All the ministers in the hall were originally thinking about Li Wenshou's proposal, but when they suddenly heard the word 'kill', they all raised their heads, wanting to see whose mouth such fierce words came from, and then they saw it. Yan Wen was giving stern instructions. They were startled at first, and then turned to panic. They all broke into cold sweats and trembled. They all looked at the political minister in front of them with strange eyes, as if they had become different faces.
"Xiang Xiang, think twice! Since the founding of the country, this dynasty has never resorted to large-scale punishments. If today, regardless of the severity, people kill people randomly, not only will the new policies in various places fail to remedy it, but it will also lead to endless disasters." Hong Lishen did not dare to speak when he saw them. , and gave hard advice on behalf of everyone.
Yan Wen pondered for a moment, then flipped through the files and replied: "Hong's participation in politics is really the opinion of corrupt scholars. Although I am committed to the way of saints, I am not like you who are so frightened when it comes to killing people, fearing that I have violated the saint's rules. Meaning. Don’t you know that the sage Kong once executed Shaozheng Mao for spreading heresies and massacred his corpses? Doesn’t this become unkind in the eyes of the princes? What’s more, those who want to be killed now are all corrupt officials and traitors The evil gentry is much more evil than Shao Zhengmao back then! Such characters collude with each other. How can the New Deal be effective if they are not uprooted?"
"But I'm afraid..."
"No need to say more!" Yan Wen closed the file and straightened his face, "I have made up my mind, and I will draft an order according to this policy. I will ask the postman to send it back to Jinan."
Everyone had no choice but to let Yan Wen write an official document in the name of Zhongshu Province and was forced to jointly issue it.
"It's weird, it's weird, it's really a new thing in the world!" Cai Xianqing came back from outside again, clapped her hands and walked back and forth beside Ye Yongjia.
"What's wrong with Mr. Cai? Have you finished discussing it with the Central Secretariat?" Ye Yongjia couldn't help but ask when he saw how excited he was.
"You just sit here all day long without going out to relax. As a result, you don't know about national affairs. You still need me to talk to you every time!" Cai Xianqing shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"It's the junior who didn't listen to the teachings," Ye Yongjia bowed repeatedly, "I hope Mr. Cai will forgive me."
"Forget it, I'll just tell you. Then Yan Wen... Vice Prime Minister Yan, instructed Chen Tongpao, 'I have the power of life and death with you. Anyone who does not implement the new policy can be killed. If you encounter anyone who disobeys the king's order, you can do this If you still don't obey the order after showing the document, you will be immediately escorted back to the capital and beheaded in the street. Don't be merciful and delay the matter, otherwise you will be questioned!' The Yan family scholar who usually pays attention to tranquility has turned into a murderous and cruel official. , the rapid transformation is really ridiculous.”
Ye Yongjia sneered: "It seems that you don't know Prime Minister Yan very well. This is this person's consistent style. He calls himself a contemporary celebrity and vows to revive the ancient Confucianism. He often talks about governing the country with benevolence and virtue, and doing good things. He was ruthless and never merciful. When he deposed the crown prince, he didn't care at all about the number of lives he held in his hands and continued to implement benevolent policies. Today's matter is even more ridiculous. He actually hopes to rely on Rely on the heads one by one to carve out a broad road to Confucian ethics. I have never heard that killing people can make the people simple."
"But his original intention was to kill corrupt officials without harming innocent people." Cai Xianqing explained.
"You are mistaken. I don't want to discuss whether he is right or wrong in killing people. The problem lies in the fundamentals. What he is pursuing now is completely contrary to the pre-Zhou ethics he advocated. Yan Shenzheng thought he was still trying to be a saint. However, if someone like him is so unscrupulous, he has already strayed far from the original path, and now he is just deceiving himself and others."
"What about Tinglong's thoughts?" Cai Xianqing listened with great interest.
"The way of the sages is no longer feasible." Ye Yongjia frowned and spoke very firmly, "The country was in decline, and the literati held the Four Books and Five Classics, thinking that it was the decline of ethics that led to the current bad results. But it has always been Etiquette has been neglected for a long time, and people's political system has changed greatly. At this time, studying ancient books is just like following the pictures. Therefore, in order to save the country from danger, we must first abandon the legacy of our ancestors and carve out a new path on our own. Here comes a new road." When he said this, he seemed at a loss and lowered his head.
Cai Xianqing praised: "Tinglong's views are really wise! I think so too. If you blindly follow the old learning, you will just go around in circles and end up repeating the same mistakes. Setting up a new school will only fail to teach the sages and sages. The book does not ask about current affairs, which is really sad."
Ye Yongjia said: "Xiang Yan is not a stupid man, he is just obsessed with his daily ideals and does not care about foreign affairs. If this continues, the happiest person will probably be the prime minister."
"It's too early to say these words," Cai Xianqing flicked his sleeves, "Just watch it quietly and wait for the day when we will know."
After receiving the letter from Zhongshu, the postman hurried back to Jinan. He dismounted and was still panting, so he ran straight to the guest room to present it to Chen Tongpao.
"Quick, quick, open it and take a look!" A clerk came to the door, grabbed the letter with his hands, turned around and handed it to Superintendent Chen, urging him to read it.
Chen Tongpao was not in a hurry, but due to the urging of the two clerks, he had to tear open the envelope with one hand and take out the official document.
"What does it say?" The two clerks were lying in front of the table, pointing around with their fingers, which was completely unethical.
Chen Tongpao was indifferent and read the document attentively, then slowly turned his head and said, "Gong Yan has issued an order to give me the power of life and death. If I encounter any officials or people who obstruct the new policy, I will kill them without mercy."
After hearing this, the two clerks looked at each other and couldn't help showing joy: "Xiang Yan is indeed wise! When dealing with these villains, we should not tolerate indulgence!"
Chen Tongpao folded the document and responded: "We will follow Prime Minister Yan's policies and opinions, and there will be no mistakes. I will hand them over to the prefect for review tomorrow."
"The prefect should have nothing to say this time."
Chen Tongpao wrinkled his forehead: "Of course the magistrate did not dare to disobey Prime Minister Yan, but he was afraid that once he knew about it, he would become more frightened and want to save his life. He would blame others for everything and refuse to explain to us. If the local governor Preventing the imperial court in this way is not a good thing for the New Deal."
The two clerks sounded very reasonable, nodded and said: "Yes, we will kill others if they want, and we won't blink an eyelid; this person's name is magistrate, but he is actually governor, and he has great power. We must win over him." "
Chen Tongpao said: "I have a plan. The prefect is afraid of you two, and I have always maintained a moderate and compromise view, which makes him trust me. Now I can carry this letter with me and ask him to have a secret meeting, and then we can talk to him in secret. I will give them both kindness and power, making them fearful and happy. With my virtue, I will surely make them bow their heads and listen to me. What do you two think?"
The two of them said without hesitation: "That's it!"
