Chapter 293: Pillars of society (10,000-word update, please subscribe!)

They despise propriety and morality and value courage and strength. The poor become thieves and the rich become robbers.

It's a simple sentence, but it's very powerful.

As Shang said, the competition between countries is indeed about strength.

The strong can decide everything for the weak, this is the truth, and even the words cannot change it.

But the question is, can we really adopt such an approach when facing our own people? Then we will fall into what Mozi once said: the strong rob the weak, the majority oppress the minority, the fraud deceives the foolish, and the noble is arrogant to the humble.

In this case, what kind of country is this? How can the people living in this country have any sense of identity with this country?

In the end, it is nothing more than a group of strong people pointing fingers at a group of weak people and playing with them at will.

Those who advocate strength will inevitably be defeated by stronger strength. Then it will come time to compete in personal strength. Except for the strongest one, everyone else will have to work like a slave for him.

If it is applied to martial arts or immortality, this might be a very possible thing.

But how can this be used to govern a country?

After all, people are not animals. They have seven emotions and six desires, love and hate, joy and anger. Teaching people that strength is the only standard and that people are no different from animals is like teaching people to be either thieves or robbers! Laws are very important.

But it is never something that needs to be constantly reminded - unless the thought of breaking the law has already occurred.

Benevolence, righteousness, and propriety are the three things that should be the universal values ​​of Confucianism, while the law is the final judgment on the individual when there is no other choice.

If a person is kind, righteous, and polite, will he still break the law? Unless he is helpless, he probably won't.

But if people are only asked to obey the law, each other will become isolated islands.

The law is the ultimate lower limit. How pathetic is it to regard the lower limit as the concept of treating the people? Xun Ke did not agree with this view.

“You’re taking it a bit too extreme.

Denying everything and leaving only restraints is just a shackle. What is there to admire? When I say "holy king", I am not referring to a specific person, but someone who can make the people of the world feel happy and joyful, and can make them satisfied with their lives."

Xun Ke's expression remained unchanged. He snatched the scholar's sword, asked him to return to his seat, and continued: "If you want to see the traces of a sage king, then look at the most brilliant ones, and that is the later king. Rites can determine the order of things, and laws can determine the divisions. Both must be kept in mind, and neither can be biased. The principles of governance are rites and punishments. A gentleman cultivates them and the people are at peace, and naturally the country is rich and the people are strong."

Everyone can say something, but the consequences must be considered carefully.

Shang raised the question and even understood the problem, and then what?

Can his "law" make the Xia Dynasty better? Can it make the people's living standards better than when Confucianism and Mohism were in power? I'm afraid not!

The world is a battle of strength, so should we turn all the people into firewood for quenching and sharpening a sword? Moreover, the Xia Dynasty never had the idea of ​​swallowing up the world. As early as when the Xia Dynasty was just established, Gu Dan warned that the Xia Dynasty should never initiate wars, let alone expand its territory.

In this world, there are not only countries, but also higher-level forces.

It is completely a pipe dream for a country to want to surpass it. Instead of thinking about fist bumping with others, it is better to think about how to make life better for its people.

Of course, Shang didn't know about these things. He didn't know there was another hidden story behind it. Maybe he would be surprised. Now that the Xia Dynasty is so powerful, and the four surrounding countries no longer have masters, why doesn't the Xia Dynasty swallow them up now? Whether it is to avenge the original four-nation coalition or to expand the territory, it should be a great thing.

As the saying goes, ignorance is not a crime. He just put forward an idea, and Xun Ke would naturally give a pertinent answer.

In fact, many ministers of the Xia Dynasty had already had this idea. It was only because of Xun Ke's pressure that they could resist. Otherwise, someone would have written a letter requesting a war long ago.

If we take all aspects into consideration, the Mohist doctrine of loving all and not aggressing is indeed correct. This is the most suitable concept for the current situation.

But Mohism was also too extreme, so Xun Ke had to create Confucianism to neutralize it.

Who would have thought that just a few years after most of the Mohists left, such an aggressive little guy would come.

All we can say is that the Xia Dynasty is indeed powerful now, allowing them to have some dangerous ideas.

