Legendary star: Signed to the Palace at the beginning

Chapter 204 Promotion of Confucianism
However, in the Sui Dynasty, the hometown of Confucius was not called Qufu, but Lu County, and the Confucian mansion was not as grand as the later generations. There were only dozens of houses, divided into front and back.

There is an armpit door on the left and right of the main entrance of the Confucian Mansion, and a side room. There are two Qingyi family members sitting on the lazy stools at the door.

Xiao Chuan and others tied the war horse to the horse post, and the two family members came up to meet him.

A family member saw Xiao Chuan and his party's extraordinary temperament, stepped forward and saluted, "Which one is your lord visiting?"

Xiao Chuan took out his greeting card, handed it to his family, and said, "My Count Wannian, Xiao Chuan, is here to visit the Patriarch of the Kong family. Brother, you have worked hard, please help me."

After finishing speaking, a bag of five baht coins appeared in his hand, and he stuffed it into the hands of his family members, saying: "It's a little fun, two brothers, have some wine."

The family held the heavy money bag in their hands, overjoyed in their hearts, and hurriedly stuffed it into their arms, saying: "My lord will be later, and my villain will report it to the Patriarch."

Another family member continues to watch the door, and the family member who collects money enters the armpit door.

After a while, a handsome boy of eleven or twelve years old walked out of the armpit door with his family, came to Xiao Chuan, bowed respectfully, and said: "Kong Sicheng has met Earl Dugu, my father invited the Earl to come in and tell."

Xiao Chuan said with a smile: "The hometown of Kong Sheng is really a family heir to poetry and etiquette, even children are so polite."

Kong Sichou laughed and said, "Thank you Earl for your compliment."

Then Kong Sichou stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation, and said: "The main entrance of the Confucius Mansion has been closed because of its solemnity. Please go through the armpit door, Earl. Forgive me."

Xiao Chuan said: "That's right."

So Xiao Chuan walked into the Ximen first, Yujuluo, Zhang Xutuo, Yuchijia and other soldiers unloaded the gifts from the carriage and moved them into the Ximen.

In the courtyard, there are two juniper trees soaring to the sky, juxtaposed on both sides, and each of the six stone carving basins stands a strangely shaped Taihu stone.The main building of this courtyard is the living room, and the east and west rooms each have an entrance courtyard. The east is the book room, which is in charge of the Confucian mansion's land, general affairs, and finances, and the west is the master's study.

A man with a long beard about forty years old was standing in the courtyard. When he saw Xiao Chuan coming in, he took two steps forward, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Earl Wannian, the eldest grandson is dealing with official business, and he hasn't greeted you far away. Please forgive me, Earl Wannian." crime."

Xiao Chuan was like a mirror in his heart, Kong Changsun is the head of the Kong family, No. 1 in Confucianism, even if King Jin came, he would not be able to go out to greet him, let alone a little earl like himself!So he hurried forward a few steps, bowed and gave a deep salute, and said: "Dugu Chuan is terrified, if you have seen Chong Shenghou, just call me my nephew."

Kong Changsun said with a smile: "Okay, Nephew Dugu, my father and grandfather Ling Duguxin used to be good friends, so I will entrust you to the prince, you are welcome."

The two said a few polite words and entered the living room.

Xiao Chuan took out a gift list, and said: "Jin Wang Guang has been familiar with poetry and books since he was a child, he admires Confucius very much, and he has admired Uncle Shi's literary talents for a long time, but the prince can't leave the capital without a reason, so this time my nephew is His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin came to visit Uncle Shi, some vulgar things, and King Jin would like to show some kindness, and I hope Uncle Shi will accept it with a smile."

Kong Changsun took the gift list and saw that in addition to two carts of gold, silver and jewelry, there were also three carts of books collected by the royal families of all dynasties. He couldn't help being overjoyed and said, "Nephew Dugu, the yellow and white things will not be kept in the Confucius House. These books are very precious and priceless." It’s not too much, I’m not being polite.”

There was no movable type printing in the Sui Dynasty. To print a page of a book, one had to carve a wooden board, which was very inconvenient and the speed was not much faster than handwriting, so books were very precious.

