New Shun 1730

Looking at his own son again, the emperor did not feel the slightest bit of shame for the terrible thought of "I will take you with me before I leave" that had just occurred to him.

Since he was born in an imperial family and was the emperor of the court, he would not have the chance to experience "fatherly love and filial piety" and "brotherly friendship and respect for younger brothers" in this life.

The emperor himself did not oppose the truth that these people in front of him agreed with and the policies they were eager to implement.

But for the future, we cannot only look at the present.

Any policy has both positive and negative aspects, and the emperor is still clear about this. Even if the emperor thinks that the abolition of the head tax and the inclusion of the land tax can be implemented, the emperor knows all the disadvantages besides these benefits.

To say that the development of industry and commerce has only benefits and no disadvantages is nonsense.

If there are only benefits and no disadvantages, why have all dynasties always emphasized agriculture over commerce?

The Song Dynasty seemed to have developed industry and commerce, but the control of industry and commerce in the Song Dynasty reached a terrifying level. If you sell ten kilograms of tea without permission, you will be sentenced to death if you are caught.

How could Dashun have such ability at this time to control the industry and commerce of the whole country to such an extent? Moreover, the abolition of the craftsman registration also means that the official handicraft industry has fully given way to the private handicraft industry. The development of Jiangnan industry and commerce is now in a completely different state from before.

Is it dangerous to continue like this? Some things are obvious.

Merchants have money. Since the Qin Dynasty, the Celestial Empire has been a private land ownership. A large amount of money is used to buy land, resulting in an unprecedented speed of annexation. What should we do?

Merchants have money, collude with officials, and even reach out to the army and the court. What should we do?

Not to mention the various threats that have not yet appeared because they have just started to develop.

Li Gan is a very conceited emperor, so he always thinks about catching up with the Han and Tang. This conceit, or self-confidence, also has both positive and negative effects.

On the positive side, the emperor's conceit and self-confidence believe that he can let you go to the east, south, west, and north, and I will remain unmoved. As long as he is still alive, he can find solutions to all the new problems brought about by the development of the times, at least he will not be at a loss. He always feels that he can distinguish clearly which policies are applicable and which are not applicable.

On the other hand, the emperor's arrogance and self-confidence determine that all his sons are inferior to himself. This is almost an inevitable psychology. An extremely conceited and confident person always thinks that his successor is inferior to himself. What he is worried about is whether the prince can cope with these new situations after his death and handing over the country to the prince?

What about these "scalpers"? If they are dissatisfied with the prince's policies in the future, will they do anything?

This truth of the "scalpers" is spreading day by day, and it is impossible for people in this line to rebel in the future. But is it possible to support a Li family member who can continue to expand, develop industry and commerce, manage Nanyang, and compete in the West?

For example... his seventh son, Li Li, who is now kneeling here advocating the expansion of the fleet?

As long as there is order and stability, Li Li will definitely not have the right of inheritance.

There is no doubt about this.

However, the premise is order.

A prince who is blind in one eye, baptized as a child, and not a legitimate son, has absolutely no right of inheritance when order exists.

However, what happens when order is no longer there?

Li Gan is in charge of the navy. Although the navy can fight, the number of marines is far from the elite army of the Beijing camp. Li Gan cannot and absolutely dare not put his hand into the army.

However, the "scalper system" has been established. How can we know that there are no people in the army who recognize this path?

It is said that even a tiger will not eat its own cubs. In this royal family, it is nonsense. There are too many stories of brothers being friendly and respectful, fathers being kind and sons being filial, and the Tang Dynasty with the imperial guards' inheritance law. For example, didn't the previous Yingzong still rob his son of the throne in the coup?

Li Gan was not worried that Li Gan would pose any threat to his throne. This was both self-confidence and arrogance, and a rational cognition of the power construction of Dashun.

But what if he died?

What if the prince doesn't like, is afraid of, or feels that he can't control the situation of the new era, or the Confucian civil service system forces reactionary changes?

What will these people do at that time?

Will they obey obediently?

Or will they roar to purge the court?

Or will they help a member of the Li family to take the throne and truly fight for the motherland, the country, and the country to take the right path?

Even, in Nanyang or Jiangnan, this chaotic order is announced, and all places do not respect the imperial edict?

The emperor doesn't like to form a party for personal gain, but he is not afraid of forming a party for personal gain.

What the emperor is afraid of is a group of people who really have an idea, a group but not a party...

Returning to the rule of the Three Dynasties, restraining oneself and returning to the rites, and the well-field Zhou system, these are also political ideals. But reality has proved that this is a road that is fundamentally unworkable. Since Wang Mang, this road has been cut off and no one has tried to practice it.

Therefore, the emperor is not afraid of Confucian gentlemen, nor is he afraid of them forming a group but not a party.

Because the political concept has been shattered, only the moral concept remains.

The fear is that these "scalpers" now recognize a path and believe that this path is really feasible - let's not talk about whether it is really feasible. Just like Confucianism, before Wang Mang, didn't they also believe that it was really feasible in the world? Before failure, they absolutely did not believe that it would not work.

The emperor was a feudal emperor after all. In this era, it was impossible to say to these people in a sincere manner, "After I die, if the policy is not right, you should not rebel against the policy." It is also impossible to let these people sign a written agreement, saying that they will never do this or that in the future.

