Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 382: There is no way to govern the world, and to benefit the country is not based on the old ways!
“It takes bold attempts to move from chaos to order.”

"Now the world is eagerly waiting for it. We are well-read and boast of our knowledge, but we should also put ourselves in other people's shoes and think more about the whole world. Even if it requires more efforts and more hardships, we will still do it."

"Instead of just resting on past achievements and thinking about how to deal with problems when they arise."

“Human beings are always the most central existence in the world.”

“I advocate reform.”

"Turn passivity into initiative, be proactive, and actively improve the current ecology so that the world can get out of the shadow of war faster and step onto the stage of governance faster." Xia Zhibai looked at everyone with starry eyes.

The audience was silent.

The only sound is the rustling of snowflakes falling on the branches outside the window.

Xia Zhibai has returned to his original position, his eyes are clear and pure, and he has no other words.

Zhu Biao had a complicated expression.

He looked at Xia Zhibai, then raised his eyes to look at the others, and sighed softly: "My dear ministers, I called you here today to ask for your opinions. You handle relevant political affairs in the Ministry of Revenue every day, and you know the most and the clearest about the current situation in the world. Come and tell me, does the Ming Dynasty need to be changed?"

"I want to hear the truth."

"I also want to hear your true words."

"Whether you are dissatisfied, complaining, supporting or applauding, I will forgive you all."

"You may speak freely."

Zhu Biao waved his sleeves and generously allowed the officials present to speak freely. He really wanted to hear the officials' opinions. If it were in the past, he would not have to do so much, because as long as he opened his mouth, all the officials would follow suit. But now, it was Xia Zhibai who spoke.

Using Xia Zhibai as a mirror and then reflecting on other ministers, he would be able to better understand the pros and cons of this matter.

Yang Jing and Zhao Mian looked at each other, their eyes struggling.

As the only remaining "senior officials" in the Ministry of Revenue, they should have been the first to speak out and express their opinions. However, having been in the court for so long, they did not dare to express too many opinions on this, because the current policies of the Ming Dynasty were established at the time of the founding of the country, and they have so many supporters. How could these up-and-coming people argue with them?

Li Shanchang, Tang He and others are still here.

Zhu Tong glanced at Yang Jing and the other man, then looked at Huang Zicheng, who was always arrogant but silent at this moment, and shook his head secretly. He stood up and said, "Your Highness, I am not talented enough, but I think what Xia Zhibai said is more in line with the current situation of the Ming Dynasty."

"Indeed."

"There is nothing wrong with the current system of the Ming Dynasty."

"It is also the system that best suits Ming Dynasty. However, as Xia Xueshi said, the policies and systems when the world is just beginning to rise and everything is waiting to be rebuilt are different from those when the world has initially gotten rid of war and is beginning to move towards a new era. In other words..."

"The policies before the Ming Dynasty were meant to be a transition."

"It's just that it's too good to be true, so people are so addicted to it that they don't want to change easily."

"Everyone in the world can be lazy and inertial, but the imperial court must always remain rational and make the most correct judgments, because even a small matter decided by the imperial court may turn into a huge matter when it is implemented."

“Change is not a good thing, but being unchanging is not a good thing either.”

"There is no one way to govern the world, and there is no way to govern a country according to the old ways."

"Now that the Ming Dynasty has firmly established its rule over the world, it has also relied on its earlier system to win the hearts of the people, allowing the world to return to normal order, and has established a new order that is unique to the Ming Dynasty. However, this order, in essence, still has a bit of the shadow of the "war", and it overemphasizes tightening the belt and making sacrifices to clear the world of Tartar humiliation."

"Now that the Northern Yuan has fled north in panic, the imperial court is on alert. In a few years, we will be able to recover the Northeast, and we can even march straight into the heart of the grasslands and destroy the camps." "The offensive and defensive positions have already changed!"

"The court should indeed make some preparations for leaving after the world is stabilized. Otherwise, when the Ming Dynasty has completely eliminated foreign threats, it will still follow this system, which will give people a sense of 'suffering without suffering'. Moreover, this sacrifice will not benefit the court, but will deepen the resentment of all parties. This is really not worth the loss."

"Therefore, I suggest that Xia Zhibai's views be appropriately considered and a deeper discussion be conducted as appropriate, so that the world can be completely stable in the future and the Ming Dynasty can shift from conflict to better development of people's livelihood as soon as possible."

"My words are just my personal opinion. Please don't take it as an offense, Your Highness."

Zhu Tong bowed respectfully to Zhu Biao and nodded to Xia Zhibai.

Then it returned to its original position.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I will remember your sincere words."

"Does anyone have another opinion?"

Zhu Biao looked at the other officials.

Zhu Tong spoke first, broke the ice for them and gave them guidance. The tense minds of the others relaxed a lot at once. After all, they only needed to speak in the direction provided by Zhu Tong.

Neither please nor offend.

It’s just that each has its own merits and is in different periods.

Xia Zhibai's point of view is to focus on the great governance after the world is completely peaceful, while the current court is focused on eliminating foreign threats. Both are correct, but they are used in different time periods. Now that the Northern Yuan Dynasty still exists and Naha has gone out to sea and occupied the northeast, there is no problem for the court to continue using the previous set of methods.

Yang Jing said solemnly: "I agree with the Minister of Rites. The court should prepare for a rainy day."

"The Northern Yuan Dynasty is like a grasshopper in autumn. It won't last long. Once the imperial court has wiped out Nahachu, who is entrenched in the northeast, and then has completely eliminated the external threat in the north, the imperial court will be able to free up its hands and focus all its attention on restoring people's livelihood."

"And Scholar Xia's suggestion focuses on this."

"I think it's good."

"If the court had planned ahead of time, it would have been able to attack and defend, and would have been invincible."

Zhao Mian also said: "I have the same opinion."

"A new dynasty brings a new atmosphere. Our Ming Dynasty is not an ignorant barbarian, nor is it a separatist regime like the Song Dynasty. Instead, it is a true kingdom that rules the world. We should have ambitions that surpass those of the past and present. What the Han and Tang dynasties were able to do, our Ming Dynasty can do as well, and we can even do better than them."

"I am delighted that the court has such a far-sighted plan."

"I congratulate Your Highness."

Zhao Mian didn't say much. Just a few words and then he lowered his head to congratulate.

Other officials from the Ministry of Revenue also spoke up and expressed their views and opinions.

However, most of the contents were shocking. They all recognized the current system of the court, but at the same time gave some praise to Xia Zhibai's suggestions. They believed that the two were systems from different periods, neither of which was good or bad, and that they should not be divided into superior and inferior ones.

But Zhu Biao could hear it.

These people actually agree more with Xia Zhibai's opinion.

Because they agree to implement Xia Zhibai's approach in the future, doesn't that mean they are dissatisfied with the existing system?
(End of this chapter)