Li Ruyu originally thought that Chen Kedao didn't have such courage. As long as she spoke boldly, she would definitely be able to leave Chen Kedao unable to answer. If she could make him unable to answer her question, then this person would be useless.

But now the question is, how should I refute him?

Could it be that he said that this was not the case, and that it was because the Mandate of Heaven was with Your Majesty, the Mandate of Heaven was with Emperor Taizu, that Emperor Taizu was able to unify the world?

Does this make sense?

The key issue is not whether it can be explained, but what Your Majesty thinks.

If Your Majesty agrees with Chen Kedao, it means that the emperor has made great contributions to the world, so God has granted the emperor the mandate of heaven to rule over the people.

This doesn't seem to be a big deal, after all, anyone can make sense of it. And there's another benefit here, which is that it can prevent many people from rebelling and preventing them from using the mandate of heaven to cause trouble.

You must first achieve great merit before you can be recognized by the Mandate of Heaven. Such great merit must be to quell wars and establish your rule over the world.

But how can I give you such a credit now?

The Ming Dynasty was not in chaos yet, and the war had not yet broken out everywhere. You had no chance to achieve such a feat.

So the destiny is not yours, it's your majesty's. Go to hell!

As for delaying the ministers from making achievements, the same logic applies.

Unless you can achieve great achievements in conquering the world, nothing else matters. The only one who can support this theory should be Cao Cao's family.

Cao Cao used the emperor to command the princes, and his family ruled the world, so they were destined to be the rulers.

But when was that?

Those were troubled times. In troubled times, it's all about who has the bigger fist. Even if there's no destiny, what good does it matter? Didn't Cao Cao and his family still seize the Han Dynasty?

When the world is in chaos, what difference does it make whether there is a theory of destiny or not?

Chen Kedao didn't give Li Ruyu a chance to speak, and continued, "Your Majesty holds the Mandate of Heaven, ruling over all the people. Those who have made contributions to the state, Your Majesty rewards them according to this Mandate, and that is how we all came to be dukes. The nobles of the court are not born noble, but because they have made contributions to the state. Everyone has this opportunity to make contributions to the state, and therefore, all people are equal."

"A general expands the country's territory; a soldier slays generals and seizes flags. The emperor should count their merits, so he can bestow titles on his wife and children, and his grace will last for generations. Even now, those who have made contributions to the country, Your Majesty should count their merits equally. The high or low status of an individual is determined by his contribution to the country, not by his innate nobility."

"My lords, if you wish to be respected and respected, you must make achievements. If you do, His Majesty will reward you."

As soon as Chen Kedao said this, Li Ruyu's face became even uglier.

However, the Jinyiwei commander Luo Sigong in the audience looked a little strange.

Luo Sigong finally understood that Chen Kedao must have persuaded His Majesty.

This is truly a capable person.

It makes sense that God rewards Your Majesty, and Your Majesty rewards the people.

The reason why nobles are superior to others is not because they are born noble, but because they have made contributions to the country. If you also want to be superior to others, then you should make contributions to the country.

With such an explanation, the nobles would feel at ease.

We nobles enjoy such superior treatment because we have served the country. You, an ordinary citizen, enjoy it because you have not. So I am a little higher than you, so why should you be dissatisfied? If you are dissatisfied, then you should also serve the country.

Those dukes who died with the country would definitely like this statement. Because they have no rivals, in this era, if you want to be a duke, and die with the country, there is basically no chance.

This theory would also be supported by the military. We are not much inferior to civilian officials, nor are we unsophisticated. It's just that we learned to fight, while you studied to govern. We simply have different divisions of labor. But we all contribute to the country and serve it, so there is no distinction between us.

The theory of meritorious service to the country would inevitably gain the support of the nobles and the military. Even if they did not express their support, they would definitely not cause trouble for Chen Kedao, and would even do everything they could to support him.

Such a theory would also be supported by merchants because it would improve their status. Although the status of merchants is not low, they are basically tied to the scholar group.

There is a premise here, that is, scholars and merchants often do business. However, merchants are not necessarily scholars, they are just suppressed by scholars and merchants, so they are not seen to make progress.

If this theory of benefiting the country is confirmed or put into practice, the status of businessmen will naturally rise.

At this moment, everyone looked at Chen Kedao with different eyes.

Everyone originally thought that Chen Kedao was just a fame seeker who used some twisted theories to deceive the emperor. Now it seems that this is not the case at all. Chen Kedao's theory will really subvert the current system.

Once this theory is pushed aside, things get bad.

The key issue now is that Chen Kedao solved the problem of the divine right of emperors, and also solved the problem of the superiority of nobles and relatives, and at the same time he was able to unite merchants, ordinary people and craftsmen.

Once this theory is put forward, the only people standing in opposition are intellectuals, or rather, only a part of intellectuals.

Because everyone else took a step forward, only the scholar was pulled down.

You have to understand that the divisions of scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans were originally made by the literati. Ordinary people had no power to resist, and they didn't even have a say. Military commanders were crude and ignorant, so it was probably the literati who felt that they had the final say and that the other classes just had to obey.

If all people are truly equal, then what should those who are born noble do?

It is easy for people to agree that merit is the basis for distinguishing high and low status, especially for generals and soldiers, and even nobles and relatives of the emperor, because they are people who have made great contributions.

A scholar cannot say that studying is a contribution to the country. This sounds like a joke.

The scene was completely silent.

Luo Sigong, the commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was standing on the side of the stage, suddenly thought of something, that is, this theory might be supported by the eunuchs in the palace.

In officialdom, power is one thing and status is another.

Eunuchs themselves were of low status and looked down upon by others.

But if everyone is equal, then eunuchs are naturally equal as well.

The distinction between high and low is based on merit, and eunuchs are not incapable of making contributions. How could such a theory not be supported by the eunuchs?

The same goes for the Imperial Guards. There's no need to be inferior to others. We have made contributions to the Ming Dynasty, so we should naturally be superior to others.

"Nonsense! You are a heretic and have betrayed the way of the saints!" Li Ruyu shouted loudly with a red face, looking extremely excited.

Many people in the audience began to shout.

Everyone realizes what this means, so they are afraid.

After the fear, irritability began.