Chapter 265 Try Xiantian again!

The meeting place was not the imperial palace, but the Gu family courtyard.

All the masters from various countries who were sent as "gifts" in the beginning came, not one was missing, and all of them came, exactly five in total.

"Greetings, Your Excellency. Greetings, Emperor Xia."

Seeing Gu Dan again, several masters seemed quite excited.

Especially after seeing Gu Dan's appearance, which had not aged much due to the passage of time, the passion hidden in his eyes could hardly be concealed.

The Grandmaster's lifespan of 120 years is already enough for ordinary people to look up to him, but now, the Grandmaster also has people he needs to look up to.

"You are all pillars of the country, there is no need to be so polite."

Wang Mang nodded with a smile, without any arrogance of an emperor. "Over the years, you have all made great contributions and have made great contributions to the Xia Dynasty. Your request will certainly not be ignored."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you, Emperor Xia!"

After hearing this, several masters were delighted.

On the way here, they had already thought that Gu Dan might have agreed. Otherwise, why bother calling them over again? They could just send someone to tell them. They couldn't just refuse in person and scold them, right?

At this moment, when he heard the affirmative answer from Wang Mang's mouth, the excitement in his heart was beyond words.

That's the path above Grandmaster! Not only is it priceless, even the Hundred Cities have to step back a little.

Working for others for more than 30 years to get one chance is a great honor for your ancestors.

"I don't know much about the Grandmaster's affairs, so you can just talk."

After Wang Mang praised several people for their hard work and great achievements, he left first.

Only five masters were left, looking at Gu Dan eagerly, their eyes full of desire.

"Are you guys looking for a path above Grandmaster?"

Gu Dan asked.

"Yes."

Even though he knew that the other party was asking questions that he already knew the answer to, Xue Wenjian did not dare to be negligent and nodded repeatedly.

"The Grandmaster has reached the pinnacle of the world. He can obtain all the glory, wealth, fame, and honor. As far as I know, you don't have any enemies that you can't defeat, so you don't need to take risks. In this case, since you have already reached the Grandmaster's level and are about to reach the end of your life, why do you still need to seek such a path?"

Gu Dan asked again.

"Since Grandmaster is not the limit of the world, how can we remain complacent? If we don't know, it's fine. Now that we know, we are willing to give up everything to give it a try!"

"That's right! I've been a Grandmaster for so many years, and I've long been tired of all the things that should be enjoyed in the world. Living is just waiting to die. Now that I know there is hope to continue to move forward, why should I stop?"

"If I hear the truth in the morning, I can die in the evening. We are already at the end of our age, and all we can do is die. If I can get a glimpse of the scenery above the Grandmaster before I die, I will be better than countless heroes in the world, and it will be worth my trip to the world!"

Several masters spoke up one after another, their convictions were extremely firm.

They are both masters and seekers of truth.

"good!"

Gu Dan clapped his hands lightly, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

There will always be people in this world who will challenge the peak, because the peak is there.

No matter how decadent and prosperous you have been before, it is commendable that you are still willing to give it a try when you see hope.

"I feel your intentions. I also have a share of the path above Grandmaster."

Gu Dan said seriously.

Several masters wanted to prick up their ears, and even took a few steps forward unconsciously, getting closer and closer to Gu Dan.

"but"

Gu Dan added: "The founder of this road also failed to succeed. I am just following his words and taking a small step forward. Even I don't have the confidence to succeed now. So, do you still want to give it a try?"

Several masters looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.

Gu Dan only took a little step forward on that road, and he could defeat the Grandmaster. If he could really make it, how terrifying would it be? Was this a humble remark, or a warning? "I beg you to give us a chance. Whether it's success or failure, life or death, it's all our own fault."

Xue Wenjian was the first to react and spoke quickly.

"Okay then."

Gu Dan nodded and said, "This road was discovered by Ji Lao, the former Grandmaster of Dayue. It shocked me, who was still a Grandmaster at that time. But you must know that even Ji Lao, who discovered this road, fell on it.

If it is really possible to easily surpass the Grandmaster, how could Qin Lisheng and Xun Ke, who have a close relationship with me, continue to be limited to the Grandmaster level?"

The masters were not fools and they understood what Gu Dan meant as soon as they heard it.

He is expressing that he has nothing to hide.

