Chapter 181

Jiakang City, at the government office.

A yellow wood carved carriage quietly stopped in front of the government office, and the coachman gave the reins a light tug.

He shouted in a low voice:

"Whoa—"

The coachman was a tall, middle-aged man, wearing a fine silk hemp garment, with a leather belt around his waist, a square face, a full beard, and a somewhat honest expression.

"Guests, the Jiakang government office has arrived!"

The three got off the carriage, and the young lady among them caused the coachman to look a few more times.

He had been pulling carts for many years and had rarely seen a woman with such an extraordinary temperament and appearance, but he withdrew his gaze without looking too much.

Yuwen Liqian helped Du Hui down.

When Yuwen Liqian was studying at the White Deer Academy, she had not revealed her identity.

This teacher Du Hui did not tolerate the slightest sloppiness in his teaching, and he had often hit her palms.

Even after she later restored her identity as a Princess, Du Hui was still the same.

He had also said, "In the school, I am the teacher, even if a Prince comes, I will treat them equally."

Du Hui, this old man from Great Chu, was travel-worn, but his face was full of joy.

"Liqian remembers Teacher, and had long wanted to come to the Yan territory, but had always been burdened by worldly affairs."

Du Hui nodded!

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!"

Du Hui looked at the four carriages that had been hired, and his aged face had a different expression.

In Great Chu, it was always about advocating ritual and virtue.

Ritual was ritual law.

The Son of Heaven could drive six, and the feudal lords could only drive four; this had been the rule since ancient times.

Even the Crown Prince dared not overstep!

On the streets, carriages and horses were like a stream, all kinds of magnificent carriages competed for beauty, and carriages with six or seven horses were even more common.

Yuwen Liqian looked at the thoughtful expression of teacher Du Hui, and a smile could not help but ripple at the corner of her mouth, and she asked softly:

"Teacher, could it be that you are also confused by the scene of carriages on the road?"

"When Liqian first arrived, I was also amazed."

"Is this not going against the ritual that Teacher taught?"

Du Hui shook his head!

"When the Great Dao is practiced, the world is for all!"

"When the true Great Dao is practiced, the world belongs to everyone."

"A true virtuous monarch, how could he use the luxury of mere carriages to show his uniqueness!"

Yuwen Liqian had not expected Teacher to answer like this.

The coachman standing on the side, upon hearing this, could not help but have a bit more respect in his expression; after all, the world still respected scholars of talent.

He sincerely praised:

"Old gentleman, well said!"

Du Hui stroked his beard and smiled, "Little brother, you flatter me; you also have a discerning eye."

Yuwen Liqian just smiled faintly; Teacher was still the same.

The three looked at this low government office.

Above it was a blue door plaque.

"Jiakang Government Office!"

This was like an ordinary household, yet it was the government office of such a large city.

In the five states, the Prefect was a great official personally sent by the Son of Heaven, acting as a shepherd for the people on behalf of the Son of Heaven, in charge of justice, education, taxes, public security, water conservancy, etc., with the power of the head of a city.

But it seemed to be different in the Yan territory?

In such a prosperous and flourishing city in Great Chu, the Prefect's government office was often built to be magnificent and spectacular, covering a vast area, with many side halls inside, as many as forty or fifty, and the housing was also densely packed, with as many as one hundred and sixty rooms, fully displaying the majesty and power of the government.

Pushing open the door, there were the screen wall, the main gate, the ceremonial gate, the main hall, the second hall, the inner residence gate, the third hall, and other main bodies.

Civil on the left, military on the right!

On the left were the household room, the household room, and the ritual room.

On the right were the punishment room, the industrial room, and the military room.

Every door seemed to be telling of the layers of power.

Above the lintel of the main hall.

Hung the four characters "Upright and Bright," indicating impartiality and selflessness.

And the "Avoidance" and "Quiet" plaques before the arresters examined the hall made people feel awe, not daring to act rashly.

However!

The government office before her eyes was contrary to the norm, the buildings were low, not showing mountains or water; if unfamiliar pedestrians passed by, if they didn't look carefully, it would be hard to notice that this was a government stronghold.

Yuwen Liqian saw this, and could not help but feel puzzled, and asked teacher Du Hui softly:

"Teacher, does this construction have any deep meaning, or is there something inappropriate?"

She thought to herself, thinking that the magnificence of the government office was to display official prestige, deter the common people, and reduce the trouble caused by unruly people.

The maid on the side, upon hearing this, also echoed: "Yes, Miss, ordinary government offices are the bigger the better."

"The Public Garden seen by the river yesterday was also like this, with extraordinary style. This government office is so simple, could it be that the officials are lining their own pockets, only caring about their own purses, not caring about the face of the government?"

The coachman's expression showed a desire to speak but stopping, but finally chose silence.

Du Hui saw this and said gently:

"Little brother, you seem to have something left unsaid, why not say it and let us hear."

The honest middle-aged man scratched his head embarrassedly and explained:

"Several distinguished guests, coming from afar, naturally might not understand this government office!"

Du Hui smiled:

"I would like to hear the details, please, little brother, do not hesitate to enlighten us."

The coachman hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Enlightenment is not something I can talk about."

"In this city, there is not only this one government office, but actually four, all of this scale. Although nominally there is only one Prefect sitting in charge, in fact, there are four advisory officials below, respectively in charge of justice and taxes, each governing their own affairs, dividing and ruling."

