I watched Er Chuang’s short video, and everything went numb!

[Fourth, Chinese is powerful in expression, incisive, accurate and easy to understand. ]

[Thoughts expressed in English can all be expressed in Chinese; but thoughts expressed in Chinese may not necessarily be expressed in English. ]

[It is relatively easy to translate foreign works into Chinese. ]

[There are relatively few foreign words. Generally speaking, one of their words can be translated into many words in Chinese. ]

[But translating Chinese into English is relatively difficult. ]

[After being translated into a foreign language, some are not so accurate, and some translations do not match the original meaning of Chinese, and are out of tune and have changed. ]

……

Accompanied by narration and subtitles.

Some examples of poetry translation between the two languages ​​are listed on the high-altitude giant screen.

Of course.

For these examples, most ancient Chinese people who do not understand English cannot understand them.

Only some ancient people who knew English in the late Qing Dynasty could understand what it meant.

Then.

They deeply agreed with the views on the giant screen.

For example, poetry.

After translating English poetry into Chinese, the reading beauty has been greatly improved.

But after translating Chinese poetry into English, the charm of it has almost been eliminated.

……

[After reading the above comparison, everyone should know how powerful our Chinese characters are, right? ]

[Chinese characters are an important carrier of the inheritance, development and prosperity of Chinese culture, and are the genes of Chinese culture. ]

[As long as China exists, Chinese characters will definitely still exist. ]

……

After a concluding remark.

This video is finished.

……

On the giant screen in the sky.

The video is refreshed.

A new video appears.

[The Prince - a textbook for feudal emperors! If you understand it, you will understand the essence of power! ]

…

Seeing this line of new video headlines, many emperors of all dynasties were shocked, and their eyes instantly shone with brilliance:

"The Prince!!!"

"A textbook for feudal emperors!!!"

"Insight into the essence of power!!!"

There is no doubt that this new video is tailor-made for them!

It is definitely a book for emperors!

There is no shift in their gaze.

The emperors stared at the giant screen in the sky.

They can't wait to know who wrote this book "The Prince" and what the specific content of "The Prince" is?

Of course.

The most important thing is naturally the specific content.

At the same time.

At this time, the rest of the people around the emperor have automatically lowered their heads, closed their eyes and covered their ears.

The content of this video is not something they can watch or listen to.

But in many places outside the palace.

In fact, there are many ancient people who secretly watched this video.

Everyone has a sense of curiosity.

These ancients were very interested in this banned book in the West.

……

[The Prince was written by the Italian Machiavelli in the context of the Renaissance and has been popular for more than five centuries. ]

[It is not only a political strategy for feudal monarchs, but also a groundbreaking political black art. ]

[Every suggestion it gives is a strategy tailored for the monarch. ]

[It is praised as a desk book for monarchs and rulers of all dynasties. For example, Napoleon loved this book and always carried it with him to read it repeatedly, and added many annotations. ]

[Some people say that it is the most profound expression of human wisdom in political thought. ]

[The theory of monarchical rule and political strategy it expounds, namely "Machiavellianism", has also become the principle of governance for all ruling classes in later generations to consolidate their rule. 】

[Although it is only a thin book, it has been rated as one of the ten most influential works in human history. 】

……

See here.

Many emperors in the past dynasties have become more interested in this book "The Prince".

Because these comments on the giant screen in front of them all prove that "The Prince" is an extraordinary book.

"If it is really that great, then this book can really be regarded as a textbook tailor-made for the monarch."

Many emperors thought so in their hearts.

……

The plane of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin said to Li Zhi in a deep voice:

"Zhi Nu, listen carefully to the following content."

"Okay, father."

Li replied seriously.

……

[However, many people have severely criticized it, believing that the political tactics it expounds are too cruel and the analysis of human nature is too profound. ]

[Some people even believe that it has encouraged human evil. ]

[For hundreds of years, it has been banned in the West. ]

[Its author has also been widely opposed and is called the mentor of tyrants. ]

[Many people are studying it, but they do not admit that they are "Machiavellians". ]

……

Hearing this content.

Many emperors of all dynasties have become more and more interested in "The Prince".

The more it is banned, the more it proves the value of this book.

After all, if it is a worthless book, who would waste energy to ban it?

As for "the political tactics are too cruel and the analysis of human nature is too profound", this is not a problem for them at all.

On the contrary.

Many emperors felt that the more cruel and profound, the better.

As emperors, they knew that the struggle for power was bloody and cruel.

……

[What kind of book is this? ]

[Today, let's take a brief look at it. ]

……

"It's just a brief introduction."

