New Shun 1730

After the meeting that was planned to subtly brainwash the prince ended, Li Xi was still immersed in the discussions he had just heard.

The only eye left blinked from time to time to moisten the dry eyelids. The pen in his hand recorded the words he thought were useful in short text.

The officers dispersed, and Liu Yu asked in a low voice: "What does the Seventh Prince think of what these people said?"

Li Xi rubbed his eyes and adjusted the eye patch that covered his blind eye due to acne. He did not say anything like "the clouds have been cleared and the sun has been opened", but thought of a passage in "On the Qin Dynasty".

"Chen She was the son of a peasant, a slave, and a migrant. His talent was not as good as that of an average person, and he was not as wise as Confucius and Mozi, or as rich as Tao Zhu and Yidun..."

"Ying Suo Bo, please don't be surprised by what I have to say. The officers of Jinghai Palace are just average. Not to mention that it is a hundred times easier for a good family to take the Wude Palace exam than the imperial examination, even the best of the good family students are in the Wude Palace, and the officers of Jinghai Palace are not the best among the good family students."

"But their knowledge is indeed better than many people who came from the imperial examination. The difficulty of taking the imperial examination is , even if Ying Suo Bo has not passed the exam, he should know. ”

“In terms of intelligence, the Jinshi of all previous years are more than a hundred times or a thousand times better than them? But in terms of insights, they are really far behind them.”

“That’s what I think in my mind. I always feel that something is wrong. Things shouldn’t be like this.”

The words drawn from the Qin Lun made Liu Yu look up to Li Xi. He thought that Li Xi would at most agree with this method and conclusion of analyzing the situation, but he didn’t expect that he would think about this matter from a height that he shouldn’t consider.

This is interesting.

Perhaps a defective prince who will never have the right of inheritance in this life can consider this point without having to bear so much political correctness?

"Seventh Prince thinks that things shouldn't be like this, then what should they be like?"

"What should they be like?"

For a moment, Li Li didn't know what to say. He was silent for a moment and said: "Don't be surprised, Lord Ying Suo. Those who come from the imperial examination are all the best among people, selected from the mouths of millions. Some can memorize at a glance, some can compose poems in seven steps, and some can recite them backwards. Compared with these people in Jinghai Palace..."

"People in Jinghai Palace are only second-rate talents among good families, and may be third-rate people in the world. But when it comes to views on trade issues, third-rate is better than first-rate. Isn't this always wrong?"

Liu Yu couldn't help laughing, thinking that it was not wrong to say so. The population base of good families determines that talents are definitely not the best in the country, but the best in a small circle.

But Fengpei can produce half of the talents in the early Han Dynasty, Fengyang is also the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and Yan'an Prefecture also provides the resistance force in the late Ming Dynasty to build the pillar.

How big is Britain? How big is the Netherlands? In this "world of great competition", it is not necessary to select all the top talents in the country to compete.

"What's so strange about the Seventh Prince's words? Not only them, but I am also an average person. It's just that I got to know the moon first because I was close to the water and learned some strange knowledge first, so an average person can also do something."

"It's just some 'skills', no different from growing vegetables, building walls, and forging iron."

Li Xi hurriedly said: "Emperor Ying Suo is too modest. But what Lord Ying Suo said reminded me of the country of seven counties in the Netherlands, which can be called a powerful country in the West. In terms of size and population, it is only an average person among all countries, but it has achieved great things. Lord Ying Suo, I am really uneasy now. If an average person can learn these things and surpass the best of the saints, then... doesn't that mean that the saints' learning is actually useless?"

Liu Yu was shocked and said: "How can it be useless? The Seventh Prince is wrong, you must not say that!"

He said that you must not say that, but he didn't say that you must not think that way.

Li Xi smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, Ying Suo Bo. I am Li Xi now. When I was named Ignatius, I still couldn't turn over. It's time, fate, and luck. What does it have to do with me?"

"My father also ordered the world that Western learning is Western learning and practical learning is practical learning. Western scriptures are Western learning, and the skills of all kinds of crafts are practical learning. I am still talking about practical learning. This trade method is practical learning, not Western learning. There is no need to be nervous. I am just thinking, what can the learning of saints do?"

Liu Yu thought to himself that this is not something magical. The light and heavy art of "Guan Zi" talks about this throughout the whole text. But when it comes to the learning of Confucian saints, you can sing the wrong scriptures, but you can't deny the scriptures. This is the most basic principle.

Now it seems that whether it is Emperor Li Gan or this prince Li Xi, they are a bit stupid and have problems with their brains. They actually want to make positive changes instead of reactionary regression.

What can save Dashun and extend its life is not firearms and warships, nor science and technology, but the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, the Four Books and Five Classics, and the legalization of etiquette and morality.

What if the old way of ruling can no longer be ruled? Cut off your hands and feet and go back to the time when you can rule as before. Just like when you have desires after adulthood, you can rule forever by cutting them off.

