Grenade Fears Water

Chapter 259: Articulating Desire

"Bang…!!!"

On a day in late February, the day after Mr. Yang Shi of Guishan, along with his two direct disciples from the Cheng School, arrived in the capital, a muffled boom, like rolling spring thunder, erupted before the Xuande Gate at noon. It was immediately followed by a storm of exclamations and shouts.

Twenty untethered, powerful horses, startled by the cries, galloped wildly. Two teams of ten horses each dragged a hollow copper hemisphere, clanging and banging on the Imperial Street. They ran for hundreds of paces before being stopped by the obstacles set up by the Imperial Guards.

At the same time, on the Xuande Gate, the Zhao Emperor, along with his two consorts, dozens of high-ranking officials and scholars, and over a hundred low-ranking civil and military attendants, including the armored Imperial Guards, almost completely lost their composure, staring in astonishment over the railing.

That's right, the long-delayed 'atmospheric pressure experiment' had finally been completed, and in a way that was so direct it astonished everyone... the classic Magdeburg hemispheres experiment. Two hemispherical copper bowls, with the air evacuated, creating a vacuum inside. The power of atmospheric pressure was demonstrated unequivocally by the strength of the horses.

Speaking of which, the preparation for this experiment was indeed a bit complicated.

For example, the Zhao Emperor initially thought that the biggest technical difficulty he would face was the sealing of the contact surfaces of the two hemispheres, and he had even prepared fish bladders. However, he later found that as long as the casting was done carefully, making the joint surfaces smooth, there was actually nothing wrong with it...

The real trouble was how to evacuate the air from the hemispheres.

This problem was what took up much of Zhao Jiu and Chen Gui's thoughts and efforts. But you know what? The Zhao Emperor actually regained the pride of an engineering dog and finally solved it.

After encountering this problem, the Zhao Emperor's first reaction was the water pump he used when he was a child. So he thought of directly making a hole in the sphere and installing a simple piston pump like the one in a water pump. But piston pumps are not so easy to make... First, he found that the airtightness of the leather plus iron casting was not good. So he returned to basics, first filling the sphere with water, using the natural airtightness of the water to pump the water out and create a vacuum. But just filling it with water was not enough, because no one had the strength to pump all the water out. So he added a lever. Later, he found that at the most crucial moment of pumping, the joint between the pump body and the copper sphere always came loose, so he had no choice but to return to the casting process and cast the pump onto the sphere from the beginning. Finally, he also found that after the water was pumped out, the airtightness was not enough, so he had to add an iron ball under the cowhide to act as a piston.

Back and forth, the Zhao Emperor was equivalent to reviewing high school physics again, and also equivalent to 'inventing' a water pump all over again... and it really was just a water pump... But in any case, with the outstanding physical design of this engineering whiz and Chen Gui's outstanding technical practice, this thing was finally made.

And the time spent inventing the water pump and preparing the experiment was about ten days, and the finished product experiment conducted in the Yue Tai military camp outside the city took about another ten days... However, the timing of this plan was originally before the New Year!

In other words, this Emperor had already started preparing before the bet was made, and soon after the bet was made, he was fully confident.

However, in order to create momentum, he took the initiative to delay the time, and even delayed it again and again, forcibly delaying it until now. Fortunately, the effect was significant.

Moreover, scholars and Confucians who understood a little bit of Taoism and Yuán studies actually knew that this loud noise only verified Lü Gongxiang's description of air as water in Yuán studies. However, it could not prove that Yuán studies had grasped the truth in the fundamental problem of 'air'. From another perspective, it could not prove that the other schools of Taoism were wrong either. It could only prove that Hu Anguo, the main opponent of Yuán studies in the capital before, had made a slight mistake on the issue of 'air'.

As for the other schools, such as the orthodox Cheng School of Taoism, Yang Shi and the two direct disciples of the Cheng School arrived in the capital and only exchanged a few pleasantries before hastily welcoming the experiment.

