Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 295 Are Etiquette and Law Such Inconvenient Things?
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and the attitudes of the officials immediately showed a clear polarization.

Factions in the imperial court cannot be simply divided by place of origin; there are many other criteria for classification. Otherwise, the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty would have split up long ago.

Nowadays, in the imperial court, besides the distinction between the "small court" and the "large court," the most prominent factional distinction is between the "young and vigorous faction" and the "elderly faction."

The elder statesmen are mostly veteran officials who have been in and out of power for many years. Their behavior is inevitably influenced by the habits of officialdom. In addition, with the passage of time, as they get older, they generally seek stability and fear change, and have a low ability to accept new things.

At this moment, most of them had furrowed brows and solemn expressions, clearly indicating that they did not agree with the emperor's proposal.

In contrast, the younger generation appears more energetic and ambitious, with a light of recognition and respect shining in their eyes.

Young and ambitious individuals are often bold and decisive, and are more receptive to the new systems implemented by the court. Many of them also admire the young emperor who turned the tide and saved the crumbling empire.

Upon hearing that the emperor was planning to build his mausoleum in Moling to save the people's labor and avoid wasting their money, my first thought was that the emperor was extremely benevolent.

Which of the plans proposed by the court officials to suppress the emperor's aura was not extremely costly and wasteful of resources?

To avoid burdening the people and wasting resources, the emperor chose to build his mausoleum in the desolate and remote Moling. How could this not be the epitome of benevolence?

However, even Fu Qian, the Grand Master of Ceremonies who had fought alongside the emperor against the New Text School, could not comprehend this astonishing idea at this moment.

Fu Qian abruptly rose from his seat, holding his tablet, bowing deeply forward, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, and urgently urged, "Since the time of Emperor Taizu Gao, the imperial mausoleum has always been located near the capital. How can... how can it be chosen in Moling, a thousand miles away!"

"The nation." Zheng Xuan, the Minister of Ceremonies, sighed and slowly began to speak, "It's not just that after my great-grandfather Emperor Gao, since the Zhou Dynasty, the mausoleums of the emperors have all been located near the capital. This is not only to adhere to the rites, but also to facilitate future monarchs in offering sacrifices and providing for them."

Zheng Xuan paused, his gaze earnestly fixed on the Emperor. He too could not comprehend the Emperor's whimsical idea, but unlike Fu Qian, his concerns were clearly deeper. He was not only concerned with ritual and law, but also with the potential practical burdens it might bring. He said, "For example, last year, the state held a grand ceremony to present captives to Emperor Guangwu. If Emperor Guangwu's mausoleum is far away in Yangzhou, wouldn't the state have to mobilize a large army, traveling thousands of miles to Yangzhou? Wouldn't that only increase the burden and strain the people's resources?"

Liu Bian looked at the two of them and understood.

He could understand the advice of Zheng Xuan and Fu Qian. Upholding the rites and laws was their duty, so he was not annoyed by it. However, this was also the reason why he respected Zheng Xuan so much.

"Kang Cheng Gongfang was a true 'Confucian'."

As Liu Bian spoke, he personally descended the steps and came to Zheng Xuan. He reached out and steadily supported the old minister who was about to bow down and remonstrate again. Before Zheng Xuan could react, Liu Bian had already taken his arm and pulled him toward the steps.

Caught off guard, Zheng Xuan was pulled by Liu Bian and forced to sit down!

He was so startled he almost jumped up, as if the steps were burning his bottom, but Liu Bian held him down firmly with one hand on Zheng Xuan's shoulder and the other on him. Liu Bian's gaze swept over the assembled officials and said, "All of you talk about etiquette and law, but only Duke Kangcheng's thoughts and concerns are about the suffering of the people!"

Confucius said, “If a man is not benevolent, what use is ritual to him? If a man is not benevolent, what use is music to him?” If one does something unbenevolent in order to uphold ritual and law, then what is the point of ritual and law?

