Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 389 I Want to Be a Benevolent King

The opera in Qufu is performed naturally and harmoniously.

After Kong Shangxian returned to Qufu, he used "thunderous means" and also cut his own flesh; impeachments were everywhere in the court, and local officials in Shandong were eyeing them covetously, and now the emperor was really coming.

So representatives of the entire family came together to ask the emperor to change Confucius' title. Zhu Changluo still did not express his opinion, but only said that the matter needed to be discussed by the court officials.

"The Master said that self-control and restoration of propriety is benevolence. If one can control oneself and return to propriety for one day, the world will return to benevolence. The Master said that only the benevolent can love people and hate people. Those who are committed to benevolence will not seek to live at the expense of benevolence, but will sacrifice their lives to achieve benevolence. Mencius also extended benevolence to politics, saying that benevolence is the human heart, which is the way for people to keep their homes safe; righteousness is the path for people, which is the right path for people. The benevolent love people and can sacrifice their lives for righteousness."

Zhu Changluo said this, looked at the door of the Confucius Temple and paused before saying, "Master is extremely benevolent, and his greatest achievement is to be benevolent by oneself. If I want to be benevolent, then I will be benevolent. Mencius' greatest achievement is to persuade the king to implement benevolent government, the people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least important. The ministers have petitioned to enshrine the gods at Mount Tai, and I am the emperor. Now the people of the Ming Dynasty cannot be said to be able to live in peace, and the world cannot be said to be able to restrain oneself and return to propriety and benevolence. What achievements can I report to the heaven?"

"I came to Shandong to respect Confucius' teaching that everyone can be a benevolent person, and Mencius' advocacy that the emperor should be a benevolent person, love the people, and implement benevolent policies. I am pleased to follow their teachings and wish to be a benevolent monarch."

So he walked into the Confucius Temple first.

There was naturally a chorus of praises behind him, but some elders of the Kong family were confused. They were very happy at first, but later they saw that Kong Shangxian became even more dazed and at a loss.

They don't understand why.

Looking closely, the expressions of the officials accompanying the emperor and the Shandong local officials were also meaningful.

Now is not the time to talk. The emperor personally visited the Confucius Temple, then stayed at the Confucius Mansion, and the next day he passed through Mencius' hometown and then went to Jining.

Kong Shangxian had to follow all the time.

During this period of time, there was naturally a lot of discussion within the Kong family.

"Your Majesty, it is a good thing that you respect our ancestors and praise them for their great benevolence!"

"Yes, paying homage to the Confucius Temple is more important than offering sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai. Your Majesty wants to implement benevolent policies, so why do some officials look so absent-minded? Duke Yansheng, he too..."

"Is it because your majesty said to restrain oneself and return to propriety, and they are worried that they have pushed me, Kong, too hard before?"

In the eyes of a group of half-baked people, the emperor's attitude was generally very gentle when he arrived in Qufu.

Staying at Confucius's mansion was naturally a favor.

"Jing Jiao, why don't you speak?"

Kong Zhenjiao, who had already left the position of Qufu County Magistrate, sneered: "Stupid!"

"you!"

Kong Zhenjiao shook his sleeves and said, "Since you can't understand it, I'll wait for him to come back and tell you about it!"

Kong Zhenjiao was of course somewhat resentful that Kong Shangxian ultimately failed to keep his position as the magistrate of Qufu.

Being able to serve as the magistrate of Qufu, he is certainly considered an outstanding member of the Kong clan today, so he doesn't bother to pay attention to these guys who don't understand the situation.

After Kong Shangxian returned from Jining exhausted, he got angry when faced with those questions, and the emotions that had been suppressed for many days burst out.

"What is benevolence? It means being able to love people, being able to hate people, and being able to kill oneself to achieve benevolence! Your Majesty wants to be a benevolent ruler. What kind of people does he like? What kind of people does he hate? Would he rather die to achieve benevolence, or would he kill others to achieve benevolence?"

