The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

The rhetorical question surged like the Qiantang River tide, overwhelming Fan Libing and drowning the prime minister.

He could only nod: "What you say makes sense. These things were well-intentioned, but their implementation was ineffective, which made the Sui emperor overconfident and misjudged the situation."

Whether ministers or common people, they usually both overestimate and underestimate the monarch.

The overestimation lies in the belief that a monarch, with his extensive network of henchmen and absolute authority, must be fully aware of the affairs of the world.

The underestimation lies in the feeling that he knows the world is terminally ill, yet he still lets it go unchecked and blindly courts disaster.

No emperor was this powerful.

Most emperors weren't that foolish.

Ultimately, governing a country is a delicate technical task, but Confucian scholars lacked vision and preferred to analyze it using the Dao (the Way).

Even someone as learned as the Scholar of the Northern Gate or as high-ranking as the Prime Minister could not escape preconceived notions.

At this moment, Xing Wenwei, the Imperial Secretary, spoke up: "Even if the Sui Emperor lacked the skills to govern the country, that might not be the primary reason, right?"

"In the fourteenth year of the Kaihuang era, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and the people were starving. The granaries were full, but Emperor Wen of Sui did not allow them to be opened. Instead, he ordered the starving people to go to Guandong to find food."

"You studied at the Imperial Academy, and although you studied the classics but not history, you must have heard of this matter."

"Such inhumanity is surely another cause of national ruin!"

This incident is quite famous; it is a major stain on Emperor Wen of Sui's record and one of the reasons for the downfall of the Sui Dynasty, as summarized by Emperor Taizong.

Xing Wenwei was an upright official. When he served as the chief cook for Crown Prince Li Hong, he refused to give the prince meat because the prince was unwilling to study. He was so reckless that even Emperor Gaozong could only praise him.

The upright officials were of high moral character and, judging others by their own standards, naturally attributed the fall of the Sui Dynasty to the emperor's cruelty and lack of compassion.

Lu Jun bowed to the Prime Minister:

"Sir, you are learned and should know the whole story."

"In the fourteenth year of the Kaihuang era, there was a food shortage in Guanzhong. Emperor Wen of Sui led his civil and military officials to Luoyang for food and asked the common people to go as well."

"And he ordered that whenever people came to him, the granaries should be opened to provide relief."

"Due to the grain transport system, the official granaries of the Sui and Tang dynasties were mostly located near Luoyang, where there was more grain stored and it was more suitable for relief."

"Even Emperor Wen of Sui himself came to Luoyang for a meal. Including the common people in the meal isn't exactly cruel, is it?"

Historical records state that in the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, Shandong suffered a flood. Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the granaries to be opened, and a total of five million shi of grain were distributed as relief.

"Both events are recorded in history; how can we draw conclusions based on just one?"

A slight smile:

"Furthermore, if this matter were truly so important, why didn't a righteous army emerge at the time, and why didn't the Sui Dynasty fall?"

"Even if it can be proven that the Sui emperor was inhumane, that cannot be the reason for the Sui Dynasty's demise, can it?"

The complete account of this event is recorded in the "Book of Sui" edited by Wei Zheng, which Xing Wenwei has indeed read.

Because Emperor Taizong had made a final decision, and it was in line with the Confucian ideal of benevolent governance, he always regarded it as the guiding principle.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jun re-examined the whole story and overturned Emperor Taizong's conclusion!

Xing Wenwei felt a slight displeasure, but also a secret admiration: "This young man is truly learned, and his thinking is clear and quick; he's not just spouting nonsense..."

He nodded and said nothing more.

Another prime minister, Cen Changqian, picked up the conversation:

In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong discussed the rise and fall of previous dynasties with his ministers, and expounded...

"Zhou Ze focused solely on doing good, accumulating merit and virtue, thus ensuring the foundation of the dynasty's eight hundred years."

"The Qin dynasty indulged in extravagance and debauchery, and was fond of imposing punishments; it perished after no more than two generations."

