The hustle and bustle of the day in Xiyuan gradually dissipated, in the evening, the heaven and earth returned to calm, at this time the sunset half set, the center of the lake sparkled with waves, reflecting the lotus leaves on the lake, on the shore, there are birds' chirping' sound through the reeds, everything seems so poetic.

When Emperor Yongming saw such a beautiful lake and mountains, he couldn't help but be interested in boating on the lake again. The ministers seemed to be like the emperor, and they all felt that they were not finished today, so they all said yes. It is a group of people who come to the place of the boat in the east of the lake, here is the banana garden, and there are Taixuan Pavilion, Linyi Pavilion and Shuiyun Pavilion on the shore.

There are still many ministers who have given up their night tours of Xiyuan due to their advanced age or poor health, and Emperor Yongming went with them. Yuxi Palace originally had a minister's duty room when Jiajing was in Jiajing, and if the minister had not returned for the time being, he stayed directly in the duty room.

The people quickly boarded the boat, and soon the boat sailed to the shore and headed out for the lake.

On the lake, the afterglow of the setting sun accompanies the royal boat to the north, and the minister boat follows in the south, which can't help but remind people of the green song "The Song of the Imperial Boat".

The north of the imperial boat, the south of the minister's boat, the accumulation of cui pile clouds and mountains like jade, the golden ao jade building water such as orchid.

The south of the minister's boat, the north of the royal boat, the cloud and dragon meet in time, and the fish and water monarchs and ministers will always get along.

This situation is apt and meaningful.

Li Ju followed Emperor Yongming on the imperial boat, although he was old, fortunately he slept in the evening, so he still had the energy to swim in the lake at night.

The two of them chatted very happily, and when Emperor Yongming was the prince, Li Ju was the prince's master. However, the two of them chatted and chatted, and they talked about the former Qingzi Prime Minister Xu Jie.

"Leaving the nine heavens and attaining the destiny of heaven, how can it be embarrassing; The four seas mourn the people, and the heart is broken......" Emperor Yongming recited softly.

Then Li Ju continued: "...... Floating over the head of the summer water and traveling westward, looking back at the gate wall of the old capital. It is difficult for the people of Huaiyi to tell me the sorrow of my heart, and I don't know where to go on a long road. Take advantage of the storm to send me between the rivers and waters, and the water is vast and the world is first-class. ”

"If you talk about the rhetoric alone, it is wonderful, if you are an official, you have also made great achievements, but if you talk about people, you are not a good person."

"Hehe, does the old gentleman think he is a good official?"

"In the minister's mind, only Hai Rui is worthy of the word good official."

"But he scolded the emperor and scolded hundreds of officials, how can he be a good official?"

"He did not scold the emperor, but pointed out that 'the monarch is not right, the position of the minister is unknown, this is the first thing in the world'. The minister understood that scholars should have self-examination and responsibility, and should not put all the responsibility for maladministration on the emperor. The world said that Hai Jui scolded Emperor Sejong, but Hai Jui just demanded an emperor with extremely high standards, hoping that Emperor Sejong could become a 'holy monarch' and a 'Ming lord', which was the ideal of one of his courtiers. ”

As he said, if people have no ambition, they are not prosperous, and the customs of the country and the people will be declining day by day, if the people of the country are like this, shouldn't the officials be scolded? Could it be that the people are to blame? ”

"Hehe, that's a good point!" Emperor Yongming couldn't help but praise.

Li Ju thought about it again and said, "Actually, Hai Rui is pushing the responsibility to the ...... The Cabinet Ministry, that is, he believes, the Minister of the Cabinet should bear most of the responsibility, just like the ministers now. ”

"Haha, I'm surprised, that's what the old gentleman thinks? But I think the old gentleman has always done a good job. ”

"Hey, thank you for your trust, the minister is ashamed. But the ministers also made mistakes, if they could be like Hai Rui at the beginning, and firmly determined to cut floating expenses, rectify the old evils, revitalize the rule of officials, and correct bad habits, today's government officials would not be so sloppy. I always think that I don't want to ask for it too much, but this kind of thing just can't wait. ”

Emperor Yongming smiled and did not answer, he was a little surprised by this remark, but it also revealed a sense of scrutiny.

"The things of the world are more important than having a law, but winning souls. What is Dharma? After painting and being organized, those who can be tested can be tested by the law. What is a human being? Therefore, after drawing and organizing, those who promise themselves with their achievements are also said to be people. If you win the right people and do not follow the law, you will not be able to do things; If you get the law but can't get it, the law will not be able to help. The law of man is both, and the rule of the world is completed. ”

Emperor Yongming was slightly surprised: "I remember that this sentence came from "Zhi Li Ce", and this article was taught by you back then. ”

"Hehe, Your Majesty has a good memory, that was twenty years ago. Twenty years have passed, and now His Majesty is becoming more and more wise and powerful, and the old minister, his hair is gray, and his eyes are spent, which is useless. ”

"Why did the old gentleman feel so emotional? Hai Ruihai Gangfeng is still going to Nanjing to take office at the age of seventy-two, and his husband is only seventy this year, why is he so pessimistic? ”

"Lao Chen is not pessimistic, just a moment of emotion. However, when it comes to "Zhili Ce", I recently read it again, and I have a different experience than before. ”

"Oh, is it? The old gentleman might as well say it, and I want to hear it too. ”