However, thanks to the Zhao Emperor's constant efforts to create momentum and delay, this loud noise gave everyone who did not do academic research, and even many who did, the illusion that Yuán studies had won over Taoism!

Back to the present, Lü Benzhong, disregarding his status, stood directly on the Imperial Street below the Xuande Gate, showing the reassembled copper spheres to the people on the roadside again and again. He also casually pulled them apart for demonstration, patiently explaining the principles behind it... When there was also air inside the sphere, there was no atmospheric pressure outside. Now that there was no air inside and it had become a vacuum, the air outside pressed the copper sphere from the outside. And those twenty horses were competing with the unseen, intangible, but real air pressing on the outside of the copper sphere to see who had more strength.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Ding, equally astonished and suspicious, stood up from the building and turned to congratulate Prime Minister Lü Haowen, who was standing beside him, congratulating the Prime Minister on his great progress in his studies, and even more so on the Prime Minister’s ability to flourish like an iron tree and reverse the flow of water when he was old and about to fade out of politics.

And it was a major event with unlimited potential.

After all, establishing virtue, establishing merit, and establishing words... Prime Minister Lü had already achieved establishing merit, and now he was about to establish words. When the virtue was praised, who knew, he might achieve all three before he died, and become a contemporary saint.

Therefore, to put it bluntly, everyone on the Xuande Gate today had reason to envy Prime Minister Lü's luck and achievements.

However, Zhao Ding felt, perhaps it was just an illusion, that Prime Minister Lü, who was about to become a saint, was actually a little dazed, as if he, like everyone else, was shocked by the result of this 'practice'.

Not only that, but when Zhao Yuanzhen once again bypassed Prime Minister Lü, ignored Consort Pan, who was leaning on the railing and staring blankly at the Imperial Street below, and then met the Zhao Emperor's gaze, he found that this Emperor was conversely overly calm... The Emperor in his red robe was coaxing Princess Yiyou, who had been frightened to tears in his arms, seemingly not paying attention to the scene below at all.

"Your Majesty…" Zhao Yuanzhen cupped his hands in greeting. "The Princess is still young and should not be exposed to too much wind, let alone such a scare?"

"It doesn't matter. A few scares when she's young will help her live longer," Zhao Jiu said indifferently. "What does Prime Minister Zhao think of today's events?"

Zhao Ding looked back at Yang Shi, Hu Anguo and others on the building who were shocked and speechless, and then glanced at the scene below, carefully replying, "Your subject believes that Prime Minister Lü's scholarship is profound, his preparations are well-done, and his calculations are clear. Through this breakthrough, Yuán studies can shock the world from an academic perspective and from the populace. But the key is how Your Majesty will arrange things politically next."

"My arrangement?" Zhao Jiu handed the daughter who was gradually stopping crying to Consort Wu, who was beside him, and then smiled for a moment. "Don't the Department of State Affairs and the Central Secretariat have arrangements?"

Zhao Ding was silent for a moment, then seriously replied, "Your subject has been trying to get the Department of State Affairs to arrange things these days, but Your Majesty has not made any arrangements. Your subject does not know what Your Majesty wants to arrange, so it is not easy to make arrangements…"

"That's a roundabout way of speaking," Zhao Jiu glanced at Zhang Jun and Liu Ji, who had come over early, and smiled for a moment. "However, Prime Minister Zhao, have you been wanting to say this roundabout way of speaking to Me for a long time?"

Zhao Ding hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

"Very well," Zhao Jiu sighed slightly, then nodded. "I have been too slow. Since you all want Me to make some arrangements, I will arrange it properly today… Zhao Qing."

"Your subject is here."

"Starting tomorrow, every day at noon, arrange such a horse-drawn hemisphere demonstration on the Imperial Street in front of the Xuande Gate, arrange it for a whole month. Lü Benzhong should have prepared spare hemispheres. The Department of State Affairs should cooperate."

"Your subject understands."

