Chapter 155 The Torrent of History and the Theory of Reform!
For a moment, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
No one expected Wei Shuyu to dare to confront Cui Yixuan head-on.
It would be understandable if it were Wei Zheng speaking to his face, since everyone is used to Wei Zheng's indiscriminate attacks.
But then Wei Shuyu appeared, and the ministers all felt awkward and uncomfortable.
"Not bad...you've got guts!"
Cui Yixuan withdrew his imposing aura, stroking his beard like a kind but mischievous uncle. However, his words were like a raging storm, one wave stronger than the next: "Since you dare to say this, you must have been prepared."
"I'd like to offer you a friendly reminder..."
"If your answer is not convincing enough to all scholars, even if you want to promote commerce, this policy will not be able to be implemented!"
"A scholar has spent his whole life reading!"
"It is absolutely unacceptable to let merchants stand on our heads and defecate!"
Faced with Cui Yixuan's assertiveness, Wei Shuyu remained calm, because he had anticipated this.
If you want to improve the status of merchants, scholars will definitely be the first problem you encounter!
"Then listen carefully..."
Cui Yixuan's words were like a raging storm, while Wei Shuyu stood tall and imposing like a towering mountain. Then, one after another, like meteorites crashing down, he shattered all the raging storm...
"If there's a reason why the pro-commercial policy must continue..."
"First, the Xia dynasty was ruled by hereditary succession. After Yu died, he wanted to pass the throne to Yi. Qi, Yu's son, believed that the throne should be passed to him. In the end, Qi established the hereditary system!"
"Second, after Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin, internal strife continued until the political situation stabilized after the capital was moved to Yin, and the Shang Dynasty became powerful."
"Third, the revolution of Tang and Wu, King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, established the Zhou Dynasty, and laid the foundation for the enfeoffment system!"
"Fourth, Taigong governs Qi. Jiang Taigong was enfeoffed to the State of Qi, where he fished, produced salt, raised silkworms, and facilitated trade and commerce, thus initiating the first reform in history that emphasized commercial civilization!"
"Fifth, Guan Zhong's reforms: During his tenure, Guan Zhong implemented major reforms, enriching the country and strengthening its military. He also emphasized commerce, making Qi a powerful state and laying the foundation for Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony!"
"Sixth, Li Kui's Reforms. Li Kui advocated abolishing the privileges of hereditary nobles, selecting the virtuous and capable, and clearly distinguishing between rewards and punishments. In order to consolidate the results of the reforms, he compiled the penal codes of various countries and wrote the book "Fa Jing" to protect the reforms with law and solidify feudal legal rights!"
"Seventh, Wu Qi's reforms implemented reforms in the politics, law, and military of the State of Chu. Unfortunately, after the death of King Dao of Chu, the reforms failed due to opposition from the old nobles of Chu."
"VIII. Shen Buhai's Reforms..."
"Nine, Shang Yang's Reforms..."
"Ten, Adopting nomadic dress and archery skills..."
"Eleventh, Qin Shi Huang unified the country..."
"Twelfth, Zhao Cuo's reduction of the fiefdoms..."
"Thirteen, Emperor Wu of Han's Reforms..."
"XIV. Wang Mang's Reforms..."
"Fifteen, Emperor Xiaowen's Reforms in the Northern Wei Dynasty..."
"Sixteen, the Sui Dynasty's imperial examination system and the reform of the Three Departments and Six Ministries system..."
As Wei Shuyu continued his eloquent narration, the assembled officials were already dumbfounded.
The officials who were able to enter the Taiji Hall were very intelligent and had probably already guessed what Wei Shuyu wanted to say.
Cheng Yaojin nodded in a perfunctory manner, as if he understood.
Swish.
Wei Shuyu's sharp gaze swept over the assembled officials.
"What I want to say is that reform is inevitable!"
"Every powerful dynasty evolved from reforms!"
Turning his head, Wei Shuyu looked at Cui Yixuan with a resolute and sharp gaze, and then his aura poured down like a storm...
