Chapter 57 The crime lies in the present time, but the merit lies in the future

……

"Yes, our Great Tang Empire is the Celestial Empire, with the aura of a great power. All the small countries around us are subservient to it."

Seeing this, the smile on Li Shimin's lips was harder to suppress than AK's.

I didn’t expect that future generations would miss the Tang Dynasty so much.

"Dreaming of the Tang Dynasty?"

At the same time, many important officials such as Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin also had smiles on their faces.

An indescribable sense of pride welled up in everyone's heart.

After all, it is also their contribution that the Tang Dynasty can be as powerful as it is today!

Looking at the picture of modern people wearing Tang suits, imitating the etiquette and culture of the Tang Dynasty, with their faces filled with love and admiration for the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin laughed out loud.

"Now that I hear that future generations are so respectful of the Tang Dynasty, I feel very gratified."

"Pass on my decree, grant amnesty to the world!"

Just when Li Er was feeling happy about this, the smile on his face gradually disappeared after hearing what Mr. Ai said next.

……

[“I personally feel that the Tang Dynasty was very glorious.”]

[“However, the ancestor did not do much serious work, and was only satisfied with the tributes paid by the surrounding small gangs.”]

[“Keep developing, keep expanding your territory!”]

[“If we can also create a sun-never-setting system, will students still need to take the CET-4 and CET-6 exams here?”]

[“Then they will take our Chinese Level 4 and 6 exams, right?”]

【Thunderous applause breaks out from the audience.】

【Ai Gong pressed his hands and continued speaking.】

"What I am saying is that we have now elevated foreign languages, especially English, to an excessive level."

[“I can’t get the Level 4 certificate, and I don’t get the academic certificate. Which country in the world is like this?”]

[“Isn’t this the philosophy of a Western slave?”]

[“You’ve studied a foreign language for half a year, but Chinese people can’t understand you, and neither can foreigners. You’re not allowed to speak your native language at meetings in your own country, and you have to speak English. They say that this is the only way to keep up with foreign countries. What a slavish philosophy!”]

……

"What do you mean?"

"I, a Chinese man, want to learn foreign bird language. Is this a joke?"

Cheng Yaojin frowned and was the first to say unconvincedly: "My Great Tang has received tributes from all nations, and all the small nations around it have submitted to me. Their people are proud to be able to learn the official language of the Great Tang. Why should my people learn the bird language of other nations?"

"It's a different time now." Du Ruhui sighed.

Yong Qing allowed the Chinese land to be bullied by barbarians for nearly a hundred years. It must be difficult to catch up. The situation described by Tianmu must have been caused by the times.

If it were the Tang Dynasty.

There will definitely not be such a phenomenon of foreign slaves.

Because to the other small countries around them, the Tang Dynasty was foreign and represented advancement.

Foreign countries have always sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty to study.

"You're saying I'm not doing my job?"

Ignoring Cheng Yaojin's cursing, Li Shimin stared at this irrelevant sentence for a long time without taking his eyes away.

Obviously, Li Er, who has always been conceited, was deeply hurt by these four words.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, what this later generation means is that our Tang Dynasty did not take advantage of the time when the country was strong and do its best to expand its territory." Changsun Wuji said.

"How could I not know what Fu Ji said? It's just that warmongering is not advisable. The deeds of Emperor Yang of Sui are still fresh in our memory!"

Li Shimin sighed.

When he was young, he always wanted to expand his territory.

However, the national strength was insufficient. Moreover, the previous Emperor Yang of Sui was ambitious and wasted national strength and people's livelihood, which led to chaos in the country. The fact that he was cursed for eternity was still fresh in people's minds. He did not dare to raise an army easily.

"Your Majesty, I think what this later generation said is right!" Li Jing said: "The emperor not only has the responsibility to defend the territory, but also the obligation to expand the territory."

"Moreover, the times have changed. Now the people of the Great Tang have the secrets revealed by the sky. If we can find the magical sweet potato fruit and imitate firearms and warships, then even if we face an enemy a hundred times our number, what will our Tang soldiers fear!" Li Jing's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

Sooner or later, I will make those robbers' ancestors pay back for the humiliation they have done to China!
……

【“Teacher just said that the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty did not do serious work. What is serious work? I said expanding the territory. Of course, some people would say that this is not aggression?”

[“Is this considered an invasion? It’s hard to say. Is this an invasion?”]

[A student below shouted loudly: "Yes!"]

【Ai Gong was speechless: "Who says it's right? If you say aggression is right, you have no conscience. If you say it's wrong, you are just ignoring the facts."】

[“I also know that aggression is wrong.”]

[“So, when you talk about the invasion of our country, not to mention those far away, just take the Eight-Nation Alliance. Which country didn’t live better than us?”]

[“Let me give you another example. Among the four ancient civilizations, which one is not a third world developed country?”]

[“After a long period of thinking, I came up with a wrong idea. Today I will share it with you for your criticism. I would rather bear the infamy of aggression for the rest of my life than let my descendants enjoy happiness for generations to come!”

[“This is called sin in this life, but merit for generations to come!”]

……

"Yeah, so what if I bear the stigma?"

"As long as I, Li Shimin, can expand the territory for future generations and let them live a good life, what do I have to fear even if I am cursed?"

At this moment, Li Shimin's heart seemed to be ignited by something called ambition.

He looked at the ministers who were rubbing their hands in anticipation and announced loudly: "Pass on my decree. From now on, we will reorganize the military and establish a military department to be responsible for firearms research!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Li Jing and other generals were overjoyed and cheered in unison.

As for civil servants such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, they also had smiles on their faces.

Because everyone knows that they are doing something that will benefit future generations.

As for whether they might be criticized or not, they don't care.

So what if I get criticized?
History will not erase their achievements.

Isn’t Emperor Qin Shi Huang a vivid example?

……

"The crime is committed in this era, but the merit will last for generations to come..."

"Hahahahaha..."

During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui.

Yang Guang laughed a lot.

He looked at the rebels around him, looked at Yu Wenzhi, and laughed like a madman: "Did you see it? Did you see it all? Or are the people of later generations understanding me..."

"Over the years, I have built the Grand Canal, promoted the imperial examination system, built the Great Wall, conquered Korea three times, expanded the territory, and attracted all nations to pay tribute!"

"When I ascended the throne, I made a bold promise that I would achieve unrivaled achievements, and I have kept my word!"

"Everything I have done, which one is not a sin in this life but a merit for generations to come?"

"I don't understand why you don't understand me! Why do you want to rebel against me!"

……

Great Qin.

Ying Zheng murmured, "My crimes are committed in this era, but my achievements will last for generations to come. Isn't this what I am talking about?"

"I have carried out large-scale construction projects, built the Great Wall, the Lingqu Canal, the Chidao Road, the Zhidao Road, and patrolled the border to deter the Xiongnu. Aren't they all for the foundation of my Great Qin?"

In fact, what Ying Zheng did, in modern times, would all be considered building various infrastructures that benefit the country and the people.

Things like building highways and high-speed railways are things that will benefit future generations, and someone has to do them.

It's just that the step was too big, and the people suffered terribly.

In addition, the second emperor was a useless person, which made the people live in misery and the whole country rebel.

(End of this chapter)