Chapter 80: The Grand Court Meeting is a Counterattack, and the Forum Strengthens the Counterattack
Chapter 80: The Grand Court Meeting is a Counterattack, and the Forum Strengthens the Counterattack
It has to be said that Zhang Shiheng has very unique insights.
Taking a different approach, the book interprets the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and the root causes of the demise of Emperor Qin II from another perspective.
Can't say it's right, nor can it be said to be wrong.
From the perspective of etiquette, laws and moral principles, yes, it does exist.
If he hadn't shot the king in the shoulder, the sacred and inviolable outer garment of the Zhou emperor would have been completely pierced.
It is unlikely that a series of events such as the Tian family replacing the Qi family and the three families dividing the Jin family would happen later.
Since you princes can be disrespectful to the Emperor of Zhou and even shoot and injure him.
Can we treat the princes in the same way?
Everything is afraid of a beginning, a crack, which can cause the dam to collapse.
That's the reason.
The one who first made the figurines has no descendants.
You do it today, and others do it tomorrow. Later on, no one will have any worries and everyone can do it.
The fall of the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty was due to other internal problems and the hidden dangers of the old people and young people of the six kingdoms.
But is there no factor of propriety, law and moral principles?
Fusu had problems of various kinds, but he was, after all, the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty and the heir to the throne trained by Qin Shihuang.
There are many people in the court and the country who support him.
If he ascends the throne, it doesn't matter whether the second generation dies later or not.
But at least people's hearts are submissive and the political situation is stable.
I don’t know whether I can suppress the rebellion in the world.
But given Fusu's legitimate status and position, the Great Wall Legion will at least not undergo a major change of blood.
The Nanling Legion would not remain indifferent.
It was different when Hu Hai came to power. In order to consolidate his ill-gotten power, he carried out a series of brutal rule.
In the end, the Qin court was in chaos, and the whole country was in rebellion. How could there be any extra power? How could they suppress the rebellion? How could they rule the country?
For a dynasty, order and system are the foundation for maintaining rule and establishing authority.
When order and system are gone, your authority will naturally have no ruling power.
Li Er sat on the cushion, resting his hands on the armrests, tapping his fingertips. He asked softly, "Does Zhang Shiheng's statement hold water?"
Wei Zheng thought for a moment and said, "That is indeed a unique view. The rise of many heroes during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, who did not respect the Zhou emperor, was indeed caused by She Wang's shoulder injury."
"Qin, what about the death of the Second Emperor?" Li Er continued to ask.
"this……."
Wei Zheng is not stupid.
This question can be answered casually.
The prince was almost saying it in the most straightforward way, wondering if Li Tang would also change the crown prince at will like the Qin and Sui dynasties, and the second emperor would die.
"Fang Xuanling, you go." Li Er called out.
"His Majesty……."
Fang Xuanling hesitated. This was a bit of a life-threatening question. He thought about it and said, "It should be possible."
"After all, Hu Hai's accession to power was not legitimate..."
Not in the right position?
Li Er's face turned pale instantly.
Didn't he come to power through the Xuanwu Gate, and it wasn't a legitimate position?
at this time.
Li Chengqian's voice was heard outside.
"Actually, I don't think it's right."
Li Chengqian said.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Yu Zhining, Kong Yingda, Zhang Shiheng and others frowned.
Jia Gongyan blurted out, "What do you think is wrong, Your Highness?"
"I think what Master Zhang said makes a lot of sense, and it hits the nail on the head."
The people below were also talking in low voices.
From the perspective of etiquette, the shooting of the king in the shoulder and the death of Emperor Qin II both reflected the shadow of heresy.
Why is it wrong when it comes to Your Highness?
The prince's attitude seems to be changing.
We clearly agreed to observe etiquette, why did you suddenly deny it?
Isn't this contradictory?
"The Zhou emperor granted many fiefs to the princes, and the lands they granted were all outside the Zhou royal capital. Many of them ate raw meat and drank blood, and lived in remote and desolate places."
"It was the princes who led their clansmen to explore, work hard to govern, and eliminate hidden dangers that eventually led to the Zhou Dynasty's territory and the vast territories of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period."
Li Chengqian said slowly: "That is to say, although the Zhou emperor granted fiefs, none of them were in the royal capital. It was a piece of land that did not belong to the Zhou royal family."
"So, although it is called enfeoffment, in fact these lands are not owned by the Zhou royal family. When the princes come to their own territories, it is equivalent to starting from scratch and starting over."
"If we are talking about major and minor clans, shouldn't we divide the land of Zhou Wangji into several parts? Only in this way can the names of major and minor clans be truly worthy of their names."
"But the Zhou emperor granted fiefs, but required the princes to develop and govern on their own, and also to pay tribute."
Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "How can such a relationship continue forever?"
"I think that the first generation of princes should be minor clans, and after many generations, they will become major clans, and be equal to the Zhou emperor, who is the major clan."
"Your Highness!"
Everyone cried out in surprise, "That's not the case."
"Small quantities can never be equated with large quantities."
Seeing their fierce opposition, Li Chengqian smiled knowingly.
"You think otherwise?"
"Your Highness, this is absurd."
Kong Yingda said in a deep voice: "No matter what the territory is, it is all the grace of the Zhou emperor."
"If there were no Zhou emperor enfeoffment, how could there be princes? If there were no princes, there would be no Chinese land today."
Yu Zhining also hurriedly said: "Your Highness, this is unreasonable."
"The Zhou emperor is the great clan, unique and irreplaceable, and cannot be equated with the lesser clans."
