Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 149: When the excitement is over and sadness comes, you will know the limit of gain and loss!
Yuan Gong sat down.

His clothes were very elegant, exuding a sense of transcendence.

Xia Zhibai looked at Yuan Gong, and Yuan Gong also looked at Xia Zhibai, and the two looked at each other for a long time.

Xia Zhibai bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Yuan."

Yuan Gong shook his head and said, "I really don't deserve the title of Master, especially in front of you."

Xia Zhibai laughed and took the initiative to pour a cup of cold tea for Yuan Gong: "Master Yuan is famous, and there are countless scholars in the world who want to meet you and want you to read their faces. I was too disrespectful to you just now in the Prince of Yan's Mansion."

"Please forgive me, Master."

Yuan Gong picked up the tea bowl and said calmly, "I am not from the Prince of Yan's Mansion."

"I have also resigned from King Yan."

Hear the words.

Xia Zhibai's eyes moved slightly, with a hint of strangeness in them.

He had heard a little about Yuan Gong, but didn't know him very well.

When in the military camp, Zhu Di showed great respect to Yuan Gong. He thought that Yuan Gong had already surrendered to Zhu Di, but he was wrong.

"The King of Yan treated me well and respected me very much, but I was burdened by the false reputation and did not like to be involved in these affairs, so I took the initiative to resign." Yuan Gong explained briefly.

Xia Zhibai nodded.

Physiognomists are indeed good at keeping themselves safe.

Although the current King of Yan has a good status and position, his strength is not enough.

It is also difficult to protect Yuan Gong.

In addition, if the people in Kyoto knew about Yuan Gong's existence, it would cause some trouble for Zhu Di. After weighing the pros and cons, it would be most appropriate to let Yuan Gong leave.

However, it takes an extraordinary person to resist this temptation.

Xia Zhibai nodded and said, "Leaving is indeed a good choice. It can not only protect myself, but also reduce trouble for King Yan."

Yuan Gong smiled and said, "It's not important."

"Compared to King Yan, I am more interested in you now."

"Oh." Xia Zhibai uttered softly, somewhat surprised: "How can a rebellious person like me be in the Master's eyes?"

"Cruel? I don't think so." Yuan Gong glanced at Xia Zhibai, put down the tea bowl in his hand, and said calmly: "I think you have a dragon and a tiger in your heart, even stronger than a dragon and a tiger. I read your face yesterday, and your face is..."

"Emperor Wang!"

Done.

Yuan Gong stared at Xia Zhibai.

It seemed as if he wanted to see some clues from Xia Zhibai's face.

However, Xia Zhibai's face was calm, as if he was not moved at all. He just chewed on the word "Wang Di" and said with a wry smile: "Wang Di of the ancient Shu Kingdom? It does fit the description, after all, Wang Di has a heart of love for the people and is kind and righteous."

"But this has something to do with the title of Emperor after all." Yuan Gong seemed unwilling to let up.

"Emperor?" Xia Zhibai chuckled and shook his head, saying clearly: "No, I don't have so many ideas about being an emperor, but for a period of time, I did have the idea of ​​becoming a successor, but later I knew that I was not talented enough, so I gave up a long time ago."

Yuan Gong's eyes were uncertain, but he finally retracted them.

He looked around, something on his lips, but finally he remained silent.

The two of them lowered their heads and drank tea.

After finishing the two pots of herbal tea, Xia Zhibai paid the bill and the three of them left the herbal tea shop.

Hot summer.

The chirping of cicadas in the jungle is even more piercing.

Xia Zhibai and Yuan Gong walked side by side in the woods near the river.

Heiwa tactfully went outside, being wary of being disturbed by others.

Parallel for a while.

Yuan Gong still couldn't help it. He stopped and stared at Xia Zhibai, asking, "Have you ever thought about rebelling?"

"Your heart is too big."

"So big that the whole world can't contain you."

“If you want to display your talents and show your ambitions, you need a lot of support.”

Xia Zhibai was silent.

half an hour.

Xia Zhibaicai raised her head, looked at the sparkling water, and said calmly: "I thought about it, and even seriously planned it, but gave up."

"Why?" Yuan Gong looked curious.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Master, you think rebellion is too simple."

"If you want to rebel and succeed, you need the right time, right place and right people. It's not something you can do on impulse."

"In today's world, there is insufficient internal and external pressure."

"If the world was in chaos, I would definitely rebel, but now, there is not much point."

"Rebellion and independence may seem beautiful, but Master has traveled the world and has seen all kinds of people."

“We should also see the stubborn diseases of the world.”

"This has been a chronic disease for hundreds of years since the Yuan Dynasty."

“The world is conservative and closed.”

"I want to turn this situation around, and it's not enough to rely on just one person."

“It’s about creating a large number of people.”

"These people are the vanguard of change in the world. They must have political foresight, be full of fighting spirit and spirit of sacrifice, be open-minded, loyal and active in politics, not seek personal gain, and their only goal is to fight for the world."

