Mandate of Heaven in Wei.
These four characters are like a red-hot branding iron, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of every student.
After the emperor's visit to the Imperial University in December of the previous year, he returned three months later and taught classes himself at the Imperial University.
If one day I return to my hometown, can I also tell my clan and neighbors that I have been enlightened by the emperor?
Feel honored.
The students' eyes grew increasingly fervent. The teenagers and twenties were the most impassioned age.
Let alone the fact that those who are among the first to enter the Imperial University are either from prestigious clans, famous for their talent in the county, or have parents and ancestors who are officials; there is not a single one who is truly from common background.
The emperor just said that the students of the Imperial University will all be able to contribute to the great Wei in the future. Such words, spoken in front of a large audience, cannot be considered empty words. Rather, they are more like a political promise for the future prospects of the students.
Cao Rui looked at the 500 students in the Jixian Hall, still harboring a few glimmers of hope in his heart.
Although among the 500 students of the Imperial University, only fifty are of the first rank, which can be called true young talents, and among the 300 students of the second rank, there are also capable individuals to be selected.
However, talent and ability are not necessarily synonymous. There may be individuals who are knowledgeable in classics but lack practical skills, or vice versa.
“Elevating a scholar without knowledge of books, selecting a filial son whose father lives separately, selecting the cold and pure as muddy, and choosing high-ranking officers who are timid like chickens.” This kind of situation exists in any dynasty or era.
Among the five hundred... If he could select twenty or thirty outstanding talents from this first batch of Imperial University students to serve him, Cao Rui would be quite satisfied.
After teaching the classes and interacting with the students for a while, Cao Rui prepared to leave.
Gao Tanglong, in charge of administrative affairs at the Imperial University, also ordered the students to return to their respective classrooms and continue their daily studies. After that, he accompanied Zheng and Cai to the gate of the Imperial University to honorably send off the emperor's carriage.
As the imperial carriage, the honor guard, and the accompanying cavalry gradually faded into the distance, Gao Tanglong did not immediately return to the Imperial University. Instead, he pulled Zheng Cheng along and, together, they strolled down the long street outside the university where stone classics were placed.
"Zheng Gong," Gao Tanglong asked, "What do you think of today's events?"
Zheng Cheng, slightly puzzled, asked: "Oh? What's there to ponder about it? The mandate of heaven is in Wei, isn't that the right path for the world?"
Gao Tanglong had no intention to question this, and it was impossible to do so. After hearing Zheng Cheng's words, he shook his head and said: "Zheng Gong, I meant the matters discussed by the emperor before today's lectures with us, as well as the selection of Imperial University students as imperial officers."
Zheng Cheng was a typical learned scholar, the kind who is almost 'deaf to the world's affairs'. In Zheng Cheng's mind, Confucian classics were the most important thing. As for the court's selection of officials? What has this great scholar to do with it?
"Shengping, the emperor renewed the Imperial University last year and selected five hundred students to join, wasn't it to select talents?" Zheng Cheng said: "Although it does not conform to the old system, it is still a good thing. Selecting and nurturing talents is what we scholars are supposed to do."
Gao Tanglong furrowed his brow and said: "Zheng Gong, when it comes to March, the emperor abolished the position of a Lieutenant General. The five Lieutenant Generals under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Regulations, namely Left, Right, Upper, Lower, and Tigered Officer were all transferred to be under the Ministry of Imperial Appointments."
"Have you ever considered, Zheng Gong, that if the students of the Imperial University are selected as imperial officers, will they still be able to enter the Three Offices as imperial officers? The Three Offices are almost gone!"
Upon hearing Gao Tanglong's words, Zheng Cheng said, "Shengping has a point. The Left and Right Lieutenant Generals and the Officer of the Five Departments under the Ministry of Regulations have all been transferred. Now, the officers in the Three Offices are directly under the supervision of the Minister of Imperial Appointments."
"Imperial University belongs to the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister of Regulations. Do you mean that the students who are transferred to be imperial officers will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Regulations?"
Gao Tanglong replied, "Not necessarily. The Ministry of Rites is indeed highly respected, but it has never handled such administrative affairs. From what I heard from the emperor, it seems that he intends to manage the imperial officers who are transferred from the Imperial University separately."
Zheng Cheng was merely dedicated to academic pursuits and was not necessarily out of touch with current affairs. Upon hearing Gao Tanglong's words, Zheng Cheng raised his head and looked at Gao Tanglong: "Isn't that what the Prime Minister of Regulations is trying to do?"
"Yes." Gao Tanglong directly answered.
Whether in the Han Dynasty or the Great Wei, scholars are not ashamed to talk about their achievements. Studying classics to become a great Confucian, or holding administrative positions to rise to a prominent post, are all paths to realizing one's life value. Gao Tanglong is now taking this opportunity as the head of the Imperial University to strive for the position of leading imperial officers.
Zheng Cheng thought for a moment, but expressed his doubts in a negative manner to Gao Tanglong: "Although the position of a Lieutenant General has been abolished, the emperor's intention is to reform the military system and posts, not to abolish imperial officers."
"Isn't it true that the emperor said it would take at least a year to select imperial officers from the students of the Imperial University? Now it's only March, and there's still at least half a year until September 30th. It's too early to discuss this matter now."
"Then let's take our time to consider it," Gao Tanglong nodded, clearly agreeing with what Zheng Cheng had said.
