Tang Dynasty: Beyond Time and Space, My Best Friend, Princess Jinyang!

"The Kong family relies on being descendants of saints and already thinks they are superior. If they are given more privileges, won't it be like heaven?"

"That's true. During the Ming Dynasty, the royal family was surnamed Zhu. The Zhu family gave enough benefits to the Duke of Yansheng, but the Duke of Yansheng looked down on the Zhu family in his heart."

Li Shimin was very unhappy, thinking that now the five surnames and seven families also looked down on the Li Tang royal family.

"It's really absurd! Tell me what the Duke of Yansheng did later?"

"He lacked firmness and integrity in his political stance."

" The swing during the change of dynasties. In the many changes of dynasties in history, the performance of Duke Yansheng was often criticized. "

"For example, during the Southern Song Dynasty, the Jin army invaded. Some descendants of Confucius in Qufu failed to uphold their integrity and chose to surrender to the Jin Dynasty, which led to the coexistence of the Southern and Northern schools in the Confucius Mansion."

"Later, when the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty changed, Duke Yansheng Kong Kejian also hesitated. He first submitted a memorial to Emperor Yuan Shun and then sent his son to Nanjing to meet Zhu Yuanzhang. This kind of maneuvering and speculating between different forces is far from the image of loyalty and firmness that people expect. "

Li Shimin looked hungry and contemptuous, "How ridiculous! You are the descendant of a saint, but you read the books of saints and sages on dogs!"

"Confucius said: A man of noble character and benevolence will not seek to live at the expense of benevolence, but will kill himself to achieve benevolence." Li Shimin shook his head and looked down on Duke Yansheng's style from the bottom of his heart.

In Confucianism, integrity is regarded as a very important virtue and value.

Confucianism emphasizes "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and trustworthiness", among which "righteousness" includes the requirement for integrity.

A gentleman should stick to morality and not be shaken by external power and interests.

Mencius also advocated that "wealth and honor cannot corrupt, poverty and humbleness cannot move, and power and force cannot bend", which is a specific explanation of integrity.

What the later Yanshenggong did was completely lacking in integrity!

Xiao Ran continued, "The biggest criticism of the descendants is that they were submissive in the face of foreign invasions, and their compromise and flattery of the invaders seriously hurt national sentiments and violated the integrity and righteousness advocated by Confucianism."

"Excessive pursuit of their own interests and privileges, and mutual exploitation with the court."

"Duke Yansheng, with his special status, formed a mutually dependent relationship with the courts of various dynasties. The court needed to rely on Duke Yansheng to win over scholars and consolidate its power, while Duke Yansheng used this to obtain various preferential treatments and privileges from the court."

"There were too many Duke Yansheng who broke the law and disregarded the king's law."

"They did not need to pay taxes, and they occupied a lot of land, The exploitation and oppression of the people is very serious. "

Li Shimin threw the prepared imperial edict into the brazier, "It's ridiculous, I won't start with the Duke of Yansheng, my Tang Dynasty does not need such a scourge to exist!"

"The scholars of the Tang Dynasty during this period were still good. Gentlemen were proficient in the six arts, both civil and military. They were not the weak scholars of later generations. They fought on horseback and governed the country, which was different from later generations."

Li Shimin nodded, "It is impossible for the Duke of Yansheng to appear in the Tang Dynasty. What do you think, Dean of the College of Arts?"

"My uncle knows Kong Yingda better than me. If you think he can do it, let him go!"

Li Shimin now knows the operation of the Duke of Yansheng, and it is obvious that he is resistant to the Kong family.

"The College of Arts is important to begin with. If you let a member of the Kong family take the position, wouldn't that build momentum for the Kong family?"

"Are there any great scholars now who are more influential and knowledgeable than Kong Yingda?"

Li Shimin shook his head, "Kong Yingda is still good. He has real talent and integrity."

"The position of dean is not inherited by the father, nor is it a family property. My uncle can stipulate that the dean of the College of Arts can only serve for a maximum of five years or something, and rotate. According to what you said, my uncle, Kong Yingda is now a great scholar with high moral character and no one is stronger than him. If you don't let him come, I guess no one else will take the position!"

"That's right. I will consider this matter. First, tell me how the aristocratic family didn't have it. I'm more curious about this."

The two little princesses were well-behaved in Xiao Ran's arms, not quarreling or making a fuss.

Knowing that Xiao Ran and Li Shimin had something to talk about.

"Huang Chao failed the imperial examinations repeatedly in the late Tang Dynasty. It was not because of his poor level, but because of his poor family background. The aristocratic families controlled the imperial examinations and blocked the upward path of the lower class."

"At that time, the Tang Dynasty was already on the verge of collapse due to the separatist wars of the Jiedushi. Huang Chao rebelled and entered Chang'an City, slaughtering the people of the aristocratic families and physically destroying them."

"He proved that it is easier to enter Chang'an City than to pass the exam."

"Doesn't it mean that the aristocratic families and the Tang Dynasty almost perished together?" Li Shimin was happy for nothing.

"The current Tang Dynasty cannot do without the aristocratic families. Without the aristocratic families, the huge machine of the empire cannot operate, so uncle, don't even think about it. You can only suppress and weaken the power of the aristocratic families and strengthen the influence of the imperial power. It is impossible to eliminate them.It is reasonable. There is no aristocratic family to constrain it. There are also civil service groups, but they are just different. It can be regarded as a changed form! "

"Is there no perfect way?" Li Shimin muttered to himself.

"No, until later generations, no matter what system it is, there are drawbacks. There is no perfect system. The power is boundless and corruption is inevitable. It is not just officials. The emperor's power is too great, which is not good. Not every emperor is normal. You know the emperors of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The three-province and six-department system of the Zhenguan Dynasty was actually good. Over time, there are a lot of problems. The life of the dynasty is difficult to exceed three hundred years, and it has to be reshuffled. "

Li Shimin nodded, "Well, let's not talk about this issue. "

While Xiao Ran was talking to Li Shimin, the two little princesses ran to the side to play.

Xiao Ran saw the two little princesses sitting on Li Shimin's dragon chair, happily eating green beans.

Xiao Ran stood up. Fortunately, these were two princesses, and two little girls, so Li Shimin would not care about this issue.

Li Chengqian probably didn't dare to touch it.

"Mingda, you can't play here."

The little princess moved a little and pointed to the dragon chair, "Little Nangjunni, sit here!"

Playing is playing, making trouble is making trouble, but this kind of thing can't be messed up.

"I dare not!"