"Prince, what brings you here?"
After Zhu Cihong saluted, Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately asked with a cold face.
A look of hesitation flashed across Zhu Cixi's face, and then he said respectfully: "My son, I am here to pay my respects to my father!"
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but frowned when he heard this.
When Zhu Cixi saw this, he remained silent.
It turned out that after three days of thinking, Zhu Cihong had guessed that Zhu Yuanzhang was dissatisfied with him because of Xia Wanchun.
However, he had received Confucian education since childhood, and this idea was deeply ingrained. Therefore, although he recognized the problem and knew that this method of handling conflicted with Zhu Yuanzhang's teachings, he still chose to stick to the Tao in his heart.
Seeing Zhu Cixiang's persistence, Zhu Yuanzhang was both happy and angry.
But he also knew that pushing too hard would be counterproductive, so he discussed the war situation with Wu Mengming and pointed out the current difficulties one by one. Then he pretended to be unintentional and said: "Prince, what do you think about this?"
When Zhu Cixiang asked, he bowed and said, "Today's war situation seems complicated, but in fact, the solution is nothing more than internal and external."
"Internally, appoint talented people, clarify the administration of officials, externally use both suppression and appeasement, kill rebellious leaders, and calm the people..."
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said: "Who is the virtuous person in the court? Who will lead the troops? Where will the money and food come from? How can we control the generals if they don't obey?"
"For example, Zuo Liangyu from Shanxi harbors evil intentions and has been dissatisfied with the imperial court for only a day or two. How is the prince prepared to appease him and cultivate his virtues?"
"Another example is the Jurchen Pass. The Pingxi Marquis can't win, and the defenders don't have enough troops and food. How do you deal with it?"
"If Thief Li comes out, will you kill him or appease him..."
...
As Zhu Yuanzhang was pressed with a series of questions, Zhu Cixiang immediately felt a little out of breath.
Because none of the famous quotes in his mind about governing the world can solve these problems.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhu Yuanzhang signaled Wu Mengming to go out, and then asked in a deep voice: "Has the prince read Tai Shigong's preface?"
Zhu Cixiang was stunned for a moment, and said with some confusion: "My son read it the year before last..."
"Does the prince remember the orders of the six families?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked loudly again without waiting for Zhu Cixiang to finish his words.
When Zhu Cihong heard this, his body couldn't help but trembled.
Because the Six Schools of Thought is Sima Tan, the father of Sima Qian, who wrote a famous article about the advantages and disadvantages of various schools of thought in governing the country, which was regarded as a guide by later generations.
In the guide, Sima Tan's evaluation of Confucianism is that "Confucian scholars are knowledgeable but have few important points, and work hard but have little merit, which is why it is difficult to follow everything. However, the etiquette of monarch, minister, father and son, including the distinction between husband and wife, elder and younger, cannot be changed easily. .”
What it means is that Confucianism seems to be profound, but it lacks the essential program of governing the country, and the hard work has yielded little results. Therefore, most of their policy proposals are flashy and cannot be implemented.
Only the etiquette they formulated for the order of kings, ministers, fathers and sons, and the distinction between the elders of husbands and wives, were the outlines of the ages and could be adopted.
Seeing Zhu Cihong's expression, Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "Does the prince know that Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty was a great leader, and he was on the verge of resurgence? Why did he decline again in the hands of Emperor Han Yuan?"
When Zhu Cixiang heard this, he was shocked again, and his face instantly turned pale.
Because Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty was gentle and fond of Confucianism, when he was still the prince, he often disagreed with Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, who governed the country in a kingly and domineering way.
Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty also advised Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty to use more Confucian scholars. When Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty heard this, his face changed on the spot. After scolding him, he sighed: "The prince is the one who messes with my family!"
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Zhu Cixi did not understand what he meant, so he asked again: "Prince, what do you think of the Han Emperor pretending to be an envoy to seize Han Xin's military power?"
Zhu Cixiang originally thought that Zhu Yuanzhang was blaming him for believing in Confucianism and becoming a sinner of the Ming Dynasty, and he was frightened in his heart.
At this moment, when he heard that Zhu Yuanzhang asked about cultivating martial arts and seizing troops, he relaxed a little and said in a deep voice: "The emperor of the Han Dynasty was defeated in Xingyang. Seizing troops was firstly to protect himself, and secondly, to avoid the general's disaster... "
"Then why do you think Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was able to capture Zuo Liangyu's soldiers successfully? Today we ask you to capture Zuo Liangyu's soldiers. What do you think?
Is it feasible? "
Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted Zhu Cixiang again and asked loudly.
Zhu Cixiang opened his mouth, but was unable to answer.
Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly: "In terms of military capabilities, ten Zuo Liangyu are not as good as one Han Xin. But Han Emperor Gaozu could capture Han Xin's soldiers, why can't we capture Zuo Liangyu's soldiers?"
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he glanced at Zhu Cihong, and seeing that he was silent, he continued: "Although there is no record in the history books, from what we can see, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty had already anticipated everything, so he made arrangements in advance."
"Otherwise, forget about taking the commander's seal, I'm afraid I won't even be able to enter the camp gate. This is the emperor's method. If we act according to Confucianism, the bones of Han Emperor Gaozu would have been cold."
"So we don't object to you practicing Confucianism, but you have to understand that books are just an introduction, and the real knowledge lies outside the books."
"Especially the Confucian scholars. They always claim to be emperors and masters, and all the classics left behind are beneficial to them. How can you believe everything they say..."
After listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Zhu Cihong realized how wrong he had been before and hurriedly knelt down to apologize.
Seeing his sincere expression and sincere words, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that he really understood, so he relaxed a little, and then asked: "When we leave Beijing this time, we have left you two helpers, do you know?"
Hearing this, a trace of reluctance flashed across Zhu Cixiang's face, but he suppressed it forcefully, and then asked, "Are you talking about Masters Fan and Li?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he nodded secretly in his heart and said solemnly: "Yes, they are the two of them. How is the prince going to conquer them?"
Zhu Cixiang pondered for a while and said: "Both of them are orthodox Confucianists. Confucianism has always emphasized repaying the direct. They also say that a drop of kindness will be repaid by a spring. Therefore, I want to ask for a favor from my father. Please return it." Father, I will make it happen!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Okay, make good use of his strengths. Our teachings are not in vain, but they can be improved!"
Zhu Cixiang was also a smart man. He thought for a moment and then said: "It turns out that the reason why my father has not seen me these past few days is because I begged for mercy on behalf of Fan and Li. I also asked my father to forgive me for my reckless crime." !」
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Yes, we have let Wu Mengming let the news out. Later, you can go to their mansion in person to convey our will."
"We killed a lot of people this time, and many people in the East Forest Party are dissatisfied. However, they are afraid of us. As long as we are here, they will not dare to act recklessly."
"But if we leave the capital, they may cause trouble, so you must make good use of these two people to keep the capital safe..."
Zhu Cixiang knew that Zhu Yuanzhang had finished explaining, so he said with a look of reluctance: "Father, are you leaving Beijing again?"
Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted to comfort Zhu Cixi with a few words, but thinking of his weak temper, he hardened his heart: "Prince, the world is in chaos now. We, father and son, should work together to stabilize the world, so as to comfort the spirits of our ancestors in heaven... ..”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Cihong bowed in agreement and quickly walked out of Dongnuan Pavilion.
