Chapter 294: Folding Hands and Discussing Mental Nature, Extremely Shameful Womanly Attitude

Jiao Hong was a bit confused. He had heard that the Great Ming Emperor loved to watch the fun, but he didn't quite believe it before. Now that he saw it with his own eyes, he finally confirmed the previous rumors. But he never expected that Huang Yuezhong's rebellious remarks would not be punished by His Majesty, but instead, His Majesty chose to "patch" them. This made Jiao Hong completely unable to understand.

"Master Huang! From the perspective of the people, the names of the monarch and minister are different but the reality is the same. Then from the perspective of the minister, what should it be?" Another student stood up and expressed his confusion. Since Huang Yuezhong dared to use the name of the Qinglian Poetry Society to lecture, he must have had some skills.

"The Dao runs in parallel without contradicting each other; this is why heaven and earth are great."

That is to say, the reason heaven and earth are so great is that they allow the existence of various paths and theories. Even if there are differences, they can complement each other, and they are not completely contradictory.

So this student raised his confusion. He wanted to know the answer to this question.

Zhu Yijun waited for Huang Yuezhong's answer. Some topics cannot be touched. Once touched, one must ask to the end. Even if the Emperor doesn't ask, there are students who want to know.

Huang Yuezhong pondered for a long time this time before saying, "The monarch is heaven, the father of the world, the principle. His body should be upright. If his body is upright, it will be done without orders. If his body is not upright, even if there are orders, they will not be followed. If one cannot correct one's own body, how can one correct others? Government is 'rectification'."

Zhu Yijun laughed directly and said to Zhang Juzheng, "Grand Secretary, isn't what Huang Yuezhong said quite good? Has he really not read the theory of contradictions?"

"He should have read it, but he is unwilling to admit it." Zhang Juzheng knew why the Emperor laughed. Huang Yuezhong was clearly secretly taking remedial classes, but because of his identity as an opposition member, he had to say he hadn't read it, resulting in loopholes in his own theory. Knowing how to remedy it but unable to say it, this "both and" appearance is indeed consistent with the identity of a lowly scholar.

The theory of contradictions is a methodological approach to dialectically viewing problems. When some problems cannot be figured out, as long as one has read it, it will naturally emerge in the mind. This is the terrifying power of meme pollution.

"Huang Yuezhong is actually trying to discuss a problem, which is the power and obligations of the monarch and minister. From the perspective of the common people, the names of the monarch and minister are different but the reality is the same, which is the power and obligations of those who govern people. But this problem has already been discussed in the Grand Secretary's theory of public and private." Zhu Yijun stated his understanding of Huang Yuezhong.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng looked at Huang Yuezhong and shook his head with slight disappointment. The Emperor was just too lazy to argue with Huang Yuezhong. Whether using the lowly scholar's method to argue or the official's method to discuss the Dao, Huang Yuezhong was no match.

The Great Ming's second "contrarian" must be Hence Hai Rui, and the first "contrarian" is the highest secret of the country.

Zhang Juzheng had long ago stipulated the Emperor's obligations in the "Memorial on Five Matters," and the Emperor had also agreed to these obligations and firmly fulfilled them until now. These five matters had expanded to six, namely: attending court, approving memorials, summoning Grand Secretaries and court officials, discussing national affairs in court, examining officials, and the Emperor's own addition: inspecting troops.

This was also why Zhang Juzheng's implementation of the "Examination of Achievements" was effective, while others could not do it, because Zhang Juzheng hung a bell on the cat.

With the theory of contradictions, the monarch and minister are the same in reality. From the perspective of the minister, the monarch and minister are different. Then from the perspective of the monarch, what about the minister and the people? They are also the same. In this relationship, the Great Ming Emperor is supreme in both law and fact. So stipulating the Emperor's obligations is hanging a bell on the cat. Zhang Juzheng, a minister, actually dared to hang a halter on the biggest meat-eater. Then, among all the meat-eaters in the world, is there anyone Zhang Juzheng dares not hang a halter on?

The "Examination of Achievements" was picked up again by the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian in the late Chongzhen era to save the Great Ming's national decline. The national situation had already completely failed, and it was impossible for the "Examination of Achievements" to reach the Emperor, so it could not be achieved in the end.

