Chapter 472: Public Opinion Swells

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“Outrageous!”

Xiao Ming exploded in anger, “Since when did I stop handling serious matters, allowing these Confucian scholars to talk nonsense all day long!”

Pang Yukun cautiously glanced at Xiao Ming. This outburst showed him a glimpse of the dignity a prince should have.

He bowed and said, “Your Highness, please calm down. These Confucian scholars have never truly respected the Bowen Academy. They are focused only on studying the classics, hoping one day to pass the imperial exams. To them, encouraging scholars to learn such ‘tricky skills’ is despicable, and they believe their own path is the true way.”

“How ridiculous! Can’t they see the development Qingzhou has made? Are they all blind?” Xiao Ming was extremely angry. Doctor Sun’s death had already upset him, and now these scholars were stirring trouble. How could he not be furious?

“But right now, the most important thing is to find out the real cause of Doctor Sun’s death,” Xiao Ming said. “These Confucian scholars are making a fuss for nothing. Could it really be that Doctor Sun valued the master-disciple legacy more than his own life?”

At this, Xiao Ming suddenly felt defeated. He hadn’t expected the power of deeply rooted ideas to be so strong.

“Yes,” Pang Yukun nodded. After hesitating, he asked, “Your Highness, should we arrest these troublemaking scholars and interrogate them?”

After a moment’s thought, he said, “No need. Let them continue making noise. It’s better if they make a big scene; otherwise, how can Your Highness have a reason to deal with them?”

“But letting these scholars slander Your Highness might harm your reputation,” Pang Yukun worried.

Xiao Ming then laughed, “Chancellor Pang, you worry too much. If this were Chang’an, I would be concerned. But don’t forget what Qingzhou’s foundation is. Now that there are no powerful aristocratic families, I rely on the common people. These scholars are useless to my territory.”

“Your Highness speaks truly. As long as the people are stable, these scholars won’t be able to cause real trouble,” Pang Yukun said.

With that, he turned and left.

After watching Pang Yukun leave the main hall, Xiao Ming sent someone to call Li San to the prince’s residence. Everywhere in Qingzhou was under secret guard surveillance, so to find the root of this matter, they only needed to ask him.

Before the servant could leave, Li San had already arrived.

“Your Highness, you must have summoned me about Doctor Sun,” Li San said.

Xiao Ming nodded. “Since you know, tell me what you have found.”

Li San nodded and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, Doctor Sun really poisoned himself. Before he did so, he told his family that he did not want to offend Your Highness, nor be criticized by fellow doctors. So he chose death. These words reached the ears of the Confucian scholars, which is why they started talking about Your Highness.”

“I see,” Xiao Ming sighed softly. “Why did it have to be this way?”

Li San continued, “But Your Highness, Doctor Sun’s suicide may not be your responsibility. I believe this is also strongly connected to Doctor Sun’s eldest apprentice. The day before Doctor Sun’s suicide, his eldest apprentice, Dong Haoran, visited him. From what I know, they parted on bad terms.”

“That’s good progress. You’ve already figured out the whole story first,” Xiao Ming felt relieved.

Wang Xuan manages external affairs, Li San internal affairs. Together they form a complete secret guard. Over two years, Xiao Ming invested hundreds of thousands of taels building the secret guard. Now, Qingzhou truly has his spies everywhere.

“Your Highness, I told you I would not disappoint you,” Li San said happily. After repeatedly being overshadowed by Wang Xuan, he was now motivated to improve.

During this time, he worked hard to train his subordinates, securing firm control over the territory.

“Good. Immediately give the clues you have to Chancellor Pang and have him arrest Dong Haoran at once,” Xiao Ming ordered.

Li San nodded and left.

Xiao Ming then left the main hall. His heart was already filled with killing intent. He had not feared the Battle of Cangzhou or the Battle of Jizhou. Why should he fear the deeply rooted feudal superstitions or the endless chatter of Confucian scholars?

Doctor Sun’s death was surprising, but if anyone wanted to use this to attack his policies, they were thinking too simply.

If necessary, he wouldn’t mind a direct confrontation with these scholars to see if their stubborn words or his guns were stronger. For the past two years, his tolerance for these scholars was only to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But this time, Doctor Sun’s death affected him deeply. He felt it was necessary to strike back at these scholars.

However, before that, he must thoroughly handle Doctor Sun’s case. Otherwise, his medical academy would be finished, and his army would lose its battlefield medical corps.

Frowning, Xiao Ming sighed. He thought it necessary to establish an astronomy academy within Bowen Academy.

In his view, this would be the most effective weapon against feudal thinking. But he would not use it yet; only when necessary. Because once he introduces astronomy, it means denying the divine right of kings.

At that time, the most frightened would not be the Confucians but the reigning emperor, Xiao Wenxuan. If the scholars stirred trouble then, Xiao Ming would be no different from a rebel.

So it was necessary to prepare secretly. Once the opportunity arose, he could release astronomical knowledge and even use it as a weapon.

He already had a plan for this, a risky and bold plan. If successful, the Kong family of Qufu might be under his control.

While he was thinking this through, Li San had already delivered the news to Pang Yukun.

After receiving the news, Pang Yukun immediately ordered the arrest of Dong Haoran. He understood Xiao Ming’s plan: to clean up the corrupt doctors in the territory. Dong Haoran was the key point in this event.

Meanwhile, at a medical official’s home south of Qingzhou City, Dong Haoran sat facing three men dressed as scholars.

One scholar said, “Doctor Sun was a man of great righteousness. To uphold Confucian teachings, he would rather die than bow to Prince Qi. He is truly a model for us.”

“Exactly. The Bowen Academy has long lost favor. We scholars despise it. In Qi and Lu lands, the home of sages, such absurd things happen. We have sent many petitions to Qufu, asking Confucius to speak for us.”

“Yes! Why does the state reform forbid us scholars from taking the exams and entering officialdom? What qualifications do those ungrateful students in the Bowen Academy have to compare with us?”