After a night, today was the day for Hai Rui to answer questions for the four people.
The four of them asked Hai Rui questions they had accumulated during their daily self-study, and Hai Rui answered them carefully one by one.
Chen Chaoyuan and the others usually study by themselves at home. They memorize many questions by rote without understanding the true meaning.
Under Hai Rui's explanation, these contents suddenly became clear, and everything I didn't understand was straightened out.
Su Ze also asked a few questions from when he was studying, and Hai Rui got "+2" experience every time he answered.
Seeing such a good opportunity to "earn" experience, Su Ze quickly asked all the questions he had accumulated, asking fifteen questions in a row.
Hai Rui didn't bother him at all and gave Su Ze answers seriously.
[Q&A in the school, "Imperial Examination" skill experience +30, Lv3, 245/300]
It was still fun to go to school. Su Ze was filled with joy as he looked at the increasing experience.
After the Q&A was completed, Hai Rui called Su Ze out of the classroom.
"What you said last time, 'the way of daily life for the people, the way of returning to the original', can you explain it to me in detail?"
Hai Rui was a little embarrassed. Nowadays, scholars tend to be very self-conscious about knowledge.
For example, the most popular thing among scholars nowadays is to collect ancient books from the Tang and Song Dynasties, then rebind them into volumes, wrap them in new covers, and hide them in high cabinets at home.
Bibliophiles in the Jiangnan area have a large number of rare and rare ancient books in their hands, but they regard these collections as their family's esoteric scholarship and are unwilling to print these rare and rare books.
The last time he got two copies of ancient Chinese literature from Su Ze for nothing, Hai Rui was already very embarrassed. Now that he had to reach out again, Hai Rui had a hard time opening his mouth.
Hai Rui didn't do it for the sake of face, but because he felt that he couldn't offer what he exchanged with Su Ze, and felt that doing so was a disgrace to Su Ze.
Su Ze smiled and said, "Teacher, why are you so polite? As long as you want to know, the students will tell you everything."
Hai Rui was still not used to this. He coughed and said, "How is this possible? This is knowledge passed down from your family."
Su Ze said: "Teacher, the more you debate, the more you understand. Which Confucian's knowledge is innate? Didn't they all debate the scriptures while lecturing, and then gradually improve their own theories?"
Hai Rui was stunned for a moment, then nodded and agreed with Su Ze's idea.
Before Wang Yangming founded the mind science, he often debated scriptures with others and often explained his own principles.
This is especially true of Wang Gen who was more recent. He not only lectured to scholars, but also to common people, and he did so in an easy-to-understand way, striving to make those who lectured understand his scholarship.
"The more we argue, the clearer the truth becomes. Is this also what your father said? This sentence is truly remarkable! Your father is truly a great Confucian! I only wish I could not see you!"
Hai Rui said to Su Ze, "Please enlighten me."
After getting in touch with Hai Rui, Su Ze felt more and more that Hai Rui was a special Ming Dynasty scholar.
His thoughts are not radical compared to people like Wang Gen, and are even a little conservative, but the simplest moral values he insists on are something that those who like to talk and talk cannot adhere to.
For example, if you ask a disciple like Su Ze for academic advice, even if a normal scholar is interested, he will be embarrassed and embarrassed to ask for advice from the disciple.
But Hai Rui didn't think there was any shame in asking for academic advice from his disciples. As the saying goes, "When three people are together, there must be a teacher." Su Ze knew what he didn't know, so Hai Rui had no psychological burden at all asking him for advice.
Su Ze said: "People use Tao every day, so what is Tao?"
This question stunned Hai Rui. In Neo-Confucianism, Tao is the principle of nature. The so-called principle of preserving nature and destroying human desires is Tao.
In the eyes of disciples of Xinxue, reaching conscience is the Tao, and seeking the Tao means studying things to gain knowledge.
No matter which faction, they have their own way.
Hai Rui's thinking is still relatively conservative now. He thought for a while and said, "The principles of nature are the Tao."
Su Ze shook his head and said, "Teacher, is the law of nature permanent?"
"The laws of nature are constant, isn't this an obvious thing?"
Su Ze shook his head and said: "My father doesn't agree. There is a saying in the Book of Songs that 'the destiny of heaven is constant'. It is said that 'the laws of heaven are not constant and morality is not constant'. Everything in the world is constantly changing and developing. Only those who comply with this development can
Heavenly principles are the way!"
Hai Rui suddenly couldn't accept Su Ze's explosive remarks. He shook his body and said, "Destiny is not the law of heaven. You are arguing in name and reality! Besides, how can morality be impermanent?"
Su Ze said, "I dare to ask the teacher, if morality is constant, then if Confucius traveled around the country and Mencius met King Hui of Liang, wouldn't it be an act of treason and rebellion?"
Hai Rui was completely speechless now.
Confucius was a native of the state of Lu. He traveled around the world to explain his methods of strengthening a country, and even went to Qi, the enemy of the state of Lu.
