You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 350 A Wise Ruler's Governance Will Never Be Outdated

Kinmen.

The mountaintop, the highest point.

Zheng Sen remained calm and composed, sipping his tea and enjoying the sea breeze.

"Your Highness, they've arrived."

Two people appeared on the mountain path—Huang Zongxi and Zhang Huangyan.

Huang Zongxi was old and frail. He was panting heavily and his vision was blurry as he climbed to the top of the mountain. He plopped down in a chair and gulped down his tea, completely ignoring Zheng Sen.

Zhang Huangyan, who was in slightly better condition, cupped his hands and said, "This humble official greets the Prince of Yanping."

Zheng Sen quickly stood up to return the greeting: "Minister Zhang, you've come from afar, thank you for your hard work. Please have a seat."

Although the two were on opposing sides, they got along quite well.

Huang Zongxi remained silent.

After a while, Zheng Sen couldn't hold back any longer.

"Is Mr. Huang acting as an advocate for the Qing government?"

"Although I am not as wise as the ancients, I still have my pride and dignity. Prince Yanping, there is no need to make veiled accusations."

……

Zheng Sen looked Huang Zongxi up and down, then laughed and said, "So, Chief Minister Jiang is serious?"

"of course."

"The idea of ​​a united empire, limiting imperial power, with each family participating in politics and taking turns in charge, is too absurd and cannot be realized even a thousand years from now."

"why?"

"It is contrary to the way of Heaven and goes against the will of the people."

"What is this so-called Heavenly Way?"

"The proper order of ruler and subject, father and son, with clear distinctions in hierarchy, is the way of Heaven."

Huang Zongxi's doctrine contains a crucial theory: "The ruler is a harm to the world." Therefore, Zheng Sen is deliberately stating his position.

"And what about the common people?"

"Just be as considerate as possible."

"You're right, but which emperor has ever cared for the common people? From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the present day, has there ever been one?"

“Mr. Huang, when I was studying in Jiangning, I heard Mr. Qian mention you many times. He praised your profound knowledge and talent. But your current theories have clearly gone astray. I know you were stimulated by the fall of the Ming Dynasty, but you cannot deny the monarchy because of this. There is no problem with the monarchy. A wise ruler will govern the country for ten thousand years.”

How can you guarantee that they will all be wise rulers?

"Yes, that's the direction you should be researching."

"Your Highness, dynasties change, wars rage, nine out of ten houses are empty, bones lie exposed in the fields, and for miles there is not a rooster's crow. Can't we scholars who have studied the classics think more about the people of the world?"

"Old Master Huang, don't try to intimidate me with grand pronouncements. I, Zheng Sen, have always been committed to unifying the country by force and then bringing peace to the people. I want to tell you that without a monarch, hundreds of millions of people will be the first to object. Contrary to your theory, a monarch is not the greatest harm to the world; the absence of a monarch is the greatest harm. Because without a monarch, all ambitious people in the world will covet the throne, and the war for the throne will last for a hundred years."

The two were arguing more and more fiercely.

Zhang Huangyan quickly stepped forward to offer advice.

"Alright, alright, let's put aside our differences and get down to business."

……

"On the tenth day of the tenth month, peace talks were held in Jiangning. The demands were very simple: change of flags between Jinan and Xiamen and declare submission to the central government."

"What about the conditions?"

"The terms are extremely generous. Kinmen, Xiamen, Penghu, and Dayuan Island are all yours, as are most of Fujian. All civil and military officials below the rank of Fujian governor will be appointed by you, Zheng Sen, without any interference from the imperial court. Fujian will not be required to pay any taxes or provisions to the imperial court. All your troops will remain under your command, but they will need to be reorganized."

What is reorganization?

"Reducing the number of elderly and infirm, adjusting organizational structure, upgrading weaponry, and training officers."

"How many troops does Chief Minister Chiang plan to allocate to me?"

"5."

"That's impossible. I have 40 troops now."

"Prince Yanping, it's not that I'm being harsh, but with the small territory you currently occupy, can you really support an army of 40? That's probably an exaggeration."

Zheng Sen smiled.

What conditions did you offer Li Dingguo?

"It's the same, except for fewer soldiers. Yunnan and Guizhou are barren, so 10,000 soldiers are enough."

"Is the central government not prepared to pay the local army's salaries?"

"This falls under the scope of the Jiangning peace talks."

