The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 509: Are the people more important, or the literati race?
When Zheng Xilin talked to Zhao Yao, he did not drive away his youngest son. Zheng Qian sat aside and listened quietly to his father talking to His Highness the King of Han.

Zhao Yao originally thought that Zheng Xilin would talk to him for several hours, but he didn't expect that he only talked for one hour. After saying that, Lieutenant Zheng said that he was tired and would leave the Marsh Mansion by boat early tomorrow morning and would never bring trouble or danger to Zhao Yao.

Zheng Qian invited Zhao Yao to his study for tea. Zhao Yao picked up the teacup and did not drink the tea in a hurry. Instead, he gently flicked the water with the tea lid. Zheng Qian sat opposite him and said nothing.

After a while, Zhao Yao finally spoke: "What do you think your father means?"

Zheng Qian knew in his heart that Zhao Yao could not understand the meaning behind his father's words, "Master, you don't need to pay attention to what he said." He had never listened to his father's words. "Just think he's farting."

When Zhao Yao heard Zheng Qian talking about his father, he was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha, Zheng Qian, can you say that about your father?"

"That's what I always say about him." He had said things even more rebellious than this.

Zhao Yao had long seen Zheng Qian's deep dislike for Zheng Taiwei. He joked: "Your eldest and second brothers are also proud of having a father like Taiwei Zheng. Why do you dislike your father so much?"

Zheng Qian snorted: "He's disgusting."

Zhao Yao didn't speak anymore, but slowly drank tea.

"Lord, you should live according to your heart."

Zhao Yao finished drinking the tea and put down the teacup in his hand, "I won't change my mind just because of your father's words. I don't understand why your father values ​​me now. How can I be worthy of his respect?" He said I still don't understand why my father chose him. He felt that he could make more money than his royal brothers, but that he was not as good as them in other aspects. When it comes to fighting, he is not as good as acting as king. In terms of reading, he is not as good as his fourth brother. In terms of forbearance and trickery, he is not as good as Bage. In terms of family background, he is far inferior to King Jing. Apart from making money, he really couldn't compare with his brothers. Why would Father and the others think he was worthy of such a big job?

"Lord, if he doesn't like you, he is blind." Although Zheng Qian disliked his father in every aspect, he agreed with the fact that his father liked Zhao Yao. "Lord, you are very good. It is normal for him to value you."

"What am I good at?" Zhao Yao pointed to himself and said, "I have no ambitions. I just want to be a rich prince and don't want to care about the world's affairs. How do I qualify to be an emperor? Let's not talk about other people. My fourth brother is excellent in all aspects and cares about the people of the world. He is the most suitable person to be emperor. Why do my father and Lieutenant Zheng look down on him? What is wrong with him? "

"The King of Chu is good, but the King of Chu is not as good as the Lord."

"How is fourth brother inferior to me?" In his opinion, fourth brother is the perfect successor.

"My lord, you will do a lot of things that will benefit the people of the world. In this regard, King Chu is far inferior to you."

"What does this mean? To be an emperor, you don't need to make things like plows and waterwheels." Zhao Yao waved his hand, "Those things I made do benefit the people, but this does not mean that I am suitable to be an emperor. You don't need these things to be an emperor. , but to manage the country well. I don't even bother to deal with the official affairs of my small court, let alone the big affairs of the world." He even has too much business of his small court, let alone the world's affairs. The most important thing is the affairs of the world. No matter how small it is, it is related to the people of the entire Zhou Dynasty. It cannot be dealt with perfunctorily.

Zheng Qian suddenly asked: "My lord, how do you think King Chu will manage the country of Zhou after he becomes emperor?"

Zhao Yao said without hesitation: "Of course benevolence governs the world."

"Then do you think it is good for Ren to rule the world?"

Zhao Yao was slightly startled by this question. He frowned and asked with confusion on his face: "Isn't it bad to rule the world with benevolence? Aren't all wise kings from ancient times ruling the world with benevolence?"

