In the meeting hall of Peixian County, Zhang Cang was looking at a volume. As he read, he read loudly: "The middle is not square, the name is not regular, and the outer is not round; anger can make you happy, joy can make you sad, wisdom can be stupid, and strength can weaken. , brave enough to bend, strong enough to be gentle, benevolent enough to endure, but not strong enough; do not like wealth, do not hate poverty, practice righteousness and cultivate oneself. Good! Good! The writing is comprehensive enough.' Also: 'A king does not listen too much , according to the law, rely on numbers to observe gains and losses. Words that cannot be heard are not listened to by the ears; labor that cannot be done is not intended for merit; relatives who do not work are not allowed to serve as officials. Officials do not have personal relatives, the law does not leave behind love, and there is no relationship between superiors and subordinates. The only thing that matters is the law...'" Suddenly he looked up and saw Xiao He walking in, and said happily: "I have known for a long time that you are different! After the examination, the county magistrate really ranked first!" Xiao He said: " My lord, thank you." Zhang Cang said: "I have been an official for many years and have met countless people. Only the Prime Minister of Xiao County has the talent of a king's assistant. I would like to recommend you to the court to assist the current First Emperor. What do you think?" Xiao He heard that Zhang Cang When he was about to recommend him to the court, he was shocked at first, and then he hurriedly knelt down and said: "No, sir! My qualifications are very shallow. I can only help Magistrate Zhao manage the affairs of Peixian County. I am not qualified for other things." How dare you assist the great His Majesty the First Emperor?"
Zhang Cang was shocked and said in disbelief: "Which scholar in the country, as long as he is an official, is unhappy when he heard that he was going to become an official in the court? But you, Xiao He, a small county magistrate, why did you hear this? Not only are you not happy to go to the court, but you reject it so quickly?" Seeing Zhang Cang's blame, Xiao He said sincerely: "I have no other intention. It is really because my abilities are limited and I am not qualified to serve as a court official! Let alone an assistant. Your Majesty, the great First Emperor, please don't recommend me." Zhang Cang said, "I have observed you carefully these past few days. You are indeed a great talent. If you only assist in the affairs of the county, you are simply overqualified and underused. You should think carefully. Think about it?" Xiao He still firmly declined and said: "Thank you for your appreciation, sir. I have relatives who raised me here, and there are also emperors and empresses who raised me. I really can't bear to leave! Besides, Xiaguan's parents are old. If It is really unfilial to stay away without authorization. Please be aware of this?" After hearing Xiao He's words, Zhang Cang said with great regret: "Since ancient times, it is difficult to have both loyalty and filial piety. Being loyal to the country is equal to being filial. I think if you don't go, there must be something wrong. For other reasons, can you tell your truth?" Xiao He's face showed a panic expression, but he still insisted: "Sir, there is no reason, it's just that I don't want to leave Gaotang, please don't do it again. You’re making things difficult for me!”
After Zhang Cang heard this, he took a long breath, then held up his flute and said: "I heard that a gentleman only cares about his thick and thin, only his truth and not his splendor." This is what he said. It's probably you! Since you don't want to be like a dragon and a phoenix, then let nature take its course. However, you have really buried your talent by being the county magistrate. For the sake of the country, I have to show you something. Besides, if it is according to the laws of the Qin State, it will Those who are able but do not recommend are guilty. I will now recommend you to go to the county to serve as the governor of the county. First, familiarize yourself with the affairs of the county. There will be more opportunities in the future. Otherwise, I will be a disgrace to His Majesty the Great First Emperor. !" After Xiao He heard these words and saw Master Zhang Cang's sincerity, he had no choice but to agree.
Zhang Cang added: "I evaluate officials to demonstrate their talents, but the military talents have not been selected yet. I will return to the court now to report on my duties. I will leave the matter of selecting military talents to you. I hope you will assist the county magistrate to complete this task." Things." Xiao He suddenly thought of Zhou Bo and said, "Please rest assured, Sir, I will definitely remember the court's words of meritocracy, help County Magistrate Zhao select talents for the country, and will never disappoint your expectations!" Then Zhang Cang said After leaving Peixian County, he left the county's congratulatory gifts intact in the lobby without taking any of them, probably because of Xiao He.