“Things happen everywhere, but the key lies in the center; if a wise man holds the key, all directions will follow his lead.”

When Xun Ke mentioned the Confucian concept of the sage king, Shang immediately said: "The ruler of ten thousand chariots and the ruler of a thousand chariots control the world and conquer the princes because of their power and majesty."

It roughly means that the power of the country must be concentrated in the hands of a monarch or a sage, and the monarch must have power and authority in order to govern the world.

"ha."

Xun Ke laughed. This was to concentrate power in the hands of one monarch. "There are always people who are better than you. As long as the monarch can govern the country, don't think too much."

Yes, don't think too much.

You want centralization?

No matter how centralized the power is, it will be like that.

There will always be people better than you.

Who says the emperor is the most honorable person in a country? Why should he listen to you? Ask the master if he agrees?

Why don’t you ask those monks who are still practicing in Buzhou Mountain whether they agree?

Here, the monarch must always remember one thing: he is not absolutely in control.

This is not a world where one can conquer the world at will.

On the one hand, Shang's vision was very big, as he wanted the Xia Dynasty to conquer all directions; but on the other hand, Shang's vision was too small, so small that he only saw the Xia Dynasty and ignored the real, vast world.

This is a matter of personal vision and there is nothing to be contemptuous of. Without standing at a high enough level and collecting enough information, even if you come up with a self-contained, logical and meticulous concept, it will be impossible to implement it.

Because it is not suitable for the current situation.

It is unwise to only discuss whether a method is feasible without thinking about the overall situation.

But Shang was undoubtedly very talented to be able to come up with the "method", and he dared to question.

This is a genuine talent.

Faced with Xun Ke's answer, Shang looked indignant.

In his opinion, Xun Ke had undoubtedly avoided his real questioning.

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But Xun Ke just waved his hand, and an official immediately asked him to leave.

Asking questions does not require one person to take 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 was meant by what was said today.

When walking down from the stage, Shang will leave immediately.

But he was grabbed by someone.

He was a fellow who looked to be in his fifties or sixties, wearing a green robe. Although his face was slightly wrinkled, one could still see a bit of handsomeness and composure that came from the polishing of time.

The most important thing is that Shang did not feel the dissatisfaction and resentment of the Confucian scholars in him.

"What can I do for you?"

Shang asked.

"You are a very talented young man. When today's meeting is over, go and become Xun Ke's disciple."

Gu Dan stroked his slightly gray beard and gave instructions like a kind old grandfather.

"Um?"

Shang had a look of surprise on his face.

Not only was she surprised that this handsome old man asked her to find Xun Ke to be his disciple, but more importantly, he dared to call Xun Ke by his name.

For the sake of the respected one!

Although Xun Ke looks very young, his actual age is nearly 80 years old. However, as a grandmaster, he does not look that old, and his lifespan cannot be the same as that of ordinary people.

Even if a Mohist who disliked Xun Ke had to respectfully address him as "Mr. Xun" before he could argue, how could he address him by his name? Even Emperor Chengping did not dare to do so.

"This is a great opportunity, you must seize it!"

The Dayue envoy who was standing beside Gu Dan also hurriedly warned.

Shang's suspicious eyes moved back and forth between Gu Dan and the Dayue envoy.

Could these two people be the remnants of the alchemist?

How come you seem to be very familiar with Mr. Xun? Could he know you? Although there are many people who follow Xun Ke, up to now, no one has ever heard of Mr. Xun actually accepting a disciple. It's just that most Confucian scholars treat him with the courtesy of a teacher.

Just one sentence and he was asked to become a disciple. Even if he was willing, would he be willing? "If you are not in a hurry, just wait here for a while."

Gu Dan didn't explain anything, just said.

He was about to go on a long journey, and it was a blessing that he could find a new seedling for the Xia Dynasty before leaving.

But now, there is no need for him to cultivate the new generation anymore.

The Xia Dynasty is no longer the same as before, and familiar faces are passing away one after another. As the guardian, it is time for him to step down.

He has protected me throughout this mortal life.

In the future, let the latecomers like Rushang make contributions.

(End of this chapter)