Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me-Chapter 1359 - 921 Great Shang Treasury

When chaos reigns for a long time, more people die, and more citizens suffer from disasters.

This is Jiang Chen’s sin.

"Mengzi said, ’The people are the most important, the altars of the gods come second, the ruler is the least.’ Despite being scholars, you have not heeded a single word of the Saint."

The more Jiang Chen spoke, the angrier he became, and his tone grew increasingly stern.

The six men being scolded dared not speak, nor could they rely on their seniority. Though Jiang Chen appeared much younger than them, in terms of actual age, he was older than their grandfathers. Before Jiang Chen, they were but children. How could they rely on their seniority?

In the end, it was the elderly Confucian who, considering the bigger picture, braved Jiang Chen’s stern gaze and said, "Corrupt officials should be killed, but still, they are needed to govern the land. If they are killed, who will govern the nation?"

This is the helplessness of ancient times. Knowledge was monopolized by the gentry; ordinary people, unable to even read, how could they govern the land?

This is why the gentry could not be eliminated, for without them, there would be no one to govern the land.

"I have one million avatars. Even if all the officials died, with just me alone, I could govern the land. How about that?"

Looking at him, Jiang Chen coldly said.

Human capabilities are limited, but his power is boundless. Without officials, he himself would suffice. It wouldn’t need to be for long, just a few decades, and young people would grow up to take his place.

"I have already said, no one is irreplaceable. The gentry’s lineage is noble, but looking back a few generations among the common folk, whose family hasn’t had a notable figure?"

"Through the transmission of a million years, the bloodline of the Divine Emperor has already fused into every clan member’s body. Every individual has the Divine Emperor’s lineage. Who is lowly, then?"

"A person’s nobility is unrelated to his bloodline, but to his deeds, to see what contributions he has made to the world."

"Those who serve the people are praised by their neighbors; those who prosper are praised by their fellow townspeople; officials are praised by the citizens under their governance; rulers are loved by all the people."

"If they can achieve this, then they are truly nobler than others."

"Conversely, those who serve the people but disturb their neighbors, those who prosper yet are despised by their town, officials who are regarded as enemies by their people, and rulers who are cursed by all, wishing to perish with them,"

"Undoubtedly, these people, no matter how noble their lineage, are despicable."

"Moreover, when commoners make mistakes, they can be corrected. That’s because the capabilities of ordinary people are limited. Even using their greatest efforts, how much trouble can they cause?"

"Officials wield far greater power than commoners. If they err, it can harm a family at least, and at worst, affect several counties and cities."

"The emperor’s power exceeds that of all officials. Should he make a mistake—even a minor one—it becomes an unbearable weight on the people. If a major error occurs, it is akin to the sky falling and the earth splitting, unknowing how many will end up dead or displaced."

"Therefore, common people can err, but officials and the emperor cannot. If they err, it costs lives."

"Confucians are needed by the people. Why did the Saint create the Confucian Dao? It was to have you Confucians plead for the people when the ruler errs, fulfilling the needs and desires of the people."

"If a ruler sees his advisors as his hands and feet, the advisors regard the ruler as their heart and gut; if a ruler sees his advisors as dogs and horses, the advisors see the ruler as a fellow countryman; if a ruler sees his advisors as dirt and weeds, the advisors see the ruler as an enemy."

"The Saint has already taught you this principle. If the ruler errs, you must point it out. If the ruler listens, naturally it shows a wise ruler and enlightened advisors."

"If the ruler doesn’t listen and insists on erring, causing harm to the people, then you must prioritize the people. With Yi Yin and Huo Guang as examples, do you still not know what to do?"

"Specifically, to depose the foolish ruler and establish a wise one." freёnovelkiss.com

"If the ruler is wise, Confucians follow him. If the ruler is cruel, Confucians oppose him. Prioritizing the needs of the people, urgently fulfilling what the people need, this is the true Confucian Dao."

"Ask yourselves, can you achieve this?"

The path of the Confucian Dao, from the moment they chose to prioritize imperial power, valuing the ruler and the altars over the people, they had already strayed.

This is also why, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were several revered Saints among the Confucians, but now, it is said that no Saint has emerged for a hundred years. Having lost the true essence of the Confucian Dao, how can a Saint be born?

"The king’s teachings are correct: our vision has been too narrow."

The six men rendered speechless by Jiang Chen merely continued to admit their errors. Whether they had truly taken Jiang Chen’s words to heart remains questionable.

As leading Confucians, they had their own understanding of the principles of Heaven and Earth and would not change their views simply based on a few words from Jiang Chen, even if what he said was correct.

A worldview established over decades cannot be shattered in a moment.

"Now that you know your mistakes, act quickly. I give you three days to write down everything concerning all the major clans and the entire court’s behavior."

After talking for so long, Jiang Chen was tired. He waved his hand and dismissed them.

"By your command!"

The six men bowed and then withdrew.

They may not have been persuaded by Jiang Chen, but they would certainly follow his orders. As intelligent people, they knew the principle that the arm cannot twist the thigh.

Jiang Chen’s power, who could contend with it? Even the ancient clans were extinguished on his command; the mere gentry, naturally, could be wiped out with a snap of his fingers.