Kong Mansion.
Kong Yingda returned to his mansion with an exhausted look on his face. He did not expect that his education reform, which he was so confident in, would be met with such great resistance.
Not only were the teachers unwilling, but even the students were unwilling. They were not willing to learn anything other than the imperial examinations.
Today, he had received dozens of joint petitions from the teachers and the parents of the students. His political rival, Yu Zhining, had also attacked him repeatedly. He was completely exhausted.
"Today, I have finally experienced the difficulties of my ancestor when he traveled around the world." Kong Yingda knelt in front of Kong Sheng's portrait and said wearily.
In the past, Kong Sheng had traveled around the world for his own ideals. Everyone praised Confucius's benevolence and admired his knowledge. However, no one put him in an important position. In the end, Confucius was depressed for the rest of his life. Today, he was in the same situation. Everyone knew that once the primary school was built, countless students would benefit from it. This was a good policy, but it had been thwarted time and time again.
"The root of this matter is the Five Families and Seven Hopes. The essence of the struggle for the primary school is the struggle between the aristocratic families and the humble families." Kong Desheng's figure appeared in front of Confucius's portrait and said faintly.
"The aristocratic families and the humble families?" Kong Yingda sighed in his heart. How could he not know that the Five Families and Seven Hopes were behind this? If not, how could all the officials in the imperial court either oppose or remain neutral?
"News has come from Qufu. They are dissatisfied with our actions in Chang 'an." Kong Desheng said in a low voice.
"Dissatisfied?" Kong Yingda raised his eyebrows and said angrily, "Have they forgotten the ideals of their ancestor? To let everyone in the world be educated and learn etiquette. This was Kong Sheng's lifelong wish."
Kong Desheng sighed and said, "My Kong Family has been passed down for thousands of years. It has become an aristocratic family."
In his view, even the Kong Family had gradually changed. They only wanted to immerse themselves in the glory of the Kong Family and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Regardless of whether it was an aristocratic family or a humble family, as long as the Confucian Family prevailed, the Kong Family only needed to protect their own wealth and glory.
Kong Yingda said angrily, "What a joke. Now that the Esoteric Debate is happening again, it is the time for the Confucian Family to advance. If the descendants like us do not fight for the legacy of our ancestors, then how can the Kong Family have the face to steal their legacy?"
Kong Desheng couldn't help but sigh. The Qufu Kong Family was far away in Shandong, so they didn't feel the power of the Esoteric Debate. However, they were in Chang 'an City and saw the changes that were happening every day. This could be said to be a change that hadn't happened for thousands of years. The glory of the Kong Family came from the strength of the Confucian Family. If the Confucian Family were to be defeated in this Esoteric Debate, then the glory of their ancestors that the Kong Family was so proud of would disappear. When that happened, it would be too late for the Kong Family to regret.
"Compared to the predicament of our ancestor, Kong Sheng, the difficulties of our descendants are nothing." Kong Yingda stood up and said firmly to the portrait of Kong Sheng.
Kong Desheng said solemnly, "That's right. We are from the Hundred Schools of Thought. Our ideals are to rule the world. We will never seek private gifts for the sake of one family."
Enlightening the people of the world was the ultimate goal of Kong Sheng. Now that this opportunity was right in front of them, the Kong Family could not miss it.
The uncle and nephew looked at each other and suddenly, their hearts were filled with pride as they stepped out of the ancestral hall of the Kong Family.
"Reporting to Master! Merton requests an audience! "The two had just walked out of the ancestral hall when they heard a servant of the Kong Family's report.
"Mo Jiazi …" Kong Yingda's heart skipped a beat and he couldn't help but be surprised. He knew that the Mo Family was in a bad situation, but he didn't expect him to come at this time.
"Where is he?" Kong Yingda asked.
"I have already arranged for him to wait in the drawing room," the servant of the Kong Family said respectfully.
Kong Desheng said proudly, "Let's go! It'll be good to meet Mo Jiazi! "
When the two arrived at the drawing room and saw Mo Jiazi, he stood up and cupped his hands. "Greetings to Teacher and Senior."
"What are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at the family? " Kong Yingda said unhappily. The Mohist family was the reason why he had fallen to such a state. If it were not for the Mohist family's pressure, the Confucian school would still be so carefree. They would not have taken such a risk to compete with the aristocratic families.
