have people bring him articles and poems that had just been written to read.

He didn't have much time left for himself every day. Seeing his appearance, even Cheng Ji felt that this was probably what a wise king would do.

Qiao Zhou did not dare to disturb Cao Mao and just maintained the posture of greeting.

Cao Mao read for a while longer, probably finishing a page, before looking up and saying, "Mr. Qiao, you're half an hour early."

Qiao Zhou was stunned. "I will go wait outside the door."

"Hahaha, no need, just sit down."

Cao Mao put down the book in his hand.

Qiao Zhou was Cao Mao's current court celebrity, helping him formulate his ideas.

At that time, Emperor Wu of Han had so many famous scholars to choose from. He could choose the one he admired the most, define it as an official school, and then let everyone in the world study there.

But Cao Mao no longer has so many reference candidates.

It’s not that there were no famous scholars under Cao Mao’s command, but they were all fake.

It's fine if you let them take medicine and drink alcohol, but if you let their knowledge become official learning, then the Wei Dynasty will be destroyed!
After Wang Su left, no one in the country could even find a replacement for him.

Cao Mao looked at the books brought by Qiao Zhou with a smile.

"Has Qiao Gong finished it?"

Qiao Zhou hurriedly shook his head, "No, Your Majesty. Wangxue is the work of the prince's painstaking efforts. How can it be so easily studied?"

Cao Mao suddenly realized and decided to discuss the classics with Qiao Zhou again.

Now the status of Wangxue has been preliminarily determined. Wang Jing's theories have become the consensus of the court, and have been designated by Cao Mao as the new official school. Whether in the Imperial College or in local schools, the version of Wangxue is what is taught.

This does not mean that the essential things being taught have changed. They are still learning the Five Classics, but these Five Classics have become the Five Classics annotated by Wang Su, that is, the Wang Su version.

Different people's interpretations can often give classics different meanings.

Wang Su's version of interpretation best meets Cao Mao's requirements.

But it cannot be said to be completely consistent, because Cao Mao still needs something new.

Cao Mao told Qiao Zhou about his needs.

First of all, Cao Mao needed to rebel against himself. He wanted to rebel against the will of heaven.

When Cao Mao talked about this incident, Qiao Zhou broke out in a cold sweat. He didn't understand why Cao Mao wanted to make things difficult for him.

Cao Mao wanted to break the many bad habits that had formed since the Later Han Dynasty, such as divination and omens.

This phenomenon first started during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. Whenever there was a major event in the world, there would always be conscription. It reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Liu Xiu and then never stopped.

This is an important reason for the prosperity of metaphysics.

Now everyone believes in this stuff.

Cao Mao was very disgusted with this.

Whenever a disaster occurred, it was said that the government's policies were wrong or the wrong people were employed, and a minister had to be punished. Before doing anything, one had to ask the will of heaven.

How come you guys are going backwards as you get older?

Cao Mao believed in Xunzi's ideas.

"Heaven moves forever, it does not exist for Yao, nor does it perish for Jie."

The laws of nature have nothing to do with your governance! Stop trying to predict when the harvest will come! And stop trying to figure out where the phoenix and the dragon will appear!

If you want to make the land fertile, go and build a water conservancy project!

If you want peace in the world, learn to be honest and fair!!
They blame God for everything that goes wrong, never looking for the reasons within themselves. Celebrities are superstitious and do not work properly. Everyone is obsessed with superstition.

If all scholars had such thoughts, wouldn't the Wei Dynasty be doomed?
Cao Mao expressed his opinion very unhappily.

But Qiao Zhou's face looked very ugly.

Your Majesty, this idea is too dangerous. It will destroy the foundation of Confucianism!
Since the time of Dong Zhongshu, the concept of the correspondence between heaven and man has become an important basis for Confucian governance, and it reached its peak in the Later Han Dynasty.

The official textbooks today are the Five Classics: Book of Songs, Book of History, Book of Rites, Book of Changes, and Spring and Autumn Annals.

According to the interpretation of later generations, they basically move towards the direction of heaven and man.

Even the other factions acquiesced to this statement.

And now he wants to overthrow it, but Qiao Zhou doesn't know how much of a sensation and impact this will cause.

