At this time, Ma Zhou's mind was full of what tone and what angle he would answer if the person who answered this question at this time was Li Mu. How can I emulate and express my own meaning?

Ma Zhou took a deep breath and said: "Ordering the clan and the heroes to guard the feudal state, this law has existed in ancient times, and it is not impossible for Your Majesty to follow the example of the previous dynasty." But please think twice, isn't there any drawback to the law of the previous dynasty? Between the two Han Dynasty, the turmoil caused by the excessive power of the vassal king, I don't know how many, isn't it enough to be deafening? ”

Ma Zhou seemed to have found a rhythm, and his voice was a little louder: "The people that Your Majesty wants to give cultivation must be people that Your Majesty trusts and loves, and wants their descendants to inherit their duties and protect the Tang Dynasty for generations." Such an idea is good, but the effect is not necessarily good when it is implemented. If Your Majesty wants to reward these people, consider how to make them safe and rich, and not necessarily to replace them with official positions. ”

Li Shimin's face was a little ugly, but he didn't interrupt Ma Zhou.

"Official position is an important weapon for the country's governance and security, and it cannot be taken lightly. A wise gentleman should appoint meritocracy, not cronyism. Even virtuous fathers like Yao and Shun will give birth to sons like Danzhu and Shangjun. The courtiers rewarded by His Majesty may not be virtuous in their descendants. ”

Li Shimin's face changed from ugly to thoughtful, listening quietly.

"It would have been even worse if someone had inherited his father's position when he had been mentioned. Without the teaching and restraint of his father, he was in power at a young age, and it was easy to be arrogant and lascivious. If they do as they please, then the people will suffer and the country will be destroyed. When the time comes, it will be too late to take back their official titles, and the damage caused to the people will not be remedied. Rather than let such a person poison the surviving people, there is such a possibility, it is better not to do such a thing. ”

The minister believed that there were many situations in which rewards were conferred, and that it was not necessarily necessary to give official positions. Talent is the only criterion for conferring official positions, and only in this way can we avoid the corpse vegetarian from stealing high positions. The ministers know Your Majesty, and they value their loyalty. But the minister thought that loyalty could not protect the Tang Dynasty, and only talents could create the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. If generations of generations are appointed, why worry that the Tang Dynasty cannot be eternal. If only loyal and untalented people are appointed for generations, and they enjoy the blessings of their predecessors, the Han and Sui dynasties that have perished will be a lesson from the past. ”

After Ma Zhou finished speaking, his back was already drenched in cold sweat. He has never said so much in front of Li Shimin, and he dared to say it this year, first, Li Shimin said that he would not be convicted for his words, and secondly, he thought about Li Muyu's battle with Confucianism and talked eloquently, and substituted himself into it. But after finishing speaking, he remembered that he was just Ma Zhou, not Li Mu, and Li Shimin's kindness to Li Mu might not be imposed on him.

Thinking of this, Ma Zhou felt that the back of his neck was cold, and he said so many heart-wrenching words, even if Li Shimin killed him, he would not have anything to say.

Li Shimin was indeed said to be stunned, and there were no more than five people who dared to talk eloquently in front of him. Li Mu counts one, Wei Zheng counts one, and then it is the Ma Zhou in front of him. The difference is from Wei Zheng's 'arrogance', Li Mu's 'cleverness', when Ma Zhou talks about things, he tells the story eloquently, without hurry, which is indeed the easiest to accept. Li Shimin chewed Ma Zhou's words and had to admit that he was very reasonable.

The truth is not difficult, and it is clear at one point. Li Shimin is not a fool, he wants to do this, it is entirely because he thinks of Li You. Li You wanted to go overseas and sit in Linyi and Zhenla, Li Shimin agreed to him, and based on this, he thought of a thing he had talked about with Li Mu before.

The thing he talked about with Li Mu was about how to govern the country. Li Shimin has always had a heart to expand his territory, and he hates to put all the land under the command of Datang as far as he can see. But Li Mu has the opposite opinion on this, and the reason given by Li Mu is. If the territory is too large, how should it be governed?

At present, Datang's decrees, except for the Guanzhong area, are greatly discounted when they are implemented in the localities. The reason is that in the locality, the influence of the family is still far greater than that of the imperial court. If Datang expands indefinitely, what can it do even if it destroys the surrounding countries? It can be destroyed, but it cannot be cured, and it will cost the people and money, but it will not get anything. What is the point of such a war?

Therefore, Li Mu's opinion is that unless the problem of effective governance can be solved. Otherwise, he does not recommend unlimited external expansion, and with that energy and money, it is better to vigorously develop the people's livelihood and make it more cost-effective for the people to live a better life.

