Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

"Um?!"

Zhang Heng was the first to see the calligraphy.

Logically speaking, a high-ranking official of the third rank should be an expert in self-cultivation, so there's no need to make a fuss.

As a result, Zhang Heng couldn't help but feel surprised.

Within moments, many people who witnessed this scene rushed over.

"cough!"

Zhang Heng coughed once and read aloud:

"Establish a heart for heaven and earth!"

"Establish a destiny for the people!"

"To carry on the legacy of the saints!"

"Bring peace to all eternity!"

"Hi~!"

Jiang Zhao held the scroll, intending to drop it, but his hand wouldn't obey him.

He almost couldn't control his mouth!

Many people squeezed up, glanced at it, and immediately said:

"With the Grand Secretary's merits, this couplet is truly fitting!"

"A century of national prosperity, all thanks to Grand Secretary Gai!"

"A magnanimous and benevolent heart is the foundation of one's character; governing a region is the foundation of one's destiny; achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations is the continuation of the lost learning of the sages; expanding territory is the beginning of lasting peace!"

"The Grand Secretary's achievements are unparalleled, both before and after him; they are truly exceptional!"

Praises were endless.

Jiang Zhao was shocked and quickly pressed his hand down.

In just a moment, everything fell silent.

Jiang Zhao reached out and brushed his face, letting out a long sigh: "With my meager achievements, how can I possibly accept such a position?"

He truly could not accept this calligraphy.

At the very least, one should not suffer such a fate while alive.

Of course, this calligraphy is based on the story of "Zhang Zai congratulating Jiang Zichuan on entering the cabinet," so it must be spread!

“With your achievements, you are certainly worthy of this honor,” Zhang Zai quickly advised.

These few words were written for the celebration banquet for his entry into the cabinet.

If I don't accept this, wouldn't all my work have been for nothing?

"Given your great achievements, you are certainly worthy of this honor."

"Given your great achievements, you are certainly worthy of this honor."

People kept echoing this sentiment.

"No, no!" Jiang Zhao quickly pressed his hand down.

Nothing is too much or too little.

This thing should be cremated for him after he dies!

"Establish a heart for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living and the people, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations!"

"This calligraphy is truly the greatest pursuit of a loyal subject throughout history."

Jiang Zhao sighed, looked up at the sky, his eyes slightly red: "Even with the achievements of a sage, it is difficult to achieve. I, Jiang, am like a mayfly trying to shake a great tree. How can I, how dare I, occupy it?"

"I look up to you!"

"Please accept this, sir." Zhang Zai was somewhat dumbfounded. He couldn't even give it away?

Jiang Zhao waved his hand and said slowly, "Since it is a great pursuit, it can cultivate the ambition of a scholar."

"Why not send it to the palace and hang it in the Imperial Academy, so that students of all generations can admire it and help them achieve their great ambitions!"

Immediately, many people echoed:

"Your Excellency is righteous!"

"Your Excellency is righteous!"

"Your Excellency is righteous!"

Jiang Zhao smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

Did this calligraphy receive any special treatment? It seems not.

But did you really not suffer? It seems not.

This is the effect he wanted!

Chapter 222 Moving Out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

Royal study room.

The writings were neatly arranged, and the classics were displayed in rows.

Zhao Ceying held a calligraphy scroll and slowly recited:

"Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."

"Okay, okay!"

Zhao Ceying nodded repeatedly: "Given Zichuan's achievements, that's certainly an apt description!"

Jiang Zhao quickly bowed and said, "Establish a firm mind, establish a firm destiny, continue lost learning, and usher in an era of peace! Even Confucius struggled to achieve this, let alone his successors?"

"Zhang Zai's words of wisdom are the greatest pursuit of outstanding people throughout the ages, and I dare not accept them."

"In my opinion, it would be better to hang it at the Imperial Academy to nurture the students' lofty aspirations."

Zhao Ceying pondered for a moment, then looked down.

This is the greatest pursuit of all great figures throughout history, and I dare not accept it!

Since it is such a great pursuit, one naturally hopes to accept it, yet one insists on saying one dares not accept it.

In short, it's full of contradictions, showing how conflicted Jiang Zhao is.

However, it's not surprising at all.

Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry on the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations!

These few words alone are enough to move anyone who aspires to lasting fame.

Anyone with a modicum of appreciation would know just how extraordinary Zhang Zai's few words of wisdom truly were.

