This sentence, at first glance, seems simpler than asking Zhu Ping's question. It's nothing more than an answer: "Wealth and honor are what everyone wants to pursue." The literal meaning can be interpreted.
However, there is actually a trap hidden in it. If we simply translate this sentence, it is inconsistent with the moral principles of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.
This title comes from "The Analects of Confucius Li Ren Chapter". "The Master said that wealth and honor are what people want. If you don't follow the way to get them, you can't get them. Poverty and lowliness are what people hate. If you don't follow the ways to get them, you can't get them."
A simple translation means that everyone wants to get wealth, but if it cannot be obtained through legitimate channels, a gentleman will not enjoy it comfortably. Everyone wants to get rid of poverty, but if you cannot get rid of poverty in the right way, a gentleman will not pursue it.
Its real meaning is in the second half of the sentence, "If you don't follow the way to get it, you won't get it."
Just saying the first half of the sentence is to defend greed, which is treason!
Hearing this, Zhu Su stood up and answered literally: "What's so difficult about this? The meaning of this sentence is: 'Wealth and honor are what everyone wants to pursue.'"
Zhu Fan was very anxious. Under Lao Zhu's gaze, he did not dare to speak, but he was really worried that his brother would make his father angry.
"No, no. Down below!" Zhu Laosan reminded quietly despite the pressure.
"Underneath? What under?" Zhu Su was stunned. He responded in a low voice.
He lowered his head. There was nothing wrong down there, the zipper was not open. By the way, this dress doesn’t have a zipper either.
Why couldn't Lao Zhu see the interaction between the two of them? His face turned even darker and he let out a displeased "hum". Song Lian also shook his head and said: "Although the fifth prince said what he said on the surface, he didn't see the inside."
"Xizhi, you answer."
"Yes." The young man in Confucian robes came forward humbly. He first saluted Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, and then saluted him again. Although he was young, he was impeccable.
"This article comes from "Li Ren Chapter". Although it talks about wealth, it is actually talking about "virtue"."
"The original meaning of the sage is in the second half of 'If you don't follow the way, you won't get it.'. This sentence is also consistent with Cheng Zi and Zhu Zi's 'preserve the principles of heaven and destroy human desires'."
"Only by preserving the inherent laws of nature in the heart and eliminating people's private desires can we achieve virtue. This is the true meaning of the sage's words."
"Great kindness." Song Lian shook his head when he heard this, as if he were drinking fine wine, he couldn't be more satisfied. "Your Highness, what do you think?"
"Ask me?" Zhu Su smiled slightly.
"I thought Dashan was a piece of shit!" Zhu Laowu said indifferently and continued to die.
Old Man Song's face darkened, and Old Zhu and Zhu Biao also looked frightened and angry. Zhu Fan was even more frightened and scolded in a low voice: "Lao Wu, don't talk nonsense!"
Didn't you see dad sitting on top? If he gets angry and takes off his boots and spanks you in public, will you still be a human being?
Zhu Ming looked at Zhu Su in shock and said in admiration: "He is indeed the man who wrote the 'whispering language'."
"How brave you are to say bad words in front of dad!"
"You should stop saying a few words, otherwise you will bring trouble to the fifth brother!" Zhu Fan turned around and scolded the second brother. When he saw the old Zhu Hu staring at him, he lowered his head in fear.
"Your Highness, you are a nobleman of the royal family, how can you say such vulgar words!" Master Song pointed at Zhu Su with a trembling hand.
"The wording may be a bit radical, but the meaning should be expressed appropriately," Zhu Su said. I also feel a little regretful because I have been trolling online so much that I accidentally got off my tongue.
He hurriedly continued speaking, hoping to divert Lao Zhu's attention.
"Sage Confucius once said, 'If you don't follow the way to get something, you won't get anywhere.' But I read the whole text, but I didn't find anything that said 'destroy people's desires.'"
"On the contrary, Confucius said at the beginning, 'The rich and noble people want whatever they want.' This shows that Confucius also believed that these desires are normal."
"Everyone has desires. If you don't have desires or desires, who are you? How can you get to the point of 'preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires' from this sentence!"
Without waiting for Song Lian's reaction, Zhu Su targeted the young Confucian scholar.
"In my opinion, this brother doesn't have any profound insights into what Saint Kong said. He just followed the script according to Cheng and Zhu's standards."
"What he said was what Cheng Zhu thought, and what he said was Cheng Zhu's old words. In this way, he just became Cheng Zhu's mouthpiece and Cheng Zhu's clay puppet."
