Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 180: No family is better than another, the outer path is the inner king!
Jiakang City, the government office.

A yellow wooden carriage with carved patterns stopped quietly in front of the government office, and the coachman gently pulled the reins.

Drink in a low voice:

"U-"

The groom was a tall, middle-aged man, wearing a fine linen shirt and a leather belt around his waist. He had a square face, a full beard, and a somewhat honest look.

"Dear guests, we have arrived at Jiakang Mansion!"

Three people got off the carriage, and the young lady among them attracted the coachman's attention for a few more times.

He had been pulling a rickshaw for many years and had seldom seen a woman with such an elegant temperament and appearance, so he looked away without looking at her for long.

Yuwen Liqian supported Du Hui and walked down.

When Yu Wenli Qian was studying at Bailu Academy, he never revealed his identity.

Teacher Du Hui did not tolerate any sloppiness in teaching, and he often spanked her palms.

Even after she regained her status as a princess, Du Hui remained the same.

He also said, "I am a teacher in the school, and I treat even the princes equally."

Du Hui, the old man from the Great Chu, was covered in dust but his face was filled with joy.

"Li Qian remembers that sir, he has wanted to come to Yandi for a long time, but he has always been burdened by worldly affairs."

Du Hui nodded!
“Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!”

Du Hui looked at the four hired carriages, and a different expression appeared on his old face.

In the Chu State, propriety and virtue were advocated.

Etiquette is the law of etiquette.

The emperor drives six chariots, while the princes drive four chariots. This has been the rule since ancient times.

Even the prince dared not cross the line!
The streets were filled with carriages and horses, all kinds of fancy cars competing with each other for splendor, and carriages pulled by six or seven horses were not uncommon.

Yu Wenli looked at Teacher Du Hui in deep thought, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he asked softly:

"Sir, are you also confused by the sight of carriages on this road?"

"When Li Qian first arrived, she was also amazed."

"Isn't this the opposite of what the teacher taught us?"

Du Hui shook his head!
"The way of the great Dao is to make the world a common good!"

"When the true great way is implemented, the world belongs to the people."

"A truly wise king would never use the luxury of a carriage to show off his uniqueness!"

Yu Wenliqian didn't expect the gentleman to answer like this.

The groom standing by couldn't help but show a little more respect when he heard this. After all, this world respects talented and learned people.

He sincerely praised:
"Well said, old sir!"

Du Hui stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Thank you for the compliment, little brother. You have a keen eye for talent."

Yu Wenli smiled faintly, "Sir, you are still the same."

The three of them looked at the low government office.

There is a blue door plaque on it.

"Jiakang Mansion!"

This seemingly ordinary gate is actually the government office of such a big city.

In the Five Kingdoms, the prefect was a high-ranking official appointed by the emperor himself, in charge of the people, justice, education, taxation, public security, water conservancy, etc. He was the capital of a powerful city.

But it seems to be different in Yandi?
In a prosperous city like Da Chu, the prefectural government offices were often built in a magnificent manner, covering a vast area. There were as many as forty or fifty side halls inside, and more than one hundred and sixty residential buildings lined up one after another, fully demonstrating the majesty and power of the government.

Pushing the door, you will see the main bodies including the screen wall, main gate, ceremonial gate, main lobby Yingong gate, second hall, inner house gate and third hall.

Left is civil and right is military!
On the left are the guard room, household room and courtesy room.

On the right are the torture chamber, workroom and barracks.

Each door seems to tell the story of the gradual progression of power.

On the lintel of the lobby.

The four characters "upright and open" are hung on it, indicating fairness and impartiality.

The "Keep Away" and "Quiet" plaques in front of the police's court make people feel awe and afraid to act rashly.

However!
The government office in front of me is contrary to the norm. The buildings are low and not conspicuous. If an unfamiliar passerby does not look closely, it may be difficult to realize that this is an important government place.

Yuwen Liqian was puzzled when he saw this, and asked Mr. Du Hui softly:
"Sir, is there any deep meaning behind this construction, or is there something wrong with it?"

She thought to herself that the grandeur of the government office was meant to demonstrate official authority, intimidate the people, and reduce trouble from unruly citizens.

The maid beside her also echoed the words: "Yes, Miss, the bigger the government office, the better."

"The public garden I saw by the river yesterday was also like this, with extraordinary grandeur. This government office is so simple, could it be that the officials are lining their own pockets and only care about their own pockets, regardless of the government's reputation?"

The groom looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, but in the end he chose to remain silent.

Seeing this, Du Hui said gently:
"Little brother, you seem to have something to say, why not tell me."

The honest middle-aged man scratched his head embarrassedly and explained:

"My dear guests, you have come from far away, so you may not understand the government office!"

Du Hui smiled and said:
"I would like to hear the details. Please give me some advice, little brother."

The groom waved his hand quickly and said, "I can't say I can teach you."

"In this city, there is not only one government office, but actually four, all of this size. Although nominally there is only one prefect in charge, there are actually four councilors under him, who are in charge of justice and taxation respectively, and each of them has their own responsibilities and rules separately."

