"Sir, my father is drunk and immoral, please forgive me."
Liu Ying apologized from the bottom of her heart. No matter how high you are, you can't bully others for no reason, especially Liu Bang. Riding on people, tearing clothes, and spitting on people is really insulting.
What’s wrong is wrong, and you can’t change it just because you are the King of Han!
As soon as Liu Ying finished speaking, Liu Bang, who had returned to his seat, suddenly slapped the table and glared at Liu Ying.
Do you apologize for Naigong?
Are you saying that Nai Gong is wrong?
The atmosphere of the banquet suddenly changed. Shusuntong hurriedly wiped away his tears and said with a smile, "Young Master's words are wrong."
His words stunned everyone. Liu Ying speaks for you. Why don't you distinguish between good and evil?
Shusun Tong smiled and said: "Your Majesty conquered Feiqiu and unified Guanzhong without losing any blood. It is because of his abundant martial virtues. The young master is kind and generous, and he loves his subordinates. He is also extremely virtuous. The Han Dynasty has complete civil and military affairs, and its virtues are as bright as the sun and the moon. How can it be said that there is no virtue? ?”
This flattering photo shoot is beyond the realm of perfection and reaches a high level...
Liu Bang was startled for a moment, but he also burst into laughter, "Okay, okay! Shusun Tong, I ask you to be the master's surrogate, are you willing?"
"Yes, I am willing."
Shusun Tongcheng was frightened, and he quickly thanked Liu Bang for his great kindness, and saluted Liu Ying again. He was so happy that he completely forgot about the humiliation just now.
What could everyone present say, except that Shusun Tong was a blessing in disguise and became the crown prince and his career was just around the corner.
Everyone just treated it as an incident and started drinking and singing until the middle of the night before they dispersed.
Liu Ying was a snoozer at a young age and didn't get up until almost noon the next day.
While he was washing, someone announced that Zhang Han and Shusun Tong, two fellow monks, had been waiting for a long time.
Liu Ying quickly invited them in.
Zhang Han took off his armor, put on coarse clothes, bowed and stood, waiting for orders.
Liu Ying paused and said: "Zhang Sheren, I don't know what I should ask you to do... Let's do this. You write down the most important matters in the Qin Palace, and then I will give them to the Prime Minister for him to read. Let’s see which ones can be enacted.”
Zhang Han nodded and turned to work.
Liu Ying set her sights on Shusun Tong. He found that this man was dressed completely different from yesterday. The huge Confucian crown on his head was gone, replaced by a bamboo leather crown, and the Confucian clothes he had grown up on had also been changed. It became the standard short coat of Chu State.
Liu Ying saw this and frowned, feeling uncomfortable for no reason.
“It’s not the way of a gentleman to flatter someone with your own intentions!”
Liu Ying's words were very serious and even sounded reproachful. No one was willing to stand up for a villain who had no bones and only wanted to follow the crowd.
When Shusuntong heard this, he didn't look ashamed. Instead, he bowed deeply and said, "Young Master, I have something to say from the bottom of my heart. I wonder if you want to hear it?"
Liu Ying nodded, invited him in and asked him to sit down.
"Please say."
Shusun Tong took a deep breath and then said: "Master, I studied under Kong Yu, the eighth grandson of the Master, who was the second doctor of Qin Dynasty."
Liu Ying was shocked. It turned out that this person was an authentic disciple of Confucianism, which was unusual.
"In this case, sir, it is even more important for you to pursue the right path and promote Confucianism."
Shusun Tong smiled helplessly, "Young Master, Confucius, and Meng Fuzi all traveled around the country to persuade the monarchs to pursue benevolence. But no one was willing to use Confucian scholars to govern the country. Mencius once lamented: If the world's words do not belong to Yang, they will return to Mo. . How has Confucianism declined? Xun Qing is our Confucian sage and a scholar of heaven and earth. However, his direct disciples, one Han Fei and the other Li Si, both entered the gate of Legalism, and instead suppressed and harmed Confucianism!"
Liu Ying listened silently, feeling aggrieved for Confucianism. After finally cultivating two capable people, they betrayed Confucianism, which was tantamount to digging a hole for themselves and burying themselves.
"Sir, the First Emperor governed the country according to Legalism, burned poems and books, trapped sorcerers, strictly prohibited private lectures, and slandered the court. Confucianism suffered heavy losses again."
Shusun Tong was talking about burning books and poems to trap sorcerers, but it was not the burning of books and trapping Confucians that was often said in later generations... Come to think of it, if it was really about burning books to trap Confucians, Shusun Tong would have been buried alive long ago.
In fact, what the First Emperor wanted to crack down on was private lectures and confiscate poetry and books that were not officially recognized.
In other words, the world is unified. You scholars, stop complaining and build the Qin Dynasty together.
It's just that Confucianism was the most enthusiastic about teaching, and it also suffered the biggest blow. The Six Arts Classics have never been complete.
"My master hated the First Emperor's actions. Hearing that Chen Sheng raised his troops, he went to join him personally. The Qin army killed him. My mentor and Chen Sheng died in the battle together." At this point, Shusun Tong had tears in his eyes, clenched his fists, and looked at Liu Ying.
