Diqin Designer

Chapter 538 Want to eat a pie in the sky? Use my Confucianism!
Li Shiqi continued, "Fourthly, Your Majesty's power is not centralized enough. Too much power has been distributed to others, such as those governors who occupy a place and hold both military and political power. How are they any different from Your Majesty?"

This "fourth point" also resonated with Euthydemus I, who was well aware of the extent of the governor's power.

Ptolemy I, Theodorus I, and even Eusidmus himself all served as governors before becoming kings.

The governor's power did indeed increase by "a tiny bit." After he came to power, he also thought about making changes, not wanting anyone to take the quick path of "governor to king" anymore. However, there were too many obstacles. The nobles in the country were all "governors" of varying ranks.

If he wants to reduce the power of the governors, he may have to face the power of the entire aristocracy in the country. At that time, not only will he be unable to reduce the power of those "governors", but he may also be overthrown from the throne and face death.

His success in usurping the throne was also due to the support of those nobles; if the nobles could support him, they could also oppose him.

Seeing the change in Euthydemus I's expression, Li Shiqi added fuel to the fire: "When Your Majesty is powerful, they will obey Your Majesty and may not dare to have any disloyal thoughts, but when Your Majesty grows old and weak, it is hard to say..."

This brings us to Euthydemus I's mind. He is in his prime and has more power than the governors, so they dare not rebel. But can he remain in his prime and never become senile?

Even if he can guarantee that he will not become senile even when he gets old, can he guarantee that his descendants will not become senile?
Just as when the great Alexander was alive, no one dared to rebel, but after his death, Macedonia quickly disintegrated.

Euthydemus I did not want Bactria to become like that after his death, nor did he want his descendants to suffer slaughter.

He wanted his kingdom to last forever, and for his descendants to be kings forever.

Euthydemus I sighed, “To be honest, I also wish to change this situation, but it is truly difficult… I would appreciate your guidance.”

Euthydemus I consulted Li Shiqi, the deputy envoy of Qin, who, having pointed out the problem, must also have a solution.

Li Shiqi said, "As I just said, 'Analyze specific problems in specific ways.' Only by knowing the cause of the problem can we find a solution. Has Your Majesty ever considered why the governor-general has such great power?"

Euthydemus I thought for a moment, then tentatively replied, "Is it because they are of noble birth?"

Li Shiqi said, "This is only one of the reasons. The governors have such great power mainly because they have talented subordinates and they have fiefdoms."

Li Shiqi did not mention that the governor-general would seize all military, political, and financial power in the local area. The fact that military, political, and financial power fell into the hands of the governor-general was a result, not a cause.

Seeing that Euthydemus I did not quite understand, Li Shiqi explained: "Your country has too many talented people from the nobility, which means that Your Majesty must use them when governing the country. If Your Majesty does not use them, there will be no one to use."

“The nobles have their own fiefdoms, and in these fiefdoms, they are no different from the king. The military, political, financial power, and the power to appoint and dismiss officials are all in their hands, which naturally gives them the strength to rival the king.”

Euthydemus I thought about Li Shiqi's words and found that it seemed to be true. However, knowing the cause of the problem did not mean that he could solve it.

King Euthydemus I asked curiously, "Judging from what the deputy envoy said, does your country not have these problems?"

Li Shiqi said: "The system of Qin is different from that of your country. Therefore, some problems that your country has are not present in Qin, or rather, they existed in the past but are not present now. Of course, Qin also has some problems that your country does not have."

If you were to portray the Qin Dynasty as having no problems whatsoever, as the perfect nation on earth, Eusidmus I would certainly not believe you. But if you were to say that the Qin Dynasty also has problems, just that the problems it has are different from those of Bactria, it would be easier for Eusidmus I to believe you.

After hearing Li Shiqi's words, Euthydemus I nodded. "Does the Vice Envoy have a solution? Please teach me."

In fact, he had also thought of a solution: since most of the talented people came from the nobility, he should find a way to cultivate talents who were not from the noble families and use them to govern the country, which would reduce the constraints that the nobles placed on him in terms of talent.

If we compare these Western countries to the Han Dynasty, then these nobles with fiefdoms can be considered as feudal lords who were granted fiefdoms.

To solve their problems, one can refer to how Emperor Wu of Han dealt with the feudal lords of the Han Dynasty.

Of course, the environment and ideas of Western countries are different from those of the Han Dynasty, so they cannot be copied wholesale.

