Xu Guangqi's self-defense from the perspective of personal belief, counted the course of Taixi missionaries in the Ming Dynasty, compared Catholicism with Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, dispelled all kinds of rumors, and quoted Li Si's "Book of Expulsion of Guests", believing that foreigners could work for the Ming Dynasty, and that Catholicism could complement Wanghua, influence Confucianism, and save Buddhism—while Zhang Yuan's defense was purely academic debate, from Aristotle, Plato to Lao Zhuang Confucius and Mencius; From "Yu Gong", "Classic of Mountains and Seas", "Notes on the Book of Water" to "Geographical Guide" and Maps of All Nations; From "Zhou Ji Sutra", "Measuring the Circle Sea Mirror" to "Geometric Original" and "Measurement of Circle", from Bingge bow and arrow to Western firearms...... At the end of the recital, Zhang Yuan proposed that five people be selected from those officials who opposed Catholicism and Western studies to have a public debate with him and Xu Guangqi and others. Written heartily, very passionate, he knows the strength of the conservative forces in the late Ming gentry, the Nanjing teaching plan turmoil seems to be against the Jesuits in the Ming Dynasty, the deep-seated reason is the conflict between Eastern and Western civilizations, it is the conservative forces led by Shen Yu to reject foreign culture, it is now the forty-fourth year of Wanli, Columbus has been dead for more than 100 years, the Western Age of Exploration has begun, the Ming Kingdom is then complacent, arrogant, and does not know how to take it, and in the end it will be backward and beaten, Therefore, he wants to take advantage of the waves set off by the Nanjing teaching case to resolutely fight back against Shen Yu and others, so that the Ming gentry can have a better understanding of Western studies, so that their horizons can be broadened, and they should not always focus on the dispute between friends.

The more Zhang Yuan thought about it, the more excited he became, he was not afraid to debate with others at all, what he needed was this stage for debate, he wanted to stir up a pool of stagnant water, and he couldn't let those stupid gentry enjoy the tranquility before the fall of the empire, he should be at the forefront of the tide, natural disasters [***] are frequent, Liaoning has risen drums, who is impatient to drink tea and read the Di newspaper!

Zhang Yuan's heart fluctuated, got up and paced indoors, only then did he see Mu Zhenzhen sitting on the side of the bed, dozing off with his hands, a volume of "Historical Records" in front of him, turning the page of "Korean Biography", Mu Zhenzhen used to accompany him until the early hours of the morning and would not be tired, this pregnancy is very different, like Zhenzhen, a straight, diligent, energetic woman is also a little lazy - Zhang Yuan gently scraped the tip of Mu Zhenzhen's nose with his hand before approaching, Mu Zhenzhen immediately opened his blue eyes, said "ah" lightly, stood up and said: " Did the young master finish writing, and the maid went to bring water to wash the young master. ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I really go to sleep first, I will go to the well in the backyard to carry water and wash my face." ”

Mu Zhenzhen refused, packed up the pen and inkstone to accompany Zhang Yuan, the two of them followed each other to the backyard, the moonlight was everywhere, clear and bright, it had been three watches, the full moon had been west, Zhang Yuan carried a bucket of water from the well, the moonlight was beating in the water, his hand was in the water, it was cold, and he took a handful of moonlight noodles, as if the dregs in the soul could be washed away - "It's already a child, and now it can be regarded as the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15." Zhang Yuan squatted by the well and brushed his teeth with a basket while speaking mutteredly.

