Chapter 170: Power is the best explanation for why water can carry a boat, but can also capsize it.

The next day, near the morning court session, in the imperial study.

"Today's morning court session will be difficult. I'm afraid that Teacher Song Lian will come to the court in person."

The two Zhu Gang brothers sat at the table and had their meal while Zhu Biao spoke.

Song Lian, Zhang Yi, Liu Ji and Ye Chen are collectively known as the Four Masters of Eastern Zhejiang.

He is also known as one of the "Three Great Poets and Prose Masters of the Early Ming Dynasty" along with Gao Qi and Liu Ji.

He was even praised by Zhu Yuanzhang as the first civil official of the founding of the country.

He was a great scholar in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty.

He was also Zhu Biao's teacher and was respected as the "Five Classics" teacher.

"My teacher is Li Xiyan, and my calligraphy teacher is Du Huan. Neither of them is worse than Song Lian."

Zhu Gang drank his porridge and waved his hands.

"You just dislike Teacher Song Lian for being a corrupt scholar."

Zhu Biao paused slightly and said with a little helplessness.

In fact, at the beginning, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted Song Lian to teach Zhu Gang, but was rejected by Zhu Gang. It was not because he felt that Song Lian was incapable of teaching him.

It was just because Zhu Gang thought Song Lian was a corrupt scholar who never knew how to adapt, so he refused to accept Song Lian as his teacher.

Instead, he directly switched to Li Xiyan's school.

Because Li Xiyan is also a great Confucian scholar in the country. Although his personality is similar to Song Lian, his ideas on education are different.

As for Du Huan, a calligrapher in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, his achievements in calligraphy were admired by many people in his time.

So Zhu Yuanzhang invited Du Huan to be the teacher of King Jin and teach Zhu Gang calligraphy.

As the saying goes, a disciple surpasses his master, which made Du Huan very happy that he finally passed on all he had learned in his life.

"But he is indeed a corrupt scholar who only knows how to lecture and write classics. He has never been able to adapt. He has always followed the ancient system. Any change would violate Confucius's philosophy and would be of no benefit to the country."

Zhu Gang curled his lips.

Song Lian had always been an honest official with incorruptible personal wealth, and he often relied on Crown Prince Zhu Biao for support.

To put it bluntly, he is just a pure scholar.

Looking at his life, the only area of ​​achievement he made was in literature.

This is also Song Lian’s contribution to the Ming Dynasty.

After all, you can't rely on Song Lian to handle government affairs, but the fact that he ordered the revision of the Yuan history and compiled the national history does make him worthy of being a great scholar of our time.

"So I can't go to the morning court today."

"After all, I am facing my own teacher, so I can't be aggressive. I will always be a little soft-hearted."

"How can I be so soft-hearted when I am helping my country?"

"You go ahead. I won't show up today."

"I just hope that you will forgive his offense for being so disrespectful because he was once my teacher. If it is really too much, please don't let him retire."

Zhu Biao put down his bowl and chopsticks and shook his head slightly.

Zhu Biao was a man of great loyalty and ruthlessness, but facing his own teacher, he probably couldn't bring himself to do it no matter what.

That's why he wanted to ask Zhu Gang to do it, because only in this way could Zhu Biao make Song Lian understand that the court was determined to deal with the case of the Little Ming King severely.

I also hope that Song Lian can retreat when he sees the difficulty, and not be implicated by this group of rebels, leaving a stain on the history books and tarnishing his integrity and honesty in this life.

"You play the good cop, and I play the bad cop."

"If you really piss me off, you can go to your gentleman's grave and pay your respects."

Zhu Gang smiled meaningfully.

"You can lock them up, you can imprison them, but you can't kill them."

“This is my position.”

Zhu Biao simply shook his head.

"But begging for mercy for the rebels is to disregard national justice."

Zhu Gang still looked at Zhu Biao in a teasing manner.

"I didn't say he won't be punished, but he's already old, and for the sake of the country and the public, we should give him a chance to live."

"Besides, everyone in the court knows the ways of the world. For example, even those court officials would give us some leeway."

"After all, as long as it's not a life-and-death feud, everything can be let go, and the sins of today, won't they be the ones to blame tomorrow?"

"So the officials will certainly plead for you, so you can use this as an excuse to spare you, and at the same time appease the officials."

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Biao murmured.

The ministers in the Fengtian Palace today have not suffered from the disaster of bloody prison, but will there be a disaster of bloody prison in the future?
No one can explain clearly that in the era when imperial power was supreme, no one would not die and no one could not die.