The shogunate was very smart in this regard. It closed the country, the four classes were not equal, limited the land to one person per crop, promoted Zhu Xi's learning, raised rice prices, and suppressed industry and commerce.

The shogunate's actions are called treating the symptoms and the root causes, while the Dashun military reform and shipbuilding are just drinking poison to quench thirst.

The brains of this royal family can be imagined. Li Li actually denied the learning of the saints without thinking. Liu Yu thought to himself that it was fortunate that you were blind and lost your inheritance rights, otherwise you would not know how you were killed by your brothers.

He couldn't say what he really wanted to say, so he had to lure him away.

"The Seventh Prince really thinks too much. As the saying goes, saints rule from above and each performs his or her duties. Witch doctors, musicians, musicians, and hundreds of people all have their own abilities. Do those who live in temples need to understand them all? The Seventh Prince will be in charge of the navy in the future. Yes, so the Seventh Prince should learn more about this knowledge."

Li Han shook his head and said: "Ying Suobo is still wrong. A soldier is a weapon. How to use it is still a matter for the temple. If the temple doesn't know what is right and wrong, how can it benefit the country by relying on the navy to act alone? Even if I take charge in the future The navy is obviously beneficial, but the temple ministers are stupid and don’t know its benefits. What’s the difference between having a navy and not having one?”

"How many people in the DPRK and the Central Government understand the principles of trade, dumping, and accumulation of gold and silver? They don't even understand this. Even if the navy stock exceeds that of Britain and the Netherlands in the future, if they have weapons but don't use them, what's the difference if they don't have weapons?"

Liu Yu couldn't say this, but Li Han could. After all, from the perspective of the royal family, the world was their family business. Liu Yu said this, which meant that the feudal town was self-governing. Li Ye probably couldn't say this outside, but in private he still said it very directly in front of Liu Yu.

Now all the officers and cadets of the Navy can see the huge benefits, but those in high positions in the government still have objections. What should we do if there is a similar situation in the future and the opposition from the DPRK and China becomes even louder?

When Li Han was arranged by the emperor to come to Weihai, the first thing the emperor gave Li Han in front of Liu Yu was how to understand "I will not accept the emperor's orders".

At that time, the emperor also made it very clear that generals could not be exempted from the emperor's orders. How to fight this battle was under the general's control; whether to fight this battle or not was not the scope of the general.

If the general's responsibility is to fight or not to fight, the court will not allow it under any circumstances.

Once allowed, the fate of the strong Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty will be "sorrowful without taking note of it", which will be Dashun's epitaph.

What Li Han was puzzled about was that all these middle-aged people could think of these things, especially the staff members around Liu Yu, who all had these thoughts in their minds. So what if these knowledge were learned by the truly best and top talents in Dashun?

After asking this question, Liu Yu still smiled and said: "Seventh Prince, what you think is right, others think is wrong. They said so much, it may be beneficial, but is it necessarily right to be beneficial? For example, those people said Yes, in the future, when the Japanese eat their food and the peasants revolt, we may be able to eat them or raise pigs to cut the meat.”

Li Han asked back: "Uncle Ying Suo, what if the standard of right and wrong is wrong? They have no benevolence, righteousness and morality, but it will be of great benefit to this dynasty. During my stay in Weihai, I only feel that the right and wrong in Weihai are different from those elsewhere. Right or wrong, it’s not the same.”

If the standard of right and wrong is wrong... one sentence made Liu Yu laugh and wave his hands: "Seventh Prince, Seventh Prince, how can benevolence, righteousness and morality be wrong? Of course benevolence, righteousness and morality are right."

"ah?"

Li Han was shocked. He never expected Liu Yu to say this. He subconsciously pulled up his blindfold and wondered: "Don't Ying Suobo support their statement?"

"Of course I support it. The Japanese switch, I develop into industry and commerce, and the weavers, silk reelers, sailors, and porcelain burners all benefit from it. Isn't this benevolent government? This dynasty attaches great importance to the learning of Yongjia and Yongkang. The so-called 'both Without utilitarianism, moral principles are useless." Benevolent government must be reflected in utilitarianism, and merchants and craftsmen can benefit. Is this benevolent government?"

"Furthermore, after the Japanese switch, if they want to survive, they must accumulate wealth and export rice. Our country is prone to famine, and Guangdong has long started to eat Nanyang rice. The Japanese rice brought into the country can alleviate the famine. Isn't this a benevolent government?"

"But on the other hand, foreign rice is advancing day by day, and land rent and taxes in this dynasty are mostly paid in gold, silver, and copper coins. If the rice is cheap, farmers will suffer. It cannot be wrong to say that it is a tyranny."

"Just like the Japanese country, if rice is cheap, warriors will be miserable and merchants will be happy; if rice is expensive, warriors will be happy and merchants will be miserable. Benevolence, justice and morality are absolutely correct, but there is no other law in the world that can make everyone say it is benevolent government. Don't think about it, Seventh Prince It is wrong to think that benevolence, justice and morality itself are wrong, which is very wrong.”

