novelhk Chapter 211 Lord
Chapter 211 Lord
Ye Kuolan entered the study.
"What business does Your Excellency have summoned me here?"
He bowed to the young prefect behind the desk.
Zheng Hao said, "Mr. Ye, please have a seat."
Ye Kuolan took a few steps to the side and sat down.
Zheng Hao looked at the other person and asked, "These days, you often visit the countryside and wander through the streets and alleys of the city. What are your impressions of Youzhou Prefecture?"
Ye Kuolan said politely, "Under Your Majesty's rule, the people live in peace and prosperity, and everyone is content with their lot. I deeply admire you."
Zheng Hao did not expose the other party, but changed the subject: "I have heard that you used to lecture in the capital. I wonder what your impression of the capital is?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Kuolan's expression remained unchanged, but his fingers twitched slightly.
Ye Kuolan was a world-renowned Confucian scholar. The late emperor had once summoned him to court, but Ye Kuolan was devoted to learning and had no interest in officialdom. Seeing that he did not covet fame and fortune, the late emperor gave up the idea.
Although Ye Kuolan never held an official position, he had countless students and mentors.
He was renowned throughout the Great Qian Dynasty not only for his extensive knowledge but also for inheriting Confucius's ideas on teaching and educating people, and for teaching his disciples according to their individual aptitudes.
He taught thousands of disciples, some of whom became officials in the imperial court, some became teachers, and some became experts in mechanical arts...
Many prefectural officials, enamored with Ye Kuolan's reputation, wished to invite him to teach at the prefectural school, but could not find him. This was because Ye Kuolan lived a secluded life, either teaching at the academy or occasionally traveling with his students, always keeping a low profile and never revealing his identity. By the time the local prefect discovered his arrival, Ye Kuolan had already left with his students.
It was only by chance that Zheng Hao was able to successfully "invite" Ye Kuolan into his residence. Zheng Hao was not complacent about this. Ye Kuolan was no ordinary person. If he could not satisfy Ye Kuolan, Ye Kuolan would stay in the residence temporarily and leave later.
Ye Kuolan said, "Beijing is under the emperor's nose, so the people are naturally prosperous and happy."
Ye Kuolan was not a traditional scholar who was aloof and ignorant of human relationships. On the contrary, his students inherited his true teachings and, although they did not seek high positions in the court, they knew how to protect themselves wisely.
Zheng Hao: "What about other prefectures? I am not as knowledgeable as you, sir, and I have been to many places. I would like to learn from you about the prefectures in various places so that I can better govern Youzhou Prefecture."
When the young prefect uttered these words, Ye Kuolan knew perfectly well that the other party did not mean it that way.
Thinking of the earth-shaking changes that he had witnessed in Youzhou Prefecture in recent days, and considering that he had become the other party's advisor, Ye Kuolan's brow relaxed: "Your Excellency, please speak frankly and do not tease me."
“I never intended to make fun of you, sir.” Zheng Hao’s expression relaxed slightly, and he was unusually easygoing. “It is because you have been in the manor for many days and have been testing me. I did not know that I could pass your test.”
As soon as the young prefect finished speaking, Ye Kuolan couldn't help but think of how, after taking office, the prefect would swiftly deal with wealthy households in the city, conduct experiments on superior grain varieties, and manufacture farm tools to lend to the people...
Ye Kuolan looked up at the other person. All these actions that benefited the people seemed to him to be just the beginning in the young prefect, and that the other person would continue.
It was for this reason that Ye Kuolan did not immediately flee Youzhou Prefecture, but chose to stay and see whether this young prefect was just trying to gain fame by deceiving people, or whether he was truly sincere and loved the people like his own children.
After several months, watching the changes gradually unfold within Youzhou Prefecture, Ye Kuolan, judging by actions rather than intentions, could not say that the young prefect was engaging in deception.
He rose and bowed to Zheng Hao behind the table: "Your Excellency is kind and understanding, and has long been considerate of me."
