The Struggle of the Five Kings (Part II)

Therefore, the ups and downs of Wang Xue and Cheng Xue are all due to political factors rather than in the real ideological field. In fact, those who admire Wang Xue may not really understand the true content of Chu Xinxue, and those who believe in Cheng Xue may not fully understand the essence of Luo Xue. But without exception, they are all in the service of politics.

After arriving in Jingkang, with the succession of Zhao Gou, the gains and losses of the previous dynasty were also reflected, out of the tradition of being a venerable one, it could not be said that it was the fault of Song Huizong, so he had to put the blame on Cai Jing and others. And Cai Jing came to power with the new law, so Wang Anshi naturally couldn't get rid of this interference. Therefore, not only did Wang Anshi move out of the Confucian Temple, but his new learning was basically completely denied. In the early years of Shaoxing, when Zhao Ding was in power, although the Cheng brothers' Luoxue was active for a while, it was still the result of power support to a considerable extent, not respect for academics. After Qin Hui came to power, he began to vigorously ban Cheng's Luoxue. The suppression of scholarship by politics can be seen.

It was not until after the death of Qin Hui that the political atmosphere improved slightly, and many people of insight realized that the harm of using power to forcibly support academics was carried out, and after Shaoxing, Zhang Jun, the prime minister who was in power during the Longxing period of filial piety, strongly advocated that academic factions should be treated equally, and should not be abandoned everything, and after Zhang Jun, Yu Yunwen, who was in power, also held this point of view. Therefore, during the period when Xiaozong was in power, he basically adhered to this idea, which led to another prosperous period of today's Great Song Dynasty scholarship.

After Zhao Chen succeeded to the throne, he still continued to treat academic factions equally and impartially. Therefore, when Zhongshan Academy was founded, it was stipulated that no official of the imperial court was allowed to interfere with the teaching of the academy. Although Zhao Chen often goes to the academy to listen to academic debates, he never expresses his opinions in public, sometimes he leaves after listening, and occasionally speaks, which is also a general praise for both sides of the debate.

However, in Zhao Chen's heart, there is still a bias, so he often discusses the content of the debate with Yang Yan in private. Because firstly, the relationship between him and Yang Yan is relatively special and there are not so many scruples, and secondly, although Yang Yan is a military general, his articles are not outstanding, but he has a unique way of looking at things, and he can often get to the point in one sentence.

For example, in the debate between Zhu Xi and Erlu about "teaching people and becoming virtuous", Yang Yan thought that what both sides had learned made sense, but they went to extremes.

Although Lu Jiuyuan's method seems to be reasonable, it is obviously not feasible in reality. Because books are an important aspect of people's acquisition of knowledge, if all books are abandoned, then how can people acquire knowledge, understand history, and understand the world, then "the original intention of the inventor" will become an empty word. From this point of view, Zhu Xi's method is the most basic learning method. But it can't be completely according to Zhu Xi's method, you can only become a nerd who reads dead books hard, finds chapters and sentences, follows the rules, and sticks to the old rotten Confucianism. There will not be the slightest innovation and breakthrough.

Therefore, the most correct way to learn is to combine the ideas of both sides, to draw experience from the books of ancient sages, but not to be limited by books, to add one's own understanding and opinions, and to carefully and objectively share the views in the books. After the debate between Zhu Xi and Erlu, the two sides learned from each other, absorbed some of each other's advantages, and made certain changes, which also proved that Yang Yan's views were correct.

When the two discussed the debate between Zhu Xi and Chen Liang about "Wang Ba Yili", Yang Yan once said: "The minister thinks that if Zhu Xi's theory is tolerated and repaired by a certain person or a family, it will be a great model, but it is extremely harmful to be a code of conduct for all in the court and society." ”

Zhao Chen was a little strange and said: "Why is it beneficial to a certain person or family, but harmful to the court and the world?" ”

Yang Yan said: "Zhu Yuanhui attaches too much importance to people's requirements for their own cultivation, so in his opinion, the so-called virtue of cultivation is to keep heavenly principles and eliminate human desires, not sages but beasts, no delusions inside, no recklessness outside, and only a person who stands in heaven and earth." In terms of the general truth, it can be regarded as a great and noble model, and if it can really be achieved, it is certain that it can meet the standards of the sages. ”

Zhao Chen smiled: "It's so hard that my brother-in-law thinks that there is anything wrong with being a sage?" ”

Yang Yan smiled bitterly: "It's not bad, it's a matter of whether it can be done." If everyone were a sage, then the world would have been the same. It's just that in reality, how many people can really meet the standards proposed by Zhu Xi? Throughout the ages, those who can become sages are always crooked, and the vast majority of people are ordinary people, greedy for life and afraid of death, greedy for money and profit. Although it is not a well-dressed beast, I am afraid that it will never reach the standard of a sage. It is difficult for them to understand reason, and the only way to do it is to benefit and stop it with the law. Therefore, Zhu Xi's point of view, as a certain person or a school, the ultimate goal pursued can be commendable, but as the entire imperial court, the code of conduct of the world is an absurd and never achievable goal. In the end, it will only become a matter of saying one thing, doing another, and fooling the world. ”

