It is recorded in the history books: "Build a city to protect the king, and build a guo to protect the people."
It is obvious that the main function of the cities built by the early ancestors was to resist barbarians and protect the people.
With the development of the times, the city became bigger and bigger. Whether it is the brothers of the princes or the governors of the feudal cities, their power will become more and more powerful.
In the end, these huge cities not only failed to protect the monarch, but instead became a tool used by some people to fight against the monarchy and enslave the people.
The few examples Shen Wuyu mentioned earlier are all clearly recorded in the history books, word for word.
Any gentleman who has read books generally knows the harm to the country of these increasingly large fiefdoms and their unstoppable momentum.
But after hearing Shen Wuyu say this, King Chu just smiled:
"What you said looks so much like what Li Ran said. It seems that you have been asking for advice a lot, right?"
"Haha, this person does have some knowledge, but his way of governing a small country is acceptable, so how can he understand the principles of governing a big country? Haha, in my opinion, these words are just his excuses!"
The current King of Chu may have been wary of Li Ran.
Or perhaps, this was due to his strong vanity. He always thought that building a city to show off his outstanding achievements was the only choice. No matter how others tried to persuade him, he could not convince his vanity to give in.
But no matter what happened, he still did not accept Shen Wuyu's advice.
At this time, You Yin of the Chu State was also accompanying the King of Chu. Hearing what the King of Chu said, he immediately frowned.
"Your Majesty, what Shen Wuyu said just now, even if it was Li Ran's intention, is not unreasonable.
"The people are born of God."
"So those who understand the way of heaven must also understand the people."
"Now that the Chu State is in urgent need of rest and adjustment, the construction of three cities may cause complaints from the people."
"What Li Ran said is very worthy of awe!"
You Yin of Chu State, Ran Dan, named Zige.
As mentioned before, his father was Ziran, the son of Zheng Mugong. So speaking of it, he himself is a direct relative of Zheng Guogong. Therefore, the story of "Zheng Burke and Duan Yu Yan" is very clear.
Speaking of the life experience of Ran Dan (Zige), in the 19th year of Lu Xianggong, after his uncle Gong Zijia was killed, Ran Dan had to go to Chu. From then on, he continued to serve as a counselor and guest minister under Wang Ziwei until Wang Ziwei ascended the throne as Queen of Chu, and he was promoted to the right Yin of Chu State.
Therefore, his situation was very similar to that of Wu Ju, another minister of the King of Chu. They both followed "chickens and dogs to heaven" because Wang Ziwei "achieved Taoism alone".
However, as a Zheng native and deeply influenced by Zhou Rites, he and Wu Ju had different political opinions.
For example, after the King of Chu took the throne, he launched several large-scale battles. As a man who urgently needed military exploits to enable the Wu family to gain a foothold in Chu, Wu Ju certainly would not advise the King of Chu to cherish the people's strength and recuperate.
After Zige heard about the results of Zheng Guo's Zichan New Deal, he has been admonishing the King of Chu to learn from Zichan's New Deal and implement it in Chu to cultivate national strength and people's livelihood.
It's a pity that the King of Chu himself has no interest in "raising the people". Moreover, he also urgently needs unparalleled achievements to prove his "legitimacy".
Therefore, for the King of Chu at that time, how could he adopt such a thing as "recuperate and wait for the right time"?
Therefore, although Zige was said to be You Yin, he was not actually used much by the King of Chu. Instead, Wu Ju remained at the center of Chu's power.
Hearing that his right-hand Yin Zige actually gave advice at this time and agreed with what Shen Wuyu said, King Chu's expression suddenly changed slightly.
It was one thing for him to have no doubt about Li Ran before, but it was another thing for his ministers to have firm belief in what Li Ran said!
In other words, he can trust Li Ran deeply and even obey his words.
But his ministers absolutely cannot!
Since ancient times, what monarchs fear most is that their ministers obey the advice of others. If all these officials only listen to him, Li Ran, then who will listen to him in the future?
Then wouldn’t it be that he, the King of Chu, had lost all his majesty and became a puppet?
Furthermore, even if he can rely on his status as King of Chu to suppress his speech now, what will happen to him a hundred years from now? Can his coffin be covered?
It can be said that the king of Chu is also well versed in the art of emperors.
"You don't need to say any more. I have made up my mind to build the three cities without delay!"
In the end, the King of Chu decided the matter in a very authoritarian tone.
…
When the news reached Li Ran, he heard that the King of Chu not only refused to listen to Shen Wuyu's advice, but also wanted to build a city aggressively, Li Ran could only feel a sadness welling up in his heart.
Chu State's current strength is obviously hollow and has no basis for support.
But the King of Chu was still so tyrannical and insisted on his own way. If this continues, I'm afraid the entire Chu State will be in doom!
But in the end, it was the people of Chu who suffered.
Li Ran could fully foresee at this time that civil strife would suddenly break out in the Chu State, all life would be devastated, countless people would be killed in the sea of fire, and the money accumulated by the Chu State for many years would also be wiped out in one fell swoop.
"Alas...The King of Chu is still the domineering prince...No one can change him, just like no one can change the fate of the Chu Kingdom."
Li Ran gave up.
He has done everything he can.
However, everything he did did not change anything for the king of Chu or the country of Chu.
Shen Wuyu also seemed very frustrated, because he knew very well how dangerous the current crisis in Chu State was.
But he still didn't give up, and still fantasized about how Li Ran could save the Chu country from the fire.
"Sir, he is knowledgeable about the past and the present, and is extremely knowledgeable. Do you really think there is no other way?"
"Hey...there is no way to save the day..."
Li Ran's answer was very simple.
The path that Chu State is taking now is different from any previous period and different from any country in this era.
There are many variables in this itself, whether they come from the outside or internally. The disadvantages brought about by the so-called "imperial system" in later generations are unavoidable in Chu State.
This road was unprecedented, so there was no experience to draw from. Chu State needed to explore every step on its own.
"What can knowledge do at this time? Just based on the doctor's heartfelt words, his knowledge is already at its peak. Even if Li goes there in person, it will be nothing more than that."
"But what's the result? Did King Chu ever listen and make any progress?"
When a person insists on heading towards destruction, the only person who can save him may be himself.
Li Ran understood this, Shen Wuyu also understood it, and even the sacrificial music who was listening quietly on the side understood it.
Now, only King Chu himself does not understand.
He was still immersed in his immense achievements, still fantasizing and longing for the blueprint he had drawn for himself.
The Chu State will eventually embark on a path of eternal disaster under his leadership.
When Shen Wuyu heard the sound, he suddenly collapsed on the ground, with only numbness on his face.
A few jackdaws flew from the sky, and the setting sun reflected on the undulating sky. The desolate land was always broad, and everything that could be accommodated and could not be accommodated was always in its embrace.
(End of chapter)
