jdhmnovel Chapter 134 Shameless to the core
Chapter 134 Shameless to the core
After Wang Qiong returned to the capital, Emperor Zhu Chongba summoned Li Shanchang once again.
“Brother Shanchang, after careful consideration, we have found that we urgently need books such as the Hongwu Zhengyun and the Hongwu Dictionary. However, there are still a lot of official duties in the court that require the ministers to handle. It would be too difficult to balance both.”
Emperor Zhu Chongba said with a smile, "So, we came up with a plan to both repair the books such as the Hongwu Zhengyun and the Hongwu Dictionary, and at the same time reduce the burden on Brother Shanchang and all the ministers."
“Well, how about this: the Hongwu Zhengyun and the Hongwu Dictionary will only include the three thousand most commonly used characters. The main content will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy. The Ministry of Rites will be responsible for the Hongwu Zhengyun, the Hanlin Academy will be responsible for the Hongwu Dictionary, and you, Brother Shanchang, will be responsible for the final review.”
"The same goes for the 'Hongwu Calculation Symbols' and 'Hongwu Calculation Classic'. Anyway, the symbols and numbers are readily available. All we need to do is organize some corresponding examples."
Li Shanchang suddenly felt that Magistrate Yang was not so hateful after all.
At least they can come up with a proper solution after they cause problems.
As for Emperor Zhu Chongba taking the solution upon himself, Li Shanchang was not surprised at all—just from the way Emperor Zhu repeatedly called Magistrate Yang a dog, one could tell how much Emperor Zhu Chongba valued that Yang.
For Magistrate Yang, this act of taking credit for others' work was actually more like a form of protection.
While inwardly grumbling, Li Shanchang bowed to Emperor Zhu Chongba and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Zhu Chongba chuckled and said, "However, the more than 30,000 Chinese characters are also treasures of our Han people. Just because we can't use them now doesn't mean we won't use them in the future. It would be a real pity not to include them in the dictionary."
Li Shanchang immediately became wary, but Emperor Zhu continued, "How about this, Brother Shanchang, why don't you go find Kong Xixue for us and ask him to take the lead in calling on all the scholars and literati in the world to help compile the 'Hongwu Great Dictionary', which will include all Chinese characters from ancient times to the present, just like the 'Hongwu Dictionary'."
"When the task is completed, we will erect a monument for them in the Confucian Temple in the capital, and record who participated in compiling the Hongwu Dictionary."
"In addition, we will set up a separate hall for them in the Confucian Temple, so that they can enjoy incense offerings forever after they pass away."
"Moreover, with the 30,000-word 'Hongwu Great Dictionary' and the complete 'Hongwu Zhengyun', if we then confer upon Kong Xixue the title of Duke Yansheng, who in the world could utter a single word of dissent?"
Upon hearing Emperor Zhu's words, Li Shanchang felt a surge of anger.
Listen to this, listen to this, is this even human language?
Is this something a human being could do?
It was foreseeable that with Emperor Zhu's promise to erect a monument and write a biography, and with the Duke Yansheng's reputation to inspire others, scholars throughout the Ming Dynasty would flock to help compile the "Hongwu Dictionary".
However, it is equally foreseeable that when these scholars discover that the Hongwu Dictionary is a bottomless pit, the reputation of the Duke Yansheng will be tarnished far and wide.
Although Kong Xixue was not a good person, you can't call him an idiot.
In fact, from a high enough vantage point, one can see that as long as Emperor Zhu still wanted to unify the North and South and win back the hearts of the northern scholars, then even if Kong Xixue disagreed with compiling books like the "Hongwu Dictionary," the title of Duke Yansheng would ultimately fall to him.
So why would Kong Xixue agree to use the Duke Yansheng's reputation to recruit scholars to serve as slaves? In the end, didn't he still have to resort to various forms of coercion and inducement?
The key point is that you, surnamed Zhu, didn't offer any benefits. At most, you promised to erect a monument and be enshrined in the Confucian Temple, using the title and treatment that others could have received as Duke Yansheng to tempt Kong Xixue.
You're just trying to make me play the villain!
You're a living animal!
But then Li Shanchang realized something was amiss.
Emperor Zhu Chongba was always good at wielding a knife and beheading people, but he wasn't very good at such despicable and cunning schemes.
Therefore, using the matter of the Duke Yansheng must have been a dirty trick devised by that little beast surnamed Yang!
