Chapter 71 Ask
The Luo Kingdom's treasury is extremely famous among all the countries in the world.
Most people know that there are many books in Luo State, and a few people know that almost all the classics that can be collected in the world are gathered here.
Among these classics are historical books of various countries, especially those of the extinct countries. After their demise, most small countries would come to Luo State to survive, bringing with them cartloads of historical books.
There are also various books on astronomy and geography, especially geographical atlases. A huge price was paid to obtain the distribution of these mountains, rivers and streams.
The original manuscripts of the books are all in the family owner's inheritance ring to prevent accidents such as fire or corrosion, while the newly copied copies are kept in the storage room.
Of course, the most important books secretly stored in the Luo Kingdom royal family are not here.
If a person could read all the books here, he would be familiar with the history of the entire state for five hundred years.
Li Er had read a lot of history books. Luo Guo also prepared books for him that could only be studied in the official office, but he could only finish reading them here and then write down his own insights.
It is not allowed to take it out of the storage room. This is not the first time Confucius has come here. He was once a very important figure in Luo State. Even Luo Minggong's manuscripts had been read to him.
Li Er and Confucius, two great sages of the time, met in the storage room of Luo State. When Confucius saw Li Er for the first time, he knew that he was indeed a sage.
He is so outstanding, like a light in the darkness, it is impossible not to pay attention to him.
"Lord Boyang, this is Lord Zhongni, a great sage who once served as the chief priest of the Imperial Academy. The commentary on Luoyu that you read was almost entirely written by Lord Zhongni."
After Luo Yan introduced the two people, he waited quietly in the shadow of the bookshelf.
He could not interrupt the conversation between saints.
Ji Zhao's figure was projected down, and he looked at the two people with interest. In the previous life, thousands of years later, only Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism remained in the world.
Among them, the fusion of Legalism and Confucianism dominated the society for two thousand years and appeared openly in the government. Taoism gradually turned into a religion and influenced the nation's thoughts. The two people in front of us created these.
Li Er's attitude towards Confucius was obviously different from that towards Luo Ci and Luo Yan. He was very polite to the latter, but he knew that Luo Ci and Luo Yan could not discuss Taoism with him.
Although Confucius had not seen him yet, he saw his spirit in the text. He asked gently, "When I read Luo Yu a few days ago, I knew you would come to find me.
Those annotations are brilliant and intelligent, are they yours?"
Confucius was missing something, which Li Er could help him with, so he knew that Confucius would definitely come.
Confucius knelt down opposite Li Er and nodded, saying, "Yes, Lord Boyang, in the past, he was valued by the Marquis of Luo and the Crown Prince Yan, and served as the chief priest in the Luo Palace for a period of time, and he wrote these at that time."
He has experienced a lot over the years, and his thoughts have become much more mature than when he was in the academy. He asked the question that concerned him most.
"Lord Boyang, you said that as long as we follow the trend and govern by inaction, the world will be peaceful. But now the world is in ruins. If we follow the trend again, won't it be out of control?"
As if he had guessed that Confucius would ask this question, Li Er said, "In your opinion, we should restore the ancient governance, reshape rituals and music, use morality to regulate people's hearts, and use discipline to restrain the king and his subjects.
The core of your doctrine is the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom. You attribute the problems of the world to the problems of the human heart. "
Confucius was not surprised that Li Er could summarize the core of his doctrine in such a short time, because he could also judge the man's nature through a brief conversation.
Li Er did not answer directly, but pushed a row of bamboo slips in front of Confucius. These were thoughts on benevolence, righteousness, and the ways of the past and present in the Tao Te Ching. Confucius unfolded them and read them.
"When the great way is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness will prevail."
"Hold the present way to control the present."
In just a few hundred words, he made a profound analysis and criticism of Confucius' theory. Faced with these criticisms, Confucius was very happy, because Li Er was not criticizing benevolence and righteousness, but was disappointed that there was no true benevolence and righteousness.
"Lord Boyang, please help me solve my doubts. Your thoughts are in heaven. Every time I read them, I feel like I am facing the Su King."
He believed that Li Er was a sage who was no less than Luo Minggong. Li Er's recognition of benevolence and righteousness was a great encouragement to him.
"Sui Wang said, the only thing that does not change in the world is change, and the ancient way can only be used in the ancient times.
You were born in a noble family of the State of Song, your ancestors were nobles of the Shang Dynasty, and Shang Tang was also a sage king in ancient times. Why don't you use the great way of Shang Tang but advocate the great way of the Su King?
Is it because the Su King is greater than the ancient Sage King?"
Confucius was silent for a while. The Su King is naturally greater than the Sage King, but doesn’t this mean that the older the Tao is, the better it is?
There is a simple dialectic in Li Er's thoughts, and he can come up with persuasive words with ease.
“This is because Shang Tang’s great way is too old, but you saw Su Wang’s great way with your own eyes in Luoguo Academy.
