Chapter 590 – King Song’s Killer App

Zhang Anshi had a chat with Ashikaga Yoshinobu.

He could see that Ashikaga Yoshitaka was careless on the surface, but in reality, he had already created shocking waves inside.

The fact that Japan was inferior to Daming was something that I think Ashikaga Yoshinobu must have been prepared for.

But the gap has reached the point of a thousand miles, and even looking at everything in front of us, as if the difference between heaven and hell, this feeling, how can it not make people shocked?

At this time, Ashikaga Yoshinobu said, “I have heard that the Heavenly Kingdom has been practicing a new policy for twenty years, and the results have been remarkable, but I wonder what exactly is this new policy?”

The Japanese have a habit of emulating, after all, barren island nations, and thus, from the Han Dynasty onwards, have been frantically sending people with the central dynasties, which peaked in the Sui and Tang dynasties.

This kind of learning has almost reached the point of sickness, such as the complete copy of Confucius and Mencius, the wholesale acceptance of the text, and then all kinds of borrowing of customs, and even the Kyoto that they created is an exact replica of the capital city of Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty, which is almost the same as the other one.

As for the other earthworks, culture, songs, and even the art of war, as well as clothing, there is no need to mention them.

Just borrowing and learning, in essence, is not shameful, through the ages, there is no civilization in the world, can do all-round no dead angle in the world to always stay ahead, there is always inferior to others.

However, the Japanese have been learning and borrowing to a more severe degree, almost to the point of pathology, or rather, they have developed path dependency.

This kind of path dependence, is hundreds of thousands of years of successful experience gradually developed, at first, learn a little, and found that it works, and then rejoice, continue to learn and imitate.

Thus, in the process of learning and imitation, the Japanese economy and culture as well as their skills developed greatly.

Because of this, the Japanese became more and more convinced that this kind of learning and imitation, which was really wonderful, had become the consensus of the top and bottom.

As a result, the culture of imitation is more prevalent.

Now, to this Ming, realize that this is only a few decades without in-depth study and imitation, the Central Plains has changed a new look.

At this time, whether it was Ashikaga Yoshitaka, or his retinue, the first thought, afraid to hurry to learn to go.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “New Deal …… Well …… this said, but it is not simple, Daming painstakingly spent twenty years, only slightly so some some progress … …”

Twenty years ……

Ashikaga Yoshitomo heard, but the heart is happy, only twenty years to be able to do so, this can be compared to the original imitation of the Central Plains to learn the results of Confucius and Mencius is even more amazing ah!

Then Ashikaga Yoshinobu looked at Zhang Anshi with a gleam in his eye and said, “I would like to ask Your Highness, the King of Song, to enlighten me.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “We are in the same boat, to teach each other, but also very easy. Daming New Deal, the opening is a precedent, the first thing to do, is to identify the scriptures.”

“Discerning the Scriptures?” Ashitaka Yoshitsune revealed a puzzled look.

Zhang Anshi said, “Confucius and Mencius are no longer useful, so the first thing of the New Deal is to overthrow Confucius and Mencius! Therefore, this discernment of the Scriptures is the most important.”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu was shocked, and then said, “Has the Heavenly Kingdom ceased to follow Confucius and Mencius?”

This inner shock, can be imagined, we follow the big brother learned thousands of years of Confucianism and Mencius, studied for so many years, from the text to poetry, and then to the Analects, the Zhou rituals almost all the way, how many people spend countless efforts, it is difficult to learn so much phoenix, generations of samurai, intoxicated by this.

And you said you won’t learn? You’re not only not learning, you’re going against it?

Zhang Anshi still smiled and said, “So it is difficult to say that the New Deal is difficult, hey, it is difficult as heaven! It’s just that, if you don’t break it, this …… this …… is not good to say ……”

While Ashikaga Yoshinori was shocked, he still said, “If you don’t study Confucius and Mencius, then what should you study?”

Zhang Anshi spat out two words, “New learning!”

Ashikaga Yoshinori raised an eyebrow, “Newly learned?”

Zhang Anshi nodded his head while saying, “Strike it this way, in a few days, this king ordered people to send some new learning books to your highness, your highness will naturally understand after reading them.”

