Chapter 109: The Sage Is Faultless, Who Is at Fault?

When Chen Xingshan was elaborating on his views, Li Zhigang and Wu Yun were taking notes. After Chen Xingshan finished speaking, the two passed the papers to Xia Yuanji. After glancing at them, Xia Yuanji nodded slightly and stood up.

“Vice Minister Chen’s words seem reasonable on the surface, but upon closer examination, there are significant issues. Since Vice Minister Chen and Director Zhang both believe that the Four Books and Five Classics should be the core, I’m curious, can one have an appetite with just plain rice and steamed buns, without a variety of dishes to add flavor? Can a tree survive with just a trunk and no branches? Can the night sky be bright without stars, even though the sun and moon are present?”

Xia Yuanji chuckled and then addressed the audience, “Our proposal to reform the curriculum at the Imperial Academy is not aimed at displacing the Four Books and Five Classics, but rather at welcoming a diversity of knowledge, flourishing branches, and a multitude of stars.”

“You, the students of the Imperial Academy, are the future elites of the court. However, if you adhere only to the Four Books and Five Classics, your path in the imperial court will be fraught with obstacles. If you enter the Ministry of War, you’ll need to understand military regulations, training, conscription, garrison duty, border defense, ceremonial duties, palace guards, courier services, stables, military equipment, and more. If you enter the Ministry of Revenue, you’ll need to grasp land boundaries, land ownership, household registries, taxation, salaries, and finance.”

“So, I ask you all, is the path of governance and the foundation of statecraft solely contained within the Four Books and Five Classics, excluding all other knowledge and arts? If the court assigns you to investigate the concerns of the common people, and a farmer wants to discuss his belly’s problems with you, while you insist on discussing Confucius, wouldn’t that be absurd? Therefore, embracing diverse knowledge allows you to converse with farmers about farming, engage in business discussions about profits, and talk with craftsmen about their skills.”

The students contemplated the words of Chen Xingshan and Xia Yuanji carefully. It seemed like both had valid points, and Chen Xingshan wasn’t entirely wrong, but neither was Xia Yuanji.

With these two completely opposing viewpoints, why did they both seem to make sense? How could one determine who was right and who was wrong?

The crowd was left in confusion.

At this moment, the third seat Mao Hengtai, stood up and shouted, “The Imperial Academy’s curriculum is already heavy, and students study day and night solely to master the Four Books and Five Classics. Introducing miscellaneous studies into the curriculum would only further dilute our focus. As Zhuangzi said, ‘My life has a limit, but to knowledge there is no limit.’ Pursuing the limitless with the limited is surely futile.”

“Furthermore, for most of us students, what practical use is there in studying various miscellaneous arts and schools of thought? The people Xia Yuanji mentioned are not court officials but mere petty officials! As officials, our duty is to sit in the hall, direct the petty officials, and not personally involve ourselves in agriculture or commerce.”

“Petty officials are well-versed in various fields and can carry out the government’s tasks effectively under the guidance of the officials in the hall. Why should we waste our precious time and energy studying miscellaneous subjects?”

“Regarding the Ministry of Personnel, as officials, we only need to maintain our integrity, serve the country and the emperor, and let the principles of the sages guide our actions. Appointments, dismissals, exams, promotions, honors, and transfers can all be handled correctly without the need for diverse knowledge.”

Zhu Yunwen heard Mao Hengtai’s words and furrowed his brow slightly.

Although his words were not pleasant to hear, they held a lot of truth.

Indeed, many court officials either presided over the hall and issued commands or indulged in bribery behind the scenes. When they stepped outside, it was either for direct or indirect personal gain, and very few of them scrutinized the policies executed by the petty officials.

The petty officials, knowing that the person sitting in the hall might not see clearly, had a natural way of handling matters. As long as they covered their eyes with the right “materials,” they could do whatever they wanted, and the person in the hall wouldn’t see a thing.

This was one of the main reasons why petty officials posed a significant threat to the lower levels.

