Prime Minister

Chapter 1042 On Mencius

Sima Guang did not go to Luoyang to enjoy a happy life.

Every day is a simple meal for oneself.

Writing a book is the most painful thing for the eyes. Sima Guang is almost blind now, and his speech is leaky. He looks like he is dying. Who would have thought that the other party is known as the "Prime Minister of the Mountains" and a banner figure who opposes the reform.

No one would believe this.

People just rely on faith to hold on, and they cannot be shaken by any blow.

History tells us never to get into trouble with such people.

Many people think that as long as they have power and position, they can do whatever they want, but they are wrong.

What's more, Zhang Yue and Sima Guang are friends. When Wang Anshi looked down on him, Sima Guang didn't treat him as his younger brother. He supported him all the way. When Emperor Baoyingzong came to power, he didn't forget to take him, a zero-level novice, with him. , playing the highest difficulty dungeon, and everyone in the orange outfit got a share of it.

Zhang Yue took the initiative to help Sima Guang, Lu Gongzhu, Fan Zuyu and Cheng Yi were very happy.

Zhang Yue said: "Twelve feet, it has been really hard to study books these years."

Sima Guang said: "Why bother? The mulberry trees are not late, and the lemon moon is like the wind. It is not easy for a person who lives in leisure to do such a thing."

"Rare, rare."

Sima Guang said bluntly: "Du Zhi, I came here today to persuade you. I'm afraid I will make you unhappy."

Seeing that Sima Guang was completely unmoved by his humiliation, Zhang Yue was silent for a moment and said, "I'm all ears."

After everyone sat down, tea soup was served, and Seventeenth Mother ordered a plate of persimmons.

After sitting for a while, Mr. Lu said he wanted to see his granddaughter, so he left.

Zhang Zhi's wife, Lu, gave birth to a daughter who was several years old. By looking at her granddaughter, Lu Gongzhu avoided the upcoming conflict between Zhang Yue and Sima Guang.

Mr. Lu was in an awkward position.

Sima Guang scooped up the persimmons with a spoon and ate them one bite at a time without wasting any of them. As we all know, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were all very strict, and their food and clothing were extremely simple.

Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Twelve feet long, are persimmons still delicious?"

Sima Guang said: "It's good. I've lost my teeth. It's best to eat this soft persimmon."

Everyone laughed.

Sima Guang said: "A prime minister must be upright in government. If he can communicate with his subordinates and his subordinates, he will be a virtuous prime minister. Mr. Zhang has been in office for more than a year. I wonder if he can succeed?"

Everyone knew that Sima Guang was going to question Zhang Yue, so they all put down their persimmons.

Zhang Yue said: "To tell the truth, I don't have enough power but can't give orders. So far, nothing has been accomplished."

Sima Guang said seriously: "Mr. Zhang, this is wrong. Your Majesty invites Mr. Zhang to sit in the Xuande Tower on the Shangyuan Festival. How important it is."

"Your Majesty's trust in the Duke is just like that in the past when King Cheng of Zhou trusted in the Duke of Zhou, Qi Huan trusted Guan Zhong, King Zhao of Yan relied on Leyi, and the first lord of Shu trusted Zhuge Liang, how can he have nothing to build?"

Sima Guang was flattering him, but Zhang Yue sighed deliberately after hearing this.

Sima Guang said: "Does Mr. Zhang have anything to hide?"

While they were talking, an envoy from the palace came and reported, "Your Majesty has given Mr. Zhang a piece of brocade clothing."

Sima Guang and Cheng Yi's expressions changed when they heard this.

Zhang Yue returned to the hall after thanking him. He understood that Sima Guang's every move after entering the capital was under the watchful eye of the Imperial City Secretary. The official's order to send these was also a message to him.

Don't talk nonsense.

Zhang Yue returned to the room and said to Sima Guang: "In the second year of Xining, His Majesty called Twelve Zhang to be the Deputy Privy Envoy. Twelve Zhang resigned without even looking at him. Everyone in the world admires Twelve Zhang for his noble character and integrity. Don’t be moved by fame and fortune.”

