Chapter 896 A Dream of Youth 428
Zhao Huilan still slipped the small purse in her hand over, and then followed Xia Xiang step by step down the white jade steps. "Today my granddaughter learned a few lines of poetry: 'When you gain, sing loudly; when you lose, rest.' Many sorrows and hatreds are also fleeting. Drink today's wine today, and worry about tomorrow tomorrow."
Isn't this a reflection of many officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty?
They were dejected, living for the moment and indulging in pleasure, indulging in a life of revelry and debauchery, content with the status quo, unaware of the turbulent currents beneath the surface and the lurking wolves in the shadows.
You are not unaware of this, which is why you reformed the performance evaluation and promotion system, incorporating the error of "inaction" into it.
Xia Xiang stopped in his tracks and looked down at Zhao Huilan.
Zhao Huilan also bowed slightly, "Things must first rot before worms breed. Because they have weaknesses in their hearts, they failed to uphold their bottom line and succumbed to the temptations of money and sex."
As stated in "Lunheng: Daoxu", when one attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Some officials may be honest and upright themselves, but they cannot guarantee that those around them will be as honest and upright as they are, to the point that they may throw themselves into the river without realizing it.
"Grandfather, just as a tree breaks when many insects gnaw at it, and a wall crumbles when there are large cracks, the Great Zhou Dynasty is like this tree and this wall. Those corrupt officials are like the insects that gnaw at the beams; if they are not eradicated, the Great Zhou Dynasty is in grave danger."
Xia Xiang waved his hand, "Throughout history, no dynasty has been immune to corruption. But as long as people have selfish desires, corruption cannot be eradicated. We can only try our best to control it within a certain range."
"But the Great Zhou is now out of control." Among the highest-ranking officials involved are vice ministers, and more than one.
"Then let me teach you a saying: 'To punish a newly established state, use lenient punishments; to punish a peaceful state, use moderate punishments; to punish a chaotic state, use severe punishments. Your Majesty's foundation is unstable; under severe punishments, chaos will surely ensue.'"
Moreover, His Majesty is the emperor; if he were to punish scholar-officials, she would have no means of restraint.
Imperial power is supreme, but it also needs to be checked and balanced.
Zhao Huilan straightened up, her gaze falling on Xia Xiang's back. For a moment, she really didn't know how to refute him.
"But from another perspective, the Great Zhou was a chaotic country. It used severe punishments to coerce people's hearts and intimidate them, which could curb the corruption of officials."
Above imperial power, however, are the laws and regulations.
Yuan Can slowly walked up from below. She wasn't eavesdropping on purpose; her Buddhist prayer beads had simply fallen.
"Master Yuan."
Zhao Huilan bowed, then smiled bitterly, "But now, imperial power is greater than the law."
That's why she had no way to defend herself.
Yuan Can looked back at the majestic palace, the weight of time seemingly embodied in her. "The present does not represent the future."
Zhao Huilan was startled, yet she seemed to understand but not quite.
Yuan Can didn't say much, because that future was still very, very far away.
Throughout history, imperial power has deepened step by step, with each monarch consolidating and expanding their power. However, extremes always lead to their opposites. She could see the deep-seated problems buried beneath imperial power and centralized authority, and they were digging their own graves.
One day, they will destroy themselves.
Therefore, Yuan Can couldn't help but wonder, what if the law were placed above imperial power?
But the road ahead was always shrouded in mist, and she couldn't see clearly.
Xie Ning was the first person to share her thoughts, and she never dared to share these thoughts with others, because not only others, but even she herself found them somewhat absurd.
A black crane alights on the golden summit, and a tall pine tree stands on this mountain.
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