A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 289 Holding the Whip
"Send His Majesty back to the palace."

Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue.

Gongsun Hong's voice fell.

Near the Xuanwu Gate, everyone's eyes were fixed on their noses, their noses on their hearts, yet their expressions were all quite fascinating.

Liu Che could no longer hold back and said sarcastically, "Prime Minister Gongsun?"

"The minister is here."

"I once compared you to the Duke of Zhou. You revised the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. Have you ever questioned your conscience?"

In the fifth year of the Yuanguang era, Gongsun Hong returned to the court as an official and adopted eight fundamental methods and strategies for governing the people: appointing officials based on their talents, not listening to useless opinions, not manufacturing useless objects, not taking away the people's time or hindering their efforts, promoting the virtuous and demoting the invirtuous, elevating the meritorious and demoting the incompetent, punishing the criminals accordingly, and rewarding the virtuous and good.

He further explained the ancient ways of governing the world with the concept of "harmony," stating that "benevolence," "righteousness," "propriety," and "wisdom" are essential principles for governing the country and should not be neglected. He concluded by saying that "following the way of heaven" is the principle governing astronomy, geography, and human affairs.

Gongsun Hong was selected as the top of more than one hundred virtuous and capable men and was appointed to wait for imperial orders at Jinma Gate.

After waiting at the Golden Horse Gate, Gongsun Hong voluntarily submitted a memorial, stating that the current dynasty was plagued by corrupt officials who led to a "poor populace." These corrupt officials were also allowed to implement corrupt policies and use ineffective measures to govern the poor populace, resulting in the people being unable to be educated. Therefore, although the emperor held the position of the former sage, the reign was not as well-governed as it had been during the time of the former sage.

He also praised the Duke of Zhou for his meritorious service in assisting King Cheng in governing the country, and believed that the good governance during the Duke of Zhou's reign should also be the aspiration of the current emperor.

Enlighten the people with virtue and be cautious in punishment; govern the country with propriety.

Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) once regarded Gongsun Hong as the Duke of Zhou of the Han Dynasty. In just a few years, Gongsun Hong was promoted to Left Inner Historian, then Imperial Censor, and finally, he went even further, rising from a commoner to the position of Chancellor of the Han Dynasty and being rewarded with the title of Marquis.

At this point, Liu Che couldn't understand why Gongsun Hong would suddenly turn against him for the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

If it was a debate between the Gongyang and Guliang schools of thought, and Gongsun Hong was willing to die rather than allow a heretic to take power, does that mean the entire Confucian school is now going to be destroyed, which is what Gongsun Hong wanted?
He overthrew the emperor, destroyed scholarship, and betrayed loyalty and righteousness. To whom did Gongsun Hong live?

"Return to Your Majesty..."

Gongsun Hong began his reply with this, which even confused Liu Che. It seemed that the old prime minister had never changed since he entered the court, but why had everything changed?
Gongsun Hong met the emperor's gaze without flinching or backing down, saying, "I examine myself three times a day: Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught? In my daily life, I have no shame."

To express one's aspirations through the teachings of sages.

Everyone knows that "Great Unification", "Three Generations Theory", "Distinction between Chinese and Barbarians", "Unifying the Three Dynasties", and "Promoting the Three Generations" are the essential points of the Gongyang Commentary.

Few people know that reform and revolution are also an indispensable part of Gongyang philosophy.

As times change and society evolves, political systems also need to undergo corresponding reforms and adjustments to adapt to the new situation.

If the rulers fail to adapt to the historical trend and reform the system, then the people have the right to rise up, overthrow the old dynasty, and establish a new one.

He has always fully practiced the principles of the Gongyang School.

Looking inward and outward, I have no regrets.

This principle is clearly not something His Majesty can accept.

When he first became the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty was already on the throne, so he had no choice. Moreover, he was old and no longer had the will or energy to change the world.

Heaven smiled upon him and sent the Crown Prince. The youth's vigor, ambition, and magnanimity deeply influenced him, who was nearing the end of his life. Therefore, he was willing to take a gamble.

The result was good.

In the process, he followed the Crown Prince, resolved heresies in scholarship, refuted outdated doctrines, and even addressed the lack of radicalism in the Gongyang School.

