Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

"You mean to say that the barbarians' beastly nature is because they are a short-lived species?" Liu Zongzhou asked.

Ai Nan Yingdao:

"Yes, what do beasts know?"

"They eat when they're hungry, and sleep when they're full; they live simply to survive."

"The same goes for the barbarians. They live day by day for survival and reproduction, and they pay more attention to the present."

"This is so similar to that of beasts, which is why the ancients said that barbarians are beasts."

This statement is very impactful.

This fundamentally explains the differences between the Chinese and the barbarians.

If this theory is accepted, the notion that barbarians are beasts will no longer be a simple assertion, but will have theoretical support.

This is also what Ai Nanying has been striving to do: to use various theories to refine the distinction between Chinese and barbarians.

However, Liu Zongzhou still had questions, and he asked:

"Are refugees, whose lives are precarious and who only care about the present, also short-lived?"

“These people are Chinese.”

Ainan Ying dared to propose this theory, so it wouldn't be easily refuted. He said:
"Long-lived and short-lived species can change. Besides age, the most important factor is their way of thinking."

"Chinese people are generally long-lived, but there are also short-lived ones. In particular, some people choose to adopt the mindset of short-lived people when faced with imminent threats, which is most evident during times of war."

"Why were there so many righteous people during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods? It was because, against the backdrop of war and chaos at that time, people lived in constant fear and their thinking degenerated into short-lived beings."

“Nie Zheng assassinated Han Kui not for justice or righteousness, but to repay the kindness of his benefactor and to make himself famous throughout the world.”

"Her sister knew this too, so she risked her life to carry on her brother's name."

"The reason why the Qin state was able to unify the six states was because, despite the prevailing short-lived mentality at the time, they also had plans for long-lived species. So, by building on the achievements of six generations, they spent ten years to finally unify the six states."

This statement, while somewhat biased, can explain some issues.

Liu Zongzhou had no way to point it out at the time, so he could only go along with it:

"So you mean that the refugees have degenerated into a short-lived species?"

"These kinds of things happen more often during times of war."

Ai Nanying was convinced of his theory and exclaimed:

"Yes!"

"Therefore, the most important thing for a dynasty is peace."

"Only stability can ensure the implementation of the longevity concept."

"When war breaks out, many short-lived species will emerge that are eager for quick success and instant benefits."

"The Ming Dynasty has enjoyed more than two hundred years of peace, which is unprecedented. The people of the Ming Dynasty now mostly have the mindset of longevity, and we must never fall into the mindset of short-lived people."

"If someone unfortunately falls, then they must be relocated; we cannot allow the peaceful environment to be destroyed."

"This is also why His Majesty's campaign against Annam freed up land for the displaced people."

This was advocating for the emperor's expansionist policies. Liu Zongzhou frowned, feeling that everything Ai Nanying did was to find theoretical justification for the emperor's measures.

In his view, this was not the proper way to conduct research; the correct approach should be to guide methods with scholarship.

That's exactly what the current emperor does; before reforming rites and music or formulating a policy, he always likes to debate with his ministers.

Liu Zongzhou didn't realize the value of this approach while he was in the court, but now that he's left the court, he sees its worth.

Many people don't bother with learning at all; they only try to make up for their mistakes after they've already done something.

He felt disgusted by this behavior and considered it unbecoming of a qualified scholar.

However, he was already fortunate to have someone to discuss philosophy with in Annam, so he could only patiently continue the discussion with Ai Nan Ying.
-
After calming himself down, Liu Zongzhou asked Ai Nanying:
"Since the Chinese can degenerate into a short-lived species, can the barbarians transform into a long-lived species?"

"Could Jin Midi of the Han Dynasty and Wu Yuncheng of the present dynasty be considered immortal beings?"

"Aren't Chinese and foreigners still the same kind of people?"

Ai Nanying said with a smile:

“Barbarians can be transformed into immortal beings, but this is only an isolated case.”

"Moreover, most barbarians cannot completely transform into living beings."

"To cultivate the mindset of a long-lived species, it takes at least several generations."

"Therefore, His Majesty decreed that barbarians can become Chinese citizens, but they must go through three generations of intermarriage before they can be transformed into Han Chinese."

We continued to use this theory to explain the emperor's policies.

And he said with great pride:

"The mindset of immortality is not something every ethnic group has."

"Some ethnic groups, despite having long average life expectancy, are completely mindset of short-lived species."

"Only a civilization like China, with its thousands of years of history and long periods of stability, can cultivate a long-lived mindset."

"This change in mindset will take a very long time, something that barbarians cannot compare to."