It is normal for Kong Changsun to value these royal collections, which can greatly enrich the collection of books in the Confucian Mansion.

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi has a noble temperament and treats money like dung. My nephew admires it very much, but these yellow and white things are for His Royal Highness King Jin to promote the thought of Confucius and restore the Temple of Confucius. Uncle Shi also asked him to accept it."

Ding Xingwang of the Kong family needs a lot of money to maintain, so he was not polite anymore, so Kong Changsun said: "Okay, I will accept His Royal Highness Jin's wishes."

Xiao Chuan took out Pei Ju's letter again, and said, "Uncle Shi, your friend Mr. Pei also has a letter."

Kong Changsun said: "Oh, I haven't seen Mr. Pei for several years, and I miss you very much. Let me see what my old friend said."

Kong Changsun opened Pei Ju's letter, read it, and gradually Kong Changsun's hands trembled.

After a long time, Kong Changsun put down the letter and said, "Does His Royal Highness Jin really respect Confucianism?"

Xiao Chuandao: "At present, in the Great Sui Dynasty, the aristocratic family and the nobles of Guanlongmen are in control. Most of the officials above the fifth rank are the children of the aristocratic families. They put the interests of the family first, and the nobles of Guanlongmen control the army. , For hundreds of years, the royal family has only been the spokesperson of the nobles, and the change of imperial power cannot shake the nobles of the aristocratic families, so..."

When Xiao Chuan said this, he stopped talking.

Kong Changsun interjected: "So Your Majesty and His Royal Highness King Jin want to support another force, a three-legged confrontation, to fight against the aristocratic Guanlongmen's nobles?"

Xiao Chuan said: "The way of governing lies in balance. If there is no check and balance, the imperial power will become a puppet."

Kong Changsun said: "Our ancestors traveled around the world at the beginning, spreading Confucianism, making Confucianism the top of all schools of thought, and being respected by the emperors of all dynasties, but Qin Shihuang valued Legalism and burned books to bury Confucianism, which greatly hurt the vitality of Confucianism. Later, Dong Zhongshu said Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposed all schools of thought and only respected Confucianism, which brought Confucianism back to life. At the end of the Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms disputes caused many literati to flex their muscles. Sima in the Jin Dynasty replaced Cao Wei with his ministers. It makes the people of Jin talk empty talk, the Southern and Northern Dynasties were chaotic, and Confucianism withered, and for thousands of years, Confucianism has been ups and downs, and it is difficult to truly be respected!"

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi is worried, but have you ever thought about why Confucianism has not really entered the court for more than 1000 years?"

Kong Changsun said: "Why?"

Xiao Chuan said: "If a theory wants to be full of vitality, it must be accepted by the majority instead of being in the hands of a few."

Kong Changsun said: "Nephew, how to promote Confucianism?"

Xiao Chuan said: "First, build schools to replace private schools, so that children from poor families can afford to study and read."

Kong Changsun said: "Well, the humble family is a great force."

Xiao Chuandao: "Secondly, it is recommended that the imperial court use the "Zhou Rituals" as the six arts of rites, music, archery, royals, books, and numbers, and the nine arts of Confucianism: poetry, books, rites, changes, music, spring and autumn, the Analects, filial piety, and elementary school. Mainly, set up imperial examinations, and those with excellent grades can enter the court as officials, and use the imperial examination system to replace the nine-rank Zhongzheng system based on the recommendation of nobles and nobles from aristocratic families."

Kong Changsun said: "How much time does His Royal Highness Jin Wang want to spend planning and implementing the imperial examination plan?"

Xiao Chuan said in his heart: "Yang Guang is impatient, and it is estimated that something will be done in three or two years, but I can't say that, don't scare Kong Changsun."

So Xiao Chuan said: "Ten years is a period. Our school plans to recruit teenagers aged eight to 12. After ten years of sharpening their swords, we will establish an imperial examination to become an official in ten years. These poor children will definitely be able to get their titles on the gold list and enter the imperial court."

Kong Changsun said excitedly: "If Confucianism becomes a stepping stone for scholars to enter official positions, why is Confucianism not prosperous?"

(End of this chapter)