"Emperor Taizong believed that the Zhou Dynasty emphasized benevolence and righteousness, while the Qin Dynasty relied solely on deceit and force. Isn't this 'deceit and force' exactly what you mean by 'skill'?"

"And you yourself said that the Sui emperor levied exorbitant taxes and enriched the country by oppressing the people, thus filling the imperial treasury. Wasn't that a skillful method?"

"If skillful governance could extend a nation's lifespan, how do you explain the Qin and Sui dynasties, which both perished after only two generations?"

Cen Changqian, over sixty years old, was the nephew of Cen Wenben, a famous prime minister during the reign of Emperor Taizong. He was very familiar with the history of the Zhenguan era and tried his best to uphold the conclusions reached by the sage emperor and the famous prime minister.

As both prime minister and representative of meritorious officials, he immediately gained the support of many veteran ministers.

Some people even raised their scepters and applauded:

"Cen Xiang's rebuttal is brilliant!"

"To say that the Sui Emperor was incompetent is mere sophistry!"

Lu Jun smiled slightly and bowed to Cen Changqian: "May I ask, Prime Minister Cen, did the Zhou Dynasty perish because it did not practice benevolence and righteousness?"

"This..." Cen Changqian was in high spirits, but her question left him speechless.

According to Emperor Taizong, the Zhou Dynasty was able to last for eight hundred years because it "promoted benevolence and righteousness." If benevolence and righteousness were so effective, why did they fail after eight hundred years?

He quickly organized his thoughts: "Innovation and reform, the natural order, eight hundred years is already a long time."

If you can't answer, just skip it.

Lu Jun then asked, "This junior would like to ask Prime Minister Cen, what does the benevolence and righteousness practiced in the Zhou Dynasty refer to?"

After a moment's thought, Cen Changqian replied, "Establish order through rites, achieve harmony through music, reduce taxes and levies, and appoint the virtuous and capable."

Lu Jun immediately pressed for an answer:

"Emperor Wen of Sui abolished the laws and regulations of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, followed the old ways of the Han and Wei Dynasties, restored Confucianism, established ancient systems, created new clothing and headwear, and compiled the Five Rites in one hundred volumes. Was this not establishing order through rites?"

"He also rebuilt the court music and established the Qing Shang Department of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, thus establishing the proper music of China; he created the Seven-Part Music and the Nine-Part Music for court banquets, was this not to achieve harmony through music?"

"The Zhou Dynasty implemented the well-field system, taking one-ninth of the land as tax; the Sui Dynasty implemented the equal-field system, taking three shi (a unit of dry measure) per household, taking about one-twentieth of the land as tax. Which one is considered a lighter tax?"

"As for light corvée labor, the Zhou dynasty forced both commoners and commoners to serve in the military, which was even worse than the forced labor in the Sui dynasty, wasn't it?"

"Speaking of appointing the virtuous and capable, how many talented people at that time came from humble backgrounds or were commoners? Wasn't it all about appointing the noble and meritorious?"

"Since the Zhou Dynasty survived for eight hundred years due to its benevolent rule, why did later dynasties not follow the Zhou system but instead adopt the Qin laws?"

"The laws and policies of Qin still apply to all generations," a fact that all critics of the Qin Dynasty's harsh rule cannot circumvent.

The useful parts of Zhou rituals and systems had already been adopted by successive dynasties, and the Zhou dynasty did not exclusively enjoy their benefits.

After listening, Cen Changqian was speechless and unable to refute.

He couldn't speak for a long time.

Lu Jun continued:

"The Empress Dowager's edict only mentions the Sui Dynasty, but Prime Minister Fan mentioned the Qin Dynasty. I will now attempt to address that."

"It is true that the Qin Dynasty was harsh, cruel, and tyrannical, but what truly destroyed Qin was the army organized by the nobles of the six states."