"I… Prime Minister Lü, based on the principles of atmospheric pressure, applied what he learned to make a water pump. It's very useful. You should prepare it and try to arrange for its promotion."

"Yes."

"As for the rest of the arrangements, there's no need to prepare a banquet. Let's go to the fish pond in the harem for a cup of tea. I'll explain it to you clearly on the spot," Zhao Jiu continued. "Several Prime Ministers, several gentlemen, the six ministries, the nine courts, and the Censorate… let's all go together."

Zhao Ding immediately cupped his hands, and everyone from Zhang Jun downwards also cupped their hands. The several great scholars had just reacted and were about to cup their hands when the Zhao Emperor had already turned and gone downstairs.

In this way, two quarters of an hour later, apart from the two consorts and a few young princesses who avoided the place, many of the high-ranking officials on the Xuande Gate earlier had all come to the former imperial garden.

To be honest, some of the great scholars who had come here for the first time were shocked by the scene of the imperial garden. And Mr. Yang Shi of Guishan, who had returned here after several years, stroked his beard in silence… It turned out that the former imperial garden, which was full of splendor, now had eight fish ponds and eight mulberry mounds distributed squarely within a range of more than ten acres.

The fish ponds had newly stocked fish fry, and the soil mounds piled up in the gaps between the fish ponds had newly transplanted mulberry trees. Only a group of chicks was slightly larger, but they were frightened away by the commotion here.

And the Zhao Emperor, who had contracted all eight fish ponds, directly laid out futons and desks on the grass on one side of the fish ponds and invited today's guests to drink tea.

"Your Majesty…"

After everyone was seated, before anyone could speak, Mr. Yang Shi of Guishan stood up tremblingly and cupped his hands in greeting.

Although this old gentleman was old, his mind was extremely clear. Before arriving in the capital, he had learned that the Zhao Emperor had secretly helped Lü Haowen through the imperial gazette. Yesterday, this Emperor and Lü Benzhong had appeared together in the Wuyue Temple, and had argued strongly about utility, even leaving in the middle of the argument. Today, there was this loud noise in front of the Xuande Gate. How could he not know that this Emperor had long had his own biases?

He did not dare to be negligent in the slightest and prepared to say as much as he could.

"What do you want to say, Mr. Yang?" Zhao Jiu picked up the spring tea, first smelled the fragrance, but did not panic, as if he really knew the man.

"Your subject has been away for many years and has not had time to congratulate Your Majesty…" Yang Shi did not panic.

"What is there to congratulate Me about?" Zhao Jiu only took a light sip of the spring tea and casually placed the teacup on the table in front of him. "In the Battle of Yaoshan, I received condolences, not congratulations. Adding a son and daughter is a natural thing. I am a little pleased with the suppression of the rebellion in Dongting Lake, but Mr. Yang should not know about it so quickly… What are you congratulating Me for?"

"Your subject congratulates Your Majesty on obtaining the three treasures of a sage!" Yang Shi, who was almost eighty years old, did not panic and replied proudly.

Zhao Jiu smiled without speaking.

"First, I congratulate Your Majesty on obtaining the Doctrine of the Mean. After four years of hard work, he won a victory, holding back and not issuing orders rashly, but instead being able to accept advice and appoint people wisely. Second, I congratulate Your Majesty on obtaining the true meaning of scholarship, investigating things to extend knowledge, seeking knowledge through practice, and even personally practicing it to prove the way of the sage. Third, I congratulate Your Majesty on his simple conduct, abandoning desires to preserve righteousness, enduring hardships and adversity, and never forgetting the shame of the Jingkang Incident." Yang Shi saw that the Emperor did not respond, so he directly continued. "As the saying goes, simplicity cultivates the self, practice seeks knowledge, and the Doctrine of the Mean conceals sharpness… Your Majesty is only in his early twenties, but he has such an image of a sage. Your subject feels invigorated upon seeing it, and it can be seen that the revival of the country is also promising."

