Empty talk will harm the country, but hard work will prosper the country!
These words were the theme of the Dragon Country era before Xu Yan transmigrated.
These short words contained extraordinary and profound principles of governing the country.
It meant that only discussing national affairs in general and not solving problems in relation to reality would delay the development of the country. Only by being down-to-earth and working hard could the country prosper.
"Empty talk will harm the country, but hard work will prosper the country!"
When Liu Che heard these words, he was once again shocked.
He muttered and repeated. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that these words contained great knowledge of governing the country.
"That's right, it's just empty talk that harms the country and hard work that rejuvenates the country!”
"When Your Majesty is discussing government affairs with the officials, before you make a decision, you should think about what kind of influence and benefits your decision and decree will bring to the Great Han Dynasty.”
"Can it increase the income of the Great Han Imperial Court's treasury?”
"Or can it fill the stomachs of the Great Han people?”
"Or perhaps it can increase the strength of the Great Han Empire?”
"Besides, when promoting an official, don't look at how beautiful his words are, how beautiful the prospects are, and how much others praise him. Instead, look at how much practical work he has done, and whether these things are beneficial to the Great Han Dynasty and the country!”
Xu Yan talked about the principles of governing the country to Liu Che.
"This situation is just like when His Majesty asked me which of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy could govern the country better.”
"Your Majesty doesn't need to listen to what everyone says about which family can govern the country. You just need to seriously think about what effect these theories can have on the Great Han Imperial Court.”
"The people who studied Old Huang's teachings said that Old Huang's teachings could govern the country. Then, what true role did Old Huang's teachings play in the development of the Great Han Dynasty?”
"It can't be that 'governing by doing nothing' can fill the treasury of the Great Han Dynasty and allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment, right?”
Xu Yan couldn't help but smile.
The current Western Han Dynasty had a stable and abundant treasury because of the recuperation of six generations of monarchs.
However, if you attributed the country's 'recuperation' policy to the influence of Elder Huang's studies and said that it was the effect of Elder Huang's studies, it would be very nonsensical.
Xu Yan smiled and continued," Those who study Confucianism say that Confucianism can govern the country. They even say that Confucianism could not be used to govern the country during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Qin Dynasty. This is because Confucianism can only be used in prosperous dynasties, not in troubled times.”
"Then, Your Majesty, how can a theory that can't even pacify troubled times be able to govern the country in a prosperous age?”
" Or perhaps, the moral gentlemen who studied Confucianism could feed the people with their own morals and make the soldiers brave and fearless to defeat the Xiongnu with sabers, swords, and armor?”
"If I may say something, what else do those Confucians have other than their mouths?”
"If they want to govern the country and manage the people, they still need the laws of the country. If they want to solve the problem of the people eating, they still need the people to farm. They still need to fight against the Xiongnu. They still need generals and soldiers to fight on the battlefield. Even weapons and equipment still need craftsmen to make them.”
"You can't say that they are good officials, reasonable people, and have good morals, right?”
Xu Yan did not continue. Instead, he looked at Liu Che and asked seriously,"Does Your Majesty really think that such Confucianism can be used to govern the country?”
Anyway, in Xu Yan's opinion, the Confucian doctrine of governing the country was a complete joke, a joke forged from the thousands of years of blood and tears of Yan Huang.
Liu Che frowned, seemingly unhappy that Xu Yan kept on harping on the Confucian issue.
Furthermore, according to Xu Yan's words, there was probably no one from the Hundred Schools of Philosophy that could govern the country alone.
Thinking of this…
Liu Che frowned and asked," According to Master Xu, since Taoism, Confucianism, militarism, and Mohism can't be used to govern the country alone, why do you think your study of things can be used to govern the country?"”
Hearing this question, Xu Yan could not help but smile.
He had talked so much, but his biggest purpose was to promote his theory of studying things. He changed the topic from paper, stir-fried vegetables, stir-fried noodles, and so on to the theory of governing the country.
Xu Yan shook his head and said," Your Majesty, in fact, the theory of investigation of things cannot be directly used to govern a country. Although my theory of investigation of things is to connect hundreds of schools of thought to one school of thought, the matters of governing a country have nothing to do with the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy.”
"The theory of investigating things can't be directly used to govern a country. Is there no direct connection between governing a country and the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy?”
Hearing this answer, Liu Che couldn't help but be stunned. He couldn't believe his ears.
This was the first time he had heard such words.
In the past, whether it was the Taoists, Confucians, Legalists, or Mohists, they all told him how good their theories were and how they could help him govern the country.
Now, a person who was determined to walk the path of the ancient sages and reopen a new path outside of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy actually told him that whether it was his own theory of things or the Hundred Schools of Philosophy, they had nothing to do with governing the country.
How could Liu Che not be shocked?
Xu Yan ignored the shocked Liu Che and continued,""In fact, what can really be used to govern a country is not the ideology of a certain school, but a rigorous, orderly, scientific and reasonable system.”
"Everything else, whether it's my theory of things or the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy, is just to make this system more perfect.”
What was the basis of governing a country?
It wasn't a doctrine or military suppression, but a rigorous, orderly, scientific, and reasonable system.
In this system, the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy were only supplementary. What really depended on was people.
"I see, I see…"
Liu Che listened to Xu Yan's explanation and his face couldn't help but reveal a look of realization.
After listening to Xu Yan's explanation, he finally understood the relationship between the Hundred Schools of Philosophy and governing the country.
It was no wonder that he had always felt that there was a barrier between the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy and governing the country. He could not understand what the Hundred Schools of Philosophy meant for governing the country.
So that was the case.
So that was the case!
However, after Liu Che understood the relationship between the theories of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy and governing the country, he quickly had another doubt.
If, according to Xu Yan, the Hundred Schools of Philosophy were just a supplement to the governing system, then what was the governing system of the Great Han Dynasty?
To this question, Xu Yan only said five words softly.
"Three dukes and nine ministers!"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]