Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3743 Although Zhou was an old state, its mandate was renewed. The Zhou dynasty was not prominent, and the imperial mandate was not timely.

Throughout history, those who advocate reform only change the names of taxes levied on lower levels, or merge multiple taxes into one, without altering the distribution of benefits at the top. In such cases, the reforms will inevitably fail, and the burden on the people will only increase.

Therefore, any reform must be judged by whether it changes the distribution of benefits at the top and whether it provides real money to ordinary people at the grassroots level. Otherwise, no matter how many experts and professors advocate it, it's all worthless.

Whether it was the Single Whip Law or the Land Tax Reform, both had good intentions in their early stages. However, they both suffered from a major problem: those who profited early were unwilling to relinquish their gains, and there were no countermeasures. The vast majority of these early beneficiaries were either high-ranking officials or those closely connected to them. These people had resources, information, connections, and methods; they could have profited from almost anything, but exploiting the lower classes was the easiest and most convenient way. Therefore, they simply became lazier with age.

Fei Qian's proposed reform of the official system can be simplified to "decentralization of duties and expansion of responsibilities based on skills," which would undoubtedly be a major change in the distribution of benefits among the middle and upper classes in the Han Dynasty at present.

The official system of the Han Dynasty was actually quite crude.

Even the emperor was often referred to as a "county official" rather than as "a person of great virtue and wisdom, who is in harmony with Heaven and has great fortune, and is wise, virtuous, respectful, frugal, generous, filial, honest, and benevolent." To some extent, this difference in title reflects the distinction between them.

Therefore, at this point in time, implementing the division of official positions, the centralization and decentralization of authority, and the establishment of an official system with upper and lower levels will face relatively less resistance.

Otherwise, if we wait until the Ming and Qing dynasties, when Confucian scholars control all the standards and academies, and have colluded with their teachers' children and other stakeholders through the imperial examinations, then it will be too late to make any changes...

Just like the United States, not only can fire dragons walk through ordinary granaries, but data dragons can also burn down academic databases!

Burning accounting records is a minor issue; now even backup disks can be lost. If you accidentally format one, and someone starts investigating, it could lead to something like, "So-and-so, that new guy, accidentally did something..."

What do you want?

What do you want now?

What can you do?

What can you do?

The unification of China under the Qin and Han dynasties inevitably led to the rise of a centralized system of government, the biggest drawback of which was monopoly.

Whether it's the emperor's monopoly, the prefect's, or the county magistrate's, the problems are similar.

A highly centralized regime, unless the ruler is exceptionally wise and diligent, can only maintain political enlightenment and social progress for a period of time. But this is only for a short time; as time goes on, because the monopolist's position is unchallenged, the pursuit of advanced techniques inevitably diminishes…

Upon hearing Fei Qian's words, Pang Tong felt as if a clear path had suddenly opened up before him, a broad avenue that transcended the conventions of the past millennia.

However, his keen insight as a top strategist and his profound understanding of reality, while exciting him, also inevitably gave rise to some deeper thoughts and concerns.

The fire of this "new cauldron" is indeed fierce, but what it destroys is far more than just a few rigid official positions.
Pang Tong pondered for a moment, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and cupped his hands in greeting, asking, "My lord's insightful words are truly enlightening! The division of duties and specialization, along with the advancement of skills and the expansion of territories, is indeed the foundation for lasting peace! However… I still have a few concerns, like a fishbone stuck in my throat, which I must express."

It's normal to have doubts, after all, this involves too many things.

Just like in the United States in later years, when people wanted to find out the truth about the matter of the "crotch cat," they were met with all sorts of cover-ups, delays, and deceptions. How much more so in the present Han Dynasty?

Fei Qian nodded with pleasure and said, "Shi Yuan, please speak freely. Such important matters require repeated deliberation to lay a solid foundation."

Pang Tong composed himself and slowly said, "If the division of duties is so detailed, the need for specialized talent will be immense. Agricultural scholars, engineering scholars, mathematicians, elementary school teachers, physicians… each with its own lineage, far exceeding a hundred professions. All of these require people to teach and guide. In this way, the path to officialdom…wouldn't it fall apart? My lord's duties of guarding the mountain, and the Azure Dragon of Guanzhong, will become unbearably complicated…"

Fei Qian laughed heartily, "That's a misconception! The essence of learning lies in benefiting the world and its people, not in being the exclusive domain of officials or the private domain of nobles. It should be guided by the urgent needs of the common people and guided by the skills of various crafts, not by the power of academic cliques, the rules of aristocratic families, or the shackles of the world. Only by adapting techniques to changing times and elevating teachings to reflect customs can skills be renewed daily, knowledge advanced daily, and the wheels of Chinese civilization propelled forward. Wouldn't that be magnificent?"