However, contrary to Gao Tanglong's own plans, Cao Rui had long wanted him to be theector of Chongwen Pavilion.
But this order has not been issued yet.
...
In the household of the Minister of the Imperial Court, at night.
In his study, Sima Shi recited everything the emperor had said at the Imperial University today to his father.
At first, Sima Yi seemed unenthusiastic and did not think the emperor would say anything new. But after Sima Shi finished recounting the phrase 'The mandate of heaven is in Wei' and the emperor's reasoning process, Sima Yi sat silently in his chair, saying nothing.
Sima Shi was puzzled and asked, "Father, why don't you say anything? You once told me about the events during the year 208 when you helped the late emperor seize power. What does this have to do with fate? To me, it only seems like political schemes and manipulation to eliminate others."
Sima Yi looked at his eldest son and sighed before softly saying, "Wasn't it me who told you about the phrase 'I know the affairs of Yao and Shun'?"
"Yes," Sima Shi nodded and replied.
Sima Yi continued to speak softly, "If before today, I did not believe that the Wei family had destiny. But since the emperor can explain it like this, then indeed, destiny is in Wei."
"What does this mean, Father?" Sima Shi was puzzled.
"Ziyuan, father is asking you," Sima Yi said with a sharp gaze fixed on his eldest son, "What is destiny?"
Sima Shi thought for a long time before cautiously asking, "Father, are you referring to the 'gentlemen fear destiny' destiny, the 'destiny is one's nature' destiny, or the 'destiny has not changed' destiny?"
"Sage kings respect their fate with reverence and prudence," Sima Yi replied.
Sima Shi continued to think, while Sima Yi, sitting by his side, did not hurry and was also thinking about something.
In the Han and Wei periods, the word "destiny" had multiple meanings.
In the Analects, Confucius said, "A gentleman fears destiny" and "At fifty, I understand my destiny." This "destiny" actually refers to the fate that heaven assigns to each person.
The first sentence of the "Zhongyong" actually refers to the natural order of things, which is the divine way given by heaven to people.
What the emperor said of 'destiny is in Wei', however, actually refers to the concept of divine right of kings, or being commissioned by heaven. The 'Zuo Zhuan' describes 'Although Zhou's virtue has declined, destiny remains unchanged; the weight of the cauldron cannot be questioned,' and the 'Shangshu' mentions 'Sage kings respect their fate with reverence and prudence,' which are examples of this meaning.
As a member of the scholar-gentry class, one cannot avoid studying classics. The higher one's birth, the more one must be proficient in Confucian classics. Even someone like Yuan Shu, the 'dry bones in a tomb,' was proficient in the 'Mengshi Yi' classic at a young age!
If one does not understand allusions, it is hard to have in-depth conversations with others.
Sima Shi thought for a moment and then slowly asked, "Does it mean the command of heaven?"
It's not surprising that Sima Shi, after thinking for a long time, could only come up with these few words. The so-called "mandate of heaven" or "heavenly sensing," in essence, refers to the command of heaven.
Sima Yi shook his head and said, "Where is heaven? So-called 'heavenly will' is actually the will of the people."
"Emperors, aristocratic families, high-ranking officials, distinguished families, and common people, the collective will of all people in the world actually constitutes the so-called 'heavenly will'."
Sima Yi patiently explained to his son: "It's just that sometimes the emperor's share is larger, sometimes the high-ranking officials' influence is greater, and sometimes the distinguished families' power is more significant."
"This son can understand," Sima Shi tried to answer. "But what does it mean, father, for the emperor to say that 'the mandate of heaven is in Wei'? What does he mean by that?"
"Do you know what kind of person the late emperor was, Ziyuan?" Sima Yi asked.
"I know something about it, father, you've told me a lot," Sima Shi replied.
Sima Yi closed his eyes and reminisced, "The late emperor was fond of literature, had clear likes and dislikes, and could bear humiliation for the greater cause."
"I have been friends with the late emperor since I was young, and I have known him for nearly twenty years now. When mentioning the late emperor, I still feel a bit nostalgic," Sima Yi said, laughing as he spoke. "Ziyuan, do you know what the late emperor did when he learned that he was to be crowned as Crown Prince?"
"What did he do?" Sima Shi asked curiously.
"What did he say?" Sima Shi asked curiously.
"The late emperor was overjoyed at the time and hugged XinPi, saying, 'Do you know how happy I am?'" Sima Yi completed the sentence before shaking his head in disbelief. "After witnessing this scene, how could I still believe in the so-called 'destiny' of the late emperor? I would only believe that everything is under human control."
Sima Shi asked, "And what about the present emperor?"
"Frankly, father doesn't see through the present emperor," Sima Yi replied. "During the half-year stand-off between Wu and Shu at Yiling, ministers repeatedly suggested that the late emperor should attack Wu to the south, but he always couldn't make a decision."
"After Wu and Shu cease hostilities, as Wu recovers, the late emperor once again heads south with troops. Doing this three times, without mentioning the amount of military resources consumed, also wears down his own health significantly."
"And the present emperor," Sima Yi said, looking at Sima Shi, "in just half a year after ascending the throne, has personally led an expedition to the Huaiyang region to confront Sun Quan and emerged victorious. The emperor is not skilled in military affairs, but his grasp of the overall situation is one that I can hardly comprehend."
(Chapter complete)