Zhou Li is the ultimate principle that enables the King to bring peace to troubled times, and benevolence and righteousness are the great principles that can maintain people's hearts.
But the world is in chaos. Can empty talk about benevolence and righteousness lead to success?
Duke Huan of Qi united the nine states, brought peace to the world and became the overlord. Was it just because of his benevolence and righteousness?
He respected the king and expelled the barbarians, but why didn't he restore the Zhou rites?
Because all the princes in the world will rise up against him.
If a bowl falls to the ground and breaks, can it be used again?
The wine in the jug spilled onto the table. Can it ever get back into the jug?
The collapse of Zhou Li was driven by everyone in the world. Can it be restored?
You are a wise person and you must understand these principles, but you still do them even though you know they are impossible.
This is the root of your failure over the years!"
At the end of the day, even with Li Er's indifference, he felt a little sad.
Li Er's words were very harsh, but Confucius' expression was very calm, and his eyes were full of determination, "What Boyang Gong said is indeed realistic, but what is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong.
Benevolence and righteousness are what people in the world need, and that is what I want to practice.
King Su talked about the differences between the Chinese and the barbarians.
The Chinese are polite, while the barbarians are unrighteous. If there is no benevolence and righteousness, is there any difference between the Chinese and the barbarians who lead beasts to eat people?
I will stick to the right path, even if it means breaking me into pieces."
Li Er sighed slightly. It was true that people with different beliefs could not work together, especially people like Confucius who had firm beliefs.
Confucius did not come to Tao Te Ching to change his own Tao, but to absorb the useful things from the Tao Te Ching and perfect his own Tao.
If it were the previous Li Er, he might have criticized Confucius's teachings, because he believed that promoting benevolence and righteousness in today's chaotic world would only lead to even more unimaginable consequences.
However, after experiencing the incident with King Su, Li Er's thoughts had been sublimated.
The Way of Heaven is indeed eternal, but with the Su Wang standing behind it, why can't humanity also do something?
Li Er was slightly moved and began to explain to Confucius the truth he had read from Luoyu. Confucius looked at Li Er in surprise and asked, "Lord Boyang, why don't you criticize my thoughts?"
"It is because he does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him."
Li Er said calmly: "The road is not born, but is created by people themselves.
You are a wise person, with an indomitable character and an unyielding will. Even the collapse of Mount Tai cannot affect your mind. Would simple persuasion be of any use?
You have been traveling for ten years, experiencing wind, frost, rain, snow, swords and knives, but you remain the same, which shows that this is your way.
You have already attained enlightenment.
Even Haotian cannot change the Tao, how can I change a person who has attained the Tao?"
Confucius felt the gap between himself and Li Er, "Mr. Boyang, only after meeting you did I know the virtues of a saint."
When Confucius was in Qu State, he had an academic and political enemy named Shao Zhengmao. His academic views were very biased, and Confucius believed that he would corrupt the people's hearts.
When he was the prime minister of Qu State, his disciples advised him to "kill the unrighteous people to defend the results of righteousness."
Confucius did want to kill him, but he ultimately restrained himself because killing people easily was not in line with Confucius's teachings.
But now that he met Li Er, he realized that killing people was not the only way to prove his own great way. Perfecting the great way for others while integrating his own way into it was also a way.
Now if we think carefully about Shao Zhengmao's ideas, they are not all crooked. There are many strategies that can help revitalize the country.
It’s just that Shao Zhengmao’s own narrow-minded character makes the use of it evil.
Li Er and Confucius began to ask and answer each other, confirming the problems in their own theories. Both of them were very tolerant people, and even if they had different opinions, they still talked in a friendly manner.
The most excited person was Luo Yan, who was hiding behind the bookshelf.
Around him were seven or eight middle-aged women, each of whom had a good ability in shorthand. They were all specially trained by the Luo family to record the debates in the academy.
Of course, the conversation between the two great sages, Li Er and Confucius, had to be recorded. In order to avoid mistakes, Luo Yan called all the strongest people.
"Don't miss a single word. Write it all down when you get back. Don't communicate with each other. Just accept whatever you hear."
Li Er has come up with some new things these days, which made Luo Yan fascinated. At the same time, he also felt more deeply that he was lackluster in academic talent.
【Your luck points have increased. 】
As the Luo family accelerated their wisdom harvesting plan, Ji Zhao's luck points began to grow wildly.
This rate of increase is no less than that of when the two sons of destiny, Luo Su and Luo Xiu, were alive.
…
Confucius said: When I saw Lao Tzu, he was like a dragon!
Zengzi asked: "Is he like the King Su?"
Confucius said: "The King of Su is like the sky, Laozi is like a dragon, their splendor is beyond comprehension." - "The Analects of Confucius: Su Jian"
Let’s stop writing about these two for now. Writing about saints is making my brain burst. Fortunately, I don’t have to write about these two great masters for the time being.
The plot will begin to develop in the next chapter. One hundred and fifty years will be the era when various schools of thought will flourish.
There are still 3000 words in the afternoon
(End of this chapter)
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