Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3585: The Solitary Man Will Be Punished

"Mencius?"

Taoist Jinghong was stunned for a moment.

What did Mencius say and what did he do?

Taoist Jinghong's eyes flickered. He didn't know how to say that he didn't know, nor did he know how to say that he knew.

Fei Qian stood proudly with his head held high, speaking in a sonorous voice. Every word he said seemed to shake the spring thunder, the sky and earth changed color, and endless rain fell. "King Xuan of Qi asked if the attack on King Zhou was a vassal killing the king. Mencius replied, "I have heard of the execution of a man named Zhou, but I have never heard of the killing of the king!"

As soon as Fei Qian said this, everyone's faces changed.

Confucius and Mencius lived in different eras. Confucius lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period, an era of social unrest and division among the feudal lords. Mencius lived in the middle of the Warring States Period, a more chaotic and war-torn period. Therefore, their thoughts reflected the characteristics of their respective eras to a certain extent.

So what era is the Han Dynasty in now? It is probably similar to the late Spring and Autumn Period, when people still talk about loyalty and filial piety. It was not until more than a decade after the establishment of the Three Kingdoms, when frequent wars and population decline caused the people to suffer and live in poverty, that the upper-level rulers began to realize the importance of the people.

After all, without the people to rule them, they are worse than trash.

The Shame of Jingkang, how tragic, right?

and then?

The historical cycle of ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad, is always like this. When the war is settled, the people are important. Without the people, who will work for the rulers? When the society is stable and the products are abundant, the elders and villagers quickly turn into leeks and untouchables.

In the beginning, being an emperor, or a prince, was a dangerous job. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was common for the children of princes to become hostages of other countries. They would be expelled, wander, and suffer before becoming the king. Moreover, the success rate of these children who had suffered was obviously higher than that of other children who had not suffered.

Because Confucius had not yet appeared at that time, and there was no saying that the throne must be passed down from father to son and from son to grandson. But after Qin Shihuang shouted that the throne should be passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years, other emperors said, "Oh, it turns out that this is possible, and the ministers and the people had no objections?"

This lower limit was suddenly broken through.

So you can still play like this?

The door to a new world opened immediately.

Therefore, the rulers of the later feudal dynasties lowered the lower limit again and again, and in order to prevent the people from resisting and rioting, they constantly strengthened the power of rule and the control of thought...

The Han Dynasty was the last dynasty where ordinary people could enter the governor's palace and curse him...

Of course, strictly speaking, this was only possible during the reign of Emperor Wen of Han.

In the second year of Emperor Wen's reign, he issued an edict to abolish the crime of slander and falsehood. This was the only period in ancient China that explicitly stipulated that people could criticize the emperor, officials, and government without being punished. This policy was strictly enforced during his reign. However, this provision was soon abolished during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. Anyone who dared to insult an official would be punished for seeking trouble.

"Those who harm benevolence are called thieves, those who harm righteousness are called cruel, and those who are cruel and thieves are called tyrants..." Fei Qian said slowly, "Those who harm benevolence and righteousness are tyrants. What is benevolence and righteousness? It is not the benevolence and righteousness of one family, but the benevolence and righteousness of the world. Those who pursue the benevolence and righteousness of one family and go against the world are tyrants. The benevolence and righteousness of the world are not empty words, but to save the people from suffering. If there are those who falsely talk about loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, but harm the people from dire straits, I will follow the example of Duke Zhou, carrying an axe and standing east!"

As Fei Qian finished speaking, spring thunder started to sound outside the hall, startling the bronze lamp trees inside the hall, which suddenly burst into sparks and flickered with light. Raindrops fell on the tiles of the hall, making a loud noise, but it could not cover the sobbing and talking inside the hall.

Xun You's hands were hanging down, gathered in his sleeves, seemingly motionless, but his hands were trembling slightly inside his sleeves. He looked at the embroidery on Fei Qian's robe that swayed with his movements, and suddenly remembered that in the third year of Taixing, on the top of Chang'an City, the General of the Cavalry also pointed to the river and said, "Emperors and generals will eventually turn to dust, only the common people are like rivers"...

Although the story of Duke Zhou carrying an axe and standing in the east is an allusion, referring to Duke Zhou assisting King Cheng in the eastern expedition to suppress the rebellion, it symbolizes loyalty and authority. Fei Qian quoted this allusion to respond to Jinghong's doubts, emphasizing that he assisted the emperor like Duke Zhou, maintained orthodoxy, and demonstrated authority. But in the same way, if someone falsely claims loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness...

