Faced with Cheng Yaojin's questioning, Wei Zheng responded coldly: "If we only focused on our own interests, we would not risk being beheaded by His Majesty here to stand up and speak out for this matter."
"What's more, Mr. Cheng himself said that if His Majesty wants to prove the concept of equality for all, he will be coerced by us to cancel the New Deal; if His Majesty enforces the decree and we fight with death, it will prove that His Majesty's concept of equality for everyone is a fallacy.
, this order itself is full of contradictions and cannot be verified, so the truth is self-evident, do I need to say more?"
Cheng Yaojin was planning to continue to put pressure on Wei Zheng, but Qin Huaidao had already spoken.
"Oh? Lord Yushitai, what you mean is that if this matter can be verified or justified, it can be implemented?" Qin Huaidao did not call Wei Zheng Aiqing, nor Master Wei, but called Lord Yushitai.
, to express his dissatisfaction with his performance in court.
Wei Zheng didn't take it seriously and saluted Qin Huaidao: "That's natural."
He glanced at the other officials: "Is this what you mean?"
All the officials responded in unison: "That's exactly what I mean."
"Okay," Qin Huaidao shouted coldly. The Tai Chi Hall was not that big in the first place, but his shout was like a loud bell, shocking all the officials: "Since you all have this intention, then I will have a good discussion with you."
"Let me ask you, what does everyone mean by equality? Does everyone's equality mean that they can do whatever they want?"
He stared at the officials below, knowing that although they were dissatisfied, the Holy Master did not dare to act too arrogantly, and continued: "No, if everyone is equal and can do whatever they want, the world will be in chaos. The so-called equality of everyone does not only mean
It refers to status and respect between people."
"Master Wei Zheng of Yushitai dared to criticize me in court within the scope of the law without fear of being beheaded. This is equality. People dare to criticize the shortcomings of officials within the scope of the law without fear of retaliation. This is equality. With equality,
People will be able to speak freely within the scope of the law. Only in this way can free thoughts sprout. Only in this way can science and technology develop. Only in this way can society continue to develop and progress. By then, human beings can still see each other even though they are thousands of miles apart.
, it only takes a few hours from Chang'an to the East China Sea, and everyone can afford a wife, food, and education. By then, everyone in the Han people will be rich, and the real prosperity will come."
"If I think like you, even if there are adventures in the caves of pre-Qin warlocks, how can those novel technologies, unique strategies and ideas be truly produced to benefit the people of the Han Dynasty?"
Wei Zheng still wanted to argue: "But this distinction between monarch and minister..."
When Qin Huaidao heard this, he looked at Xue Rengui. He had asked him a few days ago in Ganlu Hall, and Xue Rengui also gave his answer.
The distinction between monarch and ministers cannot be abolished.
Sure enough, in the hearts of these officials, the obsession of monarchs and ministers runs deep into their bones.
If there is no king and no ministers, who should they pay allegiance to?
If there is no king and no ministers, who should they serve?
The answer is actually very simple. When a famous great man shouted that sentence, the thoughts and customs at that time were very similar to those now. The people were ill-informed and traditional in their thinking. The biggest belief in people's hearts was the imperial power.
Until that sentence appeared.
It overturned the ideas that everyone had believed in for their whole lives, broke the shackles of the old system, and at the same time laid an unbreakable solid foundation for the birth of new countries and ideas.
That sentence is: serve the people.
Qin Huaidao, who wanted to understand everything, said this in an understatement. After he finished speaking, all the officials in the court looked shocked, as if they had heard something extraordinary.
The leader, Lu Yannian, looked stiff. He did not expect that His Majesty would unexpectedly break their carefully arranged logical dilemma.
Serve the people?
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Mencius, an astonishing Confucian scholar among hundreds of scholars, once proposed that the people are the most important, ministers are second, and the king is the least important. Although it was truly realized, it really shocked many famous people at the time.
Now, His Majesty proposes to serve the people again?
A trace of confusion flashed in Wei Zheng's eyes, he didn't understand the true meaning of this sentence.
Seeing countless eyes staring at him, Qin Huaidao knew that this sentence worked. The era when this sentence was produced was the most desperate era. The power contained in the thoughts bursting out in desperate situations was not the power of those who had not been exposed to modern ideas.
Can the ancients compare it?
"Yes, serve the people. All people in the world are for the people, and all officials are serving the people, including me. Lu Yannian said that if there is no distinction between monarch and ministers, and there is no distinction between subjects, the people will not obey the laws and will.
, it’s actually putting the cart before the horse.”
"If the decree is beneficial to the people, how can the people not obey it? If the decree is beneficial to the people, how can the people not obey it? On the contrary, it is precisely because the decree and decree are not only useless but harmful to the people that they need strong oppression and weapons to restrict them. Mr. Wei, you
Say yes or no?"
These words exploded in the minds of all the officials with a loud bang.
Lu Yannian's face became extremely pale, and he looked at the emperor who had just ascended the throne with shocked eyes, a little stunned.
When Wei Zheng looked at Qin Huaidao, a vague understanding flashed in his eyes.
"Everyone is equal, but not absolutely everyone is equal. The common people are the most valuable, followed by all officials and power agencies, including me. They are all public servants of the common people and serve the common people."
"I want the superiors to no longer be arrogant and domineering, so that the people no longer fear officials and soldiers, and I want to make this world no longer a world for one person or a few people, but a world for everyone in the world."
After the words were finished, there was no objection in the court. At this moment, Wei Zheng finally fully understood what Qin Huaidao meant, and even more clearly understood the meaning of Qin Huaidao's words - he wanted to be a true saint!
The battle in the court came to an end, and the concept of equality for everyone was initially established. However, there were always some people who were unwilling to give up their privileges. After Lu Yannian returned to his residence, he quickly spread the news of Chang'an's ideological reform to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. That was his family's work.
If His Majesty insists on pursuing this policy, they must make plans in advance.
This incident spread throughout Chang'an overnight, and the people were delighted and excited.
"Serve the people? That's what your Majesty really said?" Some people were doubtful at first, but later they found out that more and more people were saying this. Coupled with the decree issued by His Majesty some time ago that all scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants are equal, they no longer had any doubts.
In addition to being excited, people are more curious about whether this measure can actually be implemented.
Not to mention whether state and road officials at all levels would do one thing to their faces and another behind their backs, it would be difficult for the aristocratic families and wealthy households in various places to obey this measure.
The rights brought by status and wealth cannot be easily abandoned.
In the Manlu Hall, Qin Huaidao is planning a major event.
When the new dynasty was first established, people with meritorious deeds were enthroned, and their power spread throughout the country, shocking all directions!