Xie Changjie's life is roughly divided into three stages.

In the first stage, I studied hard for more than 20 years, and it was only when I was in my thirties that I was born as a junior high school and a jinshi.

After waiting for a long time, he became the head of the Ministry of Rites, but he made up for the right long history of Xingwangfu, and his future was cut off. This stumbling nearly ten years is the second stage of his life.

During this time, he often regretted it, and felt that it was better not to dislike the lack of that county in the first place. It's good that he was born in the top three, and then he can stay up until he reaches the honor of a mansion, which is also good.

Then fate played a joke on him. Since Zhu Houxi's ascension to the throne, his life has entered the third stage.

There was Yuan Zonggao first, and then Sun Jiao, and Xie Changjie couldn't help it: who let Dao's heart collapse and do those things after he took office in the palace at that time?

First of all, because of the "meritorious" case of Qian Ning Jiangbin, he was promoted to participate in politics from the third grade of Guangdong, and then he was demoted to the right of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate for accepting bribes and soliciting bribes, and fell back to the fourth grade. The job difference is still a positive five-grade, and it is not like the Guangdong City Bo Si is promoted to the manager.

After running head-on into the case of the Japanese mission fighting for tribute and looting, he is now demoted to the imperial history of Zhejiang Inspector of Zhengqipin.

But Xie Changjie is happy now.

Although the grade is low, the status of the patrol according to the imperial history is much higher than that of the city ship. In a province, the seven-rank patrol has far more courtesies than some prefects or ordinary third- and fourth-grade officials.

He, an old minister of the hidden mansion, is now patrolling Zhejiang, which means even more different.

Besides, Your Majesty said that the previous things will not be taken into account anymore. Now that His Majesty has been married, and the eldest princess has also found a favorite concubine, there is really no need to worry about him anymore when she had a little dirty thoughts.

Xie Changjie said goodbye to Zheng Shoujie, who was demoted to the head of the household department, and went to the Ministry of Rites to receive the group of "prisoners" of the Japanese mission who went south to behead.

"The release of the patrol is actually promoted according to the Ming Dynasty, and it is still Jane in the emperor's heart." Zheng Shoujie is really envious, because he was demoted to an eight-rank official, but he was from the sixth rank before!

Xie Changjie sighed: "Secretary Zheng is also good at running errands." Although it is only an eight-grade Zhaomo, after all, he is a Beijing official. This time, the people of Zhejiang suffered, although you and I can't be the masters of the city, after all, we still can't escape the blame. Transferred to the household department, there is still something to be done under the new law. ”

The two talked about Ryan again, as the eunuch who was in charge of the city at the time, Ryan was directly taken away from all the grades and left Huang Mingji to work under Wei Bin.

The fate of all three people was changed by the Japanese mission's tribute and looting, and now many others have also been changed because of this turmoil.

Zhang Qin was originally the deputy envoy in charge of Haiphong Province according to the Inspectorate Department, but this time the Japanese mission fought for tribute and plundered, and many officials in Zhejiang were affected. According to the inspection envoy, according to the inspection deputy envoy and military preparation road, according to the inspection deputy envoy and coastal defense road, Ningbo Shaoxing two prefects...... Now their culpability in this incident will be determined by Yan Song's performance.

The original governor Yu Shi Ouzhu had received a notice to go to the capital to report his post, and he came to Sun Xu, the political envoy of Zuobu.

"Futai went to Yuyao?"

Hearing this, Sun Xuan nodded: "Wang Bo'an is there." ”

"I don't know what will happen when I go to the capital, please give me some advice."

Sun Yu looked at Ou Zhu who was saluting and was silent for a moment.

Ryan was disposed of, which made the whole of Zhejiang uneasy, because it was not known whether Ryan had said anything to His Majesty, nor did he know His Majesty's attitude towards Zhejiang.

What Yan Song said when he appeared in Quzhou Mansion and in several places, Sun Xuan had already received Shao Xi's letter and had dealt with Yan Song in person.

He thought about it for a while and said to Ou Zhu: "After Guanfutai arrives, his words and deeds are as you and I thought before. Yang Ge Lao was anxious to open the situation again in Zhejiang, but Futai already had experience in participating in the policy, so there was no need to completely echo Yang Ge Lao's intentions. Futai is in Zhejiang, and it is more about announcing His Majesty's benevolent name. After the matter of fighting for tribute, you patrolled the constitutional governments to pay for the compensatory work, and Futai also heard about it. Whether the two prefectures of Zhensi, the upper and lower divisions of the capital, Ningbo and Shaoxing are guilty, Futai is not like they want to make a big move in Zhejiang. ”

"So, when I enter Beijing and take up a post, should I have another appointment?"

