Chapter 379: The Reason of the World
In the desolate and dilapidated courtyard, that scorching sun chrysanthemum shone with its beauty.
It's like the sun falling from the sky to the earth.
An indescribable feeling of joy suddenly rushed into Gu Dan's heart.
He was prepared for nothing to be left here - but something remained.
Gain and lose, lose and find again.
Gu Dan walked forward and gently brushed the crystal clear pistil with his slender white fingers.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
Gu Dan said.
The subtle fragrance and swaying petals seemed to be greeting him.
This sun chrysanthemum was planted long before the Xia Dynasty. It is Xiaoying's favorite and most precious treasure.
It was once ravaged by Cang's evil claws, but was saved by Gu Dan's internal breathing technique. After that, the Qingmu Liquid continued to give it life.
A hundred years passed leisurely.
In the Gu family courtyard, those who had stayed, paused, and even stayed together for many years are no longer there.
Either we live in separate places, or we sleep forever in this world.
But it is still deeply rooted in the Gu family courtyard.
Be it thunder or rain, in a corner that seems to have been forgotten by time, it stands proudly and admires itself.
"What a beautiful flower!"
Shang was also amazed.
This Fiery Sun Chrysanthemum seems to have changed a little. It possesses a beauty that goes beyond exotic flowers and plants. Its subtle fragrance soothes people's hearts, and bright light flows in its blooming stamens. It contains a unique charm that even ordinary people can perceive.
"Of course. This is Xiaoying's most precious flower. Back then..."
Gu Dan suddenly stopped talking halfway through.
He realized that Shang actually didn't know Xiaoying.
When Xiaoying entered her twilight years, Shang was still a somewhat reckless child who dared to confront Xun Ke with questions in Tianxia Academy.
Although Shang is already very old now, he is no longer from the same generation.
That was a story from the last hundred years.
"This yard looks like it needs some cleaning up. If the old doesn't go, the new won't come."
Shang did not ask any questions, but instead took the initiative to change the subject and spoke in a meaningful way.
"It's time to clean up."
Gu Dan nodded slightly.
A gust of wind blew through the courtyard, lifting the layers of dust piled on the ground, revealing the simple and real interior.
The exposed ground is still mottled, but it doesn't look good.
No matter how strong the wind is, it cannot erase the traces left by the years.
It was not until this time that Gu Dan suddenly realized that the small courtyard that he used to be accustomed to actually looked a bit desolate and old without the embellishment of those exotic flowers and plants.
Even though there is a sun chrysanthemum shining brightly, it also adds a bit of desolation.
The two of them came to the stone table in the yard and sat down.
Gu Dan pointed to a willow tree that had completely dried up and died not far from the stone table and said, "Many years ago, there was a willow tree that grew well here. In their spare time, everyone would come here to sit and taste wine and drink tea."
"Speaking of tea, I do have some."
Shang's dry fingers reached inside his sleeves, fumbled for a while, and then took out a bag of tea. He said, "When people get old, their mouths become bland. Food tastes bland. If there is no tea, life will be boring."
"ha."
Gu Dan laughed and said, "Then just wait a moment."
He turned back to the house and soon took out the tea set from that year.
With a light touch of the finger, a very subtle light flashed, and the water flow washed it thoroughly.
Shang was not surprised to see this, because the other party was Mr. Gu.
A hundred years ago, he could defeat more than ten masters. After so many years, he went back from the Buzhou Mountains and still looked so young and handsome that it was unbelievable. He could accept such a person, no matter how powerful he was.
As for how powerful he is, that is no longer his concern. He is already a dying man and has done what he should do. There is no need to think about it anymore.
"It's really enviable to have Mr. Gu personally make tea for me."
Shang clapped his hands and smiled.
"I want to try your tea."
The tea was ready in just a moment.
Gu Dan picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Bitter! Extremely bitter!
It was like eating a mouthful of Coptis chinensis in one breath. Even with Gu Dan's endurance, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly. This was the worst poisoning.
Gu Dan looked at Shang in surprise.
You call this tea?
