Etiquette and righteousness are despised but bravery is valued. The poor are thieves and the rich are thieves.
A simple sentence, but it speaks volumes.
As Shang said, the competition between countries is indeed based on strength.
The strong can decide everything about the weak. This is the truth, and it cannot be changed even if you tell the flowers.
But the question is, is it possible to adopt such an approach when facing one's own people?
Then it will degenerate into what Mozi once said: the strong robs the weak, the masses oppress the few, the deceitful and foolish, the noble and the humble.
So where is the country?
How can the people living in this country have even the slightest sense of identity with this country!
In the end, it is just a plaything that a group of strong people point at and play with at will for a group of weak people.
Those who admire strength will surely be defeated by stronger forces. Then it is time to compete for personal power. Except for the strongest one, everyone below will have to work for him.
If you put it on martial arts and immortality, this may be a very possible thing.
But how can it be used to govern a country?
After all, humans are not animals. They have seven emotions and six desires, and there are differences between love and hate, joy and anger. To teach the people that strength is the only criterion, humans are no different from beasts. Isn’t that teaching humans to be either thieves or thieves?
Things like law are very important.
But it's never something that needs to be reminded all the time - unless you already have the idea of breaking the law.
Benevolence, righteousness, and propriety, these three should be universal things in Confucian values, and the law is the final judgment of individuals under desperation.
If a person is benevolent, righteous and polite, will he still break the law?
Probably not until there is no other choice.
But if people only obey the law, people will become isolated islands.
The law is the final lower limit. How sad is it to regard the lower limit as the concept of treating the people?
Xun Ke did not agree with this view.
"You're a little too extreme.
Deny everything and leave only the bondage. It is just a shackle. What is there to admire? When I say 'Holy King', I don't mean a specific person, but someone who can make all people in the world feel happy and happy, and someone who can make them satisfied with their lives. "
Xun Ke's expression did not change. He snatched away the Confucian scholar's long sword, asked him to return to his seat, and continued: "If you want to see the traces of the holy king, you should look for those who are brilliant, such as the queen. Etiquette can determine the relationship. , the law can be divided, neither can be lost, nor can it be deviated. The rules of governance, etiquette and punishment, if a gentleman cultivates the peace of the people, the country will naturally be rich and strong."
Anyone can say something, but they must consider the consequences clearly.
Shang raised the question and even gained insight into the problem. Then what?
Can his 'method' make Xia Chao better? Can the living standards of the people be better than when Confucianism and Mohism were around?
I’m afraid that’s not the case!
This world is all about strength, so why not turn all the people into firewood for tempering and polishing a sharp sword?
What's more, the Xia Dynasty has never had the idea of devouring the world. As early as when the Xia Dynasty was first established, Gu Dan gave a warning that the Xia Dynasty should never take the initiative to start a war, let alone expand its territory.
In this world, there are not only countries, but also higher levels of power.
It is completely foolish for a country to want to surpass it. Instead of thinking about bumping fists with others, it is better to think about how to make its own people live a better life.
Of course, Shang didn't know about these things. He didn't know what was hidden behind it. Maybe he was wondering. Now that the Xia Dynasty was so powerful, and the four surrounding countries no longer had a grandmaster, why didn't the Xia Dynasty take advantage of the opportunity to devour them? Whether it is to avenge the original four-nation alliance or to expand territory, it is a beautiful thing.
As the saying goes, he who does not know is not guilty. He is just proposing ideas, and Xun Ke will naturally give a pertinent answer.
In fact, many courtiers in the Xia Dynasty have already had this idea, that is, Xun Ke is still suppressing here, otherwise someone would have written to ask for a fight.
If all aspects are taken into consideration, the Mohist saying of "universal love and non-aggression" is indeed correct. This is the most suitable concept for today's situation.
But Mohism was also too extreme, so much so that Xun Ke had to come up with Confucianism to moderate it.
Who would have thought that just a few years after most of the Mo family left, such an aggressive little guy would come.
It can only be said that the Xia Dynasty is indeed strong now, allowing them to have some dangerous ideas.
"Things that are in the four directions must be in the center; if the saint holds the key, the four directions will follow suit."
