Domineering Daming

Zhu Xu was aloof, and a group of people sat down anxiously, which clearly meant "interrogation".

Zhu Xu's face was still a little pale, and he felt cold all over. He picked up the chicken soup beside him, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Today we don't care about political affairs, but talk about old things."

A group of people became more and more uneasy, and the scholars liked to make insinuations. The emperor obviously wanted to use the past to satirize the present and take action against them.

Cao Huachun and Wang Yizhou stood on both sides without looking sideways.

Zhu Xu looked around, these people looked very serious, as if they were about to go to the guillotine, he smiled secretly, and said, "Let's talk about Zhang Taiyue and Haigangfeng today."

Zhang Taiyue is Zhang Juzheng, and Hai Gangfeng is Hai Rui.

Zhang Juzheng was the chief assistant at the beginning of Wanli, and Hai Rui had gone through four dynasties. Each of them had a great reputation and had a great influence on Daming. Even now, the two are often mentioned.

There are many stories about them. The most important thing is that when Zhang Juzheng was in power, Hai Rui was out of work, and he could not recover until Zhang Juzheng died, when he was over 70 years old.

Zhang Juzheng has been rehabilitated, and now many people think that this is a big blemish on Zhang Juzheng, causing a minister capable of governing the world to be exiled outside.Some people also said that Zhang Juzheng was afraid of Hai Rui's uprightness and deliberately abandoned it.

In short, there are many rumors and disputes.

These two are topics that Daming can't get around, Zhang Juzheng's influence is still there, and Hai Rui's reputation is a high mountain, one can only look up to.

The emperor Zhu Xu suddenly mentioned these two people, Qian Longxi and the others were startled.

Zhu Xu put his hands on the table, looked at the crowd and said: "When I was in the mansion, I often heard about Zhang Taiyue's achievements, and I could also hear about Hai Rui's deeds. Now, from my perspective, let me tell you this matter."

The emperor's evaluation of a person is to be entered in the history books, and a group of people pricked up their ears, not daring to take it lightly.

"Let's talk about Zhang Taiyue first."

Zhu Xudao: "Zhang Taiyue, I think it is appropriate for him to say 'the prime minister is outstanding', 'respect the sovereignty, be an official, believe in rewards and punishments, and give orders'. I found many things in the book from here. Everyone knows about Zhang Taiyue, so I won’t say more, but I want to talk about Haigangfeng.”

"In his later years, he wrote a letter to the Emperor Shenzong, saying that he would use Taizu's law to peel off the skin and weeds and Hongwu's 30-year law to break the law and eighty years of persecution." At that time, the cabinet ministers thought that he was 'sluggish in the political system', that is to say, Hai Rui was too rigid and didn't understand current affairs, and I think this judgment was correct."

"At that time he wrote to Zhang Taiyue, and Zhang Taiyue wrote back and said, 'The three-foot method is not suitable for Wu Jiuyi. It is unbearable to use Shengmo suddenly', and he also said, 'You have a loyal and bright heart, and you have a firm heart. The world believes in it. However, when studying its politics, many of them are not well-versed, and they should only sit in the elegant and vulgar, and should not bother civil affairs'..."

"The meaning is very simple. Hai Rui doesn't understand government affairs. He only knows how to repeat the Taizu's law. He has never changed anything. He has never accomplished anything. He only needs to be virtuous, and he doesn't need to care about government affairs..."

Zhu Xu didn't make a long speech, but suddenly held on to the topic, looked at Qian Longxi and said, "Governor Qian, tell me, let's just discuss, there is no need to avoid anything."

Qian Longxi was stunned, got up and raised his hands, thinking for a while: "Back to the emperor, I think that Hai Gangfeng is too vigorous, everything is too hasty, unprepared, and finally gives up halfway, achieves nothing, wastes people's money, and is useless. There is a clear name but no actual performance.”

Zhu Xu squinted his eyes, Qian Longxi's words contained a hint of admonishment in disguise, and smiled slightly, and said, "That's right, he also said 'Old state, new life', 'Gou Rixin, day by day, and day by day' ’, why didn’t he change throughout his life?”

This is actually a problem with Confucianism. Conservation and obstinacy have become irreversible.

On the one hand, it is required to respect the ancestors, not to talk about and change, and at the same time, it is required to seek new changes. How can it be good, and the words of the saints are not wrong?

Qian Longxi remained expressionless, this was not an exchange between ordinary friends, it was a match between the monarch and his ministers, if it was not correct, there would be serious consequences, and he could not comment on the country like Zhang Juzheng, so he said after a while: "Your Majesty, Hai Rui The Qing is not the Qing of the Ming Dynasty, Hai Rui's uprightness is not the uprightness of the Ming Dynasty, and Hai Rui is not the blessing of the Ming Dynasty, so we should not publicize it."

Qian Longxi was also cunning, he couldn't answer the questions correctly, but he still made a point.

How could Zhu Xu let him run away, and said: "He learned from the 'law of the great ancestor', is there something wrong?"

Hai Rui was determined to restore Zhu Yuanzhang's harsh methods of governing officials, but he was unsuccessful from the beginning to his death. After four dynasties, the emperors of all dynasties still valued him very much.

Qian Longxi didn't know how to answer, "Criticizing ancestors" is a serious crime, and this "big crime" is moral, once established, it will be remembered forever!

