Zhu Houxi was not joking, he asked Yan Shifan to send someone to find the so-called emperor of Japan today.

"Your Majesty, that place has not respected the king for hundreds of years." Yan Shifan didn't understand, "What's the use of looking for them Emperor Narauszi?" ”

To the rulers of Japan, the Song Dynasty used to call them only the kings of Japan. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the official history recorded such a title as the emperor, but the Ming dynasty reverted to the use of the king of Japan.

In fact, they officially claimed to be "the king of the world". It was only in that year that Japan had its first queen, Prince Shotoku, who was the regent, carried out reforms, which greatly improved the king's legal, personnel, political, and diplomatic powers.

Not only that, but Japan also tried to make an expedition to Silla at that time, all because Prince Shotoku had the ambition to increase Japan's influence.

For this reason, he compiled books such as "Records of the Nation" and "Records of the Emperor", and extrapolated the imperial system forward by about 1,000 years. Thirty-two fictitious emperors were artificially placed in this thousand-year gap, and this was the beginning when the kings of Japan began to officially proclaim themselves emperors.

But in fact, the seventeen articles of Prince Shotoku's constitution are full of the shadow of Chinese Confucianism, law, and Taoism. The 12th rank of official position also cites the five virtues of Confucianism to distinguish official ranks, and the 17th article of the law is also because the yin pole is 8, the yang pole is 9, and the seventeenth is the sum of yin and yang, the way of heaven and earth.

In Yan Shifan's view, the emperor actually called himself the emperor, which made Yan Shifan a little uneasy at this time: Could it be that His Majesty's thoughts about Japan have changed?

Zhu Houxi said: "The domestic thieves are chasing the deer, and the lives of the people are devastated. There is war and chaos inside, and there is disturbance of neighbors outside. In this case, if I don't look for the king of Japan, do I go to his subordinates? ”

“…… What's the use of looking for him? Yan Shifan couldn't turn around, "The king of Japan was extremely poor, and he couldn't even afford the succession ceremony after succeeding to the throne...... Let the ministers calculate, Jiajing succeeded to the throne in five years, and Jiajing held a ceremony in seventeen years! ”

He said worriedly: "I'm afraid that it will make the whole of Japan feel that His Majesty does not know the situation in Japan." ”

Zhu Houxi looked at him quietly.

Yan Shifan was embarrassed for a while, and then he eased up a little: "...... At least the Ouchi, Niko, and Maori clans knew about the ministers. So this move is to let them see that His Majesty is in contact with the King of Japan, and it might help him to think? ”

Zhu Houxi sneered: "What do I help him do?" You will send a messenger to spread the holy decree of me: Japan has been in war for many years, the people have no way to live and then become a coward, and the Ming Dynasty, Korea and other neighboring countries will be troubled, and I will ask him for his guilt! ”

"......" Yan Shifan was embarrassed again, this time he just used his brain to think urgently.

"Whoever is the king of Japan, I will ask whoever is guilty." Zhu Houxi raised his head, "He can't afford it, so he will give way, anyway, his department has long existed in name only." Does the Ashikaga clan dare to take it? ”

“…… I'm afraid I don't dare. is already weak, and there is a suspicion of usurpation, so they will attack it in groups. ”

"The king refuses to bear it, and the general does not dare to bear it, that is, no one can be responsible for it. If the people of Japan cannot live and work in peace and contentment and not go to the sea to become a criminal, who is innocent of the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty? The Japanese people have been fighting for a long time, and if no one can make the decision, the Ming Dynasty will personally make the decision! ”

Yan Shifan finally understood: "Take some time, the teacher is famous?" ”

Zhu Houxi laughed: "I summoned you back to discuss it in detail." You've been there for a long time, and you know more about it......"

Yan Shifan just chatted with the emperor privately first, reported his views, and confirmed the emperor's thinking.

Before returning home, the emperor told him to enter the palace tomorrow for a formal meeting to discuss in detail.