As a private advisor to an official, one usually addresses the official as "Dongweng," which is both respectful and intimate. Although Ye Kuolan was Zheng Hao's advisor before, he had not truly joined his ranks. Now, after Zheng Hao's investigation, he has found that Ye Kuolan is not a person who is indecisive or wishful thinking.
The young prefect, showing respect for scholars, rose from his desk and helped Ye Kuolan up, saying, "It is my great fortune to have your assistance, sir."
Although he appears aloof and arrogant, Zheng Hao is not from a prominent family and doesn't like to put on airs. He has never been stingy with respect for truly capable people, including Ye Kuolan.
Helped up by the newly recognized Dongweng, Ye Kuolan sensed the importance the other man placed on him in his expression and demeanor. Without any hesitation, he said, "Dongweng must have summoned me here because something has happened in Youzhou Prefecture that is troubling you. Dongweng might as well tell me, so that I can discuss a solution with you."
Withdrawing his long arm, the two sat down again. Zheng Hao picked up the letter on the table and looked at Ye Kuolan, saying, "This matter did not happen in the city, but in the capital and is little known. Are you still sure you want to hear more, sir?"
Ye Kuolan's eyes flickered after hearing what the young prefect said.
The incident occurred in the capital and was little known to the public. It was either a trivial matter that no one cared about, or a major event that a small group of people, fearing it would cause chaos, deliberately concealed from their subordinates.
Ye Kuolan did not hesitate for long: "Please tell me, sir."
Without giving Ye Kuolan the secret letter full of symbols, Zheng Hao said, "Half a month ago, during a court session, when all the officials had finished reporting on important matters and were leaving the court, His Majesty suddenly fainted and fell into a coma."
Upon hearing this, Ye Kuolan frowned. It was no small matter for the ruler of a country to faint in front of his civil and military officials.
The current ruler is neither a wise and virtuous ruler nor a ruler who can maintain the status quo like the late emperor. Although he cannot expand the territory, he can suppress the major aristocratic families and is feared by civil and military officials.
Emperor Jian'an himself was of mediocre ability. He was able to ascend the throne because the previous emperor had few children and the Zhen family supported him. Not only did the powerful families in the capital not take the imperial family seriously, but even the local families gradually ignored the emperor's orders. If Emperor Jian'an fell ill, it would be a bad thing for the entire Daqian Dynasty.
Once Emperor Jian'an dies, the new emperor will lack prestige and be controlled by civil and military officials. Local areas will only increasingly disregard imperial authority, and the country will inevitably descend into chaos.
Ye Kuolan said to the young prefect, "What I am about to say may displease the magistrate."
Zheng Hao said without changing his expression, "Here, you may speak freely without any reservations."
Ye Kuolan spoke without holding back: "Dongweng rose from the top scholar in the imperial examination to the prefect of a region in just one year before he even reached adulthood. This was not only due to his own talent and achievements, but also because His Majesty valued and favored him. His Majesty is unwell. Once His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, Dongweng will be subject to the new emperor's new court. He may not be valued by the new emperor, and may even be viewed with suspicion and dislike."
Instead of following Ye Kuolan's lead, Zheng Hao raised his eyes slightly and asked, "Sir, are you so certain that His Highness the Crown Prince will be able to ascend the throne smoothly?"
The Crown Prince is the heir apparent. If the emperor has an accident, the rightful Crown Prince will succeed to the throne. However, throughout history, how many Crown Princes have been able to successfully succeed to the throne?
After a moment of silence, Ye Kuolan spoke the truth: "Although the Crown Prince is the legitimate heir of the Great Qian Dynasty, the power behind the Third Prince should not be underestimated."
He truly deserves to be called a renowned scholar of his time; though he has never entered the imperial court, he is well aware of the political situation there.
Zheng Hao: "If the Crown Prince is no match for the Third Prince and the Third Prince successfully ascends the throne, my official career will end at the position of Prefect, and I might even be demoted or dismissed."
