"Hundred Family Surnames" is only an enlightenment book, but from the day it appeared, it had a profound impact on the world.
In ancient times, there was Mengxue, which was the study of enlightenment. However, from the top to the bottom of Chinese history for thousands of years, all the way to the Braid Dynasty, there were only three true enlightenment readings, "One Hundred Family Surnames", "The Thousand-Character Classic" and "The Three-Character Classic".
In today's Tang Dynasty, before Li Qinzai, the Three-Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames had not yet appeared, and the only thing children read for enlightenment was the Thousand-Character Classic.
What a foolish monarch wants is for the people to be ignorant, because ignorance makes it easy to manage, easy to incite, and easy to fool.
But for a wise monarch, what he hopes to see is the popularization of knowledge and principles.
Because only by reading can one be clear-minded and virtuous, and know etiquette, righteousness, and integrity, fewer people will commit crimes and fewer people will rebel. This not only maintains public order in the world, but also consolidates rule.
Everyone has books to read and everyone can practice martial arts. This is how we call the world unified.
Li Zhi was undoubtedly a wise monarch, and he quickly saw the value of hundreds of surnames, not only in terms of enlightenment, but also in politics.
""Hundred Family Surnames"? It's just the right time." Li Zhi narrowed his eyes and smiled.
Empress Wu was confused and said: "Your Majesty means..."
Li Zhi said leisurely: "Two years ago, my uncle Changsun Wuji passed away. The Guanlong family and the Shandong gentry were respectful to me on the surface, but there was quite a lot of resentment behind them. When my father was still alive, these aristocratic families were loyal to him. Geng Geng, but after the death of their father, they became a little restless..."
Empress Wu was able to fight her way out of Li Zhi's harem and deposed Empress Wang and succeeded in taking the throne. Her political sense was also very sensitive, and her eyes lit up when she heard this.
"Your Majesty is saying that you will continue to suppress aristocratic families through "Hundred Family Surnames"?"
Li Zhi picked up the paper on the table. The paper was densely covered with words, which was the full text of "Hundred Family Surnames" written by Li Qinzai.
Li Zhi flicked the thin paper with his fingers and said leisurely: "In the past, when my father was still alive, he ordered Gao Shilian to compile the "Chronicle of the Clan". Gao Shilian revised the manuscript three times and finally met his father's wishes."
"In the clan annals, my Li family's royal family is ranked first, followed by my relatives, and all the major aristocratic families are ranked third. My father's move has severely beaten all the aristocratic families in the world."
"What my father can do, why can't I do it?"
Empress Wu's phoenix eyes shone and she whispered, "Your Majesty, you want to rewrite the Clan Chronicle?"
Li Zhi smiled but did not answer, staring at the hundreds of family names in front of him, and suddenly sighed: "This grandson of the British Duke is a great talent!"
Empress Wu covered her mouth and smiled and said: "I heard that it was to enlighten his children, but she also felt that the thousand-character text was too profound and difficult to understand, so she simply compiled "Hundred Family Surnames" herself."
Li Zhi was stunned and unexpectedly said: "Li Qinzai has a child? I have never heard that he is married..."
Empress Wu snorted and said: "I asked someone to find out. Li Qinzai is not an economical lamp. The child is almost five years old. He had an affair with a maid in the palace in his early years. He is unknown and has no distinction, even a bastard." No, but he does love that child very much."
Li Zhi smiled nonchalantly and said: "As a man, it is inevitable that you will be impulsive and lose your mind. I was not like you back then..."
Empress Wu's face turned red, she pushed him slightly and said angrily: "Your Majesty, it's broad daylight and you're above the main hall, you can't get carried away with your nonsense!"
Li Zhi laughed, then suddenly frowned, pressed his head with both hands, and groaned in pain.
Empress Wu panicked and stood up in a hurry and said, "Has your majesty suffered from wind disease again?"
Turning her head to look outside the palace, Empress Wu said in a deep voice: "Here comes the imperial physician!"
Li Zhi groaned for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, I'm feeling better."
Empress Wu looked at him worriedly and sighed: "Your Majesty's wind attacks have become more and more frequent recently. Even though all the famous doctors in the world can't cure him, what should we do?"
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said: "I asked myself that I have never done anything to harm Zhongliang and torture the people. Why am I being punished like this? I don't know."
Pointing to the hundreds of surnames in front of him, Li Zhi continued: "If the imperial examination is to be implemented, there is great resistance from the aristocratic families. At this time, Li Qinzai compiled "Hundred Family Surnames". Isn't it the same as his father's "Clans"? "Historical Records" echoes? I have to say, this is God's will."
Empress Wu also nodded. In terms of hatred for the aristocratic family members, she actually hated Li Zhi even more.
When Wang Liwu was deposed, the representatives of the aristocratic family, headed by Changsun Wuji, criticized her verbally and verbally. That time she competed with Queen Wang, and whoever lost would definitely die.
Later, Queen Wang was defeated and died as expected.
As for Empress Wu, it was as if she had walked away from the gate of hell. All these things were given by the aristocratic family. How could she not hate the aristocratic family?
"Your Majesty wants to promote the "Hundred Family Surnames" to the world in order to knock down the aristocratic families?" Empress Wu asked immediately.
Li Zhi nodded and said in a deep voice: "I have to use and guard against the nobles and nobles of the aristocratic families. From the time I ascended the throne, I have decided to promote the imperial examination and open up the path for people from poor families to become officials. If the noble families and nobles give me resistance, I will take advantage of them." Hit them every now and then.”
