Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 101: The Hanlin Academy's Big Spoiler Xu Jie (Update )
Haiyue suddenly realized that Yan Shifan really meant what she said when she was drunk.

And extremely attentive.

The young chief priest spent a day and a night carefully reading the sixty chapters of Journey to the West, and then began to work on the establishment of the academy.

The most famous academic society in the history of the Ming Dynasty is none other than the Donglin School. Its growth was due to the worsening political corruption from the Wanli to Chongzhen period. The scholar class formed an association to save the current ills. They also wanted to break through the shackles of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, advocate the idea of ​​practical application, and promote the integration of academics with reality.

The original intention may have been good, but later those who understood it understood it all, and the "Donglin Party" was formed politically. During the Tianqi period, more than 700 members entered the court as officials. Later, the most intense party struggles were launched, and it became "using learning to interfere in politics."

The current "Issin Club" cannot be that exaggerated. It is just a club for studying.

Just like the martial arts club "Yinglue Society", the underworld club "Yiaoziban", and the club that studied together in the Imperial College and had similar academic concepts was called "Yixinhui".

It's just a start-up.

However, Yan Shifan's requirements for establishing a company were not as simple as a name and a vague academic program. He also had to consider welfare and regulations, and establish the purpose and structure.

For example, the Donglin School was founded with funds donated by the gentry class to purchase school land. The Donglin Academy purchased 1,600 acres of school land to ensure operating funds. It also formulated regulations such as the "Donglin Agreement" to establish the purpose of teaching and the organizational structure.

Yi Xin Hui may not have such a high starting point, but we must also consider these factors in the initial stage so that we can have a bright future and attract more talents!
It has to be said that Yan Shifan had a strong execution ability and quickly locked on a very suitable target.

"Shisanlang, I've found the most suitable person to help us establish our company, Mr. Cui!"

"Why him?"

Yan Shifan introduced him, "Mr. Cui's name is Hongyuan, his courtesy name is Mingyuan, and his pseudonym is Jing'an. He is from Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. He passed the imperial examination at an early age and began studying for the Jinshi degree at the Imperial College, but he repeatedly failed. He later became an assistant professor. Given his talent, he will surely be a doctor of the Five Classics in the future!"

"Mr. Cui has a good friend, Nie Bao, Nie Shuangjiang, who is currently serving as the prefect of Suzhou. He likes Mr. Yangming's theory of conscience and considers himself his disciple!"

"Shisanlang, do you know that this Nie Fuzun is not only knowledgeable and erudite, but also a man who can cultivate and recognize talents. He even trained a young scholar who won the third place in the imperial examination at the tender age of twenty, shocking the literati community!"

When Haiyue heard this, her eyes moved.

He understood what Yan Shifan meant. He wanted to use Assistant Professor Cui's love for the School of Mind to promote the establishment of the Yi Xin Society. It seemed that this person was determined that he was also a disciple of the School of Mind.

To be honest, compared to the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism that has completely degenerated into maintaining the feudal hierarchical order at this stage, Haiyue naturally prefers the School of Mind. Moreover, she heard an acquaintance...

The young scholar who was the third in the imperial examination at the age of twenty, and a disciple of Nie Bao and a second-generation disciple of Wang Yangming, wasn't that Xu Jie?

Are you now an editor in the Hanlin Academy?
Hai Yue asked, "Donglou's intention is to invite that scholar who won the third place in the imperial examination to give lectures at the Imperial Academy?"

Yan Shifan was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands in approval, "What a great idea! Shisanlang is truly bold, planning to recruit a third-place winner into the guild so quickly. How about we go to the Hanlin Academy today?"

Thinking about Yan Shifan trying to get Xu Jie to join the guild, it was quite interesting. Hai Yue nodded and said, "Okay!"

Yan Shifan was full of energy and hurriedly said, "Bring a few more copies of Journey to the West. Now that we're at the Hanlin Academy, I have to distribute books!"