Actually, in Zhang Juzheng's view, the Emperor did not need to be so hard-working, going to inspect the troops every day. He only needed to inspect them once every five days. But as the number one expert in the youth group, His Majesty still liked the shooting range very much. Zhang Juzheng was just a Grand Tutor; Zhu Yijun was not his puppet.

"Master Huang, in your opinion, is the current Emperor upright or not?" Zhu Yijun suddenly asked loudly. He was sitting in the elegant pavilion, and others could only hear his voice but not see him. This question directly threw a heavy bomb into the entire venue, making everyone too afraid to speak loudly, and the venue was silent.

This question was actually very direct. It wasn't a trap; it was just asking Huang Yuezhong if he intended to rebel.

"This..." Huang Yuezhong regretted it a bit. In Zhejiang, he lectured and discussed, but he didn't dare to discuss such terrible problems. In the capital, were the Confucian scholars at the feet of the Son of Heaven this bold? Daring to discuss the merits and demerits of the Emperor!

"Naturally, he is an upright gentleman!" Huang Yuezhong said with a stiff scalp, "His Majesty is wise and philosophical, possessing natural supreme nature, generous and tolerant, moving with moderation, holy virtue is rising, the four seas are bathed in mysterious transformation, reaching the ancient governance of peace! His Majesty ascended the throne at a young age, and the Duke of Jiangling took charge of the government, synthesizing names and realities, and the national situation is almost wealthy and strong."

"However, those in charge in the court punish the mistakes of being too sharp, and it is inevitable that they will be slightly lenient."

Huang Yuezhong naturally did not dare to say that the Emperor was not an upright gentleman, even if he almost cursed Zhu Yijun in his heart, but these words absolutely could not be said. So he piled up a lot of flowery words, which gave Zhu Yijun goosebumps.

But he changed the subject and blamed the mistakes on the "sharpness" of those in charge in the court, saying the Emperor was wise, but there were treacherous ministers in the court.

The flavor of "clearing the side of the Emperor" immediately came up.

Zhu Yijun held his hands and watched Huang Yuezhong sweating profusely, which matched his stereotypical impression of lowly scholars: naturally possessing weakness and compromise.

Saying that the names of the monarch and minister are different but the reality is the same, yet not daring to scold the Emperor—this is cowardice, timid and afraid of trouble. The Great Ming is not a place where one cannot scold the Emperor. Did Hence Hai Rui not scold the Jiajing Emperor and the Longqing Emperor? He scolded them so badly that he poked the Daoist's heart. What could the Daoist do? He couldn't even refute it. Hence Hai Rui still lived well, didn't he? Huang Yuezhong didn't even dare to scold the Emperor publicly; he was far inferior to Hence Hai Rui.

Huang Yuezhong didn't even dare to scold the Emperor publicly; he was far inferior to Hence Hai Rui.

"What kind of 'names are different but reality is the same'." Another student heard this, shook his head repeatedly, sneered, and sat down without speaking again. Clearly, all the students present did not think that Huang Yuezhong, who was unfaithful to himself, had any points worth affirming in his remarks.

"Coward." Zhu Yijun said to Zhang Juzheng with slight disappointment.

Zhang Juzheng heard this and also said with a full face of smiles, "Your Majesty, how many such upright ministers like Hence Hai Rui are there?"

The Great Ming only produced one Hence Hai Rui.

Huang Yuezhong's face turned red. The students in the Northern Yamen were truly too difficult to serve. Arguing about words—was it interesting? His main content had not yet begun, and the order and rhythm of the entire venue had completely lost control. He had to save the situation!

To save the situation, he had to say something. Huang Yuezhong held back for a long time before saying, "Revitalizing martial spirit and creating killing sins is tyranny, gathering wealth and promoting profit is greed, bullying scholars is violence. Today, the country looks like flowers and brocade, but the danger is hidden in the abyss, and there must be a collapse!"

"There were many eras of great governance before the Three Dynasties, and there is chaos but no governance after the Three Dynasties!"

Huang Yuezhong's words caused discussion among everyone, and then a student stood up, bowed, and said, "I cannot agree with Master Huang's point of view, so I will leave first."

"This scholar, please stay. Why leave without saying a word? This is a poetry gathering. Since we want to discuss, speak clearly before leaving!" Huang Yuezhong was directly anxious. This was just the beginning, and someone left directly. As a Confucian master, did he still have face?!

