Autumn time.
This is the time of year for harvest, and it is also the time for beheading.
Many of the adjudicators in the Gao Rou case will be executed at this time.
Starting from the Han Dynasty, local officials had to report to the temple if they convicted someone of murder, and the death penalty could only be carried out after passing the temple's review.
Of course, the Wei and Jin Dynasties had a scoring situation, and the problem of indiscriminate killing by local officials was too common.
The main character is a free and uninhibited character who kills whoever he wants and plays "I don't eat beef".
After batch after batch of prisoners were executed, the whole of Luoyang became a lot more solemn.
At this moment, Cao Mao was having wine with many celebrities in the east hall.
The climate is very suitable, with a cool breeze blowing.
The celebrities sat in front of Cao Mao, all with their heads lowered, and they no longer had the original debauchery.
This is not because Cao Mao's attitude has changed, but because the power in his hands is different from the past. The celebrities are a little restrained when facing him, not as blatant as before.
Cao Mao took a sip of tea.
Then he looked at everyone, mainly at the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest.
These seven people are the idols of most scholars in the entire Wei Dynasty, and they are the objects of their pursuit.
If you want to change the minds of the scholars of the Wei Dynasty, you must first change these seven people, let them adjust the thoughts in their minds, and stop passing on the negative, escaping, and arrogant values.
Although Cao Mao had begun to work hard to loosen the shackles on the scholars, allowing them to dare to speak without using strong methods to suppress those who spoke, and even encouraged them to go to court to persuade and impeach, the change in universal values was not that easy.
Cao Mao looked at these people and suddenly asked: "I want to know which of the three people of Shangshan Sihao and Xiao He, Zhang Liang and Han Xin in the early Han Dynasty has greater ambitions?"
Cao Mao had asked Liu Bang or Shaokang who was stronger here, and now he asked these two groups of people again, and the political flavor was very strong.
None of the seven people spoke in a hurry. Ruan Ji looked at everyone and said calmly: "Your Majesty, I think Shangshan Sihao's ambition is more ambitious."
These four people were the four hermits during Liu Bang's period.
Cao Mao smiled and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Your Majesty, the four Hao people in Shangshan are all very famous people. They live in the mountains and forests like immortals and do not pursue fame, wealth and status. Therefore, they have not incurred the same disasters as Han Xin, nor have they suffered any disasters like Han Xin's. Like Hou Hou who defiled himself, wouldn't Hou Hou Liu end up hiding in the mountains and forests like them?"
"When Emperor Gao wanted to change the crown prince, they stepped forward in time and reduced the turmoil at that time. I believe that their ambitions are higher than those three people you mentioned."
Cao Mao now had something to say. He shook his head, "I don't think so."
"Shangshan Sihao was not young at that time. At that time, the tyrannical Qin State was bullying the world. They hid in the mountains and only wanted to protect themselves. They did not think about others. Instead, Xiao He and three other people turned the tide and assisted Liu Bang. , calmed the chaotic world, established great achievements, made all the people enjoy peace, and allowed the Sihao of Shangshan to go to the mountains to rest in peace. Doesn’t this show that Xiao He and others have more ambitious ambitions? If there were no Xiao He and others People's ambitions, I'm afraid these four hermits will be caught and killed by the Qin people sooner or later."
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Wang Rong immediately retorted: "Your Majesty, their ambitions are not secular. They don't care about fame and fortune. They just want to live a quiet life. Their ambition is to pursue the great road. And Xiao He, Han Xin, Zhang Liang's people, Xiao He did it for fame, Han Xin did it for ambition, and Zhang Liang did it for the restoration of the country. They all had their own selfish motives. Their ambitions were just what ordinary people pursued, while the ambitions pursued by the former, This is what a truly righteous person can think of, so how can we say that the aspirations of the three of them exceed Si Hao?"
Cao Mao shook his head, "What you said is wrong."
"The pursuit of the Great Way is to improve one's talents and improve through learning. When Confucius pursued the Great Way, he also traveled to various countries and studied everywhere. When Laozi pursued the Great Way, he also studied day and night. They went deep into the mountains and old forests. They avoid war and say they are pursuing the Great Road. What kind of Great Road are they pursuing? Is it the road of climbing trees and picking fruits, hunting and fishing? The so-called Great Road must be one that has merit and benefit the country, and is beneficial to the world, and then it can be called the Tao."
"Even if it is Lao Tzu's way of doing nothing, it does not mean letting people go into the mountains to imitate apes. It is about not bothering the people and governing the world in a way that can be done or not done."
"And the ambitions of those three people are said to be the ambitions of secular people, but they don't know that they are the real people who are seeking the Tao. Xiao He's ambition is not to seek the Tao, but his actions let those who come after him know how to use inaction. Isn't it unethical to govern the country with his own thoughts? Han Xin's ambition was not to seek the Tao, but the battles he fought made those who came after him learn to imitate them and use them to subdue the enemy. Isn't this unethical? The same is true for Zhang Liang."