Upon hearing that there was a tome, Ashitaka Yoshitsune was instantly refreshed and relaxed inwardly, and immediately said, “Thank you very much.”

Ashikaga Yoshitomo stayed at the Honglu Temple, and the King of Korea has also long arrived, not far away, but the Japanese and Joseon countries are not traditionally amicable with each other, and there is no interaction.

Ashikaga Yoshinobu ordered his accompanying samurai to go out almost daily, gathering information and picking up books.

Within a few days, Zhang Anshi did order people to bring several books of scripture.

In fact, these days, the results of the New Deal have long been familiar to Ashikaga Yoshinori.

However, for Ashikaga Yoshinobu and others, that one steam train, or countless workshops, was beyond his comprehension.

Luckily there was always something that was within his realm of understanding.

For example, …… he can read the canonical texts such as “Overview of New Learning” and “The Essence of Rigaku”.

Not only can you read it, but you can read it thoroughly.

It is almost like teaching you the New Deal by hand. After all, he has studied Confucianism for many years and knows it like the back of his hand.

And those who can read and understand the Confucian canon, then this newly learned canon, naturally, will be able to touch and understand!

Because, this new school of canonical books, itself is with Confucianism opposite, you take Confucianism opposite to read, this new school will be able to read through.

The entire legation, from Ashikaga Yoshinobu down to the samurai who accompanied them, was now almost universally holding these new learned texts and reciting them hungrily.

After all, after a great shock, the human heart is fragile, when the real world overturned your past perception, it is like a drowning person, the first thing to grab is a life-saving straw.

What’s more, in this era, the Japanese people are proud of learning and borrowing from the Heavenly Kingdom, which is not like the Heavenly Kingdom, always thinking of holding the position of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Almost all of these so-called new academic texts were written by the great scholars of the time.

Confucianism with the impact of the New Deal, began to more and more shaky after the face of the huge impact of the New Deal in Zhili, has begun to have more and more great Confucian, had to recognize that the great benefits of this New Deal.

Because of this, many great scholars, after reflection, began to extract some of the ideas of the New Deal, and then began to write books.

As a large number of great scholars, began to believe in the new school, a new set of theoretical system, also gradually born.

These great scholars, originally has a very deep foundation, they can from the four books and five sutras that have long been seen to be rotten, even if it is from a single word, derived from a set of theories, a grand theory, the depth of its theoretical foundation, can be seen.

Nowadays, the beginning of the reflection on Confucianism, as well as the new school of writing books, is not to mention, many books, even Zhang Anshi read, can not help but eyes light up, quite a few, it turned out to be so, very much a sense of enlightenment.

After another ten days or so, the Crown Prince summoned the King of Joseon and the Japanese general Ashikaga Yoshinori to the Chongwen Hall.

Zhang Anshi, as the leader, entered the Noon Gate, with Ashikaga Yoshinobu trailing behind.

At this time, Ashikaga Yoshitsugu, has long been a new man, he could not help but go forward to Zhang Anshi, “Your Highness the King of Song …… new learning …… I have been informed.”

“Oh?” Zhang Anshi purposely put on a look of astonishment and said, “It’s actually this fast.”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu seems to be completely unable to see Zhang Anshi’s exaggeration, not without complacency, and then said: “Such a vast knowledge, I strive to learn, but only the first glimpse of the door, but even so, but also benefited a lot, and today I realize that there is such a true knowledge of the world, and if I Japan to follow this as the guideline for the implementation of the new policy, or can benefit a lot.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Then I will test you, what is the essence of this new learning?”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu immediately said, “In reflection, in revolt, Confucianism has confined people for too long, so it has to be a big breakthrough, otherwise, it cannot be broken out of the cocoon.”

Zhang Anshi added, “Then how to break out of the cocoon?”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu said, “It lies in the spirit.”

Zhang Anshi said, “What is the spirit?”

“First, I want to establish a will, secondly, I need to be unafraid of danger and obstacles, first abolish the Confucianism, and again, it is the spirit of practical work, Your Highness, the King of Song, I am very spiritual now.”

Zhang Anshi saw that he was really in high spirits.

Zhang Anshi sometimes have to admire, the Ming those great Confucian, how they say are reasonable, the court to implement the rationale, they wrote a book, one by one to elaborate their own views, the doctrine of the rationale, make the watertight, no cracks.