"After the Han dynasty gained control of the empire, Emperor Gaozu eliminated the vassal states of different surnames, Emperor Jing quelled the rebellion of his own clan, and Emperor Wu implemented the Edict of Grace to weaken the vassal states, ultimately bringing peace to the empire. Were these acts of benevolent governance?"

"Minister Cen said that the Sui Dynasty levied taxes without restraint, filling its own treasury to overflowing, which was a skillful tactic."

"I have another question..."

"Throughout history, when discussing benevolent governance, Emperor Wen of Han has been regarded as the foremost, and the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing have been seen as a model for allowing the people to recuperate and enrich themselves."

The Book of Han states, "The coins in the capital were piled up to tens of millions, so much so that the strings holding them together had rotted and could not be counted; the grain in the imperial granary was piled up in layers, overflowing and exposed to the elements, until it rotted and became inedible..."

"Therefore, Emperor Wu had the resources to conquer the Xiongnu, expand into the Western Regions, and demonstrate the illustrious military achievements of the Han Dynasty."

"My question is this: if wealth is held by the people, how did such a vast fortune accumulate? How did it become a system of inherited wealth?"

"Or perhaps, Emperors Wen and Jing were actually rulers skilled in strategy?"

The number of historical records and papers he had read was unimaginable to those who read history using paper scrolls and bamboo slips. He not only integrated the views of different scholars, but his historical perspective was also far superior, not just Confucian prejudice. He was not afraid of anyone in the debate.

"This..." Cen Changqian was unable to answer.

He lowered his head to avoid eye contact.

The other ministers listened to Lu Jun recount history as if it were their own treasure, and even the prime minister could not refute it. They looked at each other in astonishment.

Those who were clapping quietly put down their tablets, afraid of being called upon to debate on their own.

After waiting for a long time, seeing that no one asked any more questions, Lu Jun turned around and said to the steps:

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to say that the two emperors of the Sui Dynasty were benevolent rulers. They did indeed exploit the people excessively and were by no means benevolent."

"However, Emperor Yang of Sui mobilized able-bodied men to build the Eastern Capital in the first or second year of the Daye era."

"The opening of the Tongji Canal, Hangou Canal, Yongji Canal, and Jiangnan Canal took place between the first and sixth years of the Daye era."

"The conscription of laborers to build the Great Wall took place in the third to fourth year of the Daye era."

"These past few times have resulted in the deaths of countless laborers, which is naturally the work of a tyrant. I have no intention of exonerating him."

"But the Empress Dowager asked why the Sui Dynasty perished, not whether the Sui Emperor was a tyrant."

"I would like to say that from the first to the sixth year of the Daye era, no rebellions broke out in the country, and the population even reached its peak."

"What truly caused unbearable suffering for the people was the conscription of soldiers in the seventh year of the Daye era to launch a northern expedition against Goguryeo, which led to the emergence of the righteous army."

"If Emperor Yang of Sui had stopped at the right time, it's uncertain whether the Sui Dynasty would have perished, and how would later generations have judged it?"

"Therefore, I believe that while there should certainly be principles in governing a country, the downfall of a country cannot be simply determined by the word 'lack of principles.'"

"The Way is indispensable, and so are the techniques."

Just now, the prime minister was so engrossed in arguing about the reasons for the fall of the Sui Dynasty and getting bogged down in issues of principle and strategy that he forgot what the Empress Dowager wanted to ask.

If the Sui Dynasty perished due to its tyranny, how can we explain the Tang Dynasty, which was about to replace it?

Upon hearing the last sentence, Wu Zetian immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Lu Jun's words—

In governing the world, one need not be ashamed to speak of strategies, nor need to be fixated on the Confucian virtues of benevolence.

What should truly matter is how much the monarch understands the country and whether he can control it. As long as he does not act beyond the country's capabilities, stability will naturally follow.

In other words, as long as one can control the overall situation and establish oneself in place of the Tang dynasty, the world will not be in chaos.

She raised her hand, and her phoenix robe billowed high:

"This question deserves first-class honors!"