Zhu Yuanzhang was in a bad mood. Although he didn't want to admit what Su Bai said, he had to accept it.
Actually, the first person to say that was not Su Bai, but his wife, Ma Xiuying.
Empress Ma had advised him more than once that he was too strict with his subordinates. It was a good thing to be strict with himself, but it was definitely not to be strict with others.
Now that Su Bai mentioned it again, Zhu Yuanzhang felt complicated.
On the other side, Zhu Di raised a different opinion.
"Mr. Smith, where did you get that from?”
"The people that His Majesty severely punishes are all evil people. Do you still have to be merciful to them?”
"How can that be!"
Zhu Di disagreed with many of Zhu Yuanzhang's views, but his views on corrupt officials were surprisingly consistent.
Kill if you have to, and don't let it go!
What he wanted was to kill one as a warning to the others!
"Those who are evil should be killed, but must the remaining people die?”
"That's right! Embezzlement was wrong, corruption deserved to die. What was wrong with treating everyone equally?”
Su Bai wasn't angry at Zhu Di's seriousness. He chuckled and said,"
"Let me tell you a story."
Zhu Di was interested in the story and stared at Su Bai.
"You are a scholar who studied hard for more than ten years, but because you have no connections in the court, no one recommended you. You can only start from a small official.”
"The annual salary of the Imperial Court is less than twenty taels. It is very difficult to support the entire family.”
"Your clothes were filled with patches, and even your official uniform had been washed until it faded, but you still persisted and didn't join in.”
"You still want to be a gentleman who helps the world, inherit the sacred arts of the past, and create peace for the world. For the sake of your initial beliefs and the original intention of studying, you swore to be an honest and good official.”
"However, in this year, your mother fell ill and couldn't recover.”
"The doctor's high consultation fees and the huge expenditure of medicinal herbs have made you bend your back for the first time in your life.”
"You put down your dignity and strength of character and knelt outside the clinic in the pouring rain, begging for help to save your mother's life.”
"The good news is that you have a good reputation as an official. The owner of the medical center has agreed and will take over without taking a single cent.”
"Just like that, your mother persisted for another year. Unfortunately, the world is unpredictable, and your mother still left.”
"The owner of the clinic also sponsored your mother's funeral expenses.”
"You remember this great kindness and plan to repay it for the rest of your life.”
"Until one day, the person who once saved your mother's life, the person who paid for your mother's burial, knelt at your feet because of his son's crime, asking you to be magnanimous on account of your old friendship.”
"You're heartbroken. You can't refuse!”
"You jumped into that turbid dye vat!”
"Later, you were framed and reported by your colleagues, which directly alerted the emperor!”
"You didn't take a single cent, but your entire family was sentenced to death. Even your wife and children couldn't escape!”
"On the day of the execution, the people who once supported you cursed and smashed rotten eggs and vegetables on your entire family."
Su Bai looked over and retorted sarcastically:
"So far, are you a filial son with affection and righteousness, or a heinous villain?”
When the story ended, a pin drop could be heard.
Zhu Di lowered his head silently and was completely silent.
On the other side, Zhu Yuanzhang was also shocked. His right hand, which was supporting the wall, was trembling.
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and let out a long breath, muttering,
"Am I wrong? I just want to kill two more corrupt officials and get rid of evil for the people."
There was a long silence.
Zhu Di regained his senses and hurriedly stood up to bow.
"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Smith. I was too shallow and narrow-minded!”
Su Bai waved his hand with a smile and didn't continue to make things difficult for him:
"This is not your fault, nor Old Zhu's fault.”
"You are all people who have experienced the turmoil at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. You have fought the world and seen the suffering of the world. You hate those dog officials who treat human lives with contempt and suck their bones. It is human nature to hate them.”
"From a moral standpoint, greed is greed. It is only right and proper to be punished.”
"However, you shouldn't restrict human nature. Human nature is the most untestable thing!”
Su Bai smiled:
"This is like a refugee who has been hungry for a few days. You put all kinds of delicacies in front of him, but you don't let him eat. Do you think he will listen to you?”
"This matter has nothing to do with right or wrong. It's just the reality."
Zhu Di took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. His heart was extremely heavy.
Su Bai turned over, lifted his head with one palm and pouted at Zhu Di:
"Don't just listen to the thunder.”
Zhu Di really wanted to kneel down to Su Bai.
He had just been captured and beaten up, and now he was still asking him to conclude. Wasn't this messing with him?
After hesitating for a long time, Zhu Di still went forward with a bitter face and said in a soft voice,
"The corruption of the officials of the imperial court has nothing to do with torture. It is directly related to character.”
"A treacherous villain will always take risks. No matter how heavy the punishment is, it will not be able to stop him.”
"So we have to analyze the specific problems. We shouldn't kill them all with one blow.”
" Your Majesty's intentions are good, but he didn't consider that there aren't many people who can resist temptation. Saints may exist, but saints are not."
"I can't rule the world!"
Su Bai smiled with relief.
"You're worth teaching!"
"Old Zhu asked himself to be a Saint because the world belongs to the Zhu family. He should and must do so.”
"However, Old Zhu used the same method to ask for himself and asked for everyone else. This is a big mistake!”
"In fact, we are all ordinary people. We are neither great good nor great evil. We don't have too many ideals and aspirations in our lives.”
"As long as your life isn't too bad and your parents and children don't suffer, you can live your life conscientiously and conscientiously.”
"However, if you ask them to be saints, they will fall into the abyss!”
Zhu Di was deeply convinced and finally understood.
"What about you, Mr. Smith?"
"Me?"
Su Bai pointed at himself, shook his head and laughed:
"I'm not even an ordinary person. How would I dare to scam a saint? Therefore, I can't eat the Zhu family's dog food at all.”
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was eavesdropping, had mixed feelings.
At this moment, he did not even know how to express his feelings.
Even Zhu Di understood the piercing mockery, let alone Zhu Yuanzhang himself.
"Sister is right, Su Bai is even more right.”
"We were wrong!"
"And completely wrong!"
"I've learned my lesson."
Zhu Yuanzhang faced the wall and muttered to himself with a bitter smile,"
"What a good saying!”
"Learn from Su Bai, you brat, you're always mocking your father!”
However, just as Zhu Yuanzhang was about to return to the palace, a voice came from next door, causing him to instantly stand rooted to the ground.
"Actually, these are all fine. Who asked Old Zhu to eat rice bran and swallow vegetables every day? He has never enjoyed a day.”
"The boss is always like this, and there's nothing to be picky about. However, Old Zhu's mistake is that he gave his sons supreme treatment!”
"In this way, can you guys still feel balanced? Would he be able to work hard for his boss in the future?”
"Take a closer look. Is this the truth?”
............
The new book set sail, recruiting crew members, begging for the support of all the ancestors!
Kneel, flowers, evaluation, and reward!
This was very important to the author!
...............
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]