On September 16, the 15th year of Zhengtong, it is advisable to travel.

Zhang Fu, the Prince of Jing'an, joined the envoys to Annan as the imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Qizhen personally sent the team out of the city gate. After returning to the palace, he immediately summoned Zhu Qiyu and the chief assistant Cao Nai to the imperial study room to discuss matters.

"I have been back to Beijing from Mobei, and it has been more than two months since I returned to Beijing, but I don't know if the people in the Central Plains are still used to it. I have been thinking about them all these days!"

Zhu Qiyu and Cao Nai looked at each other, and at the same time saw the word "confusion" in each other's eyes.

There are reports from Mobei, Monan and other places every day. Local people are busy deforesting farmland and building workshops, and their lives are beautiful. These things have been reported to the emperor for a long time, but now they are suddenly mentioned again, which is really confusing.

After all, Cao Nai had experienced a lot of things, so he immediately guessed that the emperor might have some ideas when he said this.

This territory was conquered by the emperor himself, and it must be crucial in the emperor's heart.

"Reporting to the emperor, I believe that the climate difference between the southern and northern deserts and the Central Plains is huge, and most of the officials appointed by the court are young Hanlin. If there is no experience in governing the local area, it is inevitable that some mistakes will occur. It is better to take the lead in the Ministry of Personnel to conduct a field assessment of these new officials, listen to their opinions, and discuss experience in governing the desert together. I wonder what the emperor wants?"

After Cao Nai finished speaking, he admired himself.

Although I don’t know what the emperor suddenly mentioned about Dasha, this answer was so easy to say.

If something goes wrong there, I said that the court lacks experience in governing the desert.

If it's OK, I won't be wrong if I say that.

Zhu Qiyu nodded repeatedly after hearing this, and then said, "I think what Mr. Cao said makes sense. The desert is already the territory of our Ming Dynasty, and the court should pay attention to it."

"You're all right!"

Zhu Qizhen nodded with a smile and continued, "But I'm still worried. Let's do this, I'll go back to the desert to take a look."

"Ah?" Zhu Qiyu was stunned for a moment and said quickly, "If the emperor is worried, I will just go on behalf of the emperor!"

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "You should stay in the capital. Both times the governors were deeply convinced. The major affairs in the court were handled in an orderly manner, not to mention that the Cao Qing family and other officials assisted me, I don't worry!"

Seeing this, Cao Nai hurriedly said, "If the emperor is worried, let me go and go!"

"You guys don't fight!"

Zhu Qizhen looked impatient and said, "You two are not outsiders. I will just say it. Let me sit in Fengtian Hall every day to review memorials. It is boring. It is better to go out and take a look. You don't always say that for the king, you should love the people. Now that I go out to understand the people's sentiments, it is considered as following the saint's way?"

"this……"

Cao Nai was speechless for a moment, asking you to love the people, but I have never heard of the emperor who went out to run around every day without going to court...

The so-called king, ruler, minister, father, son, son, and son. As long as you become emperor, you should do the emperor's affairs. What's the matter if you always go out and run away?

However, depending on the emperor's intention, he has made up his mind.

Since I can't persuade you, then follow the rules!

"Since the emperor is going to visit Mobei, I will discuss the itinerary with the Ministry of Rites after I go back..."

"No, don't!"

Zhu Qizhen waved his hands repeatedly and said hurriedly: "If I told the Ministry of Rites, it will take only one month to prepare. It will be cold in the north of Mo. If I wait any longer, it will snow. I don't want to go out and suffer from the cold!"

Cao Nai understood that the emperor was preparing to run away secretly.

This is not possible. If something happens, wouldn’t it be a mess?

"Your Majesty, you are the king of a country. Not to mention etiquette, from a security perspective, what should I do if... something goes wrong?"

Cao Nai secretly complained in his heart, if something really happens and causes shock to the court, it is not a joke!

"Don't worry, Mobei is already a territory of the Ming Dynasty, what other dangers can there be?"

"I dare not agree. Emperor, I think I must say hello to the Ministry of Rites for this matter, so as not to be pointed at by someone behind my back when I go out in the future!"

Zhu Qizhen said with a smile: "What Cao Qing family said is very true, but I still have some things to deal with now. In a few days, I will summon the Ministry of Rites to discuss this matter. How about it?"

He is a little inappropriate now. After all, the emperor runs away at any time, which is indeed unruly.

Cao Nai vaguely felt that the emperor agreed on the surface, but it was more like a temporary solution.

I couldn't help but sigh in my heart, Master, you have changed!

You were so simple in the past, especially when you just succeeded to the throne, San Yang and Empress Dowager Zhang were there. At that time, everyone felt that the emperor was very sensible. Apart from believing in Wang Zhen, he basically made no mistakes.

