Cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. This is a Confucian saying that has influenced Asia for thousands of years. On the surface, it seems to be just a motivational saying, but this sentence has exposed the true social structure of ancient Asia, especially in the Confucian cultural circle. .
Self-cultivation means working hard to improve one's abilities and moral cultivation. Only by self-cultivation and becoming a moral gentleman, you will have the qualifications to regulate your family.
In ancient times, the family was a very important cornerstone of the social structure. A family of three was also called a family, and hundreds of clans were also called a family. Before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the seven sects and five surnames that even the emperors did not dare to mess with were also called a family.
Even the royal families of the past dynasties are basically the family and the world. As for the country and the world above the family, it is often a very illusory existence.
For example, the Cui family of Qinghe, who is famous in history books, was a high-ranking family in the Central Plains from the Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, then to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and all the way to the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The countries above them changed one after another, but in their hearts there was only The long-term prosperity of the family is fundamental, and everything else is nonsense.
After the Song and Ming dynasties, although such perverted big families disappeared, the common people's family concept remained. After the Yuan Dynasty, there was the Ming Dynasty, and after the Ming Dynasty, there was the Qing Dynasty. In the eyes of the people who valued family, all they cared about was nothing more. It’s just about the longevity of one’s own clan.
As for the country, the world, they are just for fun when people are full and shouting. You must not take it seriously.
As for Japan, it began to accept the transformation of Han culture from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Of course, it copied this bit of Confucian culture. The various famous families in Japan are actually, to put it bluntly, armed families.
The same is true for the Shimazu family. The establishment of the family since the Kamakura shogunate period is equivalent to the establishment of the family since the Southern Song Dynasty. Over more than seven hundred years, the family has had several ups and downs, but its continuous continuity is indeed remarkable.
Even in their history, there was once a feat in which almost the entire Kyushu was achieved, and at that time they almost became a big name in Japan.
Not only the Shimadzu family, but also the famous Oda family, Toyotomi family, Mori, Uesugi... and even the current Tokugawa shogunate in Japanese history are actually large-scale armed groups with families as the core.
The whole of Asia has actually experienced thousands of years of rule under this kind of family-world culture. No matter how dynasties change, its essence has not changed at all.
But just when all Asians thought that this kind of family world would last forever, a stupid young man returned to Asia alone, jumped out and said to the Asian elites, "You idiots, family world." The world has long since ceased to work. From now on, it will be an era where nations and countries conquer everything, and anyone who does not conform to this era will be conquered."
The one who cursed was naturally Xiao Letian, and the point of view he expounded was still too advanced for today's Asia. Except for his top soldiers, there were really no local forces willing to accept it.
This has nothing to do with right or wrong, it’s just about interests. Even if you talk nonsense, no one can refute you. But if you go and talk to the Manchu and Qing royal family, "Sooner or later, you will be finished. Not only you will be finished, but also those outside the customs." The land of Mongolia and Mongolia must be spit out and divided equally among the entire nation and country..."
The scene was so beautiful that even Xiao Letian didn't dare to imagine it.
There are only two exceptions. Under the sky of Asia, there are only two forces that are now willing to listen to Xiao Letian's principles, and they are also truly considering his principles. One is Ryukyu of Wan Guojinliang, and the other is the one who was beaten. The Shimazu Satsuma clan has a big head.
There is truth in the fist, and this is true. Only when you show incredible force can you convince the Japanese who worship the strong. Once they are convinced, they will immediately start learning mode and try their best to squeeze you out. .
Of course, Xiao Letian knew that the Shimazu family would come to Ryukyu to mix sand. Sakamoto Ryoma, who accepted his blood, had long since become his younger brother, and Japan's internal intelligence was opened to Xiao Letian.
Xiao Letian is waiting for this opportunity. His career is not limited to the Qing Dynasty. In his eyes, all forces that can be united are worth trying. Since your Shimazu family is ready to be brainwashed by me, then Just wait to be ravaged by me.
In a small class specially given to the elites of the Foreign Legion, Xiao Letian's deafening voice completely convinced these "secret agents" of the Shimadzu family. Even Shimazu Hisamitsu and Shimazu Tadayoshi were convinced by this great principle.
"Remember, you must remember... In the future world, the family and the world are destined to completely collapse, and in a world where nationalism is prevalent, all old ideas will be swept into the dustbin."
"Don't be dissatisfied, let alone look at me like an idiot. If you are dissatisfied, you can come and argue. Now let me tell you what the world is all about."
Xiao Letian smashed three blackboards, and finally the Japanese suddenly realized that some things that were inconspicuous on the surface actually had very deep secrets inside.