Meton smiled bitterly. "Teacher, you're exaggerating. Now that the Confucian Family and the Mo Family are in the same boat, what right do I have to laugh at the Confucian Family?"
"We're in the same boat! As far as I know, the Mo Family is probably in a crisis. According to the rumors in Chang 'an, the Mo Family has already started to sell their properties. Unfortunately, no one is willing to pay. The Confucian Family will just maintain the status quo. "Kong Desheng smiled coldly.
Meton nodded heavily. "That's right. The Mo Family's properties have become meat in the mouths of the five families. No one dares to take them. Even if someone is willing to take the risk, they will desperately try to lower the price. That little bit of money won't help."
"It's the five families again!" Kong Desheng couldn't help but frown. They had always been proud of being part of the Hundred Schools of Thought. However, the five families had taught them a lesson this time. A group of profit-seeking aristocratic families had actually made the Hundred Schools of Thought, which had been passed down for thousands of years, difficult.
"That's because you're too radical. I'd like to see how you can fill up such a huge hole." Kong Yingda snorted coldly. He had to admit that his student was indeed a genius. However, his actions were too radical. Although he had saved himself from danger many times, the process was extremely thrilling. Every time, he was dancing on the tip of a knife.
Meton smiled slyly. "I don't care about the hole in the bank of the Mo Family's Village. If I want, I can fill it up in a short time."
"Really?" Kong Yingda looked at Meton in disbelief. As far as he knew, that was an astronomical amount of money.
"Of course, the Mo Family will take action in the next few days. When the time comes, the teacher will be able to verify whether it's true or not." Meton said confidently.
Seeing Meton's confident look, Kong Yingda couldn't help but take a deep breath. If it was someone else who said this, Kong Yingda would definitely think that they were bragging. However, he couldn't help but believe in Meton because Meton had created enough miracles.
"Then why did you wait until now …" Kong Desheng frowned. If Mo Jiazi had a way to fill up the hole in the bank, why did he wait until the Mo Family's situation had collapsed to this point before taking action?
Meton sneered. "Of course, it is to let the world see the greedy and ugly faces of the aristocratic families. Without this, the world will not understand how hypocritical the Five Families and Seven Hopes are and how they use their power for their own benefit. Only by letting the world see the selfishness of the aristocratic families, will they believe in the Grand Duke of the Hundred Families."
"So the Mo Family deliberately retreated until the greed of the Five Families and Seven Hopes is so great that they can't hide it." Kong Desheng opened his eyes wide and said in disbelief.
Meton shook his head. "The Mo Family didn't deliberately retreat. In the face of absolute power, the Mo Family can't resist. However, this doesn't mean that the Mo Family has no power to fight back."
Kong Desheng blew his beard and snorted. "Since the Mo Family can protect themselves, then why did Merton come today? Is he here to laugh at the Kong Family?"
"I am here today to see if the Confucian style that defeated the Mo Family is still there. I am here to see if the style of Kong Sheng, who didn't fear power and didn't eat handouts, is still there." Meton stared at Kong Yingda and said solemnly.
Kong Yingda stood up angrily. "Now you see it. The thousand-year plan of the Confucian Family has been pointed out by thousands of people. In the imperial court, the Old Man has been reported by dozens of people in a day. In the outside world, countless teachers and students are gnashing their teeth at the Old Man. Is the Mo Family satisfied with this result? "
"Does the teacher think that he was wrong?" Meton asked.
Kong Yingda snorted. "Wrong? What did the Old Man do wrong? It was my ancestor's lifelong dream to let everyone in the world be educated. If the Old Man is wrong, doesn't that mean my ancestor, Confucius, was wrong? Even my ancestor didn't want to be a feudal lord against his will. Is the Old Man willing to be ordered around by the aristocratic families? "
Meton laughed. "Only then is the Confucian Family worthy of the Mo Family's respect and qualified to cooperate with the Mo Family."
Kong Yingda turned a deaf ear to Meton's flattery. Instead, he focused on Meton's last sentence.
"That's right. I have been studying the Three Kingdoms recently and found that the tripartite situation is very delicate. Now the Five Kingdoms and Seven Kingdoms are very powerful, like Cao and Wei. The Confucian Family and the Mo Family are like Shu and Wu. The Shu Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom are fighting against the Wei Kingdom. In my opinion, this is the time for us to cooperate sincerely." Meton said passionately.