This student looked back at Huang Yuezhong, stood still, and said to everyone, "Revitalizing martial spirit and creating killing sins is tyranny? In the eyes of the Southerners, it is about so, because ten years have passed, and some who have lost their conscience have begun to forget."

"But in the eyes of the Northerners, General Qi gallops and maneuvers beyond the Great Wall, and the ten thousand people of the capital can live and work in peace. You probably don't know that since General Qi came from the south to the north, the population of Shuntian Prefecture has risen from 700,000 to over 2 million. People are willing to return, willing to settle down. General Qi protects the safety of all of us, and takes the killing sins upon himself. Where does the word 'tyranny' come from?"

"May I ask, General Qi went on an expedition to the east, fought thousands of miles from the Southern Yamen, Zhejiang, and Fujian, experienced a hundred battles to settle the Japanese pirates and calm the sea waves. Does the public opinion in the Southern Yamen not have even a little bit of gratitude?!"

This student's voice got higher and higher. He raised his head slightly and asked loudly, "Tyranny?!"

"Report to the Son of Heaven, save the common people, stabilize the country, save the common people from fire and water. Tyranny! Where is it?"

"General Qi often says: 'Those who are good at fighting are subject to the highest punishment.' But General Qi knows that he is a Chinese, and he wants to use the Son of Heaven Sword bestowed by His Majesty to plow for the Great Ming, to stop the mourning with war. Is Master Huang a Japanese pirate, or is Master Huang a Northern Barbarian?"

"If Master Huang is a Great Ming person, where does this word 'tyranny' come from?"

"Well said!" Zhu Yijun waved his hand forcefully and cheered loudly for this student. He tilted his head and asked Feng Bao, "Who is this student?"

Feng Bao really didn't know this person. After asking a small eunuch, he bowed and said, "The eldest son of the former Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao, Wang Menglin, a student of the Minister of Personnel Wan Shihe."

"I know." Zhu Yijun waved his hand again to boost the momentum. A student of Grand Minister Wan, that was not surprising.

Wang Menglin frowned and said, "Gathering wealth and promoting profit is greed? Damaging the public to enrich the private is greed; bullying scholars is violence? You sympathize with scholars, who will sympathize with the common people? Different paths do not conspire. This student is unwilling to destroy Master Huang's lecture, so I will leave first."

"Brother Wang, wait a moment, I will leave with you." Another student chose to leave. What this person said was completely different from his cognition. If the words don't match, half a sentence is too much. It's useless to say more.

Zhu Yijun said to Zhang Juzheng with a smile, "Master Huang seems to be a bit unaccustomed to the water and soil. The students of the Southern and Northern Yamen have different empathy. What Wang Menglin said is also correct. General Qi went on an expedition to the east to stabilize the Southeast. They not only did not thank General Qi and the Southern army for their expedition, but instead bit the hand that fed them. It is somewhat damaging to virtue."

"Ten years have passed, and the people of the Southern Yamen have begun to forget the horror of the Japanese pirates back then."

"Actually, Confucian students are mostly like this, just folding their hands and talking about mental nature, that's all." Zhang Juzheng was also not surprised. Folding hands and talking about mental nature, without even reading the theory of contradictions, talking about mental nature is also talking in vain. When national danger comes, some can die to repay the monarch's knowledge and kindness, while others simply surrender to the enemy.

This kind of dying for the monarch when things happen is just because there is no other way, and one can only die to preserve one's reputation. It is like a woman dying for her husband; it is a kind of shame.

As for surrendering to the enemy, they are just "traitorous ministers."

Zhang Juzheng looked down on lowly scholars, and lowly scholars labeled themselves as "pure stream," but how many dirty things did they do? Xu Jie was the top of the "pure stream" during the Jiajing era, but the ugliness of Xu Jie's Huishan Hall tore Xu Jie's "pure stream" signboard to pieces.

More and more people left. There were only a few left at the poetry gathering site. Master Huang was directly embarrassed. Should he lecture or not? There were still listeners below. Not lecturing was not appropriate, but there were only a few listeners below. Wouldn't it be a waste of breath?

Jiao Hong actually wanted to leave, but His Majesty had not yet left, so he did not move. Geng Dingqing kept pulling his disciple. When Geng Dingqing saw You Qi, he completely understood: His Majesty was here.

Zhang Juzheng was here, so the Emperor was definitely here.

