The tall man was nearly sixty years old, with gray beard and hair. He was the prefect of Guangzhou on Huainan Road, and his official position had been high since he was young. Now that the words had been spoken, he knew that there was no way to retreat, so he simply took the risk, blowing a gray beard.
Talking loudly.
"Lin Jue, how is your behavior different from that of Lu's thief? We, Zhou Dynasty, are a country of etiquette, and we follow the behavior of saints. Ethical order, loyalty, filial piety, justice, these are the principles that everyone follows. Now you want to seize
The power of the emperor is an act that goes against ethics. What is it but rebellion? Although you did not explicitly usurp the throne, how is it different from usurping the throne? The emperor's imperial edict made it clear that there is something unspeakable. I heard that you imprisoned the emperor in the palace for many years.
Today, you obviously forced the emperor to write such an imperial edict. Isn’t this the behavior of a rebellious official? Although you have done great service to the Zhou Dynasty, you must not act recklessly because of it. Are the people in the world blind and deaf? Are others afraid of your power?
Speak out, I am a righteous person but I will never be deaf or blind. I will risk my life today, and I will probably die, but I cannot join in the same deeds with you."
Gao Yi's words were impassioned, righteous, and somewhat iron-clad. He occupied the moral high ground and seemed to be invincible. After he said these words, many people in the venue were ready to move, and they seemed to have
To stand up and respond.
Lin Jue looked calm. After Gao Yi finished speaking, he nodded and said solemnly: "Has Master Gao finished speaking?"
Gao Yi puffed up his chest and said, "Now that we've finished talking, what are you going to do? Kill the old man?"
Lin Jue frowned and scanned the audience, and said in a deep voice: "Does anyone else have something to say?"
There was silence in the venue. Some people were interested but lacked the courage. Most people actually had no intention of coming forward. They just wanted to know Lin Jue's response to Gao Yi's words. Many of them actually had knots in their hearts.
After all, what they saw in front of them subverted their inherent ideas, and they couldn't let it go for a while.
"Okay, it seems that Mr. Gao's words represent the thoughts of many of you. This is also something that has been discussed a lot in my whole country during this period of time. I think I must give a positive response again. Although
"I have actually explained it many times on various occasions, but you probably haven't heard my explanation with your own ears yet. Today I will explain it clearly to eliminate any doubts." Lin Jue said in a deep voice.
Everyone looked at Lin Jue quietly, and everyone held their breath and listened attentively. This is related to the reasonableness and legality of the imperial court's changes, as well as to their own standards of conduct and moral bottom line. Whether they can accept this change with peace of mind, they must have someone who allows them to do so.
An explanation that is convincing and ethical.
"Everyone, you have all heard the emperor's imperial edict with your own ears. The emperor has made his decision to consider the long-term plan for the prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty and the longevity of the country. He has entrusted us to discuss a plan to govern the country with wise men. Master Gao said,
This imperial edict is false. It was made by me, Lin Jue, to make an edict. I think there is no need for me to explain this matter. Whether it is an edict, whether it is a decree to force the emperor to do so, you and I have no say, Your Majesty.
It only counts if you explain it in person in public. Mr. Shen, I would like to invite you to the palace and ask the emperor to come here. The emperor will personally explain the authenticity of the imperial edict to all your lords in person. I know that the emperor has suffered from cold and has some minor ailments. The imperial doctor said
He needs to rest and should not move. But the wind-cold syndrome is not a serious illness. You can carry the emperor in a sedan chair without any hindrance. It’s not that I, Lin, are unwilling to let the emperor rest and rest. This is really an edict.
Lin is not willing to bear the brunt of the serious crime."
After Lin Jue finished speaking, Shen Tan stood up from the seat at the back and bowed: "Okay, I'll go right away."
Please come, Your Majesty."
