At the end of the Sui Dynasty, all the civil and military ministers and workers from the saints were in troubled times, with the collapse of rituals and the collapse of music. The people were in dire straits, and wars broke out. People in the world were either thieves or fish.

It is precisely because they have been in troubled times that they have seen the key to controlling chaos. And the key is the king, the ministers, and the people. How they do themselves well is the key to controlling chaos.

The old saying that the people can carry a boat can also capsize it is true. The king should be the king of Yao and Shun, and the ministers should be the ministers of Yao and Shun. It is not necessarily a luxury to hope that the people will be well-off and the world will be unified.

The first responsibility lies with the king, and there are only two kinds of kings, either Yao and Shun, or Jie and Zhou.

Why is it either Yao and Shun or Jie and Zhou? Can’t you just sit firmly in the middle?

Ma Zhou believes that if a king is not the king of Yao and Shun, he will take the world for his own selfish interests, and he will gather greedy and greedy ministers, and he will do his best to poison the world. Such a king does not think that he is the king of Jie and Zhou, but he has become the king of Jie and Zhou.

Mencius said: No official has no responsibility, and he has more than enough to advance and retreat. His words sounded free and easy, but what he meant was that if a person understands what an official is but does not become an official, then he has forgotten his responsibilities and is not an official.

.

But Ma Zhou would like to say that even if some people become officials, they have forgotten the way of being an official. They know that the king is governing but do not help, and they know that the people in the world are still in dire straits but do not save them.

On the contrary, if you become friends and fish with the common people, then you are not worthy of an official title, but a thief who steals the foundation of the world.

Of course Li Kuan heard that Ma Zhou was referring to Sang and Huai, and was talking about the dispute between the East Palace and the King of Wei. But even his brother couldn't explain this kind of thing, let alone Ma Zhou.

"Prince Bin, you think too much. This is not good for you."

But Ma Zhou shook his head and said that he was favored by His Majesty and worked hard day and night without daring to slack off. Moreover, his mind was thinking uncontrollably and sometimes he could not even sleep.

Ma Zhou made no secret of his political opinions. Frugality and restraining the vassal kings were the two major policies he proposed to the saints.

He couldn't figure out what Li Kuan, the prince who returned to the royal family after a disaster, really wanted? In his heart, was he like the King of Wei, or did he just want to be an honest minister!

In Ma Zhou's view, except for his status as a legitimate son, Li Tai is not as dangerous as Li Kuan at all. He has already made achievements in martial arts. If he continues to do the same in martial arts, he will be able to make up for his shortcomings in birth.

It’s time to fight.

This is what Ma Zhou, who has always advocated restraining and restricting the vassal king, does not want to see. Therefore, before cleaning up the mess in Henan Road, Ma Zhou hopes to know Li Kuan's true thoughts.

As for whether his words are true or false, Ma Zhou can make his own judgment.

"Prince Bin, I know this is not what you want to ask. I also know your mission during this trip and to monitor me."

"How can His Highness see you?"

Ma Zhou, an official from a humble family, even though he was trusted by the emperor, did not dare to neglect etiquette, let alone criticize a prince to his face.

It is clear that Li Shimin is not at ease with him and is worried that Li Kuan is also eyeing the chair. Therefore, he asked Ma Zhou to follow him and take a good look at what Li Kuan is thinking.

Li Kuan didn't mind this. Suspicion was a common problem among kings, not to mention a king like Li Shimin who killed his brother and forced his father to seek to usurp the throne.

Li Kuan liked Ma Zhou's frankness and straightforwardness. He smiled slightly at his Qiu Ba temper and told Ma Zhou a story "The Two Palaces Combined".

In his later years, Sun Quan made Sun He the crown prince, and at the same time doted on his other son, Sun Ba. Therefore, the political arena of the overturned state of Wu was roughly divided into two factions, and the conflict with each other was very serious.

And the result! Sun Quan deposed the prince Sun He, killed the king of Lu Sun Ba, and all the ministers of the two factions were severely punished, including the pillar of the Wu Kingdom - Lu Xun.

On the surface, this seems to be that Sun Quan is old and confused. But in fact, it is Sun Quan who sacrificed his two sons to weaken the families that can threaten the Sun family.

Although the cost was a bit higher, Sun Quan still did this in order to consolidate the foundation of the Wu Kingdom. As the saying goes, a tiger will not eat its seeds if it is poisoned, and a man will not love each other if it is poisonous. Accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger. This statement is true.

Li Kuan is different from other princes. His ups and downs as a young man have made him see all kinds of things in the world. I would rather be myself and live the life I want than to go into the muddy waters of Chang'an.

Just like now, lying under the night sky, looking at the stars in the sky, without thinking about anything else. The clouds are in the sky and the water is in the bottle, just be at ease!

Life is like a fleeting moment, so short, and all that can be done is to make the whole body happy. But these days, after he recovers his identity, I am afraid there will not be many of them.

As for the dispute between Li Chengqian and Li Tai, it is a matter of luck, and there is no escape. I am afraid that they will both lose and no one will have the last laugh.

In a person's life, we will see the end in thirty or fifty years, and they may not be able to wait until that time. I only hope that God will not let Datang suffer too much vitality.

Looking up at the stars in the sky, Ma Zhou also sighed: "Your Highness has a public heart, what a pity!"

The pity Ma Zhou said was not pity for Li Kuan, but pity for Li Chengqian and Li Tai. If these two legitimate sons could understand the principle of "the court struggle is limited and the country can tolerate each other for the sake of the country" like the king of Chu, the situation in the court would also be better.

Not so.

As the King of Chu said, I just hope that their brothers will not affect the future of the country like those short-lived dynasties in the Southern and Northern Dynasties!

Li Kuan tilted his head and glanced at the sad-looking Ma Zhou, and said with a smile: "Prince Bin, you think too much. Instead of worrying about things you can't do anything about, why not give up this habit of eating sweets."
p>

Ma Zhou was born into a poor family. He had suffered a lot in the past and finally managed to survive. He carried the candied fruit with him wherever he went. When he thought of the bitter days, he took them out to remember the bitterness and sweetness.

When King Chu said this, Ma Zhou blushed, put away the box, and called his attendants to take it down quickly.

Ma Zhou, who was extremely embarrassed, quickly changed the subject: "Your Highness, do you have any thoughts about the Henan Road matter?"

Idea! Years of war experience told Li Kuan that the more careful the plan, the more likely it is that problems will arise.

War has always advocated unconventionality. Major battles almost always broke out at the seams of the map, so it is not surprising to let roosters lay eggs and hens crow. Read the book

Therefore, Li Kuan's coping strategy is just one - to adapt to circumstances. Local officials are all cunning, and their tactics should not be unfamiliar to Ma Zhou, who has served as a teaching staff!

Ma Zhou's first response was: "Indeed, their methods are endless. Your Highness has such insight, I feel relieved."

Looking at Li Kuan's resolute expression, Ma Zhou remembered what His Majesty said when giving the opportunity: As a soldier, one must be able to fight, and the other must be able to endure.
Chapter completed!