The Three Kingdoms began with island farming

Chapter 697 Fishing in troubled waters
Tian Ze spared no effort in cultivating Tian An.

Despite the preparations to implement a constitutional monarchy, Tian An's position remains extremely important.

Especially after his departure, whether the Great Qi can remain stable depends on Tian An.

When you're in that position, sometimes it's not that you can simply not fight for it; there will always be countless people who will use countless methods to guide you to fight, all in order to gain favor with the powerful.

Professor Tian Ze's teachings are not the art of rulership.

After all, Tian Ze had some experience in governing the people.

However, Tian Ze's ability to manage officials was truly mediocre; he relied purely on his intuition and the system to overpower them.

What Tianze taught Tian An was how to be a wise person who knows how to make choices and when to back down when things get tough.

Tian Ze played a leading role in the establishment and prosperity of the Great Qi.

But just as a pillar is being dismantled, now that the Great Qi has reached its current prosperity, the ministers have begun to instinctively reduce Tian Ze's influence, and even Tian Ze himself has done so.

A house supported by a single beam is not sturdy, and a country supported by an individual is also unhealthy.

Putting aside talent, Tian Ze merely played the role of a guide.

The advanced methods of later generations are actually corroborated in the classics of the sages of the past.

However, due to limitations in productivity and the power of vested interest groups, these methods can only exist in ideals or be promoted on a small scale.

Therefore, nowadays, Tianze has basically stopped getting involved in politics and expressing his own opinions, and instead focuses on overall oversight.

In the future, Daqi will go further and further down the road, and the problems it encounters will become increasingly difficult.

Tian An could not possibly have his own ordinary insights, and it would be difficult for him to keep up with the pace of development in the Great Qi.

He doesn't even need to steer the ship; all he needs to do is not cause trouble or hold things back.

There are far more excellent ministers than excellent rulers.

Because monarchs, in pursuit of stability in the state system, can only select from a very small pool of candidates, or even exclusively from their eldest son, the excellence of a monarch is difficult to guarantee.

If enlightened rulers could be cultivated through training, then all emperors throughout history would have been wise.

The fact that a nation's resources are devoted to cultivating one person yet mediocre rulers still emerge indicates that this path is doomed to failure and does more harm than good.

“An’er, you know the hardships of the soldiers on the frontier and the difficulties of the working people, but do you know what you should do?” Tian Ze suddenly said.

"Your subject should do his utmost to seek happiness for the soldiers and the people," Tian An said solemnly.

Tian Ze gently shook his head and said quietly, "How can I do my best?"

"How many soldiers have died in battle on the border, unable to return home? What can you do?"

"How many people work hard and toil in the fields, yet they never become wealthy due to natural disasters and man-made calamities? What can you do?"

"Your subject..." Tian An opened his mouth to speak.

Tian Ze waved his hand to interrupt him.

"In handling political affairs, do you think you are more capable than Chen Gong, Zhang Zhao, and Zhuge Liang?"

Tian An's expression darkened slightly, and he gently shook his head.

"In military planning, do you think you are more insightful than Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, and Man Chong?"

Tian An shook his head again. "The Great Qi has millions of soldiers and tens of millions of impoverished people. Can you help them solve their problems one by one?"

Tian An's face was extremely ugly, but he still shook his head.

"Millions, tens of millions of people, among whom at least tens of thousands have suffered injustices, hardships, and unfair treatment. They resent me and the court. Do you think I and the court have been wronged?"

Tian An looked confused and shook his head.

"Do you think that I and the court can resolve all injustices?"

Without waiting for Tian An's reply, Tian Ze continued, "Impossible."

"Nothing in this world is spotless, just like the ground. No matter how clean you sweep it, dust will still fall."

Tian Ze pointed to the rather clean ground beneath his feet: "I cannot guarantee that the ground will be spotless, but it can be swept frequently to keep it as clean as possible. Otherwise, over time, the dirt will accumulate and become difficult to clean."

"As the one who cleans, the existence of dust is my fault. But the appearance of dust is also inevitable, so I am destined to bear endless responsibility and mistakes."

"You are my eldest son, born to bear the same responsibilities and faults as me. But you are also just a person, not the best one."

"What you need to do is not to do your best, but to be reasonable, to use people effectively, to take responsibility, and to be at peace with yourself."

As the sun began to set, Tian Ze's gaze fell upon the mountain of documents piled up beside Tian An, illuminated by the candlelight in the hall.

"I showed you these case files not so that you could review them, but simply so that you could see them. Knowing what happened in the Great Qi, knowing what the officials did, and knowing why they did it—that is understanding the principles."

"These files do not require your approval. Just forward them to the ministers of the relevant departments according to their contents and assign them to the appropriate people to handle. That is how you manage personnel."

"The results of reviewing these files will inevitably be both good and bad. Even if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, some people will inevitably suffer losses as a result. You must accept all their complaints; that is what it means to be responsible."

"Whether the outcome is good or bad, you have to keep watching. Don't dwell on the 'mistakes' that can't be undone before, but keep learning from them and making choices that you believe are 'right'. That's what it means to let go."

"A high position is easy to sit in, but it is also not easy to sit in. If a virtuous person sits in this position, it is like sitting on pins and needles. It would be better to be a village official or fight on the battlefield."

"However, this position is necessary, and someone must sit in it. Therefore, if you are sitting in this position, you must understand these four points: sit comfortably and sit for a long time."

Listening to Tian Ze's earnest teachings, Tian An seemed to be deep in thought.

The way to govern a country does not require heroes with superhuman strength, but only that each component understands its own position, exerts its strength when it should, and remains still when it should.

"Your subject... has remembered." Tian An's voice echoed in the empty palace.

The candlelight overlapped his shadow with Tian Ze's, just like the past and future of Daqi, completing a silent handover before darkness fell.

The migration of people in the Great Qi Dynasty was a massive undertaking that stirred up countless waves.

Upon learning that Tianze had truly hardened his heart and pushed for this matter, the seven countries who had been secretly observing couldn't help but sigh and let go of their last shred of hope.

Tian Chengshou is still Tian Chengshou after all!

When the time is right, act decisively; there is no hesitation or womanly compassion.

The territory was conquered by the Seven Kings, and it's impossible for them not to have any thoughts about handing it over to the Great Qi so easily.

Their early frantic population exchange was also intended to put pressure on Tianze, hoping that Tianze would temporarily abandon the territory they had conquered.

If this kind of thing is dragged on, it will become unclear.

Numerous variables and problems will muddy the waters, giving them an opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

Unfortunately!
(End of this chapter)