Mencius was a native of Zou, but he promoted his statecraft to King Liang Hui of Wei.
If we look at it according to today's moral standards, those two saints would have committed a serious crime of liaising with foreign countries.
Hai Rui thought for a long time and then said: "There is still Emperor Zhou at this time."
Su Ze said: "The Emperor of Zhou is indeed still alive, but the two saints have met many kings, but they have never met the Emperor of Zhou."
Hai Rui was speechless.
Su Ze said: "My father believed that morality also changes with the times. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, travelers regarded the world as their home country and were not limited to the so-called mother country. The sages were loyal not to the king of a country, but to the right way of the world and to the people.
The hearts of all people in the world."
"Qin destroyed the six kingdoms, but Xiang Yu was still able to serve as a hero to the six generations. The tyranny of King Qin is naturally one reason, and the people of the six kingdoms do not recognize Qin is also a reason."
"It was not until the Han Dynasty established the world, and Dong Zi made the king the emperor, and the king's power was granted by heaven, that the Han Dynasty was unified, and the country was established at home."
Hai Rui nodded, recognizing Su Ze's "sophistry".
Su Ze said: "Morality is not permanent in the first place. It is common practice in the Han and Tang Dynasties to remarry after losing a husband. Empress Liu married by Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty was a widow, which does not prevent Empress Dowager Liu from being a virtuous empress praised throughout the ages."
"But now the scholarly atmosphere is against remarriage, and the government still sends banners and erects memorial arches to widows who observe the festival. According to this, the empress of Song Zhenzong should observe the festival, or be buried as a sacrifice."
Hai Rui was even more speechless now. Hai Rui had a conservative concept of family, and he really couldn't accept the remarriage of a widow.
However, what Su Ze said was not wrong. Many queens of the Han and Tang dynasties were widows who remarried, and no one at that time criticized them for this.
After talking about morality, Su Ze talked about heavenly principles.
Su Ze said: "From being a high official and being a noble person, to being a filial and honest person, to being upright in the ninth rank, and then to opening up the imperial examination to obtain scholars, it is precisely because of the irregular nature of nature that we poor scholars have the opportunity to become officials through the imperial examination."
"Everything is in constant development, and the principles we seek must also continue to develop and change."
At this time, Hai Rui was completely confused. He asked, "Since the laws of nature are impermanent, what kind of path are we seeking?"
Su Ze said: "Then let's continue to ask, what is Tao? Why is the law of heaven not permanent?"
Hai Rui couldn't answer this question at all.
Su Ze said: "Because the laws of heaven are the people's hearts, and people's hearts change from time to time, the laws of heaven are not constant!"
"Public support?"
Su Ze nodded and said: "My father believes that the hearts of the people in the world are the way of heaven!"
"Destiny and morality all come from the human heart. During the Warring States Period, people all over the world were tired of war and thought about it, so the Qin Dynasty destroyed Liuhe and unified the six countries."
"The Qin was violent and unethical, so there were many heroes competing to replace the Qin with the Han."
"Those who can respond to the hearts of the people of the world are the Tao; those who go against the hearts of the people of the world are the evil Tao."
"So my father believes that the first requirement for learning is to be fundamental, first seek the true goodness of one's own humanity, and then rely on oneself to recommend others, and seek the hearts of the people in the world. This is the true law of heaven."
Hai Rui was a little unable to recover after Su Ze said so much in one breath.
But it seems that what Su Ze said makes some sense.
Hai Rui thought for a long time and then said: "Don't talk too much about what you said to others."
Of course, Su Ze understood the most critical point in this theory, because in this theory there were people, a country, and a family, but there was no place for "king".
Hai Rui obviously understood the key points of Su Ze's theory, so he told him not to tell others casually.
You must know that the Ming Dynasty dealt with ideological issues as strictly as the Qing Dynasty later.
Zhu Yuanzhang abolished private schools and established schools in order to unify the chaotic thoughts of the late Yuan Dynasty under the banner of Neo-Confucianism.
Xinxue has also been banned by the imperial court several times, but now it is really unbearable.
The Taishan School was suppressed by the imperial court, and Li Zhi was directly arrested and imprisoned by Ming Shenzong for "daring to advocate chaos, confuse the world and falsely accuse the people", and finally committed suicide.
Hai Rui didn't let Su Ze spread this knowledge, naturally it was for Su Ze's own good.
Su Ze hurriedly said: "Teacher, the above is what my father said. I only have a superficial knowledge of my father's knowledge. If the teacher hadn't asked about it, I would have never told anyone about it."
"It's okay if you haven't said it before. Your father is really a great scholar of the generation, but it's a pity that he didn't get to meet him. However, some of his opinions are contrary to etiquette. You don't even have fame, so don't talk too much to others."
"It's okay if you don't understand. The imperial examination relies on Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism. If you are talented and willing to study, it will not be difficult to be a civil servant in the future. After a few more years of study, you can even be a Jinshi. Don't waste your future because of this."
