Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 231 Revitalize China, Hai Rui goes to Beijing!
One people.

Weak people.

Tired people.

Insulting the people.

poor.

If the five fail to produce results, kill them!
The Five Arts of Governing the People have been used by the royal families of successive Chinese dynasties for more than two thousand years since the Qin Dynasty. They strengthen the power and stability of the country by weakening the people's wisdom and strength.

Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Hu Zongxian and Li Chunfang never thought of changing, and were prepared to continue the policy for a long time while in power.

Lu Fang was a eunuch whose honor and disgrace depended entirely on the imperial power. He was the person in the Ming Dynasty who was most reluctant to see changes in the fundamental system of the court.

If the person who proposed to enlighten the people was not Chen Yiqin, but someone else, even Zhang Juzheng, Lu Fang would have already had murderous intentions at this time.

It happened to be Chen Yiqin.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Chen Yiqin with complicated eyes and asked, "Yifu, what do you want to do?"

Gao, Hu, Li, and Lu also looked at Chen Yiqin, their eyes full of confusion.

They really don't understand what benefits will it bring to Chen Yiqun and the Chen family if they follow the path of the ancient aristocratic families and enlighten the people.

Once people’s wisdom is awakened, the first thing they pursue is social equality.

Legal justice.

Equality of opportunity.

Equity in resources.

……

and many more.

The reason why aristocratic families have a high status is not only because it is granted by the court, nor because they always hold power, but because they have a dimensionality reduction attack on the world in terms of etiquette and education.

They opened many community schools and taught the people, but perhaps in terms of quality, the growth of those tens of millions of school-age children was not as good as the family education provided by the Chen family.

But as the number increases, there will always be some gifted people who will surpass the Chen family in terms of etiquette, knowledge, or other aspects.

This is quantity crushing quality.

By then, the Chen family's dimensionality reduction attack on the children of common people will no longer exist. Even if those rising children of common people do not destroy the aristocratic class for the sake of privilege, they will still take away the Chen family's voice and power.

They didn't understand that the Chen family could have everything to themselves, and could even block the paths of other big families from becoming noble families, and become the first family under the Zhu Ming royal family.

But why should we take the initiative to share power and benefits with others, especially the children of ordinary people?

They would not allow such people or families to exist in the Ming Dynasty.

If Chen Yiqin cannot give a reasonable and convincing explanation, the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department will have to join forces to deal with the Chen family.

Although everyone did not show off their might, their combined power was enough to stir up trouble in the Government Affairs Hall.

The flames in the incense burners and incense pots were swaying and burning faster, and the sound of the sandalwood imploding was crackling.

The cabinet represents the outer court, and the chief minister of the cabinet is called the foreign minister.

The Silijian represented the inner court, and the eunuch who held the seal of the Silijian was called the inner prime minister.

The outer court, the inner court, the foreign minister and the internal minister were unprecedentedly unified. A stomp of their feet could make the whole world tremble.

But in Chen Yiqin's opinion, this threat was not as great as the impact brought to him by the biting cold wind outside the Government Affairs Hall.

That would make him tighten his clothes and stamp his feet.

"I just want everyone in the world to have enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear, so that they won't have any thoughts of rebellion."

Chen Yiqin answered with a smile, and then asked in return: "So, gentlemen, what do you want to do?"

All people in the world have enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear.

Such an idea is too extravagant.

If this is the case, is there any difference between officials and civilians?
Will people still call officials "master"?
Ask yourself, if you ask nothing of the officials, would you still be willing to hold them in high esteem?

The people are no longer poor, the common people are no longer destitute, everyone is qualified to have food to eat, clothes to wear, books to read, and to become an official. The darkness of the court can be seen at a glance. Who will sing praises for their officials in the future?

Which official can guarantee that he will be honest and upright in his official duties throughout his life?

It will be countless times more difficult for officials to leave their names in history books than it is now.

Although they were close friends, Li Chunfang at this moment resolutely drew a line between herself and Chen Yiqin and stood firmly in the ranks of those opposing Chen Yiqin.

What do they want to do?
Of course, they want to bring Chen Yiqin and the Chen family to the dust.

"Haha."

Chen Yiqin laughed until his tears came out, and said with a chuckle: "You, even if you are doing things that benefit the country and the people, it cannot change your position as a vested interest group. Even if you don't think about it in your heart, you dare not think about it, and you are still looking forward to the death of the emperor, the demise of the government, and the comeback of those big families, powerful people, and scholarly families.

At that time, history books will record this time as the first prosperous era in China in thousands of years, and you will be the founders of the first prosperous era.

The great significance of a prosperous age lies not in its eternal existence, but in the day when it will fall.