When faced with Euthydemus I's earnest request for advice, Li Shiqi said: "If Your Majesty wishes to weaken the power of the governors or those great nobles, firstly, you must cultivate talents who can serve Your Majesty. If this is not changed, Your Majesty will always be hampered by others. Secondly, Your Majesty must find a way to weaken those great nobles, so that they become small and insignificant."

Upon hearing this, Euthydemus I said, "I also want to weaken them, but I really can't think of a way."

How to weaken the nobles with fiefdoms without provoking them to unite and rebel is an extremely difficult task, and he couldn't come up with a good solution.

Li Shiqi laughed and said, "If you wish to weaken them, I have a method to tell Your Majesty, and this method is called the 'Decree of Grace'!"

Thinking of the method called "Decree of Grace" that Li Nian had told him before his mission, Li Shiqi was filled with admiration.

Young Master Li Nian is truly exceptionally intelligent, capable of devising such a method. Those who fall for this scheme, even knowing it's a trap, have no choice but to comply.

Li Shiqi laughed and said, "This plan is not complicated. Your Majesty only needs to issue an order to allow nobles to inherit their family property in addition to their eldest sons. For example, if a noble has a fief, according to the original rules, only one son can inherit the title and the fief. But now, all of his sons can inherit it and have the right to a share of the family property."

When Euthydemus I heard this, he gasped. The method was too wicked, but to him it was brilliant.

If this method succeeds, it will definitely weaken the power of the nobles, and even if those nobles know it's a scheme, they will have no choice but to accept it.

Because they don't accept it, but the noble children who originally had no right to inheritance or property distribution will take the initiative to accept it.

If the nobles do not accept it, their offspring will be dissatisfied, and they will split from within; but if the nobles accept it, they will be weakened by this policy.

Whether they accept it or not, the nobles will suffer greatly, and their power will be weakened.

The drawback of this strategy is that it will offend the powerful nobles, but at the same time it will win the hearts of the noble children who have no right to inherit the throne.

Euthydemus I pondered for a while and thought the method was truly excellent; he should be able to use it in Bactria.

Li Shiqi then said, “Weakening the nobility is an inevitable step on Your Majesty’s path to centralizing power, but it is not the only one. If Your Majesty does not do other things well, your desire for a stable throne and a dynasty that lasts for thousands of generations will remain nothing but a mirage.”

Euthydemus I's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly, "Please continue to teach me, Vice Envoy!" Li Shiqi was explaining to Euthydemus I the centralization of power and the Edict of Grace, all in an effort to guide Euthydemus I toward the path of Confucianism.

If you want your throne to be secure and to be passed down through generations, you must use Confucianism to establish a new order for Your Majesty's country.

Li Shiqi said: "If Your Majesty wishes to consolidate power and secure your throne, the first priority is to win the hearts of the people, and the hearts of the people depend on education. Only when the people of your nation believe in Your Majesty, that they believe only Your Majesty is worthy to be their king, that Your Majesty is a god in their hearts, and that Your Majesty's words are divine pronouncements that must never be offended, for offending Your Majesty will be punished by the gods, can Your Majesty's throne be secure for a long time."

"If you wish for your people to acquire these ideas, you must restrict and select the education they receive. I ask Your Majesty, is it easier for someone educated like a lion or a tiger to become a warrior, or for someone educated like a pig or a dog?"

Euthydemus I knew what Lishiqi wanted to say, and he replied, "Naturally, it is easier for those who receive education from lions and tigers."

Seeing that Euthydemus I was so responsive, Li Shiqi said, "Your Majesty currently lacks a method to guide your people to loyalty to the monarch and to goodness."

Euthydemus I looked at Li Shiqi and asked, "Does the envoy have any recommendations?"

Li Shiqi said, “My Confucianism can do it. My Confucianism can build ‘rites and laws’ for Your Majesty, so that people know etiquette, understand loyalty and filial piety. Only when the country has rites and laws can people’s hearts be at peace and the country can last long.”

"In my Confucian rites and laws, there are the four cardinal relationships: Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher. The ruler is only below Heaven and Earth."

With just this one sentence, Euthydemus I understood the benefits of Confucianism for a monarch: "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher." The monarch is only above Heaven and Earth, but Heaven and Earth cannot speak, so in reality, the monarch is the greatest.

If this idea could be instilled in the Bactrians, it would definitely help solidify his throne.