"Therefore, the Ming Dynasty must educate and civilize the barbarians and transform them into Ming citizens."

"This is to allow them to evolve from a short-lived species with bestial instincts into long-lived humans with longer lifespans."

They regarded the idea of ​​immortality as a cultural advantage and as the basis for indoctrinating barbarians.

Whether the barbarians were willing during this process was not something Ainan Ying needed to consider.

It is for their own good to educate the barbarians and turn them into an immortal species.

If any barbarians object, it means that he is beyond redemption and is a short-lived species that still possesses animalistic instincts.

The people of the Ming Dynasty have no need to pity them or provide them with aid, because the two are essentially not the same kind of people.

The distinction between Chinese and barbarians that Zhu Youjian wanted to promote, after being supplemented by theories of long-lived and short-lived races, began to transform from nationalism into racism.

The Chinese, being a long-lived race, were considered one race, while the short-lived barbarians were considered another.

This was a change that Zhu Youjian had not anticipated. He was clearly only promoting nationalism, but who would have thought it would turn into racism?

Racism is often accompanied by racial discrimination, and even racial persecution and segregation. It is an ideology with a significant negative impact.

Although Liu Zongzhou didn't understand, he quickly realized that Ai Nanying's theory had flaws:
"As you said, most of the people in the Ming Dynasty are long-lived, but refugees and some others are considered short-lived."

"Does that mean we and they aren't the same kind?"

Ai Nanying was taken aback upon hearing this, as she had not yet considered this aspect.

However, after careful consideration, he quickly found some support in the emperor's policies. He said:

"Scholars and ordinary people are not the same kind of people."

"Ordinary people have a life expectancy of fifty or sixty, but scholars mostly live to seventy." "Therefore, when the imperial court established the imperial examination system, people flocked to take the exams to become Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest level of the imperial examinations)."

"His Majesty has further expanded the scope of promotion to scholar-official, allowing more people to become scholars."

(The average age of death for Ming dynasty tomb owners had risen to 66. Considering that most of the tomb owners who left behind tombs had some wealth, they were likely scholars. We can estimate that the average age of death for scholars in the late Ming dynasty was approximately 66.)
"As for vagrants and the lowest of the low, they are not the same as ordinary people."

"Therefore, Your Majesty should be open-minded and promote the common people to the status of citizens. Furthermore, establish a system of property ownership for the people, so that displaced people can own property and have a stable life in the future."

"With perseverance, they can have a plan, transform into immortal beings, and even become scholars."

"His Majesty's hope is that the people of the Ming Dynasty will all become scholars, have social security, have long-term plans, and have the mindset of longevity."

"At that time, the Ming Dynasty could be said to be a completely immortal civilization, moving towards a world of great harmony."

He elevated the theory of long-lived and short-lived species to a level beneficial to achieving universal harmony. He also provided many explanations for the emperor's policies.

Liu Zongzhou was speechless, but he also realized that this theory was indeed interesting and could explain many things.

As long as the path from short-lived to long-lived species is not abandoned, he feels that this theory is generally beneficial.
-
After gaining Liu Zongzhou's approval, Ai Nanying's confidence soared, and he then sought out scholars in Annam to discuss the matter.

These scholars and officials who came to Annam already looked down on the natives. When they heard Ai Nan Ying say that he was a long-lived race and the natives were a short-lived race, they were naturally very pleased.

They even quickly developed a sense of superiority as long-lived people and looked down on the short-lived natives even more.

When they enslaved the natives, they no longer felt guilty, but believed that they were helping them evolve and making their descendants immortal.

The monks who came to Annam to preach also modified the doctrine based on this theory. They believed that those of short lifespan must accumulate merit in order to be reborn as people of long lifespan in the next life.

In no time, Ai Nanying's reputation soared, and even Huang Zongxi, after hearing about it from his teacher, specifically sought his advice.

After hearing Ai Nanying's explanation, he combined it with the needs theory he had heard before leaving Beijing and suddenly realized:
The formation of long-lived and short-lived species is also related to demand.

“The barbarians live in remote border areas with harsh living conditions, and there are many disputes among them, with wars happening continuously.”

"Their survival and safety needs are not met, and their lifespan is usually very short. They can only be understood as short-lived species."

“We, the people of the Ming Dynasty, especially the scholars, can meet our basic needs for survival and security. What we pursue are our further needs for emotional connection, respect, and even self-actualization. Therefore, we will make long-term plans.”

"Only in this way can one cultivate the mindset of an immortal being!"

Thinking of all this, Huang Zongxi said excitedly:

"I see!"

