Is there something wrong with Confucian morality?
The corners of Sima Guang's mouth began to twitch wildly.
You generalize and say that there is a problem with keeping wealth among the people, that would be fine, but you also say that there is a problem with Confucian morality.
Zhang Fei was also panicked when he saw Sima Guang was accumulating anger like crazy. He said quickly, "Master Sima, can we sit down and talk slowly? If others see this, it will cause misunderstanding."
Sima Guang took a deep breath and said, "Zhang San, if you don't understand this principle today, this matter will not end."
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Zhang Fei is really submissive.
Being caught between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang is really life-threatening.
If there was a female minister like Cai Jing or Qin Hui, things would definitely be much easier.
After all, these female officials are all about interests and power, and their personal morals are not very good, so everyone can talk about it.
...
...
Both Wang Anshi and Sima Guang talked about political ideas and even values, but the key is that their personal morals were perfect, except that Wang Anshi did not like to take a bath.
When talking to such people, first of all, you lack confidence.
But Zhang Fei had to face the fact that their political philosophies were completely opposite, and getting along well with both of them was definitely a technical job.
After Sima Guang sat down, Zhang Fei poured him a cup of hot tea.
Sima Guang waved his hand and said, "Explain the reason clearly first."
Zhang Fei could only put the tea on the table, then sat down and said, "The light taxes and levies of the Sima Daxueshi, and the sharing of wealth among the people, are completely based on Confucian ethics."
Sima Guang frowned and asked, "Is this wrong?"
"Of course not." Zhang Fei shook his head.
"Um?"
Sima Guang began to accumulate anger again.
Zhang Fei said: "The eight words from Sima Daxueshi's mouth are not to educate others, but to set the concept of governing the country. At the same time, these eight words are based on Confucian morality. In other words, it is to base a country on morality. Is this right?"
"Isn't that right?" Sima Guang's eyes almost popped out.
"certainly...."
Zhang Fei decided to ask politely: "Does Grand Secretary Sima know the story of Duke Xiang of Song?"
Sima Guang immediately said, "I know what you want to say, but do you know that the number of casualties in the wars during the Warring States period was many times that of the Spring and Autumn period?"
Zhang Fei remained silent.
Sima Guang asked again: "Do you know what the difference is between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period? In the Spring and Autumn Period, both sides of the war still valued etiquette and morality, but in the Warring States Period, morality was lost, etiquette and music were in disarray, and a war could easily cost more than 100,000 lives. The cost of losing a war in the Spring and Autumn Period was far lower than the cost of winning a war in the Warring States Period.
Do you know how the people lived in the previous era of separatist regimes? Also, without Confucian morality, how can you stand in the court?
If we only talk about the law, whether it is Xu Zhongtu or Lu Huishu, they have the power to prevent you from going to court to argue. It is precisely because they are deeply educated in Confucianism that they allow you to go to court to argue. "
After this lecture, Zhang Fei was sweating profusely and wanted to slap himself. What the hell is wrong with my brain? I actually told this old man a historical allusion. I really am...!
This is definitely a major mistake. You can talk to him about cases, but you must never talk to Sima Guang about historical anecdotes.
Seeing that he was silent, Sima Guang was a little disappointed and asked, "Why? You have nothing to say?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Master Sima is right. I was wrong."
These words really left him speechless.
Especially the last sentence. The fact that he was able to fight in court before was not allowed by the law. It was all given by Confucianism.
If the law was to be fully respected, Xu Zun had a hundred ways to punish him based on the existing laws.
The same goes for Lu Gongzhuo.
Why give him a chance? Isn't it because they are all fair and honest?
Being altruistic and selfless is what Confucianism brings to the table.
That’s it?
Sima Guang was stunned. This has just begun. Don’t give in. That would be boring.
My aura has already been released, and I can’t hold it back!
Zhang Fei suddenly admitted his mistake, and Sima Guang was a little at a loss. His old rival Wang Anshi never admitted defeat and could argue with him until the end of the world.
So boring!
Sima Guang was so angry that he could no longer bear it. He said in a depressed tone, "Tell me what you think first."
"I won't say any more."
Zhang Fei just shook his head, "I said it and you lectured me again."
Sima Guang sighed and said, "Weren't you very good at arguing in court?"
Zhang Fei said, "In court, we talk about the law, but I am not good at talking about morality."
Sima Guang was angry at his lack of argument and said, "Don't you know how to refute my virtue?"
Zhang Fei said aggrievedly: "I was planning to use the law to refute your morality. But the problem is... I can't deny that without Confucian morality, I really can't go to court to argue."
Sima Guang was extremely depressed. It was like after enough foreplay and just when they had gone in and out, a red light suddenly came on...!
Damn it.
Sima Guang waved his hand and said, "Just pretend that I never said this."
"Ah? Is this possible?
"you...."
Sima Guang took a deep breath and said, "Just tell me what you think about keeping wealth for the people."
Zhang Fei shook his head like a rattle, "I won't tell you. If I tell you, you'll teach me a lesson again."
Sima Guang was angry and said, "I just want to hear your opinion. As the saying goes, one of three people walking together can be my teacher. I, Sima Guang, am not such a stubborn person."
You haven't? Zhang Fei's eyes turned and said, "If I say it, you can't scold me."
"No scolding."
Sima Guang said, "I never curse anyone."
"You are not allowed to teach me either."
"No teaching."
Sima Guang added, "You are wrong, I have to correct you, right?"
Zhang Fei said arrogantly: "You have to wait until I finish speaking before correcting me?"
Sima Guang said with amusement, "Today I have just discovered that discussing issues with you is so difficult."
