Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 344: Grand Master, you are seeking death!
Li Shanchang sat up from his chair with a fierce look in his eyes. He looked at Xia Zhibai with a hostile look and said grimly, "Xia Zhibai, in your eyes, I am just a rat. I just moved from the countryside to the government?!"

"Xia Zhibai, you are so brave."

"I have been ruling the world for twenty or thirty years, but this is the first time I have been humiliated like this and called a coward."

Xia Zhibai's face was calm, and he smiled and said, "Grand Master, you are joking. Grand Master is highly respected in the world, how dare I tease you? But as a young man, I sometimes have to remind you that as people get older, they will become more closed and conservative, and more and more corrupt."

"Small-minded, closed-minded, and not even aware of it."

"This is not the fault of people, but just a habit. From the emperor to the officials, everyone in the court has long developed their own habits, their own set of principles for doing things, and their own set of behavioral norms. Therefore, when they see the youthful vigor and radicalism, they regard it as rebellion and disobedience."

“But like everything, there are two sides.”

"People of any age have both good and bad sides."

"In society, there are good people and bad people, advanced people and backward people. That is why there is the saying 'learning never ends'. The more people can clearly understand themselves, the more they can keep up with the trend, keep pace with the times, and transform bad things into good things."

"Perhaps my words are indeed unpleasant to the ears of the Grand Master."

"But Grand Master should also be aware that the power of the world today is actually concentrated in the hands of Your Majesty."

"No matter how much we try, it's just a temporary solution."

"I once heard this sentence by accident: the general trend of the world can be said to be mighty and powerful. When the general trend comes, everyone is in the torrent. During this period, many people rely on their own efforts, or luck, to stand on the crest of the tide."

“Being on the crest of the tide brings endless beauty and temptations, but also endless dangers.”

"Ultimately it's up to you to weigh the pros and cons."

"Throughout history, we don't need that many talents to rule the world. The Han Dynasty was able to occupy the world with only one county, Pei County. Our Ming Dynasty started in Huaixi and also managed to swallow up the world. Many officials in the court, and even myself, were actually promoted to the court. We can be said to be the trendsetters of the times."

“Now we are all standing on the forefront.”

"The world is like a tide and people are like water. I only sigh that few people return to the rivers and lakes!"

"It is never easy to stand firm at the forefront of the tide. Throughout history, many good ministers and generals have fallen on the road to power. It is just that power is a poison that once people are infected, they will be addicted to it and cannot stop, and they will fall deeper and deeper."

"It's just that many people overlook that the vast majority of them are not irreplaceable."

“The position they are in demands a lot from them.”

"When you are in a position, you should do your job."

"Six simple words, yet it's as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"A lot of people don't realize where they are, and some don't realize what they should do."

"And these people will eventually be like those comets in history, flashing by and leaving little traces of themselves in the world. The Grand Master has always been a smart man, and he has always been well versed in the ways of government. Unfortunately, he understands it too well, and has lost himself a little bit."

"As a minister, one should take the world as one's responsibility, not just to please the emperor."

"The emperor wants ministers who can accept advice and improve the strength of the empire, not those who flatter and do superficial things."

"The more cautious you are, Grand Master, the more people will not believe you. They may even subconsciously compare you to a person in history."

"Who?" Li Shanchang's eyes were gloomy.

"Sima Yi!"

Hear the words.

Li Shanchang's face suddenly changed.

He looked at Xia Zhibai deeply, with a hint of panic in his eyes. Then, Li Shanchang shouted angrily: "Nonsense, I, Li Shanchang, am loyal to Your Majesty and to the Ming Dynasty. How could I be like Sima Yi? You are clearly slandering me. You deserve to be killed."

Xia Zhibai smiled and said contemptuously: "Do you believe what Grand Master said?"

"And what does the Grand Master think is important?"

"unimportant."

“What matters is what other people think.”

"The current Grand Master is just like Sima Yi, keeping a low profile. Especially after Hu Weiyong's death, the Grand Master rarely speaks in the court. And when he does speak, it is definitely to protect the interests of the Huaixi forces. How can anyone feel at ease?"

"The Grand Master's contributions to the Ming Dynasty are well known to the world."

"But at the same time, how many people are unaware of the closeness between the Grand Tutor and the civil and military officials in the court?"

"The Grand Master is already one of the Three Dukes, and holds great power. He is second only to the emperor and above all others in the court. Even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sometimes has to look to the Grand Master for his approval. Under such circumstances, who wouldn't be a little bit afraid of the Grand Master?"

"Grand Master, the authorities have been confused for too long."

"As a bystander, I, Xia Zhibai, saw it clearly."

"Master, you have already found your way to death!!!"

Li Shanchang was frightened by Xia Zhibai's words.

In the past few years, he had been extremely cautious in the court because he did not want to arouse the Majesty's disgust and bring disaster upon himself. But at this moment, he gradually realized that all his actions not only failed to achieve the desired effect, but had the opposite effect, making him even more suspicious.

Li Shanchang sat down on the chair, his expression changing from gloomy to bright.

He knew Zhu Yuanzhang too well.

He understood it better than anyone else. When Hu Weiyong came to him, he had never wavered. Hu Weiyong was too young. He had no idea what a terrifying existence he was facing. Zhu Yuanzhang was not a human being, but a sharp blade. Anyone who touched him would be killed and bleeding.

He didn't dare to have any other thoughts.

The only ambition and little thought is to maintain his own power.

But in this case, he only has a few choices left, namely the two people Xia Zhibai mentioned.

One Li Si and the other Sima Yi!

In the early period, Li Si worked hard to govern the country and could be regarded as a prime minister of all ages. However, because of his greed for power, he ended up with his head and body separated, and his reputation was ruined. Now his infamy has been passed down for thousands of years. As for Sima Yi, he made him even more horrified.

he knows.

I can never be Sima Yi.

Because the current His Majesty is not Cao Cao, nor is he Cao Pi. If I were really suspected by His Majesty, His Majesty would definitely kill me and would never show any mercy. As for the years of working together and the false reputation of founding heroes, in His Majesty's eyes, they are just a little trouble.

But Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven.

How could it be difficult to kill a minister?

In a moment of thought.

Li Shanchang even vaguely saw a bloody knife on his neck!

All that’s left is a single chop!
(End of this chapter)