"Go back to the emperor."

At this time, Qian Longxi got up from behind Qian Longxi and said, "I think it's right. The fault lies with Hai Rui, and the Taizu's law is also correct. The fault is that Hai Rui used it to judge things based on his own likes and dislikes. In vain."

What I'm talking about here is that Hai Rui judged the case and only judged "good and evil" and didn't care about other things. It seemed fair, but in fact it was muddled.

This is a good reason, Zhu Xu smiled and said: "Then the cabinet at that time seized his memorials, hindered his promotion, and even suppressed him repeatedly. Why?"

"I don't know the current affairs" clearly means that officials are required to be flexible and adapt to new changes, and not stick to ancient methods.

Qian Longxi was speechless with his participation in politics just now. This is a self-contradictory matter. Everyone knows that the "ancestral law" has already become an unchangeable habit.

The two of them didn't speak, and suddenly a magistrate stood up, raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, I think it's because Hai Ruikong is famous but has no actual achievements, and the past is too upright, causing chaos and doing nothing. I don't want to use him."

This sentence seems to make sense, but in fact it completely deviates from the topic. Zhu Xu is talking about the reason, and this guy is talking about the result. It is completely irrelevant, and it can even be said to be sophistry!

Zhu Xu took another sip of the chicken soup, felt better, and said slowly, "Then, sticking to the ancient methods is no longer feasible, so what should we do?" What Zhu Xu wanted to talk about was flexibility. It is necessary to use this to attack the stubborn ideas of Confucianism and establish the status of "flexibility".

The emperor's words are already very bare, naked, and the ancient method is not feasible, so it is natural to change and use the "modern method".

Next, there are those three sentences of Wang Anshi: "The changes of the sky are not enough to be feared, the ancestors are not enough to follow the law, and the words of people are not enough to be sympathetic."

These three sentences have always been the focus of Confucian criticism. From Sima Guang and others until the Ming Dynasty, Confucians avoided talking about these three sentences, because they are not in line with the spirit of Confucianism and the concept of governing the country, and they are extremely "rebellious". .

At this point in Zhu Xu's words, everyone who could refute a few words just now stopped talking. Whatever they say at this time, they have to bear "historical responsibility".

"Master Qian, tell me." Zhu Xu called the names directly.

Qian Longxi frowned. The ancient method is not advisable. Naturally, the modern method should be used, but it is easy to say, and the impact must be considered, especially since the emperor obviously has strong intentions. How dare he speak so easily?

"I think the 'New Deal' is the right time." Qian Longxi said, this is tantamount to admitting that "flexibility" is right in disguise.

Zhu Xu didn't make things difficult for him, he looked around at the people in the lobby, no one dared to make eye contact with him, they all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

It is possible to know such words as "the changes of the sky are not to be feared, the ancestors are not to be lawful, and the words of people are not to be sympathetic", but they must not be said out loud!

Zhu Xu looked around, sat up straight, laughed, and said, "Hai Gangfeng is a person who sticks to the ancient methods. He has achieved nothing all his life. Even in his later years, he still clamors to restore the methods of the great ancestor. There is no intention of introspection at all. Zhang Taiyue, following the example of the great ancestor, knows very clearly the difference between the ancient law and the present, and handles government affairs according to the actual situation. There have been a lot of changes, Fu Yan has been so far. In terms of government affairs, land mu system, and official administration, he has given me a lot of reference. Without him, I would not dare to start the 'New Deal'..."

Qian Longxi knew very well that the emperor was categorizing certain things, defending the "New Deal", removing some obstacles, and remained silent.

If it is an ordinary person, a scholar, or a great Confucian, people in the world will find all kinds of reasons to hate him for saying this, but the one in front of him is Emperor Jingzheng, who dares?

An inner prison not far away silently recorded every word Zhu Xu said.

Zhu Xu talked a lot, and finally concluded: "Today's people should learn from the ancients and learn from the sages. They should not follow blindly. They should carefully distinguish what is suitable for today and what is out of date. It is our study to take the essence and discard the dross. Requirements can also be extended to government affairs. You can’t copy them mechanically, and do things according to the actual situation, carefully analyze the problems, find new methods and methods to deal with things, and you can’t just ask the ancients...”

Zhu Xu would cough from time to time, sweat would break out on his face, his whole body was cold, and he felt that he couldn't hold on any longer, so he stopped talking and said, "That's all I said today. After I go back, I'll think about it carefully and write it to me. Come up with a playbook, I will publish it in the newspaper for you, if you don’t write well, you can move now, remember to wear a hat when you go out..."

Qian Longxi and the others were heartbroken, their faces were uncomfortable, they still had to stand up, raised their hands and said, "Observe the order."

"Well, let's all go." Zhu Xu waved his hands.

"Resignation." A group of people retreated slowly.

Cao Huachun had noticed it a long time ago, stepped forward quickly, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, go back."

Zhu Xu nodded, and said: "I can't leave today, let's leave early tomorrow morning, let Tang Yize do a good job of covering, so as not to be discovered."

"Yes." Cao Huachun came over and helped Zhu Xu back to the backyard.

The word "flexibility" is simple to say, but once it is spread, it is unknown how much impact it will cause, especially those who firmly oppose Zhu Xu, it must be another big "crime"!