Qu State, after repeated attacks by Qi State, Qu State is already a small country less than two hundred miles away. Although its title has not been reduced to king, it is already a vassal of a big country.
Confucius was a well-known person in the state of Qu. He once studied in the palace of the state of Luo. In terms of understanding of "Luoyu", no one could surpass him.
"Luohou, King Su formulated the ritual and music system of the world, and thus the state of Zhou Dynasty prospered for five hundred years.
Until now, only the Luo Kingdom still adheres to rituals and music, which is why the Luo Kingdom has always been prosperous.
But why don't you re-establish ritual and music in the world? Qiu doesn’t understand!
As long as everyone in the world follows etiquette, the monarch practices benevolence, and the ministers practice loyalty, won't the world be stable? "
This was Confucius' question to Luo Ci. He was confused and did not understand. He understood the principle of "benevolence" from the ancient books, but found that even Luo State did not implement it.
So he wanted to leave Luo Kingdom and find a monarch who was willing to accept his teachings.
"Zhongni, you are a great sage. The royal way of "Luo Yu" will prosper because of you. Stay in the academy and explain your benevolent way. The Luo family will record it and pass it on to you.
It has been two thousand years since the Three Kings and Five Emperors, and there will be countless two thousand years in the world to come. Your theory is so beautiful and in line with the path of human nature. This is a theory that will flourish sooner or later. Why do you have to flourish it now? ? "
This is Luo Ci's evaluation of him, a man of noble moral character, a man full of wisdom, and a man out of time.
The royal way is useful knowledge, and benevolence and righteousness are principles that should be promoted.
But it is not knowledge that is useful now, so Luo Ci hopes that Confucius can give lectures and write them down and find successors, but don't try to become an official, because that is doomed to failure.
But Luo Ci himself is a member of the Luo family. He knows that even if thousands of years pass, King Su will always pay attention to the family. Therefore, the direct line of the Luo family has always planned things for a hundred years, and even prepared for a thousand years later.
This is Luo's confidence.
But even if Confucius had superb wisdom, he was just a mortal, how could he talk about it after a thousand years?
So Confucius left the academy and returned to the state of Qu.
At that time, Luo Yan was still in the Jin Kingdom. When he came back, he asked with some regret: "Father, Zhongni is a saint who comes out every five hundred years. Why don't you keep him in the Luo Kingdom?
Perhaps after Zhou Dynasty, Zhongni's teachings will be promulgated throughout the world. "
Starting from Luo Xiu, the descendants of the Luo Kingdom were all academic monarchs, so they could see the preciousness of Confucius's teachings.
He is not just a simple revival of the ancient Zhou rites, his thoughts contain the essence of the world, which is not found in all current thoughts.
Luo Ci and Luo Yan also planned to give King Su's theory to Confucius for reference, hoping that he could use his own thinking to write more exciting theories.
Unexpectedly, Confucius left Luo Kingdom directly.
Luo Ci smiled and said: "Since Zhongni is a saint who comes out every five hundred years, can anyone control his thoughts?
He is a great sage, no matter in good times or bad times, it will provide nourishment for his wisdom. Wait, he will definitely come back, Luo Kingdom is the paradise of kingship. "
Qu Jun also likes the royal way described in Luo Yu, because he has been bullied by his ministers.
He heard that Confucius had studied in the Luo Academy, so he invited him to inquire about politics and asked how to revitalize the country and enhance the authority of the monarch.
This is exactly what Confucius studied, and he smiled and said: "Monarch, it's very simple, you just need to practice the way of the prime king.
King Su was the greatest man in the past three thousand years. His greatness did not lie in conquering the East and quelling chaos, but in formulating rituals and music.
This is a system that is enough to bring peace to all generations.
Isn't this the most ridiculous thing that future generations do not abide by but continue to destroy?
The four greatest declines of the Zhou royal family were during the periods of King Li, King Huang, King You, and King Xi. Are these declines really because God did not favor them?
No, it was a man-made disaster caused by their wanton destruction of the patriarchal system of rituals and music.
The prosperity of the royal family is accompanied by the reconstruction of the order of etiquette and music. The wheels can only run on a smooth road. This is the importance of seeking the road.
Both Luo Wengong and Luo Xuangong strengthened the authority of the Emperor of Zhou and allowed the princes to do their own thing.
Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong also re-established the patriarchal system by respecting the king and fighting off the barbarians, thus stabilizing the world. "
The Way of King Su is profound and ethereal, and the Luo Kingdom never fully disclosed the Way of King Su to the public until Duke Luo Ming wrote the book "Luo Yu".
