Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 598
The officials looked back and saw that the person who came out to start the performance was an unfamiliar face. The man was wearing a censor's robe, and his face was full of concern for the country and the people.Lao Zhu didn't remember this person's name, but only remembered that his surname was Fang, who was usually not outstanding.

However, there is no need to remember this person's name. Based on Lao Zhu's experience, he can tell at a glance that this person is just a stone thrown to ask for directions.

"Your Majesty, the plague is rampant inside and outside Yingtian. If left unchecked, it may endanger the country."

"I sincerely request your majesty to take action as soon as possible, so that the people will be very lucky and the country will be very lucky." The official surnamed Fang leaned over and saluted with sincerity. After speaking, he maintained the saluting posture and remained motionless.

"Plague?" Lao Zhu deliberately frowned and turned to look at Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao came out knowingly: "Father, what Fang Yushi said should refer to the smallpox that broke out in the suburbs of the city recently."

"However, as far as I know, in response to this situation, the cabinet has already ordered the closure of infected villages and towns, and the isolation of patients in the city. The surrounding area has been cleaned up in accordance with the military's "Epidemic Prevention Regulations", and the palace has also sent several imperial doctors to help diagnose the disease."

"My son, I don't understand what Fang Yushi means by 'taking action early'. Hasn't the imperial court already taken action?"

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, how terrible is smallpox? How can it be cured by just cooking it like this? I, the great Ming Dynasty, inherit the hope of all people and represent the herdsmen of heaven. How can I sit back and watch such a tragic thing happen at the feet of the emperor?"

"If the cabinet handles this improperly, it may lose the hope of the people. I sincerely request your majesty to pay more attention to this matter."

"If you want us, how can you help me?" Lao Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly and said.

The censor Fang swallowed his saliva, as if hesitating whether to say the next words.He glanced slightly to the left, as if he saw something, and finally gritted his teeth, lifted his official robe and knelt down.

"I dare you to ask your majesty to suspend the reform of the scientific examination system, abolish the new learning and pseudo-learning, and reestablish the Cheng-Zhu School as the orthodoxy of our country."

"In this way, the smallpox can be eradicated and the country can be established!"

"... I second the proposal, and I sincerely request your Majesty to abolish the new and pseudo-study, and reestablish Cheng-Zhu's study as Zhengshuo. In this way, smallpox can be eradicated and the country can be settled!" Fang Yushi finished his words, and many court officials followed him. They all lined up, lifted up their clothes and knelt down towards Lao Zhu.

Suddenly, more than half of the civil servants in Fengtian Palace knelt down. Those in the military honors column were all shocked by the sudden appearance of the civil servants. Many generals were in a state of confusion.

what's the situation?How could a smallpox be involved in scientific examinations and new studies?
Lao Zhu also did not expect that so many people would be willing to second the proposal.His eyes became dangerous, scanning the many kneeling ministers like a hawk.His eyes glanced back and forth, and finally landed on Kong Xixue, who was at the forefront. "Mr. Yansheng, we still remember, aren't you supposed to be recuperating in Qufu? Why are you in the court today?"

"Your Majesty, I heard that your Majesty wanted to order the Southern Sect of the Kong family to pay homage to our ancestor, Master Kong. If I can help it, I will go south. I heard that Sheji was in trouble, so I stayed." Kong Xixue looked calm. "Yesterday, I wrote a letter to Fu Que at the palace gate. I thought His Majesty already knew about it."

Lao Zhu said oh, still staring at Kong Xixue with dangerous eyes.Kong Xixue was sweating profusely, but still gritted his teeth.His excuse actually made sense. The emperor had the intention of establishing a separate Southern Sect. He, the Northern Sect, should have gone to Beijing to fight to the death.This risk-taking has had unexpected results. As long as he can survive this time, his descendants will still be rich and wealthy for hundreds of thousands of years.

"Then you come and tell us why we are asked to abolish the new learning and reform the system despite the outbreak of smallpox?" Lao Zhu asked. "Yes." Kong Xixue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.The emperor was still able to ask questions, which showed that he did not fully support the new learning.He said: "Your Majesty, smallpox is not just a disease, but a warning from heaven."

