Chapter 242 Finally, the court session can end.

Upon hearing this, the courtiers frowned.

It's hard to say for sure about Qin Shi Huang...

“That doesn’t change the fact that he was a tyrant of the Qin Dynasty!” Kong Yingda said stubbornly.

"Fine, if you want it to be violent, then so be it."

Wei Shuyu said no more.

Confucianism was a staunch anti-Qin faction.

Unable to persuade...

"So what you're saying is wrong!"

"Why bother with colonies?"

"At that time, foreign tribes will be filled with fear and trepidation. Who will dare to submit to our Great Tang?"

Kong Yingda pointed at Wei Shuyu, spitting as he spoke...

Wei Shuyu blinked.

Confucius was indeed learned, but when it comes to debate...

They're utterly hopeless.

This made Wei Shuyu too embarrassed to retort.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Kong Yingda gave a haughty snort: "Speechless now?"

Turn around...

Kong Yingda bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, tyranny is immoral, and benevolent governance is the way of a wise ruler."

Screw your benevolent governance!

What's the big deal compared to the sheer volume of supplies!

Li Shimin stared at Xiao Wei.

That look seemed to say...

Are you capable?

If that doesn't work, get your dad to do it!

"Uncle Kong, I'm not trying to be mean..."

Wei Shuyu sighed: "You yourself said they are foreigners, what do we care what they think?"

"The Tang Dynasty can't even manage its own affairs, how can it possibly manage foreign tribes?"

"Even saints aren't as saintly as you..."

The courtiers were stunned.

That makes perfect sense.

The Tang Dynasty itself has so many impoverished people, yet you're already showing concern for foreign tribes...

Isn't this just asking for trouble?

"Don't try to misunderstand me."

Kong Yingda rebuked sharply, "What I mean is... tyranny may arouse the resentment of other ethnic groups. If they rise up and attack us, how should our Great Tang deal with it?"

Wei Shuyu is numb.

Is Old Kong out of his mind?

The Imperial Academy and the Wenyun Pavilion have a partnership, and Wei Shuyu genuinely wanted to save face for Kong Yingda...

But Old Kong simply couldn't help but walk right into the line of fire.

"Won't Renzheng and the others defect?" Wei Shuyu sighed.

"At least we can keep them calm!" Kong Yingda replied firmly.

"The 'generous giving and meager receiving' principle from the Book of Rites and the Doctrine of the Mean, which I mentioned earlier, was also your commentary, wasn't it?" Wei Shuyu asked.

"That's right!"

Kong Yingda straightened his chest, looking proud.

"Then isn't there a big problem with your theory?"

Wei Shuyu asked in confusion, "They have submitted to the Tang Dynasty, so they are subjects of the Tang Dynasty!"

"If the Tang Dynasty wants to attack the enemy, it's one thing for its subjects not to help, but to turn against it?"

"So, did the Tang Dynasty give so many gifts in return, or did they just feed them to the dogs?"

Well……

The courtiers were stunned.

He couldn't help but look at Kong Yingda.

Isn't this old Kong usually very learned and quite eloquent?

How come it was so easily rejected when it came to Xiao Wei?

Upon closer reflection...

In the imperial court, the person most frequently criticized by Wei Zhongxian was Changsun Wuji, followed by Kong Yingda.

Every battle, every defeat!

Kong Yingda frowned, but still stuck to his own opinion...

"Now that the Tang Dynasty has swept through the surrounding countries, it should adopt a policy of appeasement and pacification to demonstrate its great power status and prevent them from rebelling."

"Only in this way can we maintain the dominant position of our Great Tang Dynasty!"

"fart!"

Wei Shuyu suddenly roared: "The status of a hegemon is earned through strength, not through negotiation!"

Old Kong was a good man, but he absolutely hated this appeasement policy!

That's a sign of cowardice!

This time, Wei Shuyu showed no mercy to the other party.

Even if you are an elder, even if you have a business relationship with us.

But we still have to criticize them!

"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts!"

"If you feed a dog one meal, the dog will remember you for three years!"

"You fed the alien race for thirty years..."

"Once our Great Tang weakens, they will still attack us and plunder us as they please..."

