Chapter 911
The Rules Are About to Change
A gardener cannot cultivate exactly the same flowers and trees, and even God cannot make two people grow exactly as He desires, let alone a human being.
There are still so many people in the world.
Desires cannot be eliminated, but rules can be established.
It's not that the rules set by Lao Zhu were bad, but rather that rules also have time limits. For civilization to progress, it must constantly change its rules to adapt to the ever-changing world.
Rules are not just a framework, but also a steering wheel, guiding the direction of civilization forward, rather than simply confining it to a stagnant place.
When the rules fail to adapt to the current development, forces trapped in their current positions will be devoured and rotten, eventually either breaking through the rules and becoming a disorganized mess, or simply decaying on the spot.
On the way back to the palace, Pan Yun told Zhu Qiyu: "Everyone wants to govern the country and bring peace to the world, but they forget that the eight steps are in order. They don't know the essence of things, they don't know the laws of how the world works. If their hearts are not sincere and upright, how can they cultivate themselves and manage their families? Let alone govern the country and bring peace to the world."
At this moment, the eunuchs, female officials, and imperial guards followed at a distance, while only the emperor and empress stayed by Pan Yun's side, and only the two of them heard it.
Zhu Qiyu, unaware of the gravity of these words, laughed and said, "Isn't the Imperial Preceptor a Taoist priest? Why are you talking about Confucian classics?"
Pan Yun lowered her head and chuckled softly: "Only ordinary people would limit themselves to being a spokesperson for a particular company."
Pan Yun looked up at the high palace eaves and said calmly, "Listening to all sides leads to enlightenment. There are many paths to success in this world. Why doesn't Your Majesty listen to more?"
After a pause, Zhu Qiyu asked, "The Imperial Preceptor neither refines elixirs nor teaches me the art of immortality. He devotes himself entirely to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War's Armaments Department. Does he believe that the path to success lies there?"
Pan Yun's gaze fell on him, and she looked at him with a clear and sharp expression: "Your Majesty, Emperor Taizong of Tang once passed on a saying to the then Crown Prince Li Zhi: 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.'"
Zhu Qiyu nodded: "I have also heard this saying. It teaches the emperor to cherish the people. The people are the water, and the ruler is the boat. The people can carry the boat, but they can also capsize it."
“There is another meaning to this statement,” Pan Jun said expressionlessly. “The world belongs to all the people. Only a ruler recognized by the people is a true ruler. Therefore, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.”
That's not entirely wrong, Zhu Qiyu nodded.
Pan Yun: "So, does Your Majesty think the people of the Ming Dynasty are living happily?"
Zhu Qiyu was slightly taken aback and was speechless for a moment.
He was not the emperor's elder brother; he was the Prince of Cheng, a prince who left the palace at a young age to establish his own residence. He was gentle in nature, but also had the playfulness of a young man. Therefore, he had explored all of the capital, including the slums, which he had also curiously ventured into.
Having had extensive contact with ordinary people, he knew that life was not easy for them.
Even some low-ranking officials in the capital were having a hard time. He had seen officials going in and out of pawnshops more than once. They would pawn their belongings one month, redeem them the next month after receiving their salary, and then pawn them again when they were short of money.
Oh, when he was the Prince of Cheng, he owned a pawnshop, which his elder brother had separated from a pile of royal assets and given to him.
He didn't own many shops, and being a young man, he was very attentive to their management for a period of time.
In addition, when he was a court official, whether he was attending court or leaving court, or even when he was wandering around outside, he would always hear some of the discussions among court officials, scholars and common people.
Therefore, Zhu Qiyu became more cautious as emperor and more willing to listen to the opinions of his ministers.
He was afraid that one day he would be whispered about like his elder brother, secretly cursed for favoring treacherous officials and neglecting state affairs.
Appointing Pan Yun as the Imperial Preceptor and placing his trust in her was the boldest and most unconventional thing Zhu Qiyu had done since ascending the throne. He never told anyone that he did this not only because Pan Yun was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography and could predict the future;
More importantly, he could sense her love and compassion for the people.
He could never forget the look on her face when she was willing to sacrifice herself for her country.
Therefore, as long as he puts himself and the people aside, he and Pan Yun are on the same side, and she will not harm him.
It was with this simple idea in mind that the emperor trusted Pan Yun so much.
And Pan Yun was indeed teaching him diligently, hoping that he could become a good emperor.
Of all the officials in the court, only Yu Qian and she consistently dedicated themselves to teaching him.
The others, either out of fear of the emperor's authority or for their own benefit, all spoke evasively, showing no sincerity towards him whatsoever, and treating him less directly than they had towards their elder brother.
Zhu Qiyu had not received the education of an emperor. Although he was gentle in nature, he had a straightforwardness that the previous emperor lacked. He only hesitated for a moment before answering, "There are not many happy people."
He paused for a moment and then continued, "And as the Ming Dynasty has been established for a long time, the number of unfortunate people is increasing."
Even Empress Wang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but remind him, "Your Majesty..."
That's incredibly disrespectful. Does it mean that the emperors before him were all bad rulers?
Zhu Qiyu realized what he meant and blushed slightly. He said, "I, I didn't mean that. It's just that... when my grandfather was alive, it was fine. But these past few days, I've been looking through the records of the Ministry of Revenue and found that since my father ascended the throne, the total number of households recorded by the Ministry of Revenue seems to have remained unchanged. My father and brother reigned for twenty years, and a generation has grown up. How could the population not have increased at all? Not to mention the taxes in the national treasury and the cultivated land in the country, there hasn't been much change."
Pan Yun said expressionlessly, "That's because there are many people who live in seclusion."
Zhu Qiyu: "This is not the former Yuan Dynasty, when the country was peaceful and prosperous, and people hid their fields and households. However, there were still many refugees in various places, and peasants rebelled from time to time. Doesn't this mean that they were living a very bad life?"
Pan Jun's lips curled slightly: "Yes, they are living a very difficult life. So the old system has collapsed and can no longer maintain order. In places where His Majesty cannot see, many situations have changed."
"The disaster of the personal expedition stemmed from this. The surface of the water was calm, but the waters below were turbulent, with silt rolling and the riverbed being changed silently. You were completely unaware of this and thought the world was at peace."
Pan Yun said, "Your Majesty is better than the late Emperor because Your Majesty knows the hardships and misfortunes of the people, and also because Your Majesty puts the people first."
“I hope Your Majesty will remember what you said today: water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it,” Pan Jun said. “If you want the Ming Dynasty to sail on the water for a long time, you must understand the situation underwater, set things right, quell the turbulent currents, and make the water flow in one direction.”
Empress Wang asked in confusion, "Is the object that Master Pan is studying the Dao of restoring order and correcting chaos?"
Pan Yun said, "Since the people are the foundation, we must figure out what the people want."
Empress Wang: "They naturally want to have plenty of food and clothing, to be cared for in their old age, to be educated in their youth, and to have access to medical care when they are sick."
Pan Yun: "So, this requires money and a lot of means of production."
Emperor and Empress: "Huh?"
Pan Yun: "I know that every political reform involves bloodshed and death. I don't want you to take too big a step and hurt yourselves, so I thought I would start with material reforms to force the world to reform." (End of Chapter)