Chapter 10: Opening an Era of Peace for All Ages

Upon hearing Zhao Su’s words, Yuchi Wei was so infuriated that his vision went black and he nearly fainted on the spot. He pointed at Zhao Su, speechless for a long while. Encountering such a foolish grandson, he was utterly powerless to reverse the situation and could only wail inwardly: “My daughter, your father has failed you. It’s not that I am incompetent, but the son you bore is truly beyond hope.”

“Enough, enough. See to it yourself.” He was now completely disappointed in Zhao Su and no longer wished to involve himself in the matter of appointing an heir.

Li Chengyun and his companions exchanged glances, delight shining in their eyes. With the crown prince displaying such stupidity, if they couldn’t have him deposed today, they might as well write their surnames backward.

“Heh…” Yu Wen Chengshun, having just been rebutted by Zhao Su, would not miss the chance to kick him while he was down. He cupped his hands to the ailing emperor on the bed and said with a smile, “The crown prince’s learning is indeed otherworldly. May His Highness expound before us all what you call these so-called minor strategies for governing the nation, so that we might broaden our horizons.”

Zhao Su seemed not to notice the sarcasm in his words and replied proudly, “I wouldn’t presume to call myself a sage, but compared to relics like you—who clutch a few ancient books and endlessly recite the sayings of the ancients—I am just a little more insightful.”

“You… How dare you show disrespect to the sages!” Yu Wen Chengshun, once again outdone, could only roar in hysteria.

Zhao Su responded, “I hold the sages in the highest esteem—except for Heaven and Earth, and my royal parents, there is no one I respect more. However, I differ from you. You only think of memorizing the classics; I think about realizing the ideal world envisioned by the sages. That alone marks the difference between us.”

Listening to Zhao Su’s articulate speech, even claiming that their understanding and application of the classics was inferior to his own, Li Chengyun and the others grew restless and glared at him, their tempers flaring. Wasn’t this just a veiled insult to their scholarship?

“Arrogant! The classics of the sages are as vast as the sea; a lifetime would not suffice to study them all. You have studied for less than a decade—what could you possibly know of the sage’s great path?” Yang Rucheng said coldly. When it came to scholarship, not even the emperor could silence him.

Facing the Grand Tutor, a renowned scholar, Zhao Su did not yield in the slightest. Instead, he retorted, “The classics of Confucius and Mencius are but seven: The Analects, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, Mencius, The Book of Documents, The Book of Rites, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals. May I ask Lord Yang, where does this vast sea come from?”

“Hmph! Does His Highness mean to say that the classics of Neo-Confucianism and the School of the Mind are not part of the way of Confucius and Mencius?” Yang Rucheng rebuked sternly.

Confucian learning, since the days of Confucius and Mencius, had grown and diversified, with many great scholars annotating the Four Books and Five Classics, forming various schools. Neo-Confucianism and the School of the Mind were the two most renowned schools in Great Qin today.

“To study the way of Confucius and Mencius, one need only study their own writings. The commentaries are but the opinions of others and need not be learned.” Zhao Su had nothing but disdain for the other classics.

Not only Yang Rucheng, but even Li Chengyun now joined in, “You dare belittle Neo-Confucianism?”

“Prime Minister, do not put words in my mouth. I do not belittle Neo-Confucianism—I simply do not read it,” Zhao Su replied earnestly.

They were all staunch supporters of Neo-Confucianism, and hearing Zhao Su dismiss even the study of such classics made them so angry that they could hardly restrain themselves from attacking him physically.

Before they could press him further, Zhao Su countered, “May I ask, Prime Minister, do you know what is the most important teaching of Confucius and Mencius?”

“Naturally, it is: ‘Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister a minister, the father a father, the son a son,’” Li Chengyun replied confidently, convinced no such simple question could stump him.

But Zhao Su immediately denied it. “Wrong. Completely wrong.”

Li Chengyun’s expression darkened. “I have studied the teachings of Confucius and Mencius for more than forty years. What could be wrong with that?”

Zhao Su turned to the emperor and said respectfully, “Father, the most important principles in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius are: ‘Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself,’ ‘Education for all without discrimination,’ and ‘The six arts of a gentleman.’

‘Do not impose on others’ teaches all officials and rulers that, in formulating national policies, one must put oneself in the people’s shoes. If you yourself would not want to do something, and yet force the common people to do it, naturally they will resent it. If you insist, at best you foment public resentment; at worst, you provoke rebellion.

‘Education for all’ means that Confucian learning should not be confined to noble families but should be made available to all, so that the entire nation can read, write, and study both the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and the laws and policies set by the emperor.

The six arts of a gentleman are: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics. Every scholar should master these six skills. Yet, among the officials of Great Qin, how many truly possess all six?”

At this point, Zhao Su’s voice grew fervent as he addressed the emperor, “Father, please imagine: if the tens of millions of our people could all read and write, labor in the fields, and, when called, mount a horse and draw a bow to march to war—then, at your command, millions of iron cavalry would assemble. Who in the world could defy you? You would sweep aside all enemies, subdue all the barbarian nations, and become the sovereign of the world.”

His words rang out with force and conviction, so persuasive that even the old emperor’s face flushed with excitement, his breath quickening. In his mind’s eye, a grand vision unfurled: clad in golden armor, with millions of cavalry behind him, wherever the imperial sword pointed, his armies would surge forth like a mighty beast, flattening all before them. He would truly sweep aside every foe and lead Great Qin onto the path of empire, becoming the ruler of the world.

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!” The old emperor pounded the table, exclaiming the word three times in succession.

What need had an emperor for Confucianism, or Legalism, or any other school? Only the doctrines that benefitted the empire and the throne mattered. Hearing Zhao Su’s deep insights into Confucian learning, the emperor was naturally delighted.

Not only the emperor, but even the Fourth and Sixth Princes felt their blood stir. They, too, longed to become emperor of Great Qin and ruler of the world.

Zhao Su continued, “Father, in my humble view, we must not only study the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, but also unite knowledge and action, striving to ‘establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, establish a destiny for the people, continue the lost teachings of the sages, and bring peace to all generations.’ Only thus will our lives be worth living.”

At these words, everyone was stunned, staring at Zhao Su in disbelief. Who would have thought that this prince—long considered weak, foolish, and idle for three years—could utter such a statement?

Let alone anything else; these four lines alone would ensure Zhao Su’s name would be recorded in history, celebrated for all time, even earning a prominent place in the annals of greatness.

On hearing these words, the old emperor was so moved that he nearly leapt from his bed, laughing heartily. “Good! My son Zhao Su has the bearing of a great emperor!”