Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 249 Lu Beigu's "On Zhongda" [Seeking monthly votes!]

"The rise and fall of a nation depends on checks and balances; the integrity of a government depends on the selection of capable individuals. Looking at the downfall of Cao Wei and the overstepping of the Sima clan, was it not a disaster caused by the rise of powerful clans?"

The opening sentence, devoid of ornate language or intense emotion, presents only a historian's perspective that is so calm it borders on ruthlessness, abruptly throwing Sima Yi into the turbulent and morally bankrupt era.

Lu Beigu's lofty vision and broad perspective instantly silenced the room!
“When Zhongda first received the mandate of heaven and entrusted the young emperor to two rulers, he was as respectful and cautious as if walking on thin ice when he was in charge of the central government, and when he was on the frontier, he planned to subdue the barbarians. At that time, his talent was enough to be the backbone of the Wei dynasty, and his will never deviated from the duties of a subject.”

However, the Nine-Rank System, in reality, granted the power of evaluation to the Censorate. Initially, it might have promoted talented individuals, but over time, it inevitably led to accumulated abuses. Within a few decades, those who held the power gradually became pawns of powerful clans, to the point that scions of aristocratic families rose to high positions while outstanding talents from humble backgrounds remained mired in low-ranking posts. The Sima family, with eight generations of officials immersed in this system, could hardly remain pure.

When Cao Shuang became tyrannical, Zhongda (Sima Yi) endured it, but his court was filled with noblemen, and the prefectures and counties were also controlled by powerful families. Thus, the Gaoping Mausoleum Incident occurred, with Zhongda swearing an oath by pointing to the Luo River as if discarding a worn-out shoe.

The world condemns his treachery, but this analogy is like asking a hungry hawk not to snatch carrion—it's not unjust, but simply beyond its power!

In these passages, Lu Beigu's writing calmly depicts the perilous environment of the Cao Wei court in its later years, and the inevitability of Sima's usurpation of the Cao throne.

Instead of defending Sima Yi, he used irrefutable historical facts to reveal that the powerful clans that occupied high positions in the court during that era, thanks to the "Nine-Rank System," a formal national talent selection system, were the breeding ground for powerful ministers.

The historian's objectivity and depth instantly made Liu Ji's morally passionate criticism seem somewhat superficial.

Hu Yuan's eyes suddenly narrowed!
Ouyang Xiu's fingers, which were stroking his beard, paused slightly.

"Remembering Cao Cao's founding of the dynasty, he lashed out at the world, destroying powerful clans as easily as crushing withered leaves, and uprooting the poor as easily as opening a pearl from an oyster. At that time, the system was as solid as a whetstone, and evil could not be tolerated. Even with Zhongda's wisdom, he was merely a capable official who diligently performed his duties. If the Wei dynasty had been able to inherit the legacy of Cao Cao, uphold the fairness of the laws, eliminate the selfishness of powerful clans, allow the poor to have a path to advancement, and have the uprightness of the remonstrating officials, even with Zhongda's wisdom, how could he have carried out his treacherous schemes?"

When the dikes of checks and balances are strong, the claws of tyrants will naturally be sheathed; when the path of justice is blocked, plots of usurpation will arise.

Therefore, the Sima clan's usurpation of the Cao dynasty was a conspiracy among powerful families; the establishment of the Jin dynasty was a tool for the private gain of various clans. As for the collapse of the social order, the fratricide, the War of the Eight Princes, the fall of China, the invasion of the Five Barbarian tribes, the southward migration of the elite, and the suffering of the common people—was this system not the very beginning of all this calamity?

This section, which surveys the entire history from the Cao Wei to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, is logically rigorous, powerful, and full of historical weight.

Those in the hall who had previously admired Liu Ji's literary talent now showed thoughtful expressions.

Liu Ji's expression also began to change from arrogant to solemn.

"The construction of a house is like a craftsman building a house, where the key lies in the interlocking of mortise and tenon joints, so that the division of power can be maintained; the talent is like the water of a river, where the key is to dredge and circulate it, so that even when the path is blocked, it can still rise upwards."