Jin Wei hid in the crowd, shrunk his head, and dug his nails deep into his palms. He had never expected Fei Qian to speak so directly, and not leave Fei Qian any way out!

This is totally inconsistent with Jin Wei's impression of Han officials!

Han officials never say anything that is too absolute. After all, if...oh, there is no if, it is when they are sure that they cannot do it, and it is convenient for them to pass the buck. After all, apologizing for the poor work done by their subordinates can, on the one hand, pass the buck and clear the responsibility, and on the other hand, they can deal with temporary workers according to public opinion.

But if an official takes on everything, he has to work hard every day and try every means to make the people live a happy life. How can he abuse his power and enjoy himself? Is the cavalry crazy? Mencius said that water can carry a boat but also overturn it. That was just talk. Which ruler doesn't use water to wash his chamber pot? Who really cares whether the water is clear or clean?

"What a man who stands east with an axe on his back!" Suddenly, a bearded man in the crowd clapped his hands and sighed, "We are crude people who don't understand the true meaning of the scriptures, but we deeply understand the suffering of the people! Back then, there were starving people all over the land in Guanzhong, and it was the cavalry who led us to reclaim the wasteland and cultivate the land, so that we can avoid the famine today!"

What the onlookers care most about is naturally eating.

For most people, whoever can feed them well is a good emperor.

Of course, with the development of the times, people's demands for having enough food to eat well will become higher and higher. This is also human nature. However, just because of human nature, the ruling class cannot consciously suppress and exploit the people when they could have enough food to eat well, so that the people are always trapped in an environment where they cannot eat enough or eat well.

"The Tao Te Ching says, when the great way is abandoned, there will be benevolence and righteousness! In the age of great virtue, the great way flourishes, benevolence and righteousness are practiced, everyone is benevolent and righteous, so benevolence and righteousness are endless! Now there is no faith, there is no faith!" Jinghong stood up, facing Fei Qian, and shouted loudly, "Since the reform of the cavalry, private worship has been banned, prophecies have been destroyed, and the records of craftsmen have been used to confuse the records of scholars. Isn't this going against the will of heaven? ! Now the cavalry is ignorant of the doctrine, how can we decide that the Five Gods are in charge of the religion? I recited the "Huangting" at the age of seven, interpreted the "Santongqi" at the age of twelve, and was personally taught the Beidou Yubu by Zuo Xianchang at the age of twenty..."

"Since you are well versed in the sutras, can you explain the four words 'abandon sages and abandon wisdom'?" Fei Qian's eyes swept over Jing Hong's pale face, "It is recorded in Zhuangzi's Box Breaking that when Tian Chengzi robbed the State of Qi, he also stole the sage's wisdom. Now someone has embezzled money from incense offerings and tortured his fellow Taoists to demand the remaining scrolls of the Taiping Qingling Book. Is he smarter than Tian Chengzi?"

Jinghong's face suddenly turned red, then pale, and her body trembled, but she was unable to speak for a while.

Fei Qian sighed slightly and shook his head.

The guys of this era are still more timid. If it were the boxing masters of later generations, they would have to move left and right, upside down, and then yell, "You scolded me, you insulted me, why are you talking so loudly..."

Xun You stepped forward at the right time and showed Jing Hong's evidence of guilt, "In the eighth year of Taixing, a fire broke out in the Taoist temple in Chuanzhong for no reason..."

Everyone immediately started buzzing with discussions, and their sounds mixed with the rain outside the hall, like pieces of stones hitting Jinghong.

"The Book of Filial Piety states that our bodies and hair are inherited from our parents. Since Zuo Xianchang is your teacher, he is like your father..." Fei Qian said slowly, "But where were you when Zuo Xianchang was vomiting blood on his deathbed? You didn't stay by his bedside to fulfill your responsibilities as a disciple, but were busy taking over the authority of the Five Directions Gods Church! What's worse, you even stole the Seven Star Jade Pendant left by Zuo Xianchang! How can such a person who betrays his teacher and ancestors talk about family, country, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness?!"

Hearing this, Jinghong suddenly jumped up, but before he could do anything, he was pinned down by the cavalry guards beside him.

When the cavalry guards held Jinghong down, the seven-star jade pendant in his sleeve suddenly slipped out, fell to the ground and broke into two pieces.