Zhao Jiu smiled again, "These words can only be said by Mr. Yang. If someone else were to say them, Minister Li of the Censorate would probably reprimand them as flatterers on the spot."

Everyone looked at Li Guang, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, and the latter, who had been inexplicably burned, was only embarrassed and speechless for a moment.

"However, Minister Li has nothing to say, but I feel that Mr. Yang's evaluation of Me is actually a bit exaggerated…" Zhao Jiu sighed slightly. "I am not simple, nor am I diligent and studious, let alone the Doctrine of the Mean, or anything like holding back and not issuing orders rashly."

From Zhao Ding downwards, the ministers all looked over.

"For example, what is simple? To be honest, I am still very indulgent in what your Taoism calls 'human desires', and I have always pursued them." Zhao Jiu sat cross-legged on the couch, shaking his head repeatedly. "For example, the desire of the mouth, if it's about drinking, I drink the best Blue Bridge Wind and Moon in the world, as much as I want. And if it's about eating, what else can I eat? I have no shortage of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, and no shortage of seasonal vegetables. Even if it's about fruit, I have eaten more than you have seen. Do I need to build another post road for a few lychees? Do you really think I don't know what they taste like? And then there's women… I have two consorts, with different charms. What else do I want? And then there's clothing, the best cotton and Shu silk. Haven't I worn them? As for the palaces and residences, that's even more ridiculous. Let alone the fact that people can only sleep on one bed, even if I'm vulgar, is there anyone in the world who has more territory than Me? Who has more real estate than Me? Wasn't the most majestic Xuande Gate in the world just visited? Isn't that also My real estate? If it's about indulging human desires and enjoying life, who in the world can compare to Me?"

The ministers looked at each other, and the several Taoist gentlemen stroked their beards, but they all did not know what to say. Even Yang Shi lowered his head in thought.

"As for scholarship… to be honest, I am not very diligent either," Zhao Jiu continued to sigh. "I'm just a person in my twenties, healthy, and with a natural disposition. I can't just lie here drinking tea and basking in the sun every day, right? So when I'm free, I go to the Yue Tai military camp to ride a horse, go to the Gen Yue wasteland to shoot arrows, and practice calligraphy and write articles in the evening. When I'm especially free, I dig some fish ponds and plant trees here… Isn't that a matter of course?"

Yang Shi finally wanted to speak, and it seemed that he wanted to take the opportunity to insert today's theme, but the Zhao Emperor continued to chatter incessantly, forcing the old gentleman to continue standing there with his hands tied:

"Of course, I also have some excessive vanity, and I am also seeking a kind of indescribable desire for power… There's nothing to hide. However, I am, after all, a commander who led troops to fight in Yanling, an emperor who shot eagles by hand in Yaoshan, and I have personally tasted the most wonderful and stimulating flavors in the world. So how can I care about those inferior vanity and desires for power? A great man wants to be mighty to strengthen himself. Next, what I can think of is nothing more than learning from Wei Wu, who, after pacifying Liaodong, whipped his whip to the East Sea, or inscribing the names of meritorious officials and patriots on high steles after the Kyushu were unified, or seeing a moderately prosperous world in my lifetime and burning the memorial in the Mingdao Palace."

From Zhao Ding downwards, the ministers were already in awe. If Zhao Jiu had not been clearly giving a long speech, Zhang Jun and others would have almost jumped out to swear an oath to fulfill this wish with the Emperor.

Having said this, Zhao Jiu finally came back to the point: "Mr. Yang, do you think this is simplicity, love of learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean? It's nothing more than the fact that the pleasures I seek, the low-level ones have already been enjoyed to the fullest, and the high-level ones cannot be achieved overnight."

