I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 269 Does this kid look like Wang Meng?
"Your Highness!" Pan Yinglong replied solemnly, "I have read through history books and found that in the early days of each dynasty, there were wars in the south and the north, but the people were in harmony. But when they stopped to rest in the middle, all kinds of problems arose, and the chronic diseases accumulated more and more. Natural disasters, man-made disasters, internal and external troubles, and finally they were in danger and fell into chaos.

I have been thinking hard, why did this situation happen?

Throughout the dynasties, there have been many great talents who have made reforms and eliminated malpractices in an attempt to turn the tide, such as Sang Hongyang in the Han Dynasty, Liu Yan and Wang Shuwen in the Tang Dynasty, and Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi in the Song Dynasty. However, they are like paperhangers who can paper for a while but not for the whole world.

What is the reason? "

Zhu Yijun sat in a chair and listened quietly.

"When I heard from Eunuch Yang that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a profound opinion on the relationship between finance, taxation and expenditure and the rise and fall of dynasties, I immediately had an epiphany and was in awe of him.

Following this line of thought, I thought about what was the reason for the deterioration of fiscal revenue and expenditure? I thought of many reasons: land annexation, concentration of wealth, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, corrupt government, corruption and laziness, the imperial examinations being controlled by the aristocratic families, no longer selecting the best, the court atmosphere being corrupt, officials being scheming, opportunists rising to prominence, and people of virtue and talent having difficulty finding their ambitions.
But where do these drawbacks come from? Throughout the dynasties, including when the country was first established, these drawbacks have existed. I think they must have existed, but they were suppressed.

Why was it suppressed? Why was it that when it was time to rest and recuperate, it could not be suppressed and suddenly broke out? I am completely puzzled. "

Zhu Yijun remained calm, but in his heart he looked up to Pan Yinglong.

He is indeed a talented person and has a critical perspective on issues.

Although he was constrained by the times and had no way to jump out and see the world, it was already very difficult for him to think of this step, and it was considered heresy in this era.

"One day, I was on a boat from Ningbo back to Shanghai. When I saw the sea and sky merge into one and the waves rolling in, I suddenly had an epiphany.

Running water never rots, and a door hinge never rots.

Born in sorrow and died in happiness!

It all depends on momentum.

It is prosperous and full of vigor, just like a river rushing eastward. Everything will be carried forward by it. Although there are obstacles in the way, it is unstoppable!

Stagnant water and a gloomy atmosphere are like raising poisonous insects. You bite me, I bite him, and everyone fights for land, wealth, official positions, and power. They bite each other to death, but the people are the ones who suffer. After all, the people are not leeks, chickens, or sheep that can be slaughtered at will without making a sound. In the end, "the blue sky is dead, and the yellow sky should be established."

Amazing!
He actually saw the essential difference between incremental development and stock development.

After Pan Yinglong finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Yijun nervously, not knowing whether the words he risked saying had struck a chord with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, or whether these shocking words had angered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

He glanced at Yang Jinshui again, trying to find some clues from his face.

But this eunuch Yang looked even more nervous than himself. Besides being nervous, he was also shocked. He must have been frightened by what he said.

In silence, Pan Yinglong waited anxiously, waiting for the prince to decide his fate.

Finally, Zhu Yijun spoke.

"Pan Yinglong, how do you think we should maintain this momentum?"

Sitting in the chair, Pan Yinglong, who was almost unable to sit still, couldn't help but let out a long sigh, feeling ecstatic.

I bet on the right thing!
In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already seen through everything.

After Pan Yinglong defected to Tan Lun and Yang Jinshui, he had channels to obtain first-hand information about Zhu Yijun, such as the imperial edicts, secret decrees, and private letters sent by the Xiyuan Supervision Office and the Coordination Bureau, as well as Zhu Yijun's replies to military and political reports from the southeast.

He studied the materials carefully, and finally one day he realized that the Crown Prince of Xiyuan actually shared the same ideals as him, and even had a longer vision and more radical ideas than himself.

Pan Yinglong knew that his ideas were considered heretical among heretics, and were even less popular than Li Zhi's. At least his ideas were somewhat related to academics, and were developed on the basis of Yangming's philosophy of mind.

These ideas of his belong to military strategies and are feasible measures. Once they are announced to the world, all the civil and military officials in the court and the scholars of the world will gather up a storm and swallow him up alive.

Therefore, Pan Yinglong has always been very careful. He hides his ideas and improves them secretly. He dares not speak them out, not even to Yang Jinshui.

He never expected that he would suddenly discover that the various actions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Xiyuan, as well as the messages conveyed between the lines, were in line with his ideas.