Lin Jue nodded and watched Shen Tan leave. Guo Kun's so-called physical discomfort was actually an excuse. He didn't want to face today's occasion, so he made up an excuse to avoid it. The imperial edict was a last resort, and that was his fault. In order to reach the conditions with Lin Jue, he must issue an edict to express his position and voluntarily give up the power to manage the country, so he issued this edict. Lin Jue knew that he was unwilling and refused to force him to face it. Unexpectedly, these officials If someone pops up and questions, then Shen Tan will have to 'invite' him.
"About the imperial edict, it will be clarified soon. I will respond to what Mr. Gao said.
The code of ethics is constant, and the issue of loyalty, filial piety, and justice. We, a country of great Zhou etiquette, govern the country according to the teachings of saints. Obeying public order and good customs, attaching importance to loyalty, filial piety, and justice, this is the foundation of morality in our great Zhou Dynasty. Lin is a member of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he read How come I don’t know this truth when I have grown up with the books of sages? But how does this conflict with my laws of governing the country during the Great Zhou Dynasty? How did I ever say that I would abolish the ethics of ethics and not abide by loyalty, filial piety, and justice? Mr. Gao used such words to accuse me and taught me I was so confused and confused. This reminded me of the criticism that Master Fang and Master Yan received when they changed the new law. Some people used the "three deficiencies" theory of Master Yan to impeach and criticize the two Masters, such as Gao Adults stand on the moral high ground to criticize others without caring about the specific circumstances. At that time, my mentor wrote an article to respond to the criticism. It was well-founded and well-written. Unfortunately, some things cannot be explained clearly without explanation. You reason with others, but others may not reason with you, they just criticize for the sake of criticizing. I don’t think Mr. Gao is such a person, so I want to explain it to you and other adults who have doubts."
Gao Yi said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, Prime Minister Lin. I am not criticizing Prime Minister Lin. I am just worried that this will lead to the moral decline of our country, the moral order is unbalanced, the etiquette and law are chaotic, and it is unseemly. This is what I don't want to see." Achieved results.”
Lin Jue nodded and said: "I understand that if the basic moral bottom line is breached, then I, the Zhou Dynasty, will lose the most basic foundation of our country. If everyone does not abide by ethics, the world will inevitably be in chaos. This is not only something you don't want to see. It is something that none of us want to see. But what we are discussing today is to reform the method of governing the country, but it is not to subvert ethics and morality. The emperor is still the emperor, but the power of governing the country is handed over to worthy people. Your Majesty, Your Majesty The position of the emperor has not changed, so why is there any danger of chaos? The world is still the world of the Guo family, and all the people are still the people of the emperor. No matter where the decree and power come from, it is for the people of the Zhou Dynasty and for the Guo family's plan for the country and the country. , how can you reverse Gangchang's theory? I know that when it comes to this, some people will say that this move is to seize the emperor's power, is unfaithful and unjust, and is an act of rebellion. The emperor's imperial decree makes it very clear, he He realized the problem and knew that he had no way to save the country, so he decided to find a way to govern the country with talents. This was a noble and upright act by the emperor, a manifestation of great wisdom and courage. What is loyalty and filial piety? He only knows how to follow the rules and allows the government to decline. The people are in ruins, the country is in ruins, and the country is overthrown. Is this loyalty? This is just foolish loyalty. In my opinion, the real loyalty is to serve the country and the country, to serve the people of the world, and to make the Zhou Dynasty prosperous. A prosperous country lasts for a long time, and you do everything possible to think about the world. This is great loyalty. You even risk being criticized, impeached, and cast aside by countless people who don't understand you. You don't care about personal interests and reputation. This is great loyalty. The same is true for filial piety. The fall of the Zhou Dynasty is the greatest unfilial piety. This applies to us as well as to the emperor. The ancestors conquered the country, but the descendants of future generations cannot maintain it.