Yang Shi sighed slightly and bowed in response: "In that case, it makes your subject seem hypocritical. But Your Majesty, your subject believes that Your Majesty can seek a higher and farther pleasure, rather than being confined to mere hegemonic achievements…"

"I said, I'm not that noble. I'll be satisfied with seeking these hegemonic achievements in this lifetime," Zhao Jiu directly waved his hand to interrupt him. "My departure from the Wuyue Temple yesterday was for this matter. Mr. Yang's scholarship is probably there, but I think the governance of the Three Dynasties is too ethereal and cannot be sought…"

Yang Shi knew that the situation was already very urgent, so he simply gritted his teeth and responded: "Your Majesty, Taoism has become a prominent school. Since Your Majesty wants to define the official school, he cannot ignore Taoism."

As soon as these words came out, Hu Anguo, Luo Congyan, Li Tong, and several other great scholars who had been in the capital for a long time, such as Yin Dun and others, came out together and bowed in great salute on the grass next to the fish pond.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu unexpectedly nodded: "What you all say is very true… Taoism has become a prominent school and cannot be ignored. But how flourishing are the literary achievements! I follow the Zhou. How vast is Taoism! I enter the Guan."

Yang Shi and the others all raised their heads, unable to react for a moment. But soon, as Lü Haowen, the military commissioner who had been almost silent and inactive throughout the day, stood up to thank the Emperor, they immediately realized what the Zhao Emperor meant.

The Taoist school, tracing back to its origins, is nothing more than two fundamental schools: one is the Lu School founded by the Cheng brothers, and the other is naturally the Guan School founded by Zhang Zai.

These two schools have always been mentioned together. Nowadays, almost every Taoist gentleman is inevitably influenced by these two schools. However, it is worth mentioning that the situation of the Guan and Lu schools, which were once called the Taoist and Neo-Confucian orthodoxies, is no longer comparable to what it used to be.

Just look at the present: Yang Shi, Hu Anguo, Luo Congyan, Li Tong, Yin Dun, and even Xu Jingheng, who resigned from his position as prime minister, and Ma Shen, the Pacification Commissioner who is far away in Hubei, these people's main inheritance is undoubtedly still the Lu School. From this list, it can be seen that the power of the Lu School is unstoppable. And the other school, namely Zhang Zai's Guan School, has long been swallowed up by the Lu School, but there is no doubt that the Lü family school passed down by Lü Gongzhu, who promoted Zhang Zai to enter the capital in the past, has a clear part of the Guan School orthodoxy.

In other words, the Zhao Emperor wants Lü Haowen to be a chimera while recognizing the Guan School orthodoxy, in order to divide and disintegrate the Taoist forces that cannot be underestimated.

"Your Majesty!" Yang Shi realized this and did not hesitate to bow again hastily. "The Guan and Lu schools have long been one! And how can the Guan School orthodoxy be linked to the misleading teachings of Wang Anshi, a traitor to the country? Wang Anshi is a man of extraordinary talent and virtue, but his doctrines are heterodox and heretical. They must not be linked!"

"How can they not be linked?" Zhao Jiu responded proudly. "I want to take the 'four lines' of the Guan School and the four lines of King Shu, and combine them into a Taoist orthodoxy…"

"May I ask Your Majesty, which four lines are they?" Yang Shi was completely anxious, as if he was about to debate the scriptures with the Zhao Emperor face to face. "Your subject is willing to hear them."

"The former four lines are: to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a life for the people, to continue the lost learning for the past sages, and to create peace for all generations! The latter four lines are: the mandate of heaven is not to be feared, the ancestors are not to be followed, and public opinion is not to be heeded! The people are not taxed more, yet the state has sufficient funds!" Zhao Jiu sat upright and spoke without hesitation. "Take the four lines of the Guan School and the four lines of King Shu, combined with Prime Minister Lü's principle of investigating things to understand the world, which is also the Yuán studies that Prime Minister Lü has been comprehending at home these days, which is the learning that I admired after watching the 'practice' on the Xuande Gate today!"

These words were finally spoken, and hearing this, Yang Shi, who had been holding back a stomach full of knowledge to debate with the Zhao Emperor, raised his head in astonishment, but did not open his mouth at all… because he understood the Zhao Emperor's state of mind when he left the Wuyue Temple yesterday - those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!