Seeing Qiao Zhou's hesitation, Cao Mao smiled and said, "Mr. Qiao, why are you worried? This is not my compilation, this is the words of Xunzi."

At this point, Qiao Zhou had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to help, but Your Majesty doesn't know."

Qiao Zhou mustered up his courage and said, "I have been looked down upon in Luoyang. It's not just me, but many of the ministers who came to Luoyang from Shu have been treated the same way. My colleagues are reluctant to interact with us. Every time I go to the Imperial College to discuss the classics with others, there is a look of disdain in their eyes."

"Your Majesty, what you are about to do will cause great controversy and will attract many people's opposition. I am alone."

"You are not alone."

Cao Mao smiled and said, "You still have very powerful allies."

Qiao Zhou suddenly didn't dare to speak.

He felt that the ally His Majesty was referring to was most likely himself, but Qiao Zhou would never dare to acknowledge His Majesty as his ally. It would be more accurate to say that he could rely on him.

Cao Mao saw what he was thinking at a glance.

"Moxian!"

Cao Mao shouted.

Zhang Hua walked in immediately.

Although he was dismissed from his position in the Secretariat, he still served as a Palace Attendant, so Zhang Hua was still able to accompany the emperor from time to time.

In fact, for an official of the Ministry of Personnel, there is nothing wrong with staying by the emperor's side often.

After all, the final decision-making power lies with the emperor, which saves a process.

Qiao Zhou looked at the outstanding young man in front of him.

Zhang Hua is very capable, but he is still too young, at least in terms of classics, so he can't help me much.

Unexpectedly, Cao Mao simply ordered: "Go and bring the person in."

Qiao Zhou was stunned. It turned out that he was not the ally.

A moment later, a man followed Zhang Hua in.

Qiao Zhou felt that the person in front of him looked familiar, but he couldn't recognize his identity.

After all, the many ministers in Luoyang had never had much contact with Qiao Zhou. They had only met once, so it was difficult to remember who was who.

Xun Xi appeared in the East Hall with a stern face. When he saw Qiao Zhou standing beside him, there was some displeasure in his eyes.

Everyone was very dissatisfied with the fact that this person had usurped Wang Su's position.

For the great families, classics are undoubtedly the most important. Your Majesty actually trusts an outsider in such an important matter.

However, due to his good upbringing, Xun Yi still greeted Qiao Zhou with courtesy.

Ever since Xun Yi was driven out of the Secretariat by Cao Mao, he was stripped of his honorary official title and moved back and forth among the Nine Ministers, but he had no real power at all.

The emperor suddenly summoned him today, and he didn't know why.

Cao Mao pointed at Xun Yi and said to Qiao Zhou, "This is Xun Gong, the Minister of Agriculture."

"You should know him."

"I've long heard of your name and admired you, but I've never had the chance to make friends."

Qiao Zhou said.

Xun Yi's face was stern, his head slightly raised, his appearance extraordinary. "I have also heard of Qiao Gong, a great and wise man in Shu, but we were enemies in the past, so we couldn't become friends."

Cao Mao sensed the tension in their words. He smiled and said to Xun Yi, "It is like this, Lord Xun, I was asking Lord Qiao about the classics and also about the current state of official learning."

"Qiao Gong believed that among all the classics of learning in the world, no other could compare to Xunzi."

"He even suggested that I include Xunzi in the Imperial Academy and have all students study it as part of their assessment."

"I wonder what Lord Xun thinks?"

Xun Yi trembled all over and looked at Qiao Zhou in disbelief.

Ah? ?

what? ?

Although they are direct descendants of Xunzi, even they don't study this. Today, the Xun family has many classics passed down in their family, for example, the one inherited by Xun Yi is "Fei's Book of Changes".

How come now, you suddenly say that we should value our family’s things?
Xun Yi frowned and looked at Qiao Zhou in front of him in surprise and doubt, then a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Mr. Qiao, for your praise."

No matter whether the Xun family is now concerned about Xunzi or not, as long as the emperor attaches importance to "Xunzi", it will not be harmful to their family at all. They are direct descendants. If the emperor is willing to define Xunzi as official learning today, then Xun Yi will give up learning Xunzi tomorrow!
Who knows, you might even be able to get some of the glory of your ancestors!

(End of this chapter)