Luo Xiu summarized the gains and losses of Zhou Dynasty over the past four hundred years, and also elaborated on King Su's "King's Way" at length. In "King's Way" and "Luo Yu", there is a world of great harmony where everyone lives and works in peace and contentment.
This made Confucius extremely convinced that only by re-establishing the ritual and music system can the current chaotic people's hearts be sorted out.
If he knew that Luo Minggong, whom he admired, not only composed the royal "Luo Yu" but also the domineering "Master", he would probably feel the same sympathy as Li Er who learned about the existence of King Su, and would be shocked.
The king of Qu State admired Confucius' royal ways very much. Perhaps he used these to anesthetize himself. He appointed Confucius as the prime minister of Qu State.
After becoming the Prime Minister, Confucius began to practice his own kingly way. It has to be said that for a small country, the kingly way is effective.
However, the most powerful person in Qu State was not the king, but Dr. Cao. Half of the land of less than two hundred miles in Qu State was the fief of Dr. Cao, which shows his power.
In the seventh month when Confucius was the Prime Minister, he quarreled with Doctor Cao five times until Doctor Cao said that he would invite him to his home. Then Doctor Cao deliberately used various ritual vessels, musical instruments, and tripods that could only be used by princes.
He wanted to see what Confucius, who practiced the royal way and advocated the father-son rule of kings and ministers, would do?
Naturally, Confucius couldn't tolerate it. At Doctor Cao's banquet, he loudly rebuked this arrogant behavior, "Just a mere doctor, arrogance violates etiquette. Your wolfish ambitions are known to all the passers-by on the roadside in the Qu Kingdom."
I will record your name in the history books, and together with the Rong Di barbarians, you will be reviled for eternity. "
The Confucius family does have a tradition of recording history, and a great sage like him is destined to make a mark, and Dr. Cao will really be infamy for thousands of years.
His friend was worried that Dr. Cao would be unfavorable to him and hoped that he could admit his mistake to Dr. Cao. He said angrily: "Gong Luo Wen once praised Xiong Dun as a hero of all Xia, and he should be made a marquis to reward him for his contribution.
However, Xiong Dun overrode the throne and trampled on etiquette. Luo Wengong never said anything about conferring a title on Xiong Dun.
During the reign of Duke Xuan, the state of Chu overrode and proclaimed itself the king, and the royal family married the state of Chu. The state of Chu expressed its surrender, so it did not declare itself king among the Xia states. Could it be that the state of Chu could abide by this principle, but the state of Qu did not understand it?
Duke Huan of Qi united the nine princes and brought order to the world. He whipped the princes and gave orders to the Xia. What kind of power was this?
Have you ever transgressed?
Uncle Fang doesn't dare to overstep his bounds. It's really ridiculous for him to be a mere doctor.
Ritual and music are the foundation of the state. If this can be tolerated, is there anything else that cannot be tolerated? "
Confucius resigned from the position of Prime Minister of Qu State. He began to study among various countries and began to recruit some talented disciples.
He lived a very difficult life. The monarchs from all over the world respected his knowledge but were unwilling to use him. He sighed in the wilderness and said: "The world has been unruly for a long time. If the Luo Kingdom does not pay homage to the Zhou Queen, the Zhou rites will collapse." .
After Duke Huan of Qi passed away, the countries were in chaos.
If King Su no longer shines on Bangzhou, the destiny will be fulfilled.
I am an old citizen of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, why do I feel sad about this?
Probably because he was loyal to the royal etiquette and music and forgot about other things. "
His eyes are still bright, and the shabby clothes cannot hide his straight spine. He is a sage with a strong spirit. Wind and rain are the tempering given to him by God.
He sat in the car and walked through the fields, and then heard the sound coming from Luo Kingdom, which was full of vitality.
His disciples were carrying weapons and chariots, and there was a Changge beside him. Judging from his height of 1.9 meters and his majestic strength, this must not be a decoration.
His disciples brought him books, and he arranged his crown and robes. He was always meticulous about himself, but he did not demand harshly from others.
"Boyang Gong is really a great and wise man! Since "Luo Yu", I have never been able to read such a truth that directly connects heaven and earth."
Looking at the few words that came out, Confucius knew that he was going back to the Luo Kingdom Academy, where he wanted to perfect his path and where he wanted to preach his own doctrines.
"Teacher, the classic written by Boyang Gong seems to be different from what you said. This is not the path of kings."
Confucius smiled and said: "You are wrong, this is also the path of the king, the path of the holy king who is selfless and has no desires. This is the state that only Su Wang can achieve.
