Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1281: Chapter 1235: Confucian School and Various Masters Factions

The civil officials under Cao Cao had by now mostly straightened out the causes and consequences, sighing at Chen Xi’s audacity on one hand, while on the other hand, beginning to fan the flames, making the situation even harder to manage.

To be frank, the high-ranking civil officials under Cao Cao were not of orthodox Confucian background. Using Confucianism to govern a country involved only its morality and thought; the true governing concept was the so-called rule by rites and benevolent governance, which in reality was just embellishment during times of peace.

Since ruling the world with rites and benevolence was essentially nonsense, in actual governance, one only used the Zhongyong and morals of Confucianism; the real heavy lifting was done by the Legalist and Huang Lao philosophies. The main value of Confucianism was to restrain the personal moral cultivation of officials.

As for ability, the core of Confucianism was self-restraint and returning to propriety, from which benevolence was extended. Overall, Confucianism emphasizes moral cultivation, which is why in a prosperous dynasty, as long as Confucianism was used, the basic requirement for officials was virtue, not talent.

Of course, when Confucianism, in later stages, twisted even its own morality, the entire Confucian Scholars Group degenerated into garbage, giving rise to cynics. One must understand that Confucianism’s pursuit was to first be someone who knew propriety and had morals before pursuing other goals.

And when this prerequisite was twisted, Confucianism thoroughly destroyed people unabashedly. Even though officials may lack talent but have virtue, they might be mediocre, but at least they won’t harm others, and they could support newcomers with talent. If one had talent but no virtue, and no one to oversee them, how could they be trusted not to harm others for profit?

As for chaotic times, it goes without saying, using Confucianism in such times would be sending people to their deaths. In chaotic times, Legalism is primarily practiced; not to say only Legalism can handle such chaos, but rather that only Legalism can swiftly bring order from chaos.

Legalism excels at dealing with disorder and is also highly adept at taking blame for the rulers. These ”cruel officials,” if one examines history carefully, rarely harmed the common people; they chiefly pulled down the power and benefits of the aristocracy to aid the populace.

In the Late Eastern Han Dynasty, it was naturally a chaotic time, so naturally, the likes of Cao Cao and Sun Ce could not predominantly employ Confucianism. Even though individuals like Xun Yu and Zhou Yu had high moral cultivation, you couldn’t deny that the Hundred Schools also had those with high cultivation and pleasing appearance. History can attest to this.

Thus, at this time, Xun Yu and others delighted in watching Confucianism become a joke. Even though Xun Yu was mild-mannered, it didn’t mean he could endure that bunch of old guys in the court who were incapable of working, only uttering words, lacking self-awareness as they gestured and drew lines over his head.

Xun Yu wanted to tell those guys that they were, in fact, trash. Even if bundled together, they wouldn’t be his match. But as a cultivated, well-mannered, moral young man of attractiveness, Xun Yu just smiled silently at the taunts of those old folks.

But now with Chen Xi being so compelling and beneficial to them, naturally, Cao Cao was happy to let this incident escalate, dealing a resounding slap to that group of officials.

He had long found that bunch of guys displeasing, unlike historically where Cao Cao held a dominant position in court. Previously, Cao Cao could only claim nearly half of the court’s voice, so when he proposed appointments for people like Zao Zhi and Zheng Hun, they were all rebuffed.

A single phrase that craftsmen’s ranks should not exceed the fifth rank was enough to block them all. Cao Cao, at that time, became furious. Zao Zhi had managed land reclamation and feeding of the people, yet was only given a sixth-rank Minister of Imperial Household retinue. Cao Cao seethed, as the Minister of Imperial Household was a young Yang Family nephew who knew nothing about farming!

Cao Cao’s previous aim was to get Zao Zhi a Minister of Granaries position. Although not part of the Nine Ministers, it would still be a high position under the Nine, administering over grain supplies. Instead, he was given a subordinate position to the Minister of Agriculture without any real powers, just a commanded role.

Cao Cao then wanted to ask, does anyone among you know how to farm? Incompetent in farming but refusing to let those who could farm rise, no wonder people starved.

Of course, Xun Yu stopped him from saying it. Had he really said that, not only would it have strained relations with the officials, but it wouldn’t have looked good on the face of the Emperor either.

Compared to Ma Jun, Zao Zhi was already fortunate. Zao Zhi at least received a position as a Minister of Imperial Household retinue, while Ma Jun was given a role as an Erudite Scholar. Ma Jun then considered returning home since the scholar position back in his hometown didn’t require him to read every day!

Ma Jun’s passion was mechanical innovation. Though he wasn’t strong in inventing, his ability to improve was excellent. In this era, any machine placed in his hands could be optimized, yet he needed time...

Unfortunately, since becoming an Erudite Scholar, Ma Jun had left his mechanical enhancements behind, being forced to read books, and now he was about to explode, wanting to unleash a salvo of crossbow bolts at the Erudite Scholar who taunted him daily!

In summary, quite a few of Cao Cao’s subordinates failed to be promoted due to various reasons until Cao Cao and Ma Teng joined forces to suppress Yang Biao, making the court essentially their domain.

Yet, even so, the notion that craftsmen shouldn’t exceed the fifth rank greatly troubled Cao Cao, who even wanted to grant Zao Zhi a marquisate, only for Zao Zhi himself to decline it before the proposal was submitted. The heart of a farmer had been thoroughly hurt; it was better to return to farming.

It was indeed in such circumstances that Cao Cao decided to fan the flames. He, too, couldn’t stand the elitist air of those Confucian officials. Never mind the extent of their abilities, but why should they be higher than other officials? What did they amount to?

No more, wanting to deal with them for a long time. With this opportunity, it was the perfect timing; anyway, the one at the whirlwind wasn’t one of our own. If they could be dragged down together, all the better. If not, if Qu Qi were to be harmed, then it didn’t bother him as he wasn’t one of their own.

With such thoughts, Cao Cao’s faction began to diligently amass their strength, ready to pounce on the Confucians holding the power of discourse in the world anytime.

”Now, we just wait for Qu Qi to arrive. Whether the Confucian robe can be torn apart will be determined this time.” Zao Zhi’s face carried a hint of coldness. Although his initial intention was indeed to feed the people, it didn’t change his aspiration for advancement once entering the officialdom.

Confucianism, or rather, the scholars’ trampling of the Hundred Crafts hindered his path upward, so now that he could overthrow those people, why wouldn’t he?

”Xuu Zijiang’s official announcement must have received Chen Zichuan’s authorization; otherwise, why would it rank first?” Xun Youi said calmly, ”So the likelihood of success is great. It seems that this time the flag of the Hundred Schools will be raised!”

Confucianism indeed tried hard to assimilate the Hundred Schools, and even now, because the scholar class was approaching the ruling class, those families inheriting the Hundred Schools as family learning had donned the Confucian robe, but this doesn’t mean these families would keep wearing the Confucian robe when Confucianism is knocked off the pedestal!