Chapter 15 In the face of power, ancestral teachings have to stand aside (Please read, please vote for the monthly ticket, please recommend!)
"Hu Weiyong really wins the hearts of the people. Once he speaks, all the officials will agree with him. He is really overbearing."

After the court was dismissed, Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang on the carriage to the imperial study. Zhu Gang turned his head to Zhu Biao, with a playful smile on his lips, and spoke in a low voice.

But everyone could understand the playfulness and sarcasm in those words.

"Third brother, don't touch Hu Weiyong. Leave him to dad."

Although Zhu Gang's voice was low, the carriage was so big that Zhu Yuanzhang could not fail to hear it, so he looked up at Zhu Gang and said.

"If you want to destroy someone, you must first make him crazy." Zhu Biao also said with a slight smile.

When Hu Weiyong thought that his power could rival that of the emperor, that was the day when all his nine clans were wiped out.

"Old man, Hu Weiyong's evil ambitions are obvious, but you haven't touched him yet. It seems that he has big plans."

Zhu Gang's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang and smiled.

"Guess what we want to do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang still looked at Zhu Gang with a smile.

Zhu Gang was smart since he was young and had a more thorough understanding of affairs, so Zhu Gang was quite curious. Could Zhu Gang guess that he, Zhu Gang, wanted to take action against the Secretariat system?
"From the attitudes of the court officials, it is already a fact that Hu Weiyong formed a clique for personal gain, but you still did not touch Hu Weiyong, old man."

"Then let me think, old man, you should want to take action against the Secretariat, or abolish it, right?"

There was still a hint of amusement in Zhu Gang's eyes.

No need to guess?

History has already made it clear that Zhu Yuanzhang just wanted to take action against the prime minister.

"As expected of my son, I do want to take action against the prime minister system."

There was no emotion on Zhu Yuanzhang's face. Instead, he raised a satisfied smile and said.

"The Secretariat, which has been in use for thousands of years, especially the left and right prime ministers, has power second only to the emperor and above everyone else."

"You can even take charge of all national affairs and make decisions without the emperor's approval. This is indeed a threat to you who hopes to monopolize power."

"Furthermore, throughout the dynasties, the prime minister has held a high position of power, which easily leads to the formation of powerful ministers, which is also a provocation to the imperial power."

"So abolishing the power of the prime minister can further strengthen the emperor's power, so that the emperor will no longer have any constraints."

Zhu Gang thought for a moment, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Old man, am I right?"

"Yes, that's exactly what we thought."

"After all, there is only one Zhu Yuanzhang in the world, and as long as I am here, the Prime Minister of the Secretariat will not be able to stir up any trouble, but what about the rulers of future generations?"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not refute, but just nodded slightly.

"You can do that, too."

A gleam of light flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes, and he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and bowed.

"Of course I know you, and I trust you, but what about after you?"

"Have you ever thought about this? If the power of the prime minister becomes too great, what will happen to the imperial power?"

"So only by abolishing this malpractice can we ensure the longevity of our Ming Dynasty and prevent future generations from being constrained by the power of the prime minister."

"From now on, all the core power of the court will be in the hands of the emperor. There will no longer be powerful ministers manipulating the government, and the emperor will no longer be sidelined." Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Biao's shoulder gently, with a flash of relief in his eyes.

"A good blacksmith must be strong himself. After all, if the descendants of the future generations are not motivated, even if there is no power to restrain them, powerful officials will be born. This is the general trend of the world."

Zhu Gang glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and poured cold water on him, saying, "Moreover, abolishing the power of the prime minister means that the emperor will have to deal with government affairs every day without anyone to assist him. Besides, you can't expect all your descendants to learn from your diligence, right?"

Zhu Gang paused again, then continued to look at Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao and said, "Even if you and your elder brother can bear it, the emperors after you may not be able to bear it. When that time comes, what do you think the emperor will do in order to relax and not violate your ancestral system?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was suddenly covered with a layer of gloom, and his brows were changing. Just as he was about to speak.

"Either set up a power equal to that of the prime minister, or disperse the power among the six ministries and let them make their own decisions. In this way, the emperor can also get rid of government affairs."

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Gang first and thought: "But it is impossible to avoid powerful ministers running the government or the six ministries becoming too powerful. After all, no one can guarantee that the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty will be a wise ruler."

"That's right." Zhu Gang nodded.

Facing the conversation between the two brothers, even Zhu Yuanzhang was silent. Although he felt uncomfortable, he had to admit that Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao were right. No one could guarantee that the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty would not be a tyrant!

After all, the examples from past dynasties are there, and even if Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to argue, he was powerless.

As for blaming Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao, forget it. They were not Zhu Yuanzhang's subjects, but Zhu Yuanzhang's sons and the royal family of the Ming Dynasty. Shouldn't it be right for them to worry about their own family?

"So we can't abolish the Secretariat? We can only weaken its power?"

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang finally looked up at Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao, still somewhat unwillingly saying: "Or, let's establish the imperial precepts of the Ming Dynasty, so that future emperors will be diligent in government affairs and not disperse the imperial power!"

He was indeed unwilling to accept this. After all, Zhu had been preparing for the plan to depose the prime minister for so long and thought it was perfect. But who could have imagined that it was full of loopholes?
"You are getting old and confused, aren't you?"

"You are the emperor of this dynasty, you can make the decision, but can you guarantee that future rulers will follow the imperial Ming ancestral precepts?"

"Stop making trouble. He is the emperor now. How can the imperial power, which is above all others, be restrained by the imperial precepts of the Ming Dynasty?"

"If the rulers of later generations think you are unreasonable, even you, the founding emperor, can still disobey the imperial precepts of the Ming Dynasty."

"Of course you can say they are unfilial, but officials in the world will never say their emperor is unfilial. Instead, they will eliminate the ancestral teachings and bad systems, and praise the emperors of later generations for their wisdom!"

"why?"

"Because, power."

"No one can resist the temptation of power. Even if it is the imperial precepts of the Ming Dynasty, as long as the emperor dares to start, these officials will dare to follow suit. Do you believe it?"

Zhu Gang glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said with disdain: "And don't forget, the county magistrate of a county is called the county magistrate by the local people, so how powerful is that in the local area? And if you violate the ancestral precepts you have established, you will have power second only to one person and above ten thousand people? Who wouldn't be tempted?"

"really."

Zhu Biao also nodded in agreement. He also felt that one should not base everything on the vague ancestral teachings.

"Oh, what should I do?"

Upon hearing this, a trace of sadness flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's face. At this moment, he was no longer the mighty and domineering Hongwu Emperor, but more like a man full of worries.

Because what Zhu Gang said was right. After all, ancestral precepts are instructions left by our ancestors. Following them is a way of respecting our ancestors, but not following them will not cause opposition from the ministers.

After all, facing the overwhelming power, all ancestral teachings are nothing but clouds, and the only thing those ministers care about is whether their own power can be further improved!
Anyway, the emperor of this world is no longer Zhu Yuanzhang, so what do they have to fear!
.

(End of this chapter)