Zheng Qian did not answer Zhao Yao's rhetorical question, but continued to ask: "My lord, do you think the emperor is ruling the world with benevolence?"

"Isn't my father ruling the world with benevolence?" Zhao Yao thought Zheng Qian's question was strange. "After my father ascended the throne, he exempted and exempted various taxes and corvees, lightened penalties, and formulated various policies that were beneficial to the people. Is this true? Isn’t it Renji?”

"My lord, is this what you think of Renji?"

"Of course these are not enough. I am just giving some examples. The benevolence that governs the world must be reflected in many aspects." Zhao Yao said seriously, "We must be [benevolent] to the civil and military officials, so that they will actively accept Remonstration. To the scholars, benevolence, this will make the culture of the Zhou Dynasty prosperous, and make more people willing to study and take the imperial examinations to become officials. To the common people, benevolence, this will make the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the country will be peaceful and peaceful... …”

Zheng Qian listened quietly to Zhao Yao's explanation of what he understood as "ruling by benevolence", "My lord, do you think it is enough to rule the world by benevolence?" He asked again, "Do you think the emperor only rules by benevolence? Why don’t the aristocratic families use [Ren] to govern them?”

After hearing this, Zhao Yao was silent for a moment, and then said after a moment: "It is not enough to just rely on [benevolence] to govern the world."

Zheng Qian asked again: "My lord, what do you think the emperor relies on to govern the world besides benevolence?"

Zhao Yao said: "Law rules the world."

"My lord, now the emperor not only uses the Confucian [benevolence] to govern the world, but also adopts the Legalist [law] to govern the world."

Zhao Yao nodded in agreement with Zheng Qian's statement, "That's true, but what does this have to do with Fourth Brother?"

"My lord, you have always scorned the Confucian ethics of benevolence and righteousness, but the King of Chu is different from you."

Zhao Yao asked with confusion: "What's the difference?"

"The king of Chu was deeply influenced by the Li family and regarded Confucianism as the norm." Zheng Qian also looked down upon Confucianism, but he did not regard the Legalist style as the norm. "My lord, this is the biggest difference between King Chu and you."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao finally understood what Zheng Qian meant, but just because of this, his father and Lieutenant Zheng looked down on the fourth brother. Was it too hasty?
"Confucianism is not without merit. Most of the emperor's policies today adopt Confucian benevolence, so the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and their lives are getting better day by day." "In this case, why can't fourth brother continue to implement Confucian benevolence? ?”

"My lord, the world has been settled for the first time. It is devastated and the people are in dire straits. It is natural to implement benevolent governance. However, the Zhou Dynasty is no longer what it was when it was first established, and we can no longer blindly implement benevolent governance." Zheng Qian added, "Furthermore, the family members have not completely Even if they are eradicated, they will still pose a threat to the country and the people. The King of Chu is benevolent, but he may not be vicious. "

"A vicious heart?"

"My lord, when the emperor eradicated those aristocratic families in Yangzhou, was he ruthless in his methods?"

"I don't think they are cruel." Zhao Yao felt that the noble families in Yangzhou deserved their punishment.

"However, in the eyes of many people, including many ministers in the court, the emperor's methods are too cruel." Zheng Qian looked at Zhao Yao and asked, "My lord, if it were you, you would do the same thing as the emperor." ?"

Zhao Yao replied without hesitation: "Of course."

"If a minister repeatedly begged you and asked you to be more generous, and told you that eradicating the Yangzhou family would chill and frighten families all over the world, would you be more generous and not eradicate the roots?"

"Of course not." Those aristocratic families like those in Yangzhou must be exterminated, otherwise they will resurrect, and then they will dare to do things that endanger the country and the people. Furthermore, my father also has another purpose, which is to frighten all the aristocratic families in the world and make them be honest.

"Then do you think King Chu will be ruthless enough to eradicate the problem?"

Ask Zhao Yao this question. He knew that with Fourth Brother's temperament, he would definitely not let go of the adult men from those aristocratic families in Yangzhou, but he would definitely let go of the women and children. If the ministers plead again and again, the fourth brother will most likely really be lenient and give them a chance to change their ways.

