The most arrogant in history

Considering that the Xiahou sisters and their father had been reunited after a long separation, Ye Kun used the excuse of working to ask Xiahou Chang and his two daughters to go to another room to talk.

Lunch was also arranged in the imperial study.

The emperor's study is not just a study, but a large courtyard building with a restaurant and a conference room, and is fully functional.

Xiahou Chang really let go, had a big meal, and drank and ate meat without restraint.

Ye Kun was also very interested and asked, "Did the King of Wei discover any deficiencies in the work of the court during his inspection of the Central Plains and Jiangnan this time?"

"Your Majesty, I am here for fun, not for inspection."

Xiahou Chang was startled and said, "If I were to say there is a shortcoming, I think the emperor is too lenient. He builds roads and bridges everywhere, but the laborers are a bit lazy. I've seen many road construction sites where the laborers only work eight hours a day and have five or six days off a month. This means that the construction period is extended and the expenses are increased a lot."

Ye Kun smiled and said:

"I have been building a lot of roads and bridges everywhere, developing coal and iron mines. The nine ministers were all worried that the people would not be able to bear it and would rebel. So we were more tolerant and took things slowly.

Laborers are also human beings, we cannot use them as animals. From the perspective of human physical fitness, it is more reasonable to work eight hours a day. It is also reasonable to rest two days every ten days.

Not only the civilians, but also our officials, work eight hours a day and rest for two days every ten days. We will promote this system and make it a rule. "

Xiahou Chang sighed: "Your Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "By the way, there will be a debate the day after tomorrow in the university auditorium. King Wei can attend."

"I will definitely attend the event." Xiahou Chang clasped his fists.

Ye Kun made some preparations for this debate. He read some articles by Ruan Xiong and others and understood some of their views.

Guan Bao and Sang Buyi were also looking for flaws in Ruan Xiong and others, sorting them out and handing them over to Ye Kun for review.

In a blink of an eye, the day of the debate arrived.

There were more than 500 people in the university auditorium.

They are all officials at all levels, university teachers, and celebrities.

Ye Kun also arranged a hundred college students to cheer him on.

On the stage, two rows of tables were placed facing each other.

Ye Kun was on the east side, with Sang Buyi, Guan Bao, He Kangju, Wen Axiu, He Tiantian, and Taoist Grand Master Zhang Yuzhen.

The former great Taoist master Zhang Mi has retired and given his position to his nephew Zhang Yuzhen.

The last time Zhang Yuzhen was in Xiangyang, he cooperated with Ye Kun and had a debate with Indian monks. They can be considered old comrades.

The Seven Freaks of the Bamboo Forest sat opposite Ye Kun.

This is a debate stacking setup, seven versus seven.

The representative of Confucianism, Kong Zhou, a descendant of Confucius, sat in the referee's seat with an old scholar and a university president.

The venue was quiet and brightly lit.

Kong Zhou stood up and spoke into the loudspeaker:

"Ladies and gentlemen, in today's debate, there is no distinction between the noble and the humble. The emperor and the common people are on an equal footing. But there must be morality and justice. You must not insult the other party or make personal attacks! Representatives of both sides, do you hear clearly?"

Ye Kun stood up and raised his hand to the sky: "Listen carefully, we promise to respect the conference and abide by the conference rules."

Ruan Xiong also stood up and raised his hand to make a pledge.

Kong Zhou nodded and continued:

"Today's topic is: should scholars contribute to the country? What is the value of scholars? And the right and wrong of the Bamboo Grove Miscellaneous Talks case. The elders will be given priority. Please let the Bamboo Grove Miscellaneous Talks party state his views first. You have ten minutes."

Zhuang Buwen asked: "Besides this topic, can you talk about other related topics?"

"I can talk about it, but I only have one day, so I have to pick out the important things to say."

"Okay, let me talk first."