So showing some mercy is also giving yourself a way out.

After all, it’s the old saying that among the ministers who can truly step into the Fengtian Palace, which one of them is not well versed in the way of power, and which one of them is not a thousand-year-old fox?
But there are some things, even if you can think clearly, even if you can see clearly, but you can only understand it, not express it in words.

Because this has been an iron rule since ancient times. The imperial power wins over the hearts of the people, appeases the people of the world, and governs the people on behalf of God. The ministers are also the people.

"You're cruel, but you've never thought of killing your own husband."

"You're not ruthless, but you've almost squeezed out all the value your husband had."

Zhu Gang's mouth twitched slightly.

"You have great ambitions, but you are still the King of Jin, which is the royal power under the imperial power."

"But when you establish a country in the future, you will understand the pain of sitting in this position."

"Some things are beyond one's control. Besides, I am only a prince, but I already understand the complexities involved."

"So you can imagine how difficult it is for our old man."

Zhu Biao did not answer Zhu Gang's question, but sighed softly.

"The court is like a big net woven by fishermen. There are rules for which end to pull and which end to tie the rope."

"The same is true for the court officials. They form a huge network of relationships with each other. These relationships are so complicated that even a small move can affect the entire body."

"If we are not careful, the court will fall into turmoil."

"Because the emperor is not omnipotent, the court officials are also needed by the emperor, but behind the high officials and dignitaries, there are countless interests and intricate relationships."

"It's like salt. Yujing Pavilion just became popular in Yingtian Prefecture yesterday, and our uncles all went to Duke Chang's Mansion, hoping to get a piece of the pie."

"After all, the profits from salt are huge, and it's not against the law. As long as we can operate it, uncles can also make some clean money."

"But given their temperament, do you think if the court really relaxes, they will be content to earn this little bit?"

"No, you have to understand that money can move people's hearts. There will always be people who are blinded by greed in this world."

"Just like they will never know about their little dealings with tea and salt. The old man is not unaware of it, but he just turns a blind eye."

"As long as you don't go too far and save face, the old man will let you go."

"After all, we have been brothers for so many years. How could I really punish them for a little salt and tea business?" Seeing that Zhu Gang did not reply, Zhu Biao still sighed.

It was no secret that the Huaixi nobles were secretly engaged in the tea and salt trade, but the deal was not too serious.

In addition, with the recent warnings, the Huaixi nobles and even the court officials who were in collusion with them were afraid of a thorough investigation by the court, so they adjusted the prices of tea and salt back to what they should be in the market.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang could also understand that his group of old brothers were tired of the hard life and wanted to leave a solid foundation for their descendants.

As for those court officials, their situation is also complicated. If they are hit with one stick, the court will be in chaos in an instant.

The increase in salary has only made them more obedient, but it has not made them stop.

“The situation is unstable, I certainly understand that.”

"Besides, it's just business. As long as the price is fair, the old man will not do anything to them."

"After all, they have not violated the foundation of the country, and there is no solid evidence to prove that they are defrauding the people."

"But what about the people down there?"

"That's unknown. After all, given their status, they will only distribute the salt tea, and it will eventually fall into the hands of those wealthy businessmen."

"This is also their cleverness. Even if the imperial court really punishes them severely, those who are killed are only the wealthy merchants who are blinded by greed."

"They have legal procedures and have followed all the rules, so everything can be traced. The worst that can be done is a salary fine."

Zhu Gang certainly understood the complexity of this matter. After all, the Jinyiwei were not just for show, but he nodded.

"In short, it's very complicated, just like Concubine Ning's brother, Guo Ying, who is also our aunt's brother."

"He is loyal to our old man and is a royal relative. He never forms a clique for personal gain, but he is also involved in the tea and salt business."

"Even some merchants in Yingtian Prefecture have his shadow behind them."

"Why would such a person participate?"

"To put it bluntly, it's all about money."

"For example, when Concubine Ning comes to visit her parents, Guo Ying is responsible for all the food, clothing and expenses of the maids and guards who accompany her."

"And with Guo Ying's meager salary, how can Qifu's family and guards and servants afford to eat and drink?"

"The whole family is waiting for money, and he is also a good Huaixi hero, so naturally there will be people to help him, and he can naturally participate."

"This is equivalent to a bundle of benefits. Even though Guo Ying has not been conferred a title, he is still Concubine Ning's brother, so having Guo Ying can give us more peace of mind."