"The reason why the Tang Dynasty could make all sides submit was not because of your so-called benevolent governance."

"But they are the mighty army of my Great Tang!"

"Only when our Great Tang Dynasty becomes strong will other countries tremble and grovel at its feet."

Li Shimin nodded.

That's more like what a human being would say.

Without military power, an emperor's position is unstable, let alone any talk of benevolent governance.

"What I mean is that the Tang Dynasty is a land of etiquette, and it values ​​winning people over with virtue!"

"Benevolent governance can prevent war!"

"Benevolent governance can make the Tang Dynasty famous and attract more vassal states!"

Kong Yingda said with a solemn expression.

Wei Shuyu pointed outside the Taiji Hall: "Then go and persuade those foreign tribes to submit to the benevolence of our Great Tang..."

"Do you think they'll listen?"

"Oh, right, and the Liao people..."

"If you talk to them about benevolence and virtue, will they listen?"

"After going around in circles, don't we still have to subdue them first?"

The courtiers were speechless.

That seems to make sense.

Wei Shuyu continued to tell his story...

"The premise of a colony is that the two sides are already in an adversarial relationship."

"We were going to fight anyway!"

"We neither destroyed a country nor carried out a massacre."

Is it too much to take some spoils after winning a battle?

Well said...

It neither destroyed the country nor carried out a massacre.

I am still the wise and mighty emperor of all time!

Li Shimin understood perfectly.

Xiao Wei is good; he has the style of Lao Wei!

"you……"

Kong Yingda pointed at Wei Shuyu, speechless with frustration.

"Stop talking."

Wei Shuyu waved his hand, indicating that he really didn't want to argue any further.

But considering that the other party was Confucius, he finally reassured him with a few words of explanation: "Uncle Confucius has no problem wanting to implement benevolent governance."

"But it also has to be practical!"

"Emperor Wu of Han dismissed all other schools of thought and exclusively honored Confucianism..."

"It is because of domestic stability that Confucianism can better govern the country."

"But for foreign tribes, unless they submit to the Tang Dynasty, their territory is incorporated into the Tang Dynasty, and they become subjects of the Tang Dynasty."

"Otherwise, they'll always be outsiders!"

"It's useless to talk to them about morality and ethics..."

"Only forceful suppression can prevent them from ever rebelling again!"

Kong Yingda wanted to argue a few more points.

As a result, the official next to him grabbed his sleeve.

Kong Yingda hesitated for a moment, then chose to go back.

Wei Shuyu invoked Emperor Wu of Han's name to acknowledge his Confucian achievements, thus saving face for him.

"Do any of my beloved ministers have any other opinions?"

After Kong Yingda was defeated, Li Shimin glanced at his ministers again.

One breath, two breaths...

Li Shimin waited for a full ten breaths, but no one stepped forward.

"No one objected."

"Then it's settled!"

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Changsun Wuji stepped forward...

"Your Majesty has bestowed upon merchants a path to governance, but I believe a constraint must be added..."

"That is...limited to only one direct descendant."

"If a person has grandchildren, their sons should not participate..."

Following Changsun Wuji's advice, Li Shimin nodded noncommittally.

Wei Shuyu roughly understood...

It basically involves extending the generational gap between the two.

If a family has great-grandchildren, their sons and grandsons are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations.

It must be the youngest generation.

If this policy is implemented, merchants will not appear in the imperial court for at least twenty years.

"What does Shuyu think?" Li Shimin asked.

"His Majesty."

Wei Shuyu bowed and said, "The purpose of allowing merchants' direct descendants to participate in the imperial examinations is to encourage them to work harder in their trade. I have no objection."

Li Shimin nodded, then looked at his ministers and asked, "What do you all think?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The assembled officials all bowed.

I'm unwilling to accept it, but there's nothing I can do; I can't argue with them...

With the ministers no longer objecting, the matter was temporarily settled.

After asking a few more casual questions about the colonies, Li Shimin abruptly changed the subject...

"Do any of you ministers have anything else to report?"

Swish.

Everyone turned to look at Wei Shuyu.

Wei Shuyu was seen holding his official tablet, looking down at his nose and inwardly contemplating his thoughts.

Damn it!

Finally, the court session can end...