At that time, Li Shimin didn't think of how to refute it. But after returning to Chang'an, I think of these things. Li Shimin felt that the sub-feudal system seemed to be able to solve this problem. If you divide your sons and your courtiers who are faithful to you into various places. When the time comes, won't it be much smoother to carry out your decrees?

Just like Li Mu in Yangzhou, it turned out that Yangzhou's implementation of the new policy was also a push, but after Li Mu was in charge, Yangzhou became the most thorough place to implement the new policy in addition to Chang'an and Luoyang.

When a man drills the tip of a cow's horn, eight cows can't pull it back. The more Li Shimin thought about it, the more he felt that this thing could be done, so he let the officials discuss it above the court. But as soon as he started, he was sprayed back by Wei Zheng. But Wei Zheng just said no, but didn't say why. Back in the Taiji Hall, Ma Zhou's recital explained in detail why this didn't work, and Li Shimin suddenly realized how ridiculous this thing he came up with.

Yes, the loyalty of his own courtiers does not mean that his descendants are loyal. The ability of a vassal does not mean that his descendants are also capable. Maybe in your lifetime, you can get some effect by doing so. But in the end, what was left to Datang was infinite hidden dangers.

If these people had been stationed somewhere in their time, they might have been loyal while they were alive. But if they die, they and their descendants will definitely become warlords who seized the territory during the great chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

At that time, will this country still belong to Li Tang?

Li Shimin took a long breath and said, "Aiqing is very reasonable, but I have a wrong idea. The matter was put to rest, and no more mention was made. "Li Shimin is open-minded, don't mention it, this matter is in the past. He looked at Ma Zhoudao and said, "Aiqing's talent is impressive." I want to change the secretary to the secretary cabinet, put a number of nine bachelors, pick up the missing and fill the vacancies, and assist in government affairs, I don't know if Aiqing is willing to put down all the things in Luoyang to come to work? ”

Ma Zhou was stunned, Li Tai, and Changsun Chong were also stunned.

They were stunned, not because the secretary supervisor was changed to the secretary cabinet, nor because Li Shimin wanted to find someone to help assist in government affairs, their surprise came from the fact that the grade of this bachelor was only nine grades!

Nine pins! The lowest-ranking officials in the Tang Dynasty, compared with the small officials, are nothing more than one more official and a little more monthly salary. The little official of Sesame Mung Bean, who said that he could hit Chang'an City where a brick could be dropped here, was in the local area, and no one took him seriously.

Ma Zhou is the chief of the Hou Mansion in Luoyang, and he is also an official of the five grades. Why did you go back to Chang'an to take office, but it became a nine products, how can there be such a thing?

Before the two of them could react, Ma Zhou had already understood, his face was happy, and he bowed and thanked him: "Your Majesty is very kind, although the minister dies, it is difficult to repay it." The minister is willing to be this nine-grade bachelor and do his best to serve His Majesty. ”

"Sure enough, it's a smart man!" Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction, and said to Li Tai and the eldest grandson: "You two, you are talking ahead and backward, hesitating, I will make a note for you." Secretarial Pavilion Bachelor, there is no part of the two of you, what should you do, what should you do! ”

The two of them, who were still a little blindfolded, didn't dare to ask, and after bowing and saluting, they retreated.

Li Shimin raised his hand, and Gao Gonggong came to Ma Zhou with a tray. On the tray was a goldfish bag, a jade pendant, and a seal.

Gao Gonggong smiled and explained to Ma Zhou: "This is a goldfish bag that only the three-grade purple robe is qualified to wear, and Your Majesty's grace is specially given to Master Ma." With this goldfish bag, Master Ma can enjoy the right to enter and exit the palace. ”

Ma Zhou thanked him for it, took it with both hands, and put it on his waist. The so-called fish bag is actually a container for fish charms. In the words of later generations, the fish charm can be regarded as a kind of identity card. It is made of wood or metal, and its shape is a fish, which is divided into two pieces, left and right, and is engraved with the name of the official, the position of the Yamen, the number of official residences, the number of profits, and the treatment enjoyed when traveling, etc., and must be checked when entering and leaving various secret places.

"This jade pendant, on behalf of the identity of the secretary pavilion, must be kept and not lost. Pei is in the people, and Pei is lost. If you catch up with the emergency, you can get money at any time at the Datang Bank in any place and record it in the account of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Of course, it will be reported later. ”

Ma Zhou thanked him, and Gonggong Gao handed him the seal.