"Cooperation between the Confucian Family and the Mo Family!" Kong Yingda's heart thumped. They were unable to do anything about the Confucian Family's current situation. If they cooperated with the Mo Family, it would probably be the best choice. It was just like how the Shu Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom joined forces to fight against the Wei Kingdom.
"Cooperation is fine! However, your Mo Family already has a way to break out of this situation. If you can find a way to break out of this situation for the Confucian Family, then cooperation between the Confucian Family and the Mo Family may not be impossible. "Kong Desheng tried to goad him.
Kong Yingda nodded. He knew that Meton was always full of surprises. Perhaps he really could solve the Confucian Family's current predicament. Since the Mo Family wanted to cooperate, then they had to show some sincerity.
Meton laughed and said, "Teacher, you are too involved to see the situation clearly. The main reason why the teachers and students in the world have repeatedly opposed the private schools' reform of primary schools is because they don't take the imperial examinations. They think that studying is useless! And Teacher controls the Imperial College, which is the highest institution of learning in the Great Tang. He only needs to issue a decree to add some content to the Township Examinations, County Examinations, and County Examinations. At that time, whatever Teacher wants the students of the world to learn, they will learn, and Teacher will obediently teach them. "
The power of the baton in the College Entrance Examination in the future was well-known. If Meton copied it and turned it into the baton for the imperial examinations, it would definitely have the same effect. The Imperial College had great power. Other than the unregulated questions for the imperial examinations, everything else was under the control of the Imperial College.
"Wonderful!" Kong Desheng slapped the table and praised. The purpose of these students in school was to become an official in the imperial examinations. As long as they could become an official, they would learn whatever they were told to learn.
However, Kong Yingda slowly shook his head and said, "Although this plan is wonderful, it won't work now. Now that the officials of the aristocratic families are all over the court, if the Old Man rashly submitted this plan, I'm afraid it will be immediately rejected by the officials."
"Ah!" Kong Desheng sighed regretfully. Such a good plan could only be shelved.
Meton rolled his eyes and said, "Since it won't work from the top to the bottom, then we can only go from the bottom to the top."
"From the bottom to the top? What does that mean? "Kong Desheng was puzzled.
Merton said, "The Confucian Family wants everyone in the world to be able to read and write. Other than building primary schools, there is another way, and that is to lend books to everyone in the world."
"Lend books to everyone in the world!" Kong Yingda was puzzled.
Meton nodded and said, "The reason why the aristocratic families occupy the court, besides the guidance of famous teachers, is that the aristocratic families have a large collection of books. The aristocratic families have a wide range of knowledge, so naturally their talents are multiplied. The poor families, on the other hand, have a poor family background, so they can barely afford to study, let alone buy books. Usually, they have to beg others to lend books, and often, they will be looked down upon."
Kong Yingda couldn't help but nod. He naturally knew how difficult it was for a poor student to study. If they didn't even have many books, how could they study? This was the reason why it was difficult for a poor family to produce a noble son.
"However, the poor students in the world lack books, and the Kong Family must have a large collection of books. If the Headmaster of the Academy can open a library in the downtown area and donate all the books in the family to the students in the world for free, this will be a blessing for the poor students in the world." Merton said.
"For all the students in the world to read!" Kong Yingda was shocked and enlightened. Once the poor students in the world had a large number of books to read, the gap between them and the aristocratic families would be narrowed to the extreme. In addition, the number of poor students was a hundred times more than the aristocratic families. Before long, the aristocratic families' advantage would no longer exist.
More importantly, the books that the students read were donated by the Kong Family. Wouldn't that mean that all the students in the world would owe a favor to the Kong Family? How could the Kong Family miss out on such a good thing?
On the side, Kong Desheng was so excited that he couldn't restrain himself. Other than the Imperial Palace, the Kong Family had the largest collection of books in the world. However, he said worriedly, "Although this plan is good, most of the books in the Kong Family's collection are unique and can only be read by one person at most. There are so many students in the world, how can it reach the point where all the students in the world can borrow and read?
Meton immediately showed a familiar shyness and said, "Mo has a skill! It can solve the Confucian school's problem. "
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