Zhuang Buwen spoke first and looked at Ye Kun:

"Your Majesty, you have written some short poems before, such as "Farmer's Song", "Silkworm Woman's Song" and "Bees' Song", all of which are poems that sympathize with the people and attack the court. They are widely circulated and popular. May I ask your Majesty, you can attack the court at that time, but why can't we hold Bamboo Forest Talks? Can't we criticize the government?"

Everyone looked at Ye Kun.

Ye Kun stood up and said loudly to the audience of several hundred people:

"I wrote "The Farmer's Song", "The Silkworm Woman's Song" and "The Bee's Song", and they are still required readings in primary and secondary schools. My feelings have not changed. I still sympathize with the people and always put them first.

But is it enough to just sympathize with the people? In recent years, I have vigorously promoted intensive farming, composting, and the promotion of high-quality varieties, and introduced cotton, pepper and other overseas crops. This is my practical action for farmers and people. I have greatly reduced the price of salt and iron, and completely liberalized the salt and iron market. Fine salt and ironware have entered every household. This is my contribution to farmers.

May I ask the seven great sages of the Bamboo Grove, what specific contributions have you made to the farmers?"

The Seven Freaks of the Bamboo Forest were speechless.

Ye Kun continued, "Since I took office, I have collected opinions from the public many times. I welcome any knowledgeable person to raise opinions and criticisms on government affairs. May I ask you, through which channels did you raise your opinions to the court? Which official received you? Did you receive any response to your opinions and the results of the handling? If there is no response, I will urge the relevant government offices to investigate and punish the officials involved.

I asked you to speak, but you didn't, instead you were talking nonsense behind my back. This is not called criticizing government affairs, it's called disturbing the public!

I have printed 500 copies of the latest issues of Bamboo Forest Talk. Everyone here has a copy in front of them. Please take a look at this tabloid. Do you see any specific suggestions? I don’t see any. I only see complaints about the world, the lack of opportunities for talent, and the sky-high complaints. ”

Zhuang Buwen thought for a moment, then stood up and said:

"Your Majesty has said that for the common people, they can do whatever is not prohibited by law. The court law does not stipulate that we cannot compile "Bamboo Grove Miscellaneous Talks", so we are not guilty."

Ye Kun laughed: "Did I find you guilty? Did Ma Zhao find you guilty? Has Zhulin Zatan been banned? No, right?"

Ruan Xiong asked: "If we are innocent, why are you holding us prisoner?"

Ye Kun replied, "At the beginning, you were invited here, and we treated you well. We didn't imprison you. But last time in the imperial study, you insulted and attacked Sang Buyi, violating the laws of the Han Dynasty, so we imprisoned you. Think about it yourself, isn't it?"

Ma Zhao came to the stage and handed a document to Kong Zhou.

Kong Zhou said: "According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, those who insult and attack others without reason can be given a warning or detained for up to one month, depending on the severity of the offense."

Ruan Xiong was not convinced: "Is my plot serious?"

"It's very heavy, because you are a scholar." Ye Kun nodded:

"If a cowherd or a butcher used vulgar language to curse people, it can be forgiven. But you, a scholar, are so vicious and vicious. You must apologize to Sang Buyi and ask for forgiveness. Otherwise, Ma Zhao can lock you up for a month."

Ruan Xiong was silent for a moment, and finally bowed to Sang Buyi and apologized.

Sang Buyi waved his hand and said, "This won't happen again."

Ma Zhao took the stage and announced, "The case of Bamboo Grove Talks is closed. Ruan Xiongzhuang and others had the right to discuss state affairs, the right to form associations, and the right to publish tabloids. They are not guilty."

Ruan Xiong, Zhuang Buwen and others all breathed a sigh of relief.

There was a sigh from the audience: "Your Majesty is truly a holy ruler. If it were someone else, this would be a major case where the entire clan would be executed..."

Kong Zhou coughed twice, silencing the audience: "Okay, let's move on to the topic of whether scholars should serve the country."

Ruan Xiong became alert, stood up and looked at Ye Kun:

"May I ask your Majesty, why do scholars serve the country? We work from sunrise to sunset, we eat from the fields and drink from the wells. What power does the emperor have over us?"