Ye Kuolan: "What do you mean by that, sir?"
He was unaware of the connection between Zheng Hao and the Third Prince.
The young prefect remained expressionless: "The Third Prince once tried to win me over, but I directly refused."
Ye Kuo paused, realizing that this would be problematic.
Seeing the other person's furrowed brows, Zheng Hao did not continue to probe.
He asked directly, "Sir, who do you think has the appearance of a wise ruler, the Crown Prince or the Third Prince?"
This question led those unaware of the situation to misunderstand that he wanted to assist someone in seizing power and gain merit. Ye Kuolan was unsure whether he was calmly convinced that this was indeed the case, or disappointed that this was indeed the case.
Having nurtured people for many years, Ye Kuolan, with his sharp eye, believed that neither the Crown Prince nor the Third Prince possessed the qualities of a wise ruler, nor even the qualities of a city lord.
The Crown Prince enjoyed the teachings of the most renowned scholars in the land from a young age, but was limited by his natural talent, and his learning was only average. However, an emperor does not need to have great talent, nor does he need to take the imperial examinations. But the Crown Prince's most fatal flaw was his weak nature. He was easily swayed by the words of those close to him and could not appoint people based on merit.
The Third Prince was more talented than the Crown Prince and was well-known among the civil officials. His respect for scholars and his ability to make friends regardless of their social status won him the favor of scholars throughout the land. However, the Third Prince was not as narrow-minded as he appeared. An emperor is not a prince; he needs to have a broad mind and be tolerant of others.
Ye Kuolan sighed softly: "Neither of these two are wise rulers. If Dongweng helps either of them, they will end up being discarded like a good bow after the birds are all gone."
These words were already quite unpleasant, but Zheng Hao was not angry at all. Instead, he thanked Ye Kuolan and said, "Thank you for reminding me, sir."
Zheng Hao no longer minced words: "Sir, you have traveled to many places and know that the Great Qian Dynasty, though seemingly prosperous and wealthy, is actually riddled with problems and corrupt officials are ruining the country. Have you thought about how to save the people of the world?"
Ye Kuolan could naturally distinguish between genuinely seeking advice and those who spoke with ulterior motives. The young prefect's extremely audacious words made him pause.
Ye Kuolan raised her eyes and looked at Zheng Hao behind the desk.
Zheng Hao remained solemn, his gaze unwavering, and continued, "Sir, there is no need for hesitation. I am well aware of the meaning behind my words."
Despite uttering such treasonous words, his dark eyes dared to look directly at Ye Kuolan: "Hao was born a commoner and knows the hardships of ordinary people. Before entering the court, Hao once thought of learning literature and martial arts to serve the emperor, eliminate the treacherous officials in the court, and restore a peaceful and prosperous world for the people. However, the corrupt officials who harm the country have already infiltrated the very marrow of the Great Qian Dynasty. Relying solely on reform is no longer useful. From high-ranking officials to noble families, they will never allow reform to damage their interests. Only by changing the world can we find a glimmer of hope."
Ye Kuolan remained silent for a moment, then said in a slightly cold tone, "The Master also has his own selfish motives, why bother to make it sound so high-sounding?"
He wasn't blind. If the young prefect was truly as devoted to the people as he claimed, and had the world in his heart, the other party would only be like Qu Yuan, willing to die a hundred times without regret. How could he harbor such wolfish ambitions and plot to seize the country?
When Ye Kuolan revealed his personal motives, Zheng Hao was neither flustered, embarrassed, nor angry.
Mencius said: "The people are the most important and the ruler is the least important. The people come first, the state comes next, and the ruler comes last. The ruler is the boat and the people are the water. One can carry the boat but also capsize it." The relationship between the ruler and the people has always been a two-way choice. Once the ruler does not put the people first and think about their well-being, it is only a matter of time before the ruler is destroyed.
