"One Hundred Family Surnames" is only an enlightenment book, but from the day it appeared, it has had a profound impact on the world.
In ancient times, there was Meng Xue, which is the study of enlightenment. However, from top to bottom in Chinese history for thousands of years, all the way to the Braid Dynasty, there were only three real enlightenment reading materials, "Hundred Family Surnames", "Thousand Character Classic" and "Three Character Classic".
In today's Tang Dynasty, before Li Qinzai, the Three-Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames had not yet appeared, and the only thing children read for enlightenment was the Thousand-Character Classic.
What a foolish monarch wants is for the people to be ignorant, because ignorance makes it easy to manage, easy to incite, and easy to fool.
But for a wise monarch, what he hopes to see is the popularization of knowledge and principles.
Because only by reading can one be clear-minded and virtuous, and know etiquette, justice, and integrity, fewer people will commit crimes and fewer people will rebel. This not only maintains public order in the world, but also consolidates rule.
Everyone has books to read and everyone has skills to practice. This is how we call the world unified.
Li Zhi was undoubtedly a wise monarch. He quickly saw the value of hundreds of family names, not only in terms of enlightenment, but also in politics.
""Hundred Family Surnames"? It's just the right time." Li Zhi narrowed his eyes and smiled.
Empress Wu was puzzled and said: "Your Majesty means..."
Li Zhi said leisurely: "Two years ago, my uncle Changsun Wuji passed away. The Guanlong family and the Shandong gentry were respectful to me on the surface, but there was quite a lot of resentment behind them. When my father was still alive, these aristocratic families were loyal to him.
Geng Geng, but after the death of their father, they became a little restless..."
Empress Wu was able to fight her way out of Li Zhi's harem and deposed Empress Wang and succeeded in taking the throne. Her political sense was also very sensitive, and her eyes lit up when she heard this.
"Your Majesty is saying that you will continue to suppress aristocratic families through "Hundred Family Surnames"?"
Li Zhi picked up the paper on the table. The paper was densely covered with words, which was the full text of "Hundred Family Surnames" written by Li Qinzai.
Flicking the thin paper with his fingers, Li Zhi said leisurely: "In the past, when my father was still alive, he ordered Gao Shilian to compile the "Chronicles of the Clan". Gao Shilian revised the manuscript three times and finally met his father's wishes."
"In the clan annals, my Li family's royal family is ranked first, followed by my relatives, and all the major aristocratic families are ranked third. My father's move has severely beaten all the aristocratic families in the world."
"What my father can do, why can't I do it?"
Empress Wu's phoenix eyes shone brightly and she whispered: "Your Majesty wants to rewrite the Clan Chronicle?"
Li Zhi smiled but did not answer, staring at the hundreds of family names in front of him, and suddenly sighed: "This grandson of the British Duke is a great talent!"
Empress Wu covered her mouth and smiled and said: "I heard that it was to enlighten his children, but she also felt that the thousand-character text was too abstruse and difficult to understand, so she simply compiled "Hundred Family Surnames" herself."
Li Zhi was stunned and unexpectedly said: "Li Qinzai has a child? I have never heard that he is married..."
Empress Wu snorted and said: "I asked someone to find out. Li Qinzai is not an economical lamp. The child is almost five years old. He had an affair with the maid in the palace in his early years. He is unknown and has no distinction. He is considered a bastard."
Not really, but he does love that child very much."
Li Zhi smiled nonchalantly and said: "As a man, it is inevitable that you will be impulsive and lose your mind. I was not like you back then..."
Empress Wu's face turned red, she pushed him gently and said angrily: "Your Majesty, it's broad daylight and you're above the main hall, you can't talk nonsense!"
Li Zhi laughed, then suddenly frowned, pressed his head with both hands, and groaned in pain.
Empress Wu panicked and stood up in a hurry and said, "Has your majesty suffered from wind disease again?"
Turning to look outside the palace, Empress Wu said in a deep voice: "Here comes the imperial physician!"
Li Zhi groaned for a moment, then waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter, I'm feeling better."
Empress Wu looked at him worriedly and sighed: "Your Majesty's wind attacks have become more and more frequent recently. Even though all the famous doctors in the world can't cure him, what should we do?"
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said: "I asked myself that I have never done anything to harm the loyal and the good and torture the people. Why am I being punished like this? I don't know."
Pointing to the Hundred Family Surnames in front of him, Li Zhi continued: "If the imperial examination is to be implemented, there is great resistance from the aristocratic families. At this time, Li Qinzai compiled "The Hundred Family Surnames". Isn't it the same as the "Clan Family" written by his father at that time?
"Historical Records" echoes each other? I have to say, this is God's will."
Empress Wu also nodded. In terms of hatred for the aristocratic family members, she actually hated Li Zhi even more.
When Wang Liwu was deposed, the representatives of the aristocratic family, headed by Changsun Wuji, criticized her verbally and verbally. That time she competed with the Queen Wang, and whoever lost would definitely die.
Later, Queen Wang was defeated and died as expected.
As for Empress Wu, it was as if she had walked through the gates of hell. All these things were given by the aristocratic family. How could she not hate the aristocratic family?
"Your Majesty wants to promote the "Hundred Family Surnames" to the world in order to defeat the noble families?" Empress Wu asked immediately.
Li Zhi nodded and said in a deep voice: "I have to use and guard against the members of the aristocratic family. Since I ascended the throne, I have been determined to promote the imperial examination and open up the path for people from poor families to become officials. If the members of the aristocratic family give me resistance, I will
Hit them from time to time."