ChapterMany emperors of all dynasties were quite disappointed.

What they had expected was to learn more about this book.

……

[First, let’s learn about the author of this book, Machiavelli. ]

[Born into a declining noble family in Florence, Italy, he is not only an outstanding political scholar, but also a famous military theorist, historian, playwright and poet. ]

[Since he was a child, he has witnessed the miserable situation of the people in Italy, where there is no unified centralized power and the major separatist forces are separated and confronted. ]

[He served as the head of the Second State Council of the Republic of Florence and concurrently as the secretary of the "Ten-Man Committee", the leadership center of the Republic, responsible for handling diplomatic and military affairs, and served for fourteen years. ]

[During his tenure, he often went on diplomatic missions to various countries and met many people in power, becoming the confidant of the chief consul of Florence. ]

[He also personally commanded the battle on the front line in the war to conquer Pisa. 】

【Later, due to the change of regime in Florence, he was relieved of all his duties and imprisoned unjustly. 】

【After being released from prison, Machiavelli lived in seclusion in the countryside, devoted himself to studying history, and wrote the world-famous "The Prince". 】

……

"It seems that this person is not just talking on paper."

In the plane of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che thought so in his heart after reading the background resume of Machiavelli, the author of "The Prince".

Next.

He looked at the giant screen in the sky with more concentration.

In many other planes.

There are many emperors who have the same idea as Liu Che.

After knowing that the author Machiavelli has actual political experience, they are more looking forward to the specific content of the next "The Prince".

……

【Next, let's talk about the content of "The Prince" in detail. 】

[The full text of "The Prince" has a total of 26 chapters, and the specific content can be summarized into the following parts. 】

[I. Types and establishment of monarchies. 】

[Monarchies include hereditary monarchies inherited from ancestors and newly established monarchies seized by monarchs through force or wisdom. 】

[For hereditary monarchies, as long as the monarch is not a fool or does something that is outrageous to both humans and gods, it is a smooth thing to survive to the end of life. 】

[Even if the hereditary monarch is accidentally usurped, there are people who help to turn the tables. 】

……

Some ancient political elites from all dynasties nodded slightly.

The monarch of a hereditary monarchy has a natural legal orthodoxy based on blood.

As long as he does not mess around or catches up with the end of the dynasty, he will most likely be able to be an emperor for life.

……

[For a newly established monarchy, anyone whose interests are infringed will become the monarch's enemy. ]

[It is especially difficult to conquer countries that have different systems such as language, customs and religion. ] (To read the novels of Bao Shuang, go to Feilu Novel Network!)

[And to stably rule a newly conqueredThe author introduces three methods for conquering a country. 】

[1. Completely eliminate the original ruling class. 】

[2. Send troops to station. 】

[3. Support a puppet government. 】

……

The emperors of all dynasties looked at the huge screen in the sky with calm faces.

These three methods are all familiar to them, and they don’t think they are so strange.

……

[For the republic, the people will have a tenacious vitality, deep hatred and deep revenge because of their nostalgia for the freedom of the past. 】

[Therefore, the best way is to eliminate them or station troops in person. 】

[Those who become monarchs by their own ability and force have experienced hardships when they obtain the throne. 】

[But once they overcome the difficulties and eliminate those who envy them, they will become strong and stable. 】

【Those who ascended the throne due to luck had no difficulty in starting, but it was very difficult for them to keep their throne. 】

……

For this statement. []

Many ancient political elites in all dynasties only agreed with half of it.

Those who became monarchs by relying on their own abilities and military force corresponded to the founding rulers who won the hegemony among the heroes in the ancient chaos of China.

These people are indeed basically heroes and have a strong control over the country.

But those emperors who founded a new country without much effort did not necessarily have a hard time keeping the throne.

Typical examples are Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, and Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin.

The process of these two people gaining the country was very easy.

But their control over the country was no different.

……

【Second, the rule of the monarchy. 】

【In the country, the powerful class can only survive by exploiting the common people, and the common people will continue to resist the oppression of the aristocracy. 】

【Thus, the two sides have an antagonistic relationship of exploitation and being exploited. 】

……

Many powerful classes in all dynasties are quite unhappy.

This is not a good thing for them.

And they firmly deny that they are exploiting the common people.

But at the same time.

On the other hand.

Many common people in all dynasties think that what is said on the giant screen is very correct.

They are being exploited by the powerful class.