Sun Yu nodded: "I'm afraid it's a foreign appointment, and it's most likely to go to Zhejiang." According to the foreign appointment of the imperial history, he may be the secretary of the domain, the yamen, the senator and even the political and deputy envoys. ”

The six departments are all for the affairs and the patrol of the imperial history, which are important seventh-grade officials, and it is easy to be promoted to fourth- and fifth-grade Beijing officials; If it is transferred, it is more likely to directly hold important positions in the third or fourth grades.

Ou Zhu's eyes were a little inexplicable: "Futai has warned the Zhejiang gentry in many places to observe the holy will, and to relieve the king's worries and calm the people's livelihood." Now Futai looks at Zhejiang to apply for taxes on its own like Sichuan, but it has been nearly half a year since the city and the city have been abolished, the gentry and wealthy households have shortened their income, and Zhejiang has not yet improved the treatment of officials. ”

Let's see what he says when he comes back from Yuyao. The autumn grain is coming to an end, and if Futai wants to make arrangements, it is almost about to begin. ”

Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Wang Shouren's hometown.

Although he used to lecture in Jiangxi, he now kept filial piety and returned to Yuyao.

"After more than a year, Bo'an's filial piety moved me, why are you so haggard?" Yan Song looked concerned, "Your Majesty is often worried, and I hope Bo'an will take care of his health!" ”

Wang Shouren shook his head: "That's not because of filial piety, it's just that for more than a year, I have devoted myself to studying Your Majesty's theory of the three principles of day, things, and people." It takes a lot of mental energy, and it is usually not rough, so Futai smiled. ”

"I don't know if Bo'an can have some understanding?" Yan Song was very concerned about this, and saluted sincerely, "Now Your Majesty has invited many people to worship and study the principles of things in the Ten Thousand Law Pavilion, and only Bo An can concentrate on studying this avenue of learning." We are full of affairs, flawless and thoughtful. ”

Wang Shouren continued to shake his head and smile bitterly: "I can't say that I have any understanding, Your Majesty's statement is actually quite different from what I have learned before." Masters of science can easily incorporate the insights of the mind, but I feel like I have gone astray......"

That's why Wang Shouren is getting more and more emaciated now: his confidence in his heart and mind has been hit.

One of the reasons why the study of the mind is regarded as a heretical study is the idealism of the mind. And Zhu Houxi's theory of the three principles of heaven, things, and people clearly recognizes the materialism of "heavenly principles" and does not change due to people's hearts.

Even the materialistic properties of the Heavenly Principles will be expressed at a glance through physics. On the contrary, the law of conscience and the requirement of the unity of knowledge and action in the study of the mind. On the contrary, we can no longer "act according to what we know" at will, we must follow and adapt to the unchanged physics, and we must have a new set of human logic explanations.

It was rare for Yan Song to come, and Wang Shouren seized this opportunity to leave him to ask for advice on the opinions they had expressed on this knowledge at the national policy meeting.

Yan Song confirmed that he really didn't seem to be able to have a comprehensive explanation, and then asked him: "Bo'an is in Yuyao, and the matter of the Japanese mission's tribute and looting happened between Ningbo and Shaoxing, why didn't Bo'an talk about it?" ”

He was referring to the secret box that Shen Ce had received when he left Beijing.

Wang Shouren sighed: "Everything in Zhejiang has officials, and Your Majesty and the court have their own disposal, so why do I need to talk more?" At that time, the Japanese came and went very quickly, and the disaster did not affect Yuyao. By the time I learned about this, the would-be wouldn't have gone back to Ningbo. The inside story, I don't know if I'm worried at home, what did the music say? ”

Yan Song thought for a while and saluted him: "I am the governor of Zhejiang, and I still need some capable people." Bo Anjiu is in Zhejiang and Jiangxi, I don't know if I can recommend a few people? ”

Wang Shouren looked at him and asked meaningfully: "Only do you want to move a group of people in Zhejiang?" ”

Yan Song said righteously: "Your Majesty cares about the people, and some local officials are unable to defend the land and the people, so they should be punished." Now that the city has been abolished, many gentry and wealthy households in Zhejiang have lost a way to make money, and they may change. Bo'an knows the soldiers, and when the Ming Dynasty Zhejiang, the Japanese disaster may be more serious. The top and bottom of the capital, the top and bottom of the division, and even the officials of the coastal provinces, all need people with both ability and political integrity! ”

Wang Shouren was silent for a while, and then said, "It's okay." I have many doubts about my knowledge, so I might as well ask Your Majesty for advice. In addition, let's recommend a few more people. ”

The two were originally old acquaintances. When Yan Song was raising hope in his hometown of Fenyi, his residence in Qishan Hall talked and laughed and had no white contacts, and Wang Shouren also befriended him. After the Chenhao Rebellion, Yan Song was "sick" in Jiangxi at that time, and Wang Shouren also invited Yan Song to praise the military, and traveled to Nanchang at night together, writing poems and enjoying the scenery.

Now, Yan Song wants to form an alliance with Wang Shouren.