It is easy for like-minded people to find like-minded people.

Pan Yinglong was overjoyed.

The emperor and his subjects share the same ideals. This is such a rare opportunity!
So Pan Yinglong first helped Yang Jinshui plan the Lianghuai salt administration, turning the salt inspection into "suppressing rebellion", directly catching the salt merchants and the powerful people behind Nanjing. He avenged his personal grudge and gained Yang Jinshui's trust.

Then he carefully planned for Cai Guoxi to kneel down in front of the gate of Xu's mansion, with the purpose of attracting Zhu Yijun's attention and getting a chance to meet in front of the palace.

Just like when Shang Yang met Duke Xiao of Qin, or when Wang Meng met Fu Jian, it was like thunder and lightning hitting each other.

But Pan Yinglong also knew that by doing this he was risking his life and property.

If I guessed wrong, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's ideas were actually inconsistent with mine, I would then tell him everything, and His Royal Highness would regard it as heresy and order severe punishment. Even my father's old friends and benefactors, Tan Lun and Yang Jinshui, would not be able to save me.

But Pan Yinglong is still willing to give it a try!
A true man should do what he does and what he should not do!

Pan Yinglong calmed himself and answered loudly, "Your Highness, I think that if the Ming Dynasty wants to keep making progress and maintain its prosperity, it must continue to expand outwards, in an orderly and continuous manner!"

Yang Jinshui couldn't help but interrupt Pan Yinglong, "Absurd! Absurd! Pan Yinglong, do you know what you are talking about?

You are encouraging Your Highness to engage in militarism, and the final result will be a depleted country and exhausted people."

Pan Yinglong straightened his neck and answered: "Shang Yang promoted the method of farming and warfare, and finally Qin conquered the six kingdoms and unified the world."

"But Qin II died!"

"The Qin Dynasty fell not because of its weakness, but because of people, it became stronger and stronger, and finally fell suddenly because of people!"

Interesting, what Pan Yinglong said is interesting.

In his opinion, the Former Qin Dynasty was successful because several generations of kings had unremittingly implemented Shang Yang's method of farming and warfare, which was then passed on to the powerful man Ying Zheng, who conquered the six kingdoms in one fell swoop and unified the world.

However, when Qin Shihuang was still in the exploratory stage of truly unifying China for the first time, he suddenly died. His successor, Hu Hai, was too incompetent. A bunch of ambitious people saw their opportunity and rushed in, leading to the fall of the Qin Dynasty.

If Qin Shi Huang had lived another 20 years, or had found a capable successor who could have stabilized the situation and slowly explored and improved a suitable system, I believe that Qin would not have perished in the second generation.

Zhu Yijun did not say anything, and continued to listen to Pan Yinglong: "Warmism was what Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did. He repeatedly went to war, seeking fame instead of real benefits, wasting national strength to satisfy his own desires. Although he had the merits of Zhangye Hexi and Fenglangjuxu, he still ended up with a poor country and a hard-pressed people.

If the Ming Dynasty wants to conquer, it must consider the merits and demerits of justice; if the Ming Dynasty wants to expand, it must weigh the pros and cons. To conquer and expand, it must continuously obtain land and wealth! If you gain more than you pay, you can keep the Ming Dynasty advancing and thriving.

Under this general trend, reform and elimination of malpractices can proceed smoothly, and any conservative forces that hinder it will become flowers and plants under the ruts of the carriage. "

Yang Jinshui looked at Zhu Yijun who was as silent as water, and became even more worried.

Pan Yinglong, Pan Yinglong, you are so bold as to actually utter such outrageous and heretical teachings.

However, he had a vague feeling that what Pan Yinglong said seemed to be exactly what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted.

With the expectation of Yang Jinshui and Pan Yinglong, Zhu Yijun finally spoke.

"There is a Jintai Temple beside Jishuitan. After Lord Hai renovated the Taoist temple, it was confiscated by the government. Now the Propaganda Bureau of the Supervisory Office has set up a Jintai Hall there. Yang Jinshui, Pan Yinglong, you two should go there to study for a month first."

Yang Jinshui and Pan Yinglong looked at each other, confused but not daring to say anything, and quickly knelt down and replied, "Yes."

Zhu Yijun stood in front of the window with his hands in his sleeves, watching the backs of Yang Jinshui and Pan Yinglong going further and further away.

The matter of Cai Guoxi being humiliated by the Xu family should come to an end.

"Qi Yan!"

"Your Highness, I am here!"

"Notify Mr. Zhuo Wu that the date will be three days later."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)