"Your duty in the future will be to assist Your Majesty, to consult the local affairs, and to provide advice and advice to your Majesty when he needs it. All the books you have read should be sealed with this seal. All recitals are confidential and must not be divulged. So, if the contents of the memo with the seal are leaked, you will not escape the blame. Do you understand the stakes? ”

Ma Zhou hurriedly said: "Understood." ”

Li Shimin saw that Ma Zhou Laocheng was serious, and he was also happy in his heart, and said: "You have a mansion in Chang'an, where do your relatives live now?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister does not have a mansion in Chang'an, and he has been living in the Zhonglang General Changhe Mansion before. The posthumous ministers went to Luoyang with the marquis, and their families also received Luoyang. ”

"Since you don't have a mansion in Chang'an, I will give you a mansion." Li Shimin looked at Gonggong Gao, and the Gonggong Guild said: "The old slave will complete this matter within three days, and ask Master Ma to wait for a few days." ”

"Thank you, father-in-law."

Ma Zhou understood in his heart that Li Shimin was asking him to participate in the confidential information. In such an important position, it is inevitable that there will be no precautions at all. His family members must stay in Chang'an as hostages. And the mansion given to him must also be indispensable to the eyeliner of the East and West Factory. Although there was a trace of reluctance in his heart, he also knew that it was impossible to avoid this encounter, and it was impossible to show revenge in his chest without paying some price, so he could only grit his teeth and admit it.

Suddenly, Ma Zhou remembered that Li Mu asked him to burn the letter, and couldn't help but admire Li Mu's foresight. With his position in the future, he is afraid that it will be impossible to have close contact with Li Mu. If so, both he and Li Mu will be in trouble.

Ma Zhou thanked him and retired, and Gonggong Gao sent a little eunuch to send him to the place where he was staying. Fu came back and stood beside Li Shimin with his hands tied.

"Ma Zhou is a talented person." Li Shimin exclaimed: "It's not that I haven't been in contact with this person, but I haven't seen him for a year, and his style of doing things is much more organized, it seems that under Li Mu, he has been honed a lot." ”

Gao Gonggong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the old slave has heard something. ”

"Huh?" Li Shimin looked at Gao Gonggong, and Gao Gonggong explained: "According to the reports of the fans, when Ma Zhou first arrived in Luoyang, he complained about the sky all day long. thought that Hou Ye got him to Luoyang in order to take revenge on him, and he was very resentful for a while. But later, Hou Ye exterminated locusts, built roads, and handed over more and more things to him, but somehow, he didn't complain anymore, and began to work hard and complain. When Hou Ye left Luoyang, the two had a deep conversation. In the three words of Fanzi's return, it seems that Hou Ye said that if Ma Zhou is unwilling to be in Luoyang, he can be let go back to Chang'an. But it has been more than half a year since the two of them talked, and Ma Zhou did not mention it once until His Majesty summoned him. It seems that if it weren't for His Majesty's summons, Ma Zhou would probably want to do it with all his heart. ”

"Li Mu, this kid, has always been so good at rectifying people. The three who came today have all been subjected to his methods. It seems that I will have to send someone to him in the future......" Li Shimin laughed twice, got up and said: "I should also rest, let's go to Concubine Yin today, You'er has a letter again, I see what he said?" ”

"No," Gao Gonggong answered, and arranged for the driving.

"Ma Zhou is a talented person." Li Shimin exclaimed: "It's not that I haven't been in contact with this person, but I haven't seen him for a year, and his style of doing things is much more organized, it seems that under Li Mu, he has been honed a lot." ”

Gao Gonggong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the old slave has heard something. ”

"Huh?" Li Shimin looked at Gao Gonggong, and Gao Gonggong explained: "According to the reports of the fans, when Ma Zhou first arrived in Luoyang, he complained about the sky all day long. thought that Hou Ye got him to Luoyang in order to take revenge on him, and he was very resentful for a while. But later, Hou Ye exterminated locusts, built roads, and handed over more and more things to him, but somehow, he didn't complain anymore, and began to work hard and complain. When Hou Ye left Luoyang, the two had a deep conversation. In the three words of Fanzi's return, it seems that Hou Ye said that if Ma Zhou is unwilling to be in Luoyang, he can be let go back to Chang'an. But it has been more than half a year since the two of them talked, and Ma Zhou did not mention it once until His Majesty summoned him. It seems that if it weren't for His Majesty's summons, Ma Zhou would probably want to do it with all his heart. ”

"Li Mu, this kid, has always had the ability to rectify people, and he has always used three major methods to secretly