"What I need to do in my fiefdom is first and foremost to provide them with enough food and clothing and ensure their safety."

"Only then can we educate the natives into qualified long-lived people of the Great Ming Dynasty in the future."

They have a clearer plan for how to govern.

Ai Nanying listened with a smile, quite pleased that Huang Zongxi had combined the theories of long-lived and short-lived species with the theory of demand.

This demonstrates that his theory has sufficient vitality to be compared with other theories.

He was delighted and invited Huang Zongxi to write an article together, which they would submit to the Hanlin Academy.

He believed that Huang Shijun, the Right Vice Minister of Rites who presided over the Hanlin Academy, would like this theory.

Huang Shijun's father was over 100 years old and was bestowed the title "A Centenarian of the Prosperous Dynasty" by the current emperor.

He must really enjoy being called an immortal, since there are indeed long-lived people in his family.
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These articles reached the capital and quickly caused a stir.

Huang Shih-Chun did like this theory and thought it could be published.

With the concept of immortality, his family would have a higher status and be more respected by people.

However, when the sample copy was presented to Zhu Youjian, he hesitated due to concerns about racism:

The advantages and disadvantages of this theory, which has never been put into practice in history, are unclear.

Zhu Youjian was worried that this would cause racial division, and that the scholars who lived long lives would not treat commoners as human beings.

In response, Huang Shih-Chun said:
"The fact that nobles and scholars regard the common people as ants is not a recent phenomenon, but has existed for a long time."

"I believe the most important thing is to ensure that the path to becoming a scholar is unobstructed, so that more people can become scholars."

“As long as the people’s ancestors were scholars, they will not be regarded as a short-lived race.”

"On the contrary, it can prevent some people from being short-sighted and using short-lived thinking."

There's some truth to this. The idea that powerful people treat ordinary people like ants isn't a recent phenomenon, nor is it something that will only appear in the future. It has existed for a long time, showing a lack of consideration for ordinary people.

Considering the current situation, Zhu Youjian could only sigh and say:

"That being said, I am worried that some people, after considering themselves immortal, will no longer regard those of short life as human beings."

"If that were the case, such a theory would be utterly wicked!"

Huang Shijun was silent for a moment, then said:
"As long as the people of the Ming Dynasty are immortal, that's fine. Other barbarians are beasts, they're not human to begin with."

This silenced Zhu Youjian, because he realized that although he was shouting "barbarians are beasts," he was actually still treating them as human beings.

On the contrary, some people in the Ming Dynasty at that time really regarded the barbarians as two-legged beasts, and treated them as animals.

The theory of long-lived and short-lived species is perfectly valid in their view.

Seeing the emperor remain silent, Huang Shijun unleashed his ultimate move:

"Your Majesty, the concepts of long-lived and short-lived species may have drawbacks, but the popularization of the idea of ​​long-lived species is beneficial to peace."

"As long as the people maintain their longevity mentality, they will not rebel. Because their plans are only useful in times of peace."

"Promoting this theory will help bring peace to the world."

"This is a theory that contributes to long-term stability and security!"

This made Zhu Youjian understand:
Regardless of the potential side effects of this theory, it is currently a theory that benefits the Ming Dynasty.

It not only facilitated the Ming Dynasty's expansion into barbarian territories, but also helped maintain stability in the interior.

The plan for immortality can only be realized in a stable society. Hopeful citizens are unlikely to rebel easily.

Furthermore, when faced with a short-lived species that disrupts this stability, they will spontaneously reject them and support the court's plan to relocate them overseas.

In particular, Zhu Youjian's concerns about child labor arising from industrial development could be readily resolved based on the theory of immortality.

Since life expectancy is around 50 or 60 years, there's no need to start working too early or rush to make money.

Skilled jobs that allow for long-term, stable employment will be more sought after.

Work that consumes one's lifespan will be despised and may even be spontaneously eliminated by long-lived species.

This was very beneficial for the Ming Dynasty to weather the Industrial Revolution, lest the Ming Dynasty be overthrown by an angry populace before industry had even developed.

The only problem is that the Ming Dynasty might not be able to compete with the Victorian White Feathers.

Because capitalists who don't treat people like human beings will exploit human resources to the extreme in order to reduce costs.

Those who choose to become long-lived people of the Ming Dynasty must have a way to fight against those who have short lifespans. Those jobs that consume lifespans also need to be done by people.

Zhu Youjian surveyed his surroundings, beginning his search for a worker base for the Ming Dynasty. He planned to use more fast-growing slaves to counter the fast-growing white-feathered people of England. (End of Chapter)