He followed the Crown Prince, solving the problem of the empty treasury, the false prosperity, and the rampant theft throughout the land... He brought about enlightened governance, expanded the territory, and benefited the people... If the achievements of the Duke of Zhou are summarized in the "Great Commentary on the Book of Documents" as: "He quelled the chaos in the first year, conquered Yin in the second year, subdued Yan in the third year, established the Marquisate of Wei in the fourth year, built Chengzhou in the fifth year, established rites and music in the sixth year, and returned power to King Cheng in the seventh year," seven years as a minister, an unparalleled achievement, then he and Gongsun Hong did not even take seven years, and the current prosperous Han Dynasty was achieved.

More importantly, when King Wu of Western Zhou died and King Cheng was young, the Duke of Zhou acted as regent. Guan Shu, Cai Shu, Huo Shu and others were dissatisfied and joined forces with the Yin noble Wu Geng and the Dongyi to rebel, causing the Rebellion of the Three Guards. The Duke of Zhou personally led the army to the east to quell the rebellion. How similar this moment is to the present moment.
Oh no, have I become Uncle Guan, Uncle Cai, and Uncle Huo?

Liu Che gritted his teeth and said with resentment, "Reformers will never have a good ending!" From ancient times to the present, no reformer has ever had a good ending. Li Kui, Gongsun Yang, Wu Qi, and so on, no matter how much the monarch supported them, the ministers who led the reforms did not have a good ending.

What makes Gongsun Hong think that the Crown Prince won't discard him after he has served his purpose?
A tactic to sow discord.

Gongsun Hong smiled faintly, "Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I would still be unable to repay the kindness of my lord."

Words that strike at the heart.

Mo Zimo and Sima An, who were nearby, couldn't help but glance at His Majesty out of the corner of their eyes, and the emperor's expression was changing rapidly.

The teacher (Prime Minister) meant something simple: whether I die a good death or a bad one, I am a loyal subject, but not loyal to Your Majesty.

The conflict between the ruler and his ministers was fierce and bloody.

Fun!

Liu Che was clearly furious. "The Han Dynasty will one day cease its reforms, and the principles of the Gongyang School will one day perish!"

Any change will affect the decision-making power and discourse power held by key stakeholders.

From imperial relatives to eunuchs to powerful ministers to regional officials and local gentry, everyone wanted to control the government and seize the greatest benefits; these were the vested interests.

Those who support change are often newly rich from the lower classes; even if the dragon-slaying youth gains power temporarily, he will soon become the dragon himself.

For the emperor, the greatest need for a regime is stability, even if it is rotten to the core.

Can the crown prince destroy corrupt forces that do not belong to him through reform, and can he also continuously destroy the vested interests that are the source of his power through reform?

Once is acceptable, twice is acceptable, but how many times can the crown prince destroy and rebuild?
If the Crown Prince were to soften his heart even once, the reforms of the Han Dynasty would cease, and the vested interests would surely eradicate the Gongyang School, which might destroy their own scholarship.

"A curse from the emperor!" Gongsun Hong laughed loudly. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and I have never thought of establishing a dynasty that will last forever. Our only wish is for China to go further. Change will stop, the Gongyang will perish, but we have done our best."

Liu Che was stunned.

Gongsun Hong looked at his disciple beside him, "Zi Mo, go and serve His Majesty by driving the horse and holding the whip."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Mozi boarded the emperor's carriage, kicked away the dead charioteer, and spurred his horse toward Changle Palace.

"Prime Minister?" Sima An approached, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“An angel has already gone to Donghai County,” Gongsun Hong said.

Ji An, the governor of Donghai Commandery, was Sima An's maternal uncle. During a court dispute, the emperor demoted him from the court by "replacing him with another official position".

The Ji family was a powerful and influential clan in the court. The reward that Sima An gave for inviting Ji An into the city and using his sword to cut off his path was Ji An's return to the court.

He was just a foolish and honest minister.

"Thank you, Prime Minister," Sima An said.

Gongsun Hong looked at Sima An as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed his words and changed his mind, saying instead, "Let's light the incense!"

"Yes."

The soldier held the torch, and sparks from the "firewood" immediately rose, their faint red glow bright and noticeable in the night...

(End of this chapter)