"No matter how virtuous Zhang is, the country of the Song Dynasty will ultimately rely on twelve feet." This was Zhang Yue's usual method of dealing with Lu Huiqing in the past, but Sima Guang did not take it at all and said: "The new law will not be abolished, I will never I won’t leave the mountain.”

"It was a happy thing that Wang Jiefu was gone before, but after Wang Jiefu left, political affairs remained unchanged. This cannot but be said to be Zhang Xianggong's inaction."

Zhang Yue said: "Twelve feet, even though Chao Cuo is dead, the Seven Kingdoms still don't retreat."

Sima Guang said: "However, this matter cannot be delayed. Wang Jiefu's reform is a far-reaching move. If the politics are not changed now, we should open up the channels of speech and make suggestions to His Majesty to save it."

"There are two other things that I would like to advise you. The land management in Xihe and the Luntai settlement are harmful to the people and must be stopped!"

"Cai Que is a person who delights in people's faults, overcomes their evil, and strives to make progress through fighting. The government of Prime Minister Zhang must draw a clear line with this person!"

Zhang Yue became furious after hearing this, saying, Sima Guang, you can just open up your mind.

The farming in Xihe was his proud move, but you actually compared it to the farming in Luntai of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

Although Cai Que has been at odds with himself recently, he is still one of his own, especially since the other party has already expressed support for the immunity from service law.

Now Sima Guang wanted to alienate Cai Que himself and stop farming in Xihe. If the second person dared to raise this issue with Zhang Yue, he would roll up his sleeves and rush to beat him.

Sima Guang perfectly proved to himself what is the saying "As long as the direction is wrong, the harder you work, the more mistakes you make."

What do you call his honey and my arsenic?

Zhang Yue took out Mencius Yi from the bookshelf and said to Sima Guang: "Twelve feet, I was grateful to you [Fengjunzhizhi] for my numerical advice before. I think about it again and again. Back then, Prime Minister Zhao Pu ruled the world with half of the Analects, but now I have it in my hand." From the seven volumes of Mencius, the affairs of the world can be known."

Zhang Yue taught Sima Guang the teachings of Mencius, which was roughly written by Su Che, and said, "Please give me twelve feet to correct it for me!"

Everyone thought, could it be that Zhao Pu governed the world with half of the Analects, but now Zhang Yue governs the world with the seven volumes of Mencius.

Sima Guang said: "When Zhang Xianggong governs the world, he does not follow the scriptures but follows the books of the Concubine?"

Zhang Yue said: "Only a sage can understand the meaning of the scriptures. If you can manage Zi Shu, you are already a sage."

Zhang Yue and Sima Guang seemed to be talking in riddles, but they were actually related. The dispute between Taoism and governance.

Sima Guang had previously accused Zhang Yue of "evil in meeting the ruler" because the prime minister gave up his insistence on orthodoxy and gave it up to the rule of the emperor.

For example, Wang Anshi’s new meaning of the Three Classics is that the Taoism belongs to me, because it is of great political significance to interpret the Taoism through scripture revision.

Zhao Pu modestly said that he could rule the world with half of the Analects.

He only has "half of the Analects" of Taoism. The real Taoism still lies with the emperor. One is small and the other is big.

When Zhang Yue brought out the seven volumes of Mencius, he also settled for the next best thing.

Sima Guang accepted Meng Ziyi, but Zhang Yue knew that the other party was from the "Suspicion of Meng" faction.

This is an academic struggle, and more importantly, an ideological struggle.

Sima Guang definitely wanted to go back and read and criticize this book of Mencius, but he did not let Zhang Yue go and said: "I cannot agree with Mencius' theory of good nature."

The first sentence of the Three-Character Classic written by Zhang Yue, "In the beginning of man's nature, is inherently good," is actually an elaboration of Mencius' meaning.

Confucius did not say that human nature is good or evil, but Mencius and Xunzi did.

The distinction between good and evil in human nature is also an academic struggle, which leads to the difference between Legalism and Confucianism.

Should you believe in human nature, or should you restrain human nature?

To restrain human nature, we should attach great importance to strict management. For example, Legalism advocates strict discipline.

If human nature is inherently good, you should obey it, don't make any changes, just let it be.

Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this, "Sima Guang, I have caught your academic loopholes."