"Sir, I dare not forget the teachings of my predecessors. But even today, if no one is willing to use Confucian scholars, I am afraid that our Confucianism will be cut off. I, I am a sinner! Even if I die, I will not have the face to see you. Master!"
Survive first, then think about other things.
Liu Ying was shocked by Shu Suntong's words... In his impression, Confucianism was synonymous with scholars. Even two thousand years later, the teachings of Confucius and Mencius were well known to everyone.
He ignored, however, that Confucianism had a long and miserable history before all schools of thought were deposed and Confucianism was the sole focus.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, monarchs from various countries were unwilling to use Confucianism to govern their country.
The pedantic Confucian scholars became the target of ridicule and ridicule from various schools.
It was not without reason that Liu Bang crazily ravaged Confucian scholars.
"Sir, I want to ask you something."
Shusuntong said hurriedly: "Master, please tell me. I will tell you everything I know."
Liu Ying said: "From Confucius to the present, Confucianism has been passed down for hundreds of years. Although the kings are unwilling to use Confucianism, Confucian scholars are all over the world, and Confucian teachings are endless... I want to know, what has Confucianism done right?"
Liu Ying asked about his doubts. He had read a lot of content that criticized Confucianism in his previous life, but he always felt that a school of thought that could dominate the Central Plains for two thousand years must have done something right!
Confucianism is useless, so what do the smart people of the past two thousand years count?
Are everyone doing useless work?
Totally impossible!
Shusun Tong also seemed a little surprised. He thought for a long time and then slowly said: "Sir, Legalism teaches kings to control their subordinates with power, to govern the country with laws, and to restrain the people with severe punishments... My Confucianism is different. Confucius persuades the king Carry out benevolent government and love the people. Master Meng said that the people are the most important, the country is the second most important, and the king is the least important!"
Liu Ying nodded slightly, "Sir, do you think Confucianism and Legalism are better?"
Shusun Tong looked solemn, and said after careful consideration: "I don't know. But I think that if the First Emperor could follow the Confucian way, love the people, cherish the people's strength, recuperate and prosper, and make the country rich and the people... the Qin Dynasty would not have died in the second generation!"
Liu Ying nodded, "Sir, you are right, but if the First Emperor really pursues Confucian benevolence, he will not move forward and dare not take action. How can he sweep across the world and unify the world?"
Shusuntong was stunned for a moment, pondered for a long time, and then said, "In this case, we can unify the world and then pursue Confucianism!"
Now it was Liu Ying's turn to be surprised. This Shusun Tong was by no means a corrupt scholar. On the contrary, he had a flexible moral bottom line and was an interesting person.
Liu Ying thought for a while and said, "Sir, do you think this will work? How about I study Confucian classics with you?"
Shusun Tong was simply overjoyed. He had long been optimistic about Liu Ying. After experiencing this incident, he strengthened his belief. The hope of Confucianism lies in this young master.
"My lord, I am very flattered. Thank you very much for your favor."
Liu Ying smiled and said, "In that case, sir, come with me."
Liu Ying took Shusun Tong and went straight to Liu Bang's big account.
At this time, Liu Bang had just gotten up, yawning, grabbing a bundle of bamboo slips, and looking at it.
"Father, I plan to hire a gentleman, what do you think?"
Liu Bang didn't raise his eyes, "Didn't I ask Mr. Zhang and Mr. Chen to teach you? Who are you looking for?"
Liu Ying said: "That's the one." He pointed to Shusun Tong, "Father, he is a direct descendant of Confucianism and is very knowledgeable."
Liu Bang simply said: "No!"
"Why? There has to be a reason, right?" Liu Ying said unconvinced.
Liu Bang hummed: "When it comes to governing the country, Confucianism is not as good as Legalism. When it comes to recuperation, Confucianism is not as good as Taoism. When it comes to caring for the people, Confucianism is not as good as Mohism... Military strategists can fight, farmers can cultivate, and doctors can cure diseases!"
Liu Bang raised his head and said disdainfully: "Confucianism alone is useless. Do you understand?"
Liu Ying said unconvinced: "What my father said is wrong. Confucianism is not as good as these companies. It's not that Confucianism is not good, but that the problems Confucianism solves are not these."
"what is that?"
Liu Ying hesitated and said: "I don't know yet... That's why I want to learn Confucianism and Taoism!"
Liu Bang laughed angrily, you don't even know this, and you are still clamoring to learn Confucianism. It's really ridiculous!
"Okay, I can promise you, but... you also have to promise me something."
"What's the matter?" Liu Ying asked cautiously.
"What my father promised you last night should be invalidated!" Liu Bang leaned forward and said.
Liu Ying was furious, "Father, you don't keep your word, you bully children! You've gone too far!"
Liu Bang waved his hand, "Don't yell so loudly. I'm just asking. If you don't agree, forget it." Liu Bang suddenly smiled and spread out the bamboo slips in his hand, pointed at the poem on it, and said with a smile: "My father likes this poem so much. Even if I wrote it, you wouldn’t object, right?”
