Zhu Biao frowned, benevolence, righteousness, tyranny, law and virtue constantly swirling in his mind.
What is Mingjun? What is a tyrant? Shouldn't a king be a man of justice, abide by the law, and abide by benevolence?
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a wise king? Then why did he praise Li Guang, who killed people randomly, and protected Huo Qubing, who shot Li Gan?
Was Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty a tyrant? Then why was he able to expel the Xiongnu and completely imprint the glory of the Han Dynasty on the blood of the Chinese nation?
"Dad, do you think everything Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did was right?" Zhu Biao asked Lao Zhu.
"Of course you are right!" Lao Zhu replied decisively.
"Just kill Li Gan, just kill him."
"If we were Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, we would do more cruel things than him! Even more cruel! Even in the history books, we are determined not to find any fault with Huo Qubing!"
"Why?" Zhu Biao was confused. "Dad, didn't you also warn me that the laws of the court are the foundation of a country and should not be ignored."
"The masters also say that when a prince breaks the law, he is guilty of the same crime as the common people. You personally made the laws of the Ming Dynasty, why are you taking the lead in violating them now?"
"External Confucianism and internal law should be the way of the emperor. How can the emperor make all people obey when he violates the prohibition?"
"Stupid!" Seeing that Zhu Biao was still stubborn, Lao Zhu became even more furious. "You must have been taught a wrong way by those Confucian masters."
"Those literati should all be killed!"
I just thought that Zhu Biao was too benevolent, but in other aspects he was a good boy. But he didn't expect that Confucianism was so deeply rooted in his heart. Lao Zhu was immediately furious with the Confucian scholars who taught Zhu Biao!
Upon seeing this, Zhu Su hurriedly stood in front of Lao Zhu, isolating the father and son. He woke up Zhu Biao first and said: "Brother, you have got into the corner of the ox."
"We must first clarify, is the so-called emperor an emperor of Confucian morals, or an emperor of the people of the world?"
"...Is there any difference between using Confucianism to govern a country?" Zhu Biao asked.
"Of course it's different!" Zhu Su said loudly. "During the Zhou Dynasty, Duke Zhou established Zhou Rites. Was there Confucianism at that time?"
"Is the Zhou Dynasty no longer governing the country?"
"During the Qin Dynasty, could Great Qin respect Confucianism? How could Great Qin unify the six kingdoms?"
"In the final analysis, why do we in China depose hundreds of schools of thought and only respect Confucianism? My eldest brother is familiar with history books, has he ever thought about this issue?"
"The common people don't think about this problem, and the scholars don't think about it. As a prince, I absolutely cannot help but think about it!"
Zhu Biao had already figured it out and was looking at Zhu Su who was talking in shock. Even Lao Zhu turned his head in surprise at some point, staring at the fifth son's face with a pair of shining tiger eyes.
Zhu Suzheng was talking about the joy, but he was not aware of it, but continued to say with emotion: "Being an emperor not only has a supreme status, but also should bear extremely heavy obligations."
"The reason why Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposed hundreds of schools of thought is not because Confucianism is a good law that will last forever. If Confucius had not been born, there would still be days and nights in the world, and it would not be like a long night forever. It is just because Confucianism talks about loyalty, filial piety, justice, and justice. It is most suitable for the Han Dynasty to teach and control the scholars and the common people, so as to facilitate Liu's knowledge in governing the country!"
"It was raised to the altar by the emperor, just because of two words, easy to use! That's all!"
"The emperor needs everyone to believe in it and worship him. But the royal family himself must never believe in this thing that was lifted up by himself."
"Only by respecting Confucianism but not believing in it can one become a great leader who will open up new territories and expand territories!"
This sentence is tantamount to tearing apart the sacred veil of Confucianism from the fundamental level. Since Dong Zhongshu, Confucianism has multiplied through the ages and has long been rooted in the land of China, becoming the only prominent religion in this land.
Confucianism is the best way to govern the country, Confucianism educates the people, and Confucianism is the supreme principle of heaven and earth! Confucianism has described to emperors of all dynasties, including Zhu Biao, a world of great harmony that is extremely beautiful and seems to be accessible!
It can be said that the world of great harmony depicted by Confucianism was Zhu Biao's most respected goal of governing the country in the future.
But now the fifth brother said that Confucianism was promoted by the emperor, and the emperor should not believe in Confucianism!
Zhu Biao felt that the pillar in his heart seemed to be gradually crumbling.
"Then...what should the royal family believe in? Believe in the Dharma?" Zhu Biao took two steps back, his voice a little confused. "But you and Dad just said that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was not wrong in ignoring the law..."
"There is nothing wrong with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty respecting Confucianism but not believing in it. There is nothing wrong with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty knowing the law but taking the lead in breaking it. The emperor is also the patriarch of all Chinese people. As the patriarch, there is only one rule to follow."
"Everything must put the interests of the country first!"
"National interests?" Zhu Biao's eyes flashed, and his already collapsed heart seemed to have found a new pillar of support.
"Not bad." Zhu Su nodded.
"Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty clearly knew that Li Guang was guilty but issued a decree to praise him because Li Guang was useful to the country at this time. He was also needed to attack the Huns from the north. Therefore, although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty violated the law, he was not wrong."
"Knowing that Huo Qubing unjustly killed Li Gan but shielding him, it was because Huo Qubing had the power of the Han army, and protecting him was far more polite to the Han than committing crimes. Therefore, there is nothing wrong."
"In the same way, it's not wrong for dad to want to punish Ru Taisu. Although Ru Taisu has a close relationship with my eldest brother, he ignores your usual words and rashly impeaches me when you are not around. To say the least, this is to provoke you. My brotherly love. In the worst case, it means being arrogant and disobeying orders!"
"If you let this go, brother, all the officials under you will act arbitrarily according to their own ideas. How will you lead the officials? How will you be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the future?"
"Brother, you have heard me talk about Zhu Youtang, the later Emperor of Hongzhi, right?"
"He himself has left a reputation for benevolence in the history books, but so what? He is just a clay puppet."
"After my son inherited the throne, he still had to fight with the senior civil servants. In the end, he even fell into the water and died inexplicably!"
"Civil officials have exclusive power. This case cannot be broken! If dad wants to kill Ru Taisu, he can kill him!"
"Well said!" Lao Zhu suddenly shouted loudly, startling both Zhu Su who was talking eloquently and Zhu Biao who was thoughtful.
He stretched out his big hand like a bear's paw and patted Zhu Su's back approvingly, almost taking out Zhu Su's heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. "That's well said, Lao Wu! It's so good!"
"Biao'er, don't you understand? As an emperor, you should not consider benevolence or the rule of law."
"Everything in the world is just a means used by the emperor to govern the country!"
"Wouldn't it be ridiculous if I was bound by the whip that I hold in my hand?"
"Lao Wu is right. As an emperor, all you need to consider is profit! And there can only be profit!"
"If it is good for our Ming Dynasty, as long as the price is enough, what if we overthrow all these laws and that bullshit Confucianism?"
"You only need to consider the interests of Ming Dynasty."
"The emperor's art is only in this sentence! You have to understand, you must understand!"
Lao Zhu's eyes were fixed on Zhu Biao.
(End of chapter)
