Xiang Zhong's first choice for "traveling eastward to study" was the state of Zhou, and he wanted to visit Lao Dan again.
Unconsciously, thirteen years have passed since the last time we had a heart-to-heart talk in Laofu.
Now, Xiang Zhong is full of poems and books. Thinking of the classics he read in the collection room, if he were to dig them out and read them again today, he would have a different understanding.
At this time, Lao Dan was no longer just a guardian of Tibet. It was his "main task" to advise Zhou Gong Jigui and regulate the relationship with various vassal states and domestic dignitaries.
At that time, the status of Emperor Zhou had long lost its glory and had plummeted.
The last bit of dignity that Emperor Zhou had left all depended on the classics system of the "Shou Tibetan Room" that Lao Dan carefully guarded.
In addition to the lack of spiritual dignity and material difficulties, Emperor Zhou was left with the "blame" of creating "several classics and forgetting his ancestors", but he was unable to recover.
Xiang Zhong knew this allusion very early: King Jing of Zhou was really poor. He was the leader of the "Nine States" and the princes should pay tribute, but he could no longer receive tributes, so he was so poor that he had no use for ritual vessels.
When King Jing of Zhou invited Zhiwenzi Xunshu, the minister of Jin, to have a meal, King Jing pointed to the wine jug sent by Lu and said, "Every country has utensils for the royal family, but why don't you, Jin, have none?"
Xun Shu kicked the ball to the deputy envoy Ji Tan, who said: "When Jin was granted the title, no ritual utensils were given. Now that Jin is busy dealing with Rong and Di, naturally no gifts can be given."
Of course, King Zhou Jing was angry. He immediately made a list and read the reports. He listed the lands and utensils that the royal family had given to Jin over the years, mocking him for "counting canons and forgetting his ancestors."
Creating idioms is the "patent" of the ancients. Xiang Zhong is somewhat envious of them.
However, if the content of the story is too tragic, it is still quite embarrassing:
If history is a play, even those who watch the play are moved to tears; then you don’t know how uncomfortable the “real people” in this play must be in their hearts and bodies.
At that time, I was the "man in the play" who was "clearly aware".
No matter how beautiful, reasonable and correct the things written in the book are, once they come down to earth and fall into real life, they will inevitably change their original "appearance".
Each vassal state, in its own "one-third of an acre of land", does its best to treat the "country" as its own "home", and they can organize it how they want.
If you are just guarding the land that you have been entrusted with, that is still considered your "duty".
In fact, it is the "true intention" of almost all the kings of vassal states to constantly covet the size of their neighbors' territories and fertile fields.
Although the ancestors were mostly brothers by marriage, but after three generations and the fifth server, who still cares about this "blood relative" relationship! The only success is "expansion".
Fighting back and forth, dividing and reuniting, became the norm.
The set of "king of the world" regulations implemented by the Zhou royal family were well learned and implemented by all the vassal states; however, as for the "benevolence and righteousness" mentioned in the history books in the collection room, , dear kings, it is particularly easy to selectively "forget".
Lao Tzu was in his prime, and he gave full play to all his talents and knowledge, constantly fighting for the "orthodox" status in public opinion on behalf of Emperor Zhou.
His reputation gradually spread among the "intelligentsia" circles in various vassal states, attracting many people who came to seek advice.
Among this group of people, there was a young man from the State of Lu who influenced China for thousands of years to come. Even today, he is still respected by people.
Yes, he is Confucius.
However, this year Confucius was only an eleven-year-old child. Even when he came to Xiang Zhong, he still had to address Xiang Zhong as "big brother"!
Therefore, the focus of Xiang Zhong's eastward journey is still Lao Tzu.
Based on "Love the House and the Crow", Xiang Zhong still has a deep memory of the hospitality he received in Laofu last time. Therefore, before traveling eastward to meet Confucius, Xiang Zhong first went to Chen State and went directly to Laofu, not only to visit Laozi's mother, but also to meet Master Chang Zong.
The revised study plan for the eastward journey is: "Chen State, Zhou State, Cai State, Lu State, Qi State".
The first stop, Chen Guo, was to revisit the old mansion, which was Xiang Zhong’s “top priority”.
My mother-in-law, I didn’t expect that the child who fell into the lake and almost drowned has now grown into a handsome young man, and even wears the adult "Pi Bian" crown.
Master Chang Zong, as the "savior" who pulled Xiang Zhong out of the water, was very happy to see the grown-up Xiang Zhong.
Xiang Zhong brought rich gifts. My mother-in-law got a fur mink fur; and Master Chang Zong got a Song Dynasty sword.
This "fur" was Guan Ya's idea; and the "Song Dao" was Wang Dan's idea.
Chang Zong and Wang Dan are similar in age, and when they talk about the old friendship between Lao Zuo and Hua Xi, they can't help but feel "sighed". However, Zhao Huai and Yang Feng are more concerned about Chang Zong's superb martial arts and want to compare and communicate with each other. During the welcome banquet, Chang Zong made suggestions from time to time to "experience", but Chang Zong declined them politely.
After all, the Chang Zong of today is no longer the skilled Chang Zong of more than ten years ago. In recent years, he has become more interested in health preservation and elixirs.
"In recent years, I have devoted myself to studying the "Huangdi Neijing", and I have learned a little bit, and I know that 'peace and tranquility are important, and the people can be determined by themselves'; and I have asked Dan'er to help him enrich his vocabulary. If you have the same interest, I can send you some books. For you, let’s practice together.”
Chang Zong gave Xiang Zhong and the others a complete set of the "Huangdi Neijing", and the "annotated version" with his annotations and pictures, which was really precious! So generous and selfless again!
I bow deeply to you, this set of calligraphy gifts is like a treasure!
Wang Dan has also been keeping healthy for many years. When he chatted with Chang Zong, it was like "a good friend meets a thousand cups", "the five elements of heaven and earth, the sun, moon and stars, and the nine elements of the human body". The conversation was full of interest, and Xiang Zhong and the others If you stay with me, you won't be able to get a word in. In the end, it turned into an exchange meeting on "health-preserving techniques" between the two elderly people. The others could only raise their glasses frequently and laugh foolishly, not knowing why.
"Chong'er, we two old men chatted nonsense and made you feel sleepy. I'm really sorry! How about you take the two masters to stroll around the lake and enjoy the scenery of the lake and mountains? "
As the host, Chang Zong was naturally keenly aware that at the end of the banquet, the young people were almost bored by the topic of "health preservation", so he suggested that Xiang Zhong go to "revisit the old place".
"That's great! I should also take the two masters to see the beauty of Laofu Lake!"
Xiang Zhong regained his energy, quickly bowed his thanks, got up and took Master Zhao Huai and Master Yang Feng to stroll around the lake, enjoying the scenery and eating.