Therefore, the selection of talent must be conducted openly and strictly according to the law. If the system becomes rigid and ineffective, and talented individuals have no way to advance, then families with generations of scholarly traditions will be confined to the highest levels of education, and power and profit will inevitably be restricted to the wealthy and powerful. When the sentiments of the people are suppressed and cannot be expressed, and the virtues of the people decline and cannot be recognized, this is truly a sign of the nation's impending doom!
The nation has broadened its path through the imperial examination system, yet even in times of peace, we must be mindful of potential dangers, and the key to good governance lies in preventing chaos. If the checks and balances remain constant, and the doors to justice remain open, then even those as profound and shrewd as Zhongda (Sima Yi) will be but minor figures in the court, unable to cause a collapse of the dynasty. In this way, evil will be nipped in the bud, and the peace of the nation will be as enduring as Mount Tai for ten thousand generations.

At this point, the writing style suddenly reaches a sublimation!
The text elevates Sima Yi's personal merits and demerits to the level of the national talent selection system, and profoundly points out the far-reaching impact of his actions on later generations!

Lu Beigu's "On Zhongda" is so sharp in its arguments, so broad in its vision, and so far-reaching in its scope that it far surpasses the moral judgment of loyalty and treachery!

The final sentence, like a resounding bell, is truly thought-provoking! It transforms historical lessons into a profound warning for contemporary rulers, demonstrating lofty ideals and prompting deep reflection!

As the official's voice faded, the hall fell into an utter silence. There were no cheers, no whispers, only countless wide-eyed stares!

The difference in quality is immediately apparent!
If Liu Ji's article is a magnificent yet understated brocade painting, then Lu Beigu's powerful article is a towering, profound, and ever-changing mountain painting!
It contains criticism of mistakes, profound insights into the historical context, objective evaluation of achievements, and philosophical sublimation of historical lessons!
Its grand scope, profound historical insight, rich literary style, and far-reaching implications for governance cannot be measured by mere literary talent and rhetoric!
After listening to Lu Beigu's full text of "On Zhongda," the last trace of color drained from Liu Ji's face.

He stood there, swaying slightly, his eyes filled with resentment, anger, and pride, all replaced by a tremendous, indescribable shock.

Everything he was so proud of—his extensive knowledge, his eloquent writing style, his unique style, and his sharp criticism—all paled in comparison to Lu Beigu's "On Zhongda."

Although the score difference was only one level, Liu Ji, as the opponent, was well aware of the quality gap.

Even someone as proud as him, unwilling to admit it, had to acknowledge that Lu Beigu's writing was better than his.

Hu Yuan slowly closed her eyes, and after a long while, she opened them again.

He looked at Ouyang Xiu beside him, as if he understood something.

The deathly silence inside the hall was finally broken.

"Truly a towering mountain to be revered! Absolutely a towering mountain to be revered!"

Yang Anguo suddenly stood up, his body trembling slightly with excitement beneath his purple robe.

His heart, which had been hanging in his throat just moments before, was suddenly lifted to the clouds by an invisible hand. The immense joy almost overwhelmed him. The way he looked at Lu Beigu was as if he were looking at a suddenly rising, radiant star!

We won! We actually won!
Moreover, it was this "student from the Guangwen Academy" whom he had temporarily recruited that managed to overpower Liu Ji on the topic!

At this moment, the dignity of the Imperial Academy and the face of Yang Anguo were preserved by this young man!
Yang Anguo was so excited that tears almost welled up in his eyes!

Cheng Yi pursed his lips tightly, his gaze towards Lu Beigu filled with unprecedented complexity. The historical insight and vision in that magnificent article deeply shocked him, making his own "Yi Zhong" article, which was obsessed with loyalty and righteousness, seem so cramped.

Countless eyes were once again focused on Lu Beigu, and this time, there was no doubt!

Despite the countless gazes upon him, Lu Beigu remained calm.

He simply bowed deeply and solemnly to the panel of judges, to Ouyang Xiu, to Yang Anguo, and to everyone in the hall who was watching him.

The wind rushed in through the open door, swirling the papers.

Lu Beigu's essay "On Zhongda" quietly rewrote the trajectory of Tokyo's literary scene that night.

(End of this chapter)