Meanwhile, the Yan household was also gripped by an inexplicable tension. Unlike before, the defeat at Xuan and Da was a substantial blow to the Yan family. The strategies Yan Shifan had proposed in court were all shelved without even a draft being prepared. Not only that, but most of the officials in Xuan and Da, except for a few major figures like Ge Jin, had been replaced. It was precisely because of this that Gao Gong believed Yan Song would concede and give him the position of Grand Secretary, which led to Yin Zhengmao's coercion of the populace.
Therefore, the atmosphere in the Yan household at this time was vastly different from before. The retainers were all on edge, and Yan Shifan himself had truly turned over a new leaf, no longer the frantic, shouting, and foul-mouthed hothead.
Among the assembled guests, in addition to the earlier Neo-Confucian master Wei Liangbi, there was a middle-aged scholar named Sun Ying'ao, also known as a "pure scholar," meaning one who devoted their life solely to Neo-Confucianism and paid no heed to anything else.
After Yan Shifan had finished looking at the "Memorandum on the Instruction of a Thousand Students" for each person, he said leisurely, "Have all of you read it carefully? Have the two masters read it as well? This document is no simple matter… All the academies in the land have submitted a petition for the establishment of a headmaster for the sake of upholding orthodoxy. But who are these people, He Xinyin, Yan Shanlong, Luo Rufang? Why do they oppose the sage's way? I am an unlettered man and cannot understand it. Please, all of you, discuss it. Ah, haha, speak your minds freely!"
Luo Longwen, quick-witted, immediately smiled and said, "With the two masters present, it is not for us unlearned folk to show off. The two masters should elaborate at length..."
Wei Liangbi snorted and said, "My lords, you may not know, but this He Xinyin is a traitor to the teachings of the sages and the sage's way. He spouts nonsense all day long! He studied under Wang Xinzai in his early years and was idle and dissolute. Relying on his family's wealth, he became arrogant and dared to say anything! He said that anyone can become a Yao or Shun, that one should desire what the people desire, that innate knowledge is the heart of heaven and earth... Utter nonsense! Master Xinzai himself said that this child would no longer be bound by the teachings of the sages... This shows that this person is a wild fox of Zen. As the sage said, 'Do not be a petty Confucian,' speaking of people like him!"
Oh...
Some present had heard a little, but most truly did not know these origins. Hearing this, they had a general understanding.
Yan Maoqing, who had been quite learned in his youth, later succumbed to wine, women, wealth, and anger. Listening to him speak now, having grasped the crux of the issue, he blurted out, "Two masters, the saying that anyone can become a Yao or Shun is utterly rebellious! Consider this: we who follow the sage's way revere the Great Sage Confucius. But the sage has already vanished with the qilin. Where else can sages come from in later generations? He actually says that anyone can become a Yao or Shun. That is simply the ravings of a madman!"
Once this was pointed out, everyone understood—
The flaw in this memorial lay precisely here. By discussing the "Great Way," it was merely an opposition to the sage's way. And their so-called Great Way was nothing more than the nonsense of everyone being a Yao or Shun. Was this not obvious?
Seeing that everyone had grasped the essence, Yan Shifan chuckled, "To say that cultivating innate knowledge is enough to reach the Great Way is unheard of. In the end, is it not saying that the common folk can rise without studying? Hahaha..."
Hahahaha,
Everyone burst into laughter, mocking and ridiculing in a few words.
"The Little Grand Secretary has hit the nail on the head. What Great Way? It's all fabricated books by Liu Xiang and Liu Xin!"
"Petty Confucians are truly detestable!"
"This He Xinyin was a thief from the start!"
"He Xinyin? Hmph! People in Jiangxi all say he was a scoundrel since childhood!"
"He even advocates killing the ruler and father!"
"..."
After a period of boisterous laughter, Sun Ying'ao, who had been silent, felt it was time to make his contribution. He cleared his throat, cupped his hands, and said, "My Lord, Little Grand Secretary, lords, Master Wei... I, Sun Ying'ao, have corresponded with He Xinyin... Alas, that his writings are full of nonsense is one thing, but this person also harbors a great hidden danger..."
