novelhk Page 1888
Page 1888
He has his own set of ideas for governing the country.
His twenty-one essays on current affairs constitute a national development plan.
Chapter 1647 The Ceremony of Abdication
Seeing that Zhao Yuan had also heard of him,
Hu Anguo was very excited and said,
"The emperor's fate rests in the hearts of the people."
"The duty of a ruler is to nurture the people."
"A nation must first secure its foundation."
"And the people are the foundation of the nation."
"Your subject is dedicated to governing the country and ensuring the well-being of the people,"
"I share the same idea as the Grand Marshal."
"When the people are at peace and happy, all the people will be loyal to them."
"We must honor the king, expel the barbarians, and sweep away the barbarians."
"However, the people are the foundation of the state, and the ruler is also the guide for the subjects."
"Only when the ruler is upright and observes the rules will his subjects not be disturbed."
"The ceremony of abdication must never be abandoned!"
Zhao Yuan asked, "Where is the Mandate of Heaven?"
Hu Anguo said, "The will of Heaven cannot be presumed; it can only be sensed."
"The shift of destiny depends on whether the people's hearts are in favor or not."
"He who wins the hearts of the people wins the mandate of heaven."
"Just like the military governor and the marshal."
Zhao Yuan then asked, "My mandate of heaven comes from the hearts of the people,"
Why did the Song emperors abdicate?
Hu Anguo said, "It makes perfect sense."
"Now the people's hearts are at peace; only the ceremony of abdication is lacking."
"Once the abdication ceremony is completed, the Mandate of Heaven will have shifted."
"If I don't abdicate, does that mean the Mandate of Heaven is no longer there?"
"Will the people yearn for the old Song Dynasty?" Zhao Yuan questioned.
"this......"
Hu Anguo adjusted his words and said, "There are fundamental and secondary aspects to etiquette."
"To rectify oneself and govern others is the foundation of propriety."
“Dignity and refined manners are the least important aspects of etiquette.”
"The current commander has grasped the essence of propriety,"
Why abandon the most basic of propriety?
“Abandoning the trivial does not harm the essential, but it does not achieve the full effect.”
Upon hearing this, the courtiers couldn't help but nod in agreement.
The words of this great Confucian scholar are indeed insightful.
Hu Anguo meant that,
Red tape is merely a superficial aspect of etiquette.
The essence of etiquette is to treat others with a righteous heart and a proper demeanor.
Since it already has connotation,
Why should we abandon appearances?
Such a momentous event as ascending the throne,
Perfection requires consistency between appearance and reality.
He supports the abdication of the emperor.
It's not about putting the cart before the horse.
Instead, it wants both the essential and the trivial!
Zhao Yuan smiled but did not immediately refute.
Hu Anguo continued, "Ritual is the foundation of a nation."
"Respect is the vehicle of etiquette."
"Disrespect is the foundation of proper etiquette."
"If rites are not followed, the rulers and the people will be in chaos; how can such a dynasty last?"
This is a quote from the Zuo Zhuan.
Etiquette (including state institutions) is the backbone of a state.
Respect is the means to achieve propriety.
While it is important to have a pure and sincere mind,
Red tape must also be followed.
If one does not observe etiquette,
What's missing is a standard for doing things.
The whole country is about to descend into chaos.
Zhao Yuan suddenly blurted out, "The Yin dynasty followed the rites of the Xia dynasty, and what they added or subtracted is evident..."
"Those who succeed the Zhou dynasty, even after a hundred generations, are certain."
“I value the words ‘what is gained or lost’ more in Confucius’s words.”
The Shang Dynasty rites were established by modifying the Xia Dynasty rites.
The Zhou rites were formulated by modifying the Shang rites.
The forms of etiquette are constantly changing.
But the essence of propriety remains unchanged through the ages.
Zhao Yuan meant that,
Everyone is focused on "unchanged".
But he focused on "change".
Hu Anguo was startled.
Not only him, but many officials began to feel uneasy.
Zhao Yuan wasn't discussing things with everyone at all.
Instead, it's a declaration: I'm going to change the rules!
It's not just the rules about the transfer of destiny that have been changed.
There are definitely many other rules.
What ancestral laws cannot be abolished?
Confucius's three words "what is gained and what is lost"
This provided ammunition for the reformists.
As long as the essence of etiquette remains unchanged, that is sufficient.
The remaining specific forms of expression,
It can be improved as times change.
The spiritual essence is immutable.
This is the foundation and the norm of etiquette.
Red tape can be changed.
This is the end of ritual, the change of ritual.
This aligns with Confucian principles.
Zhao Yuan said, "It is Heaven's mandate that my father and I rectify this chaotic world and save the people."
"It flows and transforms on its own through the interaction between heaven and humanity."
"What does this have to do with the Song Dynasty?"
"Isn't forcing Zhao Huan to abdicate like begging for something?"
"It wasn't exactly begging; it was more like forcing him to hand over his treasure,"
"It's as if it was snatched from his hands."
"If the purpose is to pay homage to Heaven and inform the people, the enthronement ceremony is sufficient."
Why bother with the unnecessary ritual of abdication?
Zhao Yuan stared at Hu Anguo and said, "Tell me about the three generations below you."
"Which emperor abdicated voluntarily?"
"He forced the former emperor to abdicate, and even declined three times in response."
"Is there even a hint of respect in this?"
"Not only do they show no respect, they also deceive heaven and fool the people!"
"You think you know the ins and outs of etiquette,"
"In reality, it's putting the cart before the horse!"
"Don't dare!"
Hu Anguo quickly lowered his head and denied it.
He knew Zhao Yuan was being sophistical.
But the sophistry also contains some unreasonable arguments.
Moreover, given their current identities...
Some things shouldn't be said carelessly.
Zhao Yuan will surely win the debate.
Zhao Yuan said gently, "The ceremony of abdication is unnecessary."
"A grand enthronement ceremony is sufficient."
Chapter 1648 New System
"The world is not yet at peace, so we should refrain from declaring ourselves emperor for now,"
"We should establish a royal system on New Year's Day next year."
"The official system established was also different from that of the old Song Dynasty."
"The old Song Dynasty first used the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, then changed it to the Secretariat-Chancellery system, and finally reverted to the Three Departments and Six Ministries system."
"The constant revisions have only created more problems than a consensus."
Zhao Yuan said slowly,