Chapter 351: Daiyu Discusses Governance

Jia Jing's expression was calm and composed, he slowly said:

"Maybe..."

Jia Jing temporarily did not want to talk more about this matter, because many things were still under planning.

Matters succeed through secrecy; it's best not to speak too much before doing them!

Actually,

Regarding the Jiangnan affair, he had already placed covert agents in the northwest and had a comprehensive plan.

He naturally wouldn't want to bear the infamy of slaughtering officials and gentry; doing things doesn't require such brutality—sometimes using another's knife to kill is far more effective than doing it himself.

Daiyu's face showed contemplation, her brows and eyes lowered, she spoke softly:

"Third Brother is wise and insightful; surely deeper and more thorough than what I thought!"

Jia Jing looked at Daiyu, whose manner was bashful and her tone soft, smiled, then picked up the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan from the desk and asked:

"Have you finished reading this book, Lin Mei?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's heart fluttered with a hint of panic, she glanced at Jia Jing who was flipping through the book, and spoke gently:

"I've skimmed it in my leisure, not seeking deep understanding; roughly speaking, I've given it a once-over."

Jia Jing looked at the somewhat yellowed pages and the slips tucked between them, then chuckled:

"This book has been revered since the early Song as the ultimate guide for officials; successive emperors, literati, and scholar-officials regard it as essential reading for governance."

"The New Tang History calls his thought 'a model for posterity'; Sima Guang also extensively excerpted his discussions in the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, showing its dual value across literature and historiography."

"Grounded in Confucian ideals, it addresses practical governance and cuts to the ills of the age; I wonder what insights Lin Mei has gained from reading it."

Although the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan also has its limitations, its unique value in discussing governance cannot be denied.

Daiyu fell silent for a moment, she walked to the desk and looked at the pot of jasmine on the windowsill.

Then she turned to face Jia Jing, her gaze unwavering, and spoke softly:

"Third Brother, I have read Lu Xuan Gong and found three words."

Her voice was not loud, yet each word was crystal clear.

This book, gifted by Jia Jing, she has read repeatedly over ten times; though not memorized verbatim, she has gained some understanding.

She had long hoped for a day when she could discuss with Jia Jing the principles of state governance contained therein.

Now that this day has arrived, she finds herself lacking the former anticipation, instead feeling much calmer.

She herself has always held an attitude of 'understanding but not fawning' toward officialdom; however, to have more topics when together with Jia Jing, she has recently been studying current affairs books.

"Which three words?!" Jia Jing asked, somewhat curious.

"The first word is ruler-minister trust." Daiyu said meaningfully.

"Throughout Lu Xuan Gong's life, discussing politics, military, finance, and personnel, he could not escape the character 'trust'."

"In the Memorial on Pardoning Matters under the Mandate of Heaven, he said, 'When in peril one fears, when at ease one slackens—such is human nature,' urging Emperor Dezong to establish the state on trust."

"Without trust, even the best laws are empty words; without trust, even the most loyal minister cannot accomplish anything."

"Lu Xuan Gong was full of strategies, devoted to the state, yet Emperor Dezong did not fully trust him. When trusted, his words were heeded and followed; when not trusted, he was demoted again and again."

"Therefore I believe that while a subject's loyalty is important, the ruler's trust is the foundation. Without trust, loyalty is mere empty talk."

Jia Jing's expression tightened, his finger paused on the armrest, he gave Daiyu an approving look and smiled:

"Ruler-minister trust! Little sister, your words have hidden meaning!"

The so-called ruler-minister trust naturally alludes to Jia Jing's current situation.

In terms of talent and power, Jia Jing has already reached the peak; what he most needs now is vigilance against the emperor's trust.

Daiyu does not know of the matter of 'should dream of virtuous ministers,' but her ability to consider this shows her political sensitivity is not low.

"What about the second word?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu felt somewhat pleased, knowing Jia Jing understood her meaning.

Yet being stared at, she felt the gaze scorching to her heart, she averted her eyes and spoke again:

"The second word is 'the state before self'."