Whether it's pretentious or empty, it certainly has a very high level of sophistication.

Once accepted, it will spread throughout the world and become an almost certain legend.

It might even become a timeless legend.

After all, these few words are just too "highbrow".

It's a timeless tale, and to say that Jiang Zhao didn't want to accept it would be a complete lie.

It should be understood that a timeless tale is enough to elevate the evaluation of a civil official's life and ensure that his reputation is passed down through the ages.

Throughout history, many top civil officials have remained largely unknown to later generations simply because they lacked a story that would be remembered for generations.

This is also the difference between Zhuge Liang and Wang Meng.

As the mastermind behind the famous stories of "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" and "Dividing the World into Three Kingdoms," Zhuge Liang's reputation is so widespread that he can be considered the foremost civil official throughout history.

Every scholar knows this.

In contrast, Wang Meng, whose abilities were not much different from Zhuge Liang's, was hailed as "the greatest man to surpass Zhuge Liang in merit." He almost helped the emperor achieve unification, and his achievements were undeniable.

However, in terms of fame and popularity, Wang Meng is almost a "historical nobody".

Even Cao Chong, who is famous for the story of "Cao Chong Weighing an Elephant," may not be able to compare with him.

This is the immense effect of a timeless tale.

Now, a piece of calligraphy that could become a timeless legend has been presented to Jiang Zhao, and he absolutely wants to accept it.

Unfortunately, it's not something you can accept immediately.

Even Confucius himself never truly achieved the goals of establishing a firm belief, establishing a destiny, continuing lost learning, and ushering in an era of peace.

If one were to accept it openly and honestly, it would undoubtedly be seen as "arrogance and conceit," and would likely invite ridicule from the world.

Even if one is not ridiculed by the world, one may still be suspected of "overshadowing the master" which is still a bad thing.

This is why Jiang Zhao's words were filled with ambivalence.

"Will it be hung at the Imperial College?"

Zhao Ceying understood and was secretly satisfied. He nodded and said, "Okay."

For a subject to value reputation, this is undoubtedly a top priority.

Anyone who cares about their reputation must be loyal to the monarch and the country!

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Zhao bowed deeply.

Zhao Ceying patted his knee, handed the calligraphy in his hand to the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and then said: "Zichuan is a genius of unparalleled talent, and he may well accept this advice."

"In the future, if you help me to pacify the world and unify the realm, I can then establish my heart, my destiny, continue the lost learning, and usher in an era of peace!"

“Zichuan may very well be the greatest minister of all time!” Zhao Ceying said emphatically, waving his hand.

This pancake is a bit too big, isn't it?

Jiang Zhao lowered his hands, looking longingly: "Your Majesty, I only wish to serve you faithfully, to accomplish the affairs of the realm for the emperor, and to win fame before and after my death!"

"With Your Majesty's literary and military talents, you will surely be able to unify the world, create a prosperous era, and command all directions."

"Hi~!"

To usher in a golden age?

Zhao Ceying's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "With you and me, ruler and subject working together, we can surely unify the country and create a prosperous era!"

As he spoke, Zhao Ceying couldn't help but dream about it.

Once he achieved unification, as the "founding emperor" of a unified dynasty, he would undoubtedly be a great emperor for all time!

If it were to usher in a golden age, that would be even more extraordinary.

When the late emperor passed away, among the various posthumous titles such as Tai, Gao, Shi, and Zhong, the character "Shi" was deliberately retained!

An emperor through the ages!

Emperor Sejong!

Let us usher in a golden age!

This will surely be remembered for all time.

Just imagining it is enough to make people look forward to it.

Jiang Zhao glanced at it and clicked his tongue in amazement.

The two, the emperor and his minister, were merely making empty promises to each other; it was like using one foot to support the other.

They're all still living in their own little corner!

Is this the first emperor and the first prime minister of all time who ushered in a golden age?

"cough!"

Jiang Zhao coughed lightly and said calmly, "Recently, the voices opposing the abolition of the empress have become smaller and smaller, and there have also been considerable changes in the cabinet."

"When Zeng Gongliang retired, Wen Yanbo entered the cabinet; when Ouyang Xiu was demoted, Han Jiang entered the cabinet; when Zhang Sheng retired, Tang Zhan entered the cabinet."

"If you include me, then there have been four replacements."