After Zhu Yijun gave these instructions, he stood up and looked out the window.
Outside the window, yellow leaves were already covering the courtyard steps, waiting to be swept away by a strong wind.
The construction of new etiquette was initiated by Yu Youding based on practical learning thoughts. He and the ruling ministers such as Shen Shixing and Fang Fengshi reached an agreement on the new reform policy in the ideological field.
Although the new rites are in the name of restoring the rites originally intended by Taizu, and changed to the restrained and conservative rites after the rise of Neo-Confucianism, in fact, the new rites once again emphasize the difference between Chinese and foreigners and the meaning of the same robe, and require respect from the humble. In addition, they also began to legislate to require the venerable to treat the humble with benevolence and courtesy.
Shen Shixing, Fang Fengshi, and Yu Youding did this because they started their careers by supporting Zhang Juzheng's reforms. If they want to retain their power, they must continue Zhang Juzheng's reform path and admit that it is correct to reform inappropriate policies. It is necessary; only in this way can they continue to sit in high positions legitimately.
It’s just a matter of changing and changing. When the restructuring reaches this point, it is necessary to make an ideological knife to further consolidate the correctness of the governing behavior of reformists like themselves, and completely remove the traitorous party label of messing up etiquette and breaking the law.
but.
How could officials like Shen Shixing, Fang Fengshi, and Yu Youding who came from the landlord class be willing to continue with the reform and start to stop the rituals that really made the Ming Empire hesitate to move forward or even start to retreat? More importantly, the emperor Zhu Yijun himself did not stand on the old rituals. That side, the conservative side.
Zhu Yijun made this choice, not only because he came from a later generation and knew that the old rites would gradually collapse, which would lead to China being oppressed by foreigners, but he himself did not want to be bound by the old rites.
If the old rites based on the idea of "eliminating human desires and preserving natural principles" continue to rule this land, then the emperor will not be free unless he is a foreign emperor and has his own military group that is sufficient to check and balance the Han landlord class. , will also become a slave to the old rituals.
And in that case.
The emperor will either behave badly or be rebellious, but either way, as long as he does not change the old rituals, it will be a disaster for the people and the country. On the contrary, the foreign emperor can rely on this ritual system to not only be free from the old rituals, but also to rely on the old rituals to control Everyone in the world is driven by themselves, and truly realizes that except for me, everyone is a slave.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun would rather treat the Han people all over the world as more human beings and let the cabinet and others have the actual status of prime ministers, rather than support the old rituals just so that he can really enslave the Han people all over the world.
There is no absolute freedom in this world. If you want absolute freedom and go your own way, it will lead to absolute lack of freedom.
Although Zhu Yijun is unwilling to annihilate his own desires and become a slave of the old rituals, he is also willing not to follow his selfish desires, but to moderate his selfish desires in order to achieve a more peaceful and peaceful state of mind.
certainly.
Zhu Yijun also hoped in his heart that after breaking the old etiquette, he could allow the Ming Dynasty to collect more money from the outside world and use the money earned externally to increase domestic income. Then he could go out of the palace to inspect various places at his own expense without worrying about burdening the people. , making the world angry.
To know.
Zhu Yijun has had enough of staying in this Sifang City.
He still wanted to see this so-called country that belonged to him.
And this way.
The current reforms have caused old things in the entire empire to begin to peel off, such as foot binding, abandoned infants and other customs, as well as the phenomenon of nobles and military officials being humble; and new things are beginning to appear, such as encouraging common people to migrate to develop new With the development of the country's industry, scholars began to be willing to go out to make contributions and gain fame, and the country's martial virtues began to go out instead of just being used to keep within.
Even military ministers now dare to sue civilian officials, so that Zhu Yijun can really use the civil and military system, and he knows which powerful bureaucrats are the guardians of the old rituals, so much so that he does not hesitate to support the Tartars in provoking border troubles, so he ordered the factory to Wei goes to arrest people.
In a teahouse outside Daming Gate.
It was also snowing at night, and Zhao Nanxing, the doctor of the examination department, Shen Zhong, the minister of Taichang Temple, Shi Xing, the minister of Taipu Temple, Wang Yongji, the doctor of the literary selection department, Fu Laipeng, the young minister of Taipus Temple, and other colleagues and friends were just sitting around the fire. , getting ready to have tea, a team of Jin Yiwei came over from here at this time.
At first, Zhao Nanxing and others didn't care.
After all, it is very common for Jinyi guards to appear in the capital's territory. No one knows whether they are on routine patrol or looking for thieves.
Therefore, at this time, Zhao Nanxing was only talking about the hot topic of establishing new rituals that the official circles were paying attention to at the moment, and said disappointedly and helplessly:
"There has been no large-scale border trouble. The new gift seems to be timely, and the Tartars are indeed not that unwilling to accept it!"
"Why don't we talk about the Emperor's sage!"
"If the emperor didn't know that the Tartars were also divided, how could he be willing to change the etiquette system for the great cause of benefiting the country and the people?"
Shi Xing also laughed and said something.
Wang Yongji shook his head after Shi Xing said this, and then drank a cup of tea without saying much.
Bang!
At this moment, Shen Renzhong, the minister of Taichang Temple, suddenly placed the empty tea cup heavily on the coffee table, then stood up and said: "But is this kind of benefiting the country and the people really in line with the principles of a saint? Can etiquette really be changed? If it is changed, it is still etiquette. ?!"
As he spoke, Shen Renzhong suddenly said with tears in his eyes: "When I think that the result of the reform of etiquette is that the barbarians dare not cause trouble but are willing to be driven, and the civil servants do not dare to be corrupt but rely on the military to ensure that the officials are clean, I feel heartbroken. Is the new gift really so in line with the times?!"
"if not?"
"Does Gong really want to be conservative?"
Fu Laipeng asked Shen Renzhong at this time.
"Yes, maybe Mr. Gomine is right. If etiquette cannot help the country, then etiquette is out of date."
Kick!
At this time, Jin Yiwei came up.
Seeing this, Shen Renzhong suddenly became uneasy and said:
"Even if I wanted to adapt to the current situation, it was too late! Not only did the Tatars not provoke border troubles, but because of the officialdom atmosphere that was becoming less and less mutually exclusive, I was exposed."
As Shen Renzhong spoke, he took the initiative to walk towards Jin Yiwei and said, "Let's go, I know what I have committed."
Therefore, Jin Yiwei escorted Shen Renzhong away from here.
"What exactly is going on?"
Zhao Nanxing asked in surprise.
Shi Xing just sighed and said: "What else could it be? It must be a conspiracy to destroy the new rituals; but now, no conspiracy can stop the country from promoting the new rituals."
Zhao Nanxing didn't say anything after hearing this, and just looked out the window silently.
Then, he saw the snow falling all over the street. Shen Renzhong was shackled at this time, and was escorted by Jin Yiwei with staggering steps towards Fusi Yamen, Jin Yiwei North Town.
But suddenly a strong wind blew, causing yellow leaves to fall from the trees, which also fell on Shen Renzhong's shackles and shoulders.
"Are the old rituals really going to cease to exist?"
Zhao Nanxing suddenly asked in a sad tone.
Shi Xing replied: "Yes, the Holy Emperor is in the court, so it will no longer exist!"
After Wang Yongji heard what Shi Xing said, he couldn't help but glance at him, and then said: "It's not just the emperor's sage who is what we are today. This is not the result of one or two generations. Maybe the drastic change has just begun!"
Fu Laipeng and Zhao Nanxing couldn't help but nod.
(End of chapter)
