"Very well, then, following Mr.'s words, let's boldly speculate on the future trends of the court."
Han Mo was too lazy to argue slowly with such a nitpicker, so he took a different approach.
At this time, Zong Ying could no longer interject.
"How dare you, at such a young age, presume to comment on the direction of the court?"
Although Xu Churen's eyes showed a hint of admiration, his tone was not yielding in the slightest.
"Whether it's presumption or not, Mr. will know after listening!"
Han Mo sneered and spoke again.
"Then I shall listen with respect!"
"According to Mr.'s words, the loyal and righteous officials in the court are all sacrificing themselves. What will be the final outcome? Setting aside the distant Niu-Li factional struggles, has Mr. forgotten the Yuanyou Party Stele?"
"Although Cai Jing has retired, Wang Fu, Liang Shicheng, and Tong Guan are still able to cover the sky with one hand. In the entire court, among those wearing purple robes, how many dare to defy the Emperor's will?"
Han Mo's two consecutive sentences made Xu Churen fall silent for a moment.
"Even if our positions are lowly, so what? We can still memorialize the Emperor!"
After a moment of silence, Xu Churen gritted his teeth and said again.
"Good, then let's return to Elder Xu's point. Elder Xu, you are ill-informed. Do you know why Cai Jing retired so hastily this time?"
"This..."
Hearing Han Mo bring this up, Xu Churen immediately understood his own naivete.
Indeed, just as Han Mo had said.
If Cai Jing could block the channels of speech, couldn't Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan, and Wang Fu do the same?
Currently, in the entire court, among the officials who could attend court, there were no more than ten who dared to speak.
What would happen even if they jointly memorialized?
The reporting office was controlled by them, they could even stop the Crown Prince, they could even make away with the Crown Prince's memorials, what could these ministers do?
Thinking of this, Xu Churen, who had been full of passion, became somewhat disheartened.
With the court in such a state, he saw no hope whatsoever...
"I guess the elder is thinking now, 'What can be done about the court's situation? It's better to go home!'"
Seeing him slumped like a defeated rooster, Han Mo chuckled again.
"'A true man, when poor, should cultivate himself; when successful, should benefit the world.' Is this not correct?"
Xu Churen took a deep breath and looked at Han Mo again.
However, at this moment, he no longer possessed the same strong assertiveness.
"That's right, you can certainly do that, and this is the most fitting behavior for a gentleman!"
"Brother Han!"
Hearing Han Mo say this, Zong Ying immediately became anxious.
What was going on?
They brought you here precisely because they were afraid this old man would be stubborn, and you directly sent him away. What's the point of this game!
"I haven't finished speaking. This is indeed fitting for a gentleman. However, Elder Xu, Han Mo would like to ask Elder Xu a question. this is extremely important to Han Mo, and I request Mr. to enlighten me!"
"Ask away, but I may not be able to answer it!"
Xu Churen naturally understood Zong Ying's meaning. However, he was old after all, and his scholarly spirit had been dispelled. How could he still care about the petty struggles in the court?
"We scholars, for what reason do we study? Please enlighten me, Mr.!"
Han Mo spoke while tidying his robes and respectfully asked Xu Churen.
For what reason do we study?
If this question were asked before, Xu Churen would have unhesitatingly told him that studying was for understanding principles, for governing the country and bringing peace to the world!
But now, he himself was completely confused.
Indeed, for what did he study?
Was it for a thousand bushels of grain? For jade-like beauty? Or for a house of gold?
Seeing Xu Churen frozen there, Zong Ying immediately understood that Han Mo was about to unleash a big move.
However, Han Mo's question had indeed stumped him.
"I am old and frail, I cannot answer..."
Xu Churen pondered for a long time. However, although his mind was full of knowledge, at this moment, he could not utter a single word.
"Mr., although Han Mo does not advocate for Guan School, I believe that the 'Four Sentences of Hengqu' by Mr. Hengqu is the purpose of our studies as scholars! To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to provide life for the people, to continue the lost teachings of the past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!"
"To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to provide life for the people, to continue the lost teachings of the past sages, and to bring peace to all generations..."
Xu Churen murmured and repeated Han Mo's words, his eyes becoming complex again.
"That's right, we study not to become gentlemen, but to establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to provide life for the people, to continue the lost teachings of the past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!"
"Now, wicked officials are usurping power, while the loyal and righteous officials in the court are either squeezed out to the provinces or live in seclusion in the wilderness. They may be able to protect themselves, but what kind of lives are the common people of the world living?"
"In the southeast, Zhu Mian and his son are extorting excessively. In the various circuits of Hebei, people like Wang Ge are causing widespread bandits and making life miserable. There are wars in the northwest, corrupt officials in Shu, and even in this city of Bianliang, people are suffering, prices are soaring, hundreds of thousands of disaster victims outside the city are starving, and the people in the city are busy all day but cannot fill their stomachs! Elder Xu, this is the city of Bianliang! The capital of our Great Song!"
When Han Mo spoke to this point, the entire room fell silent. Zong Ying dared not even breathe loudly, for fear of interrupting Han Mo's train of thought.
"So, this is your reason for asking me to disregard my reputation and even consort with sycophants to fight for power in the court?"
Xu Churen's expression became serious again.
"That's right. There are only the three of us here. To speak a taboo word, young one, does the elder truly believe that the Emperor has no responsibility for the world becoming this way?"
As soon as Han Mo uttered this sentence, he almost scared Zong Ying to death.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!"
But to his surprise, as soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Xu Churen suddenly burst into laughter.
"Good lad, you truly are from the Han family of Xiangzhou! Based on this sentence alone, what do you need me to do?"
In Xu Churen's eyes, there was light again.
That's right, it was this sentence. The world is like this, are all the officials responsible?
If the superior has a preference, the inferior will surely follow!
Without a foolish ruler, where would the sycophants come from!
"Naturally, to emulate the ancient sages and select a wise ruler for the Great Song!"
Although Han Mo said this in a soft voice, his eyes were firm.
This sentence also made Zong Ying smile bitterly.
At this moment, he had to admit that some people were naturally suited for the officialdom.
Just like Han Mo, although he was only a humble county magistrate now, even the Grand Inspector of the third rank was at his mercy.