Huang Yuezhong began to chant scriptures, and he himself became unsure as he spoke. Zhu Yijun felt annoyed listening, and finally stood up and chose to leave. Huang Yuezhong's point of view started from "the names of the monarch and minister are different but the reality is the same," arguing that there was only chaos and no governance after the Three Dynasties, and the root cause of everything was the Emperor.

But Huang Yuezhong himself was not loyal to his own ideas, so the entire argument could not stand.

The point that "the root cause of everything is the Emperor" could actually be expanded, and it was very substantial, but Huang Yuezhong dared not speak of the Emperor's faults, so naturally, there was nothing to talk about.

After Zhu Yijun left, Jiao Hong followed Geng Dingqing and left. The poetry gathering ended as soon as it began.

Before leaving, Feng Bao whispered a few words to his confidant Xu Jue, telling Xu Jue to keep a close eye on it. After this poetry gathering, who Huang Yuezhong met and what he said must be reported to the Emperor word for word. Watch carefully, don't let any mistakes happen, be prepared for danger.

The layout of Western Tucheng was completely different from Northern Tucheng. Northern Tucheng was the Beijing Camp, with five military camps on the left and right, twelve military warehouses, sixteen military equipment armories, and market towns for the families of the military camps near each military camp. The military camps and families were separated by drum towers and city walls. Western Tucheng was completely residential, without too much military nature.

The residential lanes were scattered, the lane walls and lane gates were very high, and there were vicious dogs patrolling. Rather than calling it a residential lane, it was better to call it a high-walled prison.

Zhu Yijun walked through the streets of Western Tucheng, and the imperial carriage stopped at the fourth alley on the right.

This alley was the home of the former Chief Grand Secretary Gao Gong and the former Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao in the capital. After Zhu Yijun stopped the carriage, he let Zhang Hong go to announce the Emperor's arrival.

Not long after, the two families began to jump around, and soon Gao Gong and Wang Zhigao brought their families to pay respects and welcome the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years. Your ministers failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive your ministers." Gao Gong and Wang Zhigao brought their families to perform the great ceremony to welcome the Emperor. The Emperor's sudden visit was truly impossible to guard against.

Gao Gong and Wang Zhigao were both three-dynasty veterans. The Jiajing Emperor cultivated immortality in the Western Garden, and the Longqing Emperor did not even receive court officials, only Grand Secretaries, and spoke very little, rarely expressing his opinions, mostly saying, "According to the Grand Secretary."

Compared to the sleeping Emperor, the current Great Ming Emperor was much more active. He appeared in the Wenhua Hall every day, went to the Northern Great Camp to inspect the troops every day, occasionally refreshed to the Yongding Wool Official Factory by the Yongding River, and went to Tianjin once. That time was to inspect sea transport grain, taxes, and receive Yu Dayou back to the capital.

An unfamiliar Great Ming Emperor, a very active Great Ming Emperor, seemed to have many opportunities to take advantage of. But whenever court officials thought of the Yicheng Bo's mansion in the Western Hills, they would immediately think of the "Old Ancestor's" methods, and then develop some doubts. Was this really an opportunity to take advantage of, or was it a trap deliberately set by Zhang Juzheng? Once doubt is generated, it becomes uneasy.

Just like the Northern Barbarians, even if they won, they had to worry: was this really because I won, or was it deliberately done by General Qi to lure the enemy deep?

Fighting with such worries, it was basically impossible to win. Sima Yi also knew this, so when Zhuge Liang sent him women's clothing, he put it on, and even if he was spat in the face, he would not go out to fight.

"No formalities." Zhu Yijun got off the carriage and said with a full face of spring breeze, "Feng, reward."

Zhu Yijun did not come empty-handed. He wanted to see Gao Gong and Wang Zhigao. These were not enemies, so he brought a lot of rewards, including wine, meat, and bestowed clothes. It was mostly just to come and see, stabilize people's hearts, and let the wealthy households of the entire Western Tucheng see that the Great Ming Emperor was not all tyrannical, but also had a benevolent side.

As long as they were honest in the capital, the Great Ming Emperor would not be excessively harsh. Even Gao Gong, the Emperor chose to forgive. Gao Gong once wanted to abolish the Directorate of Ceremonial, which was almost equivalent to abolishing the Emperor, because at that time the master was young and the country was suspicious. Abolishing the Directorate of Ceremonial meant the Emperor lost control over the outer court.

