Chapter 1049

The ministers in the Zhengda Guangming Hall all held their breath. The air seemed to have solidified, and everyone could seemingly hear their own heartbeats.

Since Xiao Ming ascended the throne, the Empire had fought in the north and south, conquering a vast territory. Therefore, the discussions in court were mostly about foreign affairs.

Today, so many officials were convicted in front of them, which made them feel a chill down their spines. After all, how many people in the court were truly clean?

“Your Majesty, as the head of the Fei family, I failed to properly discipline my own clansman. I deserve to die ten thousand times over!”

While everyone’s hearts were in turmoil, Fei Ji suddenly knelt down, tears streaming down his face. The eyes of all the ministers fell on Fei Ji. Some officials let out a sigh of relief, while some were scared and their faces turned pale.

Xiao Ming sneered. Fei Ji was his father-in-law, but they were also ruler and subject. He said, “In that case, you will tell me the whole story of this matter.”

Fei Ji lowered his head. Xiao Ming’s business-like tone made him feel that a major disaster was imminent. Even if he was not implicated this time, the Fei family would probably lose half its influence.

After a moment of hesitation, he decisively decided to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. He understood Xiao Ming better than anyone else. This Emperor seemed careless about government affairs, but in fact, he was very clear-headed and had his own principles that no one could touch.

Anyone who crossed the red line would be in big trouble. His Fei family seemed to be in the spotlight now, but with just a nod from Xiao Ming, the vast Fei family would probably be wiped out.

“Yesterday morning, my brother’s grandson, Fei Tong, got into a conflict with a poor student over the seating arrangement for the noble and poor students. He then drew a knife and stabbed this student. After committing this grave mistake, not only did Fei Tong show no remorse, he instead incited his attendant to go to the Fei family and demand that his father use his connections and money to bribe Li Ran of the Ministry of News, the principal of Qingzhou Senior School, and officials of the security office to suppress this matter. And Fei Yuhe, without distinguishing right from wrong, made a bigger mistake. I have already reprimanded them yesterday. As for Fei Tong’s violation of the Empire’s law, it must not be forgiven. I hope Your Majesty will punish him severely!” Fei Ji said sternly.

“Did you all hear what Elder Fei said?” Xiao Ming glanced at the ministers. “Today, you can all speak your minds about this matter and make it clear.”

Pang Yukun glanced at Fei Ji, who was kneeling on the ground. He first stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, Fei Tong’s assault was certainly due to his lack of discipline and being accustomed to his arrogance, but the deeper reason for this matter is the distinction between the poor and the noble. As I know, the students from poor backgrounds and the students from noble families in Qingzhou Senior School are clearly separated. In private, there is even an unwritten rule that the nobles sit in the east and the poor sit in the west. The students from noble families have also been using their influence to bully the students from poor backgrounds repeatedly.”

After a pause, he said, “Fei Tong’s assault yesterday seemed to be an accident, but in fact, it was an inevitability. Over the years, many students have voluntarily dropped out of the academy because they could not bear being bullied. The common people also have many complaints about this kind of injustice. I hope Your Majesty will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Zhan Xingchang then stepped forward and said loudly, “Your Majesty, this distinction between the noble and the common is not just in schools. It is everywhere in the world. The Empire’s technology and culture have progressed rapidly over the years, but the mindset of the Great Yu Empire’s powerful families has not changed at all. With the popularization of education, the people’s minds have opened up. If we cannot adapt to the local conditions and the times, I am afraid that a great disaster will occur in the future.”

After the two finished speaking, the ministers in the court immediately began whispering to each other, their expressions different.

Ge Yiren then slowly stood up. He said, “Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the duty of a ruler is to maintain the three principles of ritual, distinction, and name. What is ritual? It is the code of conduct. A ruler is the guide for his subjects, a father is the guide for his son, and a husband is the guide for his wife. What is distinction? It is the difference between a ruler and his subjects. What is name? It is the titles of duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron.”

Turning to look at Pang Yukun, Ge Yiren continued, “Now that the Empire’s territory is vast and its people are numerous, they are all governed by Your Majesty. This is because Your Majesty governs the Cabinet, the Cabinet governs the officials, and the officials govern the common people. This is called ‘the noble rules over the common, and the common supports the noble.’ Confucius said, ‘Heaven is high, the earth is low; thus the creative and the receptive are determined. The low and the high are arranged; thus the places of the noble and the common are determined.’ The position of a ruler and his subjects, the distinction between the noble and the common, is as unchangeable as heaven and earth. The Zhou dynasty was weak, yet all the feudal lords dared not be disrespectful. This is all because of this.”

“What Elder Ge said is absolutely right. The distinction between the noble and the common, and the difference between the high and the low, is a great ritual. From ancient times to the present, no wise ruler has failed to follow this. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider.” Wang Chengye, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward.

Xiao Ming’s brows furrowed deeply. If Ge Yiren’s words were spoken several hundred years ago, he might have applauded them, because in that barbaric and ignorant era, such an ideology was needed to maintain the country’s rule.

But now, the era was completely different. Time had entered the eighteenth century. The way of governing the country by relying on the scholar-gentry and feudal ideology was outdated.

In an era that was about to enter the modern era, it was more important for the common people to unite and unleash their potential to make the country and the nation stronger. The pedantic scholar-gentry class should be thrown into the garbage heap of history.

And in today’s court, Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye actually openly invoked the spirit of the scholar-gentry class, which made him extremely angry, because from this, he knew that the promotion of New Confucianism must have been mixed with many of their private interests.

Forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, Xiao Ming said, “Elder Ge, you have quoted classics and spoken with substance. You are indeed worthy of your reputation as a learned man. But every word you have said is dragging the Empire down!”

While speaking, Xiao Ming angrily slammed the armrest of his chair and stood up. “When I was still the Prince of Qi, the six prefectures were filled with starving people, a scene of desolation and misery. The powerful families of Qingzhou harbored ill intentions and colluded with each other, both internally and externally. If I had not been good at using the people’s will, being friendly with the people, and giving the people real benefits, thereby uniting their hearts and annihilating the powerful families to rise in this land, the Great Yu Empire would probably have long become a playground for the barbarians. From that moment, I knew that the people are to the nation as water is to a boat. We are merely the people sailing the boat, and we must be in awe of them.”

Walking step by step in front of Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye, Xiao Ming circled the two of them and said, “I have written these principles in New Confucianism, but it seems Elder Ge has not remembered a single word. Moreover, if the ritual that you so eloquently speak of were so useful, why are there still dynastic changes and treacherous ministers in history? It is clear that these are nothing but foolish words. All I remember is that a dynasty that follows the people will prosper, and one that goes against the people will perish.”

After Xiao Ming finished speaking, the ministers all fell silent. Yang Chengye’s eyes were glistening with tears. He bowed and said, “Your Majesty’s words move your humble official. It is a great fortune for the Empire to have Your Majesty, and a great fortune for the people to have Your Majesty.”

Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye’s faces were extremely unpleasant. Xiao Ming’s words were tantamount to a blatant slap in the face to the two of them in front of everyone.

With an unreadable smile on his lips, Xiao Ming looked at Ge Yiren. “Elder Ge, since you have not thoroughly understood New Confucianism, you should go home and study it carefully. When you have thoroughly understood and comprehended it, then you can return to court. As for the Ministry of Rites, it should also be abolished!”

Wang Chengye’s face turned pale when he heard this, and his knees went weak. He immediately knelt on the ground with a “thump.”