At this time, in the study room.
"Shao Xi, how could you make such a request? Do you know that Liu Xingzhai of the Liu family and I have had disagreements on this political theory for many years? How could you agree to let Jin Qing get involved with Liu Ling of the Liu family?"
Shao Xi really didn't expect that the Baiding Guild would be so angry, nor did he expect that the Bai and Liu families would have such deep grudges just because the two old men had different views on world governance, which would involve the two families. It’s really hard to understand for a junior.
"Sir, let's put aside the topic of governance that concerns the common people in the world for the time being. We will only talk about the current affairs of the Bailiu family. I would like to ask, sir, is Jinqing your grandson?"
Bai Dinggong's eyes widened and he replied: "Of course Jin Qing is my biological grandson, what do you want to say?"
"Then sir, do you really love your grandson?"
"Isn't that fair? Jinqing is my only grandson and the future hope of my Bai family. If I don't love him, who should I love?"
Shao Xi nodded and continued to ask: "Okay! Then if your grandson and the girl from the Liu family fall in love with each other, they are in love with each other, and their love is so deep that they can't extricate themselves to the point of saying, 'If no one is here in the world, I would rather leave the world of mortals. At this point in your life, sir, do you choose the beauty of adulthood, or do you beat a mandarin duck for your own face? You can only choose one or the other, face or grandson."
Bai Dinggong was a little confused by the question. His own face was important, but Bai Jinqing was his heart. His grandson's happiness was more important than his own face, right? But if this is really the case, where can I put this old face that I have fought for so many years?
Bai Dinggong said with a tangled face: "Jinqing's happiness is important, but what Liu Xingzhai and I are fighting for is the way to help the people of the world. How can Jinqing's personal gains and losses be compared with the people of the world? If I have to choose, then We can only give up the ego to fulfill the great road and make some sacrifices.”
"Then the student dares to ask the teacher, what is the common people? Which is the great road?"
"All living beings in the world are common people. Helping the world and the people is the great way."
"I wonder if there is Jin Qing among all the living beings? I wonder if the minor path has not yet been accomplished, how can the great path be achieved? Sir, have you ever thought about it?"
Bai Dinggong was a little stunned by Shao Xi's question. He seemed to understand what Shao Xi was going to say, but he felt that his mind could not turn around.
Shao Xi saw that Bai Dinggong didn't answer, so he continued: "Sir, he said that he wanted to help the world and save the people. Jinqing is also one of the people of this world, one of the people. If you can't save the people in front of you, how can you save the people in the world? ? Sir, if you can't even achieve the small path in this family, how can you talk about achieving the great path in the world?"
After a pause, seeing that Bai Dinggong had calmed down, Shao Xi dared to continue: "I wonder, sir, have you ever heard of such a passage? In ancient times, those who wanted to be virtuous in the world, first governed their country; those who wanted to govern their country, first unified it. If you want to straighten your family, you must first cultivate your body; if you want to cultivate your body, you must first rectify your heart; if you want to rectify your heart, you must first be sincere in your intentions; if you want to be sincere in your intentions, you must first develop knowledge, and knowledge lies in the investigation of things. . After observing the object, you will know it. After knowing it, you will be sincere. After your mind is sincere, your heart will be right. If your mind is right, you will cultivate your body. If you cultivate your body, you will have a harmonious family. If your family is harmonious, the country will be governed. If the country is governed, the world will be peaceful."
Shao Xi finally understood why her mother forced herself to memorize such a long paragraph with a rolling pin. Now she realizes that this is really very useful!
Bai Dinggong was really confused by the question this time. He muttered in a low voice, "Study things to gain knowledge, be sincere and upright, cultivate one's moral character and bring order to the family, and govern the country and bring peace to the world."
"Yes, everything in this world is all about small things. Needless to say, Mr. self-cultivation, but when it comes to governing the world, should we deal with our own affairs properly first? If we want to save the world, should we first deal with those around us? Take good care of people and accumulate small roads into great roads?”
"Shao Xi, where did you hear this?"
This time it was Shao Xi's turn to be asked, "Where did you hear it? I can't tell you that I pulled it out of "Book of Rites·University" for you, right?"
While he was struggling, Shao Xi suddenly thought of Guo Youde, so he said: "I got it from a reclusive master who traveled far and wide. He also said, 'Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you.' In everything, you should put yourself in their shoes." It’s important to put yourself in other people’s shoes and think about it, what would it be like if you were him?”
"Exalted man! This is the true master! He has a clear understanding of the world's common people and the people's hearts. Every word he speaks is penetrating and enlightening. This is the famous saying that governs the world. This is what we should always practice. A thorough study of the principles of governing the world! What I have learned in my life is not as good as others. I am ashamed! I am really ashamed!"
Shao Xi said in his heart: "How ashamed! How can you compare with a group of Confucian scholars? You can't defeat them even if you study all your life!"
Although I thought so in my heart, I couldn't say it even to death.