A few days later, the news about Xiao He's refusal to go to the court by Zhang Cang spread in Peixian County. People were very surprised. Even his old friend Cao Shen could not understand Xiao He. One day, after Cao Chao saw Xiao He, he asked him why he refused the recommendation of the Censor. Xiao He smiled but did not answer. Cao Shen also wanted to ask the reason. Xiao He took him to a secret room and prepared to have a good talk with his old friends.
The two came to the secret room, drank and talked about things secretly. After drinking for three rounds, Cao Shen said: "My lord, the day before yesterday, the imperial censor recommended you to be a court official. Why did you refuse the recommendation? Can you tell me frankly today?" Xiao He smiled slightly and said: "Brother, although I, Xiao He He is just an insignificant county magistrate, but he is also a scholar. Scholars must understand the truth. The sage has taught: "If the sky does not want to level the world, it will be done. If the sky wants to level the world, who else can I do in today's world?" There is a way. A man who doesn't show his ambition will hide his body with nothing. Who doesn't want to do something for the country as a man with ambition? But if you don't understand the current affairs and rush forward blindly, you will encounter obstacles at every turn, and you will be insulted at all. , or even worse, they will die in hell, and they will not end well! Nowadays, those in higher positions only know how to control those in lower positions with power and killing, and those in lower positions feel in danger and are in panic all day long. Ever since the imperial court implemented the book-burning order and the trap Since the killing of Confucian scholars, people no longer dare to talk about governing the country and bringing peace to the world. If those who love learning and are willing to delve into knowledge gather together to talk, they will be suspected of slandering the government, so there has been a loss between people. They gained basic trust. What about the officials? They used criminal laws to intimidate the people, making them fearful all day long. This is in line with the old saying that "when a ruler is angry, the people will bleed for thousands of miles"! The great First Emperor was killed in Xianyang Pit He killed more than 400 Confucian scholars who studied hundreds of schools of thought. Although we don’t know the truth of the matter, he implicated too many innocent people in order to defend the people. Now the Qin State is carrying out construction projects. He built the Great Wall in the north and dug five ridges in the south. , built a house in the west, opened a highway in the east, and mobilized millions of strong men from all over the country. Now the people are in danger, and the lives of the people are in danger! 'I am breathing too hard to cover my tears, and I am sorry for the hardships of the people's livelihood.' As a conscientious person, how can I bear to see the people's burdens so heavy? If I accept the recommendation of the Censor and enter the court to serve the emperor, with my personality and conscience, I will definitely argue with reason and persuade The admonished emperor must restrain himself, be lenient to the people, and change policies. But today's First Emperor is a hot-tempered and extremely harsh person. He either deposes or exiles those with different political opinions, and never talks about benevolence and tolerance. I heard that Prime Minister Li Si's son-in-law was framed and killed for rebelling against the ban. How could I, Xiao He, assist such a monarch? If I tried to enlighten and persuade him with a heart of benevolence and righteousness, this would inevitably lead to death and make him fall into the trap. To risk one's life, it is better to retreat and become invisible to protect oneself until the time comes. The right way is that 'the ways are different and do not work together'. 'The phoenix soars over thousands of people, but it cannot rest on a phoenix tree.' Nowadays, the royal way is distorted and benevolence and righteousness are abolished. Therefore, a virtuous person cannot be positioned in a high position, so why should I go to the court to serve in politics?"
