Inside and outside the city of Luoyang, Xijing of the Great Song Dynasty, compared with the crowded and prosperous Kaifeng Mansion, it is a completely different taste.

If Kaifeng Mansion is a beautiful woman who is in the enchanting years, her appearance is unparalleled, and she has attracted thousands of favors. So as the former capital of the Han and Tang Dynasties, Luoyang, which is surrounded by magnificent mountains and rivers, is a beauty in the twilight, and the charm still exists. Although there is no glory and noise in the past, there is a quiet and elegant beauty, and there is a kind of bearing that jumps out of the red dust and smiles at the wind and clouds.

And this kind of magnificent mountains and rivers and profound twilight beauty is not something that a businessman like Wu Haogu can appreciate. In the eyes of Wu Haogu, the fire cooking oil of Kaifeng Mansion seemed outdated, and he loved the Jiehe Commercial Market, which had already stepped into the abyss of capitalism with half a foot, rather than Luoyang City, which was full of Gongqing gardens inside and outside the city, and was filled with a peaceful and happy atmosphere that seemed to never fade.

Therefore, as a native of Luoyang (Wu Hao's ancient ancestor lived in Luoyang), Wu Haogu has never been to Luoyang even after his career, let alone purchased a garden in Luoyang to live for a long time.

However, his second brother Wu Haowen is very fond of the prosperous Luoyang City. Because although he has been a merchant in Kaifeng for a long time, he has not been touched by many merchants, and he has always been a scholar who has come out of the mud without staining.

In his view, Kaifeng Mansion is the stage of politics, Jiehe Commercial Market and Haizhou are shopping malls full of copper odor, and Luoyang is the hometown of noble and quiet scholars. And here, it is still the base camp of the old party and Guan and Luo Zhixue. Owning a garden in Luoyang, where he can live after retiring in the future, and coracting with the general old party gentlemen and Guan Luo's Confucian poetry and books, is about his biggest dream in terms of personal enjoyment after he joins the office.

Such a dream, for the brother of the richest man, seems to be an open business. However, he is not willing to spend more money on his brother, after all, this dynasty is a rich official, and he is a young man, and he has become a county magistrate before he is twenty-two years old this year. And because of the success of the pilot government soldiers, he reduced the grinding survey by one year, and he was also promoted by leapfrogging, skipping Wen Linlang and being directly promoted to Zhengjiu Dengshilang. Although he is still a nine-rank sesame official, he is already the third of the four orders for selecting people, and he will be promoted to another level. As long as there is another "super-transfer" (civil officials with Jinshi background can be promoted by leapfrogging, which is called super-transfer), you can step into the sequence of Beijing officials.

With the prime minister's son-in-law like him, favored by the Son of Heaven, and the sixth qualification in the imperial examination, how could he be ranked as a Beijing official before the age of twenty-five. With such a bright future, do you still need to buy a garden in Luoyang and accept gifts from the merchant's brother?

Although he has not yet purchased a mansion in Luoyang, Wu Haowen still regards Luoyang as his hometown, and on the way to Lantian last time he took office, he lived in the ancestral house of Baibo in Luoyang. This time, on the way to Beijing, he also stopped in Luoyang, and he wanted to stay in Yigao Academy in Yigao Town, south of Luoyang City, for a few days.

Because he learned that his teacher Hou Zhongliang and his teacher Cheng Yi returned to Yigao Academy in Luoyang a few days ago.

This academy was originally the old garden given to Cheng Yi by Wen Yanbo, and thousands of acres of fertile land around it also belonged to the academy.

was led by a confidant of the academy, and Wu Haowen passed through the corridor. He looked at the clothes worn by the acquaintance in front of him, and they were not much worse than those on his younger brother and prime minister's younger brother. At the same time, he also found that the dilapidated academy was full of high-quality building materials, and there were drawings drawn by the craftsmen and master craftsmen who looked like they were worth a little.

Turning left and right on the corridor, and finally Wu Haowen, under the leadership of Zhike, finally walked into a small hall with three big characters written on the forehead of the door. Inside the hall door, there is a vertical screen with a single screen, on which hangs a white figure painting with Confucian tongue fighting "swordsman". Seeing this picture, Wu Haowen was stunned and stood dumbfounded.

Because he recognized this painting as Li Gonglin's handiwork!

"Wangdao, this is the "Sitting and Talking about the Dao" sent by Li Longmian from Longmian Mountain, which is painted as the scene of 'Guozijian Discussing the Dao'."

Hou Zhongliang's voice came through the screen, Wu Haowen hurriedly bypassed the screen, and saw Hou Zhongliang and Cheng Yi sitting opposite each other, playing a game.

Wu Haowen hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to the two: "Disciple to meet the teacher, master." ”

Cheng Yi pointed to a rose chair next to him, "Sit!" ”

Wu Haogu looked over and found that there was a desk next to the chair, and two brand-new thread-bound books were placed on it.

He sat down on the chair as he said, picked up the thread-bound book and looked at it, and the cover was written "Heavenly Theory" and "Empirical Theory" respectively.

"Let's see." Cheng Yi said again.

When Wu Haowen heard this, he began to look through it, first reading "Tianli Shuo", and then "Empirical Theory". While he was reading the book, a servant of the academy brought the cloud mist mountain tea that had just been ordered. A fresh fragrance suddenly floated in the not too big hall.