"Immortal Zuo once said that Jinghong is too smart. If he were to become the pope, he would harm the scriptures and the people. Today, I have seen that it is just as Immortal Zuo said." Fei Qian waved his hand and ordered people to suppress Taoist Jinghong. "Order him to be imprisoned and investigate his crimes of corruption and abuse of power."

The guard knocked the Taoist crown off Jinghong's head and dragged him out.

Jinghong suddenly remembered that when Zuo Ci knew about the fire in the Taoist temple in Sichuan, he said nothing but sat on the back hill and played the bamboo flute all night. Jinghong didn't think about it at that time, but now he suddenly remembered what tune Zuo Ci played...

"Xie Lu".

Jin Wei, who was in the crowd, saw that the situation was not good, so he quietly retreated. After taking two steps, he felt like he had hit an iron wall, and he fell to the ground with a thump.

"Jin Langjun, where are you going?" Kan Ze, who was wearing an ordinary linen robe, smiled and said behind the armored guards, "You Wensi invites Jin Langjun to have tea..."

"Jin Langjun?" Taoist Jinghong, who was being dragged out of the hall, happened to see this scene and couldn't help but stare wide-eyed, "He... isn't his last name Yang?"

Kan Ze shook his head helplessly and smiled, "Ah... what does it mean to be blinded by greed... I actually mistook Jin Lang for Yang Lang..." ...

……

After finishing a series of chores, Fei Qian finally had time to take off his armor, change into loose robes, and sit down to drink a cup of tea.

"I heard..." Huang Yueying sat aside, "You said the words of Zhou Gong in Qinglong Temple..."

"Yeah." Fei Qian nodded.

Huang Yueying looked at Fei Qian, "In this case... if the emperor uses loyalty, filial piety and righteousness to pressure you..."

Fei Qian exhaled, "In order for the world to be orderly, there must be certain standards... The simplest ones are loyalty and filial piety... This is where Confucianism is great. Legalism is great, but it cannot solve the problem of people not knowing the law, so Confucianism must come first, then legalism. It's a pity that Confucianism has risen to power and doesn't want to come down... An emperor has the lives of millions of people on his shoulders. If doing well or not is the same, then who would work hard?"

Huang Yueying frowned, "If that's the case, the emperor will definitely not be happy. No matter who it is, as long as he becomes the emperor, he definitely doesn't want to have anything... Oh, so that's why he wants the Five Gods?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Fei Qian picked up the tea bowl in front of him, took a sip, and said, "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang roared, but they didn't know what to do after they roared... Xiang Ba Wang was also unclear, so in the end, Emperor Gaozu of Han benefited... Everyone says that Emperor Gaozu of Han knew how to use people, but what was the truth? Emperor Gaozu of Han gave up the imperial power! Obviously, Emperor Gaozu of Han later regretted it... So "bang", the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion came... There are many reasons, but one of them is that the central government has lost its credibility. "

The imperial power and the power of the prime minister originally complemented each other.

It’s like the president and prime minister in later governments. But if the president in the government is worried all day long whether the prime minister will kill him, and the prime minister is also wondering all day long whether the president will dismiss him the next moment, how can the national government function?

"People who do good things, people who do more things, are either killed or exhausted to death. People who should live die, but people who should die survive..." Fei Qian shook his head and smiled, "What do you think will happen to such a court and such a world? To change all this, it is impossible to do it overnight, and naturally we have to work slowly."

Huang Yueying said, "So we want to keep the emperor?"

Fei Qian nodded.

There was silence in the yard for a moment.

"The people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to know it." After a long silence, Fei Qian said with a smile, "The truth behind this is not just talk."

"But..." Huang Yueying whispered, "I heard that...some people compared you to Huo Zimeng..."

Fei Qian laughed, "This is pretty good..."

Fei Qian thought of a saying that is often heard in later generations, that humans cannot learn from history. However, this saying is only half right. Humans cannot learn good experiences, but they will definitely "learn" bad experiences!

Although Chinese Confucianism has been advocating loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness since the Spring and Autumn Period, in reality, this social morality has always been a top-down practice.

When Emperor Gaozu of Han entered Guanzhong, he was able to make three agreements, but later he regretted it and started to take action against his meritorious officials. No matter how many agreements he made, they were invalid. What were the consequences of the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion? The princes who had been jointly defending the Han Dynasty were all turned into pigs! The aristocratic families laughed, and the emperors of the Han Dynasty were weaker and weaker. By the time of Wang Mang, they were simply treated as plasticine and could be molded in any way they wanted.