This is not the etiquette of a monarch or his ministers, nor is it the way of a monarch or his ministers.

So the emperor asked: "I have something that I was about to ask your ministers. If after the discussion between the imperial court and the central court, they actually thought that expansion, diplomacy, trade, and Western affairs were all bad governance."

"Then we will reduce the number of naval materials, mothball half of the navy, reduce the number of sailors, and open a trade in Malacca. What will you do?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was dumbfounded.

Listening to the emperor's previous attitude, I feel that the emperor is supportive.

These people were all brought out by Liu Yu, and they were not qualified to participate in court discussions on many policies. In the past, they were only responsible for doing things, and there was always someone to protect them from the wind and rain. They felt that the policies they identified would be implemented, and they just did it.

Over time, a trace of childish thought inevitably appeared in their minds: as long as it is correct, the court should do it, and it will definitely do it.

Not to mention, whether it is right or wrong, what criteria should be used to judge this fundamental issue.

Just talking about their understanding, why should they do the right thing and be able to do it?

Now that the emperor suddenly asked this, they suddenly panicked, and then they thought that it turned out that whether the court did something did not necessarily depend on whether it was correct.

Almost everyone thinks, if this is true, wouldn't it be nonsense? What’s the point of everything you’ve done before?

Only after I actually went to Nanyang did I realize that if it was just a military issue, why would the Dutch and Spaniards in Nanyang need twenty years of hard work?

Is the current great situation just for the purpose of going to Malacca for trade?

Seal the navy, cut the navy...what's the future for everyone?

Everyone knew the etiquette of meeting the emperor and did not dare to whisper to each other or raise their heads casually - unless they were important ministers or close associates of the emperor, looking up at the emperor while kneeling could be regarded as "insulting in assassination".

No one could whisper or communicate. No one dared to speak at this time and could only wait for Li Huan to speak first.

Li Han also knew that he had to speak at this time, so he had no choice but to say: "Father, if this is really the case, I think I should argue with reason!"

After hearing this, the emperor couldn't help laughing and said: "Argue based on reason? What a good argument! Whose reason are you arguing for?"

"The principles are different, how can we argue based on the principles? It will only turn into a quarrel. Even, from arguing, to arguing."

"Things can be argued; reasons, how can they be argued?"

"You can ask Marquis Jing in the future. It is known to everyone in the court that he speaks fiercely in the court. But even so, can he defend himself even once?"

After that, the emperor added: "You are all studying, so I might as well teach you some more."

"Xun Qing said: In this world, there are four true ministers of the country and the treasures of the king."

"These four are called admonishing ministers, Zhengcheng ministers, auxiliary ministers, and Fu ministers."

"What do you mean by admonishing ministers?"

"The monarch has made mistakes, or the court's policies are wrong. When it is going to endanger the country or harm the society, the ministers can see it, and they can directly advise and explain the problem clearly. If the monarch listens, it is best; if he doesn't listen, he will run away. Road, resignation, seclusion."

"This is the remonstrating minister. In ancient times, Jizi was probably the representative of the remonstrating minister. King Zhou refused to listen, so Jizi played the piano and sang songs to feel sorry for himself, and stopped asking about the affairs of the country. Finally, he fled to North Korea."

"What is Zhengchen?"

"When the monarch has made a mistake, or the court's policy is wrong, and is about to endanger the country and harm the society, the ministers will notice it, advise and explain the problem clearly."

"It's best if your ruler listens. If you don't listen, you will die."

"This is Zhengchen. Officials like Bigan, Wu Zixu, and Sanlu Doctor are Zhengchen."

"What is an assistant minister?"

"There are mistakes in government affairs that endanger the country. The monarch refuses to listen to his advice, so he mobilizes his ministers to force the monarch until he has no choice but to listen."

"This is the assistant minister."

"The Lord of Pingyuan in ancient times; Duke Kolai who forced Emperor Song to go to the Battle of Tanyuan. They are the auxiliary ministers."

"What is Fu Chen?"

"There were mistakes in government affairs that endangered the country. The ministers stood up, snatched the monarch's authority, violated the monarch's will, and resisted the monarch's orders. But in the end, the matter was done, and the country's crisis was relieved, and the harm to the country was prevented, so that the monarch would not be humiliated. , so that the country can prosper.”

"Such a person is Fu Chen."

"Speaking of it, stealing the talisman to save Zhao Zhui from killing Lord Xinling of Jin Bi can be regarded as a fuchen. As in the story, if Yue Wumu won twelve gold medals but did not retreat, disobeyed the king's orders and went straight to Huanglong, he would The shame of Xue Jingkang can also be called Fuchen."

"Remonstrating ministers, Zheng ministers, auxiliary ministers, and Fu ministers, Xun Qing said that these four kinds of ministers are the pillars of the country and the treasures of the monarch."

"The so-called 'gentleman follows the Tao but not the ruler'!"

Speaking of this, the emperor smiled and said: "Therefore, it is not without reason that Xun Qing was kicked out of the Confucius Temple during the Jiajing period of the previous dynasty and did not get to eat half a piece of cold pork."