"You say that scholars all over the world want to stop it, but what reasons do they have to stop it?"
"Is it merely a title for scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants?"
"Lu Ban was just a carpenter, yet he was still revered by people all over the world!"
"Bian Que, Zhang Zhongjing, Hua Tuo... and our Tang Dynasty's legendary physician Sun Simiao, who among them was not respected by the people?"
"If a scholar has ability, he will naturally be loved and respected by the people."
"If a scholar lacks ability, he deserves to be scorned!"
"You're saying the theories of the sages of the past are correct?"
"Whether they are right or wrong, I dare not say for sure, but I can say with my head held high that history does not lie, and the benefits that various reforms have brought us do not lie either!"
"Without reform, we might still be living in the Stone Age, wandering around with stones."
"Reform is for the benefit of the people; anyone who dares to obstruct it is an enemy of the whole world!"
"Reform is an inevitable historical trend, and anyone who tries to obstruct it is a sinner against history!"
"Our Great Tang Dynasty, with its dragon coiled across the land, should naturally conform to the primordial history..."
"For a strong military and for a strong government."
"For the prosperity of the country and for the well-being of the people."
"For the sake of the world and the nation."
"To usher in an era of peace for all generations..."
Wow!
The ministers were so shocked that their hair stood on end.
The phrase "to bring peace to all generations" completely crushed Cui Yixuan's scholarly views into dust.
Scholars are very capable!
However, compared to the emperors and famous ministers of various dynasties, they were indeed somewhat inadequate.
In the grand scheme of history, it is merely a synonym.
Cui Yixuan's expression also changed.
His lips twitched, as if he wanted to argue something.
But in the end, we found that all words seemed insignificant and powerless in the face of the torrent of history.
Finally, he let out a long sigh, bowed to Li Shimin, and said, "Your subject has nothing to say!"
Another defeat?
The courtiers were speechless.
Even Cui Yixuan was defeated?
Could it be...
Is this pro-business policy really going to be passed?
Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, never expecting that Wei Shuyu's words would have such an impact.
Unlike others, he was the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
I hope the people are doing well.
What he hopes for even more is to surpass Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han and become an emperor for all time.
Wei Shuyu's words, "To usher in an era of peace for all generations," struck a chord deep within him.
If I were to actually launch reforms, I would definitely leave a significant mark on history.
Below, the historian sat in his seat, writing furiously, determined to record Wei Shuyu's words.
It was even necessary to record it word for word.
The very concept of reform was enough to serve as a reminder to future rulers.
No, not just kings.
Every official, scholar, and commoner of future generations should remember this!
"Do any of you ministers have any objections to the pro-commerce policy?"
Seeing that no one objected for a long time, Li Shimin began to ask the final questions.
The courtiers frowned.
They were deeply disgusted by this pro-commercial policy.
But Wei Shuyu's words were really too sharp.
Anyone who opposes this is going against the world and will be cursed by future generations.
Who dares to step forward?
The courtiers kept turning to look around, hoping someone would stand up and refute them.
Yet still, no one dared to do it.
"Since no one objects, then this pro-commercial policy..."
Just as Li Shimin was about to announce the passage of the proposal, a voice suddenly rang out.
Like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
Swish...
The courtiers looked in the direction of the sound.
At the very front, Prince Li Ke of Shu stepped forward and bowed to Li Shimin.
"Father, I believe that such a pro-commerce policy is absolutely unacceptable!"
Upon seeing this, the ministers' faces immediately turned strange.
Wei Shuyu's presentation of matters in front of the palace was clearly at the behest of Li Shimin.
Li Ke, as Li Shimin's son, suddenly stood up to oppose it.
This is rather intriguing.
What do you have to say?
Li Shimin's expression was also not very good.
Your stance is so clear, yet you still stand up to oppose it; you're just losing face.
"Father, what I want to say is that it is naturally a good thing if the reform is successful."
"But what if it fails?"
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