"To offer sacrifices to the gods on Mount Tai, to increase the height of Mount Tai to repay the heaven, to attach Liangfu to the mountains to repay the earth, to make it clear what the heaven and earth have commanded, to accomplish one's mission and benefit the heaven and earth! Your Majesty did not offer sacrifices to the gods on Mount Tai, did not do the whole thing of receiving the mandate from heaven, and no one advised you to say that the people are more important than the king! A benevolent person loves others, and a benevolent king loves the people. Can't you hear that?"

"In your Majesty's eyes, the common people are the people! Only when everyone in the world can live in peace and prosperity can we be benevolent and rule the right path! The emperor should restrain himself and return to propriety, so shouldn't the officials and gentry also restrain themselves and return to propriety? The Ministry of Rites was changed to the Ministry of Rites and Law, with the word "law" added. Don't you understand what it means?"

"The ancestors and Mencius are the ancestors of Confucianism! Ancestors! What is benevolence and what is benevolent government? Your Majesty has already made it clear: this benevolent monarch is to be kind and wicked! This Son of Heaven is to reduce the surplus and make up for the deficiency, and follow the way of heaven!"

"If the officials and gentry can restrain themselves and return to propriety, they will be favored! If they do not want to become benevolent, they will be hated! They will be killed! They will be damaged! They will be accused of the merits of heaven and earth!"

After Kong Shangxian finished his roar, he laughed bitterly and said, "Benevolence and righteousness have been talked about for two thousand years. Who among the officials and gentry in the world can turn over the numerous writings of the past two thousand years and say that our ancestors and Mencius were wrong? The most benevolent teacher... there is no need to discuss it! The knowledge of our ancestors only stopped at self-cultivation to achieve the most benevolent, don't you understand? Confucian scholars who respect Confucius should first seek the most benevolence in themselves! Only those who restrain their selfish desires and abide by the rites and laws can be regarded as good Confucian scholars!"

To the south of Jining, this section of the canal is adjacent to the wide Weishan Lake.

At this moment, Fang Congzhe was on the boat of the Lifanyuan, and the officials of the Lifanyuan were drinking tea and chatting in their spare time.

You can't keep doing your homework, especially since today's game was called by Fang Congzhe.

"The Lifanyuan should remember your majesty's benevolent heart. Even if the vassal states are barbarians, your majesty still treats them as your subjects. If you implement benevolent policies, you will be able to defeat them with military force. The Lifanyuan will be the top priority in the future."

Sun Chuanting nodded and accepted the advice, and then asked: "Foreign Minister, if we extend this, then what Your Majesty said about the world returning to benevolence is not limited to the Ming Dynasty?"

Fang Congzhe smiled and nodded, "Bo Ya is smart. The world is naturally the whole heaven. If the world is ruled by benevolence, then all the people will be subjects. In the past, when Duke Ying recaptured Jiaozhi, the court could not be considered to have implemented benevolent policies in Jiaozhi, as it eventually lost what it had gained. Not to mention Jiaozhi, how can the provinces of the Ming Dynasty be ruled by benevolence? Now your majesty's aspiration is the right one. If the world is ruled by benevolence, then naturally the world will be united."

Sun Chuanting was in awe, especially thinking that the world... was not just within the Ming Dynasty.

"The world... is one great harmony?"

"Otherwise, why would the Academy of Scientific Research need to think about more weights and measures?" Fang Congzhe said solemnly, "The Academy of Scientific Research accompanied the Emperor to this trade fair in Guangzhou, not just to assist His Majesty in giving lectures."

On the imperial boat, Zhu Changluo was looking at the report sent to the emperor from the south.

"So, from Huaiyang to Jiangnan, the scholars are now in an uproar?"

He opened his mouth, and Liu Ruoyu only said: "Your Majesty's lectures on the platform are very inspiring, and many young scholars are quite excited. However, many people have studied the classics for many years, and now they hear the truth that studying things naturally is the foundation of down-to-earth learning, so they naturally feel at a loss."

