When Emperor Liu finished speaking, the nobles could not help but express surprise. Emperor Liu had made such a "promise" to many people in the past, but had never made it on such an occasion. The people present, including almost half of the nobles of the Han Dynasty, speaking out in front of everyone should have the meaning of comforting people.
However, the effect was very poor. This not only did not make them feel relieved, but made people feel worried. After all, Emperor Liu was also a master who hid his sword behind his smile. The gentler his attitude was, the more people doubted whether there was any ambush behind them to avoid misunderstandings. If you are wrong, you will harm others and yourself, and you will regret it for the rest of your life.
However, many people still realized that what Emperor Liu wanted to say next was the business. Seeing the serious expressions on the nobles' faces and the suspicion in their eyes, Emperor Liu sighed silently. Why didn't anyone believe him when he told the truth?
Rejecting Liu Yang's support, Emperor Liu slowly sat down with his bamboo stick. Looking at Han, Pan, Shi, Yang and others in the front, Emperor Liu said in a calm tone: "You are all big men." I have always treated you as my brother and nephew, and since there are no outsiders here, I will tell you the truth!"
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, the group of people cheered up and listened again. Emperor Liu raised his head slightly and said in a sad tone: "I can more or less understand your resentment. Don't look at it. I am the emperor, but there are some things that I can relate to you.
In the past, your biggest dissatisfaction was probably that the title was downgraded and hereditary. Many of you feel that the inheritance system of title and rank established by me is too strict, even harsh.
[In view of the general environment,
Since ancient times, there has been no way to reward meritorious officials, and so many rules and regulations have to be set up. It is not smooth at all, and it can be described as extremely stingy. Most of you reject and even panic about the imperial court's inheritance system. You are afraid that after a few generations, your descendants will become commoners, and you are also afraid that some accidents will occur and the inheritance will be cut off.
I say that I will rest with my country, but what I do seems to wish I could knock you down into the mortal world and treat you like those rogue officials in Guizhou..."
"The cunning rabbit is dead and the lackey is cooked. Many of you must have had such an idea!" Emperor Liu opened his mouth and couldn't stop. He raised his hand and pointed back and said, "This is the one enshrined in the Hall of Meritorious Officials. Many of these people have had such thoughts and emotions in their lives. I know and see them clearly, and of course, I can understand them!"
"I also admit that the rules set in the nobility system are a bit strict and there are too many restrictions! I owe something to you, the old heroes and heroes who have walked through thick and thin with me through thick and thin.
However, there are some things that I have to do. I am the emperor. I not only have to consider my small family, but also all the people in the world. I will work with you to end the troubled times, unify the universe, and create the glorious and peaceful world today. !
Building a country is hard-won, and it really needs to be cherished. In order for this peaceful time to last longer, I have to take precautions and make more considerations and preparations! "
"These words may sound high-sounding, or even a bit hypocritical, so let me say something more real! What I want to establish is a healthy, sustainable, and honorable inheritance system that can truly stand with the country. , what I want is a group of country cornerstones who are proactive, full of ambition, and never give up, not a bunch of mediocre youngsters who will only rest on their laurels and rest on their laurels!
Merits, honors, power, and status were obtained by our fathers and grandfathers through hard work and sacrifice. You should be protected, but it does not mean that you can always enjoy them with peace of mind.
This may be a bit harsh, but you ask yourselves, does it make sense? With so many people and families present, how many of them are innocent, well-behaved, and peaceful?
In recent years, have the noble disciples caused a lot of troubles and troubles? If it just breeds right and wrong, that's it. I don't know if you have forgotten those things that stole the country, stole officials, deceived the emperor and harmed the people, preyed on the people, and even took care of human lives, but I can remember them clearly one by one! shocking! Appalling! Death is not a pity! "
When he said this, Emperor Liu remained calm on his face, but his cold tone made everyone in the hall
The temperature seemed to have dropped a few degrees, and every word was like a sharp knife piercing your heart.
Looking around, Emperor Liu continued to speak what he considered to be "the truth": "I regard you as the cornerstone of the country. The stability of the country and the continuation of the country need you to maintain and consolidate. You are my In the eyes of our own people. But because of this, I have to strictly demand you. If you fall, the big man will be in danger!
In order to reward you for your merits, I will give you fame, benefits, and even privileges. This is what you deserve, but it does not mean that you can rely on the grace of the court to act arbitrarily and unscrupulously! "
Emperor Liu's rant made everyone present tremble with fear. Even Yang Ye, who had a clear conscience, could not help but shrink his head, frown, and kept asking himself whether he had committed any crime...
The ministers bowed their heads, and Emperor Liu calmed down and said: "The title of the Han Dynasty is based on military merit first. This cannot be shaken. In the past, it was about helping people in danger and relieving difficulties and unifying the world. It was about conquering the south and the north, conquering the east and advancing west. .
Now that the world is at peace and there are few rivals around the Han Dynasty, you have no place to use your talents. You can leave Nanshan and enjoy prosperity. This is what most people think.
But let me say one more thing, from the time when such thoughts breed and spread, it is the beginning of your depravity! I have taught you more than once that this world is very big, far more than just Kyushu, and the land outside is very vast, enough for you to gallop and make achievements. However, there are too few people who listen and are willing to endure hardships and work hard! "
At this point, Emperor Liu finally began to reveal his motive: "In the past twenty years, I have been thinking about a question. As powerful as the Han and Tang Dynasties, why could they not escape the result of destruction? The Han Dynasty was as strong as it is today. It has only been forty years since the founding of the country. How many years can the national destiny last? A hundred years? Two hundred? Or three hundred?
Every time I think about it, I often feel frightened, even without eating and drinking, I also look for the root cause, and finally come up with an answer that is right or wrong. The decline of dynasties in the past can often be attributed to several reasons: the emperor is ignorant and the ministers are mediocre, the civil and military are indifferent, the officialdom is corrupt, and the people are in dire straits...
But there is only one fundamental reason, and that is that the common people in the world can no longer survive. They have no land to cultivate, no clothes to wear, and no food to eat. They have to rise up and fight for their lives. People all over the world have resisted. How can the country Can you survive?
However, what caused this is the royal family, the nobility, the bureaucrats, the landlords, and the remnants of the people are too cruel! Too much abuse of the people! I set up so many systems with the original intention of restraining you through rules, but after so many years, it has not been very effective.
What should have happened is still happening inevitably. So many corrupt officials have been killed, and so many nobles and nobles have been dealt with. But how can it serve as a warning, and how can it be remembered in people's hearts? "
"If it were the past, I would have a heart of hatred to clean up the dirt in the world and make the world truly peaceful and clear!" Emperor Liu showed a hint of twilight on his face, and sighed: "But I After all, I’m getting old and can’t bear the trouble anymore!
After much thought, I can only come up with this one solution that is not a solution! If you are greedy and unruly, instead of using it at home and on the common people, why don't you do it to the outside world? No matter what you do, I don't care, and neither does the court!
The edict of the feudal state has been issued, and you all know the content. Anyone who wants to be promoted, who wants to be promoted, or who wants to make a fortune can go. I will not set any restrictions. In the past, when your fathers and ancestors followed me to conquer the world, they did it for me. Now, you should do it for yourselves. I will give the kings the right to enfeoff. Whatever you conquer, occupy, or rob, whether it is land, population, livestock, Houses and property can all be yours.
My only request is that you can be gentler to the common people of the Han Dynasty, and have a little more compassion and consideration..."
