Chapter 17 Prohibition of Learning and Dismissal (2)
"My lord Wan," the prefect said in embarrassment, "Wei Huai, in order to carry out reforms, actually instigated the unruly people to make trouble. Is that okay? However, since I read that he was from a well-known family, he did not dare to take action, so he came to ask the prince for instructions.
the meaning of."
Wan Heshun took a sip of tea and was silent. When he was young, his lower lip trembled slightly and said: "As a scholar, he naturally has a shallow view. It's not his fault..."
"Can……"
"Listen to me," Wan Heshun squinted his eyes and said with a smile, "but those unruly people are really hateful because they are relying on their own strength. I heard that they gathered in that... Sihe Academy, right?"
"This was founded by Wei Huai."
"We can't say that. Wei Huai paid for it, but he only wanted to teach and educate people. He didn't expect it to end up like this. He must be sad. Therefore, that academy should be closed down."
"How should Wei Huai deal with it?"
"If there is no need to deal with it, why deal with it? This is our big shot in Nanjing."
"This..." Seeing that Wan Heshun was partial to Wei Huai, the prefect felt that the matter was a bit tricky.
"Really? Wei Huai will never disobey the government's orders, right?" Wan Heshun seemed to have read through his mind. Although he was still smiling, there was a hint of murderous intent.
After hearing this, the prefect suddenly woke up. He quickly got down from his armchair, knelt on the ground and said, "Thank you, Prince Jun!" He kowtowed a few times and hurriedly said goodbye to Wan He.
When the prefect returned to the Yamen, he dispatched a group of men and ordered them to come to Sihe Academy with weapons and seals in hand.
At that time, Xia Yuanlong was teaching a book when he suddenly heard a series of uniform footsteps outside the wall, gradually walking towards here. Fearing that something had happened, he hurriedly dropped the book and said to the students: "I'll go out and take a look first."
When he came down from Sihe Hall, he heard the footsteps of the sergeants and the sound of a sharp knife being unsheathed on the south courtyard wall. Immediately afterwards, the sound was heard on the east courtyard wall and the north courtyard wall at the same time. Xia Yuanlong hurriedly walked from the main entrance——
He put up a wooden ladder on the south courtyard wall and climbed up with difficulty. When he looked out, he saw that they were all black armor and white swords, staring fiercely at the gate of the academy. He tilted his neck and looked at the other walls, which were also covered by soldiers.
They guarded it tightly and surrounded the academy, with official flags planted both inside and outside the walls.
"What do you want to do?"
A general on horseback looked up and saw Xia Yuanlong standing on the wall shouting.
"I came here to inspect the academy on the orders of the prefect. You and those students get out!"
"I want to ask clearly. Did the prefect give an order?"
The general took out a document from his arms: "Is this enough evidence?"
"Then I would like to ask: We have no enmity with the prefect, so why should we seal down the academy?"
"Can you see it with your own eyes when your people go to cause trouble in the streets?"
Xia Yuanlong was speechless. He knew that he was irrefutable, and if he persisted like this, there would be no remedy for the current situation. So he said, "I admit it, you just seal it up, and I'll call the students out."
"I see you are also a scholar, so don't be ignorant!"
"Natural, natural." He said, holding on to the ladder and going down.
Xia Yuanlong went straight back to Sihe Hall and saw all the students looking at his face with worry.
"There's no need to panic for now, it's just that the government has come to seal down our academy. You guys just stay calm and come out with me." He said seriously.
"Why do they have it?" A man with a Suzhou accent suddenly jumped out, "This Sihe Academy provides lectures for the common people. How can it be sealed by the imperial court? What about Mr. Wei? They asked Mr. Wei to come over and explain.
!”
"Yeah yeah!"
Everyone was furious, and their emotions were obviously aroused.
"I just asked you to calm down, and something went wrong. I think this situation is very complicated. Why don't we give in first, and then go see Mr. Wei immediately to find out the whole story, and then discuss anything else. Otherwise we won't know anything.
Someone took advantage of me, but I ended up being dumb!" Xia Yuanlong said calmly, unmoved.
"Then...well, you have to listen to Mr. Xia." Everyone settled down.
Xia Yuanlong led the students to the door, opened the door, and said to the general: "Just seal it, and we will come out."
"That's easy to talk about. Let's go!"
The general called for the soldiers to swarm into Sihe Academy, while Xia Yuanlong led the students to avoid the procession and went out through the side door.
The general locked the door tightly with his hand, broke the seal, and stuck it to the door.
"The prefect said he was going to dismiss me from office, so why did he attack the academy?" Wei Huai looked at Xia Yuanlong in shock.
"This is a brilliant plan from the prefect." Xia Yuanlong sat as calm as a bell, but Wei Huai couldn't help but stand up and pace slowly.
"Brilliant plan? What kind of opera is this?" Yang Huaisheng asked from the side.
"Of course, the prefect thought that Min's brother was a famous Confucian in Nanjing, and if he was dismissed without any reason, he was afraid that it would cause quite a stir; and since the academy was actually trying to trick the people, it was better to do it, so he used the name of inspection to eradicate it.
We preached the basics of reform, and at the same time, we lost the face of the people."
"Wouldn't that mean we are helpless?" Yang Huaishen said again.
Xia Yuanlong looked at Wei Huai deeply: "I can only...please Ji Min that you dedicate yourself to the cause of justice, break your skin with the government, and start a tit-for-tat confrontation."
Both of them remained silent, silently looking into Wei Huai's eyes.
"good!"
Wei Huai gave a loud shout, his eyes were like fire, and even the flames on the candlestick were frightened and trembled slightly.
"Renying is right. I can't abandon the people because of this. I won't be afraid of losing my official position. I have to stand with them!" He walked to the table, "Get a pen, grind the ink, and I want to write a letter to defend my grievances!"
"Nanjing Imperial College, Wei Huai submitted a letter to the magistrate: "Huai Jiu takes responsibility for innovation and is responsible for the important affairs of the people. He must be loyal to his duties and do not go beyond his duties. Two friends funded the establishment of the academy."
, they only proclaim virtue and trust, and have no other plans. They adhere to the meaning of allusions and reject false principles, which can be said to be abiding by the rules of the sages. However, the government strictly adheres to the old laws and prohibits new theories. He even went so angry that he went to the academy and closed it down at every turn.
; Under the thunder, everything is scorched earth. I would like to ask the governor, I, the people of Nanjing, fight for their own disadvantages and strive for good governance, what is wrong with me? Blocking the thoroughfares and drinking from the rude officials, what sins do I have?
I hope that the Duke of Fu can help the people's embarrassment, and the Duke hopes that I can keep my mouth shut. I now say to the Duke: I wish to give up the false reputation of offering wine, but to serve the responsibility of the academy. The decision is up to you, whether to advance or retreat.
, no worries at all!'
"Bold!" When the prefect saw the ending, his face turned red. In anger, he crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it into the basket.
"Come here! Go and remove Wei Huai's official position, tell him to go away, and ask those unruly people to pay him a salary!"
After he finished speaking, his chest was still tight. When he walked to the door, he was still confused and shouted like a thunderbolt: