My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 91: Conflict with Confucians
But this time, no one could stop Zhu Yuanzhang. This matter was of great importance, and Zhu Yuanzhang had to take action personally to intimidate the group of students.

When the group was marching out of the palace, Wu Chen just arrived at the palace gate. Zhu Di's horse had four legs, while he only had two, so he really couldn't catch up.

I hurried all the way to the palace and finally caught up with him.

Then he followed Zhu Yuanzhang and walked towards the Jiangzao Academy.

However, when they arrived at the Jiangzao Academy, the imagined violent scene of the Imperial College students causing chaos at the Jiangzao Academy did not happen.

The scene before them was completely beyond their expectations.

In front of the gate of the Jiangzao Academy, there were many people gathered. On one side were the craftsmen and students of the academy, and on the other side were the Confucian scholars of the Imperial College.

But between the two groups of people, there stood a tall and straight scholar.

I saw the scholar standing in the center of the crowd, facing the Confucian scholars of the Imperial College and giving an impassioned speech.

"You call yourselves Confucian students, you read the books of sages, you practice the way of sages, yet you are so intolerant of different opinions? Where is the Confucianism's 'tolerance'? Where is the 'seeking common ground while reserving differences'?"

The students of the Artisan Academy immediately applauded, but the Confucian scholars of the Imperial College were extremely angry.

When they arrived at the Craftsmen Academy, they surrounded the gate and were about to teach the group of unskilled craftsmen a lesson, but unexpectedly, Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere.

A scholar stood up and said loudly: "That scholar, what you said is unreasonable! That scholar, that scholar, I am talking to you, please look at me!"

Wu Chen looked carefully and was surprised. Isn’t that Fang Xiaoru?
Let him go back to his own house, why is he running to the Craftsmen's Academy? Isn't this just causing trouble?

Those eyes really need some medical treatment.

Fang Xiaoru shouted, "Where is he? Come out now!"

The craftsmen behind him burst into laughter, but the Confucian scholar felt embarrassed and had to bite the bullet and walk up to Fang Xiaoru.

"The skills of craftsmen are ultimately secondary. Confucianism puts learning and morality first. If the craftsmen who build academies pay too much attention to skills and ignore learning and morality, it is actually contrary to the Confucian way.

We students should take Confucian classics as our foundation, adhere to learning and morality, and not neglect either!"

Fang Xiaoru stared with his eyes wide open, but spoke harshly.

"You, the students of the Imperial Academy, claim to be the orthodox Confucianists, but you have forgotten the teachings of 'When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher'!

Although the craftsmanship is the most important thing in the Academy, there is also wisdom in the craftsmanship, so why can't I learn from you? Your narrow-minded prejudices are not what Confucian students do. "

As soon as these words were spoken, the students of Jiangzao Academy immediately applauded. When the Confucian scholars from the Imperial College came just now, they were all blushing.

In terms of eloquence, they were no match for that group of Confucian scholars. Now that Fang Xiaoru had arrived, he helped them vent their anger.

The Confucian scholar was so shocked that he was speechless, his face flushed red, and he pointed at Fang Xiaoru and kept saying "you, you" for a long time, but he couldn't say anything.

Zhu Yuanzhang and others watched from a distance and thought the scholar was interesting, so they did not go forward to disturb him.

"Who is that scholar? He is able to stand up to all the students in the Imperial College by himself. He is quite like the ancient sages who debated with the scholars. But his eyes don't look good."

Wu Chen took the opportunity to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, this man is the gentleman I would like to introduce to you. His name is Fang Xiaoru, with the courtesy name Xizhi. He is a favorite student of the great scholar Song Lian."

"So you're Song Lian's disciple. No wonder you're so sharp in your words!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Fang Xiaoru and became more and more pleased. "Let's see how this boy responds."

These students from the Imperial College usually lived a life of luxury and had never been refuted in this way before. But now they were left speechless by Fang Xiaoru's words.

But the Imperial College could not lose face, so another Confucian scholar stood up and said loudly:

“The skills taught in the Artisan Academy are the skills of artisans, not the learning of scholars.

As students of Confucianism, we should base ourselves on knowledge and morality. How can we easily take a craftsman as our teacher?
If everyone can be a teacher, wouldn't that disrupt the order of Confucianism and lose the dignity of learning? "

"Brother An Zhi said it well!"

