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

Chapter 53 Furnace Talk
"We brew light tea into wine and chat by the stove."

Liu Ju added charcoal and continued to brew and pour tea, his demeanor calm and composed. "Grand Censor, snap out of it."

"Why did the Crown Prince accuse me?" Dong Zhongshu asked, puzzled and unconvinced, and sighed deeply.

"I can't bear to see a field of knowledge born from the noblest ideals of humanity destroyed by the most base desires of human nature, nothing more," Liu Ju said slowly.

The Confucian concept of "Great Harmony" can be considered the ultimate ideal society or the highest stage of human society in the Chinese intellectual tradition.

It was a social system of public ownership, including public ownership of power and public ownership of property, with public ownership of power being the primary focus. Its political ideal was "the world belongs to all," and its specific measures included selecting the virtuous and capable, and promoting trust and harmony.

Confucius proposed this more than four hundred years ago; however, the State of Lu, the home of Confucian scholars, was one of the first kingdoms to perish during the Warring States period.

This just proves the saying, "A scholar is useless in a hundred ways."

"Throughout history, there have been thousands of theories on governing a country. Broadly speaking, they can be categorized as the rule of the king, the rule of Taoism, the rule of Confucianism, the rule of Mohism, and the rule of Legalism."

Dong Zhongshu seemed to have returned to the time when he first met His Majesty in the first year of the Jianyuan era, and said loudly: "The rule of the king has been a set system that has continued for more than two thousand years. In particular, the exemplary Western Zhou ritual system once brought peace and prosperity to the world. Even today, Confucianism and Taoism are still doing their best to advocate and praise this rule of the king."

However, since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the system of benevolent rule and ritual has greatly declined. Although rulers of successive dynasties insisted on adhering to the benevolent rule in order to show their benevolence and righteousness, how many people actually appreciated the benevolent rule?

The Daoist school of governance, which entered Qin during the reign of Duke Xian of Qin, was once a source of great pride for the Qin region. However, throughout the six generations of the Qin dynasty, not a single ruler practiced Daoist teachings.

Today, the country is governed by the Way, and the Crown Prince's words are limited to the state, not the learning of the empire.

The Mohist school of thought was the simplest, most diligent, most ingenious, most righteous, and most effective in governing a country. However, its two governing principles of "cessation of hostilities" and "universal love and non-aggression" are unworkable in any era or under any ruler.

Legalist rule, paved with blood and reformed with human bones—doesn't the demise of the Former Qin dynasty illustrate its numerous flaws?

Since all other methods are ineffective, why can't Confucianism be the choice for a ruler?

Can the Crown Prince erase the achievements of Confucianism over the past centuries with the mere mention of "human nature"?

"What country in this world can remain undefeated for a thousand years?"

"So, what the Imperial Censor wants to say is, since the Han Dynasty will eventually perish, why can't it be defeated by the Confucianists, right?" Liu Ju tore through Dong Zhongshu's hypocritical lament and long-winded argument, summarizing the situation.

Dong Zhongshu lowered his head and fell into an awkward silence.

"The Imperial Censor has forgotten that the Han Dynasty is not the Han Dynasty of Confucian scholars. The establishment of the Han Dynasty owes nothing to Confucian scholars!"

Dong Zhongshu's face flushed red.

"Our great Han should not become a testing ground for Confucian scholars, and Confucianism should not be so generous to others. Lord Dong, you have forgotten the sage's principle of benevolence and forgiveness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of hot blood shot out three feet away!

Dong Zhongshu's blood-stained beard trembled as he gazed at the smiling Crown Prince and said frankly, "Crown Prince, are you unwilling to give it a try? Perhaps we can overcome human nature."

"Dong Gong may prevail for a time, or even for a lifetime, but he cannot prevail over history. The fall of the State of Lu was not due to its lifespan of a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years, but to the hearts of the people."

