In any case, Wang Hua, the chief minister of the cabinet, never expected that nearly two hundred years after the death of Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, the torture of corruption such as skinning and solid grass would appear again.

But this time it happened because of public opinion.

No one can point out that this was caused by the emperor's cruel behavior.

"Now His Majesty the Emperor still cares about us ordinary people. Even if the officials of the Ministry of Justice want to protect him, after we, the people, demanded that the corrupt officials be severely punished according to the law, our Emperor still followed the wishes of our ordinary people!"

"Yes, the emperor is indeed a good emperor today. We ordinary people can also read, let our children learn to study, and reduce taxes and rents. We really have to chant the Buddha's name for us!"

...

When Wang Hua went on a private visit, he could only shake his head and smile bitterly after hearing these comments. He knew that if he told these people at this time, he would be a cruel king and a ruthless king. Even because Lu Zhaoji said that the emperor was not clear about the empress and was not virtuous, he used the people and public opinion and Lu Zhaoji was forced to be skinned. These people would definitely not believe it, and would even beat him up and scold him as a relative of the corrupt official family. He would slander His Majesty like this because he had complaints about His Majesty.

Wang Hua had to admit that his civil servant group failed to turn His Majesty into a saint-ming emperor who conformed to Confucian ethics. It was not because his civil servants were not smart enough, but because His Majesty seemed to know more than his civil servants, especially in governing the country. Today's emperor seems to have many practical and mature ruling theories.

Wang Hua knew that when today, I was able to use the people to build momentum and successfully use public opinion to force the civil servant group to crack down on unfaithful ministers. It was because His Majesty the Emperor began to implement universal education and improve the literacy rate of the people several years ago, and most civilians became scholars.

Therefore, more and more people began to pay attention to the rise and fall of the world, especially those more and more poor people. It is obvious that the Zhongjun Society is becoming larger and larger, and even the organization is very tight. This time, the court was able to force the court to peel off Lu Zhaoji, because Tang Bohu used the Zhongjun Society to organize a strong demonstration team.

Wang Hua did not expect that the "universal education" and "literacy actions" implemented by His Majesty the Emperor several years ago would lead to the occurrence of difficult public management, difficult officials, and even more difficult for the emperor to advise and block.

"At the beginning, I only thought that studying is good governance, and letting people in the world practice literature and martial arts is always beneficial to the family and the country, and it is the right way!

Therefore, I support Your Majesty in doing this, and even submit a congratulation to praise him, saying that he is your Majesty’s virtue and policy!

But I didn't expect that this would make it more difficult for the people in the world to control them. The people can be used to do so, but they cannot be known. Could it be that the original intention of the saint is that the people can be used to do so, but they cannot be known?

Could it be that the saints really believe that foolish people are the foundation of governing the country? But if so, how can academics be good governance?"

Wang Hua felt that he was increasingly confused about what the fundamental concept of Confucian governance he had learned was. He was very reluctant to admit that the Confucian ethics that he had pursued for many years was a policy of fooling the people, and he was also unwilling to believe that the sages really wanted the people to become fooling the people, but he had to admit that it seemed that it would be easier to govern the people. Similarly, it seemed that if the emperor was too wise, he would not be very comfortable as an imperial official.

"Your Majesty laughed. I have just been confused about my studies recently and do not know what the saints say is the truth. I am thinking about it hard," Wang Hua replied.

"The truth is not spoken by the saint, but by yourself. Is the tea bitter? You have to know after drinking it yourself. What do you think, the chief minister?"

Zhu Houzhao replied, knowing that he had recently instructed the Hanlin Academy and the imperial literati in his servants to re-evaluate and supervise civil officials and Jinshi all over the world, which made the civil officials panic, fearing that there would be any mistakes and behave properly. Even the chief minister Wang Hua had nothing to do and just read books and newspapers, and no longer made any comments easily.

Zhu Houzhao could also guess that these literati and doctors had a new understanding of public opinion, and they would also gradually realize the power of the common people and some of the originally existing contradictions between themselves as officials and rulers and common people because of these recent events.

In order not to make these literati and officials, especially civil servants in the court, become more selfish, and only know that utilizing the people's wisdom will make it difficult for the people to manage, but not know that utilizing the people's wisdom will make the country progress and the nation progress, he will now find the right opportunity to enlighten some civil servants around him.

"The truth depends on one's own discovery?"

Zhu Houzhao's seemingly unintentional words caused a slight stir in Wang Hua's heart. He felt that Zhu Houzhao's words were enlightening, and he suddenly realized that he had always forgotten that the fundamental reason for governing the country was not to study but to think. So he hurriedly bowed deeply to Zhu Houzhao:

"Thank you Your Majesty to give me advice. Mencius said that it is better to have no books than to believe in books. Now that I think about it, this is the reason. I have decided to resign and study again. I would like to ask Your Majesty to be kind to you!"

Zhu Houzhao was a little surprised, thinking that the fundamental purpose of what he said just now was to make a civil servant like Wang Hua understand that he should take the initiative to think and not be bound by Cheng and Zhu Neo-Confucianism, but he did not expect that Wang Hua would directly think of resigning.

"This is very suddenly. Tell me your reasons," Zhu Houzhao said.

"What Your Majesty just said makes me realize that what I have learned is the words of others. After all, I am not as good as a dog son and have not found the truth of the world that I believe. Therefore, I cannot study hard and become a capable minister. Moreover, I think what Your Majesty needs more is a capable minister who can deal with complex situations and dare to innovate as the chief assistant. Although I am good at virtue but lack wisdom, I can help Your Majesty to ensure peace in the world for three or five years, but if I stay for a few more years, it will only ruin the country and the king and the world!"

Wang Hua replied.

"You are also a person in your seventies. Well, I will allow you to ask, but since you want to study again, you don't have to return home and study again. The Ming Dynasty is at a time of change and there is a shortage of talents. If you intend to serve the country, can you teach at the National Administration College, teach these officials who will become important officials in the country in the future, teach them the way to be ministers, and teach you the experience of managing the Ministry of Revenue and using the Royal Bank to allocate the world's money and grain!"

Zhu Houzhao asked.

Of course, Wang Hua would not refuse. He devoted himself to his life until his death. It was his belief, so he hurriedly agreed.

However, before Wang Hua resigned as the chief minister and went to teach at the National School of Administration, after obtaining Zhu Houzhao's approval, he used his power to be the chief minister of the cabinet to preside over the last court meeting.

This time, he summoned all the civil servants in the capital and wanted to explain some truth to the civil servants in the Zhengde Dynasty before resigning.
Chapter completed!