Emperor Taizong rejected extravagance and formalism.
According to Zi Tong Zhi Jian, in the four years of Zhenguan, due to the efforts of Emperor Taizong to govern the early Tang Dynasty, there was a scene of "peaceful rise". After a bumper harvest every year, the world is peaceful and thieves don't do it. As early as 623 AD, many ministers wrote to Li Shimin Taizong for meditation. Closing the Zen is the most grand ceremony of ancient emperors, located at the top of Mount Tai. Taizong himself thought that the founding of the People's Republic of China was meritorious and his career was successful, so he accepted the opinions of ministers and planned to go to Mount Tai to meditate. But at this time, Wei Zhi thought Guan Chan was inappropriate and raised an objection to Emperor Taizong.
So Taizong asked, "Won't you let me meditate? Do you think my contribution is not high enough? "
Wei Zhi replied: "High enough!"
Q: "isn't virtue thick enough?"
A: "Very thick!"
Q: "Is the country still unstable?"
A: "That's settled!"
Q: "Haven't the Yi people from all directions surrendered yet?"
A: "I am convinced!"
Q: "Aren't you in the prime of life?"
A: "Enough!"
Q: "Didn't Fu Rui show up?"
A: "It appears!"
Q: "Then why can't we meditate?"
A: "Although these six conditions have been met, since the demise of the Sui Dynasty, the world has been in chaos, the hukou has not been restored, and the granary is still empty. If Zen is closed to the outside world, it is bound to be crowded with people and followers, and supplies on the road are not easy to bear. Moreover, the worship of Zen will surely gather monarchs from all countries, and the leaders of all ethnic groups in the distance will also come with their followers. Now from Yishui and Luoshui to the sea, Mount Tai is vast and sparsely populated, and nothing grows. This is to attract foreigners into our hinterland and show them our weaknesses. These people's desires are insatiable. Pass the meditation once, even if it is tax-free for several years, it can't compensate the people for their hard work. Advocating false reputation harms reality. This is not what the people want to do. "
Emperor Taizong nodded yes. In fact, Emperor Taizong was well versed in governing the country: the monarch depends on the country and the country depends on the people. Exploiting people to support monarchs and officials is like cutting meat to satisfy hunger. If you are full, you will die, and if you are rich, your country will die! If you want more, you will spend more. If you spend more, you will pay more taxes. If taxes are heavy, people will be very sad. If the people are sad, the country will be in danger. If the country is in danger, you will not be guaranteed.
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