In the square, the place is wide.
This is the place where scholars from the Five Classics Institute gather daily. If there are any things to be arranged or activities, they are all here.
In the square, on a forty-centimeter-high platform, Zhuge Liang sat upright with a calm expression. Today, Zhuge Liang is still wearing a white robe and a turban on his head. He is tall and tall, even when sitting, he is a head taller than anyone else.
Most of the poor scholars in the Five Classics Hall are young people, with very few over thirty years old.
Zhuge Liang's current height is not low even in the Five Classics Hall.
Zhuge Liang waited quietly.
Yesterday's debate mainly focused on poetry, books, rituals, Yi, and Spring and Autumn Period. Each argued against the other with extensive quotations, and Zhuge Liang won them all. However, Zhuge Liang did not take it lightly. He knew that today would be different.
While Zhuge Liang was waiting, suddenly, he turned his eyes and looked not far away, and saw Zheng Xuan and Lu Xuan.
Seeing the two of them, Zhuge Liang raised his eyebrows and then regained his composure. Both Lu Xuan and Zheng Xuan have high hopes for him, so it is normal to pay attention to him.
Zhuge Liang didn't feel any pressure either.
After a while, a young man strode up and said loudly: "Zhuge Liang, I'm from the Wuhan University, and I came here to ask for advice."
Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "Please sit down."
The man from Wuhan University is not tall, short and fat, with dark skin and some acne on his face. Wearing a green robe, he stared at Zhuge Liang and said loudly: "I am at Wuhan University. I am the eldest son in the family."
"I studied in the academy, and the gentlemen were generous enough to teach me and impart knowledge to us. They also did not prohibit us from learning the knowledge of various schools. I studied all kinds of schools and thought that Taoist theory is the most suitable for governing the country."
After Wu Da expressed his thoughts, he asked, "I wonder what Brother Zhuge thinks?"
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Brother Wu, Taoism is suitable for governing the country, but there is no specific explanation. I am willing to listen to your opinions."
Wu Da confidently said: "The way of heaven is vague and the way of humanity is vast. Using Taoism to govern the world means that the upper body is heaven's heart and the lower body responds to the people's heart. With the way of inaction, do the things that have to be done, do nothing but do everything, and fight without fighting. Therefore, I am a Taoist. Governance by doing nothing is the best way to govern.”
Zhuge Liang chuckled and said, "Brother Wu is wrong."
Wu Da stared at Zhuge Liang with wide eyes and said loudly: "Brother Zhuge will deny Taoism with just one sentence. What's the reason?"
Zhuge Liang said: "Brother Wu, please listen to me."
Wu Da said: "Please tell me."
Zhuge Liang said directly: "Taoism governs by doing nothing. If you say inaction, and also say inaction without doing anything, it is equivalent to doing something. In essence, Taoism's inaction is to use the system to restrain people and reduce the rule of people. However, the system is also set by people. How can it be possible to govern completely by doing nothing? Inaction and action are self-contradictory."
After Wu Da heard this, he was speechless for a moment.
Zhuge Liang said again: "If Taoism cures by doing nothing, it is really so good. Why was it replaced by Confucianism? People seek good fortune and avoid disaster, and they all seek profit. If Taoism cures by doing nothing, it will not be completely eliminated. Abandon. Times have changed, and those who are inappropriate will inevitably be eliminated. Brother Wu, your insistence is wrong."
Wu Da looked even more embarrassed when he heard this.
For a moment, his face turned red and he could no longer maintain his previous composure.
Lu Xuan saw this scene in his eyes, with a look of approval in his eyes, praising Zhuge Liang's keenness.
If the debate between Confucianism and Taoism were to be debated, it would not be clear at all, and it would even be difficult to explain clearly without talking for days and nights. Zhuge Liang chose a breakthrough point and said that times have changed and Taoists were left behind and abandoned. This was the best way to argue.
Lu Xuan glanced around, and some elderly Confucian scholars looked disapproving.
However, no one stepped forward.
The debate currently taking place is conducted by the scholars of the Five Classics Hall. Once the teachers are dismissed, the nature will be different.
"Zhuge Liang, I'm here to ask for advice."
At this moment, another young man with a slender figure, a Chinese character, and a serious face walked up. He sat down opposite Zhuge Liang and said directly: "I am a disciple of Confucianism in Ximenye. Please give me some advice, my dear brother Zhuge Liang."
Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Brother Ximen, what do you think?"
Ximenye said: "Just now Zhuge Xiandi said that Taoism was backward and was replaced by Confucianism. I agree very much. Taoism talks about doing nothing, but in fact it does everything. This is hypocritical. Confucianism is better, Taoism is based on virtue, and etiquette is the basis of morality. This is the most appropriate way to govern a country, taking etiquette as the criterion and setting an example.”
Poof!
Zhuge Liang laughed.
Ximenye asked: "Brother Zhuge, why are you laughing so rudely?"