In the future, if the new law is to be implemented, it is impossible to say that there may be a military rebellion, and it must also be helped by the theory of the three principles of heaven, things, and man.

Although Wang Shouren only temporarily participated in the national policy on behalf of Yang Yiqing, since he had gone there, he was a scholar and a soldier, and he was one of the most potential people in the future.

The premise is: "You must take care of your body!" ”

Yan Song sincerely continued to advise: "I am in Zhejiang, and I can often come to learn from Bo'an. You are so embarrassed, it is also because you have realized that Your Majesty is talking about the deep road, right? Your Majesty is talented, you and I might as well humbly seek advice and help Your Majesty implement it. If my expectations are correct, I am afraid that Jiajing's five-year examination will start to be restructured. ”

Until then, the new doctrine will naturally be published.

Now, the counselors see very clearly: His Majesty has clearly hidden something in this doctrine that he himself has not said. It's just that although His Majesty can explain some truths clearly, he is not good at using current knowledge and words to express it into a very complete system. Inherit the writings of the sages, and enlighten the new knowledge of the scholars.

Wang Shouren's secret box and Yan Song's recital arrived earlier than Ou Zhu.

In the past year or so, Wang Shouren's secret box has only been here twice.

The last time was when he heard about the three principles of heaven and man, and he debated with Zhu Houxi remotely through the secret box.

After Zhu Houxi replied to him a lot in very straightforward words, Wang Shouren has not heard back for more than a year.

After looking at Yan Song's recital, Zhu Houxi couldn't help but smile at Yang Ting and them: "Bo'an studied hard, but he lost a lot of weight and haggard. Qing and others have also been working on this knowledge intermittently for more than a year, and it is difficult to express the harmony of the three principles of heaven and man, where do you think it is difficult? ”

Shi Xuan was the first to reply: "Your Majesty, it's just that the relationship between physics and heavenly and human principles is rarely talked about in the writings of sages. The minister has been studying for more than a year, and he doesn't know how to express it clearly. ”

Everyone nodded silently.

For more than a year, it has not been without harvest. The word physics, in fact, is mentioned by Zhuangzi in the sentence "the beauty of the original heaven and earth reaches the principle of all things". In the Confucian classic "The Book of Rites and the University" and Zhu Xi's commentary, there is also the expression "learning from things, and learning from things".

The relationship between physics and human reason, Mencius proposed that human nature and material nature should be studied when doing things and learning. Isn't the law of observing the heavens and the changes in the starry sky that is now called something "physical" when the calendar was formulated?

Confucianism is actually about logic, so they are very entangled now. Because in their view, it is rigorous to find the source from the writings of the sages and sages, and many great Confucians have their own evidence for thousands of years.

If it weren't for the fact that Confucianism itself is quite rigorous and has a strong materialistic attribute, how could China be the most unfettered in religious thought?

What is the reason why they are so embarrassed now?

Zhu Houxi frowned: Probably because he admires the sages too much, he must find the source and evidence from the remarks of his predecessors.

He opened his mouth and said: "The principles of heaven are clear, physics is unchanged, and the knowledge of the sages is also derived from the principle of things and the understanding of human ethics. For more than 3,000 years, generations of people have continued to study knowledge on the shoulders of their predecessors, and paper has replaced bamboo slips and silk silks. The principle of humanity, today's people have done a more elaborate job in governing the country and educating the people than the ancients, so why bother blindly sticking to the past and ignoring the present? ”

Yang Tinghe and others did not dare to be as "rebellious" as him, thinking that their knowledge surpassed that of their ancestors.

Zhu Houxi continued: "The difficulty is that the Qing and others must understand a real word. Bo'an combines knowledge and action, and practices what he knows, and I think there are two steps. First of all, many people have practical knowledge. With practical knowledge, we can further practice it and implement it to gain more experience and knowledge. Practice is done by people, practice is done by people, and practice is based on people's reasoning, so that human ethics can be continuously improved; If you practice physics, you will continue to gain true knowledge. ”

"This heavenly principle is the continuous progress of human reason and physics, and it gradually tends to understand the heavenly principle. The connection between physics and heavenly principles and human principles lies in the word practice. The truth of all things and the truth of humanity are all obtained by the continuous practice and summary of the ancients and modern people, and they have a historical side and a development side. I believe that if we start with practice, we do not need to stick to what the ancients said, but we should affirm one thing: learning is constantly improving and improving, and as long as the people of today uphold the role of practice, then they can surpass the ancients on the basis of respecting what the ancients have gained. ”

After Zhu Houxi said this, there was a very subtle silence in the imperial study.

For thousands of years, Confucian children have had a shackle in their hearts. They always believed that the learning of the sages was the highest and that the society of antiquity was the most desirable.

Now, it is enough for the emperor to ask them to respect the ancients, not to blindly respect the ancients.

Do you want to believe that you are better than the ancients?

(End of chapter)