What are academies and schools at their core?
It is for the sake of cultivating talent for the country and society.

Therefore, the foundation for its survival is to meet the needs of the country and society by cultivating generalists or specialists, rather than for a particular person or group of people to cultivate a certain type of person within the academy or school.

For example, what is the purpose of cultivating a bunch of idiots? Their intentions are despicable!
As the saying goes, if you find a cockroach openly walking by in a seemingly magnificent place, it's not a coincidence, but rather a sign that the dark corners are so crowded that there's no room for any more cockroaches...

A monopoly on official positions inevitably leads to a monopoly on knowledge.

Under the old system, knowledge, especially classical studies, was closely tied to power, or rather, official positions. It was monopolized by the Confucian teacher-student system, becoming the core of maintaining the privileged class of "scholars" and the ideological rule.

Once the division of labor becomes more detailed and promotes the popularization of various "practical learning" methods, the sources of knowledge will become more diversified, and the "sole supremacy" of Confucianism will inevitably be shaken.

Fei Qian laughed heartily, "If one day the Hundred Schools of Thought reappear, breaking the shackles that imprison the people's wisdom and destroy private interests, what danger would there be? It would be a great blessing!"

Fei Qian slightly raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the curtain, looking towards the endless sky. "In the past, Confucius established his school at Zhusi, teaching without discrimination, with three thousand disciples, seventy-two of whom were sages. His learning was not confined to the court, but spread throughout the countryside! The followers of Mozi toiled tirelessly, practicing righteousness throughout the world; Xu Xing, a farmer, tilled the land alongside the people; Bian Que practiced medicine, healing the sick… These were all the flourishing scenes of the pre-Qin era! Xunzi said, 'Learning should never cease,' and also, 'Indigo is extracted from the indigo plant, yet it is bluer than the plant itself.' The way of learning should be like a flowing river, ever-flowing! How can we build dikes and dams, causing it to stagnate like a pool of dead water?"

As he spoke, Fei Qian's tone gradually turned stern. "Confucian classics, with their merits in self-cultivation and elucidating the fundamental principles of human relations, certainly have their strengths. However, governing a country and bringing peace to the world cannot rely solely on 'half of the Analects.' Agriculture requires knowledge of the seasons and the land, industry requires understanding physics and mechanics, commerce requires understanding profit and loss, and medicine requires knowledge of meridians and pathology… These are all practical skills, concerning the national economy and the people's livelihood! The practice of teachers and students privately passing on knowledge, forming cliques and pursuing personal gain, was the root cause of the calamity of the Eastern Han Dynasty's partisan persecution! What I seek is to establish a system where 'official schools' and 'civilian schools' coexist! Official schools should be established to impart knowledge and cultivate specialists; wise individuals from the common people can also establish schools to lecture and exchange skills. Judging merit by practical achievements and determining rank by effectiveness—isn't this a hundred times better than that empty talk of principles and the partisan 'lineage' that leads to division and discrimination?"

"To insist on something without verification is foolish; to rely on something without certainty is deceitful. Our actions should be guided by verification, not by sectarian bias! If the dam of moral principles and ethical codes truly collapses because of a spark of 'practical learning,' then that dam must have been rotten to the core long ago—what harm is there in its collapse? Only by breaking down the old and rebuilding can we forge a truly unshakeable foundation!"

In feudal dynasties, academies and schools held a superior status due to the influence of Confucianism. In fact, the head of an academy or school in a region was even more prestigious than the county magistrate or prefect!

The teachers and professors of these academies and schools claim to be pure and noble, appearing virtuous on the surface, but in reality, they harbor countless filth and corruption!

While there are indeed those in academies who are dedicated to the study of knowledge, most of them end up in poverty, lose their voice, and are suppressed by those who are greedy and opportunistic. So what kind of students do these academies, which are so materialistic, produce?
Fei Qian's words can be seen as a complete tearing away of the veil of knowledge being politicized, liberating education from the monopoly of Confucian teacher-student relationships, and pointing towards a future where knowledge serves social production and respect is earned through practical results. This is undoubtedly a fatal blow to the singular path of advancement of "excelling in studies leads to officialdom."