Zhuge Liang said calmly: "Isn't Wang Mang the model of Confucian governance? He respected the ancient system and governed the country with Confucianism to achieve the effect of ritual rule. In the end, the rituals collapsed and music collapsed, causing chaos in the world. A living example is right in front of you. , why do you still advocate Confucianism blindly?"
Ximenye's face suddenly darkened.
He thought Zhuge Liang was a fellow-minded person and was ready to discuss it, but he did not expect to be rejected by Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang was also familiar with history. He said directly: "Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty once said that the Han family governs the country with the combination of the king's way and the king's hegemony. Even Emperor Xuan recognized this concept of governing the country, do you think it is wrong?"
Ximenye even stopped talking.
He couldn't argue with that.
Ximenye stood up and stepped back.
Lu Xuan saw it in his eyes, and even more praised in his heart. Zhuge Liang's ideas were exactly the same as his.
Confucianism is unreliable.
The human heart is unreliable.
The law must be used as a restraint and the punishment of the law can achieve social governance.
Zheng Xuan stroked his beard under his chin and said with a proud look on his face: "King Wu, Zhuge Liang is a great talent. The future Zhuge Liang will definitely be the leader of Wu's talents."
Lu Xuan nodded and said, "I have never doubted this."
"Brother Zhuge Xian just said it well. Confucianism is ridiculous and unreasonable. Relying on personal consciousness and personal morality is simply absurd. If virtue can be used to influence people, there will be no lawlessness and disorder in the world. However, there are violations of the law every year. Countless, some harass women in the street, some beat people in the street, some rape and plunder..."
A loud voice came.
A young man with a strong build and a rather strong physique came out.
The young man looked at Zhuge Liang and said loudly: "My dear, Ye Fan, I have met Zhuge Xiandi. Zhuge Xiandi's words should be that he praised Legalism. I wonder what Zhuge Xiandi's opinions are on Legalism in governing the country?"
Zhuge Liang looked calm and said: "Isn't the tyrannical Qin just the Legalist rule of the country? In the end, the tyrannical Qin is unruly and the world is in chaos. Only the Legalists will completely suppress the people and make them breathless. One was swept in What is there to say about governance strategies in the dust of history?”
Ye Fan suddenly blushed.
He looked even more embarrassed.
I originally thought that Zhuge Liang recognized Legalism in governing the country, but I didn't expect that Zhuge Liang even opposed Legalism.
For a time, there were other people from the Mo family, the farm family, and the miscellaneous family. Those who were originally eager to try it all lost their minds. Because this sentence has been swept into the dust of history, how do you answer it?
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, hundreds of schools of thought contended. In the end, Confucianism was the only one left, and all other schools of thought slowly disappeared.
If you go to debate now, you won't win at all.
"Zhuge Liang, you criticize this and that, what do you think we should do?"
In the crowd, someone booed.
For a time, voices kept coming one after another, and many people looked at Zhuge Liang with even more unkind eyes.
Zhuge Liang was too beaten.
Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism, all schools of thought governing the country, were all opposed.
Zhuge Liang looked around at everyone, looked serious, and said loudly: "Everyone, how can one rely on one theory or one way of thinking to govern the world? Managing a big country is like cooking small delicacies. It sounds easy to say, but in fact, it is too frivolous. On the surface.”
"You don't even know how to increase grain production, you don't even know how the people below made false accounts, you don't even know how the grain was shipped away and sold, and what you got in exchange for it was a scam."
"It is most ridiculous to just rely on shouting slogans without specific arrangements for various government affairs."
"The art of governing a country does not rely on the doctrine of one family and one surname. It must be a combination of both. In the general direction, it is still Confucianism and law, and kings and hegemons use both. In fact, I think it is more complicated and will involve more."
"Among all these things, I think the most fundamental thing is to practice one's own actions, do things in a down-to-earth manner, and work hard every day."
“We rely on our daily hard work and pragmatism to fill our warehouses with food and ensure that our people have enough food and clothing.”
“This is what I think is fundamental governance.”
"If everyone is like this, why worry about the world not being governed? Why should we stick to one family's opinions? Why should we think about criticizing other doctrines instead of taking the essence and discarding the dross?"
Zhuge Liang stood up, his tall height shining brightly in the bright sunshine.
Zhuge Liang looked around, ignoring Lu Xuan and Zheng Xuan, and said loudly: "We students in the Five Classics Hall should not be divided into factions or have sectarian opinions. We should learn from the strengths of others and seek truth in a down-to-earth manner. With a spirit of hard work, we should do everything well. One thing. Only when we leave the Five Classics Hall in the future can we be worthy of King Wu’s painstaking efforts."
"well said!"
A deep and resonant voice came from the crowd.
Everyone looked over, and someone immediately recognized Lu Xuan and shouted loudly that King Wu was coming.
The scholars of the Five Classics Hall were extremely excited, and countless cheers came and went.
