Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1067: Chapter 116: Are the Common People More Important, or the Scholarly Families? (Part 2)

Zheng Qian quietly listened as Zhao Yao explained his understanding of "Benevolent Governance." "Master, do you think ruling the world solely by benevolence is enough?" he asked in return. "Do you think the Emperor relies solely on benevolent governance? Why doesn’t the Emperor use ’benevolence’ to deal with those aristocratic families?"

After hearing this, Zhao Yao was silent for a moment, then said: "Ruling the world solely by ’benevolence’ is not enough."

Zheng Qian then asked: "Master, besides benevolent governance, what else does the Emperor rely on to rule the world?"

Zhao Yao replied: "Legal governance."

"Master, nowadays the Emperor is not only using Confucianism’s ’benevolence’ to rule the world but also the School of Legalism’s ’law’ to govern."

Zhao Yao nodded in agreement with Zheng Qian’s statement, "That’s true, but what does this have to do with Fourth Brother?"

"Master, you have always been dismissive of Confucianism’s morals, but Prince Chu is different from you."

Zhao Yao asked in confusion: "Where is he different?"

"Prince Chu is deeply influenced by the Li Family, regarding Confucianism as a guiding principle." Zheng Qian also dismisses Confucianism, but he does not treat Legalism as the ultimate doctrine. "Master, this is the biggest difference between Prince Chu and you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao finally understood Zheng Qian’s point. But just because of this, should the Emperor and Grand Commandant Zheng dismiss Fourth Brother so casually?

"Confucianism’s approach isn’t completely flawed. Nowadays, most of the Emperor’s policies adopt Confucian benevolence, allowing the common people to live in peace and prosperity, and life gets better day by day."

"If that’s the case, why can’t Fourth Brother continue to implement Confucian benevolent governance?"

"Master, in the early days when the realm was just settled, it was in ruins and the people were suffering, naturally, benevolent governance was necessary. But now Great Zhou is not as it was initially established, and benevolent governance can no longer be implemented blindly." Zheng Qian continued, "Moreover, the aristocratic families have not been completely eliminated; they still pose a threat to the realm and the people. Prince Chu may have righteousness, but he might not have a ruthless heart."

"A ruthless heart?"

"Master, when the Emperor eradicated those Yangzhou families back then, were his methods ruthless?"

"In my view, not ruthless." Zhao Yao felt those Yangzhou families deserved their fate.

"However, in the eyes of many, including numerous ministers in the court, the Emperor’s methods were excessively ruthless." Zheng Qian looked at Zhao Yao and asked, "Master, if it were you, would you do the same as the Emperor?"

Zhao Yao replied without hesitation: "Of course."

"If ministers repeatedly plead with you, asking for leniency, and told you that eliminating the Yangzhou families would make all the aristocratic families in the realm fearful, would you grant leniency and not eradicate them completely?"

"Certainly not." Those Yangzhou families should be thoroughly exterminated, or they will revive, and dare to harm the realm and the people again. Moreover, the Emperor had another purpose, which was to intimidate all the aristocratic families in the realm, making them behave themselves.

"Do you think Prince Chu would decisively eradicate them completely?"

This question stumped Zhao Yao. He knew that given Fourth Brother’s temperament, he certainly wouldn’t let go of the adult men in those Yangzhou families, but would definitely spare the women and children. If ministers pleaded repeatedly, Fourth Brother might really show mercy and give them a chance to reform.

"Master, His Highness Prince Chu will not have the heart to eradicate them completely," Zheng Qian said with certainty. "Back then, His Highness Prince Chu was ordered to deal with rebels in the Shu region, and he did not eradicate them completely, even pleaded for them, urging the Emperor not to execute them all."

"That was because Fourth Brother felt not all Han family members were unforgivably wicked. Also, some Han family members had rooted themselves in the Shu region for years, leaving some Han family to manage Shu could stabilize the region." Zhao Yao defended Prince Chu, "Moreover, the Emperor never intended to kill all Han family members. Fourth Brother understood the Emperor’s intention, which is why he pleaded for them. You cannot use this matter to criticize Fourth Brother; he did no wrong in this case."

"Master, if it were you, would you plead for the Han family?"

Zhao Yao did not answer immediately but hesitated for a moment before saying: "I would not; I would not let the Han family stay in Shu."

Zheng Qian was not surprised at Zhao Yao’s answer.

"Just because I wouldn’t do it doesn’t mean I’m right."

"Master, I’m sure you know in your heart that there will be turmoil in the Shu region in the future."

"That’s not certain." Zhao Yao said this, but in his heart, he believed it. "Father agreeing to Fourth Brother’s plea shows that Father approves of Fourth Brother."

"Master, the Emperor agreed to let the Han family stay and continue to manage Shu, not solely because of Prince Chu’s plea but for deeper reasons."

"What deeper reason? Rather than suppressing, why not placate." Zhao Yao said, "Placating can avoid further bloodshed and reassure the people of Shu."

"Master, I traveled to Shu and stayed there for a while. Currently, Shu is indeed peaceful, the people live in comfort, the Han family is honest, and they are diligently managing Shu, but it won’t be long before the Han family rebels again." The Han family used to be like emperors in Shu, enjoying supreme power and wealth. How could they be willing to stay in a lowly position, under constant surveillance, holding insignificant official positions?

"Master, Shu is left for you by the Emperor."

Zhao Yao was shocked by the words: "Left for me?"

"A new emperor must establish authority swiftly, and Shu is the quickest way for you to do so after ascending the throne," Zheng Qian said confidently, "this is the deeper reason why the Emperor agreed to Prince Chu’s plea."

Zhao Yao immediately denied it: "Impossible." The matter of suppressing the Shu region’s rebels happened many years ago; how could Father have planned this then? "I agree with you that Father leaving Shu could possibly be to establish authority for the new emperor, but I don’t agree it’s left for me. In the future, Fourth Brother can ascend the throne and quell the rebellion in Shu again. Having learned once, Fourth Brother will certainly not show mercy to the Han family again."

Zheng Qian did not continue to argue with Zhao Yao over the matter of Shu but brought up another topic.

"Master, another major difference between Prince Chu and you is that his maternal family is the Li Family, which has always been a scholarly family, a scholarly class. Your maternal family are merchants."

"What’s wrong with that?"

"Master, your maternal family, going up three generations, were farmers, right?"

"Right."

"Back when chaos erupted in the previous dynasty, your maternal family went through it. I recall that the Liang family spent their wealth, land, and grain to aid the people, while the Li family avoided the world, retreated into secluded mountains and forests to read and write, indifferent to the world or the plight of the people." Zheng Qian’s demeanor suddenly turned serious, "Master, in Prince Chu’s heart, the people are important, but what matters more is the scholarly family. Between the people and the scholarly class, Prince Chu’s inner balance will unconsciously tilt towards the scholarly class."

Zheng Qian’s final statement left Zhao Yao unable to counter.

"Master, this is why the Emperor and my father chose you and not His Highness Prince Chu." Actually, in many aspects, His Highness Prince Chu cannot rival Master, but in these two areas, Prince Chu falls far behind the Master.