Young people are young people after all. When their brains are hot, they will rebelliously think that benevolence, justice and morality are wrong, and they have to be domineering to be hot-blooded. Liu Yu could also understand this kind of rebelliousness. The struggle between kingship and hegemony had been carried out in Dashun's court over the years, but the kingship had degenerated and been misinterpreted into empty talk about benevolence and righteousness. It was inevitable that some rebellious people would oppose benevolence and righteousness itself.

But once you think this way, you fall into the trap of your political opponents: benevolence and righteousness are absolute political correctness. You can draw circles within this political correctness, but you cannot overturn this political correctness, otherwise you will die without a burial place.

Since the emperor arranged Li Han here and might take over the navy in the future, Liu Yu felt that it was necessary to instill some correct views in him.

Correct in chains, of course.

After all, Li Han was young, and it was the first time he heard someone talk to him clearly about the topic of each having his own benefits, and the other's benefits and my harm.

After thinking for a while, he asked like a child who wanted to ask for praise: "What Ying Suobo said about Japan's rice affairs has been said since ancient times. Li Kui of Wei Dynasty said: Buying too expensive will hurt the people, buying too cheap will hurt the farmers; if the people are hurt, they will be separated. If the farmers are harmed, the country will be poor. Therefore, both the noble and the humble will harm the country. If the people are harmed, the farmers will benefit."

"For imported rice, as long as the court controls it, it will set a price."

"When the price is higher than this, imports will be made; when the price is lower than this, imports will not be allowed. Isn't this still the law of profit?"

"It's just that there were Changpingcang in each province, but now our Changpingcang can be found in Japan, Nanyang, Siam and other places."

He recalled the contents that had been subtly instilled during his stay in Weihai, and seeing that Liu Yu did not refute, he gradually became more confident, and continued: "In Changpingcang in each province, as long as the imperial court orders, grain must be released at a fair price. . The reason is that if the military envoys are disobedient, the imperial court can arrest them and kill them. The tens of thousands of troops in the capital ensure that the military governors in each province must be obedient. "

"Now, if we regard Japan, Nanyang and other places as changpingcang. As long as the navy is strong enough and there are people in the court who understand trade, isn't it no different from the changpingcang in each province?"

"I am interested in silk, cotton, porcelain, and cloth. I don't seek to grab it. I just want to be able to buy it when I want it. This is the value of the navy. Wherever the white sails go, as long as I develop industry and commerce, Then they can all become Changpingcang."

"It's up to me whether to buy it or not, and all the goods in this dynasty are in demand. As long as the navy can guarantee the 'free trade' that Ying Suobo said, isn't this a huge benefit and no harm?"

"We are not afraid of doing business, we are just afraid that others will not do business."

Liu Yu nodded slightly, thinking that you and Chen Qinghai have something in common. You don't need to worry about domestic affairs at all. Just treat the country as a vague and concrete iron plate and only consider the overall situation.

Being able to think this way can be regarded as gaining some insight, so he first praised the seventh prince for his intelligence, and then sighed: "People in the world are divided into internal and external, and internally there are scholars, farmers, industry and merchants."

"The interests of the four peoples are inherently different. Learn to choose and reject, and evaluate the pros and cons. The other's benevolent government will be my Jie and Zhou; my tyranny will be the other's good deeds. Don't you hear the saying in the Song Dynasty: "Ruling the world with scholar-bureaucrats, not with the common people?" "

"The Seventh Prince should not think that benevolence, righteousness and morality itself are wrong, but should know that the world is not a piece of iron, and there is no benevolent government in the world. You should still have benevolence, righteousness and morality in your heart, and think clearly about who is being kind and who is being violent. That’s it.”

"Wang Jinggong used the art of Shen Shang to carry out his reforms and borrowed the name of Zhou Rites; when Wu Hou governed Shu, he practiced the art of Shen Shang and won the praise of benevolence and righteousness. The seventh prince must not think that 'the standard of right and wrong itself is wrong', but in I wonder if someone has misinterpreted the standards of right and wrong.”

"The seventh prince must never mention such words as benevolence, righteousness and morality are wrong and the words of saints are useless in the future."

After a set of combination punches, Li Han felt a little dizzy. On the contrary, his young mind could not accept the twists and turns in it for a while. He only thought about the sentence "The world is not made of iron", and thought thoughtfully. I'm afraid it's not necessarily a misinterpretation of the standards of right and wrong, but a misinterpretation of the objects of benevolence and righteousness.

Farmers have the benevolent government that farmers want, scholars have the benevolent government that scholars want, workers have the benevolent government that workers want, businessmen have the benevolent government that businessmen want.

The more he thought about it, the more confused his mind became. He bowed for a long time and asked Liu Yu a strange question.

"who I am?"