If that path was really safe, he would naturally let Qin Lisheng and Xun Ke, with whom he was closer and more trusted, take it.

If even these two guarantors are unwilling to share, what are they? Don't even bother with them.

It is precisely because this road is completely unstable and even life-threatening that it has been hidden.

"Please rest assured that we have made sufficient preparations. No matter what happens, it is all our own fault."

Xue Wenjian said immediately, and the other masters also made assurances.

If there really was a safe path to the Grandmaster level, how bold would they have to be to ask directly? It was precisely because that path was dangerous enough that they had the opportunity to try it!

"In that case."

Gu Dan sighed softly and took out a booklet from his sleeve. It was a booklet he had just finished writing. It was the notes that Master Ji had left about the innate realm.

All kinds of speculations above the Grandmaster level are included in it.

As for the real notes, they were burned by Cang, who was still a naughty kid at the time. Fortunately, Gu Dan had a good memory and could write them out word for word.

"You can read this book, but no one knows how to get there or the specific method."

Gu Dan handed the book over and said, "If any of you have made up your mind after observing it and want to continue to strive for that realm, remember to tell me and I will go to observe it."

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Xue Wenjian took the book with both hands, carefully treating it. The book was obviously not big, but it was as heavy as a thousand pounds in his heart.

That's about the path above Grandmaster! "Please do as you please."

Gu Dan watched the masters who had obtained Master Ji's notes leave quickly. As if worried that he would change his mind, he shook his head helplessly and stared at the vast sky. "Master Ji, I have done one thing you asked me to do."

The torch is passed on, and now he has passed on the fire of his predecessors.

But the flames are scorching hot.

Good things can also be hot.

Even Gu Dan, at this point, is not sure he can reach the innate realm.

After all, the last time he witnessed Master Ji’s attempt to reach the innate realm, the impression it left on him was too deep. Now that he had been bitten by a snake, how could he dare to get involved again?

He had done his best to remind Xue Wenjian and other masters that how to choose was up to them.

If they still want to give it a try, Gu Dan can watch again and learn from their experience.

With preparation and psychological expectations, especially after one's own strength has been greatly improved, the gains will surely be greater than the last time, right?

He still has a lot of time, so there is no need to rush.

In the 35th year of the Xia Dynasty, Wang Mang once again issued an edict to summon Xun Ke to take up the post.

This time, Xun Ke did not refuse.

Xun Ke, who was the Minister of Rites at the time, was no longer fighting alone this time. He had his own supporters, his own disciples, and even the support of aristocratic families.

He said: If people are not polite, they will not survive; if things are not polite, they will not be accomplished; if the country is not polite, it will not be peaceful.

He said: When you are hungry, you want to eat; when you are cold, you want to be warm; when you are tired, you want to rest; you like profit and hate harm; these are what people are born with.

He said: In everything we do, we should keep what is beneficial to reason and abolish what is not.

He said: "Those who are good at raising and nurturing people are loved by others; those who are good at organizing and managing people are at peace with others; those who are good at showing and treating people are happy with others; those who are good at decorating and embellishing people are honored by others. ... Those who cannot raise and nurture people are not loved by others; those who cannot organize and manage people are not at peace with others; those who cannot show and treat people are not happy with others; those who cannot decorate and embellish people are not honored by others."

Ritual is reason.

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He wants to establish principles for the world.

First of all, we must change some concepts.

For example, the ideas that Mohist school left for the people of the Xia Dynasty.

This is not because he has a grudge against the Mohists, but because their paths are different, so conflicts are natural.

As Xun Ke's actions and his brilliant article "Encouraging Learning" spread far and wide, many people came to understand.

Xun Ke is going to surpass his master.

In other words, it is to defeat the Mohist school currently led by Qin Lisheng.

Mohism advocates morality, while Confucianism advocates benevolence and righteousness.

What is benevolence?

Benevolence means human beings.

A kind person loves others.

But love has different levels, so the word "benevolence" means to love family, friends, and even others without hurting yourself too much. This is enough to be called benevolence.

What is righteousness?

Righteousness means fairness.

Being able to treat everything fairly and without bias is enough to be called righteousness.

On the basis of Mohism's altruism, the Confucianism's benevolence and righteousness at this time undoubtedly narrowed a lot of scope, paid more attention to self-cultivation, and the requirements for people were far less extreme than those of Mohism.