"The good days of being rich and powerful by quoting scriptures and talking eloquently are indeed over. As corrupt scholars, they will make a fuss if they want to." He just chuckled and then instructed, "The emperor will go south to the rich land. I will set an example and restrain myself. You and Zou Yi should keep an eye on the people below and not waste money and manpower. If there are any places along the way that insist on welcoming the emperor with a big fanfare and offering tribute, find some examples to do so. This trip is mainly to give lectures and to go to Guangzhou to sort out the vassal states."

"I will remember it."

Zhu Changluo looked at him, paused for a moment, and then smiled and said, "Finally you can change your words?"

Liu Ruoyu was a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, I am too gracious to be so kind."

"You have both made contributions and suffered a lot." Zhu Changluo said, "Nowadays, things are different from before. The matters that the eunuchs are in charge of and the missions they are assigned to are very different from before. If you serve me, your status will gradually become more and more legitimate."

"On behalf of the eunuchs, I thank Your Majesty for his grace."

"Get up. You have been by my side for so many years. I hope you can leave a mark in history in the future. Eunuch Sanbao made his mark at sea. If you can help me build a royal family and clan that wins the hearts of the people, and make the benevolent policies I want to promote truly benefit the people, history will remember you well."

Liu Ruoyu nodded solemnly: "I will do my best."

"Go ahead and write a letter to Cheng Jing." Zhu Changluo smiled. "I haven't seen him for many years. Let him prepare well in Nanjing. When the emperor arrives in Nanjing, let him invite the kings to meet him at the dock."

In Nanjing, what the emperor said at the Shandong Academy of the Imperial College had indeed spread here. Cheng Jing had been in Nanjing for ten years, and now he was very old.

But he was relaxed, and said to Xu Hongji and others nonchalantly: "Not to mention that Duke Ningguo is here, even if Duke Ningguo is not here, Duke Jingguo is accompanying you, and your majesty is going south with the power of heaven, why worry?"

Xu Hongji said: "There is indeed a lot of discussion..."

"We can only discuss it. The central government offices have been changed again. What will happen to the government offices in Nanjing? What will happen to the business licenses? How will taxes be collected? They are worried." Cheng Jing saw it clearly. "If they want to put down this heavy stone in their hearts, the officials and gentry in Nanzhili and Jiangnan must show their attitude."

After saying that, she glanced at him and said, "Actually, someone asked you to ask about my opinion, right?"

Xu Hongji smiled awkwardly.

His lineage has been passed down in Nanjing for so many generations and has close ties with various families in the south of the Yangtze River.

For many years, there has been no emperor visiting Nanjing in person.

The current emperor is another one who has shown his sword to Jiangnan and is obviously still sharpening his sword.

He had just defeated the Tatars and Jurchens in the north and forced them to kneel down in submission.

In the battle two years ago, when the war was tense, Jiangnan was full of fallacies. After the general situation was determined, Wang Dewan handled a large number of cases in Jiangnan, and the court took the opportunity to open up a batch of old accounts. Now that Wang Dewan has been promoted to the new Minister of Taxation, how can Jiangnan not be afraid?

"In the final analysis, just obey the law and follow the government orders. What is there to be afraid of?" Cheng Jing said leisurely, "The Duke of Wei should not be involved in civil affairs after the additional money and gold has been used to support the Xiaoling Guards and the navy for so many years. Learn from the Duke of Ning and be content."

Xu Hongji's expression tensed up, and he quickly said, "You are right, Master."

In Nanjing City, no matter what the gentry said, the civil officials in the various government offices in Nanjing were extremely nervous.

The Executive Yuan had been established, the emperor had appointed eight ministers, and the central government offices in Beijing were already very different from those in Nanjing.

At present, nature is still moving forward by inertia, but this situation is destined not to last too long.

When the emperor arrived in Nanjing, he had to solve this problem.

The biggest problem with Jiangnan is that it is the tax base and talent base; only when Nanjing and Beijing are combined together can they form a complete center.

In the face of interests, too many people want to maintain the status quo of Jiangnan. Only with a certain degree of autonomy can they talk about protecting their existing interests. Financial support for Beijing and the central government is a bargaining chip in exchange for this part of autonomy.

