Looking at Huang Zicheng, Zhu Yunying asked, "I remember Mencius said, 'The people are the most important, the ruler is the least important.' The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important. I think there is some truth to that. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it; I understand this principle as well."

Many civil officials immediately became worried: was Emperor Zhu also going to attack Mencius and remove him from the Confucian Temple?

After all, according to Mencius's view: if a ruler makes a mistake, his subjects can advise him; if they do not listen to his advice after many times, they can overthrow him!

Zhu Yunying smiled, but it was a forced smile. "Mencius once said that war is too cruel and advocated unifying the world with 'benevolent governance.' The Song Dynasty's Emperor Zhao was probably benevolent, but when the Jin army marched south, the Zhao family's empress, concubines, princesses, and the women of civil and military officials all went to the Jin camp, and the people of Bianliang were massacred. Is benevolent governance feasible?"

Many civil officials looked embarrassed; the humiliations of the Song Dynasty were indeed somewhat unacceptable in the grand scheme of history.

However, Huang Zicheng chose to counter, saying, "Your Majesty, the Jurchens are barbaric, uncouth, and ignorant of etiquette. These uncivilized barbarians do not practice benevolent governance, and the Song and Mongol forces jointly defeated them."

This is a good concept. The Jurchens did not practice benevolent governance, so they had no way of ruling the country.

Zhu Yunying looked at Huang Zicheng with a mocking expression and asked, "And then what? The Mongols ruled the world, and people were divided into several classes, with us Southerners being relegated to the lowest ranks? That's true, the Mongol Yuan dynasty did not practice benevolent governance, and the retired emperor raised the banner of righteousness to restore order!"

"Remember this well, all of you! Go back and study the books of Confucius carefully!" Zhu Yunying sneered, then beckoned to the general on duty. "In our Great Ming Dynasty, we wield swords in our left hands to execute anyone who dares to disobey, and books in our right hands to educate and reform!"

Looking at Huang Zicheng, Zhu Yunying said, "I remember you also came first in the imperial examination in the eighteenth year of Hongwu. You have read more of Confucius's books than I have. I still know the Six Arts of a Gentleman, but you scholars should not only know classical Chinese. In my opinion, Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi were indeed very talented, but you should not think that they are the way to govern the world!"

I'm too lazy to say anything more to Huang Zicheng. Zhu Yunying just wanted to show his attitude: the Ming Dynasty shouldn't be all harmony. A powerful country can't stand forever just by relying on 'benevolent governance'.

Especially in this world, benevolent governance often doesn't work. True education should involve both a sharp sword and a written letter!

It seems the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty wasn't easy to talk to either; he practiced both benevolent and tyrannical rule. Some people felt encouraged, but in the eyes of scholars like Huang Zicheng, this emperor was clearly not the best emperor in their eyes, and could not be considered a wise ruler.

Ru Chang was already used to it. As the emperor's former study companion and now the Minister of Personnel, he knew that the current emperor could not be Emperor Renzong. If he really became Emperor Renzong, then there would be no way to expand the territory. He was very clear about the current emperor's ambitions.

However, some may have high hopes for the current emperor's ambitions, and not every scholar envisions benevolent governance. For many scholars, a golden age is one where all nations pay tribute.

The mighty Han and the glorious Tang dynasties—these were the eras they longed for!

The Ming Dynasty now has a seemingly good foundation. If it continues to develop in this way, it may really be a golden age where all countries pay tribute, and it may really become the most prosperous dynasty in the eyes of many people!

Zhu Yunying didn't say much about Huang Zicheng, still wanting to be tolerant of different opinions.

Moreover, this Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was a pedantic scholar. He was quite good at teaching in some places, such as the Four Barbarian Institution, where he could cultivate promising young scholars.

Although it is time-consuming and laborious, sometimes it doesn't seem to have any immediate effect.

However, Zhu Yunying was very patient; if you don't occupy the battleground of public opinion, someone else will.

The Ming Dynasty is now qualified to further spread Central Plains culture. When the students from the Four Barbarian Institutions return to their countries, they will surely yearn for the Ming Dynasty. This will allow the entire East and Southeast Asia to be deeply influenced and controlled by Central Plains culture.

This way, it will be more convenient if I want to do something in the future.

In fact, starting from the Han Dynasty, the influence of Central Plains culture on the surrounding areas grew increasingly significant. This influence was even more pronounced during the Tang Dynasty.

What Zhu Yunying is doing now is simply "picking up scraps of others' ideas," only further amplifying them. Or perhaps, others spreading culture don't share his utilitarian motives, thinking of "taking it all in one go."