He paused, piquing everyone's interest, and then said, "In Jiangxi, he established a 'Gathering Hall'... claiming to support the elderly, weak, and orphaned. He brought together members of the clan to live together, farm together, study together, and worship together... My friends from Jiangxi tell me that this Gathering Hall is a 'cultivation and war' society! By day, they put on a facade, but at night, they discuss Wei Yang's methods of merit and rank. They call it 'Xuexin' (Consciousness Learning), but in reality, it is Legalism!"
Oh?
Everyone was immediately bewildered!
This?
A few had heard something of the sort and indeed had doubts. Hearing him say this now, they were inclined to believe him—if it were not a cultivation and war society, why would they support Zhu Mo? Even the most obscure heresies within Confucianism did not operate in this manner...
Speaking of which,
Yan Shifan then put on a solemn expression and said, "Old Sun, you have spoken correctly... Look at this. Zheng Bichang sent someone to investigate in Huzhou. This He Xinyin, a few days ago, led over a hundred students to the Huzhou prefectural yamen, demanding severe punishment for Yin Zhengmao and seeking justice for that Zhu Mo!
Over a hundred students, would they all go there coincidentally? This is the issue! Old Sun, when you mentioned the cultivation and war society, it immediately came to my mind... The matter is not simple. It seems someone truly intends to disrupt the ancestral system. They establish cultivation and war societies among the populace, and Zhu Mo implements Wei Yang's laws in the court. Alas, some matters must be discussed sitting down like this. Don't things become clear as we talk..."
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
Everyone agreed, feeling that the situation indeed had this possibility. They had underestimated Zhu Mo; they truly did not expect this person to have such ambition?
Yan Shifan pondered for a moment and continued, "Old Sun, I have invited you several times before, but you did not come to me... I can see that you are a great talent. Unless there is a major event in the land, you are unwilling to emerge from seclusion. This time, with the appearance of the heretical and rebellious Zhu Mo, you are finally willing to come out and help me... Now that you have seen through this undercurrent as if seeing through it like fire, there is no need to trouble anyone else. I would like to invite you to deliver a final verdict on Zhu Mo, how about it?"
As he said this,
Yan Shifan stood up and bowed deeply to Sun Ying'ao, saying, "Yan Shifan implores Mr. Sun!"
Ah?
Sun Ying'ao was overwhelmed by the honor. He immediately rose to help Yan Shifan up and said repeatedly, "Little Grand Secretary, what virtue or ability do I, Sun Ying'ao, possess to be so highly regarded by you? Very well! For the sake of the nation and for the sake of the people, I, Sun Ying'ao, will deliver this verdict on Zhu Mo!"
Good, good!
Clap, clap, clap,
Everyone applauded.
Although Sun Ying'ao's father was also a minor member of the Yan faction, he was of the lowest caliber. He had followed his father to serve as a petty official his entire life. While his life was better than that of commoners, he had never enjoyed any luxury. Not long ago, Yan Maoqing had sent someone with a letter to invite him, discussing the current situation. He immediately thought that the Little Grand Secretary might intend to brand Zhu Mo as a Legalist?
Upon arriving in the capital, he deliberately remained silent, intending to listen carefully. Today, after hearing it clearly, the Little Grand Secretary indeed had this intention. He immediately produced the prepared set of arguments, which indeed earned the Little Grand Secretary's favor. As for whether the cultivation and war society was real or not, he cared not! It was a matter of framing him with a fabricated crime; after a lifetime of study, did he not understand this?
Upon returning home,
He immediately applied himself to writing, penning a "Letter to Scholar Zhu on Legal Reforms." The main thrust was to portray Zhu Mo's reforms as Qin law and Qin governance. He argued that textiles, salt, and other industries were aimed at creating "commoner ranks" to counter the merits and titles of the imperial examinations, with the ultimate goal of abolishing the rule of the sages.