Only in this way will you be missed and remembered forever by future generations.

You say, I said it, right?"

this moment.

Chen Yiqin tore apart everyone's hypocrisy.

Are Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Hu Zongxian, and Li Chunfang good officials?
As of now, everything they do is for the people, so they are certainly good officials.

Including Lu Fang today, he is also trying his best to serve the people of the Ming Dynasty and the emperor.

But everyone believed in their hearts that the prosperous era of Jiajing's forty years would one day die like the Jiajing New Deal in the early years of Jiajing.

Everyone present believed that after the emperor's death, national policies such as "surveying the land and distributing it equally to the people", "three-level officials in charge", and "gentry paying taxes together" would all disappear.

Royal families, nobles, imperial examinees, corrupt officials, unscrupulous businessmen and other powerful and profitable people will all have their day of return.

The collapsed prosperous era is the one that all future generations will miss and regret, while the prosperous era that has always existed has saved future generations from countless sufferings. If you don’t understand the sufferings, how can you know how difficult it is to have a prosperous era?
How could they always remember Zhang Juzheng's cabinet during the 40th year of Jiajing?

Therefore, now the cabinet, the Imperial Household Department, the imperial court, and the inner court have done everything they can for the common people, exempting taxes, raising food prices... in addition to enlightening the people.

Once people's wisdom is awakened, the millions of wise Chinese people will truly have the possibility of an eternal prosperous era.

The Cabinet could not accept it.

Zhang Juzheng and others may not have thought about it this way, but they did it.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Gao Gong was extremely angry.

He just didn't want to see the imperial power shaken, he just didn't want to see the people causing trouble, just...

Just not going down.

Zhang Juzheng, Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang and Lu Fang also had anger on their faces and in their eyes.

There is no such thing as an eternal destiny in the world, and there is no such thing as an unchanging world.

Because the prosperous times have fallen, people remember the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, the prosperity of Emperor Wu of Han, the restoration of Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan, the reign of Emperor Ming and Emperor Zhang, the prosperity of Emperor Yongyuan, the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, the reign of Emperor Zhenguan, the prosperity of the Kaiyuan era, the prosperity of the Yongle era, the reign of Emperor Renzong and Emperor Xuanzong...

If a prosperous era lasts forever, what is the point of calling it a prosperous era? The Jiajing Dynasty will end one day.

The Ming Dynasty will one day perish.

They just want to be remembered by future generations and want other scholars to have less criticism after their death. What's wrong with that?

"Then let's face it in front of the emperor." Chen Yiqin no longer wanted to say anything more to this group of "selfish people" and turned around to open the door of the Government Affairs Hall.

Liu Tai, the secretary of the cabinet, was standing outside the hall door blocking the way. Chen Yiqin narrowed his eyes, raised his hand and slapped him, cursing, "You thief, you dare to block my way?"

What a lot of strength.

As Liu Tai's body followed his face, his back teeth loosened and made way.

The word "thief" clearly pointed out that the person being insulted was not Liu Tai, but his mentor Zhang Juzheng.

That slap not only hit Liu Tai's face, but also Zhang Juzheng's face.

Anyone who dares to block the way, no matter who it is, will be slapped first.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Chen Yiqin's back with a dull pain on his face. He had no choice but to put on his fox fur cape and said helplessly, "Let's all go to see the emperor."

……

Ok Hee Palace.

Chen Yiqin stood in the hall with a resolute expression.

Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang, Lu Fang and Huang Jin were in the cabinet, and the Imperial Household Department was on both sides, looking embarrassed.

This situation is quite novel.

Zhu Houcong was in high spirits. After personal verification, he found that the "method of combined cultivation" was far more effective in making people happy and prolonging their life than the "way of elixir".

It may be true that Huangdi could ascend to heaven during the day and travel three thousand meters at night.

It remains to be put into practice by Zhu Houcong.

"Chen Yiqin."

"The minister is here."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhu Houcong looked at Chen Yiqin who knelt down after hearing the voice, and nodded gently.

Everything Chen Yiqin and the Chen family did was never pure, but it was always in line with the interests of the people. For this reason, the Chen family members traveled around the countryside, and their delicate and tender people gradually became rough and thick-skinned.

There is no longer any trace of scholarly spirit.

It seems like he can roll up his clothes at any time and bend down to work in the mud and dust of the countryside.

Zhu Houcong thought this change was very good and it was the sign of a practical man.

Looking at Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Li Chunfang, Lu Fang, and Huang Jin on his left and right, Zhu Houcong frowned slightly and raised the corners of his mouth.

He looks like an official!
Such an evaluation was by no means a compliment. Under the dragon's gaze, several people felt panic in their hearts.

