am-books Chapter 523: Debate (III)
Chapter 523: Debate (III)
Chapter 523: Debate (III)
Zhang Yuelu’s bold monologue caused a great furore in the originally silent Yuxu Palace.
If not for Zhang Yuelu’s distinguished status and her master Sage Cihang sitting high above, the Confucian disciples would have already begun denouncing her as seeking attention or even harboring treacherous intentions. They might have even accused her of damaging the relationship between the Daoist Order and the Confucian School—potentially putting her in grave danger.
Even the four Omniscient Sages exchanged glances, unable to deny that Zhang Yuelu was indeed a unique individual who made a splash wherever she went.
Additionally, Zhang Yuelu’s explanation was far too detailed. According to standard debate protocol, while responses need not be overly concise, they should also not be excessively verbose—brevity was still preferred.
Several Great Masters of the Confucian School nearly erupted in protest but ultimately restrained themselves.
Of course, since Zhang Yuelu’s statements were directed solely at the Confucian School and had nothing to do with the Buddhist Sect, the Buddhist representatives remained as spectators, watching the drama unfold with amusement.
Qin Lingge now sat with perfect posture, his previous sense of ease completely gone. He had come to regard Zhang Yuelu as a formidable lifelong rival.
He had to admit that her reputation was well-earned. Moreover, Zhang Yuelu was the least renowned of the top three Daoist prodigies. If Li Changge and Yao Pei had been present, what kind of overwhelming skill would they have displayed?
Qin Lingge slowly responded, “If a father has a son who dares to dispute his actions, he will not be considered unrighteous. When faced with injustice, a son must challenge his father, just as a minister must challenge his sovereign. If a son blindly obeys his father’s command, could that be considered true filial piety?”
It came from the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety, which detailed that filial piety did not always mean obedience. One should obey when morally right and resist otherwise. Blindly following orders without considering righteousness and thereby allowing one’s father or sovereign to commit injustice would be the true failure of filial piety.
This was undoubtedly Qin Lingge’s rebuttal or counter-explanation concerning loyalty and filial piety.
Though Zhang Yuelu claimed that a son could not resist his father, the Confucian School had already provided a solution. The Confucian teachings did not solely emphasize loyalty and filial piety while neglecting justice.
Zhang Yuelu rebutted. “But what if speaking out achieves nothing? What if the father refuses to listen?”
Qin Lingge fell silent.
Zhang Yuelu struck at the core of the argument. “The grandson must simply endure it. He is still forbidden from taking up arms in resistance, isn’t that right?
“Direct armed rebellion against one’s parents is unfilial, and allowing one’s parents to commit injustice is also unfilial. If in the end, the father is proven wrong, yet the children fail to effectively protest and have no choice but to watch as their father and grandfather commit injustice, then the children are still deemed unfilial. Ultimately, the blame still falls upon the children.
“The Confucian School grants the right to speak, but the right to be heard still rests with the father and grandfather. If so, what meaning does such a right hold?"
Zhang Yuelu wielded her words like a sharp spear. Sage Cihang had warned her to beware of the Confucian School attacking the Daoist Order, so Zhang Yuelu chose to initiate the offense instead, directly targeting the flaws within the Confucian School.
“In essence, the relationship between the sovereign and minister, or between sovereign and the people, is not that of father and son. There is no blood relation and no nurture.
It was not a contradiction for the Daoist Order to be allied with the Confucian School and critique it.
If Qi Xuansu had been present, he likely would not have launched into such an elaborate argument as Zhang Yuelu did. Instead, he would have pointed out the Confucian School’s core issue in a single sentence—Confucian gentlemen and sages simply constructed an artificial moral high ground and applied their own standards selectively.
To put it bluntly, it was double standards. That was why so many people criticized the Confucian School, saying it preached benevolence and morality while concealing hypocrisy and corruption, with every so-called gentleman being nothing more than a sanctimonious fraud.
Sweat formed on Qin Lingge’s forehead. He had never expected Zhang Yuelu’s figurative spear to be so sharp—having almost skewered him completely within just two exchanges. He was already showing signs of defeat.
He forced himself to settle down and responded, “As you claim, many of Confucianism’s practices have deviated from the original intentions of the Confucian Sage and the Second Sage. In truth, it was the emperors of successive dynasties who wielded Confucianism as a tool of imperial power. Confucianism is but a blade. If someone kills with a blade, should the blame fall upon the blade itself?”
As someone who bore both a royal bloodline and a Confucian affiliation, it was no small feat for Qin Lingge to utter such words.
Zhang Yuelu suddenly raised her voice. “Those who wield the blade are certainly guilty, which is why they all met their downfall. But do not forget one thing, Young Master Qin. When one wields a sharp blade, the desire to kill naturally arises. Without the blade, where would the murderous intent come from?
“Moreover, Confucianism itself is not just any ordinary blade but a demonic one—one that harbors its own will and influences the thoughts of its wielder. The wielder is less a master and more so a mere puppet of the blade. Is it justice if we only blame the wielder but do not destroy the demonic blade itself?
“This is why the Holy Xuan has declared for the reformation of Confucianism. We must discard the dregs and retain only its essence.”
Qin Lingge closed his eyes and fell silent. It was not that he had no arguments left, but the results of the debate between Confucianism and Daoism had already been decided. Reality spoke louder than words, and at this point, further disputing the matter would be meaningless.
This was akin to giving a stone to the opponent in a game of Go—admitting defeat.
Ning Lingge spoke again. “Qing Xiao, please deliver the final insight.”
This was the final step in the debate competition. One person established the theme, and the other concluded with a summation. The rule dictated that the closing reference should originate from the same source as the opening citation, serving as a summarization and elevation of the discussion.
Since Qin Lingge had referenced the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s Five Thousand Words Classic, Zhang Yuelu’s closing statement would also have to be drawn from the same text.
Finally, Zhang Yuelu rose to her feet, bowed to those around her, and recited, “Do not exalt the worthy, so the people will not compete. Do not value rare treasures, so the people will not steal. Do not display what is desirable, so the people’s hearts will not be disturbed. Therefore, the Sage’s way of governing begins by emptying the mind, filling the belly, weakening ambitions, and strengthening the bones of the people. The Sage ensures that the people remain without knowledge and without desires, so that even the clever dare not act. Order prevails through inaction.”
This passage came from the third chapter of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s Five Thousand Words Classic. It adhered to the rules of the debate and served as the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s perspective on the distinction between Daoism and Confucianism. Whether it was right or wrong remained a matter of personal interpretation.
Ning Lingge refrained from extensively commenting on the content of the debate. He simply stated, “A single perspective may determine victory or defeat in debate, but it does not necessarily dictate absolute right or wrong. The benevolent see benevolence, and the wise see wisdom. May all disciples take from this what is most valuable and apply it well. This concludes today’s debate.”
The gathered audience rose in agreement, their gazes turning to the debate’s victor—Zhang Yuelu.
Zhang Yuelu had secured victory for the Daoist Order in this debate, so she would have the honor of being recorded in the long annals of Daoist history.
However, whether future generations would celebrate her name depended on how far she could go on the ever-changing course of the Daoist Order and the Confucian School.