98Chapter 98: The Mad Scholar Chen Yi, Chang'an Academy
Chen Yi raised his eyebrows slightly. At this moment, he still had a calm expression. His clothes were ordinary, but he looked very sharp, like a madman.
"Is it not possible?"
Just a simple "Isn't it possible?" made the expressions of the three people present change, while Gongsun Long, who was standing behind him, raised his eyebrows quietly, secretly feeling relieved.
Fortunately, he "gave up" early.
If he were one of those three people at this moment, he would probably lose all face.
after all.....
Fighting one against three, if you lose, it is an honor, but if you win, you will be famous for all time - even the three in fighting one against three are the three most prominent theories in the world!
Confucianism! Taoism! Mohism!
Who can say that he can defeat three people alone with his own thoughts and theories?
Just kidding!
This is a matter of only benefits and no harm for Chen Yi, but it is not the case for Li Mo and others - after all, even if they win, they will not have any good reputation, and they may even be branded as bullying the weak with their numbers. If they lose... it will be really embarrassing.
But can they not fight back at this time?
The probability of losing is very small, and even if they lose, they can still make excuses. But if they don't accept the challenge now, they will be labeled as "scared" immediately.
Dong Zhongshu chuckled and said, "Of course."
He stepped forward, his expression solemn. "Dong has been in seclusion for several years, gaining enlightenment in the apricot garden. He has come up with the great Confucian doctrine of the divine right of kings. The authority between heaven and earth is bestowed upon Your Majesty the Emperor by Heaven, so there should be the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues. The ruler should be the leader of the ministers. If the ruler wants the minister to die, the minister must die!"
"What do you think, Mr. Chen?"
In fact, Dong Zhongshu's thoughts are not limited to this, but this is the most fatal point - he wants to know how Chen Yi refutes it?
To refute the divine right of kings is tantamount to denying the emperor!
You must know that although most of the glory of the Chen family today comes from Chen's own efforts, it is inseparable from the emperor's favor, isn't it?
Chen Yi smiled faintly and simply said, "Xunzi said that Heaven has its own way. It does not exist because of Yao, nor does it perish because of Jie. Mr. Dong said that the king's power is granted by God. So, do Jie and Zhou fall within this scope? If so, why were they overthrown?"
"In Chen's opinion, the Way of Heaven is eternal and unchanging. Since this principle is unchanging, people can use it. If Your Majesty uses it, he can govern the people. If a ruler is virtuous, he will govern well."
"The emperor's power never came from the so-called gods or heaven, but from himself."
Jingming stepped forward slowly, his expression expressionless. "So, sir, you agree that a virtuous and renowned ruler should be chosen to rule the world?"
Chen Yi looked at Jing Ming and said, "Because the emperor's power comes from himself, those who become emperors do so because they themselves are emperors—or in other words, they have the ability to become emperors."
"So there is no such thing as choosing this."
"If everything is determined by choice, then there is a high probability that a virtuous monarch will not be chosen - because the common people are always stupid and ignorant, and they will be manipulated by others."
"And the only thing that can accomplish this crucial task of 'selection' is power. Therefore, your idea of selecting a wise and virtuous ruler doesn't exist, because those in power will choose the one who's best for them as ruler—and such rulers are often not virtuous."
Jing Ming frowned and stood there like Dong Zhongshu, his face silent. Li Mo then said slowly, "Thus, those in power should rule by doing nothing. Only when they do nothing can the people of Qian not be coerced by the powerful."
Chen Yi sneered, "Wrong, quite the opposite."
"Because the emperor's power comes from himself, if the emperor does nothing, then the common people will be coerced and exploited by the powerful. The emperor should do it - because the emperor's direct jurisdiction is not for the common people, but for the powerful."
"The more the emperor governs, the more power he holds, and the more restrictions he imposes on the powerful."
After saying this, Li Mo also fell silent.
Chen Yi became more and more passionate as he spoke. He slowly took a step forward, a look of resolute determination on his face.
"Therefore, the so-called thoughts of the Hundred Schools of Thought should not be based on the idea of one school governing the world. Instead, they should be based on a general principle and use the teachings of the world to govern the world."
"This is what Chen Mou means by practicality."
"Use practical learning to encompass the various schools of thought, completely unify them, and use the appropriate school of thought in the appropriate place."
"With Confucianism as the skin, Legalism as the bones, the Yin-Yang School, the Five Elements School, and the Agricultural School as the flesh and blood, blended together into one, and finally branded with the name of 'practicality', it accommodates everything together, embracing all rivers and seas. This is the Han Dynasty, this is the orthodoxy of the Central Plains!"
At this point, Chen Yi stepped forward and looked at Emperor Wu on the stage with a respectful expression: "I propose to establish the Chang'an Academy to accommodate the strengths of all schools of thought and set up "disciplines" that integrate the various schools of thought. Every student studying in the Chang'an Academy must study "primary disciplines" as well as "secondary disciplines."
"The primary subjects are the classics that teach people to be good and to read and write, and they teach students the principles of seeking knowledge and governing. Secondary subjects are optional and can enrich people's literacy."
"The establishment of Chang'an Academy should cultivate students who develop morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and laboriously."
"Your Majesty, please be the headmaster of the Chang'an Academy. Students who graduate from the Chang'an Academy will be your disciples. This is the legitimate royal family tradition!"
After hearing what Chen Yi said, Dong Zhongshu stood there in a daze, with a look of confusion and helplessness on his face. He looked at Chen Yi and opened his mouth to say something but couldn't say anything.
In the end, he could only sigh deeply and remain silent.
He and Chen Yi are no longer from the same dimension!
Emperor Wu on the stage just looked at Chen Yi and showed no doubt, dissatisfaction or shock about Chen Yi's request. After all, this was something they had already discussed.
He just lowered his eyes slightly and said softly, "Okay."
.... .....
In the eighteenth year of Emperor Wu's reign, Chen Yi of the Guandu Chen family discussed the Hundred Schools of Thought at the Imperial Academy. He defeated four leaders of Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, and the School of Names, and completely established his reputation as "the best in the world."
Compared to the title of the best in the world, people prefer to call him... a "madman"!
.... .....
It was also in this year that the "memorials" of Lord Father Yan and Chao Yun were quietly approved by the emperor, so the "Enfeoffment Order" was ready to be implemented, but... this measure caused dissatisfaction among the princes.
Huainan
The King of Huainan had a gloomy expression. He looked at the table in front of him and was extremely angry.
"The reduction of vassal states...is finally here!"