Only Hu Zongxian was better. He had been in charge of the southeast of the country for more than ten years. Although Hu Zongxian had not had much contact with the people, he was in the army and set an example. His skin was blown by the sea breeze and exposed to the scorching sun. It can be said that the skin exposed outside the clothes was dry to the touch. It would not recover in the few months since he entered the cabinet.

"It is my duty."

Chen Yiqin knelt on the ground, shook his head, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I have a state matter to report."

Zhu Houcong looked thoughtfully at the people in the hall with different expressions, nodded and said, "Go ahead."

"I request to restore the ancestral system of Emperor Taizu Gao, to restore the community schools in the villages, and to allow all children of school age in the world to attend school." Chen Yiqin kowtowed.

As soon as these words came out.

The faces of the people on both sides of the hall were extremely ugly.

Zhu Houcong also understood the meaning of everyone's expressions and smiled meaningfully.

The emperor did not speak.

Gao Gong could no longer hold back, and stood in the center of the hall, saying, "Your Majesty, it is too early to enlighten the people. The court has not yet made arrangements for the people after they have awakened. Acting rashly may have a huge and far-reaching impact on the court, or even the royal family..."

Before Gao Gong finished speaking, the holy voice sounded, saying: "I am not afraid, so what are you afraid of?"

These people, with their minds full of calculations, always mention the emperor and the royal family first, as if the policies that benefit the country and the people are not allowed to be implemented by the emperor and the royal family.

In the cabinet, he had been exposed by Chen Yiqin, and now he was exposed again by the emperor.

A person can only be two-faced at best. Even if he is peeled off twice, Zhang Juzheng and others feel that they have no face at all, and the flesh and blood under the skin are exposed nakedly in front of people. Even if they do nothing, they will feel a burning sensation when a gust of wind blows.

As for Gao Gong, all the words he wanted to say were blocked in his mouth. This was the second time he heard the words "I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of" from the emperor.

Although the emperor did not show any emotion when he spoke, he still felt his dissatisfaction.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Everyone in the hall had a feeling in their hearts that they should just speak their mind from now on, and not use the excuse of caring for the emperor to cover up the filth in their hearts.

"Since ancient times, people's wisdom has not been awakened for thousands of years. Even if we count from the Qin Dynasty, people's wisdom has not been awakened for two thousand years. If such a long time is still considered too early, then I want to ask you, when will the time be ripe? Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, is it after you are all dead?"

Zhu Houcong's mighty power swept through the hall. The cabinet elders and eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department on both sides could not stand steadily and fell to their knees.

The emperor's last two sentences were full of murderous intent, and several people broke out in cold sweats.

"If that's the case, then I will now grant you three zhang of yellow earth to bury your bodies, and then I will go and enlighten the people." Zhu Houcong said in a cold voice.

Perhaps he had been too lenient with the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department these days, so that these people were thinking about the situation after the death of him, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"I dare not!"

"The slaves dare not!"

Zhang Juzheng and other cabinet elders, Lu Fang, Huang Jin, immediately knocked their heads to the ground. It was obvious that they really used all their strength. The sound of their kowtows echoed in the hall. When they raised their heads, they saw blood on their foreheads.

Zhu Houcong ignored them and looked at Chen Yiqin and said, "We need to enlighten the people and restore the community schools, but how to build schools, how to run schools, and how to recruit students all require careful consideration and planning. It is difficult to accomplish anything by relying on these petty scoundrels in the court. Chen Yiqin, do you have anyone you like to recommend to me?"

A group of despicable people.

No specific person was named, but Zhang Juzheng and others were already so ashamed that they prostrated themselves on the ground with their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, unable to raise their heads again.

Enlightening the people is no less of a burden than surveying the land and distributing it equally to the people. As the proposer, Chen Yiqin should have been the one to carry it out, but he was too busy to do so, so he had to find someone else to do it.

"I believe that there is only one person in the world, or one minister of the emperor, who can enlighten the people without any selfish motives."

"Who?"

"Hai Rui, the Governor-General of Southern Zhili!"

Chen Yiqin said solemnly.

A truly selfless and fearless person is someone who is willing to sacrifice his life for the people.

With his lowered forehead, it was impossible to see his expression. Zhang Juzheng and others looked as if they had lost their parents. Thinking of what Hai Rui had done in Southern Zhili, it can be summed up in eight words: fearless of power, fearless of hardship.

The national policy of Southern Zhili of "officials and gentry paying taxes and serving as officials together" was given to Hai Rui to implement. After Hai Rui took office as the governor of Southern Zhili, he really asked scholars and gentry to move stones and build roads and perform duties.

If Hai Rui were to enlighten the people, the world would be in turmoil!

(End of this chapter)