The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 64 What Crime Should Be Asked?
Li Qi took a deep breath and clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves. For him, the most crucial moment had arrived.

The underlying political logic of the Yongle reign will be constructed by him, and this will inevitably influence the future Ming Dynasty for countless years to come!

"Your Highness, among Jianwen's loyal ministers, those who are the main culprits, such as Fang Xiaoru, Qi Tai, and Huang Zicheng, should naturally be killed. As for those who are willing to serve Jianwen and die for him, such as Tie Xuan, Sheng Yong, and Ping An, let them have their way!"
But if killing is necessary, then the world cannot believe that a loyal minister has met such a tragic end. Therefore, only the individual should be executed, without implicating his entire family, and a monument should be erected to commemorate the loyalty and sacrifice of Jianwen's loyal ministers.

Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and then he heard Li Qi say again: "But this is far from enough. Some people will surely perish with their families. And if all those who are loyal to Jianwen are killed, wouldn't that make Your Highness appear even more cruel?"
The real answer to this problem is the question Qi asked earlier—

Your Highness, have you decided how you will face the doubts and criticisms of the world?

If Your Highness conducts yourself with integrity, then the ministers of Jianwen are evil!
Just now, I mocked the Jin Dynasty for ruling the world with filial piety, because everyone knows that the Sima family, as subjects, murdered the emperor in the street.

Centuries later, during the Tang Dynasty, a poet lamented: "Three generations of cunning laid the foundation for the dynasty, yet pitiful were the widow and orphan. The sins of Cheng Ji are the hatred of Heaven, and the offense against the wise ruler is an eternal tragedy."

The Sima family dared not speak of loyalty, because even though they had ascended the throne, their claim to it was illegitimate.

Your Highness and the Prince of Gaoyang were about to fight because Your Highness yourself believed deep down that you had done something wrong!
You consider yourself a traitor, and traitors are destined to be despised by the world.

The more fiercely you kill those who criticize you in your rage, the sharper your blade becomes, the more it reveals your insecurity!

Zhu Gaoxu was no longer able to laugh. He didn't dare to say those words, and the others kept their heads down as if they hadn't heard anything.

Zhu Di clenched his fist but said nothing. He understood Li Qi's meaning: some things, if kept hidden, would only become a mess; it was better to lay everything out in the open.

Li Qi continued without stopping, saying, "According to the practices of emperors in history, they would first kill all the opponents, then reward their meritorious officials, and finally revise the history books to say that the late emperor originally wanted him to succeed to the throne, but lost the throne because he was framed by treacherous officials and forged an imperial edict."

Li Qi displayed his brilliance and wisdom with such unbridled arrogance, something almost unprecedented in the Hongwu reign.

Firstly, it was because Zhu Di was different from Zhu Yuanzhang. Secondly, he knew that he would definitely have a honeymoon period with Zhu Di, and that he would die when Zhu Di began to be wary of him.

Although Zhu Di did not show it on his face, he was shocked inside, because he really planned to do it. After becoming emperor, he would revise the Veritable Records of the Taizu Emperor, saying that his father originally preferred him to succeed to the throne. But now that Li Qi had said this, he felt a little awkward.

"Those are just self-deceptions, what's the use?"

Qi will not mention those chaotic periods that are too far in the past.

The History of Song states that Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, died of illness, but everyone knows that it was Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, who murdered him using the "Candle Shadow and Axe Sound" technique.

Was the Song Dynasty's more than 300-year reign due to a lack of historical truths being buried by Zhao Guangyi, or because his power was insufficient?

Why can't we keep these things hidden? Because the world is watching with its discerning eyes!

So is rewriting history useful?

Useless!

It only makes the world laugh and mock. Look at that emperor, he's just a usurper, burying his head in the sand, and yet he expects the world to talk about loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety!

Zhu Di's straight back instantly slumped, and his tightly clenched fists loosened. He had to admit that Li Qi was absolutely right; rewriting history would only deceive himself, no one would believe it, and it would only invite ridicule and even cause people to lose respect for the emperor. He said in a hoarse voice, "Since my brother-in-law says so, surely there is a better solution?"

Li Qi bowed deeply to Zhu Di, a solemn gesture that startled everyone, who unconsciously straightened their postures.

Li Qi's groundbreaking remarks earlier were all casual, but now he's taking this so seriously.

"Qi believes that Your Highness has no need to be so guilty. How can Zhao Guangyi be compared to you? He was deeply indebted to his elder brother, but instead of repaying him, he plotted to harm Emperor Taizu of Song and then persecuted Emperor Taizu's son. Isn't the fact that he is criticized by the people just a testament to the righteousness of the people's hearts?"
"Your Highness, I would like to ask, Emperor Taizong of Tang also ascended the throne through the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Was he wrong?"

"Of course!"

Zhu Di immediately shouted that Li Shimin was his idol. "Emperor Taizong founded the country and made outstanding contributions, but he was feared by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji and was trapped in a deadly situation. If he had not passed through Xuanwu Gate, he would probably have died at the hands of the two traitors. He would not have been able to live to see the Zhenguan era."

"exactly!"

Li Qi nodded and smiled, "That's what the Tang people thought back then, and that's what we think now, thousands of years later. This is the power of the people's hearts!"

Therefore, Emperor Taizong of Tang dared to have his ministers write in the history books that he personally shot and killed his own brother, because he firmly believed that he had done nothing wrong!
The Duke of Zhou executed Guan and Cai, and Emperor Taizong killed his brothers; all of this was for the sake of the world.
Your Highness, you were the de facto eldest son of the late emperor before his death, and you have the responsibility to maintain the imperial family. What wrong have you done in the Jingnan Campaign?

Are you to sit idly in Beiping and await death? It was Jianwen who disobeyed the late emperor's orders and will, not you!

Zhu Di jumped up from his chair. Li Qi was the first person to say that he had done nothing wrong in the Jingnan Campaign. Even his wife and son would probably think that he had done something wrong.

Even he himself, in the dead of night, was terrified of what he had done.

"But Jianwen was the emperor..."

Zhu Di uttered these words, staring intently at Li Qi, needing more mental strength to support his weakened heart.

Li Qi!

I know you are the most renowned Confucian scholar in the world. Tell me, and tell the world, that I have done nothing wrong.

Li Qi did not disappoint him. He loudly proclaimed, "Tang banished Jie, and King Wu attacked Zhou. Those who harm benevolence are called thieves, and those who harm righteousness are called cruel. A cruel and thieving person is called a mere man. I have heard of the execution of the man Zhou, but I have never heard of the murder of a ruler!"

Zhu Di had never found Mencius so agreeable.

After saying this, Li Qi took another step forward, his voice sharp as he said, "If Your Highness wants peace and tranquility in the world, you must never allow yourself to bear the reputation of a traitor and regicide!"

Otherwise, the moral climate of the world will surely descend into chaos!
Only by upholding the rightful way of the world can the Ming Dynasty achieve lasting peace and stability.

In my opinion, we should summon all officials, scholars, and elders of the capital to the imperial palace, and then seize the ministers of Jianwen and question them about their crimes to the world!

(End of this chapter)