……

【For the monarch, he should take advantage of the weak and guard against the ambitious aristocracy. 】

【He should maintain close contact with the common people, because the common people's desire not to be oppressed is easy to satisfy. 】

【Monarchs who rule through the bureaucracy are extremely dangerous. 】

[Because bureaucrats are full of benevolence and morality in peacetime and swear allegiance to the enemy, but they are most likely to retreat or even defect to the enemy in times of crisis. 】

[Therefore, the monarch must always have a handle on his subjects so that they can swear to the death.Loyalty. 】

……

"Nonsense!"

"Heretical way!"

Many Confucianists in the past dynasties were very angry about the words on the giant screen.

This is completely contrary to the views they have always advocated, such as "the monarch and his subjects are of one mind" and "the monarch is benevolent and the subjects are virtuous".

"It is not what a benevolent monarch would do."

They are not pretending.

But they really dislike these views.

However.

On the other side.

Many emperors in the past dynasties thought that such views were normal.

Seizing the handle of their subordinates is also a means for the superiors to control their subordinates.

……

【Three, the war of monarchies. 】

【"Big countries have soldiers for conquest, and small countries have solid preparations." Any monarchy without its own army is unstable. 】

【The monarch must pay attention to armaments in peacetime, rather than indulge in the comfortable royal life. 】

【If the monarchy is facing a strong enemy invasion and the monarch is unable to organize a strong army, he should not care about the territory outside the city, but prepare enough food and grass, fortify the walls and clear the fields, and defend it strictly. 】

【At the same time, he should be good at using the burning, killing and looting of the enemies outside the city to inspire morale or create hatred, and ensure that he can resist the enemy with a strong and unified will. 】

……

Many ancients in all dynasties nodded.

They all knew the importance of the army and armaments.

This is indeed a matter of life and death for the country.

Just.

Some ancients were not comfortable with this last sentence.

That approach was not very consistent with their moral concepts.

……

【Fourth, the image and governance of the monarch. 】

【This part is the key point of Machiavelli's discussion. 】

……

See here.

Many emperors in all dynasties have paid more attention.

……

【1. Should the monarch maintain a kind heart? 】

【Machiavelli believes that the monarch is not an ordinary person and cannot be measured by the standards of ordinary people. 】

【If a person is kind in everything, he will be destroyed when he is among evil people. 】

【If a monarch wants to maintain his position, he must know when to do evil. 】

【Because the monarch's position is very high, his every move will attract praise or blame from the public. 】

【Everyone knows that the monarch is worthy of praise for showing good qualities. 】

【But the reality is ever-changing, and the monarch cannot always maintain such qualities. 】

[In some cases, the monarch has to use bad means, otherwise he cannot save the country. 】

[Machiavelli's advice to the monarch is: do it boldly, and don't feel guilty about these evil deeds. 】

……

"Nonsense!"

"Evil words to confuse the people (good)!"

Many great scholars from all dynasties denounced again.

How can such behavior be done by a benevolent monarch?

"No wonder this person's book is banned in the West!"

"Such views are simply shameless!"

"If the monarch really believed in this person's evil words, he would definitely become a tyrant!"

These great scholars felt that it was normal for Machiavelli's "The Prince" to be banned.

If it were in China, it would definitely be banned.

At the same time.

In many dynasties, some emperors felt that these words were not without reason.

It is true that the moral standards of ordinary people cannot be used to demand the ruler of a country.

Ordinary people only need to consider living a good life, while the ruler of a country has many things to consider.

The idea of ​​"do not do evil even if it is small, and do not fail to do good even if it is small" taught by Liu Bei in his will is not worthy of praise in the hearts of many emperors in later generations.

The most important thing in governing a country is the national interest.

Good or evil under ordinary moral standards is not important.

……

[2. On generosity and stinginess. ]

[Machiavelli's generosity is the monarch's generous rewards to his subordinates or subjects. ]

[We all know that generosity is a virtue. ]

[However, Machiavelli believes that generosity is a bad thing for the monarch. ]

……

"Huh, why is this?"

Many ancient people in all dynasties were puzzled by this view.

Because in the traditional concept of ancient China, generosity is also generally believed to be a good moral quality.

……

[If you want to give a huge reward to your subordinates or subjects, there must be a question involved: where does the money come from? ]

[The reward comes from either the accumulation of the treasury or the taxes on the subjects. Three]

[If the monarch wants to gain a reputation for generosity, he will easily exhaust his financial resources. ]

[If the monarch wants to maintain a reputation for generosity, he must increase the burden on his subjects. Exorbitant taxes will make the people hate him. ]

……

“It seems that there is a little truth.”

Many emperors in the past dynasties thought about it in their hearts. .