"Hahaha!"
Shang laughed and said, "I encountered this thing when I was young. It is called 'Bitter Ghost' and even ghosts and gods are afraid of it. It is said that this is a test given by the gods in heaven to mortals. As long as you can endure the bitterness, you will achieve great things in the future."
Shang picked up the teacup in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.
The extreme bitterness penetrated his lips and tongue, but he was savoring it carefully.
The tea slid down the throat into the stomach, as if someone was pulling a hemp rope inside the body, making the heart, liver and lungs tremble.
All the bitterness in the world seems to be concentrated in this cup of tea.
Go straight into the heart.
Even Shang couldn't help but wrinkle his face. The already deep wrinkles piled up together looked like the bark on an old tree that had burst open after being exposed to the sun for many years.
But he still swallowed it bit by bit, and there was even a hint of aftertaste on his face.
"Who wants to suffer? It's just that some sufferings have to be endured."
Shang put down the cup and said, "If you can't endure the bitterness, you won't know the sweetness at the end."
When the bitterness is so strong that people can't help but want to vomit, a hint of sweetness quietly rises up.
A sweetness different from any candy or pastry.
In the endless bitterness, any bit of beauty seems precious, like a spring in the desert, a cool breeze in the hot summer, a bonfire in the deep winter. Any words of praise in the world are not too much at this time.
The bitterness concentrated to the extreme turns into a little sweetness.
It feels like a new life!
“There are some tricks.”
Gu Dan nodded slightly.
“After suffering comes happiness.”
Shang smiled, "Just like the Xia Dynasty was reborn in the flames of war in Dayue, old things will grow old and new things will replace them, and they will be better.
We suffer today so that future generations can enjoy more sweetness. Unfortunately, not many people understand this truth. Many people are unwilling to endure even a little bit of bitterness for the sake of temporary sweetness.
Or maybe for the sake of the final sweetness, they just endure the hardship without leaving any room for others.
This is why I want to establish the Legalist school.”
Shang began to talk about the affairs of the Xia Dynasty, using objects to describe people.
As early as the first time Gu Dan met him, he noticed the sharp edge in Shang that was almost about to burst out, which was a deep insight into the evil of human beings.
It's just that being too sharp hurts others and yourself.
So he asked Xun Ke to take Shang as his apprentice and teach him carefully.
He never asked about what happened after that.
Because he believed in Xun Ke.
Now that he has returned and seen the prosperity of the Xia Dynasty, it proves that what he thought was not wrong.
At this time, Shang also had to hand in his answer sheet in the Gu family courtyard for Gu Dan to review.
"Everyone has desires. Whether it's wine, sex, money, anger, fame, fortune, or power, why should we distinguish between high and low? Too much is as bad as too little.
Many people criticize Prime Minister Cang for his love of prosperity, beauty and good food. Is this what is evil about him?
He neither forced women nor extorted money from the people. He had a rich diet but never wasted it. He often helped the people. As the prime minister of the Xia Dynasty, couldn't he enjoy these things? Wei Chuan was a master and the Minister of War. He could be called a pillar of the country.
Since he doesn't like wine, doesn't love beautiful women, and is not extravagant, can he be considered a person praised by the world?
But he was determined to fight, and he was willing to do so at any cost, even disregarding the laws of the country. He kept saying that he would make the Xia Dynasty and the people live a better life, but did he really mean it? If we only look at his personal life, if we only look at the comments of others, who is good and who is bad between the two? How can the way to govern a country be based on empty talk? ! "
Shang stood up and pointed to the gate. "Back when I was in Tianxia Academy, I once asked Master Xun why he put etiquette before law.
Today I naturally understand that courtesy is his mercy and law is his wrath.
How many people can possibly understand this truth?
Even in the Xia Dynasty, there are still many people who have not even read a few books. When will they understand the truth behind it? How many rituals should we stipulate to be in line with the situation of the Xia Dynasty?"
He seemed to be asking a question, but in fact he already had the answer.
"Dharma! Only Dharma lasts forever!"