Zhang Fei defended himself, "Master Sima, you are well-read and knowledgeable. I have only read one book, Song Dynasty Criminal Code, but... of course it is difficult!"
At this moment, Sima Guang missed Wang Anshi very much and said, "Okay, okay, go ahead and I will correct you after you finish speaking."
"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."
"explain!"
"Why!"
Zhang Fei nodded, and then said: "Sima Daxueshi's idea of storing wealth among the people is to concentrate wealth in the hands of those who are deeply educated in Confucianism, have morality, and have responsibility. But the problem is that morality cannot build a country..."
"who......."
"Wait until I'm done."
Zhang Fei said immediately.
Sima Guang put down his hand and said, "Then hurry up and speak."
"yes."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "There is no order without rules. A country must be built on laws. Although the legislative thought is derived from morality, since it has been derived from morality, we must distinguish them clearly. Sima Daxueshi said before that I generalized from a single case. In fact, the most generalizing thing is generalizing myself."
"you...!"
"I'm not finished yet."
"......you say."
Zhang Fei added: "As far as the law is concerned, if it exists, it exists, and if it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist. You can't use black sheep or generalization as an excuse.
Just now, Sima Daxueshi mentioned that the landlords were not living well, and the people were living even harder. That was the case. But why was it so? The main reason was not that the court was immoral, but that the court did not abide by the law.
It can be seen that light taxes and levies, and keeping wealth in the hands of the people, must be based on the law.
, and cannot be said to be based on morality. Because morality is the self-restraint of individuals, while law is the public power restraining individuals.
It is impossible for Sima Daxueshi to do this. He concentrated all the wealth in the hands of those with virtue. If there is a Wei Yushan, there will definitely be a second one. This is pure gambling. Personal interests can be gambled, but national interests cannot be gambled. I just quoted the story of Duke Xiang of Song to illustrate this point. National construction must have rules and regulations. "
Sima Guang asked, "Have you finished speaking?"
Zhang Fei said, "It's almost the same. I just want to say that the law has already given those people privileges, and they still break the law. That's too much, and they should be severely punished."
Sima Guang nodded and said, "You just said that morality is a personal constraint, and law is a public constraint."
Zhang Fei nodded.
Sima Guang asked again, "Then let me ask you, is it man who is above the law, or is it the law that is above man?"
Zhang Fei remained silent.
Sima Guang said: "If you don't control individuals, who will talk about the law? Those people evade taxes, I know better than you, I also want them to pay taxes, but if you use the law to control them, I tell you, it's not the people who are gone, but the law.
Wang Jiefu's reform was bound to fail.
If we want to govern the country, we must attach importance to Confucian education and cultivate a group of gentlemen like Fan Gong and Bao Gong. Only in this way can we stop this phenomenon. It can be seen that morality is more important than law. "
Rule by man or rule by law?
Rule by man.
Is it people who are more important, or the law?
People are definitely important.
The law today is like a piece of plasticine. Its shape depends on who molds it.
Met Xu Zun.
take off!
Met Wang Hong.
Finished!
It's that simple.
As expected of a man who wrote Zizhi Tongjian, he has a very thorough understanding! In this respect, he is indeed better than Wang Anshi. Zhang Fei's eyes turned and he nodded: "Yes, yes, yes! Sima Daxueshi taught me that... I have suffered from not having read books!"
Sima Guang asked with a smile: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Fei said, "I have not read any other books except the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, so I always have the illusion that the law is above people. This leads to many things that I can't understand. Not paying taxes is against the law, and breaking the law requires punishment. It is such a simple thing, why can't it be done? I see."
Sima Guang joked, "This is why you always get into trouble."
“Now that I think about it, it’s true.”
Zhang Fei nodded repeatedly and said, "Sima Dashi is indeed worthy of being a Hanlin scholar. This explanation has opened Zhang Fei's eyes. If all the ministers in the court were like Mr. Fan, then from the monarch to the common people, no one would dare to do anything that violates morality, and the world would be peaceful."
Sima Guang stroked his beard and smiled, "This boy is teachable."
That's how it is.
If all officials were like Fan Zhongyan, there would be no need for reform and the world would naturally be peaceful.
From this, we can also infer the theoretical basis for their idea of keeping wealth among the people. If the wealth is concentrated in the hands of gentlemen like Fan Zhongyan, then there will absolutely be no problem and the country will definitely enjoy long-term stability.
Based on this point, the "people" definitely does not refer to ordinary people, but to those gentry and landlords, because ordinary people have never been to school and do not understand loyalty, filial piety, propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame, so how can they become Fan Zhongyan.
"That's not right!"
Zhang Fei suddenly seemed to think of something.
Sima Guang asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhang Fei scratched his head and said, "Just now I said that the problem is that people are above the law, so it is still a problem of the law. Then shouldn't the solution be to turn it into the law above people?"
Sima Guang's expression suddenly changed.
Zhang Fei did not notice this, scratching his head and talking to himself, "If we train a group of ministers like Mr. Fan, and everyone abides by morality, then everyone from the monarch to the people will not dare to violate morality easily.
But... it is harder to keep morals than to respect the law.
If you owe too much money and don't pay it back, it may not be illegal, but it is definitely against morality. If all the ministers in the court respect the law, then can we say... "
Having said that, he secretly glanced at Sima Guang.
Sima Guang stared at him expressionlessly. When he saw him glancing at him, he immediately said, "Go on!"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I have not read much, I hope that the Grand Secretary Sima can help me solve my doubts?"
"Alright! You win this time."
Sima Guang stood up, patted his buttocks, and walked out slowly, sighing: "Wonderful words lead to the path, and the great way is simple."
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