If the capital of the Ming Dynasty was still in Jiangnan, the nine frontiers would be too far away. It would not be conducive to border defense, and there would be no merit in reintegrating the Han people who had lived in the Liao, Jin and Yuan dynasties for hundreds of years.

After the capital was moved to Beijing, it was inseparable from the support of the more prosperous Jiangnan to the north through the canal.

But now, the time has begun to mature.

First, the border defense pressure in the north was greatly alleviated, and a new border defense system and vassal relationship were established.

Secondly, outside the canal, Changming Zhayang Company has been operating for many years and sea transportation has begun to show results.

Once again, after the emperor made major changes to the central government in Beijing and delegated power to prime ministers, the interests of officials in Beijing had become highly tied to the gains and losses of the new policies.

Once again: Although Huguang still belongs to the general Jiangnan power group, the court's water conservancy and road and bridge planning already has a main road from Henan to Huguang and from Huguang to Guanzhong in Shaanxi. Huguang's granary may have a different location in the future; after the establishment of Liaoning Province and Chengde Prefecture, there will be new granaries in the north in the long run.

Finally, the Holy Emperor’s achievements in both civil and military affairs are enough to inspire awe.

The previous two years were about martial arts, but this time the southern tour created a lot of momentum for knowledge.

This issue involves talent and the steps to advancement.

Following the emperor's guidance in learning, it was easier to enter the court. After entering the court through the new learning, it was natural to stand on the emperor's side and implement the new policies.

Everyone knew that the emperor had long ago set the tone of loving the people, and the court always needed money to run. As the tax center of the court, Jiangnan had to enrich the country and strengthen the army, so only the richer clans and big families could cede their interests.

In the past, the various government offices in Nanjing were the representatives of the interests of the wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River.

They safeguarded their interests in Jiangnan, which the emperor could not govern more effectively, by competing with Beijing for civil autonomy over Southern Zhili, Jiangxi, Huguang, and Zhejiang.

So how do the various government offices in Nanjing deal with themselves?
"Sir Zhao, you have been transferred from Beijing to Nanjing. Now the imperial carriage has arrived in the territory of Nanzhili. It's urgent. Please say something!"

Zhao Shiqing looked at the anxious expressions of his colleagues and drank his tea without commenting.

The previous Minister of Finance in Nanjing was Xiao Daheng, who later became the Governor-General and Minister of State Affairs of the then Executive Yuan. It was a pity that he was too old and could not become the first prime minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Now he has been transferred from the Minister of Revenue in Beijing to the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing. At this time of panic among the people, he is of course the core of many civil officials in Nanjing during this period.

Everyone is looking for a way out.

"What's the point of me talking?" Zhao Shiqing said nonchalantly after putting down his teacup. "Things in Jiangnan are usually not about what the court says or what the Nanjing government says, but what the various ethnic groups and families in Jiangnan do and how much effort the court has to put in to get them to do it."

The officials in Nanjing could only look at him helplessly.

"They are just anxious to discuss it, why should you and I be anxious?" Zhao Shiqing said calmly, "You and I are both appointed officials of the court. What is the decree of His Majesty and how the court should change it? Are you and I going to disobey the decree?"

"But……"

The more people looked at him, the more they felt that he had already made up his mind and probably knew something.

"It's nothing more than a definite answer." Zhao Shiqing understood, "You might as well tell them directly whether you have the determination to disobey the order. Anyway, I, Zhao Shiqing, do not."

The imperial boats were moving steadily southward, and the emperor had already entered Southern Zhili.

At this moment, every family in Jiangnan has no idea what he is going to turn Jiangnan into.

Therefore, some of the emperor’s public remarks along the way would certainly be carefully scrutinized.

On this day, the news that the emperor was in Qufu also spread to the south of the Yangtze River.

The emperor said that he wanted to be a benevolent ruler and implement benevolent policies.

Many old men in Jiangnan almost vomited blood.

(End of this chapter)