Shang's eyes sparkled, and his tone became sonorous and powerful. Infinite faith filled his heart. That was the life's work he had realized in the world and in the human world. "Law is the rule! The rule is a dead line. Whoever touches the rule will be hurt by the rule! If you love prosperity, beauty, and good food without breaking the law, no one can criticize you for it.
The world admires those who only speak for the people of the world. If they break the law, they will be punished!"
Shang stood there, looking extremely small, with his slightly hunched back weighing heavily on his body, making it difficult for him to raise his head.
But it was that thin spine that supported the sky of the Xia Dynasty and supported countless people of the Xia Dynasty.
"The law cannot be violated! It is not affected by people's likes and dislikes! In this way, you will not be hurt by what others say, nor will you be defeated by empty words.
Act according to the law, do it according to the law, and make it according to the law!
The whole country has the same law, and the orders are enforced! Those who commit crimes will be punished, and those who make contributions will be rewarded! Then the officials will not be greedy, the common people will be selfless, the great righteousness will exist, and the country will be powerful without fighting! "
Shang looked at Gu Dan with burning eyes and asked, "Mr. Gu, can this method measure the world?"
Listening quietly to Shang's story, Gu Dan neither nodded nor shook his head.
He just picked up the teacup in front of him and poured another cup of the extremely bitter tea.
"Here's to you."
Gu Dan said.
The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!
"Okay, okay, in this case, I'll take it as Mr. Gu's approval."
Shang laughed and returned to the table.
He began to describe in more detail what happened in the Xia Dynasty during the time when Gu Dan was away from the Xia Dynasty.
In fact, there are not many changes.
After Gu Dan left, Xun Ke became the guardian of the Xia Dynasty.
Together with Shang and Cang, he drafted most of the laws of the current Xia Dynasty.
After that, Xun Ke resigned and Cang became the prime minister of the Xia Dynasty.
Two years later, Xun Ke felt that the Xia Dynasty was ready, and Cang and his descendants had grown up, so he traveled around the countries like Qin Lisheng.
It's just that both of them have a tacit understanding.
The Buzhou Mountains were located in the north of the Xia Dynasty.
However, Qin Lisheng led the Mohist people to the south.
Xun Ke chose the East.
Both of them avoided the immortal path at the same time.
Perhaps they also understand in their hearts that a set of things that work well in the mundane world will easily fall apart once an overly profound force intrudes.
A spider web may be able to entangle prey that is much larger than the spider, but anything too large can easily tear the web apart.
But the world is so big, there are always some places.
We need Mohism and we also need Confucianism.
In places that the immortals have not yet reached.
As for the Xia Dynasty, it has been making steady progress over the years.
The only major event worth mentioning was that not long after Xun Ke left, Shang launched a massacre of Confucian scholars.
A more accurate statement would be that more than a thousand Confucian scholars were killed in one go.
Among them, the majority are powerful and influential, and the remaining minority are even more powerful and influential.
It is no exaggeration to say that as soon as Xun Ke left, Shang cut off more than half of the backbone of Confucianism.
It can't be said that people have forgotten about him after he left, it can only be said that they want to kill him completely.
This was certainly not because Shang had a great grudge against Xun Ke, nor was it because Shang hated Confucianism very much - he was Xun Ke's disciple, and could be considered a student of Confucianism, but what did that have to do with him killing Confucianists? The reason he wanted to kill people was very simple.
Those people deserved to be chopped off.
The answer is that he had violated the laws of the Xia Dynasty and deserved to be put to death.
Before this, even Xun Ke participated in compiling the code of law, but it was not implemented very well.
There are always people who pretend to obey but actually disobey, and even make many rebuttals.
Because Confucianism is inherently open-minded. You should know that Xun Ke himself was a student of Mohism, and then he established his own school to promote morality. Since the founder was like this, it was natural for the younger generations to follow suit.
Most people criticize the code for being inhumane, having no "warmth", and not understanding the principle of maintaining a balance between relaxation and tension.
Even going to the toilet had to be done in designated places, otherwise one would be punished or even imprisoned. Is there anything so ridiculous in the world? Therefore, when Xun Ke was in power, many Confucians refused to obey.