When Xiao He said this, he took a sip of tea and stood up again: "The reason why Confucius traveled around the world and suffered many hardships during his lifetime is because his way cannot be known to the world! The saint expressed the conscience of society through his words, deeds and determination, and also upheld justice. For justice, his teachings spread all over the world. Now the First Emperor burns books and humiliates Confucians, and bans the speeches of hundreds of schools of thought, especially the speeches of Confucius and Mencius. Why is this? It is because the way of the saints is so great that the world cannot tolerate it. So The First Emperor once described Qilu scholars as conservative, pedantic, and ignorant of current affairs at the foot of Mount Tai. Later, he also said that they were aliens who disrupted society and harmed the country. This is the harm of extremely advocating the rule of law! Just imagine if a scholar cannot If you have your own understanding of objective things and your own views on society, and all of them follow the emperor's preferences, follow him to fight and kill, and force the people to be docile, then who else can carry forward the awe-inspiring righteousness in the world? So, In today's Qin State, all the good men and gentlemen have retired, and all the great sages have hid in the mountains. They would rather be poor and have a short life than be rich and lose their virtue. Just like Liezi walking on the wind, feeling free and contented, He is so familiar with it that he can go back and forth in fifteen days. This is not because he has no pursuit of happiness, but because he conforms to the nature of heaven and earth, controls the changes of the six qi, and travels in the infinite realm. How carefree and free he is. ! So people with high cultivation can let nature develop and forget themselves. People who have reached the unpredictable state of deification have no intention of seeking merit. People with great virtue and knowledge have no intention of seeking fame. Although I, Xiao He, am a small official, I am willing to I am happy to be poor but stick to my pure ambition. This is the real reason why I am not willing to serve as an official in the court! If I were not asking questions as a friend, I would never answer my brother with my heartfelt words. And because Qin Fa is strict Harsh, any random discussion about government affairs will be punished, and even the listeners will be implicated, so I invited my brother here to talk." After hearing this, Cao Shen was stunned, stood up, bowed deeply to Xiao He, and said : "I already know your ambition, how can I dare to speak nonsense? How dare I speak nonsense?" From then on, I respected Xiao He very much.
Based on the results of the examination, the county magistrate promoted the warden Cao Shen to the county magistrate to replace Xiao He. Liu Ji was transferred to the county to serve as the city gate captain. He also selected a person with strong martial arts skills to serve as the warden to replace Cao Shen and take charge. Prison. One day, County Magistrate Zhao invited Xiao He and others to discuss. Xiao He said: "Why don't we hold a martial arts competition in the county, and the one who wins the martial arts title will be appointed as the prison warden?" The county magistrate asked Xiao He to write a notice, which said: The whole county has special skills. I hereby inform you that on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, you will go to the county to participate in a grand martial arts competition.
It was already the middle of winter. On a secluded path outside the city, Zhou Bo was preparing to go home after attending a funeral for someone. Suddenly he noticed people watching the notice posted at the entrance of the village, so he squeezed in to read it. It turned out to be the announcement of the competition in Peixian County. After Zhou Bo read it, he thought to himself that he was a foreigner, and even if there was such an event, he was not qualified to participate. But he remembered what Xiao He had said, and a hint of surprise passed through his heart, so he walked back. Suddenly it began to snow, and it became heavier and heavier.
Zhou Bo was walking on the deserted path. He felt very sad. He put his hands in his sleeves and would bring them to his mouth from time to time to enjoy the hot air. Suddenly he staggered and his tall body fell on the snow. He was stunned for a moment, then jumped up. At this time, he found that the flute pipe had also fallen on the muddy ground. He picked it up angrily and prepared to throw it farther away, but the raised hand slowly returned to the ground. Shrank back. He didn't have the courage to throw this thing away because it was a eating bowl. How could he live without it? Relatives are also relatives of Jia and Chu. Zhou Bo thought of this, wiped the mud on the flute pipe with his sleeve, and then climbed up a hill.
After a while, the sound of Xiao sounded faintly, and its sound was really like resentment and admiration, like weeping and complaining, and endless like a wisp. It was like a croaking dragon dancing in a secluded gully, or a concubine weeping in a lonely boat. He wanted to use this to vent his anger and unbearable past events, and to express his endless sorrow. For thousands of years, on the land of China, there have been countless heroes who have never been recognized for their talents. They were all so downcast and depressed before they accomplished great feats. Zhou Bo was just like this at this time. He was unbearably lonely and angry. He really "thought about the long journey of heaven and earth, and cried alone with sadness."