At that time, Xia Yan and others will participate together.

Yan Shifan returned home, and his father Yan Song was getting close to two grandchildren he had never met.

In addition to the "eldest child" born to his wife before leaving Beijing, there are now four children in the family.

But both father and son know that there is a real boss out there.

When he arrived in the study, Yan Song was silent for a moment and then said, "After sealing Dongyingbo, the other child will also recognize his ancestors and return to his ancestors, and take him home." ”

“…… Be. ”

"Usually it wasn't dangerous, but this time when I go to Japan, it's really dangerous."

Yan Shifan asked, "Dad, you already know what Your Majesty is going to do?" ”

Yan Song sighed: "Recently, I have been listening to His Majesty's lecture on the newly comprehended Dao of Human Reason, and my colleagues have also discussed and confirmed each other, how can I not guess it?" ”

"What has Your Majesty comprehended?"

"The real meaning of the industry, commerce, and the coast of the land is not the true meaning of the king's ministers...... Yan Song sighed, "There are many, many more, let's tell you more carefully." In short, the monarchs and ministers have carefully dissected why all dynasties and dynasties have not escaped the country, where is the real way out, and how many steps should there be to the world......"

“…… Your Majesty doesn't just want to expand the territory, but really wants to be the same in the world? ”

Yan Song's face couldn't help but show some strange excitement: "I am really inspired, as if I can touch a little shadow." His Majesty attaches so much importance to etiquette, culture and education, it turns out that he has had vague ideas many years ago. ”

The merits of the world's great harmony cannot be endured by a sixteen-year-old boy, and even more so by a 60-year-old minister.

"How many steps are there?"

Yan Shifan couldn't help but ask, and Yan Song was strangely silent for a moment when he heard this.

"Daddy?"

Yan Song actually looked out the window, and then whispered: "The first step is to make the lords of the foreign feudal kingdoms become hypocrisy, and follow the ......example of the Ming Dynasty and the system of the State Palace."

Yan Shifan was stunned, and then he understood why his father reacted.

He shuddered: "This is what His Majesty said personally?" ”

"Da Ming can't be the same!" Yan Song immediately made amends, and then closed his mouth tightly.

At least...... It can't be like that now, can it?

But what about the future?

Yan Song felt that His Majesty should have other ideas, and he hadn't said it yet.

But could it be that the national honor in His Majesty's mind is permanent, so that the heavenly family will give up more?

……

In the course of this day-to-day discussion, the ministers were actually haunted by such questions.

It was the emperor himself who was "rebellious", what could they say about this?

I didn't dare to touch the issue at all.

But what the emperor said was to let the Ming Dynasty's writing, weights and measures, coins, laws, standards and even systems of all walks of life be implemented first.

There is no other basis, one is the absolute strength now, the second is the trade benefits that the Ming can bring, and the third is to really win the hearts of foreign people in the future, treat them the same, and let them live better than now.

The integration of nationalities is not an uncommon thing, but in the past it only happened silently, and not many people have delved into the truth and found a way to actively promote its speed.

Now the emperor's proposal is not complicated: all the people have their own business, and winning the hearts of the people forever is to protect the country forever.

These are beautiful words, and they have also heard the inner essence: don't just fish in the Ming Dynasty, the world is very big. Get more from the Gentiles first, so that the people of the Ming Dynasty can live well. The standard of living of the Gentile people is much lower, and if they can live a better life first, and then a better life, it is also not a matter of exhaustion.

And in the end, if we want to keep this system from collapsing, we need to rely on the source of wealth.

The emperor's clear and firm view was that labor created wealth, and the progress of tools made it faster and faster to create wealth.

The cornerstone of Daming's eternal protection of Guozuo is two points: always standing at the top of the technology of the physical avenue, and always standing at the top of the system of the avenue of human science.

The latter is the point that the ministers dare not touch: this means that the new law will never end, it will always change with the times, and perhaps in the future it will touch the very root of imperial power.