This has nothing to do with Xun Ke's ability. It can only be said that it was the result of the influence caused by his attempt to refute Mohism.
As soon as Xun Ke left, Shang set off immediately.
More than a thousand Confucian scholars were arrested in one go.
When everyone thought Shang had lost his mind, he chopped off the heads of those people.
From then on, no one dared to take the laws of the Xia Dynasty lightly.
If I can chop him down, I will really chop him down! No matter if you are a wealthy family, a famous family, or a royal relative.
If you are caught by the Legalists, you will be skinned alive even if you don't die.
The law shall prevail and the imperial power shall be granted!
Use thunderous means and do cruel things.
With the support of Emperor Chengping, Shang created the Legalist school.
Not to mention Confucian scholars, even if Mohists dare to violate the law, he will arrest them without mercy!
Do you think I would dare to do that?
With this, the Legalists bypassed the accumulation process that would have taken decades or even hundreds of years and stepped onto the pinnacle of power in the Xia Dynasty.
The laws of the Xia Dynasty were dyed red with the blood of countless people and were deeply imprinted in the bones.
The reason why there is no shit and urine on the streets of the imperial capital today may be partly because many people have become more aware, but the bigger reason is that doing so will really get you punished, and in serious cases, you may even go to jail. To see the big picture from the small, the cruelty of the Legalists maintained the prosperity of the Xia Dynasty.
Shang said all this as if it were nothing.
It seemed like it was done easily with just a few words.
But Gu Dan understood deeply that any reform from top to bottom is always extremely difficult.
Fortunately, the Xia Dynasty was still newly born and had not yet taken shape.
The influence left by Moqiu and Xun Ke is still there.
As the second emperor of the Xia Dynasty, Emperor Chengping was not at the point where he would be scolded for "violating ancestral teachings."
Only by cutting the Gordian knot and having the ruler and his subjects working together can such achievements be achieved.
It is really not easy.
The pain of scraping bones was inevitable, but it was for the sake of future generations and it also laid the foundation of the Xia Dynasty.
"Don't be in a hurry, take your time."
Gu Dan poured Shang a cup of tea and said, "We have time."
Great prayer.
In front of an ordinary village.
Wei Chuanming looked at the stone in his hand and touched his forehead which was still bleeding. Waves of severe pain came over him and the stone slipped from his hand.
It hit the ground with a bang, and rose and fell slightly.
He wants to die.
The master's cultivation was gone. What was the point of an ordinary person living in the world? Being sent out of the Xia Dynasty intact was the greatest humiliation.
Just as he said at the beginning, it's just a death!
A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!
But why didn't he die immediately? Why did the stone in his hand fall? Why did he feel such unbearable pain? How could the pain of a broken head and blood be compared to the pain he endured when his Qi and blood were blocked? He had endured the Qi and blood blockage, and now he was just looking for death. It was just a scar the size of a bowl, so how could he fail?
Wei Chuanming stood there in a daze, unable to figure it out.
When he was a grandmaster, he disdained death.
Now that I have become an ordinary person, I have immediately become afraid of death.
How strange and bizarre!
But it doesn’t matter. If too much blood is shed, people will die anyway.
Death would be the end of everything, there is no need to suffer such shame.
Wei Chuanming released his hand that was covering the wound on his forehead.
I am not even a master anymore, what is the point of living? Lying on the ground, a trace of warm blood ran down my cheek, and a slight fishy smell of soil came from my nose.
He had never felt the taste of earth so clearly.
It smells so bad and so vulgar.
There is not a single bit of room for appreciation. I just want to stay away from it, and it would be best if I never step on it to avoid getting myself dirty.
But he no longer had the energy to curse, so let it be.
My consciousness is gradually becoming blurred and everything is becoming hazy.
It's like a long dream that you don't want to wake up from.
Until a childish cry came to my ears.
"Brother Liu! Come quickly, someone is injured here. As Mozhe, we can't just stand by and watch them die!"
(End of this chapter)