Haiyue spread her hands and said, "I'm afraid that won't work. I only copied a few books by hand, and the ones I brought with me have already been distributed."

Before leaving Qiongshan, he asked his fourth brother to arrange for people in the family to copy several copies of Journey to the West, specifically to give to relatives and friends.

At that time, time was tight and the number was small. I thought that after taking the college examination, I could return to my hometown and copy more books. However, after the Yinwu Village case in Guangzhou Prefecture, I came directly to the capital, and the stock became very precious.

Now there is one copy for Hai Rui, one for Li Yuying, and one for Lin Daqin. Lu Bing borrowed it from Hai Rui before, and Yan Shifan also took it from Hai Rui. Hai Rui has suffered enough, you can't just take it away!

"Then could you please hand-copy another copy, Shisanlang?"

Facing Yan Shifan's expectant eyes, Haiyue was not vague about the idea she had proposed after all, so she said, "Okay! Wait a few days!"

Yan Shifan rubbed his hands. He was more than looking forward to it, he was extremely looking forward to it.

He knew very well that once used well, Journey to the West would be more than just a novel.
As the creator of this book, how precious is the commemorative significance of Haiyue’s first handwritten copy?

He wants to collect them all!
But no.

This work is extremely precious and must be read by more important people first.

A few days later, when Haiyue finished copying the book, Yan Shifan had already persuaded Assistant Cui to take the letter of introduction and set off together.

It was now the end of September, and autumn was deepening. The wind in the capital had already taken on a chill. Haiyue and Yan Shifan, dressed in the blue silk robes of the Imperial College students, emerged from the Imperial College, crossed the bustling East Chang'an Street, and headed towards the Hanlin Academy.

There is no need to ride a horse or a carriage. The Hanlin Academy is located in the southeast corner of the imperial city, adjacent to the Wenhua Hall, and not far from the Imperial College.

The Hanlin Academy was first established in the Tang Dynasty as an institution for the palace to serve. It housed talents in literature, classics, divination, medicine, monks, Taoists, calligraphers, painters, chess, etc. However, it was originally dedicated to accompanying the emperor in banquets and entertainment, and was not an official government office, so its status was not high. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang allowed Li Bai to join the Hanlin Academy. Li Bai thought he would be valued, but was greatly disappointed.

In the late Tang Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy gradually evolved into an important institution specializing in drafting secret imperial edicts, and its status was greatly different. In the Song Dynasty, it became a library, and at that time it played the role of reserving talents for the country. The outstanding people among the imperial examination candidates were selected to serve as reserve talents for future prime ministers and high-ranking officials.

By the Ming Dynasty, it had integrated the functions of the Tang and Song dynasties and had completely become a place for nurturing talents and storing prospects. The Hanlin Academy was responsible for compiling books and writing history, drafting imperial edicts, serving as a reader for members of the royal family, and serving as an examiner for the imperial examinations. It had a noble status and was a key step to becoming a senior official or even a local official.

Such places are naturally located within the imperial city and appear much more solemn and dignified.

In front of the Hanlin Academy, ancient cypresses stood tall with lush branches and leaves, shading the vermilion gate. Several guards stood in front of the gate. Seeing the two men holding student certificates and a letter written by Assistant Professor Cui to Xu, they checked it briefly and let them in.

Entering the courtyard, I saw a deep courtyard with blue bricks on the ground and corridors all around. In the courtyard there was a pool of clear water, lotus leaves in the fields, and a few koi swimming leisurely, adding a bit of vitality to this solemn courtyard.

Haiyue and Yan Shifan came to the outside of the hall and looked inside. They saw five or six people holding pens and dipping them in ink, or flipping through ancient books. The desks were piled with classics and memorials, and the air was filled with the fragrance of ink. It was like a paradise, as if the hustle and bustle of the outside world had nothing to do with it.

Even Yan Shifan was in awe and yearned for it.

How many scholars in the world yearn for this courtyard. If they can enter it one day, it will make their decades of hard study worthwhile.