"My lord, His Highness the King of Chu will not ruthlessly eradicate the roots." Zheng Qian said very firmly, "Back then, His Highness the King of Chu was ordered to go to Shu to wipe out the rebels. The King of Chu did not kill all the rebels, and even interceded for some rebels. I beg your Majesty not to kill them all.”

"That's because the fourth brother feels that not all the Han family are unforgiving, and the Han family has taken root in Shu for many years. Leaving some Han family members to continue to be in charge of Shu can stabilize Shu." Zhao Yao defended the King of Chu. Said, "Besides, my father has no intention of killing all the Han family. The fourth brother understood my father's intentions, so he interceded for the Han family. You can't use this matter to criticize the fourth brother. The fourth brother is in this matter." Nothing was done wrong.”

"Lord, if it were you, would you intercede for the Han family?"

Zhao Yao did not answer immediately, but hesitated for a while before saying: "I won't, I won't let the Han family stay in Shu."

Zheng Qian was not surprised at all when he heard Zhao Yao's answer.

"Just because I won't do it doesn't mean I'm right."

"My lord, you must know in your heart that there will be unrest in Shu in the future."

"That's not necessarily true." Zhao Yao said this, but he thought so in his heart. "Father agreed to Fourth Brother's plea, which shows that Father recognizes Fourth Brother."

"My lord, the emperor agreed to let the Han family stay and continue to manage Shu, not just because of King Chu's plea, but also for other reasons."

"What deep meaning can it have? Instead of suppressing, it is better to appease." Zhao Yao said, "Appeasement can avoid further bloodshed and make the people of Shu feel at ease."

"My Lord, I went to Shu during my travels and stayed there for a while. At present, Shu is indeed peaceful and the people live and work in peace and contentment. The Han family is also honest and no longer does as much evil as before. They manage Shu conscientiously, but in the past In a few years, the Han family will rebel again. "The Han family used to be emperors in Shu. They enjoyed supreme power and wealth in Shu. How could they be willing to submit to others and be an official with a small official position? He will also be monitored for the rest of his life.

"My lord, the land of Shu is left to you by the emperor."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao looked shocked: "Leave it to me?"

"The new emperor must establish prestige when he ascends the throne, and Shu is the fastest way for you to establish prestige after ascending the throne." Zheng Qian vowed, "This is the profound meaning of the emperor agreeing to King Chu's plea."

Zhao Yao immediately denied it: "It's impossible." How many years ago did the annihilation of the rebels in Shu happen? How could his father have such an idea at that time? "I agree with you that my father may have left Shu land to establish prestige for the new emperor, but I don't agree that it was left for me. In the future, when the fourth brother ascends the throne, he can destroy the rebellion in Shu again." He suffered a loss once. Fourth brother will never be merciful to the Han family again.

Zheng Qian did not argue with Zhao Yao about the Shu land anymore. He talked about another matter.

"My lord, the biggest difference between the King of Chu and you is that his mother's family is the Li family. The Li family has always been a scholarly family and a literati family. And your mother's family is a businessman."

"What's wrong with this?"

"My lord, your mother's family, counting three generations up, should be farmers, right?"

"Correct."

"When there was a war in the previous dynasty, my lord, your mother's family experienced it. I remember that the Liang family used money, fields and food to support the people, but the Li family hid from the world and hid in the mountains and forests to study and write books and did not care about world affairs. , regardless of the life and death of the people." Zheng Qian's expression suddenly became serious, "My lord, in the heart of the King of Chu, the people are very important, but what is more important is the literati. The scale will unconsciously favor the literati."

Zheng Qian's last words left Zhao Yao unable to refute.

"Lord, this is why the emperor and my father chose you instead of His Highness the King of Chu." In fact, His Highness the King of Chu is inferior to the Lord in every aspect, but the King of Chu is far inferior to the Lord in these two places.