Chapter 1262: Chapter 1229: Worries
Zhao Hu’s cries echoed in the courtyard, audible even beyond the high walls, let alone to Zhao Cheng, who lived under the same roof.
Zhao Cheng frowned slightly, paused for a moment, and then continued packing the books he wanted to take away.
Zhao Zheng looked worriedly in the direction of the main courtyard and said, "Father, Grandfather is crying loudly, are you not going to check on him?"
He had seen Grandfather scold people, hit people, and make a scene, but he had never seen him cry, let alone so loudly. Zhao Zheng was quite worried.
Zhao Cheng sighed and said, "You go, if I go, he’ll only get angrier, which isn’t good for his health."
Zhao Zheng thought that made sense, so he put the book in his hand into the box, "Then I will go and have a look; rest assured, Father, I will fulfill my filial duty to Grandfather on your behalf."
Zhao Cheng smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
This made Zhao Zheng even more happy, as his father rarely patted him on the shoulder, always preferring to pat his head, treating him like a child.
Zhao Zheng felt he had grown up and had gained his father’s respect, so he left happily.
As soon as he went out, he saw Zhao Hanzhang being led in by the servants and hurried forward, "Great General, Third Sister, are you here to see Father?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Go comfort your grandfather, and tell him to scold your father less; your father is very good."
Seeing her speak earnestly, Zhao Zheng could tell she was sincere and readily agreed, taking the servants with him to see his grandfather.
Zhao Hanzhang walked into the study herself, where Zhao Cheng was holding two books, seemingly undecided about which one to take.
She glanced at the three large boxes on the floor and the books nearly filling them, picked one up to flip through casually, "Uncle Cheng, isn’t it burdensome to take so many books when traveling?"
Hearing her voice, Zhao Cheng turned to see her and explained, "Several students from the Imperial College are also going on a study tour with me, these books are for them to study."
"And since it’s a study tour, we will inevitably visit some scholars and hermits, at which time we can discuss books with them."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "A study tour is about observing the affairs of the world and learning worldly ways. Uncle Cheng, if you take so many books, they will have no time to experience the world’s hardships and joys."
She tossed the book back into the box, "In my opinion, you don’t need to take even one. With you, a well-read scholar, along, anything they don’t understand, they can simply ask you. As for scholars and hermits, you are not booksellers, why discuss books with them?"
Zhao Cheng said, "...What do you understand? These books I have collected from all over, as they are remnants of war, not only are they incomplete, but some contents are unidentified and need proofreading one by one."
"I have gone through the collections of the Zhao Family and the Imperial Palace, and many contents contradict each other and are not self-consistent, so I need to consult some scholars; they might know," he continued, "Over the past few years, many books, paintings, and calligraphy have been lost to war, even the library in the Imperial Palace is pitifully scant; it can’t even fill a single floor’s shelves."
Zhao Cheng had long wanted to do this: organize and send verified, authentic books to the press for printing, to have a copy in the Imperial College, one in the Imperial Palace, and to keep a copy himself, thereby benefiting future generations.
Zhao Hanzhang rubbed her nose and smiled awkwardly, "I noted this down; I’ll have the press print them, my family will keep a copy as well, and we’ll select some to sell in the bookstore."
Zhao Cheng did not object.
Zhao Hanzhang then helped him pack, saying, "Uncle Cheng, when you’re outside, help me see how the common people are living, whether good or bad, write to me often, it’s best to ask the people you meet about how they think the court should govern to improve their lives."
Zhao Cheng looked up at Zhao Hanzhang, and could not help but sigh, "You indeed are more suitable than Your Majesty in some ways; sometimes I think, it might as well be you, but then I quickly regret it."
"This world is terribly flawed; the ruler doesn’t rule, ministers aren’t true, military generals often rebel, civil servants scheme for profit, the leading nobility monopolizes paths to progression, powerful clans seize land from the common folk, while among ordinary people, parents are unkind, sons are unfilial, siblings unkind and un-loving, lawlessness and chaotic squabbles are everywhere due to moral decay, human nature becoming corrupted."
"The little emperor hasn’t committed any fault, if you, if you were to replace him, no matter how renowned you are, the people of this world would scorn you, and morality would only worsen," Zhao Cheng said painfully, "The Qin’s brutal rule, therefore it didn’t last, the Han acted in accordance with heaven, thus was orthodox, lasting four hundred years, whereas Wei and Jin, were servants who rebelled, causing this chaotic calamity. Are you now going to follow in Wei Jin’s footsteps?"
Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Uncle Cheng, how do you know I can’t establish another Han Dynasty?"
Zhao Cheng saw her expression was calm but her tone firm, understanding she wasn’t receptive to advice, and sighed at last, "But once morality is spoiled, it’s hard to restore."
With determination, Zhao Hanzhang said, "Education can remedy this; if you fear the people are disloyal or unrighteous, I shall teach them loyalty and righteousness; if you fear they are unkind or unfilial, I shall lead by example; I refuse to believe the societal atmosphere can’t be corrected."
Zhao Cheng, however, was thoroughly pessimistic, with reddened eyes, he said, "If the heavens are unwilling, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain; you yourself lack legitimacy, who in the world will believe in you?"
"Now everyone respects and looks up to you because you drove away the Xiongnu, reclaimed lost territory, and served the emperor with honor; once you transgress, all that praise will turn into curses upon you, can you bear that then?"
"I can endure a little gossip like that..."
"But what if even heaven opposes you?"
Zhao Hanzhang detected the anger, almost unable to suppress hers, "What heaven, I don’t believe in heaven, I believe in the people; to me, the people are heaven, the people’s will is heaven’s will. Whether they choose me or the little emperor is not up to heaven’s intent, but the people’s will!"
"The people’s will?" Zhao Cheng murmured, "Isn’t the people’s will the same as heaven’s will? People’s hearts are fickle, now you are loyal, a Great General, naturally the people’s hearts are wholeheartedly with you, but once what you do is not what they expect, will their hearts still be with you?"
"By then, you’ll be like Sima Zhao, a treacherous court official, even the whole Zhao Family will be implicated in it."
Zhao Hanzhang opened her mouth, the fire in her heart quickly dissipating; she curiously asked Zhao Cheng, "Uncle Cheng, you never liked the Sima family, you also mentioned that the unjust world and moral decay are results of the century-long warfare and the Jin Dynasty’s illegitimate reign. Since that’s the case, the Jin will eventually be replaced. Whom do you think should replace it better?"
Zhao Cheng shook his head, "I’m not a fortune teller, how could I know?"
"You’re not a fortune teller, so how can you be certain that my governance will lead to moral decay and decline?"
Zhao Cheng directly revealed Guo Pu, "Mr. Guo said, the Zhao Family thrives and falls by the people’s will."
Zhao Hanzhang asked excitedly, "Guo Pu said that?"
Zhao Cheng nodded.
Zhao Hanzhang: "Isn’t that a good thing?"
Zhao Cheng: ...
He looked at her in silence.
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