Yan Song studied in the Hanlin Academy and was first selected as a Shujishi with the fifth highest score in the country, and was later awarded the title of editor.

Xu Jie is now also an editor of the Hanlin Academy. He was the third place in the imperial examination in the second year of Jiajing and was directly appointed as an editor of the Hanlin Academy. However, after obtaining the official position, he requested to go home to get married. Then his father passed away. He observed the mourning period until the sixth year of Jiajing and then returned to the Hanlin Academy. He has worked there for three years now and participated in the revision of books such as "The Ming Dynasty Code" and "The Sacrifice Code", and has gained a certain degree of fame among the literati.

The main reason was that Xu Jie was too young. He won the third place in the imperial examination at the age of twenty, got married and observed mourning, and then came back to serve as a reserve talent in the Hanlin Academy to accumulate qualifications. He was only 28 years old now, which was the prime of his life and he had a bright future.

Yan Shifan stuck his head in to observe and was about to ask someone when he noticed a group of seven or eight people walking towards him from the corridor on the other side. The passionate voice of the first person broke the peace in the courtyard.

"The Minglun Ceremony has been finalized, and disasters are rampant throughout the world. Your Majesty is diligently working on government affairs, rectifying the court system, and implementing new policies. As the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, how can you continue to be obsessed with ritual debates and even want to change the sage's sacrificial rules?"

"Heaven and earth are originally one, with yin and yang giving birth to each other, and heaven and earth working together. Since ancient times, emperors have united heaven and earth in the southern suburbs during sacrifices, demonstrating the order of hierarchy and the harmony of yin and yang. Today, Xia Yan misinterprets the meaning of the classics and arbitrarily divides the two sacrifices, thus separating heaven and earth and disrupting the ritual system. Isn't this a great absurdity?"

"Zisheng, be careful with your words! Be careful with your words!"

"Why should we be so careful with our words? We have been fed by the imperial family for a hundred years, so we should assist the emperor and rectify the current ills. The direction of our pens should be like the warning in the imperial history book. We would rather be shattered into frost in front of the Jade Hall than be reduced to dust on the soft paper!"

……

'Who is this person, so brave? Could it be Xu Jie?'

Yan Shifan quickly retracted his head.

"Xu Jie also has his moments of passion!"

Haiyue was not surprised.

It was no big deal to just rant in the Hanlin Academy. Zhang Cong proposed abolishing Confucius' title of "King Wenxuan" and changing the sacrificial specifications. Xu Jie then submitted a memorial entitled "On the Sacrifice to Confucius", in which he directly opposed Zhang Cong's proposal and listed three reasons why Confucius "cannot be removed" and "five reasons why he cannot be demoted". Zhang Cong summoned Xu Jie to the court room to reprimand him. Xu Jie argued with a serious face, and then he was demoted to be a magistrate in Yanping Prefecture, Fujian.

In the notes of scholars, it is also said that Jiajing wrote eight words on a pillar of the Imperial College in Nanjing: "Xu Jie is a villain, he will never be employed again."

Xu Jie's temperament changed drastically from being a high-ranking editor of the Hanlin Academy close to the emperor to being an official in Lingnan. He eventually evolved into the most treacherous old man in the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Shifan didn't know this, and after confirming that the other party was Xu Jie, he was ready to escape.

The third place pick recommended by Assistant Coach Cui is not reliable. I thought he would be a strong reinforcement, but now it seems that it is better to forget about it.

However, Haiyue pulled him back and whispered, "No need to say anything else, just recommend the book."

"All right!"

Yan Shifan took a deep breath, put Journey to the West in his arms, and gritted his teeth: "I'm going!"

Xu Jie's mouth was dry from spitting, and seeing that there were few responses, he couldn't help but feel a little bored. He sat down and picked up the tea, but found that it had already gone cold. He went outside to boil some water, but saw a sneaky student approaching him in two steps, opening his coat to reveal an unbound scroll underneath. "Do you want it?"

(End of this chapter)