His Majesty has already imprinted himself on the treasure ticket, and has used the example of the joint-stock company to strip the Son of Heaven of the sacred cloak of the Mandate of Heaven.

Now, although it is said that the will of the people is the destiny of heaven, but those who can fight the world and govern the world together, aren't there also civil ministers and military generals?

Everyone is a shareholder.

The foreign feudal domain first became a hypocrisy, will the Ming Dynasty eventually be like this?

No one spoke, and neither did the Son of Heaven.

Zhu Houxi's heart is clear.

He must need the scientific and technological progress of the Ming Dynasty, and the improvement of people's awareness will sooner or later strip the coat of imperial power clean.

If the official system is to be reformed, doesn't the royal family need to change and adapt to the new situation in the future?

"Hypocrisy" is not a way for the royal family to exist longer.

But what Zhu Houxi is more concerned about is how to ensure that those who can ascend to the throne in the future will always be "Ming Jun" and "Virtuous Minister".

The ministers are in class, and Zhu Zaiqian also has his own class.

The eldest son has gone to Yunnan Province, and his second son is the successor of Zhu Houxi who needs to be carefully cultivated.

Although he will probably have to wait a long time.

Now that the prince has grown up, he can understand more profound things.

Therefore, Zhu Houxi spoke very directly.

"Since ancient times, mixing different theories has been the only way to do imperial art. Why? It's just because although the power was given by the emperor, since it was given, the power is power. Because important ministers always have to face the containment of other courtiers, once they boldly usurp the throne, there will be great trouble, which makes the emperor always hold some cards. ”

Zhu Houxi said seriously: "Once the etiquette collapses and the appearance of powerful ministers becomes a habit, the Son of Heaven at the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor at the end of the Han Dynasty, and the current king of Japan are all at the mercy of others." The so-called mandate of heaven, at that time, not many people believe in it, but the people believe the most. But if the people are always miserable, the people will not believe. At that time, it was mostly the reckless heroes who rose up and overthrew the dynasty, although many of them did not enjoy the fruits of victory for long. ”

"Erchen understands."

Zhu Houxi didn't care if he understood what he said, but still continued: "The real dissenting arguments can't just be for the sake of checks and balances. Those who have reached high positions will inevitably be farther and farther away from the people. Among the local parents, there are many people who truly love the people. Such people often speak badly, but to support them is to support the right path for the sake of the people. The resistance will naturally be great, but as long as the people's hearts are not lost, the emperor will always have a Mandate of Heaven card in his hand, and there will always be room for manoeuvre. ”

"Father is saying that there is more than enough to make up for the lack of resistance?"

Zhu Houxi smiled with relief: "You can tell that there is more than enough damage, it can be seen that you understand the class that your father said." It is always difficult to distribute wealth evenly, and if we want to follow the right path of always protecting the hearts and minds of the people for the sake of the people, we must always attack the rich and powerful class from time to time. But in these matters, we must pay attention to proportion, and we must also understand that even in the rich and powerful class, there are all kinds of small groups. ”

Say it and get up: "Flow!" There is no such thing as a truly permanent stability, only a dynamic balance. All people, down to ordinary people, up to high-ranking officials and dignitaries, everyone can go up, and everyone can also go down, so as to avoid contradictions and complete outbreaks. ”

After a pause, he said solemnly: "Including the emperor himself!" ”

“…… Father? ”

Zhu Houxi stared at his eyes: "Those who refuse to go down have the possibility of dying and annihilating." When my father continued, he didn't mean Zen. The emperor himself has always been just a symbol of power. In order to implement the new law, my father set up the National Policy Council, the State Council, and the Prime Minister and Minister of State, and delegated some powers, so it was only smooth for so many years. But after all, the power is down, and the father has the prestige, the means, and the control. But the descendants of the Zhu family, not every emperor will be able to do this in the future. ”

Zhu Zaiqian was in a complicated mood, and muttered: "My father is an emperor through the ages, and my son is ......."