“I judge by actions, not intentions. You have seen the changes in Youzhou Prefecture in recent months. Can you really stand by and watch the people of other prefectures suffer in misery, be exploited by high-ranking officials, resort to cannibalism when natural disasters strike, and have their wives and husbands enter the market to fill their families’ stomachs?”
Not wanting to force Ye Kuolan, Zheng Hao said, "A few months ago, Uncle Gu's caravan brought back high-yield grain seeds, which can produce up to 800 shi. If they can be successfully planted, the people will no longer have to go hungry."
Ye Kuo looked up instantly, his slightly aged face trembling: "Is what you said true, Master Dong?"
He had heard his disciple say that the young prefect's elders had led a research team to study high-yield grain varieties, but they did not know the specific yield. Now, hearing what Zheng Hao said, Ye Kuolan could not remain calm.
If the cultivation of high-yield grain varieties becomes a possibility, impoverished people will no longer have to go hungry.
Zheng Hao, however, did not allow Ye Kuolan to indulge in beautiful fantasies.
He poured cold water on the other party's enthusiasm, saying, "Sir, don't forget the bad habits of powerful families. If they find out that Youzhou Prefecture has developed high-yield grain varieties, what do you think they will do?"
Upon hearing this, the joy on Ye Kuolan's face faded.
He himself came from a prominent family, so he naturally knew about the selfishness and self-interest of these people.
Whether they are high-ranking officials or noble families, they have always liked to control important resources. Once they learn that Youzhou Prefecture has discovered high-yield grain varieties, they will not immediately promote them to other places. Instead, they will prioritize their own fields and estates. After the harvest, they will not think about the people. Instead, they will sell the high-yield grain varieties at high prices to plunder the people's wealth.
Seeing Ye Kuolan's expression shift slightly, Zheng Hao's tone deepened as he patiently coaxed, "Since you are now one of us, I will not hide anything from you. I will settle accounts with the powerful and influential families of Youzhou Prefecture one by one in the future."
If someone else had said these words, Ye Kuolan would have scoffed at the young man's unrealistic fantasies. But since the young prefect standing not far in front of him spoke these words calmly, Ye Kuolan knew that the other party was not young and arrogant.
He rose and bowed to Zheng Hao: "I am willing to follow you, my lord, and share your burdens!"
Compared to "Dongweng," the title "Lord" shows his willingness to stand with Zheng Hao through thick and thin, and he sincerely assisted Zheng Hao in achieving great things.
After Ye Kuolan expressed his loyalty, Zheng Hao gently asked him to sit down.
Then, Zheng Hao said to Ye Kuolan, "His Majesty has been taking pills for a long time, and his body has long been weak and depleted. He fainted half a month ago. Although he was unconscious for three days before waking up, his health is not as good as before. Otherwise, he would not have let the Crown Prince oversee the country."
“The Crown Prince and the Third Prince have always been at odds. Once His Majesty falls, there will surely be changes in the capital. No matter which one succeeds to the throne, they will not be able to defeat the powerful clans. The Great Qian Dynasty will fall into chaos sooner or later.”
Following the old man's line of thought, Ye Kuolan also spoke up to analyze: "If the old man just needs to keep his composure, there must be people in other prefectures who want to use the emperor to command the princes. At that time, the old man can enter the capital under the pretext of 'purging the emperor's inner circle'."
“What you say is quite similar to what I was thinking.” Zheng Hao’s eyes deepened: “Now, we only need to feign weakness, secretly raise troops and accumulate strength.”
Thinking of the other party's identity, Ye Kuolan sighed, "Youzhou Prefecture is harsh and impoverished. The Lord is a civil official and comes from an ordinary background. People in the court will only be wary of the Marquis of Zhenbei's rebellious intentions, but will not be on guard against the Lord.
"If you, Master Dong, wish to achieve hegemony, this fierce and powerful army cannot be let go lightly. As the supervising officer, you can gradually plot to control the Zhenbei Army."
At this point, he saw the old man's deep, enigmatic eyes.
Ye Kuolan quickly realized that the other party had already thought of this.