However, Wu Haowen didn't pay attention to the fragrance of tea, he was completely attracted by the two thread-bound books in his hand. Although he has long understood Cheng Yi's "Heavenly Principles" and Wu Haogu's "Empirical Evidence". But he never thought that the two could be so harmoniously integrated, very complete, and there seemed to be no flaws, at least he couldn't see where the flaws were?

I don't know how much time has passed, when Wu Haowen put down the "Empirical Theory" in his hand, he found that the game between Cheng Yi and Hou Zhongliang had ended, and the two great Confucians were holding tea bowls, looking at Wu Haogu with a smile.

"How?"

Cheng Yi opened his mouth and said a little more: "...... The question of the saint was finally answered satisfactorily in the hands of my generation. He paused, and added, "From now on, the study of Guan and Luo will become a manifestation of learning." ”

I'm afraid it's not that easy, right? Wu Haowen thought in his heart: "Tianli Theory" and "Positivistic Theory" only solve the problem of "Tao" and "seeking Tao". In fact, it is a counterattack of Confucianism against the Buddha, Taoism and other gods and ghosts. However, it does not touch on the core of Confucianism, that is, the doctrine of ethics and governance.

The current situation is nothing more than the "Heavenly Doctrine", "Positivistic Theory" and Wang Anshi's commentary on the Five Classics. The latter is probably still in the majority......

Wu Haowen thought for a while, and then asked: "Is it that "Tianli Theory" and "Empirical Theory" are going to be included in the imperial examination?" ”

"That's right," Hou Zhongliang said, "a few days ago, the official family has approved Mr. Dongpo's recital, and the official schools in various places will teach the 'Tianli Theory' and 'Empirical Theory' from next year, and the next imperial examination will be taken...... I'm afraid that Confucianism will have a lot of trouble from now on! ”

"Eventful?" Wu Haowen frowned, "Could it be that Xinxue still wants to fight with us?" ”

"Isn't it just new learning?" Cheng Yi said.

"Who else can't get along with us except Xinxue?" Wu Haowen was a little puzzled. Although the "Heavenly Doctrine" and the "Positivistic Theory" are suspected of violating Buddhism and Taoism. But Taoism itself likes to engage in empirical evidence! Alchemy for immortals, fortune telling and soaring, which one can't be verified? Therefore, Taoism and Positivism are compatible. There is only one Buddhism left, not even a state religion, and still wants to challenge the Confucian Taoism?

"Positivism can prove the doctrine of heaven and the Pentateuch!" Cheng Yi said word by word.

Wu Haowen shook his head in surprise, how could the Five Classics be tested with empirical theory? How can this be?

Cheng Yi leaned forward slightly, looked at Wu Haowen and said: "The "Poems", "Books", "Rites", "Yi", "Spring and Autumn" ruled by the sages, as well as the Confucian classics such as "The Book of Rites", "Analects" and "Mencius", can they be tested by "Empirical Theory"? ”

"Can't!" Wu Haowen replied categorically.

Cheng Yi nodded, "Wangdao, you will definitely be able to meet the official family when you go to Beijing this time, and remember to remind the official family of the errors of the "Positivistic Theory". ”

“…… Students understand! Wu Haowen thought for a while, then nodded yes, Cheng Yi was indeed right. The biggest error of Positivism is that everything can be verified, including the Confucian classics!

Cheng Yi showed a smile on his face, "You have succeeded in piloting the government soldiers in Lantian, and after entering Beijing this time, there will inevitably be new officials." If possible, you should strive to be a storyteller in the Chongzheng Palace. ”

Chongzheng Hall storytelling was an official established by Song Renzong, who was in charge of telling stories and history for the emperor, explaining the scriptures and meanings, and preparing consultants. It's a very important position, and it's almost heavenly! According to convention, this position should be held by a court official of the seventh grade. However, the Song dynasty had a lot of "power to send office" that allowed low-level officials to hold high-ranking positions.

For a favored minister like Wu Haowen, there is nothing wrong with skipping the level to serve as a storyteller, and he is also a disciple of Chengmen and the younger brother of Wu Haogu, so his understanding of "Tianli Shuo" and "Empirical Theory" should be very good, right?

"But the disciple's knowledge is insufficient, I'm afraid it's difficult to take responsibility!" Wu Haowen is still a little drumming in his heart.

"The old man just asked the master to follow you." Cheng Yi said with a smile, "Mr. Dongpo has already recommended him to be a professor of Guozijian, if you don't understand something, you can ask him directly." ”

"Disciple understood!" Wu Haowen sighed, with Hou Zhongliang, a teacher, following, what else is there to worry about?

In addition, when you arrive at Kaifeng Mansion, you must first talk to your brother Wu Haogu about it......

Cheng Yi and Hou Zhongliang glanced at each other, and both of them could see a little bit of fighting intent in each other's eyes. Where is the battle for Taoism so easy to end? This is just the beginning!

Cheng Yi's promise to join forces with Su Dongpo to do a new study has passed, and Cheng Men Science has already obtained the status of a prominent student, but this is not enough! It is necessary to squeeze the Positivism out of its position as a manifest student...... The harm of this "Positivism" is too great, it is a dialectical method! All things can be proven! This is a heresy of bad hearts! Although it can be used to combat Buddhism, it can also be used to test the Confucian classics!

Compared with Buddhism, Confucianism is actually more afraid of this. Because Buddhism says that the Buddha says, Confucianism is the son, the Buddha is the almighty god, and the son is just flesh and bones...... If God is infallible, how can man be infallible?