Pang Tong was deeply moved by Fei Qian's description of a prosperous society where officials and commoners worked together, diverse schools of thought contended, and facts were put into practice. He couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for such a place.

New schools sprang up beside fields, workshops, and markets, and the sound of students reciting their lessons was no longer limited to Confucian classics and classical texts, but also included works such as the "Field Laws," "The Examination of Crafts," and "Nine Chapters on the Classics"...

This sight both thrilled Pang Tong and filled him with a strange sense of unease.

Pang Tong steadied himself and raised a second, more practical concern: "My lord's words are magnificent in their spirit, and I am deeply impressed! However… once this new system is implemented, the path to advancement for scholars will be drastically altered. The scholars of Shandong, after ten years of diligent study, seek nothing more than to serve the emperor, achieve academic success, and bring glory to their ancestors. If every profession can be called 'scholar,' and everyone can earn a salary and honor through specialized skills, the scholars of Shandong will surely rebel! If this leads to the dispersal of the scholars of Shandong, won't our foundation for conquering the Central Plains be shaken? This is the first point. Secondly, if those who specialize in a skill can earn far more than officials who govern a region, then everyone will be driven by profit; who would be willing to take the 'arduous task' of governing the land and its people?"

Upon hearing Pang Tong's words, Fei Qian glanced at Pang Tong, somewhat surprised. Pang Tong's first point was one thing, but his second concern went beyond the comprehension of many native Han Chinese, resembling later generations' understanding of social values!

Indeed, when "promotion and wealth" are no longer the only and most glamorous path to success, and when "engineers," "doctors," and "agricultural scientists" can also gain social respect and substantial rewards, the traditional "official-centric" ideology will be dismantled. This will inevitably lead to a reshaping of the flow of social elites and a psychological upheaval. Fei Qian nodded and said, "The worries of scholars lie in the debate between 'the Way' and 'the means,' and in the confusion between 'fame' and 'profit.' However, I believe this is not shaking the foundation, but rather rectifying the source!"

What is a "shi" (士, scholar/gentleman)? In the Analects, Zigong asked, "What kind of person can be called a shi?" Confucius replied, "One who acts with a sense of shame, and when sent on missions to the four corners of the world, does not disgrace his lord's commands, can be called a shi." He also said, "One who is always trustworthy in word and resolute in deed—such a person is a petty person! Or perhaps he can be considered second best."

After Fei Qian finished speaking, he paused for a moment, seemingly sighing or perhaps reflecting on something.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there were already forward-looking generalizations, explanations, and extensions regarding the "shi" (士), or the administrative responsibilities undertaken by the official positions represented by the "shi" status...

The "democratic centralism" pioneered by later teachers was undoubtedly a leading ideology. However, under the manipulation of certain corrupt officials, democracy gradually became a mere formality, while centralism was constantly emphasized and strengthened.

Fei Qian shook his head and sighed, "It is clear that when Confucius judged scholars, he valued virtue and responsibility first, and then the practice of integrity and righteousness! How could he rank them based on their profession? A scholar of agriculture, by diligently studying farming and ensuring the people are well-fed, is this not a great virtue? A scholar of engineering, by skillfully building cities and canals, benefits the country and its people, is this not a great righteousness? A physician, by practicing medicine and saving lives, has immeasurable merit; how could he be inferior to those who merely talk of benevolence and righteousness? As Guanzi said, 'When granaries are full, people know etiquette; when food and clothing are sufficient, people know honor and shame.' If scholars of agriculture emerged throughout the land, ensuring granaries were always full; if scholars of engineering used their ingenuity to make tools convenient; if physicians used their benevolent skills to ensure the health of the people… then 'etiquette' and 'honor and shame' would naturally follow! Such specialists, practicing the great principles with their knowledge and benefiting all people, are the true 'scholars'!" Wouldn't they be far more deserving of the title "scholar" than those "pure officials" who only know how to study books until their hair turns white, are ignorant of practical matters, or even form cliques for personal gain and exploit the common people?