After Xun Ke mentioned the concept of the sage king claimed by Confucianism, Shang immediately said: "The lord of thousands of chariots, the king of thousands of chariots, so he who rules the world and conquers the princes uses his power and power."
It roughly means: The power of the country must be concentrated in the hands of the monarch or the saint. The monarch must be powerful in order to govern the world.
"ha."
Xun Ke laughed. This was because he wanted to concentrate power on the monarch. "There are people outside the world, and there is heaven outside the sky. As long as the monarch can manage the country, don't think too much."
Yes, don't think too much about it.
Do you want to centralize power?
No matter how centralized power is, that's all.
There are people outside the world, and there is heaven outside the world.
Who says that the emperor is the most noble person in a country? Why do I have to listen to you?
Could you please ask the Grandmaster if he agrees?
Ask the monks who are still cultivating in the Buzhou Mountains if they agree?
Here, the monarch must always remember one thing, he is not absolutely sure of what he says.
This is not a world where one can conquer all directions at will.
On the one hand, Shang's structure was very big, and he wanted the Xia Dynasty to conquer all directions; but on the other hand, Shang's structure was too small, so small that he only saw the Xia Dynasty, and ignored the real situation. , the vast world.
This is a matter of personal vision, and there is nothing to disdain. If you don't stand at a high enough level and collect enough information, even if you come up with a self-contained, logical and rigorous concept, it will not be implemented at all.
Because it doesn't suit the situation at hand.
It is unwise to only discuss whether a method is available without thinking about the overall situation.
But Shang is undoubtedly very talented and knowledgeable if he can come up with the method, and he dares to question it.
This is a genuine talent.
Faced with Xunke's answer, Shang was consistent.
In his opinion, Xunke undoubtedly avoided his real cross-examination.
But Xun Ke waved his hand, and an official immediately asked him to go down.
Asking questions does not mean that one person takes up all the time.
As for the things he wanted to know, after Shang showed enough talent, someone would naturally tell him, and he would understand what he meant by what he said today.
When walking off the stage, Shang will leave directly.
But he was grabbed by someone.
He is a guy who looks to be in his fifties or sixties, wearing a green robe. From his wrinkled face, you can still see a bit of elegance and composure that have been polished by the years.
The most important thing is that Shang did not feel the dissatisfaction and resentment of Confucian scholars in him.
"What can I ask you for?"
Shang asked.
"The young man is very talented. When the show is over today, he can go find Xun Ke as his disciple."
Gu Dan stroked his slightly gray beard and warned him like a kind old grandfather.
"Um?"
Shang had a look of surprise on his face.
Not only was he surprised that the handsome old man in front of him asked him to seek apprenticeship with Xun Ke, but more importantly, he actually dared to call Xun Ke by his first name.
Taboo for the venerable!
Although Xun Ke still looks very young, his real age is nearly octogenarian. However, he is a great master and does not look that old. His longevity cannot be equated with ordinary people.
Even a Mohist who disliked Xun Ke had to respectfully call him "Mr. Xun" before he could argue. How could he call him by his first name?
Even Emperor Taiping didn't dare.
"This is a huge opportunity, you have to seize it!"
The Big Moon messenger beside Gu Dan also quickly warned.
Shang's suspicious eyes flickered back and forth between Gu Dan and Dayue Messenger.
Could it be that these two people were the victims of the alchemist?
Why do you look so familiar with Mr. Xun? Can he recognize you?
Although there are many people who follow Xun Ke, until now, no one has heard that Mr. Xun Ke actually accepted a disciple. It is just that most Confucian scholars treat him as a teacher.
Just one sentence to ask him to become a disciple. Even if he is willing, can others be willing?
"If you're not in a hurry, just wait here a little longer."
Gu Dan didn't explain anything, he just said.
He was about to leave for a long distance, and it was a blessing to be able to find a new seedling for Xia Dynasty before leaving.
It's just that people who come later no longer need him to cultivate it.
The Xia Dynasty was no longer the same Xia Dynasty as before, and familiar faces were passing away one after another. It was time for him, the guardian, to step down.
He has protected me throughout this mortal life.
In the future, let latecomers like Shang contribute.
(End of chapter)