Mu Zhenzhen had already brushed his teeth before, and then rinsed his mouth with water, and said: "Young grandmother, they are going to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival on the boat this year, I don't know where they are now, have they arrived in Nanjing?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Leaving in early August, where can they get to Nanjing now, they may not necessarily go to Nanjing, they should cross the river directly from Zhenjiang through the canal, according to my estimation, they are now about to Jiaxing or Suzhou." ”

Mu Zhenzhen said: "What about Aunt Wei, won't she come?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "It's hard to say, I don't know if Li Ko'er's affairs are going well?" ”

Mu Zhenzhen remembered the red-haired and green-eyed Westerners she had seen in the Catholic Church before, she looked so strange, her eyes were only a little blue, and her hair was a little yellow, not like those Western priests, like dyed ones, and asked: "Does the young master want to worship that Jesus God like Master Xu?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I don't worship, but others want to worship, I don't object, Nanjing Shen Shilang is a Buddhist, his teacher is the lotus pond monk of Hangzhou Qiyun Temple, Shen Shilang does not believe in God, he will force others not to believe, but also to drive all these Westerners back to China, it is very domineering, these Westerners in the Ming Dynasty are not only preaching, they have brought a lot of useful knowledge, I want to help these Westerners, help them is also to help ourselves." ”

Mu Zhenzhen didn't quite understand what Zhang Yuan meant, anyway, she was stupid and loyal, and the young master was always right.

…… On August 15, Zhang Yuan still got up at the middle of the day, washed and dined, and then took his brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo's carriage to Hanlin Academy, Shang Zhouzuo knew that Zhang Yuan wanted to talk to him, because he said that Zhang Yuan liked to walk, and according to Zhang Yuan's instructions, Mu Zhenzhen did not follow today, only Wang Dazhui and Wuling followed and waited.

The carriage was driving, Shang Zhouzuo read the song written by Zhang Yuan in the car, more than 6,000 words, and he didn't finish reading it until East Chang'an Street, Shang Zhouzuo said: "Jiezi, why do you want to tie your future to those Taixi people, and be willing to suffer the crime of propagating heresy and bullying the king, this is not very appropriate." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Last time, Liu Tingyuan and Zhao Xingbang impeached me Tingce Binghe and said, and then it was closed because of the attack case, and this time Shen Yu and others want to expel the Taixi missionaries, once they succeed, then the next step will definitely be to liquidate me Binghe said, I can't sit back and wait for them to attack, the confession I said is a confession of failure in the debate, and I firmly believe that I will not fail in the debate." ”

Shang Zhouzuo nodded, he had no doubts about his sister-in-law Zhang Yuan's talent and eloquence, but said: "This also requires the elders of the Fang Pavilion to allow the debate, if not, you can't do anything." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I will find a way to facilitate this debate, and the eldest brother must support me." "Shang Zhouzuo is the imperial history of the Zuo Du of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate now lacks a lot of officials, and the Imperial History of the Zuo Zuo has great jurisdiction.

Shang Zhouzuo pondered for a moment and said, "I will fight for a fair debate for you, I can't help you with anything else." "Shang Zhouzuo has always been known for his uprightness and non-favoritism.

Zhang Yuan said: "I just want to be treated fairly, because Elder Fang Ge has some opinions about me." ”

In front of the Hanlin Courtyard, Zhang Yuan got out of the car, Shang Zhouzuo went to the Ducha Courtyard, Wang Dazhui and Wuling went to Li Ge Lao Hutong to find Laifu, Laifu supervised the craftsmen to renovate the courtyard there, and Shang Ran will come to Beijing next month.

Zhang Yuan entered the Hanlin Academy only to remember that the scholars of the Ming Dynasty said that the leave system of officials in the Ming Dynasty stipulates that only New Year's Day, Lantern Festival, and the winter solstice are holidays, and it is usually a day off in ten days, but Shu Jishi is a day off in five days, and the treatment is better than that of other Beijing officials.

Guo Shu looked at the recital and persuaded: "Zhang Xiu, the emperor's eldest grandson praised you for your good lectures, and you should concentrate on being a good lecturer, teach the emperor's eldest grandson wholeheartedly, and don't get too involved in all kinds of arguments." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Bachelor Guo, the lower officials can't argue, the glacial theory put forward by the lower officials benefited from the research results of the Taixi scholars, and the Taixi missionaries were expelled, so the next step is to deal with the lower officials, and the lower officials preside over the Hanlin Academy, and they should uphold justice for the lower officials." ”

Guo Shu said: "That's it, I won't persuade you anymore, if the cabinet and the Ministry of Rites agree to you to debate with others, I will not object." ”

Guo Shu is this surname, he does not express his position and does not act, which is similar to the way Emperor Wanli treats the government and government, in fact, it is a manifestation of incompetence, Zhang Yuan did not expect Guo Shu to support him, just to inform him, after all, Guo Shu is the official of the palm seal of the Hanlin Academy, which is due respect.