Daiyu's voice softened, yet her expression grew more solemn:

"In Lu Xuan Gong's memorials, each piece is not written for himself."

"He urged Emperor Dezong to 'restrain by reducing taxes, pledge to cease warfare,' using the words 'restrain,' 'reduce,' 'pledge,' not 'kill,' 'seize,' 'compel'."

"Each memorial is not for himself, not for any particular person, not even for the emperor; he writes for the world."

"After the An-Shi Rebellion, regional warlords split the court, governance fell into chaos; all civil and military officials harbored private thoughts, yet only he kept the world in his heart, not himself."

"Such selflessness or public spirit is what sustains Lu Xuan Gong's daring to remonstrate, despite repeated demotions, without changing his resolve."

"Just like father and Third Brother, for state affairs they can set aside personal life and death fortunes; perhaps this is the true way of a minister in your hearts."

Daiyu lowered her curved eyelashes and pressed her lips together.

She places the way of the minister on 'the state before self,' also indicating to Jia Jing that she understands his aspirations and gives him respect and support.

After all, Jia Jing wrote, 'If it benefits the state, I would not avoid fortune or misfortune for personal gain!'

Jia Jing's gaze fell upon her face, his eyes bright.

"And the third?" Jia Jing straightened his expression and asked solemnly.

Daiyu lowered her eyelids, fell silent for a few breaths, as if weighing whether to speak.

Then she raised her head, the corner of her mouth curling into an arc that was somewhat mischievous and rebellious, somewhat earnest.

"The third point is that Lu Xuan Gong also has shortcomings."

Daiyu's long lashes drooped slightly, casting a faint blue shadow under her eyes; her fingertips rubbed the rough edge of the desk, as if organizing her thoughts.

"Third Brother, everyone says Lu Xuan Gong understands principles thoroughly and plans far ahead."

"But having read it, I feel he is sometimes overly rigid, almost to the point of obstinacy."

Daiyu lifted her eyelids; those dewy eyes held no impurity, only a clear, see-through contemplation.

The Analects say, "If you cannot find those who follow the middle way, you must associate with the extravagant and the principled."

Duke Xuan's uprightness is close to the 'principled'—he has things he refuses to do, but in terms of governing the state, this is also a shortcoming.

He discusses finance, insisting solely on restoring the rent-labor-tax system, criticizing Yang Yan's two-tax law, considering it 'abandoning the root for the branch.'

But the equal-field system has already collapsed, population has dwindled, and the head tax, the rent-labor-tax, has long become a rootless tree; yet he insists on seeking a remedy in the governance of the three dynasties—isn't that seeking fish in a tree?

Daiyu paused slightly, glanced at Jia Jing's expression, then continued:

The same applies to punishment. Emperor Dezong once wanted to punish a minister who had rendered great service but was arrogant and unlawful; Duke Xuan stepped forward, pleading for him in every way, saying his crime did not deserve death.

But that man clearly held heavy troops as a Military Governor, defied imperial orders, and was practically a separatist; although legally his crime did not deserve death, his position was already a grave threat to the heartland.

Duke Xuan spent his life saying, 'Rewards and punishments are the nation's major framework'; rewards should be fair, punishments clear, but when applied to concrete people and events, he clung too much to the word 'clear,' and thus bound his own hands and feet with rigid rules.

When faced with major events, he hesitates, appearing steadfast but actually being indecisive.

After all, he is a Confucian official who cannot let go of the two words 'benevolence and forgiveness'; when he draws the blade, he always hesitates by a third.

But to govern a chaotic world and discipline a rebellious army, if everyone spoke of benevolence and forgiveness, how could the court's authority and dignity survive?

Daiyu finished saying these words; her throat felt slightly dry, she lifted her teacup and took a sip, her furrowed brows never relaxed.

Yet in her gaze toward Jia Jing there grew a hint of inquiry, as if she wanted to see whether her words were merely clichéd or truly held some insight.