"But you have seen him when you were in the Prince of Yan's mansion or when you were traveling around the country." "Such a person is almost impossible to find."

"Today, the world is severely divided between the upper and lower classes."

"Studying is for becoming an official, and becoming an official is for making money."

"This kind of society full of 'slavishness' has been prevalent throughout the country since the Yuan Dynasty."

"The Yuan Dynasty valued the scholars more than the people. Under the rule of the Mongols, the scholars, landlords, and powerful people oppressed and exploited the lower classes for their own petty profits."

"They have long been accustomed to this kind of life."

"I won't change willingly."

"As for the lower-class people, they also don't have much motivation."

"The world has been through war for a long time, and the people are very tired of war. It will be difficult to gain the approval of the people if we provoke war at this time."

"Secondly, after more than a hundred years of continuous oppression, the people have become very patient. Their lives are much better now than in the past. Although they are still poor, they can still survive. They can tolerate and accept it. Why would they join you in rebellion?"

"If the Mongolian army is still strong."

"The Central Plains is in danger of collapse, and the people are living in misery."

"When both internal and external conditions are met, rebellion is the first choice. Otherwise, it will only lead to more killings."

"Even if we rebel, it will be very difficult to train the people we want. We will have to deal with various interests and there will be many betrayals. They participate in the rebellion just to wield power in the future. How can they be willing to stay the same after the rebellion?"

"The work of ideological transformation is long-term, patient, and meticulous. We cannot attempt to completely change the ideology that has been formed over decades by giving a few speeches, saying some great truths, or exaggerating something."

"This is unrealistic."

“I can’t do that.”

"One more thing, why should the people trust me?"

"What do I, Xia Zhibai, have that is worthy of the people's trust?"

Xia Zhibai's heart is like a mirror.

Since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, rebellion has no longer been a good option. Zhu Yuanzhang is the man chosen by history. Expelling the Tartars and restoring China is the mission given to Zhu Yuanzhang by history.

He also completed it very well.

But Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed deeply harmed by the common people.

He had a narrow vision and had been at the bottom of society for a long time, so he was most seriously affected by the idea of ​​"exploitation and oppression". This idea had long been deeply rooted in his bones. Even though Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to change, he eventually went back to his old ways.

Xia Zhibai walked forward leisurely.

When he was near a corner, he stopped, looked back at Yuan Gong, and said, "Master, do you think that the current Grand Tutor Li Shanchang has ever thought of replacing him?"

Yuan Gong was stunned.

He never thought about that.

He pondered for a moment, glanced around, quickly chased after him, and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Yes! And there must be." Xia Zhibai answered confidently. He sneered and said, "Not only do I know this, but His Majesty also knows it. However, compared with Hu Weiyong and others, Li Shanchang knows His Majesty better."

"He just doesn't dare!"

"If we say that Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong and others are talented people."

"Then the current emperor seems not to be a person, but a sword with a cold and sharp light."

"This sharp knife has been through a lot."

"From the wind and rain in the thatched cottage to the lonely lamp in Huangjue Temple, from the swordplay in Chuzhou to the war in Poyang Lake, His Majesty fought his way out of the army and stood up from the sea of ​​blood and corpses. He has experienced too many hardships and endured too much pain. He is not afraid of any challenge or authority."

“I am not afraid of any opponent.”

"In his lifetime, his Majesty has faced many heroes, but without exception, they all fell before him."

"Li Shanchang followed His Majesty all the way here."

"Li Shanchang knew too well the terror of this emperor. That's why Li Shanchang never showed any rebellious intentions from beginning to end. It's not because he didn't have ambitions, but because he was afraid."

"He's afraid!"

"But he who slays a dragon will eventually become a dragon himself."

"That great commander who was so righteous and ambitious died the moment he proclaimed himself emperor in Yingtian Prefecture."

"As an emperor, he won't trust anyone."

"Moreover, this emperor had a certain degree of 'inferiority' in his bones. Because of his background, he was very afraid of being looked down upon by scholars, and also afraid of being deceived by these people. Therefore, he set up Jinyiwei throughout the country, carried out espionage activities, and formulated various powerful and high-pressure systems."

"What he wants is absolute obedience from the world."

"Your Majesty has become obsessed with solving all problems through violence and authority."

"But he forgot one person."

"A person he hated so much that he couldn't sleep or eat."

"Who?" Yuan Gong asked.

"Chen Youliang." Xia Zhibai's voice was filled with a hint of sigh.

"Chen Youliang?" Yuan Gong was shocked.

Xia Zhibai nodded: "If we talk about the warlords competing for supremacy at that time, the one who was most obsessed with violence and authority was Chen Youliang. Your Majesty even laughed at Chen Youliang at that time, but over the years, Your Majesty has become the second 'Chen Youliang'."

"Your Majesty has gradually forgotten it."

“There are many things in this world that cannot be solved by violence and authority.”

"Chen Youliang did not understand this principle, so he was defeated. Your Majesty has also forgotten it now."

"When joy fades and sadness comes, you will know the limit of gain and loss."

"This is the law of nature!"

(End of this chapter)