Li Shiqi further stated: "In Confucianism, there is also the saying of 'Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues.' The first is 'The ruler is the guide for the ministers,' meaning that the ruler is the guide for the ministers, and the ministers must be loyal and obedient to the ruler. The second is 'The father is the guide for the son,' meaning that the father is the role model for the children, and the children must obey the father. The third is 'The husband is the guide for the wife…'"

After listening, Euthydemus I pondered for a long time: these "Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues" were establishing a special social order in which the monarch could obtain great benefits.

In fact, within the Confucian system of rites and laws, the monarch occupies the highest position.

Li Shiqi continued, “My Confucian teachings can be learned not only by your country’s scholars, but also by your country’s ordinary people, regardless of whether they are literate or not.”

Indeed, it is not necessary for scholars to learn this doctrine; as long as the public accepts this doctrine, they will be influenced by it and incorporated into this special social order.

Once the order constructed by Confucianism is established, it will transform into an invisible net, trapping everyone within it.

What a terrifying theory!

Euthydemus I was startled, realizing the terrifying nature of Confucianism, but then, thinking of its benefits to him, he found it endearing.

Even if Confucianism becomes a web, trapping the entire country, what does it have to do with him? He is the spider king in the web, the master of this web.

Li Shiqi continued, "I just told Your Majesty that your people and scholars have too many ideas. My Confucianism can reduce their complicated and superfluous thoughts, but we need Your Majesty's assistance..."

Euthydemus I whispered, "You want me to abolish all other Yue doctrines and use only your Confucianism?"

If it can solidify his throne and ensure the continuation of his kingdom, then that's not a bad thing. He doesn't care what doctrines or learning he uses to govern the country.

Knowing that Euthydemus I was already inclined to adopt Confucianism, Li Shiqi did not directly answer Euthydemus I's question, but instead said, "This move will also allow Your Majesty to have enough loyal talents, and allow Your Majesty to break the nobles' blockade of talent."

Euthydemus I remained silent, but that silence itself was an attitude. Li Shiqi continued, "Of course, to truly break the aristocracy's blockade of talent, we must do one more thing: provide a path for talent to rise."

"That is, they can be selected, climb up the social ladder, and gain higher reputation, higher status, and more wealth."

Euthydemus I asked, "How should this be done?"

Li Shiqi smiled and said, "Selection can be conducted through assessments. Those who pass the assessments can be appointed as officials, and after becoming officials, they can be promoted based on their merits."

Considering that Euthydemus I could not cultivate enough talent in a short time, Li Shiqi added: "Your Majesty does not have enough talent at present. You may allow those of minor noble or commoner origins to take the exam. They were originally unsuccessful, but Your Majesty will give them a path to advancement, and they will be grateful to Your Majesty."

Euthydemus I nodded. This was a good idea; it would not only acquire capable personnel but also win people's hearts.

Neither of them explicitly stated that to bring Confucianism to this level, all other schools of thought must be abolished and Confucianism must be exclusively honored, but both of them understood this in their hearts.

"If Your Majesty wishes to achieve the ideal of 'Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher,' then the ruler must be below Heaven and Earth, and there must not be an additional 'god' among them. Otherwise, it will become 'Heaven, Earth, God, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher,' or 'God, Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher.' The ruler must not only be below Heaven and Earth, but also below the gods."

Euthydemus I immediately understood Li Shiqi's words, which suggested that he abolish the religion that currently stood above him and posed a threat to his monarchy, and replace it with a religion that would be harmless to him.

In an era when God had become the mainstream belief in the West, doing this would have been quite difficult. However, the Western world today has no unified belief system, and the pantheon is a mess, so there would be much less resistance.

This was also the best time for the Great Qin Ancestral God Cult to invade the West.

Euthydemus I was quite tempted. He did not want a god to stand above him. Moreover, as the Qin deputy envoy said, the god would not compete with him for power; it was those who used the banner of "divine beings" who would compete with him for power.

Those people are using the name of the gods to seek their own selfish interests. Only by getting rid of them can he seize power and secure his throne!

Li Shiqi then said, "Your Majesty should gradually reclaim the power of those governors and nobles, and bring the local areas under Your Majesty's rule."

Originally, Euthydemus I sought out Li Shiqi to ask how to make his throne more secure so that the kingdom could be passed down from son to son and from grandson to grandson. But Li Shiqi painted an even bigger picture for him: centralized power!

Given the circumstances in Bactria, if Euthydemus I wanted to obtain this prize and achieve his goals, he had to adopt the teachings of Li Shiqi, whose core was the Confucian doctrines that Li Nian had given him.

(End of this chapter)