Let alone the fact that public opinion is not to be heeded, and the people are not taxed more, yet the state has sufficient funds… these two are technical issues that can be discussed after all.

But the first two lines are too terrible.

The mandate of heaven is not to be feared!

This sentence can be roughly tolerated by Hu Anguo, and can even be discussed by Luo Congyan and Li Tong, but for Yang Shi, it is already a deadly thing… Although later generations generally believe that the Confucianism of the Song Dynasty, including Taoism, is essentially a reaction against the Han Confucianism, a reconstruction and self-rescue of Confucianism after realizing that the Han Confucian concept of the interaction between heaven and man and the cycle of the five elements is nonsense, but interestingly, Yang Shi rarely still follows the doctrine of interaction between heaven and man.

And the ancestors are not to be followed… this sentence is not only going to kill Yang Shi, but also a deadly language that all other Taoist gentlemen cannot tolerate. More importantly, it is also an important and obvious political declaration.

This means that the New Learning trend of respecting the New Learning and advocating utility, which has continued for many generations, is back.

Not only that, but when the Zhao Emperor made an announcement, several great scholars were completely speechless, and not a single minister took the initiative to refute… What to refute? Refute a master of restoration who digs fish ponds all day long to the point where even someone like Yang Shi has to flatter him?

The Zhao Emperor has not shown his authority much in recent months, but not showing it does not mean that he does not have it. Everyone knows that this Emperor's authority was won by hand through the restoration of the old capital and the great battle of Yaoshan, and it is almost unshakable.

Zhao Ding did not dare to arrange things, Zhang Jun guessed the Emperor's mind all day long, Ma Shen could only impeach Yang Yizhong, Chen Gongfu thought that Zhao Jiu was making a fuss, and Lü Haowen, a remnant of the old party, became the leader of Yuán studies. How did all of this come about? Isn't it because they all know that this Emperor's political authority is unshakable.

He wants to make a chimera, or do anything, in the current situation, there is no room for resistance politically. As for public opinion and academic discussions, the loud noise in front of the Xuande Gate just now has also given this chimera at least a foothold.

In other words, after that loud noise, the academic disputes that have lasted for many days, when it comes to the Zhao Emperor, it is basically whatever he says it is… This is called "言出法隨(yán chū fǎ suí)", the primordial spirit stage Immortals are simply not enough to watch.

"I have made up my mind," Zhao Jiu said when he saw that no one responded again, "From today onwards, this Yuán studies will be the official school. I will give lectures in the imperial academy, teach in the imperial university, and select scholars through the imperial examination, all based on Yuán studies."

Lü Haowen continued to be silent for a moment before cupping his hands and answering: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for his grace."

Zhao Ding and the other prime ministers and important officials also stepped forward and bowed in response.

"Taoism and the other schools are not prohibited. Taoist masters such as Hu Anguo and Yin Dun, who already hold positions in the capital, can all be professors and teach their knowledge at the Imperial University."

After hesitating for a moment, Hu Anguo and Yin Dun stepped forward and bowed in agreement… One thing is one thing, there is no need to oppose this matter.

"In the second year of Jianyan, I pardoned the Yuanyou party members once in Nanyang. Today, I will issue a public amnesty again. Regardless of the new or old party members, they will all be pardoned, and they can enter the officialdom and take the imperial examination as usual."

This time, everyone, including Yang Shi, bowed and thanked the Emperor.

"King Shu (Wang Anshi) is restored to the ranks of worship." Having said this, Zhao Jiu paused, and then lightly added a sentence to the oldest person in front of him, "Mr. Yang of Guishan is old and virtuous, and is given gold to return to his hometown."

Yang Shi opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, he said nothing… Who told him that he and the other party were monarch and subject?

ps: Book recommendation, three books in one breath: 《我姐姐实在太宠我了》, 《大唐农王》, 《脸谱下的大明》… I wish you all good health… I finally bought twenty books today.