The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 231 All Things Are Born
In midsummer, as the morning sun shines down, the green willows in the Imperial College rustle softly, making the place all the more quiet and serene.

Wang Gen's resounding question went unanswered, because Wang Gen was the person of the highest status, and those unreasonable and nonsensical words could not be spoken in front of him.

Those words are not fit for public discourse.

Just as Wang Gen was about to continue questioning, hurried footsteps came from outside the crowd, accompanied by a loud shout.

Looking towards the source of the sound, they saw the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and others rushing over. Given the magnitude and political implications of such an event occurring within the Imperial Academy, their expressions were rather grim.

The students outside made way for the Imperial Academy officials, including the Chancellor, to enter. The group went straight to Wang Gen, while the poor students behind him looked on with hope.

Upon seeing the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy arrive, Wang Gen stopped focusing on the instructors and instead sneered, "The Imperial Academy, a vital institution for cultivating talent for the nation, is actually a den of iniquity. It's quite a good thing to have these morally bankrupt instructors. Chancellor Zhao, is this the Imperial Academy under your jurisdiction?"

“Vice Minister Wang, you flatter me.” Although the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was far less powerful and held a lower rank than Wang Gen, in officialdom, rank often did not determine everything. As the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he enjoyed immense prestige among scholars and was naturally unafraid of Wang Gen. He immediately retorted sharply, “This is the Imperial Academy, and there are regulations governing the handling of these students. It seems that Vice Minister Wang is overstepping his bounds.”

"What a presumptuous act of overstepping one's bounds," Wang Gen asked indifferently. "But I wonder how Chief Chancellor Zhao plans to deal with these students?"

Zhao Jijiu said proudly, "These students openly burned the classic books of the sages in the Imperial Academy. They have no respect for the sages and their crimes are heinous. They should be stripped of their academic honors and punished!"
Cast them into the deepest hell, never to be reborn!

As soon as he finished speaking, the faces of those poor students changed drastically. Lin Shengshuang, who was in the lead, was first shocked, and then furious. His eyes suddenly flashed with murderous intent as he stared intently at the Chief Instructor Zhao Shi.

The other scholars who remained uninvolved shuddered and looked at the Chancellor Zhao Shi with some horror.

Losing the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) is not so bad, as there is still hope of retaking the exam. But being convicted of a crime is a much bigger deal. With a criminal record, one's descendants cannot participate in the imperial examinations, which can be said to directly cut off the family's future hopes.

It even extinguished the hope of future generations to clear their ancestors' names and exonerate them.

Zhao Shi was making an example of Lin Shengshuang and others by using harsh methods to suppress their resistance. This incident occurred within the Imperial Academy, where he held the highest authority.

"Very well, very well." Wang Gen laughed in anger, "Chancellor Zhao has such great official power, deciding the life and death of students with just a word."

I had some things I wanted to say, but now it seems there's nothing left for me to discuss with you all. I'll write a memorial and submit it to His Majesty to see how His Majesty and the court view this matter!

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy looked very displeased and said, "Minister Wang, this is just a minor matter caused by a student. Is it really necessary to report it to the Emperor?"
Wang Shilang was appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and the education affairs of the entire southern provinces. He made such a big mistake in his post. Wasn't he afraid of being blamed by the court?
Once the court finds fault with him, Vice Minister Wang's ambition to be promoted to Minister will be impossible.

"It's better for both of us to apprehend and punish these students today."

Zhao Shi, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, spoke with a subtle threat. The reason he dared to stand up to Wang Gen was because if this matter were to be reported to higher authorities, Wang Gen would be implicated.

The students surrounding Wang Gen and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy exchanged glances as their conversation progressed. By now, they had a general idea of ​​what was going on: the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was determined to punish the scholars who burned the books, while Wang Gen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was determined to protect them at all costs, even if it meant taking the matter to the Emperor.

Some clever people saw the truth in this: the purpose of the Chancellor was to cover up the matter at the Imperial Academy. Such a big mistake had occurred during his tenure, and if it became a big deal, he would be held responsible.

"Ridiculous!" Wang Gen scoffed, "Is it Zhao Jijiu's way of being an official to conceal things from the court whenever something happens?"

Unfortunately, this is not the style of a Vice Minister. I must report this matter to the court. It concerns more than a hundred scholars, and even thousands of poor scholars in the southern provinces. How can I keep it here and let you run rampant?

"Zhao Shi, just wait for the official document from the court."

How could Wang Gen not understand the meaning behind Zhao Shi's words? Unfortunately, Zhao Shi was ultimately too narrow-minded. Although this matter was reported to higher authorities, he, as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, would bear the leadership responsibility.

However, since he reported this matter and the poor scholars were not targeting him, he would not be promoted for at most three years. After three years, Li Xianmu might even be promoted to Minister of Personnel. Having someone in the court makes it easier to get an official position, and he would be able to get promoted sooner or later.

If the matter of "burning books and severing principles" were to reach the higher authorities and even become prevalent throughout the Ming Dynasty, it would severely damage Neo-Confucianism and the "laws for poor scholars" that the School of Mind had been promoting, greatly increasing the chances of its passage.