"Then for the sake of the food and drink expenses of the whole family, and for the expenses of my sister's visit, Guo Ying has no choice but to do this even if she is unwilling."

"But Guo Ying never oppressed the people or seized their land."

Zhu Biao sat down on a chair beside him again and then spoke slowly.

"If we want our uncles to behave themselves, we need to constantly urge them, otherwise there will always be trouble."

"So if we want to solve the problem once and for all, we need to change some things and dismantle these complicated networks from within."

"This is a long project, but once the Hongwu Military Academy is established, we can create a leaderless situation, and we can clean it up bit by bit."

"After all, in the military academy, they are not powerful dukes, nor are they the feared nobles of Huaixi. They are simply students."

"In addition, reforming the law and revising all the rules will also help them learn from their mistakes and completely put an end to the phenomenon of abusing power for personal gain."

Zhu Gang glanced at Zhu Biao and spoke softly again.

Power is something that cannot be explained or understood.

Because it is inherently complex.

But in the final analysis, rights are about maintaining order.

So as long as the order is not broken, rights remain power.

In fact, it can also be understood that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.

The ever-flowing river is the foundation of a dynasty.

But if it is not dredged, this endless river will turn into a bursting of the dam, overturning everything in an instant.

"Let's not talk about these bad things."

"There is still half an hour before the morning court session."

Zhu Biao waved his hand, calculated the time again, and then said, "It just so happens that I have something to ask you. I went to Kunning Palace last night, and the old man told me about your idea for the reconstruction of the Censorate."

"But I have a doubt. That is, the Censorate was rebuilt, but it was not fundamentally strengthening the Censorate."

"So what do you think about the Jinyiwei?"

"The power between the two has actually caused a conflict, and if the Censorate is strengthened, there will probably be no peace between them forever."

After saying this, Zhu Biao turned around and looked at Zhu Gang, also wanting to understand.

What exactly was Zhu Gang thinking?

After all, the Jinyiwei belonged only to the emperor and had the power to detect, arrest, interrogate and even execute.

Especially when it comes to political cases and serious crimes, the Jinyiwei are often granted special powers.

Therefore, the actions of the Jinyiwei sometimes go beyond legal norms and they can handle cases directly without going through normal judicial procedures.

But the Censorate was different. It was the court’s supervisory agency and belonged to the formal judicial and supervisory system.

Its responsibilities are to supervise officials at all levels, prevent corruption and correct official malpractices.

Therefore, the Supervisory Censors of the Censorate had the power to impeach officials and participate in judicial trials, and their actions and judgments usually had to follow established legal procedures.

The power between the two is by no means simply complementary, but has already caused a conflict of authority.

Because of the special powers of the Jinyiwei, they can completely circumvent judicial procedures and lack transparency, which is bound to cause dissatisfaction from the Censorate.

What's more, the Censorate needs to be strengthened. Wouldn't this lead to even greater conflicts?
But logically, it is impossible for Zhu Gang not to understand this point, so Zhu Biao was confused.

“Legislation clarifies powers.”

"The meaning is very simple, that is, to compile the "Jinyiwei Regulations" and the "Inspectorate Charter" to clearly define the scope of authority of the two institutions to avoid conflicts caused by overlapping authority."

"For example, the Jinyiwei was mainly responsible for the security of the Ming Dynasty, confidential intelligence, and the investigation of major crimes."

"The Censorate, on the other hand, focuses on monitoring officials' daily behavior, corruption, and dereliction of duty."

"And the Jinyiwei is directly under the emperor. It is said that the emperor is in charge, so the censors of the Inspectorate in Beijing will also have a cold knife hanging over their heads."

"As for the Jinyiwei of each prefecture and the imperial censors, they will also play a role of checking and balancing each other."

“Because even if the powers between them are clearly defined, real conflicts cannot be avoided.”

"This is equivalent to putting them on opposite sides, forming a mutual supervision effect."

"So strengthening the authority of the Censorate can also give them a little more say, so that they can have more confidence when facing the Royal Guards, and prevent them from colluding with each other."

Zhu Gang had already thought of a countermeasure, so he started talking about it.

But a secret agency will always be a secret agency, so the Jinyiwei is only applicable to feudal dynasties.

But under the control of the general direction, Jinyiwei can only be in the early stage to stabilize the situation. As for the later stage, Jinyiwei will also be rebuilt.

(End of this chapter)