"This article, "One Hundred Family Surnames," is ostensibly a book for children's enlightenment. But if it were promoted throughout the world, and everyone would know the ranking of surnames in "One Hundred Family Surnames," the effect would be countless times better than that of my father's "Clan Chronicle."
"
Empress Wu took another look at "One Hundred Family Surnames" and smiled sweetly: "This Li Qinzai is really talented. The Hundred Family Surnames he compiled is not only catchy, but also deliberately ranks the surnames of the world's aristocratic families at the bottom. Could it be that he is
Deliberately catering to His Majesty’s wishes?”
Li Zhi laughed and said: "This young man is not only smart, but also very thoughtful. He is very suitable for me."
Li Zhi's expression became solemn as he spoke, and he said: "The decree was sent to the Ministry of Finance to promulgate the "Hundred Family Surnames" to the world. The provincial governors, county magistrates, and academic doctors of each state must post the "Hundred Family Surnames" in every state, county, and township.
, tell Shangshu Sheng that this move is only for the enlightenment of children in the world and has no other intention."
Empress Wu pursed her lips and smiled softly.
The reason is so strong, it's like trying to deceive others. Is it necessary to post it everywhere just for the enlightenment of children? Even in rural villages, why don't you post "The Thousand Character Essay", which is also an enlightenment book?
Empress Wu's eyes flashed and she said softly: "Your Majesty, have you ever calculated how much contribution the British Duke's grandson has made to the Tang Dynasty recently?"
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then murmured thoughtfully: "God's arm bow, horseshoes, hundreds of surnames, civilized and military, and every one of them is a great achievement. This grandson of the British prince is not simple, he is the leader of the country."
What a great talent…”
Empress Wu nodded and said: "Your Majesty, such talented people must not be neglected, but we cannot really allow them to be lazy and debauched. Leaving good people at home to eat and die is a great disservice to the country and the emperor."
loss."
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said, "Have you ever guessed what the British Lord meant?"
Empress Wu opened her eyes wide: "Isn't it a good thing that my grandson is going to be successful?"
Li Zhi shook his head: "The British Duke has outstanding achievements, but he actually does not want his grandson to be entrusted with important positions. He is afraid that Mu Xiu will be better than Lin, and he is even more afraid that the Li family will have too much power and make me suspicious."
Empress Wu frowned: "Your Majesty is not a narrow-minded person, how can the old prince..."
"With the Duke of Wei, Li Jing, driving in front of him, how could the British Duke not take a warning?"
Empress Wu suddenly realized that Li Jing, Duke of Wei, was the first official in the Tang Dynasty to defeat the Eastern Turks. It was precisely because of his defeat of the Turks that his military reputation reached its peak.
Even someone as broad-minded as Li Shimin had to be cautious. After Li Jing's army returned to the court, the court officials not only disapproved of his achievements, but also accused Li Jing of committing plunder. It is difficult to say whether Li Shimin's secret instructions were behind it.
Later, Li Shimin and Li Jing closed the door and had a deep chat.
It is not known what the monarch and his ministers talked about, but from then on, Li Jing handed over military power and thanked guests behind closed doors. Until his death, he never participated in military affairs or government affairs again.
From the standpoint of the emperor, it cannot be said that Li Shimin was wrong in handling this. After all, Li Jing's existence did pose a threat to the imperial power. It was because his reputation in the army was so high that he could conquer thousands of troops with just one shout.
It is very likely that Wanma will help him overthrow the Tang Dynasty, which was just founded.
Li Shimin did not kill him, but let him live safely until his death. This actually shows that Li Shimin was indeed a broad-minded emperor. It was not easy to do this.
Empress Wu finally understood the psychology of British Duke Li Ji.
He was afraid of following in the footsteps of Li Jing and did not want his grandson Li Qinzai to have too much power, all because of his reverence for the imperial power.
Only families that respect the imperial power can live long and have a prosperous family business for hundreds of years.
People become more sophisticated as they get older, and Li Ji is undoubtedly a shrewd and intelligent old man.
After finding out the whole story, Empress Wu smiled and said: "Li Qinzai is very talented and capable, and he is at the age when he shows his talents. The old man has stopped him once or twice, can he still stop him for the rest of his life?"
Li Zhi hesitated for a moment and said: "The compilation of hundreds of surnames is also a great achievement. You must be rewarded if you have merit, but for the sake of the British public, I cannot reward you heavily..."
"I asked the minister to draw up an edict, and Li Qin of the Jin Dynasty set it to advise the officials. I also gave him a horse to ride in the palace, a goldfish bag, and a purple gold and jade belt."
After speaking, Li Zhi paused and then said, "Is Li Qinzai's son... an illegitimate son?"
Empress Wu nodded: "The child born from an affair with a maid is indeed an illegitimate child."
Li Zhi smiled and said: "He loves his children so much that he personally compiled "Hundred Family Surnames" for his children, which has helped me a lot. Logically speaking, the illegitimate child cannot but be rewarded."
"Let's give that kid the false title of 'Captain of Light Vehicles'. If he grows up to be a talented person, I will use him again."
Empress Wu smiled and said: "Your Majesty is benevolent and generous, and I will bow to you."
Li Zhi smacked his lips and suddenly smiled: "It seems that I miss Li Qinzai a little. After the last contact with him, I realized that he is also an instant person, and I can gain something from chatting with him."
Empress Wu nodded and said: "I have also heard your Majesty chatting with him, and there is indeed something in what he said. However, I heard that Li Qinzai is now in Zhuangzi in Weinan County, presiding over the autumn harvest of the Li family, so Li Qinzai stayed in Zhuangzi and did not return.
Chang'an."
"Then let Shiren go and announce the decree, and then bring him to Chang'an. I want to confront Li Qing."