Wang Gen knew all too well what was more important. What did his own temporary fortune or misfortune matter compared to accomplishing the great cause?
Zhao Shi, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, thought that Wang Gen would be concerned about his official position, but he was wrong. Although Wang Gen cared about his position, he also had a long-term vision and was determined to make a big fuss about this matter.

"Wang Gen! Are you crazy? If this gets out, a lot of people will be implicated, including your former subordinates when you were studying Taoism. Is it all for these lowly commoners? Is it all for these good-for-nothings who can never pass the exams in their entire lives? I just don't understand what's so great about these people that you'd help them. They're not even worth training!"

This time, Zhao Shi was genuinely panicked. Things had taken an unexpected turn. He couldn't understand why Wang Gen was so determined to fight him to the death, even at the risk of offending so many people.

If Lin Shengshuang and others truly possessed extraordinary talent, it would be fine to take them as disciples and pass on their mantle in the future. However, these people are clearly quite ordinary, with no chance of passing the imperial examinations!
Wang Gen felt that talking to Zhao Shi was like talking to a summer insect about ice, so he ignored Zhao Shi and instead spoke gently to Lin Shengshuang and other scholars from poor families: "Don't worry, as long as I am in Jiangnan, I will not let people like Zhao Shi do anything to you. You must trust Lord Shouzheng, trust the court, and trust the emperor. He will definitely give you a just outcome."

The bright and clear sky of the Ming Dynasty will not be obscured by a dark cloud like Zhao Shi.

Only now did Lin Shengshuang and the other scholars suddenly feel that they had regained some strength, as if a power from their hearts was supporting them. Lin Shengshuang and the others glanced at Zhao Shi again, and the murderous aura in their eyes gradually dissipated, and their killing intent slowly dissipated.

Most people didn't expect that Lin Shengshuang and his group would dare to do something like burning books. It was obvious that their mental state was already off. If Wang Gen hadn't arrived in time, there would have been bloodshed in the Imperial Academy today.

Zhao Shi's face was completely bloodless. He could almost foresee his fate; he would probably be demoted to the desolate wilderness unless someone in the court would protect him.

Thinking this, he stared straight at the books that had been burned to ashes, and suddenly his eyes lit up. At present, the psychological struggle in the court is intensifying. The most intense struggle is between Li Xianmu, Minister of Revenue, and Jian Yi, Minister of Personnel. The two sides have clashed several times.

If it involved the plight of poor students, Jian Yi might not have intervened. However, Lin Shengshuang and his ilk, while appealing to the poor, also attributed the matter to Neo-Confucianism, and burned the classic Neo-Confucian text, the Four Books with Commentary.

Once this matter reaches the imperial court, even if Jian Yi doesn't want to get involved in the law concerning poor families, he will have no choice but to intervene.

The more Zhao Shi thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and even his ashen face regained some luster.

Wang Gen could easily guess what he was thinking, and he sneered inwardly. If it weren't for the fact that Jian Yi was a key member of the Crown Prince's faction and that he was mindful of the Crown Prince's opinion, he would have already taken action against Jian Yi.

Thinking this, he decided not to waste any more time at the Imperial Academy. He led Lin Shengshuang and the others away from the academy, intending to report the matter to the court and send someone to report it to Li Xianmu as quickly as possible.

……

Beijing.

Li Xianmu received Wang Gen's letter even faster than the imperial palace. After only a cursory glance, he excitedly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. It was truly like a pillow for someone who was sleepy or a miraculous medicine for someone who was sick. This matter can be considered one of the most serious political events involving scholars since the Yongle era.

Only a few other incidents, such as the temple crying case, can be compared to this one.

Now we are just waiting for the emperor to summon us to discuss this matter.

Li Xianmu sat down again, calming himself down and thinking about how to strike decisively and finalize the "Law on Poor Scholars" to solidify the matter, as well as how the opposition might muddy the waters.

The afternoon after Li Xianmu received the letter, a memorial from the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing arrived at the Office of Transmission. The Commissioner of Transmission was shocked after a cursory glance and immediately rushed to the palace. It was a mass riot by scholars, and no one dared to stop the emperor from knowing about it.

After all, everyone knows that Wang Gen's junior brother is Li Xianmu, a figure who can directly reach the ears of the emperor. It's even possible that Li Xianmu already knows about this.

When the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review entered the palace, he couldn't help but feel a chill when he recalled the events described in the memorial. He was now one of the few neutral parties in the court, remaining neutral on matters of psychological warfare and the laws concerning the poor. However, because an outsider's perspective is clearer, he was able to see something extra in this memorial.

"If the giants of Neo-Confucianism continue to resist the decree against poor families, they will completely push all poor children to the School of Mind. If all the millions of poor children turn to the School of Mind, then the School of Mind will make up for its last shortcoming, and there will be countless students reciting the 'Records of Transmission' in the vast villages and towns."

Wang Gen wrote a letter to Li Xianmu, and Zhao Shi and others naturally wrote letters to the bigwigs in the capital, telling them what had happened at the Imperial Academy. Almost everyone was shocked and furious.

Before they could have a chance to think it over, less than half an hour after the memorial was sent to the palace, an imperial edict was issued, summoning all civil officials of the fourth rank and above to the palace to discuss state affairs!

(End of this chapter)