"Is this also called learning? If you don't see with your eyes and don't think with your brain, you just use your mouth to follow the instructions. Is this also called a scholar?"
"Can we really understand the true meaning of Sage Kong without using our brains to think?"
Zhu Su immediately occupied the academic high ground and attacked the young man in Confucian shirt from a high position. Looking at that buddy's pale face, Zhu Su could only say sorry. Who didn't expect him at the beginning that this test would be a question system...
He thought he was competing academically with that little brother.
In that case, I could use the rich scientific knowledge in my mind to completely confuse this little brother.
But still asking about the Analects of Confucius would make me blind. We can't continue to use "whispering words" to prevaricate. If he did this, wouldn't Lao Zhu eat himself?
In order to leave this hellish place called Daihondo, I can only win, not lose!
Then I can only wrong this little brother and bear the blow of my lack of martial ethics.
Zhu Su shamelessly used the leverage rule of online scolding: I don’t care whether your point of view is right or not, I won’t talk about my point of view, just belittle you as a person!
In front of Zhu Su, the young man named Xizhi looked shocked. Zhu Su's words were like a blow to the head, making his ears buzz.
yes! After studying for several years, everything I learned was from Cheng Zhu, and everything I said was from Cheng Zhu. Those are what Cheng Zhu thinks. What about his own thoughts?
Are you so confused when you study by yourself, without any ideas of your own?
Am I really just a puppet with Cheng Zhu etched all over it?
The young man was shocked. For a moment, he began to doubt himself.
Even Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao started to think deeply. Only Song Lian was a master of Neo-Confucianism. He had studied Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism all his life, so he could not be easily shaken. He stroked his beard and scolded: "What His Highness the Fifth Prince said is also biased."
"Cheng Zhu is a Confucian saint, how could he not know what Confucius thought?"
"Since His Highness the Fifth Prince said so, does he have his own opinion?"
"Of course!" Zhu Su really knew.
So he said loudly: "My selfishness is my heart. People must be selfish, and then their heart will be seen."
"If you are selfless, you have no intention!"
"If you are selfless, then you have no intention?!" The Confucian scholar named Xizhi was stunned when he heard this.
It's not "preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires", but "people must have selfish interests, and then their hearts are revealed"?
This was the first time he heard such an answer from a completely different perspective!
Which of the two is the true meaning of Confucius's words?
"This..." Song Lian frowned slightly, and was about to refute this statement that was inconsistent with Cheng Zhu's words. Unexpectedly, the disciple named Xizhi had already passed him and made a long speech to Zhu Su.
"I would like to be taught!"
"His Royal Highness King Wu's words are like enlightenment. You are a true scholar, no one else can compare with me!"
His posture was open and aboveboard, and he didn't look angry at all.
Xi straightened up, feeling that she was getting rid of her previous muddiness and seemed to be becoming a completely new person. Yes, if you don’t have your own opinions when reading, how is it any different from a clay doll?
No matter who is right or wrong in the opinions of Zhu Zi and His Highness the Fifth Prince, His Highness the Fifth Prince does have unique insights into the words of the saints, while he himself only follows the words of his ancestors. From this point of view, he has already lost.
"Concession, concession..." Zhu Wu was a little confused. This sentence "What is private is the human heart" actually comes from Li Zhi, a great scholar of the Taizhou School of Mind Studies in later generations. As a pioneer in the fight against Neo-Confucianism, Li Zhi was a great Confucian sought after by countless people. His words would naturally cause shock in the hearts of Confucian scholars like Xi Zhi who were not deeply involved in the world.
In fact, like him, I just use other people's words to imitate others. The difference is that he uses the past, while he uses the future...
This is where the benefits for time travellers lie.
But he was thick-skinned, and his expression returned to normal after a while.
Seeing that his disciple was already impressed, although Song Lian was not happy with Zhu Su's deviant views, he did not want to reprimand him for being disrespectful in front of His Majesty.
There is some truth in what His Highness the Fifth Prince said, but the approach is not in line with Cheng Zhu. Just push yourself more and correct yourself, that's it.
It is not easy for a teenager to express such an opinion. Why should I be angry?
It's much better than that "whispering".
"Hey, that's all." Old Master Song shook his head. "Let it be considered that His Highness the Fifth has passed."
"Thank you, Master." Zhu Su bowed. Then he raised his head and raised his eyebrows at Lao Zhu and his eldest brother.
Lao Zhu's originally better-looking face turned dark again, while his eldest brother Zhu Biao had a doting look on his face, looking helplessly at this inconspicuous younger brother.
"That's it for today." Lao Zhu flicked his robe and stood up.
"Lao Wu, come with us!"
