bookrandom Chapter 1207 Chasing Du Yu
Chapter 1207 Chasing Du Yu
Chapter 1207 Chasing Du Yu
Halfway up the mountain in Jinling.
Although Wang Anshi was old, he lived a fulfilling life.
He visited Zen masters and asked about the Dao every day, and wrote books to explain Buddhist scriptures.
Wang Anshi's knowledge of classics was unparalleled in his time, and he was also a versatile person. He was praised as "his writing follows Confucius and Mencius, and his career surpasses Yi Gao."
However, Wang Anshi was old, and his younger brother Wang Anguo and many old friends passed away in recent years, which made him sigh. His mood also changed after seeing through the world.
Many strong leaders become more tolerant of things, people and objects after retiring from office.
In September of the third year of Yuanfeng, just before the emperor asked Zhang Yue whether he wanted Wang Anshi to be the minister of state, Wang Anshi was promoted from Duke of Shu to Duke of Jing, with an additional 400 households of food and 100 households of food.
But Wang Anshi had no extra desire for fame and fortune. He only exchanged letters with his younger brothers Wang Anli, Wang Anshang, his father-in-law Wu Chong, his son-in-law Cai Bian, and his two daughters.
In fact, Zhang Yue also often took the initiative to write to Wang Anshi. Later, when Wang Anshi learned that Zhang Yue had taken his letter out of context and scolded Zhang Dun in class, he was so angry that he never wrote back to Zhang Yue again.
Wang Anshang was involved in Su Shi's Wudai Poetry Case, and it was Cai Bian and Yang Zhangyue who saved him.
However, Wang Anshi had already written letters to make peace with Zeng Gong and Su Shi, who had fallen out over the new policy. After Lü Huiqing returned to his post after his mourning period, he also wrote to Wang Anshi to make peace. But after reading Lü Huiqing's letter, Wang Anshi was moved and said to his retainer, "There is no need to reply to this."
Then he said to the servant: "I will give you a reply eventually."
Finally, Wang Anshi wrote back to Lu Huiqing, "We were of the same mind, but even our differences were all due to state affairs. What else could it be?" Wang Anshi wrote at the end, "If we have different interests and preferences, we will be angry with each other. It is better to forget each other."
Save your time... Let’s forget about the past, but let’s still block each other.
That day Wang Anshi was at home, and his student Gong Yuanyuan visited him.
During the Zhiping period, Gong Yuan studied under Wang Anshi along with Cai Bian, Lu Dian and others, and later worked his way up to become a lecturer at the Imperial Academy.
A year ago, he was expelled for accepting bribes during the corruption case of Yu Fan, a student of the Imperial College. This matter was related to Zhang Yue and Cai Que.
Both the emperor and Zhang Yue wanted to expel Wang Anshi's influence in the Imperial College, so they manipulated and condoned this event.
Finally, Gong Yuan was dismissed from office and became a commoner. Now he passed by Jiangning and visited Wang Anshi at his residence.
Gong Yuan couldn't help but complain to Wang Anshi and brought up the Imperial College case.
Gong Yuan meant.
Zhang Yue had always intended to abolish the Three Classics New Interpretation and Word Theory in the Imperial College's curriculum. Finally, he used the Imperial College's Yu Fan case to dismiss the direct lecturers who supported Jing Gong's new learning and replaced them with Su Song, Cheng Yi and others.
Nowadays, "Zi Shuo" has been removed from the imperial examination syllabus. Although the New Interpretations of the Three Classics were not abolished, which left some face for Wang Anshi, its weight has been greatly reduced and replaced by Mencius and The Doctrine of the Mean.
When it comes to Mencius's Doctrine of the Mean, Wang Anshi was not surprised. When he was dismissed from his position as prime minister, Zhang Yue wanted to use the two books as his classics.
But whether it is the Doctrine of the Mean or Mencius, Zhang Yue and Wang Anshi have different interpretations.
The Doctrine of the Mean is the middle way, which is what Confucianism most admires: "holding the middle way". However, Wang Anshi once criticized the Doctrine of the Mean, which is the biggest fallacy in the world. However, he is the same as Zhang Yue in the explanation of the word "sincerity".