"This article, "One Hundred Family Surnames," is ostensibly for children's enlightenment, but if it were promoted throughout the world, the ranking of surnames in "One Hundred Family Surnames" would be known to everyone, and the effect would be countless times better than that of my father's "Clan Chronicle." "
Empress Wu took another look at "One Hundred Family Surnames" and smiled sweetly: "This Li Qinzai is really talented. The Hundred Family Surnames he compiled is not only catchy, but also deliberately ranks the surnames of the world's aristocratic families at the bottom. Could it be that he is Deliberately catering to His Majesty’s wishes?”
Li Zhi laughed and said: "This young man is not only smart, but also very thoughtful. He is very suitable for me."
Li Zhi's expression became solemn as he spoke, and he said: "It was decreed by the Ministry of Finance to promulgate the "Hundred Family Surnames" to the world. The governors, county magistrates, and academic doctors of each state must post the "Hundred Family Surnames" in every state, county, and township. , tell Shangshu Sheng that this move is only for the enlightenment of children in the world and has no other intention."
Empress Wu pursed her lips and smiled softly.
The reason is very strong, just like deceiving others. Is it necessary to post it everywhere just for the enlightenment of children? Even the rural villages have posted it. Why can't you post "The Thousand Character Essay", which is also an enlightenment book, everywhere?
Empress Wu's eyes flashed and she said softly: "Your Majesty, have you ever calculated how much contribution the British Duke's grandson has made to the Tang Dynasty recently?"
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then murmured thoughtfully: "God's arm bow, horseshoe, hundreds of surnames, civilized and military, and every one of them is a great achievement. This grandson of the British prince is not simple. He is the leader of the country." What a great talent…”
Empress Wu nodded and said: "Your Majesty, such talented people must not be neglected, but we cannot really allow them to be lazy and debauched. It would be a great disservice to the country and the emperor to leave good people at home to eat and die. loss."
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said, "Have you ever guessed what the British Lord meant?"
Empress Wu opened her eyes wide: "Isn't it a good thing that my grandson is going to be successful?"
Li Zhi shook his head: "The British Duke has outstanding achievements, but he actually does not want his grandson to be entrusted with important positions. He is afraid that Mu Xiu will be in Lin, and he is even more afraid that the Li family will have too much power and make me suspicious."
Empress Wu frowned: "Your Majesty is not a narrow-minded person, how could my old prince..."
"With the Duke of Wei, Li Jing, driving in front of him, how could the British Duke not take a warning?"
Empress Wu suddenly realized that Li Jing, Duke of Wei, was the first official in the Tang Dynasty to defeat the Eastern Turks. It was precisely because of his defeat of the Turks that his military reputation reached its peak.
Even someone as broad-minded as Li Shimin had to be cautious. After Li Jing's squadron returned to the court, the courtiers not only disapproved of his achievements, but also accused Li Jing of committing plunder. It is difficult to say whether Li Shimin's secret instructions were behind it.
Later, Li Shimin and Li Jing closed the door and had a deep chat.
It is not known what the monarch and his ministers talked about, but from then on, Li Jing handed over military power and thanked guests behind closed doors. Until his death, he never participated in military affairs or government affairs again.
From the emperor's standpoint, it cannot be said that Li Shimin was wrong in handling this matter. After all, Li Jing's existence did pose a threat to the imperial power. His reputation in the military was so high that he could easily help him overthrow the newly founded Tang Dynasty with just a single shout from a high altitude.
Li Shimin did not kill him, but let him live safely until his death. In fact, it also shows that Li Shimin was indeed a broad-minded emperor. It was not easy to do this.
Empress Wu finally understood the psychology of British Duke Li Ji.
He was afraid of following in the footsteps of Li Jing and did not want his grandson Li Qinzai to have too much power, all because of his reverence for the imperial power.
Only families that respect the imperial power can live long and have a prosperous family business for hundreds of years.
People become more sophisticated as they get older, and Li Ji is undoubtedly a shrewd and intelligent old man.
After finding out the whole story, Empress Wu smiled and said: "Li Qinzai is very talented and capable, and he is at the age where he shows his talents. The old man has stopped him once or twice. How can he stop him for the rest of his life?"
Li Zhi hesitated for a moment and said: "The compilation of hundreds of surnames is also a great achievement. You must be rewarded for your merits, but for the sake of the British public, I cannot reward you heavily..."
"I asked the minister to draw up an edict, and Li Qin of the Jin Dynasty gave advice to the officials. I gave him a horse in the palace, a goldfish bag, and a purple gold and jade belt."
As he spoke, Li Zhi paused and then said, "Is Li Qinzai's son... an illegitimate son?"
Empress Wu nodded: "The child born from an affair with a maid is indeed an illegitimate child."
Li Zhi smiled and said: "He loves his children so much that he personally compiled "Hundred Family Surnames" for his children, which has helped me a lot. Logically speaking, the illegitimate child cannot but be rewarded."
"Let's give that kid the false title of 'Captain of Light Vehicles'. If he grows up to be a talented person, I will use him again."
Empress Wu smiled and said: "Your Majesty is benevolent and generous, and I will bow to you."
Li Zhi smacked his lips and suddenly smiled: "It seems that I miss Li Qinzai a little. After the last contact with him, I realized that he is also a quick person, and I can gain something from chatting with him."
Empress Wu nodded and said: "I have also heard your Majesty chatting with him, and there is indeed something in what he said. However, I heard that Li Qinzai is now in Zhuangzi in Weinan County, presiding over the autumn harvest of the Li family, so Li Qinzai stayed in Zhuangzi and did not return. Chang'an."
"Then let Shiren go and announce the decree, and then bring him to Chang'an. I want to confront Li Qing."