Liu Bian's words effectively silenced those who offered advice based solely on the grounds that it was "not in accordance with propriety."

Although Confucianism in the Han Dynasty split into the Old and New Schools of Literature and had its share of problems, it was still relatively enlightened and pragmatic compared to the rigid, distorted, and even deformed Confucianism of later generations.

"Moreover, are rites and laws such inconvenient things?" Confucius said: "The Yin dynasty followed the rites of the Xia dynasty, and what it added or subtracted is knowable; the Zhou dynasty followed the rites of the Yin dynasty, and what it added or subtracted is knowable. If there is one who succeeds the Zhou dynasty, even if it is a hundred generations later, it is knowable."

"Now that I am willing to implement benevolent governance and conserve the people's resources, what harm is there in making slight adjustments to the rites and laws?"

Although Liu Bian never participated in the debates among Confucian scholars, he actually consulted a large number of classic texts at the Dongguan in order to determine the location of his mausoleum in Moling.

Unlike in the past when trusted ministers debated the classics on his behalf, many of the core reasons supporting the selection of the site for the mausoleum should not be spoken by ministers. For example, just now he decided to build the mausoleum in Moling to suppress the emperor's aura.

Especially when the topic involves the aura of the Son of Heaven, which is a major issue concerning the rise and fall of the nation, the Son of Heaven himself can speak of it. Who would dare to presume to suggest building the mausoleum in Moling to suppress the aura of the Son of Heaven?

"As for the matter of future generations' sacrifices that Duke Kangcheng was concerned about," Liu Bian said with a gentle yet magnanimous smile, "Emperor Taizu Gao's Changling Mausoleum is far away in the western capital Chang'an, and I have never visited it in person. I have always offered sacrifices at the Gaodi Temple in Luoyang. Similarly, why should I require future generations to travel all the way to Yangzhou to worship?"

Liu Bian, with a carefree expression, as if he didn't care at all about the empty fame he would have after his death, laughed loudly and said: "Even if my descendants don't worship me and cut off my blood offerings, as long as the Han Dynasty lasts a long time and the people live in peace and prosperity with plenty of food and clothing, that is enough for me!"

Even Zheng Xuan, one of the most enlightened and knowledgeable Confucian scholars, was taken aback. He had never expected that the emperor would have such a clear and detached view of matters such as sacrificial offerings and blood offerings, which were considered of paramount importance.

Many things are easier said than done.

The thought of life and death, the weight of blood and food, are difficult for ordinary people to let go of, let alone a monarch.
In his early years, Emperor Xiaowu once ridiculed Qin Shi Huang for his gullibility in believing in alchemists and seeking immortality and medicine. In the end, he himself became deeply involved. Although he issued the "Luntai Edict of Self-Reproach" in his later years, reflecting on his "foolishness and deception by alchemists," he still could not give up his desire for immortality and favored alchemists in refining elixirs and taking medicine.

This is also true of sacrificial rites and acts of benevolence.

Since the Three Dynasties, how many monarchs have studied the classics on "benevolence and virtue" from childhood and have also spoken of "benevolence and virtue" after taking power? But how well did they actually govern?

The ancient text of the Book of Documents states: "It is not difficult to know, but difficult to do."

The Zuo Zhuan also states: "It is not difficult to know, but to do."

Ultimately, it's easier said than done. But this young emperor before us is putting it into practice.

Zheng Xuan solemnly rose, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply to the emperor.

He truly is an unparalleled holy emperor!

All his thoughts and concerns were about the Han Dynasty and the well-being of its people.

Compared to the Emperor's vision and magnanimity, Zheng Kangcheng's concerns were truly too narrow-minded.

However, as his thoughts churned and wandered, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Zheng Xuan.

"Knowledge" and "Action"?
These two words, like a pebble thrown into calm water, suddenly created ripples in Zheng Xuan's mind.

(End of this chapter)