"They have no ambition to pursue the Tao, but the result of their ambition is to make their actions consistent with the Tao, preach the Tao, and teach the Tao."
"How can it be said that four men who imitate apes have greater aspirations than these three men?"
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Wang Rong was stunned and suddenly looked at Xiang Xiu beside him.
Xiang Xiu is also a great sage, but he is not very good at talking. He hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, what you just asked was not their behavior, but their ambitions. But based on their ambitions, is it possible to find the right path?" Isn’t his ambition higher?”
"You're not right."
"Ambition is not something to be said, but something to be done. Can an ambition that is said in vain also be called an ambition? Summarize the ambitions of these four people and tell me that they are pursuing the great road. You can look at their behavior. But I don’t see any way to pursue the great road. Even if you said that they stood up for the prince, isn’t this also because of Liu Hou?! There is only talk but no practice. Can this be called ambition? It seems that the ambitions of those three people are more ambitious!"
At this moment, Xiang Xiu was speechless.
He looked to his side.
The pressure came to Shan Tao. Shan Tao was silent for a while and then said: "Your Majesty is right."
Cao Mao laughed and asked again: "Compared with the contribution of these four people and those three people, whose contribution is greater?"
At this moment, no one dared to speak rashly.
Ruan Ji said again: "Your Majesty, if we look at it at the time, it is naturally Xiao He and others who contributed more, but if we look at it now, Sihao's elegant ethics and behavior have benefited many scholars and made them understand The great road is mysterious and mysterious, and this contribution cannot be said to be small."
"You're not right."
Cao Mao said: "In my opinion, they are completely incomparable. The contributions of Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin, whether at that time, now, or in the future, Si Hao cannot look up to, let alone Don’t call it a comparison.”
"They are not pursuing an elegant realm of life. If they were to pursue an elegant realm of life, they should be like Zhang Liang. After completing his ambitions, helping the world, and doing everything well, he then went to the mountains and forests. How can someone like them, who hides during the war and makes no contribution to the country or the people, but only claims that his behavior is noble, can compare with them?"
Ruan Xian hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, if we talk about the contribution to the former Han Dynasty, those three people should be more than others. But in terms of the contribution to the world, we still respect those four people. The former Han Dynasty perished, and those three people's contribution to the former Han Dynasty should be respected." No matter how big they are, it is useless, but the ambitions and conduct of those four people have influenced the later Han Dynasty and even today's scholars. How can your Majesty say that they are incomparable?"
"You're not right."
"When the Early Han Dynasty perished, didn't the Later Han Dynasty inherit its mantle? When the Later Han Dynasty perished, didn't it mean that the Wei Dynasty gave way to the throne?!"
"Besides, isn't the land of the former Han Dynasty the land of the Wei Dynasty? Don't the people of the former Han Dynasty have anything to do with the people of the Wei Dynasty?"
"If those three people had not been able to govern the world well and make the world peaceful and prosperous, would there still be the Wei Dynasty today? Can we still live here?"
Zhang Hua stood excitedly not far away. As a descendant of Liuhou, he was very interested in this topic. Every time he heard His Majesty praise Zhang Liang, he was extremely excited.
At this time, the people in Zhulin were speechless.
Liu Ling said: "Your Majesty, Lu Buwei and Li Si also helped Qin to quell the war. Is his contribution also higher than that of these four moral people?"
Cao Mao asked in return: "Did you learn from the Cangjie Chapter when you were young, or did you imitate the apes in the mountains and forests?"
"The Qin Dynasty was tyrannical, and Sihao was unwilling to work for the tyrant and hid in the mountains. I can understand it. However, during the Han Dynasty, the world was in ruins and was in need of talents. However, they hid and refused to serve. They also said that they were They are ambitious and unwilling to do worldly things. This is what I can't understand. Lu Buwei has Spring and Autumn and Li Si has Cangjie Pian. They also made contributions in putting down the war. This is not the fault of four people hiding. Something that can be compared to it.”
Ruan Xian spoke again and said: "During the former Han Dynasty, the world was in ruins and waiting for prosperity, but the emperor despised the wise. How could a truly virtuous person help?"
Cao Mao suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Is my ancestor, Pingyang Marquis Cao Guoxiang, a man without virtue?"
At this moment, Ruan Xian was sweating profusely. Even though he was a bohemian, he was really panicking at this moment.
Isn't it a debate? How could you still do this? !
This is a bit bullying! !
Ruan Ji hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, my son You is young and ignorant. I didn't say this intentionally."
Cao Mao asked again: "So, do you think I am right?"
Ji Kang then stood up and said, "Your Majesty, after our discussion, we found that what you said is very reasonable. Whether it is ambition, merit, or conduct in the world, Xiao He, Han Xin, Zhang Liang and other three people are far away from each other. More than Shangshan Sihao!"
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