Now, the sea to get a new school, but also quickly summarized a watertight, teach people to see, after the new school theory system for the worship.

It wouldn’t have been able to be very convincing, but to these Japanese led by Ashikaga Yoshinobu, it was a shock bomb.

This way, they traveled in company, from the noon gate line to the Chongwen Hall, all the way to talk very happy look.

Ashikaga Yoshinobu said, “Your Highness, the King of Song, the Japanese want to implement a new government, is it possible?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Of course.”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu said, “Although I have read many texts, I am not quite sure how to proceed.”

Zhang Anshi said, “This is easy, Japan sends more Ming envoys to Daming, study for ten or twenty years, and then return to your country, and Your Highness will have talents available.”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu could not help but be shocked and sent an emissary to study, something that the Japanese had experience with.

It was just that it was going to take so many hours and he couldn’t accept it.

“What a teachable moment.”

So Zhang Anshi said, “Your Highness seems to have something else to say, why do you want to stop talking?”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu sighed, “I am in my prime at this time, but in ten or twenty years’ time, I am afraid that I will be old, but I can’t get the time back, but the whole country is still in dire straits, so I really don’t want to be delayed for too long.”

Zhang Anshi actually really serious and careful thinking up, pondered: “I understand the meaning of your highness, you mean, this is too time-consuming, if so, it would be better to …… Introduction to New Learning, you can read it?”

Ashikaga Yoshinori did not understand Zhang Anshi’s intention, but still said, “Precisely, I have read it.”

Zhang Anshi said, “This new school introduction, is my Daming first-class great Confucian Zheng Chen, this public governance thirty years, peaches and plums all over the world, writings, previously also believed in Confucianism, after this repentance, now, learn from the pain, specializing in the new school, the understanding of the new school, far above the king, his ‘Introduction to the New School’, more like a lighthouse, out of the sky, if there is such a Great Sage help, or …… the Japanese can immediately begin to implement ……”

Ashikaga Yoshitomo heard, the body could not help but be a shock, this person called Zheng Chen, since reading his book, Ashikaga Yoshitomo will be admired immensely, only think, this public is Confucianism in the Mencius, Xunzi, such a person.

Just …… will such a noble and great sage be willing to yield to the Japanese?

Just as Ashikaga Yoshinobu was wondering.

Zhang Anshi laughed: “This great sage, I heard that his son wants to buy a mansion, to build a mansion, lack of some silver. You also know, the new school advocates gold and silver reasonable possession, if your highness is willing to pay more salary, put forward favorable conditions, worship as a national teacher, this king and then personally on behalf of your highness for it, this matter or can be.”

Ashikaga Yoshinori was surprised, “A great sage also lacks a residence?”

Zhang Anshi patiently explained, “Sages usually focus on writing books and making speeches without any distractions, and when their children and grandchildren are not able to make it and need a mansion, it is already too late to repent.”

Ashikaga Yoshinobu’s eyes were slightly opened, as if he saw hope, so he said excitedly, “In that case, when three visits are made, but I wonder which other great sages Your Highness knows?”

Zhang Anshi looked at the building in front of him and laughed, “Let s talk about this …… later.”

As Ashitaka Yoshikage looked forward with his eyes, he nodded back, but his face was clearly more joyful than before.

After the two exchanged glances, they walked together into the Chongwen Hall in front of them.

Prince Zhu Gaoqi, only went through the motions, he did not have much interest in the king of Korea and Japan, this is just Zhang Anshi will be invited to the people, necessary to go through the motions.

Knowing that the Joseon and Japanese kingdoms wanted to follow the new school of the Great Ming, Zhu Gaoqi ordered the edicts to be issued, and immediately, the kings of the Joseon and Japanese kingdoms gave their thanks.

…………

Zheng Chen has been very unpleasant lately.

He was pitched by a businessman.

He had previously authored numerous books and had some manuscript contracts with some booksellers, just …… a drop in the bucket.

But it can’t be helped, as a former great scholar, he has no other specialties in him, and his family’s fields, too, have now been reduced to nothing because of the New Deal.

But the capital is expensive to live in and the family is large, so life is tight.