"Scholar, tell me, how can the skills of a craftsman be superior to those of a Confucianist?"

"Do we scholars have to learn the craftsman's skills?"

The scholars were talking at once, while the craftsmen were looking at Fang Xiaoru nervously. Fang Xiaoru was not in a hurry and smiled contemptuously.

"You actually despise the craftsmanship of craftsmen, violate the doctrine of the mean, and do not know the true meaning of 'harmony without uniformity'.

There is no high or low in knowledge, wisdom lies in the human heart, and there is also great truth in skills. Only by being inclusive can the Confucian wisdom be revealed.

How can we talk about the Confucian universal harmony if we stick to our own opinions, reject different views, and stick to prejudices?

You should broaden your horizons, be inclusive, and then you can reveal the true essence of Confucianism! "

Fang Xiaoru paused, and finally said loudly:

"As Confucian students, you should study hard and cultivate your character.

Now, people are gathering together to demonstrate because of a little dissenting opinion. Is this what Confucian students should do?
We should focus on our studies and self-cultivation instead of wasting our time on making trouble! If you cannot reflect on yourself, then you are not worthy of the teachings of the sages. "

This completely left the students of the Imperial College speechless. Everyone looked at each other, all speechless.

Looking at the majestic Fang Xiaoru, although everyone was dissatisfied and angry, no one spoke again.

Seeing that it would be embarrassing if the stalemate continued, the Confucian scholars of the Imperial College had no choice but to disperse in dejection.

"Well, what you said is right, scholar. Although I haven't studied for a few days, I think what you said makes sense!"

"That scholar is more knowledgeable than the Confucian scholars in the Imperial Academy!"

"Scholar, are you the new teacher at our Craftsman Academy?"

The craftsmen burst into warm cheers, and Fang Xiaoru also smiled and bowed to everyone.

After everyone left, Zhu Yuanzhang and his entourage came forward, and Wu Chen hurried to Fang Xiaoru's side.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt extremely happy when he saw Fang Xiaoru scolding away a group of Confucian scholars.

"Xizhi, you did a great job just now. His Majesty saw it all. Come, come and pay your respects to His Majesty first."

Fang Xiaoru bowed his head and said, "I greet the emperor. Long live the emperor..."

"Hey, hey, hey, I bowed in the wrong direction!"

Wu Chen hurriedly pulled Fang Xiaoru up, "Your Majesty is here!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "My dear Wu, it's okay, no need to be so polite!"

Seeing Fang Xiaoru's respectful attitude, yet neither humble nor arrogant, Zhu Yuanzhang liked him more and more.

"Xizhi, I heard from Grand Secretary Wu that your eyesight is not very good. Come back to the palace with me. I will give you a pair of glasses so that you will not worship the wrong person in the future."

"Students thank our emperor!"

Wu Chen was overjoyed when he heard this. It seemed that Fang Xiaoru's appointment as the Emperor's grandson's teacher had been settled.

I was extremely envious. Your Majesty's glasses, but I haven't even put them on yet, and Fang Xiaoru got them first.

……

Fang Xiaoru won a great victory in his debate with the students of the Imperial College, which caused a sensation in Yingtian Prefecture. Nowadays, the topic of conversation among the common people after dinner is all about the Imperial Academy.

As the news spread more and more widely, the reputation of Jiangzao Academy grew, but this also further aroused the anger of the students.

In their eyes, the establishment of the Craftsmen Academy was like a thorn in their side. When would craftsmen, the lowest of the lowest, be able to be compared with scholars?
In their eyes, Fang Xiaoru became a shameful person who betrayed the teachings of the saints.

More and more students are talking big every day, saying that the imperial court values ​​skills over morality, but the Creator does not explore the principles of nature, and they neither investigate things nor seek knowledge. This is completely putting the cart before the horse!

In their minds, the Artisan Academy is a place that is heretical and unacceptable to heaven!
As the autumn examination approached, more and more students from other places gathered in Yingtian Prefecture.

There were even groups of students who went to the palace to petition Zhu Yuanzhang to close the Jiangzao Academy.

More and more people are joining this trend, and with the help of those who are interested, it has gradually formed a trend that cannot be ignored!

(End of this chapter)