Historically, from Huo Guang to Wang Mang, to Dou Xian, and Cao Cao, they all more or less followed the rules and maintained a basic trust. Even this "trust" was already shaky, but it was messed up in Sima Yi's hands. Since Sima Yi's rebellion, ministers, especially powerful ministers, no longer have any age exemptions. Seventy-year-olds can still stage a coup. Which emperor would think that letting powerful ministers retire and return home would have a good result? If we don't kill that old thief, what if he becomes the second Sima?

The political struggles between subsequent feudal dynasties were also like this. Shamelessness and meanness became the motto of the victors. Promises made in front of the people were like swearing an oath to a political enemy, but once there was a chance, they would immediately turn their backs on their promises. They had no credibility in the court, let alone facing the civilians who posed no threat.

Fei Qian placed the tea bowl on the table, "Look, this is what they want now... Everyone wants to drink wine and eat meat, and they all have to fish from this bowl, but what's the problem?"

Huang Yueying said, "The bowl is only this big, and the wine and meat are limited."

Fei Qian nodded and said, "That's right. The more shameless and despicable one is, the more he can eat and drink. The more modest and gentlemanly one is, the more he will suffer losses and be deceived. So what will happen in the end?"

This was not only true in the Han Dynasty court, but also in companies in later generations.

Those who work seriously get the lowest salary, and those who don't complain will never get a raise...

When a company is obsessed with attendance, strictly controlling sick leave, encroaching on weekends off, and requiring voluntary giving up of paid annual leave, etc., it already means that the company will not survive long.

The same is true for dynasties.

When a feudal dynasty begins to experience serious internal circulation, it also means that the dynasty is on the verge of extinction. The end of the Han Dynasty, the end of the Tang Dynasty, the Yuan, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, which dynasty was not madly suppressed and madly involuted at the end?

After hearing Fei Qian's words, Huang Yueying understood a little, "So we have to open up the Western Regions and connect to Jiaozhi? But... the Western Regions and Jiaozhi are at the end of the world, how can we go further...?"

Fei Qian laughed and said, "In ancient times, it was nothing more than a river changing its course or a flood falling from the sky, which took three generations to cure. And now? The river changes direction every thirty years, and every thirty years, who is surprised? In ancient times, it was extremely difficult to cut wood to make a boat, and now a warship with 500 people is still too small...Haha, it is naturally difficult to open up, but if we stop, it will be like a poisonous insect, fighting endlessly."

Huang Yueying was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "So, my husband would rather seek help from others than accept the inkstone?"

"Huh?" Fei Qian was stunned. What kind of sudden turn of events was this?

I really can't understand your way of thinking, woman.

"By the way, you mentioned the inkstone..." Fei Qian clapped his hands, "What do you think of Xu Zhongkang?"

"What do you mean?" Huang Yueying was a little confused.

"Some time ago, I saw Xu Zhongkang was getting old, and asked him about marriage. Zhongkang said he wanted to marry Modou..." Fei Qian said, "I was busy fighting before, and I didn't have time to take care of these things... Modou has been with you for a long time, so I want to ask your opinion."

Huang Yueying's eyes widened. "Why didn't Xu Zhongkang choose a girl from a noble family? If he spread the word, there would be countless women in Guanzhong for him to choose from, right?"

"The daughter of a noble family is naturally good." Fei Qian nodded, "I asked him the same question, but Zhongkang said that he couldn't date the daughter of a noble family... You know, the Xu family is not a big family... If you go up, the noble family will feel that they are losing their daughter, and if you go down... it won't be of much benefit..."

"So this is a show of loyalty to you?" Huang Yueying asked.

Fei Qian nodded, "That's more or less what I meant."

Huang Xu is getting older now, and Wei Du was seriously injured once, and his body is no longer as healthy as before, so most of Fei Qian's core guards are led by Xu Chu. Therefore, from a certain perspective, Xu Chu asking Fei Qian to marry Mo Dou is also a good choice.

"Husband, please think it over..." Huang Yueying said, "If you really want to give it up, I will go ask Mo Dou..."

"What do you mean by think it through?" Fei Qian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, "Am I such an impatient person?"

Huang Yueying smiled, "Oh, of course not! My husband is unrivaled in the world! It's a pity that I'm not... Well, didn't you see that Fengshu has been peeking in from outside the courtyard several times? Go and accompany your sister Cai!"