"This government office is the location of the general office, where cases are opened and tried, edicts are read, officials are received, and major ceremonies are held."

"Miss, don't say that this Prefect is corrupt; these few Prefects have all been good officials."

Teacher Du Hui nodded upon hearing this, thinking to himself that such a setting was no different from dispersing power; although nominally the Prefect was still the master of a city, in fact, the responsibility of governance had been shared with more people.

The coachman continued:

"Originally, this government office was intended to be built even more magnificently, but Prince Yan had a decree that the government office should not be judged by its size for majesty, and even more so should not make the common people feel afraid. Therefore, it was built to this scale."

"I think Prince Yan's words make a lot of sense."

The coachman's words were full of reverence for Prince Yan.

The maid still had a look of dissatisfaction on her face.

She had also grown up in the imperial palace, had been reading and studying with the Princess since she was a child, so how could her knowledge be weaker than a coachman.

Du Hui nodded and said:

"The name of the government office is not in its height, but in its governance; the virtue of an official is not in his position, but in his heart."

The majesty of the government is not in the size of the building, but in the support of the people.

The coachman waited in place.

The three slowly walked toward the government office.

There were no two stone lions at the entrance, only two pots of orchids.

This stone lion was also called a door-match, and only the royal family and the government were qualified to place it.

The brick carvings and wood carvings on the lintel or on both sides of the lintel were called "door-pairs."

The number of "door-pairs" was directly proportional to the level of official rank.

This dignified government office location.

Neither had a door-match nor a door-pair!

Only a stone tablet stood on the left.

The three stopped in front of the stone tablet.

The main gate was open, and there were no guards on both sides, only the occasional crowd coming in and out, with peaceful expressions, without the slightest restraint or fear.

Such a scene was different from the majestic government office in Yuwen Liqian's heart!

That sentence suddenly popped into her mind.

"The government office need not be built high, so as to avoid making the common people afraid!"

Du Hui looked at the text on the stone tablet.

The previous text only had a few short words!

"Focus on people's livelihood!"

"If it is beneficial to the common people, there is no need to follow the ancient laws; if it is beneficial to the matter, there is no need to follow the customs."

"The mandate of heaven is not enough to be feared, the laws of the ancestors are not enough to be followed!"

Yuwen Liqian and the two of them had come to see it before and knew the text written on it.

"Teacher, the text carved on this stone tablet is exactly from the opening of the 'Essentials of Governing the North' written by Prince Yan."

This book was widely circulated in the Yan territory, although the latter part was regarded as the highest secret by the Prince Yan's Mansion.

But these few short words, the first time she read them, she felt they were heart-shaking.

No wonder the State of Han and the State of Chu would list this book as a banned book.

Not fearing the mandate of heaven, not fearing the laws of the ancestors.

Only seeking the people's livelihood!

Du Hui touched the text on it with his hand, took a deep breath and said:

"This Prince Yan is truly a wise monarch!"

"He has the atmosphere of opening up the world."

Yuwen Liqian had long known that Teacher held Lu Chen in high regard.

The maid on the side muttered softly:

"Yes, a wise monarch who has devoted himself to Daoist cultivation for ten years, yet turns a deaf ear to state affairs."

Is there such a wise monarch in the world?

Lu Chen's ten years of Daoist cultivation had always been criticized by the Confucian school.

Below the stone tablet, there were still a few lines of handwriting!

"Only talent is promoted, regardless of background!"

"In troubled times, do not distinguish between the high gates and the humble huts, do not distinguish between the noble and the grass-roots, and do not look at the difference between the disabled and the perfect, only talent is promoted."

After reading it, Du Hui's gaze became more and more piercing, and then he turned around, as if he did not want to step into the government office for another half step.

"Teacher, why not go deep and find out?"

They had walked so far and had already reached the door, why not go in and see.

Du Hui shook his head lightly and smiled:

"To see the style of a country, look at its people, then look at its officials, and you will know the rise and fall of its national destiny!"

"Why look again!"

Yuwen Liqian asked in a deep voice:

"Teacher, do you think this Prince Yan is a wise monarch or a mediocre master?"

Du Hui replied: "This question is not something I can judge alone; why doesn't the Princess ask the common people of the whole city, and even the subjects of the entire Yan territory, to get a glimpse of the whole picture?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Liqian fell into deep thought, and her gaze could not help but cast toward the pedestrians shuttling through the streets.

Du Hui asked:

"Princess, what kind of person do you think this Lu Chen is?"

Yuwen Liqian shook her head, but thought in her heart, he exhausted his heroic spirit in the first half of his life, and sought immortality in the second half!

Du Hui said slowly:

"The highest good is like water; water is good at benefiting all things without contending."

Water nourishes all things, yet is nameless.

"Confucianism emphasizes outer kings and inner sages; the appearance has the temperament of a king, the ability to govern the country like a king, and the inner heart has the virtue and cultivation of a sage, with the methods of a sage inside; this is the highest evaluation of monarchs since ancient times."

"The first dynasty in history was established by the hegemon who lifted the nine tripods; although it was strong for a time, it declined after only two generations because it was dominant on the outside and empty on the inside."

Speaking of this, Du Hui's mouth hooked into a smile:

"This Prince Yan's governance is outer Dao and inner sage."

"It is doing nothing, yet nothing is left undone."

(End of chapter)