"Alright, my last question: Who will be the emperor of the United Empire?"

"It doesn't matter who the emperor is, he's just a figurehead anyway."

"absurd."

Zheng Sen flew into a rage, and suddenly, he stared intently at Huang Zongxi.

"Does Jiang Qingyun want to become emperor himself?"

"No. The Prime Minister wants to usher in a new era of civilization. He worries about the world before he worries about the people." "Is that possible? Is he the reincarnation of Yao and Shun? Is he completely selfless? Does he have no concerns about his family line or descendants?"

Zheng Sen's roar echoed through the sky.

Huang Zongxi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, because Zheng Sen's words suddenly reminded him of a fact that he had long overlooked—that Xiao Jiang currently had no son, so he advocated a figurehead monarch or even no monarch at all?
If Chiang Kai-shek has a son in the future, where will the empire go?
Huang Zongxi was unable to concentrate for a long time.

Such an unusual reaction would naturally be worth careful consideration in the eyes of a shrewd person.

Zhang Huangyan suddenly realized something.

Zheng Sen was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

The two looked at each other, unsure of what to say, just as a servant came by.

"Young master, the banquet is ready."

"Ah, you two, please."

The banquet was lavish, and Japanese women danced to entertain the guests.

After the meal, Zheng Sen invited Huang Zongxi to watch a shooting demonstration by the black slave musketeers and an artillery demonstration by the Western mercenaries, intending to show off their strength, but Huang Zongxi was completely distracted throughout.

After 2 days.

Zheng Sen formally replied: "We intend to send Feng Xifan and Liu Guoxuan as envoys to Jiangning for peace talks."

……

Guangzhou.

At the city gate, a red carpet was laid out, gongs and drums resounded, and firecrackers crackled.

Prince Pingnan, Shang Kexi, who had been bedridden for a long time, personally stood outside the city gate to welcome the envoy.

When the envoy's carriage appeared, he disregarded his status and knelt down on the spot. Behind him, the civil and military officials of Shangfan also knelt down to welcome him.

"Welcome Angel."

Shang Kexi looked humble and ingratiating.

The envoy accepted the gift with arrogance and even spoke rudely during the banquet.

"Prince Pingnan, why is your face so pale?"

"Xiao Wang is sick."

"It seems the prince is quite ill. How long has it been?"

"It's been over a year."

"Why are you suddenly feeling better today?"

"An angel has arrived, and Xiao Wang is in a good mood, so he recovers quickly."

"According to you, you should go to the capital and listen to the Grand Secretary's teachings often; that way, you'll recover faster."

"Yes Yes."

"Why is Your Highness sweating so profusely?"

Shang Kexi was startled, and the cup in her hand fell to the ground and shattered.

The envoy was startled and quickly looked around, his face showing annoyance.

"The prince used the smashing of the cup as a signal, secretly hiding executioners?"

“The angel is joking. How could I dare to do that?”

Shang Kexi voluntarily left his seat, and his son Shang Zhixin followed suit. The father and son knelt down and kowtowed again.

"Xiao Wang is guilty!"

"What's the crime?"

“Back then, Wu Sangui was very powerful, and I couldn’t afford to offend him, so I could only feign compliance. But I have never laid a hand on the imperial territory. My army has never crossed Meiguan Pass. Please tell the Grand Secretary that my loyalty to the imperial court is as clear as day.”

"Good~"

The envoy felt reassured.

"A meeting is being held in Jiangning on the tenth day of the tenth month. Which of you, father and son, will go?"

"I...I will personally go and apologize with thorns on my back!"

Shang Kexi quickly took on this hot potato.

"Xin'er, quickly proclaim to the whole of Guangdong that Guangdong has returned to the embrace of the imperial court. All officials, soldiers and civilians shall have a day off and kneel facing north in worship."

"As ordered."

Shang Kexi, as expected of an old man from Liaodong, feared the flag like a tiger. After learning of the destruction of Wu Sangui and his son, his confidence completely collapsed.

He waved his hand, and immediately several large boxes were brought over.

"A little care is not disrespectful."

"Oh, isn't this inappropriate?"

"Just some local specialties. Oh, by the way, here is a gift list for the Prime Minister. Please have the angel deliver it to him."

The gift list was long, including gold and silver jewelry, antiques and gemstones, Western treasures, Southeast Asian spices, beautiful women from abroad, and thoroughbred horses, demonstrating a loyal heart.

(End of this chapter)