"That is against the will of heaven."
"If this is the case, then all the princes will be the head of the clan, and how can the Zhou emperor govern the world..."
Li Chengqian pondered, showing a puzzled look, and said: "If that's the case, then they should be enfeoffed within the Zhou royal capital, which is the land of the Zhou Dynasty."
"Isn't it unworthy of the name to be enfeoffed outside?"
"Since the Qin Dynasty, although the county system was implemented, there were also fiefs and rewards."
"At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu divided the country into many princes, including several kings with different surnames. Later, only those with the surname Liu could be kings."
“These are all within the territory.”
"If we talk about this large or small group, there is absolutely no doubt that it is reasonable and logical."
"But even so, there is still the Rebellion of the Seven Kings, and the small clans bullying the big clans."
He asked humbly and sincerely, "I am confused. In the outer fiefdoms, some minor clans insulted the major clans." "In the inner fiefdoms, some princes rebelled."
"So, should the enfeoffment be inside or outside?"
“How can we ensure that the minor clans respect the major clans?”
Why is he saying this?
It's just digging holes and setting problem traps.
Now you tell me.
Should the enfeoffment be done at home or abroad?
There are problems both at home and abroad.
It depends on how you choose.
This question was not only asked by Yu Zhining, Zhang Shiheng, and Jia Gongyan.
Even Li Er was frowning and thinking.
He could already clearly confirm that this rebellious son was coming for him.
There is no need to doubt it at all.
The big and small things are implied in the words.
What he actually meant was that in front of Li Chengqian, the eldest son and heir to the eldest clan, the other princes, whether legitimate or illegitimate, were all minor princes.
The small clan replaced the big clan, implying Li Er's intention to depose and enthronize the emperor.
The smaller clans humiliate the larger clans, which means that some are crowned kings and will have the same status as the larger clans in the future.
to be honest.
If you make a minor clan a king, the major clan will rebel.
There was a hushed discussion in the hall.
This is a question of ritual and patriarchal system, and it also involves various factors.
The answer is also easy to answer.
The big clan is weak, the small clan is strong, and the Tiangang is in reverse.
If the major group remains strong, the minor groups will remain humble.
That's the truth.
The issue of enfeoffment has existed since ancient times.
As a royal family, they naturally trust their own descendants. There is no reason to trust foreign officials.
Enfeoffment of princes was a way for emperors to maintain their rule.
But often afterwards, the division will lead to a series of problems and great internal friction.
If the emperor is capable, he can still deal with it.
Without the ability, there will be chaos among the kings, who will bully the larger clans and strengthen the smaller ones.
The rise and fall of one is the root cause of disaster and chaos.
"My question is a bit tricky."
"You don't have to answer me for now."
Li Chengqian didn't need an answer. What he had said today was enough. He changed the subject and asked, "If the small clan becomes increasingly powerful, what should the big clan do?"
"Should we let it go, or suppress it in time to ensure our status as the dominant power."
"Please teach me, gentlemen."
come on.
I have been holding back on this question for a long time.
The prefix of his name, King Wei Li Pangpang, is almost catching up with Li Er.
Either he is in charge of this state remotely, or he is not an official in that prefecture.
His popularity far exceeds that of the crown prince.
Even Li Chengqian doesn’t have such an exaggerated title, how could a small clan be so powerful?
I am now the heir to the main clan. Do I want to see Li Pangpang, who belongs to the minor clan, riding on my head?
Li Er's eyes dropped, and the others had different expressions.
The prince almost said openly that the King of Wei was more popular than him.
How did this happen?
Of course it was done by Your Majesty.
Even though the prince is asking, the answer has actually been given.
If a small clan wants to rebel, then he, as the big clan, will naturally fight back.
The grand court meeting was the beginning of the counterattack, and this forum is to intensify the counterattack.
Your pampering of Li Pangpang makes me feel that my status as crown prince is threatened. This is my normal response.
"His Majesty."
"Isn't it a bit too much for the King of Wei to lead remotely?"
Wei Zheng didn't say anything clearly, he just nodded.
Chang Sun Wuji added silently, "It's not good to live in Wude Hall."
Li Er didn't say anything, his expression was normal, but his fingertips were tapping again and again, indicating that he was not calm inside.
Just enough.
The two did not continue to ask questions, and Fang Xuanling did not speak. Li Ji's eyes opened and closed, as if he was about to fall asleep.
He felt a little helpless.
It’s so nice to be outside, why should I come back to Chang’an?
As soon as I returned to Chang'an, I encountered such trouble.
What do you want a Minister of War or a Prince's Left Guard?
If you wade in muddy water, you may lose your life if you are not careful.
"Your Highness."
Jia Gongyan pondered, sorted out his thoughts, considered his words, and said: "If you don't have the intention to deceive the big clan, respect the big clan, always recognize the status of the small clan, and don't do anything that goes beyond the limit."
"You can rest assured."
“On the contrary, if they are disrespectful, have impure intentions, and act in a bullying manner, with the intention of usurping the position of a major clan, they should be suppressed in a timely manner, and their status as a minor clan can even be stripped away.”
"Only in this way can we serve as a warning to others and deter those who commit evil deeds."
Li Chengqian smiled.
The answer given by Jia Gongyan was quite satisfactory.
Everyone knows the root of the problem.
Therefore, some of them did not dare to answer, and their answers were evasive and vague.
But everyone who understands understands.
Li Chengqian also got what he wanted.
(End of this chapter)