Chapter 006: The Debate on State Learning (Part Two)

You ... ... life ... ...

"Dr. Pig, can I take your statement to mean that as long as I provide a rationale, I am innocent, while you are guilty?"

You audacious rogue, Sima Wenzhenggong devoted his heart and soul to the nation, rescuing the common people from peril. Can the achievements of his lifetime be dismissed by your ignorant prattle?

Yang Yi, regardless of how the Hangzhou scholar Qian Dan, who had been lost in thought, came back to his senses, suddenly shouted for help

Pig ... ... Husband! Wang Jinggong ceded the northern part of Daizhou to the Liao State, and you call him a traitor. Yet, Ma Siwen Zheng ceded the four cities of Mizhi and became a savior of the people in dire straits?

Ignorance! Even the red sun can be obscured by clouds; how strange is it that the late emperor, who was once so wise, was momentarily deceived by Wang Anshi? How can this be considered as slandering the late emperor? You ignorant child, do you know your crime?

Hehe! If we cannot argue against it, then let us be called a startled frog, a summer insect, or a petty scholar! Yang Yi also waved his large sleeves and said with nonchalance: "Doctor Pig speaks recklessly, slandering the late emperor!"

Driven by such sentiments, Yang Yi had no intention of letting him off the hook. He proceeded to refute each of his arguments one by one. Damn it, the downfall of the Han people's realm lies in the hands of you swine!

"Be mindful of your wording! The honorable Master Wen Zheng is returning, not ceding! The four cities of Mizhi originally belonged to the Western Xia; returning them to the Western Xia will bring them to submission and put an end to hostilities! Is this not saving the people from dire straits?"

You say that Wang Anshi deceived the late emperor into implementing evil laws; does this not imply that you are slandering the late emperor as foolish, to have been so easily deceived by Wang Anshi

In my previous life, I spent three years in the special forces, and what I have cultivated is not just a strong physique, but also a fearless heart! Offending you, a counselor, is of no consequence; at worst, I can wander the world. Even if you were to summon a hundred thousand troops, we could still set sail across the ocean, go to Japan, and topple a great many of their women, doing what our male compatriots in later generations wished to do but could not. What a joyful life that would be!

"Indeed! This statement is made by me, and there is no intention to defame the late emperor within it, is there?" Zhu Guangting finally let out a heavy "hmph," as if he wished to devour Yang Yi.

Wait! Wait! Doctor Pig, do not be anxious! The truth cannot be clarified without discussion; you must let me finish speaking before passing judgment

The hundreds of students surrounding listened intently to the debate between Yang Yi and Zhu Guangting, each one of them excited with flushed faces. Many might say that Yang Yi is overly arrogant, but as witnesses to this 'legendary' scene, it is truly difficult to suppress the excitement within; after all, they are all at a relatively passionate age, and many resonate more with Yang Yi's statements.

Zhu Guangting appeared to be on the verge of losing control, while Yang Yi remained completely unconcerned. As the great man said, one should pursue the retreating enemy with the remaining courage. With regard to these hypocrites, one should either ignore them entirely or strip away their last shred of decency.

Slow down! Slow down! Dr. Pig, as the saying goes, a gentleman speaks rather than acts. We are all well-read individuals; if we were to imitate those coarse men who resort to fighting or those shrewish women who shout in the streets, we would be falling to a lower standard! Wasn't that what Mr. Yichuan taught you back then? Of course! If Dr. Pig truly wishes to stretch his legs, I would reluctantly oblige and accompany you for a round. Would you like to give it a try?

Yang Yi never intended to become an official upon arriving in this world, and he felt no fear towards Zhu Guangting, the advisor. Could it be that if I cannot win a debate against you, you would arrest me and punish me? If that is the case, then just watch, I will take you down first.

Among the three hundred scholars present, who has ever seen a candidate challenge a court advisor in such a manner? Moreover, it appears that Yang Yi has the upper hand. At this moment, everyone is excitedly standing up, and Qin Zigui, standing beside Yang Yi, looks at him as if he were a monster, his face filled with disbelief

Good! Doctor Zhu, according to your assertion, the late emperor was deceived by Wang Anshi, which led to the implementation of heretical laws. We have carefully calculated that shortly after ascending the throne, the late emperor appointed Wang Anshi as the chancellor to implement these heretical laws. Eight years later, during the Yuanfeng era, Wang Anshi had already been dismissed from his position, yet the late emperor continued to exert every effort in enforcing these heretical laws until his passing. It was only after the late emperor's death that the heretical laws you mentioned were abolished by Sima Guang and your faction! This raises a question! Under normal circumstances, if a person is deceived for a short time, it cannot be deemed foolishness. However, if one is deceived for over a decade and remains oblivious until the very end of life, is that not foolishness? Based on this common reasoning, your claim that the late emperor was deceived by Wang Anshi is nothing but slander against the late emperor's intelligence! To assert that the new laws, which the late emperor upheld throughout his life, are heretical is an even greater crime deserving of death! Zhu...! You are committing a grave offense; do you not realize your guilt?