This is a great act of unfilial piety. I, the Great Zhou Dynasty, was almost killed at the hands of Guo Xulu Zhongtian. Many of you here only know how to be loyal and foolish, but do not know how to be loyal and filial. Do you think that obeying the emperor’s advice is loyalty and filial piety? As an emperor,
, Failure to protect the country of our ancestors is the greatest unfilial piety. To make the world prosperous and all people happy and the country stable, this is great loyalty and great filial piety. It is a great responsibility that starts from the emperor and falls on the shoulders of us people. It is not what you say.
This is the so-called loyalty and filial piety.”
After Lin Jue's words, most of the people nodded secretly and had some thoughts in their hearts. It is indeed true. Even the country of the Great Zhou Dynasty cannot be saved, so why talk about loyalty, filial piety and justice? After the Great Zhou Dynasty is dead, everything is a joke.
"I, Da Zhou, now seem to be far away from the disaster, but my vitality has been severely damaged. If such a catastrophe happens again, it will be unbearable. That's why we need to carry out major changes, and we need to carry out changes from the fundamental power structure. All powers
Concentrating it in the hands of one person is a gamble. After all, there are too few emperors like Yao, Shun, Yu, Qin, Emperor Han, and Wu. The fate of the country, Zuo, and the life and death of the people cannot be gambled on one person. Even if the current emperor is a wise king, who can guarantee the future generations?
Every generation is wise, and every generation has achievements? Once a foolish king appears, all the efforts will be ruined. My words may sound harsh to you, but is this not the truth?" Lin Jue continued.
Gao Yi said loudly: "I disagree with what Prime Minister Lin said. Now that the Jurchens and Liao people have greatly declined in strength, they pose no threat to us. How can the previous catastrophe happen again? Besides, I, the Great Zhou Dynasty, are members of the royal family and
Scholars and officials share the world. The emperor does not necessarily need to be wise. Doesn't he have many ministers to assist him? Wouldn't it be good if the ministers were wise? All we need to do is to vigorously select talented people to fill the court. Why should the emperor give up his power? Isn't this harboring evil intentions?
Is it unnecessary?"
Lin Jue was quite annoyed by this person, but he still said patiently: "Master Gao, I'm afraid you haven't figured out the real reason for today's situation in our country. You think it is foreign enemies that caused our situation today.
What? The real reason for the decline of the Zhou Dynasty is actually internal. It is the lack of ambition, waste and extravagance, selfishness and arrogance of the officials, and the struggle for power and profit.
If the Zhou Dynasty had not had internal problems, how could the Liao Jurchens dare to take action? If the two million Zhou soldiers and horses had not had no fighting power, how could they have been attacked by hundreds of thousands of Jurchens in the capital with overwhelming force? Internal thieves were turbulent and the government orders were inconsistent.
, arbitrary and arbitrary, everyone is thinking about making money, land, officialdom and power, so how can there not be civil strife? Coupled with repeated policy mistakes, after Guo Xu took the throne, he acted randomly and made major wrong decisions under the instigation of Lu Zhongtian.
Exposing the weakness of our great Zhou Dynasty attracted the invasion of foreign enemies. Foreign enemies are certainly a threat, but the real threat is internal. What you said about the assistance of wise ministers is even more of a joke. At that time, the two adults, Yan Fang, realized that our great power
There was an internal crisis in Zhou Dynasty, so we tried our best to implement the new law in the hope of reversing the situation. Did it succeed? This is the disadvantage of power being concentrated in the hands of one person. If he changes his mind, nothing can be done. There is no use for wise ministers.
Of course, the failure of the new law was also due to the obstruction of the Lu thieves, but after all, there was a problem with the power structure of the imperial court. One person can change orders day by day as he pleases, he can negate the efforts of his ministers at will, and he can make decisions based on his personal likes and dislikes.
It is unreasonable to formulate decrees and launch wars. The reasonable method is to attribute power to virtuous ministers, and the power must be restricted, and adopt the method of co-governance, brainstorming, discussing and co-governing. I call this "virtual monarch and co-governance"