After a pause, Yang Yan continued: "Looking at the changes in the twenty dynasties, there will be a time when it can meet the standard that Zhu Yuanhui said." In fact, even Zhu Yuanhui himself could not cite a single such practical example. had to go to the last three generations of the legend and the ethereal. ”

Zhao Chen pondered for a moment, although from the traditional ideas and sayings, the last three generations were said to be a beautiful era of great harmony in the world, and "Debi Yao Shun" was regarded as the highest evaluation of the emperor. But the real people of insight know that the so-called upper three generations are actually more like a legend, and there is neither a well-documented historical record nor physical evidence that can prove it. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, in order to prove the correctness of their doctrines, various schools often fabricated many stories of the last three generations according to their own needs.

Therefore, before Sima Qian wrote the [Historical Records], the last three generations that circulated were only a few stories that were more like myths. It was only by Sima Qian himself that he analyzed, sorted out and selected according to legends and myths, and then came up with a more systematic historical account of the last three generations. However, it has been more than 2,000 years since the so-called era of the first three generations, and it is difficult to say how much truth and credibility there are in the first three generations recorded in the [historical records].

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, all dynasties have not taken the last three generations as their own standard of governance. At the beginning of Song Shenzong's reform, he once compared himself to Tang Taizong, but Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty became Fa Yao Shun, why bother to read Tang Taizong." Shenzong couldn't help but say: "Qing can be said to blame the king. ”

Yang Yan continued: "But what Chen Tongfu said is to the point of reality and current affairs. If my Great Song Dynasty wants to go north to the Central Plains and restore the lost territory, if Your Majesty wants to achieve a great cause, you must follow what Chen Tongfu said, follow the way of the hegemon, and seek truth for the benefit of the world. ”

Zhao Chen nodded, he and Yang Yan agreed on this point. If the world is unified, the society is peaceful, and there may be no problem in talking about morality and heavenly principles. But now the situation faced by the Great Song Dynasty is that only this half of the country is left, although it is not considered to be in danger, but it is definitely sailing against the current, not advancing and retreating.

According to Zhu Xi's statement, as long as the lord can adhere to the holy virtue and self-denial and revenge, then the financial self-sufficiency, China's self-improvement, and the world's benevolence. At that time, he will be able to defeat the Jin Kingdom with his holy virtues, not only Zhao Chen does not believe it, but I am afraid that even Zhu Xi himself will not believe it. Only according to what Chen Liang Yang Yan said, only by advocating the thickness of agriculture and mulberry, the production of mines, and the benefits of merchants to use the country, governing the army, selecting generals, repairing the city, entering the materials of miraculous skills to seek the enemy country, and practicing the way of the hegemon, in order to seek utilitarian profits, is the only way to recover the lost territory and rejuvenate the Great Song Dynasty.

Zhao Chen asked again: "But if you use Chen Tongfu's study of the law, if you don't care about morality in everything, only ask about the consequences, and don't care about the means, won't you become the winner and the loser and the thief?" As Chen Boliang said, he is 'the king of fearlessness'. ”

Yang Yan shook his head and said, "What Chen Boliang said is the most extreme situation. Normally it doesn't show up. As Lu Jiuyuan believes, everyone has a natural moral heart, which only depends on whether they can stick to it, not what behavior they adopt. What's more, what Chen Tongfu said is not to completely abandon the moral heart and do whatever he wants. Instead, we can't let go of utilitarianism and blindly pursue morality. ”

Zhao Chen asked again: "Then according to my brother-in-law, if there is a conflict between utilitarianism and morality, and you can only choose one or the other, how should you choose?" ”

Yang Yan said: "Then it depends on which is bigger, give up small virtue and seek great benefits, or give up small profits and seek great virtue." For example, Tang Taizong, who killed his brother and forced his father to ascend the throne, is definitely not a good person from the level of Taoism, but after Tang Taizong ascended the throne, he was able to be enlightened, sympathetic to the people's livelihood, and admonished like a stream. Then the government was harmonious, the country was peaceful, the world was great, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the people made a pilgrimage to make offerings. Only then can there be Zhenguan Dazhi. Therefore, although Tang Taizong lost his virtue, what he lost was the small virtue of the Li family, and the pursuit of profit was a great benefit to the people of the world, so he can still be called a generation of virtuous kings. Let's ask if those who determine the four seas, the people, and the prestige of the country in the world are not considered "virtuous gentlemen", then there is no real "virtuous gentleman" in the world. ”

Zhao Chen nodded again, maybe Tang Taizong still has something to blame in terms of morality, but the merits he has established have indeed become a yardstick for later emperors to follow, in fact, after Tang Taizong, no emperor has been able to reach his height. For Zhao Chen, if he can do it to the point of Tang Taizong, he will be satisfied with the scriptures, as for Yao Shunyu soup, forget it.