"Just like the sentence just now, 'more expensive than having its own law' doesn't mean that you must first establish rules to govern things?" What is the law', the rules that people in the world abide by are the law. Emperor Xuan of the former Han Dynasty educated the prince and said, "The Han family has its own system, and it is based on the overlord and miscellaneous", and the law here is the 'law' of the Legalists, which is the law of Confucianism and the internal law. ”

However, the minister thought that this 'law' should be the 'rule of rules', and the essence of the pre-Qin Confucian doctrine was that 'the Tao is governed by government, and all are punished, and the people are free and shameless; The way is virtuous, all are courteous, shameful and characterful...... The point of this statement is 'shame and decent'. ”

"And the focus of shame and character should fall on the word 'grid', and the training of 'grid' is 'promotion', that is, to be self-motivated and self-improving. Confucius advocated a kind of virtuous politics that can make people not only have a sense of shame, but also self-motivation and self-improvement. ”

"Therefore, the core of the doctrine of 'benevolent government' is to let politics and law serve people, and so that the goodness and enthusiasm of all people can be stimulated, so that the country can build a long-term stability and grow the cause of governance."

Emperor Yongming was surprised: "I can understand what Mr. said about benevolence, but what does it have to do with the rules?" ”

"Good politics is to provide good conditions for the self-improvement of all people in the world, and this is the most remarkable thing about Confucianism. However, the achievement of good politics requires continuous improvement to meet new needs as people's awareness increases, which also leaves room for institutional reform in reality. ”

"How can there be an immutable system in the world? It always has to be different from time to time and from event to event. For the Son of Heaven, benevolence is to love the people and benefit the people, and benevolence and propriety are not separated, so when things change, etiquette will naturally have to be adjusted, and the basis for its adjustment is 'benevolence'. ”

"Doing things according to Lilly is 'courtesy', and not doing things according to Lilly is 'incivility', and then explaining this sentence is that 'Liye' is in accordance with the law, and 'incivility' is illegal......

"Hehe......" Emperor Yongming actually heard a hint of humor: "I remember when I was still the prince, and I loved to listen to Mr.'s lessons, and I still feel like this now." Then I also want to ask Mr., the so-called 'rites', my understanding is the law of the ancestors, since Mr. said that the system also needs to be improved, is it possible that the rules set by the ancestors must also be changed? ”

Li Ju pondered for a moment and said, "With all due respect, if the law of the ancestors can no longer make people 'shameful and qualified', then it must be changed." Confucius also believed that what kind of system society needs is only to reiterate the content of the rites, and then make appropriate adjustments to the old rites according to the changes of the times. ”

"Well said! But there is another point, 'etiquette' may not be enough to maintain its own morality alone. ”

"Your Majesty is right, that's why Confucius thinks that dividing feuds is the best system, and the so-called princes sit big and accompany the courtiers to carry out the country's orders, which is 'etiquette collapses and happiness is bad'. But when you think about it, it's all about balance. ”

"How?"

"Between different forces, between different groups of people, different demands, different goals, different means, balance is unity, if you want to unify it, you must have a good rule, good rules must go to the private public. In fact, "Han Feizi · · It is also said in the Eight Classics: "Whoever rules the world must be because of human affection." People have likes and dislikes, so rewards and punishments can be used. Rewards and punishments can be used, and bans can be cured immediately. There are also those who can go to the public law in this time, and the people will be safe and the country will be governed; Those who can go to private practice and practice public law will be strong in the army and weak in the enemy'. ”

"Sir taught me another lesson today, and he actually talked about the "Eight Classics" from Qingzi...... I feel that I have benefited a lot. ”

"Hehe, Lao Chen has just recently reread "Zhi Li Ce", and he has some different understandings from the past, and thank Your Majesty for being patient to listen to Lao Chen's nagging."

"Sir is my teacher, and I have never forgotten my teachings back then, so I hope that Sir can do well. Last time, my husband asked me to resign, but I didn't agree, I hope that my husband can stay with me for a few more years. ”

"Your Majesty doesn't dislike it, but the ministers are old, so they can only work for a few more years, but Your Majesty still needs more young and powerful courtiers."

Emperor Yongming groaned, and asked from time to time: "In the opinion of Mr., who can be regarded as young and strong?" ”

Li Ju smiled slightly: "The old minister thinks that Qi Mei and Qi Zongcao are not bad......"

After a pause, he continued: "Now there are four people in the cabinet, except for Liu Gelao, who is still relatively young, and the rest are not small. ”

Emperor Yongming looked at Li Ju, his eyes were still scrutinized, but there was a little more playfulness: "Mr. ...... meaning"

Li Ju said with a smile: "Everyone knows that Zongcao has always been a 'hot potato', and it is really difficult to look at the scenery." In fact, for more than a year, the minister has also been paying attention to Cao Yun, to be honest, his handling of some things is absolute. But the minister later thought that maybe there was nothing wrong with it, after all, for the position of Cao Governor, personal quality may often be more important. ”

"So the minister thinks that Qi Zongcao may be able to use the survey."

"Like entering the cabinet?"

"There's nothing wrong with that, now the four of me are physically and mentally exhausted from dealing with official documents every day, it's good to have one more, at least I can share some of it."

At this point, Emperor Yongming did not continue to ask, what should be expressed was also expressed, and what should be understood was also understood.

He continued to appreciate the late sky, and suddenly remembered a poem: Luoxia and the lonely eagle fly together, and the autumn water grows together in the sky...... It's not apt, but at least it expresses a state of mind.