What exactly is a family? In fact, in the final analysis, family is an inevitable choice after human beings evolve into social animals. The era when tribalism collapsed and city-states and countries emerged was the era when human beings began to evolve the concept of family.
To put it more clearly, a person's strength is weak. Facing floods, wild beasts, wars, plagues... Human beings can only increase the chance of survival by sticking together.
Human beings also have a severe gene for violence by nature, and are extremely prone to internal fighting. It is very common to rob each other. It is for this reason that humans have chosen the only relationship they can rely on, clan blood relations.
In primitive societies, including countries with agricultural civilizations, families with strong cohesion always have more resources and a greater chance of survival than others.
Take the Han people, the representatives of the Central Plains civilization, as an example. If they had not had strong clan cohesion over thousands of years, they would have been completely wiped out by several foreign invasions.
"In other words, the family-tianxia system we are going to overthrow now was not synonymous with backwardness in ancient Asia. In fact, it was an advanced social structure that was very adapted to Asia at the time... But why do I say it is advanced on one side and not on the other? If we want to overthrow it, we must take into account the major issue of changing times..."
"You have to remember that ancient society was a relatively closed environment. Japan was surrounded by the ocean, and the Central Plains civilization was also surrounded by deserts, plateaus, and frozen soil... Such an environment naturally provides us with protection."
"Japan's enemies come from the sea, while the enemies of the Central Plains come from the north. This has become an inherent thinking mode. In the tug-of-war over thousands of years, although the family concept of the Central Plains civilization has occasionally suffered minor setbacks, it is generally still They don’t suffer any loss, so they have no motivation to take the initiative to change..."
"But now..." Xiao Letian smashed another blackboard with a bang. "But now, a more advanced and terrifying enemy is coming across the sea. All the nations living under this sky have encountered the most serious crisis. , If we cannot overcome this hurdle, what is the result waiting for us?"
"Then you can only be colonized, not oppressed, or even annihilated. Don't imagine that the family that has protected you for thousands of years can continue to protect you. In the face of such a powerful enemy, even the Manchu royal family are paper tigers, let alone you little ones. The Shimazu family..."
"Do you still remember the Shengmai incident? Did the Shimadzu family spend all their money to buy three steamships to protect you? How long can you resist under the British artillery? You only saw the strong ships and powerful guns of Europa. But do you know what the invisible hands are that control these powerful ships and cannons?"
"Now let me tell you that all European powers started with nationalism, and nationalism is the cornerstone of a modern country. He told people that there are nations and countries above the family. Only countries that have been baptized by nationalism can Only then can you burst out with strong vitality..."
"Abandoning the small family and taking care of the interests of the entire nation. Only with this kind of dedication can the whole country be united to accomplish such a major event as the industrial revolution... The great era of vigorous development of science and technology is unfolding in front of us, and every advancement and development of science and technology , all require countless investments in manpower and material resources, and the emergence of any emerging industry requires massive funds to feed..."
"I would like to ask you, how many resources can a backward family-world society like ours gather and how many major things can be done? In the end, it is just a matter of harming the public and enriching private interests, and is divided into pieces and hidden among the people..."
"Time waits for no one, time waits for no one... Just as we are living day by day, eating and waiting to die, European nation-states are tightening their belts across the country, saving money to build large-scale industry, and building a large-scale military... One step behind is to be a slave forever. .”
With a loud bang, Xiao Letian smashed another blackboard. His roaring voice even frightened the sentry outside. "Just when we were hesitant and couldn't see where the way forward was, the battleship of Europa was following us. Driving into the sea like dropping dumplings, working hard to upgrade like I don’t need any money..."
"And with their technology, in just a few decades, breech-loading rifled guns will replace all muzzle-loading guns, fixed-loading bullets will replace all split ammunition, and the telegraph network will cover the entire earth. I can even foresee The time when mankind conquers the sky is not far away..."
"You unenlightened elm bugs, just keep your own land alive. When the enemy can fly over from the sky and throw cannonballs at your heads, you will discover the gap between the east and the west. It’s already as wide as the Pacific Ocean.”
Shimazu Dairo on the city wall never thought that he would be so eloquent. At that moment, he was really possessed by the prime minister, and his poisonous tongue was vividly depicted.
At this time, King Shangtai spoke, "Yes, I also attended that small class. On that day, the head of the Shimadzu family and I made the same decision. We wanted to see what the Prime Minister described. In the future, we also want to integrate into that new world..."
“Since change is inevitable, let’s be at the forefront.”