On Mencius, Wang Anshi referred to Mencius as a "combined classic", which is equivalent to the Analects. Zhang Yue directly regarded it as equivalent to the classics.
Zhang Yue emphasized Mencius's idea of "people-centered". In his letters or official documents to local governors, he often mentioned "people are the foundation of the country, people are the foundation of the state", and even used Liu Zongyuan's words "people's servants" to warn officials all over the world. You are servants hired by the people, not servants who let you do whatever you want and bully the people.
Wang Anshi thought that this method was useless and that officials should continue to do what they were supposed to do, but he still approved of Zhang Yue's move.
Gong Yuan mentioned that Zhang Yue believed in moderation and had a moderate governing style.
Wang Anshi no longer held the same view as before and said, "Prime Minister Zhang's use of the law cannot be explained by the ideas and principles of the moment."
"Just like the way of using the middle way, if you act in the middle way, you will never use the middle way. Just like a person's temperament, if he is impatient and reckless, you should tell him to think twice before doing anything. If a person is slow to act and thinks twice before doing anything, you should tell him to think before doing anything. Therefore, thinking before doing something and thinking twice before doing something are not contradictory."
"This is the reason why it is not possible to teach people with Chinese characteristics. This is how Prime Minister Zhang governs the country and the classics."
Gong Yuan said: "I understand. This is the principle Confucius taught Ran You and Gong Xihua. One said to advance, the other said to retreat, that's it."
Wang Anshi said: "It is the same with governing a country and maintaining peace. There is no profound knowledge in it. If the government is strict, it should be supplemented by leniency, and if the government is lenient, it should be eliminated by strictness. We should act according to the circumstances, but we cannot talk about the circumstances."
Gong Yuan was sincerely convinced and said, "I have learned your lesson."
Wang Anshi said: "In fact, there are many errors in the new interpretation of the Three Classics. I have carefully picked them out over the years and submitted a memorial to the emperor to revise them."
Gong Yuan understood that Wang Anshi was no longer willing to continue the "Confucian debate" with Zhang Yue. As a retired prime minister, there was nothing to argue with the incumbent prime minister, perhaps because of his old age.
After Gong Yuan finished speaking, the topic became much more relaxed, and several of Wang Anshi's followers were also present.
Everyone couldn't help but talk about the ongoing battle in Liangzhou.
In Jiangning, not only officials and scholars, but even the common people were talking about these things.
Although Wang Anshi had some differences with Zhang Yue, his followers did not shy away from discussing the matter in front of Wang Anshi.
"It has been more than a month since the army went to attack Liang. If there is any news, it should reach the capital in a few days."
"From Liangzhou to the capital, even with a gold medal express, it would take nine days."
"Mr. Zhang has talked about restoring the country. If we don't take back Liangzhou and restore the Han and Tang dynasties, then there is no point in talking about restoring the country!"
After discussing this for a while, Gong Yuan asked Wang Anshi, "May I ask what the Duke of Jing thinks of the battle in Liang Province?"
Everyone looked at Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi said: "I am an old man with a long and prosperous life, and now I am old and frail, so I can no longer discuss state affairs."
Gong Yuan said: "We have all followed the Duke for many years, and these words must not be spread to others."
Wang Anshi said, "Then let me say a few words behind closed doors. If we take Liangzhou, although Zhang Gong will cut off the right arm of the Tanguts, he will only leave Guasha, Gansu, and Yizhou. Isn't that like handing it over to Aligu?"
Wang Anshi sighed, saying that although it would be a great achievement for Zhang Yue to conquer Liangzhou, Wang Anshi had a high vision and thought that there were always some flaws in what Zhang Yue had done, which made him feel a little regretful.
After hearing what Wang Anshi said, the other disciples also offered suggestions one after another.
"Yes, I heard that although Aligu still had dozens of wives, concubines and children in Bianjing, the concubines he married in Ganzhou gave birth to two sons for him."
"With an heir, my subordinates will have someone to be loyal to. Even if Liangzhou is pacified, Aligu will become a serious threat."