It was this kind of thinking among many officials that led to a noticeable disparity between the capabilities of officials and petty officials. Some of the specialized tasks are handled by the petty officials, and even when they handed account books to officials, the officials might not discern any irregularities.

Because they were filled with ink but couldn’t write the words “agriculture” and “commerce.”

“When was the last time there was a capital inspection and a review of local officials by the Censorate?”

Zhu Yunwen looked at Xie Jin.

Xie Jin was taken aback and instantly understood what Zhu Yunwen meant. He quickly responded, “It was in the 30th year of the Hongwu era. According to the schedule, the next capital inspection and evaluation of local officials should take place next year.”

“After the imperial examination is concluded, proceed with the capital inspection and the evaluation of local officials.”

Zhu Yunwen spoke with a solemn tone.

Xie Jin nodded solemnly and said, “I obey your command.”

On the platform, Yang Shiqi stood up. This was the first time Yang Shiqi, since leaving his hometown and entering the capital, had faced such a large audience. However, he displayed no signs of timidity and carried himself with great composure and dignity.

After paying his respects, Yang Shiqi spoke loudly, “There are those who act without knowledge, and I am not one of them. To be well-versed, to choose the good, to see much and understand it—these are the teachings of Confucius. I believe that Vice Minister Mao is one of those ‘who act without knowledge,’ making baseless claims and formulating reckless theories based on his narrow understanding.”

“I have spent a long time in various regions, traveling through many provinces. I understand that for those in office if they cannot surpass the petty officials in talent, the petty officials will resort to covert actions that harm the people. I dare to ask, in this vast land, who should have the say, the officials or the petty officials?”

“Introducing miscellaneous studies into the curriculum at the Imperial Academy is to prepare the students to serve as officials when they enter the court, to preside over the hall without being deceived or misled by the petty officials. Are you telling me that in the future, you all want to hold authority in the hall and not care about the suffering and cries of the common people?”

“As for the report from Imperial Academy student Hu Jun about a minor grain official who can ruin a farmer’s household with a small imposition and seize their wealth and children, how could the petty officials with power not engage in such actions? What is the county magistrate doing? Collecting money! How many hypocrites have emerged from the teachings of the Four Books and Five Classics? Why hasn’t there been a purification of hearts, why haven’t you won the people’s trust?”

“In the end, it comes down to a lack of firm beliefs, a shortage of talent, the diversity of knowledge, and a lack of understanding of miscellaneous studies! If we introduce a variety of knowledge into the Imperial Academy, understand the mystery of the petty officials, and conduct thorough investigations, why would such human tragedies occur?!”

After Yang Shiqi finished speaking, he took his seat.

The students of the Imperial Academy had all heard of Hu Jun. He was one of the most renowned students at the Imperial Academy, a person who single-handedly drove the implementation of government policies, and he had a significant impact on the interests of countless scholars and gentry in the Ming Dynasty. He was destined to be recorded in history.

What Yang Shiqi said was not entirely new to the students; they were angry and resented the county magistrates, but they hadn’t thought too deeply about it. However, Yang Shiqi’s words forced these students to think:

Why were those who studied the Four Books and Five Classics often hypocrites or corrupt officials?

Was Confucius wrong?

No, Confucius was not wrong.

Were the Four Books and Five Classics wrong?

No, the Four Books and Five Classics were not wrong either.

So, who was wrong?

People were wrong!

The county magistrates were wrong, the students were wrong, and scholars all over the country were wrong!

A gentleman must think thrice, and it is not without reason.

If the young do not learn, the old will not know;

if the old do not teach, the young will not learn;

if the rich do not give, the poor will have nothing.

Hence, gentlemen think when they are young and learn; they think until they are old and teach; they think when they have means and give.

Therefore, Confucius was able to influence the world and shine among the feudal lords because of his “broad learning,” “good thinking,” “self-discipline,” and “embracing new knowledge”… When did he ever deny the importance of miscellaneous studies?

Knowing only the words of sages but not their actions, how could one achieve family harmony, govern the state, and bring peace to the world?

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