Duke Boyang placed too much emphasis on governing by inaction and using the way of heaven to control the way of humanity. However, since ancient times, except King Su, who else could do this?
This is somewhat different from the concept conveyed in "Luo Yu", so I went to the academy and asked Duke Boyang face to face. "
After a while, he said again: "Boyang Gong is a sage, you should not interpret his articles at will.
Many of these incomplete views are different from my way, especially the theory of sages.
The reason why sages are sages is not because of the existence of unworthy people, but because the moral character of sages has reached a certain state.
Benevolence, faith, wisdom, etiquette, these are what people should pursue. If you can achieve them, you will be a sage. "
Even in their understanding of sages, the two are very different. Li Er said it was relative, while Confucius said it was absolute. Who in the world doesn't have his own ideas?
When these people gather together, they will definitely collide violently like the tip of a needle against a awn of wheat. This is Luo's purpose.
So Confucius and his party began to turn towards the Luo Kingdom. Confucius believed in the Six Arts of the Gentleman. He was very good at driving and shooting, and he was naturally tall and powerful.
With their fighting power, ordinary thieves are no match for them, so they have been traveling around the world in recent years, and as long as they don't encounter regular armies from other countries, they are very safe.
Then on the way, Confucius met Prince Qingji who had escaped from Wu.
Qingji drove a luxurious car and wore exquisite clothes, but he looked very depressed. At first glance, he looked like a nobleman who had escaped from the country.
There have been too many nobles fleeing in recent years, and there are even ministers who have been driven out of the country by the ministers and went into exile.
Qingji reported his identity to Confucius, and after hearing what happened to him, Confucius sighed: "My ministers killed the king, in the time of King Su, would anyone do this?
Small sects replace big sects. Is this an tolerated behavior?
Luo Xuangong knew this truth, so he upheld the right path and attacked Quwo of Jin. No one does this anymore.
When the prince arrives in the Luo Kingdom, you can gather righteous men who are willing to follow you. Regicide will not last long. There must be many people in the Wu Kingdom looking forward to your return. "
Confucius had extraordinary conversational skills and well-founded speeches, which made Qingji, who already advocated loyalty, feel very fond of him. The two of them seemed to be reluctant to meet each other so late, and they talked cordially.
When the two of them arrived in Zhaocheng, they went to see Luo Yan together.
Prince Qingji once came to Luo Kingdom with his father to visit Luo Ci, so he was quite familiar with Luo Yan. If he wanted to return to the country and ascend the throne, he must get Luo Yan's support, at least agree to his recruitment of troops in Luo Kingdom. Prepare chariots and armor.
Confucius received great courtesy from the Luo family in the academy. After all, the achievements he made by himself were more than the achievements of the Luo family in a hundred years. Before Li Er, Confucius was the closest sage Luo Yan had ever seen. people.
So it was very simple for Confucius to see Luo Yan. He mainly wanted to see Luo Yan to see Li Er.
Now, although Li Er is serving as a priest in the academy, his main focus is still on writing books.
He had finished reading the classics written by King Su before, and now he began to read the actual governing experiences of the Luo Hous in the Luo family's collection room.
So most people couldn't see him. Confucius wanted to see Li Er through Luo Yan, and he couldn't wait to communicate with Li Er.
Qingji's matter was very simple. Luo Yan quickly agreed to his request. As an important ally of Luo State to check and balance Chu State, Wu State could not cause problems.
Seeing Confucius return to the Luo Kingdom, Luo Yan was full of surprises and laughed loudly: "Zhongni Gong, my father is right, you are back. This is the luck of the Luo Kingdom and the world.
Stay in Luo Kingdom from now on. It is wrong to deny a sage like you a house to live in, delicious meals, and servants to serve you. If you don't listen to your principles and don't record your words and deeds, you can't educate the world. .
Luo Guo is willing to do this. "
Confucius saluted and said: "Qiu Wei has never made any contributions to Luo State, how can he receive such a great favor?
Just stay in Luo Kingdom and record down what you have seen, heard, and thought over the years. Maybe you can repay something in return. "
Luo Yan was overjoyed and said hurriedly: "Gong Zhongni, you are here for Duke Boyang. He is in the secret room. You two are both saints. This meeting is a great event in the world."
…
Confucius said: The destiny of heaven is clear, and the way of the king is also known. Who can match it?
The world is for the public, and the way of the public must be understood and pursued.
Participate!
My way is consistent, but if it fails, it floats in the sea on a raft. How can anyone follow me?
——"The Analects·Su Wang"
(End of chapter)