But now, Wang Zhen has been stolen, and it was the emperor's personal order.

What is even more surprising is that the emperor seems to have completely changed his personal life, which is unpredictable.

For example, at this time, although I agreed, I didn’t know what the hell is thinking about!

"Since that's the case, I'll take my leave first!"

"Well, go!" Zhu Qizhen raised his head and said, "King of Huang, please stay!"

Cao Nai bowed and retreated, leaving only the brothers Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu in the room.

At this moment, Zhu Qiyu was a little nervous. For some reason, every time he was alone with the emperor, he felt inexplicably nervous.

It was like... the emperor knew what he was thinking and what he was about to do...

Just imagine, what would you feel if your every move is in the hands of someone else?

Zhu Qizhen looked at Zhu Qiyu and asked, "Are you worried about my safety?"

"Back to the emperor, I am really worried!"

Zhu Qiyu answered honestly.

Zhu Qizhen suddenly asked, "Are you just worried?"

"this……"

Zhu Qiyu hesitated for a moment, and the feeling came again. What he was thinking in his heart was seen through by the emperor again.

At this point, he had to bite the bullet and say what he was thinking.

"If the emperor goes on a private tour, he may be...unreasonable..."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "You are good at everything, but you just value this word "ritual" too much!"

When Zhu Qiyu heard this, he was puzzled. Since ancient times, people have attached great importance to etiquette and law. Even in the Zhou Dynasty, etiquette and law were once the strategy of governing the country. Why did it become a derogatory meaning when it came to the emperor's mouth?

"Emperor, etiquette and law are the foundation of the ancestors' rule, why, why..."

"Why do I never talk about etiquette, right?"

Zhu Qiyu nodded. It is true that when the emperor handles anything, he rarely talks about etiquette and law, but instead pays more attention to law and evidence.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a situation where a hundred schools of thought contend, among which the Legalists advocated the rule of law and opposed Confucianism.

However, in the Qin and Han dynasties, all schools of thought were abolished and Confucianism was the only one. Confucius became the first sage in five thousand years, and all scholars in the world became Confucian students. The books they read and the etiquette they followed were all Confucian.

Now looking back at the emperor’s actions, he actually had the demeanor of a Legalist.

Zhu Qizhen seemed to see his questions, and today he was ready to teach his younger brother a lesson.

"Wai'en, you go out first!"

Huaien was stunned for a moment, then reacted, quickly put down the teacup, turned around and went out.

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "Today, there are only you and my brothers here. You should be chatting and speak freely. Even if you say something wrong, it doesn't matter. I promise not to blame you!"

Zhu Qiyu had been struggling for a long time, and seemed to be making up his mind secretly.

"My brother thinks that governing the country with etiquette is the words of a saint. We should follow the way of a saint. The emperor is the king of a country. If the ritual system is the first to destroy, and then people in the world will follow the examples. Wouldn't the rituals collapse and the country will be disgraced?"

Zhu Qizhen was not in a hurry to refute him, because from the perspective of people at that time, these were indeed the truth.

But, is it really right?

Governing the country with etiquette, as the name suggests, is to use etiquette to govern the country.

Confucius' original words are to do it with politics, to align it with punishment, to avoid the people without shame; to be virtuous and to align it with etiquette, to be honest and polite.

The general meaning is that if you use government orders to govern the people and use criminal laws to rectify them, the people will avoid being punished for crimes, but have no sense of shame; if you use morality to guide the people and use etiquette to educate them, the people will not only have shame, but also have the desire to surrender.

This ceremony is the Zhou ritual.

The Zhou Li stipulated a complete set of etiquette norms that must comply with the ranks of qualities and qualities in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation, and developed into basic principles to guide people's behavior. From another perspective, the so-called etiquette and law are the rules of society at that time, and can also be called laws and regulations.

However, the right to interpret Confucius' words is always in the hands of scholars.

These people read books of sages every day, and often study hard for more than ten years. Why is it so hard?

Of course, there are many knowledgeable people among them who are determined to work together to cultivate their families and govern the country and pacify the world. However, most people, or most mediocre people, do not have such lofty ambitions. They study only for two words, fame and profit!

Reading is just a tool for them to pursue fame and fortune. Naturally, they will interpret what the saints said in different ways.

No matter how you interpret it, you always follow one principle, that is, to maximize your own interests.

Just like during the Republic of China, why did so many people miss the Qing Dynasty every day?

Is it just conservative thinking?

No!

Because only in the Qing Dynasty did they have power and status, and they could be the best.

What they supported was not the Qing Dynasty, but their own interests!
To be continued...