Yang Yi's words struck deep, infuriating Zhu Guangting to the point of transcending to the heavens and then returning to the world. His face transformed through shades of red, white, green, blue, and purple, a chaotic display. His chest and abdomen swelled like thunder, appearing as if he were on the verge of losing consciousness

This is the voice of hundreds of students around us

Dr. Zhu, you should go back and read the historical texts carefully! Not to mention Mizhi, the entire Hetao region is part of our Huaxia homeland. The ancient channels of Hanyuan and Tanglai outside Lingzhou City still exist, and the Great Wall stretches across the northern part of Lingzhou. The straight road of the Qin Dynasty leads directly to Jiuyuan. Since the Song Dynasty represents the legitimate Huaxia, these places are nominally part of the Song. Now, when Dr. Zhu claims they belong to the Western Xia, does that not imply that he believes the Song is not the legitimate Huaxia? It is a fact that these places were forcibly taken by the Western Xia, but you cannot simply regard them as belonging to the Western Xia! If that is the case, can someone who has had their property stolen by Dr. Zhu also rightfully claim it as their own without facing legal consequences? Since the four cities of Mizhi are originally part of our Huaxia homeland, which is also the territory of our Song Dynasty, how can there be talk of returning them to the Western Xia? Dr. Zhu, you must either admit that Sima Wenzheng is betraying the country, or you are slandering the Song as not being the legitimate Huaxia! Since the four cities of Mizhi are originally part of our Huaxia homeland, which is also the territory of our Song Dynasty, how can there be talk of returning them to the Western Xia? Dr. Zhu, you must either admit that Sima Wenzheng is betraying the country, or you are slandering the Song as not being the legitimate Huaxia! Which do you choose?

Youngster! Do not waste words! Speak! How did I slander the late emperor?

Ignorant child! When have I ever made such statements! If you continue to be unreasonable, do not blame me for being impolite!

Zhu Guangting's suppressed anger flared up again, and he pointed at Yang Yi, shouting sternly: "Speak! How have I slandered the late emperor? If you cannot provide a valid reason, do not blame me for bringing you to Hangzhou Prefecture for punishment!"

Alright! The fat pig has been put in the pen, and it is time to deliver a decisive blow!

Zhu Guangting, in a fit of rage, completely lost his refined demeanor and slammed the table, exclaiming: "Madman! Who exactly are you?"

What kind of rhetoric is this? Calling him Doctor Pig is indeed not wrong; we should not get angry with a pig. Yang Yi calmed the rising blood in his heart and then said: "Doctor Zhu, you must be careful with your words. From your tone, it seems you are implying that our Song Dynasty is not the legitimate Huaxia!"

Formidable! Too formidable!

Zhu Guangting was likely driven to a state of agitation due to anger. He believed he had not defamed the late emperor, and upon hearing Yang Yi's question, he confidently replied: "Indeed! On the contrary, I shall hold you accountable for a grave offense!"

It is best if they die! The earlier such people die, the less suffering the common people will endure! Moreover, with hundreds of people watching, we are merely debating! If they really want to punish me, I might as well join a gang! Hahaha!

Yang Yi walked out of the Hangzhou Prefectural School with measured steps, seemingly unfazed by the strange gazes of those around him

Yang Yi, with a heart full of confidence, declared that all the high-ranking disciples of Cheng Yi are mere pretenders, and that all reactionaries are nothing but paper tigers. As long as one does not abandon their books, just watch me refute you! He continued with a smile, saying: "Doctor Pig claims that I speak without thinking, but I believe it is Doctor Pig who is the one speaking without thinking, slandering the late emperor"

Yang Yi's final shout was like a thunderclap, startling the hundreds of students around him, their faces turning pale. As for Doctor Zhu in the pavilion, he was even more affected, pointing at Yang Yi and stammering, "You... you..." After a few utterances, he stumbled and fell to the ground, whether truly unconscious or merely pretending, he was completely out of it.

Yang Yi continued, saying: "Wang Jinggong ceded the territory north of Daizhou because at that time, the Song Dynasty was engaged in the battles of He and Tushu Huang in the northwest, while simultaneously conducting military operations against the barbarians in the south. This resulted in a two-front war, and they had no choice but to make a temporary concession to the Khitan's extortion, as anyone with common sense knows that the Song Dynasty could not withstand a three-front war. And what about Sima Wenzheng? He ceded four cities in Mizhi and paid annual tribute to the Western Xia merely to obtain their nominal submission. The Western Xia had been paying homage to the Song Dynasty since the time of Li Jiqian, but had they ever truly submitted? Did Sima Wenzheng think that by ceding four cities in Mizhi, the Western Xia would genuinely submit? A few years ago, the Western Xia's Empress Liang raised an army of 300,000 to invade the northwest; surely you are aware of this? Did she submit? She even claimed to save the people from peril, yet you speak of treason so brazenly!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zhu Guangting restrained himself, waved his large sleeves, and with an air of superiority said: "Ignorant child, one cannot speak of the heavens to a startled frog, for it is limited by its own realm; one cannot speak of ice to summer insects, for they are bound by the season; one cannot speak of the Dao to the narrow-minded, for they are constrained by their teachings"

"Tsk tsk! Doctor Zhu! The Song Dynasty never punishes for words; I am merely discussing matters as they are, without any fabrication of right or wrong. Why is it that I cannot speak? His Majesty still requires someone to correct his shortcomings! How can Sima Wenzheng be beyond reproach? Is it possible that he has risen above the Emperor?"

Say!

Yang Yi first bowed to the students around him and said: "All of you present, you have heard, if I can explain the reason, then it is Doctor Zhu who is guilty, and I am innocent! Please bear witness to this!"

Yang Yi then turned to Doctor Zhu, his face beaming with a smile, and said: "Doctor Zhu! May I ask if you just mentioned that Wang Anshi deceived the late emperor and used wicked methods to disrupt the state?"