"But if the imperial court can sack the six Tangut states, it is also a good thing. The destruction of their country is also imminent."
Everyone discussed it for a while. Some said it was good, while others found fault with it.
Suddenly, a retainer asked Wang Anshi, "Who among the ancients can compare with Mr. Zhang's achievements in recovering Liangzhou?"
One of the retainers blurted out: "How does it compare to Ma Yuan and Ma Fubo?"
Everyone looked at Wang Anshi, who shook his head slightly and said, "We can't be so hasty."
One of the retainers said: "The comparison with Ma Yuan is inappropriate. But the comparison with Wei Huo is even more inappropriate."
At this time, a retainer said with a smile: "I have a man, but he is not from the Han Dynasty. But how does he compare to Du Yu of the Western Jin Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Gong Yuan and his guests were all delighted. It seemed that everyone thought this answer was good.
Wang Anshi also sighed: "Du Yu was included in both the Temple of Literature and the Temple of Martial Arts."
Wang Anshi thought to himself that others' praise of him as "his writing is comparable to Confucius and Mencius, and his career is better than Yi Gao" was just empty words. Only Zhang Yue's achievements today, which are comparable to Du Yu, were true.
Thinking of this, Wang Anshi felt a little depressed.
All of Gong Yuan's followers fell silent and looked at Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi noticed what everyone was thinking, looked at them and said with a smile: "I suddenly remembered a poem I wrote last year."
"The green stone branches are cold in the winter, and the hand moves away with an inch of hardness. I heard that it has grown several feet taller recently, so this body of reeds and willows should be withered."
Everyone suddenly understood after hearing this.
That’s right, when you see others achieving great things, you realize that you are truly old.
……
A horse-drawn carriage drove into the city of Bianjing.
The person sitting in the carriage was Lu Huiqing, who had been in mourning for more than two years.
The mourning period forced Lu Huiqing to stay away from the central government, and when he returned to Beijing again this time, he was already at the age of knowing the destiny.
Older people always like to reflect.
The same is true for Lu Huiqing. Over the years, he has been constantly asking himself where his achievements are.
Zhang Yue has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to surround Liangzhou.
If he captured Liangzhou this time and then destroyed Xia in one fell swoop, he, Lu Huiqing, was really worried that he would be useless. From then on, not only would he not be able to regain the emperor's favor, but he, Lu Huiqing, would also not have a place to stand.
So after much deliberation, Lu Huiqing originally wanted to pay a visit to Wang Anshi when he passed by Jiangning on his way back to Beijing this time.
But he was also a man with a strong sense of self-esteem. He had a falling out with Wang Anshi in the past. Why would he go to him again now?
So after much deliberation, Lu Huiqing decided to write a letter to Wang Anshi, which was written quite sincerely.
Finally, Lu Huiqing received Wang Anshi's reply. After reading the words "If we have different interests and preferences, we will quarrel with each other. It is better for us to forget each other", he felt cold in his heart.
The interests and preferences are different, which comes from the letter to Ren An.
Saying that you and I have different ambitions and paths, that is to say, you and I have parted ways. Instead of crying over there, it is better to stay away from each other and use the years to slowly digest all this.
What is this? Was Yan Hui expelled from Confucius?
Although Lu Huiqing was angry, he understood that breaking off a friendship at the slightest provocation was childish behavior. In the officialdom, it was not as easy as blocking each other.
Now his younger brother Wang Anli has been promoted to Deputy Privy Councilor, and his son-in-law Cai Bian is in charge of the attack on Liangzhou as the military supervisor. Once he returns to the court successfully, he will surely be promoted to a general or a prime minister.
Wang Anshi himself still had a great influence on the emperor. Wang Anshi could have retired to the mountains and left, but he, Lu Huiqing, had to continue serving as an official in this corrupt world.
Although Lu Huiqing had a strong sense of self-esteem, he still knew the pros and cons of the matter.
Didn’t you, Wang Anshi, say that we should block each other? Then I will write to you again.
Lu Huiqing knew that Wang Anshi was a gentleman, and this approach worked for him.
A gentleman will fall for this.
(End of this chapter)