"Although students have never been directly taught by the teacher, students have heard of the name of the teacher for a long time. The teacher has always advocated that the world should be virtuous. A virtuous person must be open-minded and open-minded, and can tolerate different concepts and ideas. . I think the old man of the Liu family has been arguing with you for many years, and there must be some reason for it. Has he ever thought about accepting his idea? Wouldn’t it be better to integrate the two concepts? "
"Accept? How can I accept a person who advocates severe punishment and law? That Liu Xingzhai shouted all day long, 'Govern by the law, use punishment to eliminate punishment', always thinking of using those cruel methods to forcibly restrict people's behavior, but he I never advocate improving one's self-cultivation and self-discipline. It is simply comparing humans to animals. How can I accept such a ridiculous argument?"
When Shao Xi heard this, he thought! Isn’t this the dispute between Confucianism and Legalism? At that time, Han Feizi scolded Confucianism as useless and compared it to lice. I guess the Liu family's mouth was not much better.
Thinking of this, Shao Xi felt dizzy for a while! This is a historical problem! The two schools of Confucianism and Legalism have been at odds with each other for many years. Even when he was in modern society, the supporters of these two schools of thought held different opinions. How difficult would it be for him to bring these two schools together? My balls hurt just thinking about it.
But now that the words have reached this point, we can only persuade one by one and find a way to convince the old man Bai Dinggong first.
"Sir, you are a great Confucian of the world. I will call your ideas Confucianism. The old man of the Liu family advocates severe punishment and strict laws, which use punishments, rewards and punishments to restrict the behavior of the world. I will call it Legalism. Who treats whom? Regardless of whether you are wrong or not, the student will first discuss the pros and cons of our Confucianism with your teacher."
When Bai Dinggong heard that Shao Xi wanted to discuss studies with him, he immediately became energetic and said with a smile: "Just say it, no matter whether it is right or wrong, today I will just discuss it and not make a judgment. Although I am a teacher, if what you say is reasonable, I will accept it with an open mind."
Shao Xi secretly admired Bai Dinggong's magnanimity and said solemnly: "What you just said, sir, is the advantage of our Confucianism. Confucianism talks about 'conquering people with virtue, and being sincerely convinced'. We can accept other people's ideas, If you can restrain yourself with virtue and influence the people around you with your own virtue, I hope that everyone in the world can understand the truth, respect respect and inferiority, know etiquette, know integrity, be benevolent and righteous, and keep integrity like us."
Bai Dinggong couldn't help but nod when he heard this. He didn't expect that his new disciple already knew a lot about his thoughts without ever hearing his lectures. This really surprised him.
"But Sir, have you ever thought about how many people can be influenced by the teaching power of Egret Academy? One hundred? One thousand? Or ten thousand? The inheritance of ideas is a long process, although Sir once said, The process is more important than the result, but sir, have you ever thought about how many people will make mistakes in the process because they don't understand these principles before the great road in their hearts is realized? Either hurt others or hurt themselves. At this time we What can be done? Therefore, the existence of laws and regulations is needed in this process. When people are not able to exercise good self-discipline, they need a certain amount of external force to intervene to impose restraint. Only in this way can the world be peaceful and people's hearts be stable."
"What you mean is to control the body with law, educate the mind with morality, and govern through laws and regulations before the world is virtuous. After the world is virtuous, laws and regulations will naturally lose their usefulness."
"That's right. In fact, in addition to Confucianism and Legalism, there are also Taoism, Buddhism, military thought, Mohist thought, and political strategist thought. These are just like a person's five fingers, although they are relatively different. Each one performs his or her duties independently, but only with the coexistence of the five fingers can one be able to control it freely, and with finesse, students feel that governing the world cannot be biased, and that the coexistence of all dharma is the right principle."
Bai Dinggong was stunned for a while when he heard this. He didn't expect that the disciple he had accepted seemed to be teaching him, and every sentence he spoke was reasonable and every word was taken to heart.
"Are these things taught to you by the hidden master? It seems that I am still persistent over the years. Those outside the world can really see and think clearly about the world. I think I will use the theory of governing the world throughout my life. I am so proud, but I am as ignorant as a child in front of this expert's opinion. I have learned a lesson today."
After saying that, Bai Dinggong actually stood up and bowed deeply to Shao Xi, his attitude was sincere and not coy.
This suddenly made Shao Xi panic. Since ancient times, students have worshiped their teachers. How can there be any reason for teachers to worship their students? Besides, his way of pretending to speak plainly is all left by the sages. If he accepts this worship, wouldn’t he feel guilty?
Shao Xi hurriedly lifted his clothes and knelt down, raised his hands and said, "Sir, you must not do this! The principles spoken by the students are left by the sages, not the students themselves. The students are just paraphrasing."
Bai Dinggong helped Shao Xi up and said: "I can still hear which words are from the sages and which ones are yours. Your understanding of the principles of the sages has greatly impressed me. You can bear this worship! Just like you As I said before, if you want to become a great road, you must first cultivate a small road, starting with yourself, so I have agreed to what you asked for today, and it comes from the heart."
Shao Xi blinked his eyes furtively and asked Bai Dinggong, "Sir, are you serious about what you said?"
"Seriously!"
After saying that, Bai Dinggong stroked his beard and laughed.
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Some of the theories in this chapter are quoted from various classics, so it is not convenient to list them all. If you are interested, you can search them on the Internet.
Some of the opinions in this chapter are the author's personal opinions and are inevitably biased. Please forgive me if you have different opinions! We can seek common ground while reserving differences.