"This government office is the headquarters. It is where cases are heard, imperial edicts are read, officials are received, and important ceremonies are held." "Miss, don't say that this prefect is corrupt and perverts the law. The previous prefects were all good officials."

Mr. Du Hui nodded when he heard this, and thought to himself that such a setup was tantamount to dispersing power. Although the prefect was still the master of a city in name, in reality the responsibility of governance had been shared among more people.

The groom continued:

"Originally, this government office was planned to be built more magnificently, but His Royal Highness Prince Yan ordered that the government office should not be judged by its size, and should not make the people feel intimidated. Therefore, it was built to this scale."

"I think what King Yan said makes sense."

The groom's words were full of admiration for King Yan.

There was still a look of dissatisfaction on the maid's face.

She also grew up in the palace and learned to read and write with the princess since she was a child. How could her knowledge be less than that of a coachman?

Du Hui nodded and said:
“The reputation of a government office does not lie in its height but in its governance; the virtue of an official does not lie in his position but in his heart.”

The authority of a government does not lie in the size of its buildings but in the support of the people.

The driver waited there.

The three of them walked slowly towards the government office.

There are no two stone lions at the door, only two pots of orchids.

This stone lion is also called a door lintel, and only the royal family and government officials are qualified to place it.

The brick carvings or wood carvings on the lintel or on both sides of the lintel are called "Hudui".

The number of "household pairs" is directly proportional to the rank of the official position.

This is a government office.

There is no right door, no right household!
There is only a stone tablet on the left side.

The three of them stopped in front of the stone tablet.

The gate was open, and there were no guards on either side. Only the occasional person came in and out, with a peaceful look on their face, without the slightest restraint or fear.

This scene was different from the majestic government office that Yuwen Liqian had seen in his mind!
That sentence suddenly popped up in her mind.

"The government office doesn't need to be built too high, or the people will be scared!"

Du Hui looked at the words on the stone tablet.

The previous article only has a few words!
“People’s livelihood is the priority!”

"If it benefits the people, there is no need to follow the old ways; if it is convenient for the work, there is no need to follow the customs."

"The will of heaven is not to be feared, and the laws of our ancestors are not to be followed!"

Yu Wen Li Qian and the others had seen it before and knew what was written on it.

"Sir, the words engraved on this stone tablet are from the opening chapter of 'Essentials of Governing the North' written by the King of Yan."

This book was widely circulated in Yan, although the second half was considered top secret by the Yan Palace.

But these few short words were so heart-stirring when she read them for the first time.

No wonder the Kingdom of Han and the Kingdom of Chu banned this book.

Fear not the will of heaven, fear not the laws of ancestors.

Just for people's livelihood!
Du Hui touched the words above with his hand, took a deep breath and said:
"This King of Yan is truly a wise ruler!"

"It has the aura of the creation of the world."

Yuwen Liqian had known for a long time that the master admired Lu Chen.

The maid beside him whispered:

"Yes, a wise ruler who devoted himself to Taoism for ten years but turned a deaf ear to state affairs."

Is there such a wise ruler in the world?
Lu Chen's ten years of cultivation have always been criticized by the Confucian school.

There are still a few lines of writing under the stone tablet!
"Only talent is considered, not background!"

"In troubled times, there is no distinction between high-class families and low-class families, no distinction between nobles and commoners, and no distinction between the disabled and the intact. Only the talented are promoted."

After reading it, Du Hui's eyes became more and more sharp, and then he turned around, as if he was unwilling to step into the government office again.

"Sir, why don't you take a closer look?"

They had come so far and were already at the door, so why not go in and take a look.

Du Hui shook his head slightly and said with a smile:
"To know the character of a country, look at its people and then its officials, and you can know the rise and fall of its national fortune!"

"Why look any further!"

Yuwen Li asked in a deep voice:

"Sir, do you think that the King of Yan is a wise ruler or a foolish ruler?"

Du Hui replied: "I cannot make the final decision on this question. Why don't you ask the people of the whole city, or even the people of the whole Yan area, to get a full picture?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Liqian fell into deep thought, and his eyes involuntarily turned to the pedestrians walking in the streets.

Du Hui asked:
"Princess, what kind of person do you think Lu Chen is?"

Yuwen Liqian shook his head, thinking in his heart, the first half of his life was spent on heroic spirit, and the second half of his life was spent on seeking immortality!
Du Hui said slowly:
“The highest good is like water; water benefits all things without contending.”

Water nourishes all things, yet it has no name.

"Confucianism emphasizes being kingly on the outside and sagely on the inside. Having the temperament of a king on the outside, exercising the ability to govern a country like a king, and having the virtues and cultivation of a sage on the inside, and having the laws of a sage within, this is the highest evaluation of kings since ancient times."

"The first dynasty in history was founded by the overlord who lifted the nine tripods. Although it was strong for a time, it declined after only two generations because of its external hegemony and internal weakness."

At this point, Du Hui's mouth curled up into a smile:
"This King of Yan governs the country with a sagely exterior."

“It is to do nothing, yet to do everything.”

(End of this chapter)