"So now Dad just points something out to you." Zhu Houxi said frankly, "In this life, my father will finish the evil things that Daming needs to do." When it comes to you, you must remember what I said about the king of the people. And if in the future, when the wisdom of the people is exhausted, everyone knows what the imperial power is, and the important ministers of the court also know where their power comes from, the Zhu family can have another choice. ”

“…… Didn't the emperor give them power? ”

"Nope." Zhu Houxi shook his head resolutely, "The emperor is just the shopkeeper of the world." The people of the world handed over power to the emperor, and the emperor helped arrange so many people to let them do their jobs. One day, the people of the world will realize that their support is the source of the emperor's power, and the officials will also realize that the emperor is just a treasurer, and they can hold power with the support of the people. At that time, the descendants of the Zhu family should remember my advice. ”

Zhu Zaiji's heart was shocked, and he looked at his father and asked, "What advice?" ”

"There is a give-and-take. If the situation has come to this point, the compassion of sacrificing power to protect the people will still not lose its transcendent symbolic position. ”

“…… Always compassionate for the people......"

Zhu Zaiqian was thoughtful.

Zhu Houxi nodded: "Taizu is the poorest ordinary people, the Zhu family does not forget the original intention, and it has to be always, understand?" ”

"The retainers will remember."

"I don't know how many years from now." Zhu Houxi relaxed again, "Before that, I was afraid that when the Mandate of Heaven was still in the Zhu family, the biggest disaster was only the Zhu family's own desire for power. How fast is it to reign in the world, to kill and take away? It is easy to be a faint gentleman, and it is difficult to be a bright gentleman, which is both difficult and bitter. ”

With that, he fell silent.

His happiness comes from the relief of transforming the Ming Dynasty and changing history, but for so many years, he is indeed a social animal.

Sometimes, there is a lot of pressure, and that sense of mission and responsibility is something that only he, who has a heavy DNA of suffering in his memory, can continue to find motivation.

But......

"Everyone has a heart of laziness and a heart of pleasure." Zhu Houxi looked at his son, "I only hope to start with you, if I don't want to endure so much hardship, I can have a better selection system for important ministers." And even if it is just an emperor with ordinary qualifications and a lazy and hedonistic heart, if he can easily do a few things well and always win the hearts of the people, then he can always leave more possibilities for future generations. ”

"What are the few things?"

"Several major issues in people's livelihood." Zhu Houxi said very clearly, "Disaster relief, nursing homes, medical homes." The people who let them see the emperor when they needed it most. Then, there are primary and secondary schools, so that the people can see the hope of future generations. These few things are where you should spend your future sons, grandsons, and your father's foundation of the money that the Emperor Ming Assets Bureau can earn. In these positions, we should arrange really competent people. ”

"Erchen remembered."

"Father is not old yet, you still have a lot of time to understand."

Zhu Houxi stood up: "Although Zhang Juzheng had a hard childhood, he soared to the sky later. How the folk are, you should go and see for yourself. After this year's Hallowe, I will arrange for you to go to various places. ”

"Father, son, ......"

"Let Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang accompany you. On the safe side, you don't need to worry. ”

Zhu Houxi began to arrange these, and his words and deeds were not enough.

In the future Ming Dynasty, only monarchs and ministers must maintain certain ideals and beliefs in order to be consistent in some major principles.

Those things can't be packaged in a cloud of flowers, so it's better to break them down and explain them in detail.

Digging the foundation of the country is to dig the common foundation of these ruling strata.

There will naturally be a faint king, and there will also be traitors.

What must not be done absolutely, everyone must recognize.

Zhu Houxi's patience in lecturing the ministers and giving lessons to the prince is a process of wanting to unify ideas and concepts.

There will always be small groups and small hills, but on top of this, Daming must have a big circle, an organization that really has a common idea.

It is said that the Ming Dynasty died in party struggle, and Zhu Houxi wanted to try to take a new step.

Why don't you make the party word clear?

(End of chapter)