"It has been known throughout the ages that smallpox is a disease that is difficult to treat even though Huatuo and Bianque are ill. If you get sick, you just have to leave it to fate. What's more, this time smallpox appears in the imperial capital, let alone take it lightly. If it is not handled properly, it will become a huge disaster in a moment. "

"It is said that the country will suffer immoral defeat, and God will send out disasters first to warn them. This time, smallpox is exactly the punishment from God, which coincides with the principle of the induction of heaven and man. If it is to be dealt with, it can only be cured by medicine, stone and medicine. .Only by obeying God’s will can we turn danger into safety.”

"If we look at the government's policies in recent years, the only thing that can do is promote new learning, it may anger God: This new learning is perverse, goes against the foundation of the great road, falsely claims that the way of heaven is impermanent, and abandons the theory of the interaction between heaven and man. It also uses the name of Confucianism to practice the practices of hundreds of schools of thought. In fact, it confuses the king to engage in military warfare, making it difficult for the people to survive..."

"There are so many pieces of information that it is difficult to write them down. I believe that if we do not abolish the new learning, it will be difficult to quell the anger of the sky, and if we do not abolish the new learning, it will be difficult to revitalize the government..."

Kong Xixue was dignified, eloquent, and compassionate.Lao Zhu just listened without saying a word.

It wasn't until he scolded his new learning that Lao Zhu straightened up.His eyes briefly circled around the kneeling officials, and he said, "So, you and Yan Shenggong mean the same thing?"

"What Duke Yansheng said is true. I agree with you." The ministers leaned over and said.

Lao Zhu sneered slightly, anger already igniting in his heart.He knew that these ministers had good reasons to oppose the new learning, either because they were related to the Confucius family, and both would be prosperous; or they were jealous of the wealth gained from opening up the Yingzhou lands, and since they couldn't get their hands on it, they simply destroyed them all. ; Some do not agree with the ideas of the New Learning, and feel that reforming the imperial examinations is cutting off the cultural context of Confucianism; or they have quarrels with the New Learning, and the ideas of the New Learning have brought down the high-ranking literati like them from the altar...

All in all, in Lao Zhu's eyes, these people all have a way to die.

"So, when we implement the new learning, we also made mistakes?" Lao Zhu said with a cold snort. "According to your wishes, Duke Yan, we should also write a self-incriminating edict, right?"

"...If Your Majesty can do this, it will be the best. Come to think of it, if God appreciates Your Majesty's sincerity, His Highness Taisun will be able to turn danger into good fortune." Kong Xixue bowed his head and said.He almost gritted his teeth, forcefully holding on to the coldness contained in Lao Zhu's words.

He knew that His Majesty in front of him cherished his eldest grandson the most. There was news in the palace the day before yesterday that the emperor's grandson Zhu Xiongying was infected with smallpox... The safety of the emperor's grandson was tied to God's will. In order to save the emperor's grandson, Zhu Xiongying was infected with smallpox. , Your Majesty is definitely willing to issue an edict to sin against yourself.

If the skin is gone, the hair will be attached.If the emperor issued an edict to sin against himself, would the new learning still exist even if it was created by His Highness the Fifth Prince?
"That's nonsense." But it was Zhu Biao who stood up. "Now our Ming Dynasty is prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is all the result of Emperor Father. But Duke Yan Sheng wants to use this unfounded thing to punish Father Emperor and issue an imperial edict? Will the crime be solved?"

Facing Prince Zhu Biao, Kong Xixue was relatively calm.He knew that the prince was in charge of the reform of the imperial examination and that he wanted to abolish the new learning, but the prince Xu did not agree.Therefore, he had already prepared the rhetoric to deal with Zhu Biao: "I heard that His Highness Taisun accidentally contracted the disease while outing."

"May I ask His Highness, who suggested that His Highness send his grandson to the countryside? If Your Highness is childless, who can benefit the most from it?"

(End of this chapter)