During lunch in the Hanlin Courtyard, Han Benyong, the eunuch of the East Palace, brought a few chamberlains to give gifts to Guo Shu and Zhang Yuan, the two speakers of the East Palace, including silver coins, pen and ink, palace cakes, melons and fruits, etc., Guo Shu is the crown prince's speaker, and the festival is more generous than Zhang Yuan's.

Zhou Yanru "recovered" from the previous "recovery" and returned to the Hanlin Academy to sit in the hall, at this time he saw the East Palace to Zhang Yuan to give a festival gift, the shame in his heart can be imagined, although he resigned from the East Palace to save face, but after returning to the Hanlin Academy, he felt that his colleagues looked at him differently, and some people spoke with sneers and thorns, Zhou Yanru of course thought that Zhang Yuan had told him all the things that had lost face, and hated Zhang Yuan to the bone - in fact, Zhang Yuan didn't say anything, it was Zhou Yanru himself who was suspicious, but Zhang Yuan didn't care about Zhou Yanru's attitude towards him now, Zhou Yanru is no longer his competitor, and in the foreseeable future, Zhou Yanru will sit on the bench of the Hanlin Academy.

After lunch, Guo Shu announced that today is to disperse the yamen in advance, which is the practice in previous years, and every time there is no holiday, the Beijing officials can move freely in the yamen for half a day, which is still very human.

Zhang Yuan asked Wen Zhenmeng and Qian Shisheng to go to the Huitong Hall to meet Zhang Dai, Qi Biaojia and others, he hired a carriage, first brought the Boxing Gift from the East Palace to Li Ge Lao Hutong, and then asked Laifu to take the Boxing Gift back to the East Fourth Archway, he said that he would not go back to the Mid-Autumn Festival today, and he had made an appointment to gather with the friends of the Han Society in Beijing to admire the moon.

Locking the door of the courtyard, Zhang Yuan came to the Huitong Pavilion with Wuling and Wang Dazhui, and saw Wen Zhenmeng, Qian Shisheng, Zhang Dai, Qi Biaojia, Ni Yuanlu, Ruan Dacheng, and Hong Chengchou were already here.

Zhang Dai said: "Jiezi, how about we drink and admire the moon and sing by the bubble tonight, and I am also relaxed." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "The original Hangzhou weaving eunuch Zhong Benhua, invited us to go to Shichahai to admire the moon, Zhong Gonggong is now serving the emperor's eldest grandson in the East Palace, the last time Zhang Cha broke into the palace, it was this Zhong Gonggong who rescued the emperor's eldest grandson from Zhang Cha's stick, Zhong Gonggong's own arm was broken, and he recuperated for several months. ”

Wen Zhenmeng has always despised eunuchs, and when he heard Zhang Yuan say that he was going to an appointment with a eunuch, he was quite displeased, and after listening to Zhang Yuan's words, he praised: "There are also loyal people in the eunuchs, which is rare." ”

Zhang Dai said: "This Gonggong Zhong has done a lot of good deeds in Hangzhou, and Jiao Taishi once wrote a tablet for the Zhong Family Nursing Home in Baobao Mountain. ”

So, the Han Society and his entourage, together with more than 20 people from the entourage and domestic servants, went along the root of the imperial city to the Shichahai, and when they arrived at Eunuch Zhong's outer house, it was already early afternoon at the beginning of Shen Shi, and Eunuch Zhong's godson greeted him and said to Zhang Yuan: "Mr. Zhang, my godfather is not here, because Mama Ke had an accident last night." ”

Zhang Yuan was taken aback, something happened to Ke Yinyue, what happened?

(To be continued)