Confucianism is not entirely without merit; at least the thoughts of Confucius are absolutely classic.
Although it was later altered by those arrogant descendants, one point was agreed upon.
The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.
This was very rare in the ancient world.
In this era, ruling classes around the world placed their hopes for governing the country in the hands of deities.
Only the Chinese scholar-official class has consistently adhered to Confucius's words.
No matter how much the common people worshipped and revered the gods, these well-read and cultured people did not believe in them.
As for that nonsense like "this is an ominous sign," it's nothing more than a political weapon used by these shrewd intellectuals.
How much impact does this have on the country?
For example, Zhong Shidao suddenly died of illness while attacking Shenzhou.
Apart from a small number of people who didn't want to fight and would try to persuade the emperor to withdraw his troops by saying "this is an ominous sign," everyone else just thought that the marshal was really old.
Birth, aging, illness, and death are the natural order of things.
What would happen if this happened in Europe?
This is incredible!
It must be that God was angry and ordered the marshal's death!
This is against God's will!
Withdraw your troops immediately!
Withdraw everything!
Not a single one may be left alive!
Your Majesty, please go and pray!
Confess to an omnipotent God!
I swear I will never attack that place again!
You see, this is the difference in ideology.
The elite class of China has always governed the country by people and their wisdom, never by gods.
Therefore, the situation left to Zhao Huan was not bad.
Sure enough, Zhao Huan's saying, "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits," effectively silenced these scholars.
As for those few who were jumping around below saying "this is an ominous sign," they had already been clearly arranged to go to Lingnan.
They will soon contribute to building a better home there.
Outside the city of Tokyo, magnificent palaces stand in rows, arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, their glazed tiles gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Clumps of lush branches surround the palace, which is beginning to take shape.
Daming Palace witnessed the golden age of the Tang Dynasty and was recorded in history books.
Zhao Huan's Ziwei Palace was already taking shape.
Construction of the Ziwei Palace began in the third year of the Jingkang era, and its scale was three times that of the Daming Palace of the Tang Dynasty.
The imperial court mobilized 500,000 people to build the Ziwei Palace.
In fact, the old palace of Chang'an in the former Tang Dynasty was called Ziwei Palace, and the real meaning of Ziwei Palace is Heavenly Palace.
In mythology, the Ziwei Palace is the residence of the Heavenly Emperor.
Zhao Huan's intention was clear: "My residence is the highest in the four directions, governing all things and stars. The Celestial Empire is the heart of the four poles, and all the eight directions must come to pay homage."
At the very center of the Ziwei Palace stands a 600-foot (200-meter) tall building with nine levels, symbolizing the nine heavenly palaces.
From the ninth level, the emperor could see the Bian River, bathed in the morning sun, appearing as a magical ribbon of light passing through the city of Tokyo.
Zhao Huan already had ample financial resources to build palaces that showcased the prosperity of the empire.
Some people, however, lamented the emperor's extravagance and the waste of resources and manpower caused by his annual wars.
Looking at the celestial palace that seemed to reach into the clouds, some even lamented that it was an omen of national ruin.
Just like when the emperor insisted on conquering the Jin Dynasty, the marshal died suddenly.
Pessimists believe that the emperor should give away the money in the national treasury to the poor for free, so that everyone in the world can live in peace and prosperity.
A few days later, while the situation on the front lines was turbulent and unpredictable, a major event also occurred in Tokyo.
This incident was enough to cause a sensation throughout Tokyo.
Grand Chancellor Xu Churen of the Song Dynasty was impeached by the Censorate for embezzling a huge sum of money, and in the following days, the officials of the Censorate stayed up all night.
Soon, news of a demotion that shocked the court and the public spread from the palace.
Xu Churen was dismissed from his position as Grand Chancellor and demoted to Tanzhou in Jinghu South Circuit.
This was a major event in the tenth year of the Jingkang era, similar to Yue Fei's great victory over the Iron Pagoda.
Xu Churen served as Grand Chancellor for ten years, a period during which the power structure differed from that of the Song Dynasty.
The Grand Chancellor assumed unprecedented responsibility and, correspondingly, gained unprecedented power.
Under the first reform of the Song Dynasty, the Grand Chancellor spearheaded the most influential reform of commerce and trade.
It can be said that these ten years were a decade of fruitful results in the reform of commerce and trade in the Song Dynasty.
Traditional rules have been broken, and newly formed interest groups are like hungry wolves roaming the grasslands, hunting their prey and rapidly expanding their territory.
But it was precisely during this unprecedented surge in wealth that Dazai acquired the means to amass enormous riches.
Some people couldn't help but lament: "When the rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are gone, the bow is put away."
Xu Xiangong devoted himself to the Song Dynasty for ten years, yet he has met such an end.
Furthermore, some have analyzed in depth that the emperor's immediate removal of the Grand Chancellor after the marshal's death on the front lines was far too hasty.
This created a brief power vacuum in the Song Dynasty, inevitably leading to chaos.
Moreover, the emperor's actions were far too ruthless. Even if Minister Xu was at fault, there was no need to be so heartless.
At this critical moment, the situation ahead was extremely dangerous, yet he disregarded the overall picture and dismissed the Grand Chancellor.
This makes people feel that the emperor has reached his limit in tolerating the Grand Chancellor, which is disheartening.
However, a truly shrewd and experienced political expert saw right through the emperor's thoughts: a new interest group, represented by Xu Churen, was expanding at an unprecedented rate.
This new force is beginning to interfere in the selection of the current crown prince.
The reason the emperor took action against Xu Churen at this time was because the conflict was concentrated in the Jin state.
Then, countless people speculated about who would replace Xu Churen.
The most promising candidate to succeed the Grand Chancellor was Tang Ke, who was also the Vice Chancellor and Minister of Commerce.
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