Chapter 1883 Confucianism
Everyone has their own position and demands, especially in the officialdom.
This is true for honest officials, and it is also true for traitors.
The attitude expressed by ministers when faced with any resolution is by no means simply judged by right or wrong, good or evil. It cannot be said that such officials do not exist, but they are definitely rare. In the long history, there are only one or two occasionally. A man destined to go down in history and become a legend.
At the very least, during the Zhenguan Dynasty, there were no such "pure ministers"...
Looking at the ministers of Zhenguan, there are many "capable ministers", but there are not many "honest officials". Changsun Wuji, Xiao Yu, Gao Shilian, Cen Wenwen and others have outstanding abilities and have made immortal contributions to the prosperity and stability of the empire. But in fact, these people are all working hard for the expansion and development of their respective families and forces, and they have no choice but to Don't use extreme measures.
Even a gentleman like Fang Xuanling is well versed in the principle of "protecting oneself wisely". It is true that he works hard and sleeps hard at night, but the art of officialdom is slippery and no one can catch the slightest clue, so he can only make connections. Be enlightened and remain standing.
Perhaps, only Ma Zhou can be praised as the last "pure minister"...
There was silence in the main hall for a long time before Cen Wenwen spoke up: "The inclusion of Silla was requested by its queen. Now she has personally rushed to Chang'an to present the national seal and credentials to His Majesty in person, and to request the Tang Dynasty to confer an imperial edict. Prince, go to If Your Majesty refuses to take over the throne of Silla, wouldn’t it mean that Queen Seon-deok’s whole-hearted respect for the Tang Dynasty has been dampened, and the people of Silla’s hope for mercy and compassion from the Celestial Empire will be dampened. Therefore, I think that Your Majesty should agree.”
He is one of the few ministers in the court who always clings to the emperor's thigh. This is because his family is weak and weak. In the court where the Guanlong nobles and Jiangnan nobles are so famous, he must have both sides to ensure his status. Instead of being like this , it is better to follow the emperor's pace and follow suit step by step.
The emperor's wishes were known to everyone in the court.
Now he has made it clear that he supports the emperor, which can be regarded as a correct stance...
His Majesty Li Er felt comfortable in his heart, but his face was as calm as water. He glanced at the ministers lightly and asked: "My dear friends, what do you think?"
Changsun Wuji pondered for a moment, and then said: "The words of the minister are mature and prudent, and the veteran has no objection."
As the leader of the Guanlong nobles, Changsun Wuji's words were a public statement on behalf of officials from the Guanlong nobles in the DPRK.
In fact, as the force closest to the Li Tang royal family, the Guanlong nobles are happy to see the royal family's children divide the world. Have you seen that among the princes of His Majesty Li Er, which one does not have a close relationship with the Guanlong nobles?
Once His Majesty Li Er divides the world into feudal states, everyone's interests will be immediately extended to all feudal states...
It's just that many feudal dynasties in history did not end well in the end, so they initially opposed His Majesty Li Er's "feudal world" policy.
No one wants to see a prosperous empire set back history due to a wrong policy, and eventually fall into division and civil war.
This is also a major matter concerning one's own interests...
But now the situation is different. The Queen of Silla is crying and asking for annexation, and for the prince of Tang Dynasty to be crowned King of Silla. Why can't this be done?
As soon as Changsun Wuji finished speaking, Shangshu's right servant shot Zhang Xingcheng and objected: "What Duke Zhao said is ridiculous! The Tang Dynasty was so powerful that it relied on its invincible army, but it could conquer the world immediately, but how could it be done immediately? What about ruling the world? In the opinion of the ministers, the Queen of Silla came to Chang'an to request annexation, and should be dismissed with more kindness to change her mind and order the Royal Navy of the Tang Dynasty to support the Jin family in Silla. clan, eliminate rebellions, and help stabilize the government, the people of Silla will inevitably feel the power of the Tang Dynasty and sincerely respect them. On the contrary, if the prince is forced to be the king of Silla, the people of Silla will inevitably become more worried and conflicted. , in the next few years, resistance will inevitably continue, leaving the empire in dire straits, and spending a lot of military expenditures in that bitter and barren land. It is really not worth the gain..."
It's a long article, but the key point is at the end - what is the use of the bitter cold and barren land of Silla?
In fact, Zhang Xingcheng was also helpless.
The consensus of the Shandong Family is to follow Fang Jun's footsteps, support Fang Jun to become the chief minister, and train him to become the spokesperson of the Shandong Family in the court. Although Zhang Xingcheng is already serving as the minister's right servant, who will listen to what he, the prime minister, has to say?
He just took advantage of the overt and covert fighting between the Guanlong nobles and the Jiangnan gentry and both sides suffered losses. No one took him seriously...