To put it simply: Mohism expects everyone to help each other, and Mohists must lead by example to achieve this, so that Mohists are extremely self-defeating.

The Confucian concept of benevolence and righteousness is to take care of yourself first, live a good life, and help your family within your ability. It is benevolent and righteous to not do unfair things to friends or even strangers.

Compared with the Mohist concept of universal love, the Confucian concept of benevolence and righteousness is undoubtedly much simpler.

After these two core concepts were clarified, the number of Confucian scholars increased dramatically.

It is difficult for most people to practice Mohist universal love, but Confucian benevolence and righteousness are much more reliable and simple.

Even the young man who has been lingering in the brothel for more than ten years dares to praise himself as a righteous person - hey, he never owes anyone money, and he has never done anything bad, so how can he not be considered a righteous person?

As for this kind of people, Xun Ke's evaluation is: accept them all.

Don't forget his core idea, which is that human nature is evil.

Because human nature is evil, we need etiquette education even more.

In Xun Ke's opinion, after the evildoers have received the punishment they deserve, it is possible to get rid of the evil and keep the good.

You can't not even have a chance to start over - unless you have made a fatal mistake.

In addition, he also encouraged his disciples to "do one good deed every day."

This good does not need to be a big thing.

If you see a hungry and cold traveler, hand him a piece of dry food or a glass of water; if you see an uneven road, fill it with some dirt; or even if you see an elderly person who has difficulty walking, escort him for a while, it all counts.

It doesn't matter if they can't even do these little things. Confucian scholars are qualified as long as they live a peaceful and stable life, don't do unjust things, and don't harm others.

Of course, the words benevolence and righteousness are just the most simple ways of saying it, meant to facilitate understanding among the lowest classes of people, so that they can also understand what Confucianism is saying.

In addition to the two words "benevolence" and "righteousness", Xun Ke also proposed a higher level and more perfect pursuit: filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, forgiveness, courtesy, knowledge, courage, respect, tolerance, trust, agility, and kindness . After completing the most basic benevolence and righteousness, there are still these paths to continue to improve oneself, which are moral standards and personality realms.

If someone can do all of these, he can be called a saint.

Xun Ke gave everyone the opportunity to participate.

Moreover, one does not have to rush towards the highest, supreme path right from the start, like Mozi.

Instead, you should manage yourself first, and then if you have higher personal aspirations, improve yourself little by little. Even if you can't do it, there is no pressure. It is enough as long as you stick to the words benevolence and righteousness.

It is for this reason that, along with the spread of that great article, the Confucian words benevolence and righteousness also became famous.

Whether it is the underlying logic or the process of climbing step by step and finally reaching the realm of the saint itself, it is more reasonable and clear no matter how you look at it.

To use an analogy that is not quite appropriate: if a carriage can only seat six people, and there is a tiger behind it chasing six unknown strangers, then the Confucian scholar riding in the carriage can only save five people. This does not harm Confucian benevolence and righteousness. Under the Confucian concept, no one can criticize him for this, and the Confucian scholar himself does not have to blame himself.

But if you are a Mohist, you have to go down and face the tiger yourself. If you don’t go, you are not worthy of being called a Mohist.

Of course, this can be used to say that Confucian scholars are not as noble as Mohists, but how many people really want to be so noble?

It is easy to criticize verbally, but it is not so easy to put it into practice.

It is not easy to drive away without seeing the tiger, but to be willing to do everything possible to save people.

Was the number of Mohists reduced to 3,000 really because Xun Ke came out and sang a different tune?

It’s just because everyone says they like it but are unwilling to do it.

If you go against human nature, you will naturally be educated by humanity.

Human nature is evil, so we should seek good in evil.

What Xun Ke took was the path of promoting good and suppressing evil.

As time goes by, more and more people are willing to believe in Confucianism.

There were also some people who were willing to do more "good" by building roads and establishing schools.

Also because enough people participated in it, the reputation of Confucianism began to rise rapidly in a very short period of time.

The Xia Dynasty was baptized by new ideas, which were more in line with their philosophy.

The time came to the thirty-seventh year of the Xia Dynasty.

On this day, the five masters visited the Gu family courtyard again.

Today, some of them are going to break through to the Xiantian realm! (End of this chapter)