However, he gradually came to his senses and, like many great scholars, gradually began to turn his heart to new learning.

In fact, this is also unable to do things, the fact is in front of us, and the world are talking about the new school, Confucianism has become more and more no market, a variety of questioning the voice, has been a lot of hair.

Whether it is considering the actual situation, or the change of position brought about by seeing is believing, this Zheng Chen, also considered to be poor, daily pondering the newly learned theories.

Gradually, there is some fame, the problem is bad, he signed a contract with the bookseller, agreed to repair a book, the price is ninety taels of silver.

Who knows, this “Introduction to the New Science”, suddenly became a big hit and is said to be selling extremely well.

But previously agreed with the bookseller’s price, but has been set to die, such things, is also considered to buy fixed away from the hand, and now run to find the bookseller to break the contract, but also has been impossible.

At this time, Zheng Chen had a stifled heart, but could only cry out in vain.

Just then, but suddenly there were some rumors.

He said that His Highness, the King of Song, wanted to elect Zheng Chen to enter the Japanese nation as the State Master.

These gossips, Zheng Chen think not quite like the real, now the days are tight, a family, are counting on him to eat it, in order to his new book “New Theory”, he had to spend a lot of silver, the acquisition of a lot of books, as a reference.

Just as he was lamenting repeatedly, all of a sudden, the only old servant in the house came hurriedly, and said with anxiety, “Master, master, someone has come to visit, and on the door sticker, it is written that it is the general of the conquering barbarians, the king of Japan ……”

When these words came out, this Zheng Chen’s body shook and his heart was surprised.

Between the lightning and the flames, many things came to his mind, and it suddenly occurred to him as if …… as if there had indeed been rumors before …… Could …… this be true… …

I …… have been scribbling and embarrassed for so many days, but there is a day when I can make a fortune?

Nowadays, with the new school in full swing, people actually don’t have much aversion or resistance to going to sea.

What’s more, like Zheng Chen such a scholar, the daily thought is to rule the country and the world, even if he is now on the Confucianism is no longer respected, but the Kong saint has long been the concept of the people’s hearts and minds, the bones have been engraved, which at this point in time for the downtrodden Zheng Chen, is simply a pie in the sky.

“I am going to enter the Japanese country as a minister …… I actually want to enter the Japanese country as a minister ……” Zheng Chen was like losing his soul for a while, mumbling and chanting.

He also thought that his new study of the great Confucianism, can finally show his skills, and can also solve their own embarrassing life problems.

In this moment, Zheng Chen almost jumped three feet high, mouth exclaimed: “Ha ha, ha ha ha …… I even have today …… this Japanese, also counts the knowledge, hire Lao Fu, will teach its three to five years, become the premier model of the New Deal! .”

…………

“Your Highness.”

Chen Li came in a hurry.

Zhang Anshi remained seated, still calmly saying, “Did you probe?”

Chen Li said, “I’ve already probed, and the Japanese king, indeed, boarded the door to meet Lord Zheng.”

Zhang Anshi hooked up a light smile that didn’t seem to be half-surprised and said, “Well, how was the conversation?”

It was Chen Li who was slightly agitated and said, “We had a good conversation, and the Japanese king only returned to Honglu Temple at midnight.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but say, “This Lord Zheng, he has such eloquence?”

Chen Li then said, “Your Highness, Duke Zheng is the capital’s premier scholar, and although his fate was ill-fated, he was not above teaching this Japanese king to follow his example.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Well, that’s good.”

Chen Li see Zhang Anshi’s reaction, in fact, the heart is somewhat strange, but did not ask more questions, and said: “I also heard that this Zheng Gong, at the same time, also recommended to the King of Japan a number of new learning talents, are the capital, the more famous talent …… Your Highness … …Will this …… be …… possible?”

Zhang Anshi raised his eyes to look at him and frowned, “Why are you stumbling over your words, just say what you have to say.”

Chen Li hesitated for a moment, and finally said, “I am worried …… that this Japanese has invited so many great sages of the new school to go back to them, and these can all be talented people …… so that they flow overseas, is it not tantamount to Li Si and these people running to Qin? If this is the case …… I am only afraid …… I am only afraid ……”

Chen Li did not finish his words, but the meaning was clear enough!