However, the feudal kings and surrounding vassal states were seriously contrary to the interests of the Shandong family!
The Guanlong nobles rely on their military merits and the founding of the country by supporting the Li and Tang royal families all the way. What they pursue is never-ending foreign wars in order to maintain their respective foundations.
The Jiangnan gentry relied on their deep-rooted ruling foundation in Jiangnan, especially the Hairao family headed by the Xiao family, a descendant of the Liang Dynasty. They had unparalleled influence in Jiangnan. Among ordinary people, they only knew local Chen Xie, Yuan Xiao, Gu Lu, Zhou Zhang, etc. There are many people who are nobles but do not know who the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is.
And what does the Shandong family rely on to survive and prosper?
Suppressed by the imperial court since the end of the Sui Dynasty, the Shandong aristocratic family with heirlooms of poetry and calligraphy and unparalleled classics and righteousness was in ruins in the court. The highest official was Zhang Xingcheng, who had picked up a right servant of Shangshu for nothing, and he still had no influence... There was no power in the court. If the ministers fight for their interests, it will be difficult for the Shandong family to make political demands. In a vicious circle, the situation is already in danger.
What we rely on is nothing more than the foundation of the classic meaning.
However, since the end of the Sui Dynasty, countless knowledgeable people from Shandong aristocratic families have clearly realized that even though they have the final interpretation power of the world's history books and occupy a unique academic position, they have no corresponding power. In front of the sticks, swords and guns, in the end it's just a few shouts. People ignore you, and it's all in vain even if you tear your throat...
But even if you understand this, what's the use?
The power is almost divided. The plate is so big and there are so many brats. Everyone has a good position. Who will let you take a bite?
The Shandong family is also in despair!
Who told me that I was in the wrong team and didn't get on the big ship of His Majesty Li Er?
There is no other way, but to cling to the Confucian classics and principles, stubbornly to the end, and hope that with the times, when Confucianism can rise again, the Shandong aristocratic family will inevitably make a comeback, and Kong Yingda's compilation of "Five Classics of Justice" once allowed the Shandong aristocratic family to see Confucianism. There was hope for revitalization, but the subsequent foreign wars strangled this trend in the cradle...
Zhang Xingcheng had no objection to Silla's internal affairs, and he could not influence it.
But he couldn't accept the imperial decree for the prince to go to Silla to succeed the throne. As a Confucian student with the highest official position in the court, it is his natural duty to maintain the orthodoxy of Confucianism. This is a hundred times more important than seeking officialdom!
What is the orthodoxy of Confucianism?
Lord, Lord, Minister, Father, Father, Son!
As a monarch, you should act like a minister, as a minister, you should act like a minister, as a father, you should act like a father, and as a son, you should act like a son. Only in this way can the society be in order and the world be in place!
To put it simply, all the people in the world should perform their own duties, and should not "subjugate the superior" or "reverse and usurp" at every turn. Only by staying in their own right and each pursuing his or her own affairs can the world be stable and the country prosperous.
Therefore, the Shandong aristocratic family supported Li Jiancheng, who had a great reputation, instead of His Majesty Li Er, who was more enterprising and ambitious!
In Zhang Xingcheng's view, this is justice, orthodoxy, and the truth that must be defended with life!
Like Fang Jun, he stirred up other countries into chaos at every turn. The ministers rebelled and killed the emperor, and the queen had to abdicate her throne and let the virtuous people dedicate themselves to the country. This is clearly a violation of Confucian justice. How can this be done?
If everyone in the world behaves like this, the orthodoxy on which Confucianism depends for its survival will completely collapse...
Opposition is necessary!
Even if Fang Jun proposes this proposal, he must oppose it!
However, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty did not take this seriously...
The first person to bear the brunt is His Majesty Li Er.
Just imagine, he got the throne by "subjugating the superior" and "taking it against the superior". Confucianism advocates "the king, the king, the minister, the father, the son, the son". Doesn't this deny the legitimacy of his throne and even publicly accuse him of being a "rebellious minister and traitor"? ?
It's tolerable, but it's intolerable!
His Majesty Li Er had a dark face and a fierce light in his eyes as he glared at Zhang Xingcheng: "In your opinion, Silla has come to annex, and this kind of expansion of territory and the majesty of the Tang Dynasty should be rejected. Out the door? ”
Anger rose in his heart!
Whether you are Confucian or Legalist, I don’t care what your opinions are!
It doesn't matter if you close the door and chat a few words in the yard at home, even if you are scolding me!
But bringing your tricks to the court, intending to influence national policy, and even putting a frame on me, telling me that I can't do this and that, otherwise it will be harmful to the country and the people, and it is perverse...
Go ahead and dream!
Do you really think that I am too old to carry a knife? ! (End of chapter)