Su Ze also felt Hai Rui's genuine concern, and he immediately said, "Thank you, teacher, for your teaching."
Hai Rui added: "Now that the sea is not peaceful, you can move to the county school to live temporarily for a while and concentrate on studying."
Su Ze knew about Hai Rui's kindness, so he still said: "Changning Guard is where my clan brothers belong. Thank you very much for your kindness, teacher."
Hai Rui admired Su Ze's attitude towards the family and said with approval: "You have not forgotten your original intention, so I won't persuade you any more. In this way, I have a rogue horse. Although it can't run very fast,
But it can also carry people. I rode it to Nanping when I took office. You can ride this horse back this time. If something happens to Changning Guard, you can also ride to the county seat to report the news. How about it?"
A horse is a relatively inferior horse.
However, horses were equivalent to carts in the Ming Dynasty, and a horse cost upwards of ten taels of silver.
You must know that a blunderbuss costs only one tael of silver, but the entire Changning Guard does not have a single horse.
Hai Rui actually lent him his horse. Su Ze truly felt Hai Rui's care and said gratefully: "Teacher"
"Don't say any more. If the sea is calmed down, you can just return the horse to me. It will also save me the money for fodder these days. This beast is almost going to eat me up!"
Su Ze could no longer refuse Hai Rui's kindness, so he had no choice but to accept his horse.
When Hai Rui left, he only saw a disciple from the county school approaching. He said to Su Ze respectfully:
"Master Su, Second Master Yu is waiting for you in front of the county school gate."
I had seen this disciple Su Ze when he first came to school in the county. He scolded Su Ze arrogantly. Even after Su Ze entered the school, his attitude was not polite.
He would take the initiative to notify Su Ze. He must have taken advantage of Yu Zongyuan, or he might have taken advantage of Yu Zongyuan's lustful power.
No matter what kind of person it was, Su Ze would not get angry with such a villain.
When he walked to the gate of the county school, he saw the dusty Yu Zongyuan guarding the door.
"Brother Su!"
Yu Zongyuan came up quickly, pulled Su Ze and said, "Brother Su has a brilliant plan, thanks to Brother Su this time!"
Su Ze's last fortune telling guided Yu Zongyuan to go to Fuzhou Prefecture to inquire about Yan Maoqing's Qing army. He didn't expect to come back so soon. Judging from his cheerful appearance, it seemed that he had gained a lot.
Su Ze took him to a secluded place and asked, "Is there any harvest?"
"It's a great harvest! This time, in front of my brother, my father praised me for my ability in doing things, and even said that he would find me a position in the army! He made me the director of the Fire Bureau!"
"Then congratulations to brother Yu."
Su Ze also didn't expect that after he casually made a fortune and asked Yu Zongyuan to go to Fuzhou Prefecture, he would actually find out the news.
Yu Zongyuan said proudly: "When I rushed to Fuzhou Prefecture, Yushi Yan had just stayed in Fuzhou. I found the uncle who worked in Dusi Yamen, but I spent a lot of effort in Fuzhou City.
Only then did we find out important information."
"What important news?"
"If you ask me, this Yushi Yan is also straightforward! He does things openly!"
Yu Zongyuan said proudly:
"I inquired and heard that when Yan Yushi arrived in Fuzhou, he announced the price clearly!"
"The small flag is twenty taels, the general flag is one hundred taels, one hundred households are two hundred taels, one thousand households are two thousand taels, and my father is commanding five thousand taels!"
Su Ze was a little shocked now. Yan Maoqing asked for a bribe so directly?
I cried to death, Yan Maoqing, you could have snatched it directly, but you actually had to have it delivered to your door.
Yu Zongyuan said: "Yan Yushi also said that this is the guarantee money for self-examination. If there are no problems in the verification, the money will be refunded to everyone. If you refuse to pay the guarantee money and there are problems found, then you will be fined.
Double the silver!”
Su Zecai didn't believe that Yan Maoqing would return the money. This was just a way for him to make money.
Thinking about it this way, Changning Wei in the world before he traveled was blackmailed by Yan Maoqing for 400 taels because he could not afford the two hundred taels of filial piety.
Otherwise, I paid two hundred taels of silver?
No, it doesn't mean that paying money can avoid disaster. Yan Maoqing may also take advantage of it.
Moreover, the enemy of Chang Ning Wei was Xu Shisheng, the clerk in the household. If he interfered, he might not be able to pass the test even if he paid the money.
It seems that Lin Qingcai's clan brother was invited to the dinner today to inquire about the situation of the county government.
Su Ze said to Yu Zongyuan: "Brother Yu, you said you are now the director of the Yanping Wei Medicine and Fire Bureau?"
Yu Zongyuan said proudly: "Yes! Brother Su, this time it's all up to you. This is a big gap in the Yanping Guard. In the past few years, my mother begged my father for a long time, but she was not willing to give it to me. This time
Had I not gone to Fuzhou, my father would not have given me such an important position."
"Can you take me to visit Yanpingwei's Fire Bureau?"