My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

"The identities of Shang Yang and Gongzi Ang had changed. At that time, Shang Yang was the Grand Minister of Qin, and Gongzi Ang was a general of Wei. They served their respective masters, and national interests were always more important than personal friendships."

Moreover, during the Warring States period, there was no such thing as "gentlemanly warfare." Clashes between states were characterized by deceit, intrigue, and countless schemes.

These are all normal.

Therefore, it's not wrong for Shang Yang to do that for the benefit of the country.

Back then, Cao Cao led his troops into battle in the same way.

Because Cao Cao was too cunning, people called him a treacherous hero. Li Shimin explained his point of view.

After hearing this, Xu Hui rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a long time: "Your Majesty, perhaps it is because you are the emperor that you think this way."

During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, an event occurred in which five Xiongnu kings surrendered to the Han Dynasty.

Emperor Jing of Han intended to enfeoff those five kings as marquises.

However, this matter was opposed by Zhou Yafu.

Zhou Yafu said that Emperor Gaozu once established the White Horse Alliance, which stipulated that anyone who became king but was not a Liu would be attacked by the whole world, and no one could be enfeoffed as a marquis without military merit.

The five Xiongnu kings were surrendered generals who had killed many Han soldiers. Where did they get their military merits?

Moreover, if they were to be enfeoffed as marquises, wouldn't that encourage people to betray their masters?

Is this the conduct expected of a subject?

Confucius said, "Of all things under heaven, none is greater than propriety."

Confucius believed that rites were the most important thing in the world, and that there should be a clear distinction between ruler and subject, and between elder and younger; these distinctions should not be disordered.

However, Emperor Jing of Han ignored Zhou Yafu's advice.

Ultimately, the five Xiongnu kings were granted the title of marquis.

As you just said, Emperor Jing of Han was also considering the national interest.

He believed that granting the title of marquis to the five Xiongnu kings would attract more Xiongnu people to surrender to the Han Dynasty.

but,

However, the Rebellion of the Seven States broke out during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han.

So, is this related to Emperor Jing of Han enfeoffing the five Xiongnu kings as marquises?

So, which is more important, propriety or national interests?

Shang Yang lured Prince Ang into a trap and defeated the Wei army.

On the surface, he won a victory for Qin, for which Wei had to cede some of its territory to Qin.

The Qin state won.

However, after Duke Xiao of Qin died and Ying Si succeeded to the throne, he began to hunt down Shang Yang.

Shang Yang, however, trapped himself in his own web of intrigue.

He wanted to seek refuge in the State of Wei, but Wei, harboring resentment for his role in deceiving Prince Ang, refused to take him in.

Ultimately, Shang Yang was captured and died a gruesome death.

In other words, if he hadn't betrayed Prince Ang, would the outcome have been different?

After hearing this, Li Shimin fell into deep thought, because he had never heard of such remarks as those made by Xu Hui.

Xu Hui continued, "Back then, Cao Cao was cunning and treacherous."

Therefore, Liu Bei once said that everything he did had to be the opposite of what Cao Cao did.

Only in that way can we remain invincible.

Liu Bei also said that the reason why the late Eastern Han Dynasty was in such chaos was because people's hearts were in disarray, and the ministers were not acting like ministers, and the sons were not acting like sons.

Both Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords.

However, Cao Cao was good at putting on a show.

In essence, there is no difference.

Cao Cao also wanted to seize absolute power.

If everyone truly upheld propriety and law from the bottom of their hearts, how could such a chaotic world have arisen?

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.

Xu Hui knew that what she and Li Shimin were discussing was no longer just about who was right and who was wrong between Shang Yang and Prince Ang; the matter had risen to a new level.