Liu Ju said with regret, "This is why, when the State of Lu fell, not a single Confucian scholar recorded any rebellion against Chu. The people of Lu did not miss the State of Lu; what the Confucian scholars missed was the preferential treatment they enjoyed during the Lu period. Confucius said, 'The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit.' Today's Confucian scholars are all inferior men..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dong Zhongshu slumped backward and fell to the ground.

At this moment, the clear sound of footsteps crunching through the snow could be heard outside the tent. Uncle Fu, the old man of the Prime Minister's residence, lifted the tent flap and saw that the sky was beginning to lighten and the snow was still falling heavily.

Fu Bo glanced at Dong Zhongshu, then bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"This trouble was brought upon the Prime Minister's residence. The Prime Minister's residence must resolve it and not disappoint me," Liu Ju said, shaking his head.

To provide evidence for the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children in the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Chancellor Gongsun Hong transferred Dong Zhongshu from the perilous Jiaoxi State back to the capital. Unexpectedly, the deaths of Imperial Censor Li Cai and Grand Master Zhuang Zhu gave Dong Zhongshu the opportunity to rise to prominence and become one of the Three Dukes, which led him to harbor unrealistic ambitions.

The Confucian Empire was also blinded by its own desires.

"The Prime Minister relayed Your Highness's message on behalf of this old servant: 'The Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals is a collection of the strengths of various schools of thought. It has no intention of being a Confucian orthodox school, nor does it harbor any improper thoughts.'" Uncle Fu said respectfully.

Unlike the Crown Prince's case, which was based on cause and effect, the Prime Minister's office found evidence that Dong Zhongshu had contacted Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, and had seduced Wuqiu Shouwang, the Grand Master of Ceremonies and Attendant-in-Ordinary. After many years of familiarity, Dong Zhongshu's actions were no secret to Gongsun Hong.

Before coming to the Northern Army, Gongsun Hong had specifically instructed that if His Highness did not discover Dong Zhongshu's Confucian state plan, he should pretend that he knew nothing; if His Highness did discover something, he should immediately distance himself from the matter.

"I hope so," Liu Ju nodded and smiled.

Uncle Fu bowed even more deeply. “Your Highness, the Imperial Censor has come to the Northern Army on imperial orders to summon Your Highness back to the capital to oversee the country.”

"I have no intention of ruling the country."

"If Your Majesty, the officials of the central and outer courts were to inquire, would Your Highness be unwilling to take responsibility and assume the duties of governing the country?"

"I am the crown prince, and I have no intention of taking over the government when my father is in his prime. I am not in a position to govern, but I still consider it my duty to bring prosperity to the Han Dynasty. If it is the will of the people, then only the one who is in charge of the country can truly bring prosperity to the Han Dynasty. I can only take on this responsibility and completely abandon my own selfish desires. However, why must the one in charge of the country be in Chang'an?" Liu Ju said slowly.

Uncle Fu silently noted down every word the Crown Prince said, suppressing his shock, and calmly said, "This old servant has remembered."

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the Crown Prince misinterpreted His Majesty's edict.

The terms "regency" and "ruler" may differ by only one character and have similar meanings, but they are fundamentally different.

When the monarch is away, the crown prince stays behind to manage state affairs. This is called "regent". Sometimes, when the monarch is unable to personally lead an expedition, the crown prince acts on his behalf. This is also called "regent". Sometimes, when the monarch is still alive and preparing to pass the throne to the crown prince, the crown prince is often called "regent" first, and then formally proclaims himself emperor.

The situation most similar to the present might be the third type of regent, but the Prime Minister's office also speculates that His Majesty is feigning illness and has no intention of relinquishing imperial power at all, so the idea of ​​a regent would seem ridiculous.

"Dangguo" means one thing: to govern and preside over national affairs.

In other words, it's impossible for a regent to oversee the country nowadays. The emperor is unwell and unable to govern. As the crown prince, his job is to govern the country.

After Emperor Yu, he returned power to the emperor, just as Yi Yin had exiled the immoral and wicked Tai Jia to Tong Palace in the early Shang Dynasty, and then welcomed back the repentant Tai Jia three years later.

The crown prince deposes the emperor?
(End of this chapter)