The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

Organized and premeditated robbery? What kind of explanation is that?

Emperor Chongzhen still couldn't figure out what Zhu Ziming's purpose was, so he simply shut up and listened to Zhu Ziming continue.

"In order to ensure that the looting is organized and premeditated, we need to make sufficient preparations before letting the disaster victims into the city."

"First, deploy enough troops to control the disaster victims, maintain order, and ensure that no unrest occurs."

"Secondly, give two lanterns to every official or gentry family in the city who is unwilling to donate, one with the words 'The country is in trouble' written on it and the other with the words 'Every man has a responsibility,' and hang them at their door."

Finally, a notice was posted at the city gate, informing the disaster victims that they could enter the city to beg, but they were only allowed to beg from the homes of officials and gentry who had lanterns hanging at their doors that read "When the country is in trouble, every citizen has a responsibility." Moreover, burning, killing, looting, and committing crimes were strictly prohibited. Violators would be executed immediately without any leniency.

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to understand something, but not completely.

With the army present and lanterns hanging to guide the way, the disaster victims could indeed be led into the city to beg from the officials and gentry.

But what's the use of that?

Why don't those officials and gentry just shut their doors and ignore them?

Zhu Ziming continued, "If you were an official or gentry, you could certainly close your doors and windows. But have you considered that these disaster victims are all starving? Although there are soldiers present and they are not allowed to burn, kill, loot, or commit crimes, they have completely surrounded your residence, making it impenetrable. They eat, drink, relieve themselves, and sleep here. Not to mention the stench, you probably couldn't stand the noise of begging. Not to mention that some troublemakers might throw stones, curse, and cry."

"You hide in the house, unable to eat or sleep properly. Even worse for your wife, children, and elderly parents is that your whole family is in constant turmoil, living in fear and anxiety."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded.

The thought of being surrounded by disaster victims is unbearable.

But as I said before, what's the use?

Those officials and gentry are unlikely to give in so easily; it might even provoke their rebellious spirit, making them want to grit their teeth and resist to the end.

This time, Zhu Ziming did not continue to explain the point, but said, "Remember, at this time we must be clear about what we are doing. We are not going to let the disaster victims loot money and food, but to intensify the conflict between officials and gentry and the disaster victims."

"So, have you discovered anything yet?"

Returning to the point of contradiction, what did we discover?

Emperor Chongzhen truly had no idea and shook his head in bewilderment.

Zhu Ziming said, "Have you noticed that the main conflict in disaster relief was originally between the court and the disaster victims? But now, the conflict between officials and gentry and the disaster victims has quietly transformed from a secondary conflict into the main conflict, while the court has degenerated into a third party, or rather, the court has sided with the disaster victims."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes widened suddenly.

Upon closer reflection, it seems... no, not just seems, that's exactly how it is.

Seeing Chongzhen's reaction, Zhu Ziming felt a sense of satisfaction at having successfully shown off. After taking a sip of tea, he continued, "The conflict has quietly shifted. At this point, the conflict between officials and gentry and the disaster victims has become the main conflict."

"So, what we need to solve now is this main contradiction."

"How do we solve this?"

"We invited the officials and gentry to the square once again, and once again asked them to donate money and grain to help us get through this difficult time. We are here as a third party to mediate this conflict, right?"

Chongzhen nodded, gradually beginning to understand what Zhu Ziming had said.

"How do we reconcile them?"

"It's very simple. Officials and gentry donate money and grain to support disaster relief and get through the difficult times together. This way, the conflict is resolved, the problem is solved, and everyone is happy."

"But what if officials and gentry don't donate?"

"It's fine if they don't donate; they can just go home on their own. But by this point, the conflict between them and the disaster victims has escalated to a certain extent. They might be torn apart by the angry disaster victims before they even get home."

"Do you think these officials and gentry will dare not donate this time?"

"Furthermore, after these past few days of being besieged by disaster victims, the officials and gentry have become extremely nervous. If you just scare them a little, or get them to donate money and then return home safely, do you think the others will still be able to sit still?"

"The officials and gentry are not a monolithic entity. Once a breach is made, the rest will collapse as quickly as a dam breaking. They value their lives far more than these disaster victims. They would naturally prefer to spend money to avoid disaster rather than fight the disaster victims."

"So, as long as officials and gentry are willing to donate money and grain, the main contradiction will be resolved, and the disaster relief problem will be solved accordingly?"

Emperor Chongzhen was completely dumbfounded throughout the entire process.

I go!

It seems like it's actually solved!

His mind was still a little slow to process what was happening, so Zhu Ziming went along with the main contradiction and secondary contradictions, and as he talked, he actually solved the complicated problem that had stumped the entire court.

It doesn't talk about manipulating people's hearts, nor does it talk about any open or covert schemes; it's about the transformation of contradictions.

So this is another way to look at problems?

Emperor Chongzhen was utterly shocked.

Chongzhen kept reviewing what Zhu Ziming had just said, going through it from beginning to end, to find the main contradiction. Since the main contradiction was difficult to reconcile, he then looked for secondary contradictions and transformed them into the main contradiction. Once the main contradiction was successfully reconciled, the problem was solved.

The more I review, the clearer things become; the clearer things become, the more alarming it becomes.

After a long pause, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly awoke as if from a dream, slamming his hand on the table in exclamation: "Brilliant! Your reasoning is absolutely brilliant!"

Zhu Ziming took a sip of tea and replied modestly, "This transformation of contradictions and the principle of grasping the principal contradiction to solve problems are not my inventions. They are just principles of Marxist philosophy. I am simply applying theory to practice."

He did fairly well in politics when he was in school.

Later, when I wrote historical novels, I also studied philosophy. Why did I study philosophy? Because history and philosophy are inseparable. Their relationship is like two intertwined threads of human civilization: history is the laboratory of philosophy, and philosophy is the navigator of history.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen frowned, thought for a moment, and asked, "Who is Ma Zhe?"

"..."

Zhu Ziming remained silent.

It can only be said that the other party is undoubtedly a survivor of the nine years of compulsory education.

Chongzhen ignored Zhu Ziming's strange looks, feeling his gloom vanish. He never expected that his desperate attempt to come to the bookstore would actually bring the dead end back to life.

This made him even more certain that this was the Grand Council of the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen.

Independent, confidential, efficient, and holding supreme military and political power, handling the most critical matters.

When the most crucial matter was mentioned, Chongzhen seemed to have thought of something and asked, "By the way, there is another question I would like to ask you, sir."

"explain."

Emperor Chongzhen asked, "If the natural disaster I'm referring to occurred in Shaanxi Province earlier than the first year of my reign, who do you think would be the most suitable imperial envoy to provide disaster relief?"

Zhu Ziming thought for a moment and replied, "Hong Chengchou."