Who was right and who was wrong, Gao Gong or Zhang Juzheng?

In the original historical line, Gao Gong seemed to be right. The Wanli Emperor, this guy, was not fit to be a monarch, living deep in the nine-fold palace, the country's discipline was abandoned, the monarch and minister were separated and did not see each other, the ruler was suspicious, the court was mixed with wise and treacherous, the country collapsed and split, and could never be saved again. So, the fall of the Ming was actually the fall of Wanli.

But looking at it now, Zhang Juzheng cultivated a monarch who could correctly fulfill his duties, so Gao Gong was wrong.

Zhu Yijun said with a full face of smiles and very warmly, "I wonder if the Duke of Xinzheng has heard that General Qi repelled the joint attack of Tumen and Altan in Song Yingchang and won another great victory?"

"Your minister has already heard. When I was young, I read Du Fu's 'Hearing the Imperial Army Recapture Henan and Hebei' and had slight doubts. Why would Du Shaoling weep with joy and tears soak his clothes when he heard that the imperial army recaptured the area north of Jibei? Today, hearing of the General's great victory beyond the Great Wall, I have the same feeling." Gao Gong bowed very solemnly, "Your minister congratulates Your Majesty, congratulates the Great Ming."

Zhu Yijun just didn't like Gao Gong, but he couldn't be called hateful. Gao Gong was a very talented person. At least in terms of anti-corruption, the entire Great Ming Dynasty added together did not have as much anti-corruption as Gao Gong alone, and even Zhang Juzheng did not fight corruption.

In this day and age, corruption was not even a crime; it was part of human relations, part of the world's ways, and even in the mainstream public opinion, corruption was not a mistake, and the Great Ancestor Gao Emperor's anti-corruption was ironclad evidence of tyranny.

It was precisely because of Gao Gong's anti-corruption during the Longqing era that the Great Ming's official governance could go a step further.

The wisdom of the former Emperor's decision and the strategy of the assistant's maneuvering—as a successor, Zhu Yijun followed the ancestral laws. Was there any problem?

Sometimes, ancestral laws are also a basket, and anything can be put into it.

Taking a step back, Gao Gong was much stronger than Xu Jie.

"Is your body better?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

Gao Gong hurriedly bowed and said, "The Great Physician has a benevolent heart, and your minister is much better."

"Well, it's good that you are better. In the future, there will be good news for the Great Ming. I will send an inner official to inform the Duke of Xinzheng and share the joy with the Duke of Xinzheng." Zhu Yijun said happily.

He let Gao Gong live, which was to let Gao Gong know that Zhang Juzheng's path was not necessarily completely correct, but it was stronger than Gao Gong's. The stronger the Great Ming, the more blocked Gao Gong's heart would feel. Reaching this position, admitting that others are very powerful is a very, very difficult thing.

Both were Grand Secretaries in charge of the country. Zhang Juzheng could do it well, but you Gao Gong could not. And the Great Ming was getting better and better. Based on loyalty to the country and the dynasty, it was certainly hoped that the Great Ming would become more and more prosperous. But based on loyalty to oneself, the better the Great Ming, the more it showed that Gao Gong did worse. This contradictory and split mood could be described as a mixture of five flavors.

Gao Gong was not a lowly scholar after all. He could empathize with the Great Ming's reform and national revitalization.

Zhu Yijun was satisfied, chatted with Gao Gong for a long time, and Gao Gong's more concerned problem was his son Gao Wuguan's study in the Imperial Academy. Zhu Yijun gave an affirmative answer. According to reason, Gao Gong's son should be granted a sinecure. Gao Gong's son Gao Wuguan did not study well, and this sinecure was to let him eat the imperial court's salary and be worry-free.

Gao Gong's son had this sinecure before, but it was dismissed in the court struggle of the 6th year of Longqing.

Gao Gong's father was a Jinshi of the 12th year of Zhengde, served as the Education Commissioner of Shandong, Assistant Surveillance Commissioner of Shaanxi, and reached the position of Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was already a fifth-rank official. As long as he took another step forward, he could sit at the table for the grand banquet. So Gao Gong was also one of the gentry and powerful families. Gao Gong was honest as an official and did not have too much land. He was called to the capital by the Emperor to make it convenient for him to see a doctor, and he did not have paid resettlement, nor did he have that much money.

Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Zhigao, sized him up, nodded, and said, "Wang, you have become more wealthy. Clearly, you have cultivated your character in these years, and you have truly cultivated it."

Wang Zhigao and the Great Ming imperial court broke up peacefully without any trouble. Wang Zhigao's motivation for retiring was two things: one was to fulfill his in-laws, and the other was the Great Ming's revitalization and new policy. Wang Zhigao chose to leave, not wanting to take so many risks.

Escaping is not a shame. In Zhu Yijun's view, Wang Zhigao was not a coward; he just felt that the pressure was too great to continue. As long as Wang Zhigao did not cause trouble, it could be called loyal and patriotic. The Emperor's requirements were really not high, but lowly scholars could not do it for the sake of private family interests.

Even Wang Zhigao's son, Wang Menglin, was doing things for the country, and he was doing it quite well. At least in terms of "killing the heart" and defining good and bad people in Wang Shizhen's case, he performed extremely well. Wang Shizhen was now an object of questioning by everyone.

"Is your son Wang Menglin not in the mansion?" Zhu Yijun looked around and found that Wang Zhigao's son Wang Menglin was not in the welcoming team, so he asked.

"He came back once, muttering about 'Three Peaches Kill Two Warriors,' and ran out in a hurry. I don't know where he went. He has to take the metropolitan examination next year, yet he doesn't study well, runs around all day, and can't be seen all day." Wang Zhigao complained about Wang Menglin not studying well and running around all day.

Zhu Yijun went to Wang Zhigao's home. He didn't like Gao Gong, so he didn't go. While walking, he explained the steps of "Three Peaches Kill Two Warriors." This method was a way to destroy a person's reputation. This method was so vicious that even Zhang Juzheng frowned and said, "This is a treacherous minister's poisonous plan. How can Your Majesty believe it lightly? Who is so vicious?!"

Zhang Juzheng's son married Wang Zhigao's daughter. Zhang Juzheng knew Wang Menglin very well. Wang Menglin could never think of such an insidious trick, and could use it so skillfully.

"Minister of Personnel Wan Shihe." Zhu Yijun explained the origin of this poisonous plan.

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a long time and said, "Minister Wan is worthy of being a scholar."

Zhu Yijun saw Zhang Juzheng's dissatisfaction with Wan Shihe. Such a dirty trick should be used secretly. How could it be taught to the Emperor? Isn't this damaging to the holy name?

Zhu Yijun thought for a while and said, "Grand Secretary, the high ground of public opinion must be occupied. In this invisible battlefield, we must be more vicious than the enemy to know their tricks and deal with them calmly. Otherwise, they will occupy the moral high ground and point fingers at us, talking nonsense. Even if there is merit, it can be said to be a fault, just like when I wanted to kill Chen Youren with my own hands."

"Minister Wan is also learning my tricks, a method obtained from Xu Jie's case. Actually, I also learned it from the lowly scholars of the Southern Yamen."

Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized. He thought Wan Shihe had evolved to this extent in less than a year. It turned out to be tricks learned from the Emperor. Then it was not surprising, and there was no problem.

If Wan Shihe submitted a memorial to bewitch the Emperor, then Wan Shihe was a treacherous minister. On the contrary, Wan Shihe learning such vicious tricks from the Emperor was completely fine, because as a minister, executing the Emperor's orders was the minister's duty.

Zhu Yijun immediately smelled the taste of double standards. The Grand Secretary was also double-standard according to closeness. The Emperor could start this, but Wan Shihe could not.

"Grand Secretary, the Great Ming and the Northern Barbarians have been in conflict for more than three hundred years. I heard that when the grasslands plunder, they kill everyone taller than a wheel. Is there such a thing?" Zhu Yijun asked after sitting down in the main hall.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "That was the time of Genghis Khan Temujin, to fulfill the promise of great revenge. By the time of Yuan Shizu Kublai, captives were generally driven to work. If they were killed, the knives would become dull."

Captives were one of the items for war reparations to assist with military expenses. Killing weapons would wear out. Now the efficiency of killing was extremely low. The white soil of Taotu Mountain was still dug out by prisoners of war. When Yuan Shizu relied on the Han warlords, he reduced the killing even more. The Great Ming and the Northern Barbarians had fought for so many years, and it had not reached the point of killing everyone taller than a wheel.

In the Great Ming's values, killing sins damages virtue.

Begging for monthly tickets, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 295 =====

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