“Son of Heaven’s Academy!”
In the imperial study, Xiao Ming personally took up his brush to inscribe the plaque. He had implemented this matter upon returning from Bowen Academy.
Just as with his previous actions, he was now aiming to ignite the students’ passion for science.
Putting away his brush, Xiao Ming said to Qian Dafu, “Take this plaque to Bowen Academy. Also, summon Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing. It’s time to eradicate old malpractices now.”
Qian Dafu vaguely guessed what Xiao Ming was going to do. The Great Yu Empire’s technology was currently confined to Qingzhou Province. Outside the Great Yu Empire, it was still held captive by feudal ignorance. If this ignorance was not thoroughly eradicated, the speed of scientific popularization in the Great Yu Empire would be hampered.
Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing diligently researched astronomy at Bowen Academy. They had now completely unveiled the mysterious veil of the starry sky.
Qian Dafu left. Half an hour later, he returned to the imperial study with Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing.
Seeing the two, Xiao Ming said directly, “How are your preparations coming along?”
Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing had been eagerly awaiting this day. The two said in unison, “We are ready. We can popularize astronomy at any time.”
Xiao Ming’s expression was strange. He said, “I will secretly send people to protect you, lest you be killed.”
Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing, hearing this, appeared calm and unconcerned. He said, “I, your humble commoner, propagate true doctrines. How can I fear life and death?”
“Good,” Xiao Ming praised. “I entrust the Great Yu Empire’s Renaissance to you. However, you need not worry; I will always support you.”
Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing bowed and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Having said this, Yan Zhengyi handed a book to Xiao Ming. He said, “Your Majesty, this is the fruit of our study of astronomy. You just need to publish its content in the Qingzhou Daily.”
Xiao Ming took the book. The cover of the book read “Treatise on Celestial Bodies.” He opened the book, and it meticulously recorded the astronomical observations made by the two and their insights.
If this “Treatise on Celestial Bodies” were published in the newspaper, the two of them would become targets of attack by Confucian scholars.
And what Xiao Ming needed was precisely this effect: his purpose was to forge the two into champions of truth, thereby completely tearing apart the Confucian system.
Then, with the two charging ahead, and him providing support from behind, the Great Yu Empire’s Renaissance would no longer be a problem.
“I will give it to the newspaper,” Xiao Ming put away the book.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The two bowed and turned to leave the imperial study.
Watching the two depart, Xiao Ming’s face showed a contemplative expression. In fact, the Renaissance movement was not just about exposing ignorance in astronomy.
In fact, it was a subversion of the existing cultural system by a new cultural system. For example, in 14th century Europe, European culture was dominated by Catholicism.
Social culture revolved around Catholic theology.
Later, with the development of productive forces, the rising bourgeoisie became dissatisfied with the Church’s control over the spiritual world. So, a group of people, under the guise of reviving ancient Greek and Roman culture, subverted Church culture.
And this subversion reached its peak in the 16th century, gradually forming an independent cultural system, whose core was humanism.
Its core emphasized being human-centered rather than god-centered, affirming the value and dignity of humanity, advocating that the purpose of life was to pursue happiness in real life, promoting individualism, opposing ignorant and superstitious theological ideas, and believing that humans were the creators and masters of real life. Overall, this was a shift in humanity from deification to secularization.
Xiao Ming also needed Confucianism to descend from its pedestal and become secularized.
However, if he now used Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing as weapons to destroy the Great Yu Empire’s old cultural system, he would need a completely new cultural system to replace the old one.
The reason he took so long to have the two prepare for the path of the Renaissance was that he had been agonizing over this new cultural system problem.
In his contemporary life, compared to the humanism of the West, which was centered on freedom, equality, and self-worth, the country he belonged to adopted a party-based culture after its old cultural system was destroyed. Strictly speaking, it was the ruling party’s governing philosophy.
And under the party-based culture, the traditional cultural system still existed. The combination of the two was a characteristic of his era.
Stepping out of the imperial study, Xiao Ming looked at the setting sun, gradually sinking in the west.
After Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing acted, he would also seize the opportunity to establish the Great Yu Empire’s cultural system, or rather, its core values.
After this period of contemplation, he believed that the Great Yu Empire’s traditional culture was sufficient to support the social cultural system, but some drawbacks needed to be completely eradicated.
His ultimate goal was for Confucianism to purify itself, like the Western Reformation, and to acknowledge science, oppose ignorance, and advocate ideas such as equality for all in terms of culture.
This way, the Great Yu Empire’s cultural system would be rebuilt, and historically, every monarch had followed this path.
After reviewing historical materials, he found that historically, Confucianism experienced various schools of thought, such as the Mengzi-Xunzi school, Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, the School of Mind, the School of Qi, the New Text school, the Gongyang school, chenwei (prognostication and apocrypha) theology, the Old Text school, and exegetical studies. Overall, Confucian culture varied in each dynasty, indicating that Confucian culture had always been developing and changing.
And Confucianism sometimes made corresponding changes to cater to the monarch, meaning Confucianism was still very adaptable to current affairs.
Every time a dynasty changed, the Kong family would always switch allegiance to the new ruler promptly. Xiao Ming had also been waiting for the Kong family to send someone over, but there was still no news.
Although he knew the Kong family had been observing the situation, it was now time for them to make a choice. If they still didn’t adapt, he would have to act.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ming sneered twice. He summoned Qian Dafu and had him deliver Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing’s “Treatise on Celestial Bodies” to the newspaper office, instructing the newspaper to publish it tomorrow.
He didn’t believe the Kong family could sit still after this. Since he had become emperor, he would redefine the rules for the Great Yu Empire.
Taking the “Treatise on Celestial Bodies,” Qian Dafu immediately went to the newspaper office.
At this point, Fan Zeng had not yet returned. Upon seeing the “Treatise on Celestial Bodies” sent by Qian Dafu, Fan Zeng was momentarily stunned.
After a long silence, he said, “This is truly unprecedented. If published, it will surely cause a huge uproar.”
“You just do as the Emperor commands. If anything goes wrong, His Majesty will naturally bear the responsibility,” Qian Dafu frowned. He knew that this Fan Zeng was an old Confucian scholar, with some deeply ingrained ideas, so he couldn’t help but speak more sternly.
Fan Zeng’s forehead beaded with light sweat. He nodded and said, “Yes, your humble servant will have it printed immediately.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Qian Dafu turned and left. He had supported Xiao Ming from beginning to end. It was by following Xiao Ming that he saw the Great Yu Empire move towards prosperity. Although this “Treatise on Celestial Bodies” was somewhat shocking, if it couldn’t create a stir, how could it bring about earth-shattering changes in the Great Yu Empire?