Neither of these two—father-in-law and son-in-law—is any good!
Seeing the constantly changing expression on Li Shanchang's face, Emperor Zhu Chongba laughed twice and said, "Brother Shanchang? Brother Shanchang?"
After Li Shanchang came to his senses and apologized, Emperor Zhu continued, "Brother Shanchang, are you reluctant to have a stele erected in the Confucian Temple and a memorial inscribed upon you? If so, perhaps..."
Before Emperor Zhu could finish speaking, Li Shanchang interrupted, saying, "Your Majesty! Although I am reluctant to give up the temptation of erecting a stele in the Confucian Temple, I am overwhelmed with official duties at court and have long felt powerless to do so. I suggest that the compilation of the 'Hongwu Great Dictionary' be left to Kong Xixue. Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will go to find him shortly."
Emperor Zhu smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, we'll do as Brother Shan Chang says. But we also need to hurry up and finish the three thousand-character 'Hongwu Zhengyun' and 'Hongwu Dictionary,' and print a batch before the end of the month."
This is the exchange condition—either you, Li Shanchang, continue burning the midnight oil to compile a 30,000-character version of the "Hongwu Great Dictionary" and the "Hongwu Zhengyun," or you produce a 3,000-character version of the "Hongwu Dictionary" and the "Hongwu Zhengyun" for us by the end of the month, and the 30,000-character version can be handed over to Duke Yansheng, Kong Xixue.
After considering his age and looking at his hands, Li Shanchang could only helplessly bow and agree: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory answer before the end of the month."
Then, Li Shanchang bid farewell to Emperor Zhu Chongba and went straight to the residence that Zhu had bestowed upon Kong Xixue as a gift.
After some pleasantries, Li Shanchang went straight to the point and began to criticize Kong Xixue: "Although the matter of Kong Xida is over, the impact is still bad. Now there are calls in the court to establish the Southern Zong as the Duke of Yansheng."
Kong Xixue was disdainful, but a hint of nervousness appeared on his face. He bowed to Li Shanchang and said, "This...it is really because I, Xixue, have not managed my household properly, which has led to such a shameful incident. I am also very confused right now, and I hope that Prime Minister Li can give me some guidance."
Li Shanchang smiled, stroked his beard, and said, "Shixing, you must have heard about the fact that the Emperor is going to compile books such as the Hongwu Dictionary and the Hongwu Zhengyun, right?"
When Kong Xixue heard Li Shanchang address him by his courtesy name "Shixing", he felt even more confident and nodded in response: "Yes, I have heard that Your Majesty cares about the education of all people under heaven, which I truly admire."
Li Shanchang nodded and said, "Since Shixing knows, then I won't beat around the bush with you—what I mean by 'taking the position' is that Shixing, as a descendant of a sage, calls on all scholars in the world to jointly compile a 'Hongwu Great Dictionary' that includes all characters from ancient and modern times."
"Once the Hongwu Great Dictionary is completed, and the Emperor bestows the title of Duke Yansheng upon Shi Xing, let alone the scholars of the world, even the people of the Southern School will probably be unable to say anything."
"In addition, the superior also promised that when the Hongwu Dictionary is completed, a stele will be erected in the Confucian Temple in the capital to commemorate all the students who participated in its compilation."
"In addition, the superiors will also select a side hall in the Confucian Temple, where all the students who participated in the compilation will be enshrined and worshipped after a hundred years."
"What does Shixing think?"
Upon hearing Li Shanchang's demands and conditions, Kong Xixue immediately felt like cursing.
What do you think?
Not much!
That "Hongwu Great Dictionary" is supposed to include all ancient and modern characters. How the hell can it be completed in one or two years?
If it takes three to five years to complete, then wouldn't it take three to five years for me to receive the title of Duke Yansheng?
That's your mother!
That emperor surnamed Zhu was no good, and you, Li Shanchang, are no better! You are simply unworthy of being called a Confucian disciple—what Confucian disciple would treat the descendant of a sage like this?
Despite his inner grumbling, Kong Xixue lacked the courage to actually refuse Li Shanchang's request.
After all, Emperor Zhu had once said to Kong Xixue's father, Kong Kejian, "I will not trouble you with an official position now."
What if Emperor Zhu really changed his mind and decided to confer the title of Duke Yansheng upon the Southern Branch?
The Northern School simply cannot afford to gamble!