Zhu Xi: He gave the little emperor a political lesson and was forced to resign after only 40 days
Zhu Xi was admitted to the jinshi at the age of 19 and had the qualifications to engage in politics. He served several local officials: The Chief Of Tong'an County, Quanzhou, equivalent to the Secretary General of the County Office; Zhinan Kangjun, the Southern Kang Army of the Southern Song Dynasty had three counties, equivalent to Zhizhou, and this position Was also done by Zhou Dunyi. He also served as the prefect of Zhangzhou and the prefect of Tanzhou. Tanzhou is in Changsha, Hunan.
Zhu Xichuan, the "History of Song", summed up his lifelong political experience in one sentence:
Those who have been outside have only nine examinations, and the establishment of the dynasty is only forty days.
"Shi" means to be an official, and "nine examinations" means nine examinations. In ancient times, local administrative officials were evaluated every three years, which was equivalent to his 27 years as a local official. The rest of the time is spent doing idle work that has no authority. "It was only forty days after the founding of the dynasty", which means that he served in the imperial court for about 40 days.
The political situation in the Southern Song Dynasty was very complicated, and it was very difficult for officials in that era to make a difference. Zhu Xi has been an official for many years, doing things for the people, and of course has made political achievements, but what has left his name in history is his principles and heavy integrity, and "six impeachments of corrupt officials Tang Zhongyou" is a good story.
In the ninth year of Emperor Xiaozong of Song, that is, in 1182 AD, Zhu Xi was 52 years old and served as the official of Changping Salt Tea on the East Zhejiang Road. Salt tea is an important source of taxation in the two Zhejiang regions, and Changping salt tea is a fat difference. This position of his was originally recommended by Wang Huai, the current chancellor of the dynasty, but Tang Zhongyou's relatives were Wang Huai. This year, Zhu Xi went to Taizhou to inspect the disaster. Unexpectedly, a connection to a variety of reports reflecting the violation of law and discipline by Tang Zhongyou, the prefect of Taizhou. In the face of justice and private feelings, although Zhu Xi was entangled, he finally chose justice and decided to investigate Tang Zhongyou's scandal, which was summarized into 8 violations of discipline and reported to the central authorities. At first, Tang Zhongyou, with the support of the chancellor Wang Huai, was not only not affected, but was promoted to Jiangxi, equivalent to the head of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Justice. However, Zhu Xi was full of righteousness and vowed not to give up, and submitted impeachment reports to the imperial court six times before and after, alarming Song Xiaozong. The chancellor Wang Huai was afraid that things would make a big fuss, so he had to ask the emperor to dismiss Tang Zhongyou from his post of punishment in Jiangxi, so that he could retire early and land safely. Of course, Zhu Xi was very angry, and resolutely resigned and returned to Wuyishan, Fujian.
When Zhu Xi was 65 years old, he also served as a teacher to Emperor Ningzong of Song, and at that time he was called Huan Zhangge Assort and Attendant. This reminds us of Cheng Yi in the Northern Song Dynasty when he was a teacher to the little emperor. Cheng Yi had only been a storyteller in that Chongzheng Hall for more than a year, and Zhu Xi had only been a waiter for more than 40 days. Why is that? Because theologians are mostly idealists. Originally, being an imperial master was a great glory in life, but theoreticians thought about how to "distinguish the wrong in the heart of the emperor". The emperor has made mistakes and must help him correct them. Zhu Xi was instructed to enter the capital, and at that time someone reminded him that the emperor did not like any "righteousness and sincerity", and you should not use this as a word when you saw the emperor. Zhu Xi replied solemnly:
How can I, who have learned in my life, deceive me with these four words?
Ignoring the emperor's face, Zhu Xi used his standards of "righteousness and sincerity" and "reason and desire" to teach the emperor political lessons. Criticize the emperor for not doing a good job, that is not doing a good job, which pot does not open which pot. It is conceivable that Song Ningzong could not have received such an iron-faced and selfless teaching from a Taoist scholar. Naturally, this imperial master of his could not do it. Zhu Xi's Taoist personality laid the groundwork for his next tragedy.
After two years, Han Nong (Tuo) became the prime minister, and the power fell to the opposition. Zhu Xi couldn't look at it, and Shang shu spoke bluntly, which angered Han Zaixiang. This time finally triggered the "Qingyuan Party Ban". You must know that Song Ningzong was helped to the throne by Han Nongxin and others, and the emperor must also listen to him. Zhu Xi was liquidated, his learning was banned as a "pseudo-science," and many of his disciples were exiled or imprisoned. Some people also took the opportunity to dig up ten charges for Zhu Xi, calling him "disloyal to the country" and "disrespectful to the king", and also said that he was "a concubine of Nani" and "a harmful wind cult", and so on. Later, according to the latter two crimes, some people deduced the scandal that Zhu Xi adopted two nuns as concubines, and also fabricated the plot of his adultery with his daughter-in-law and engaged in moral kidnapping. There are many people in the world who like to listen to gossip, and novelists like Zhu Xi's "Outer Transmission" and "Other Transmission" are only appendages of posterity, and no one can verify it.