"As for the allure of 'profit,' it is of no concern! The imperial court selects officials solely based on talent, virtue, and effectiveness! Agricultural scholars who can double yields per acre should be generously rewarded and their names honored! Engineering scholars who can innovate new tools to benefit the people should be granted titles and honors! Their 'profit' and 'reputation' all stem from actual achievements and contributions to the nation and its people! This is truly legitimate 'profit,' so what's wrong with it?"

Fei Qian thought of the filthy comments made by later generations about Inashita's luxury cars and couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly!
A car is not as valuable as a watch!

Inashita Kou was attacked by keyboard warriors for just touching something, and even when he changed his phone, keyboard warriors cursed him to die suddenly!

How foolish and tragic are the words and actions of these keyboard warriors!

Fei Qian sighed, "If an official who governs the land and its people still finds his job a 'bitter chore,' then he must be incompetent and unworthy of the position! Those who are truly responsible and ambitious, seeing the people's lives recover from ruin and all industries prosper because of them, find an achievement and satisfaction that far surpasses a mere salary. Mencius said, 'A gentleman has three joys. First, that his parents are alive and his brothers are without misfortune; second, that he can face Heaven without shame and men without guilt; third, that he can educate the talented people of the world.' I now add a third joy: 'Seeing the people become prosperous and happy because of my governance.' This joy is the ultimate joy of a gentleman!"

Everyone has selfish desires; this is undeniable, an objective fact, and there is no need to condemn it.

"Official" refers to public power!
Those who abuse public power for their own selfish desires, whether openly or covertly, are committing a desecration against the people!
In feudal dynasties, it had become common practice in officialdom to use public power to cover up private desires, and even to protect and support those who sought to achieve those desires!
Today, Fei Qian has redefined the spiritual core and social value of the "scholar," completely distinguishing between "scholars" and "officials," and using "contribution" and "effectiveness" as the measuring standards. This has thoroughly shaken the single value system of "excelling in studies leads to officialdom," paving a new path for diversified promotion and social prestige.

Of course, this is just a new path, or rather, just a direction.

There's still a lot to do if you want to make a smooth and successful journey...

At least the thorns on the road won't be easily cleared.

Upon hearing this, Pang Tong felt all the pent-up emotions in his heart dissipate. He felt that Fei Qian's words were like a resounding bell, cleansing away the remaining outdated views in his mind. He couldn't help but clap his hands and praise, "My lord's words are like the sun breaking through the clouds! This is the true meaning of 'When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all'! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

The two smiled at each other.

After a moment, Pang Tong raised an eyebrow and asked again, "My lord, I have another question... If we follow this strategy, 'expanding territory and increasing technology' go hand in hand... the more refined the technology, the more fertile the land becomes, and the more people it can support; the more people there are, the more refined the technology needs to be, and the wider the territory required... and so on, endlessly... then the future of our China... could it be... could it be that, like the Zhou dynasty of old, dividing land and enfeoffing peoples is no longer sufficient to meet its needs? And will it need to emulate the Qin dynasty's opening up of the Baiyue region and the Han dynasty's opening up of the Western Regions, undertaking the task of encompassing the world and harmonizing all nations?"

Fei Qian narrowed his eyes and said with a sigh, "Indeed!"

Pang Tong truly lived up to his reputation as one of the Han Dynasty's top strategists; he perceived the ultimate possibility hidden behind the theory of "expanding territory and increasing technology"...

An empire in an outward expansion form!

The core of small-scale peasant economy is involution, where limited land leads to an extremely low ceiling for technological demand.

Fei Qian's system, through continuous technological progress and constantly pushing the limits of land carrying capacity, inevitably leads to a desire for more land, resources, and markets. Logically, this points to an outward-looking and expansionist imperial model, which is completely different from the closed and introverted small-scale peasant economy!
"The *Yu Gong* records that the nine provinces were unified, and the four border regions were settled. But were the areas beyond Yu's traces truly desolate? In the past, King Mu of Zhou, on his western tour, saw the hills of Kunlun and the waters of Yaochi; the Chu people, on their southern expedition, found the plains of Cangwu and the waves of Dongting Lake; the Qin people expanded northward, taking over the land south of the Yellow River and establishing the Jiuyuan Commandery; Emperor Wu of Han pointed eastward, his warships traversing the seas, establishing the four commanderies of Lelang! These were all territories measured by the footsteps of our ancestors, expanded with their blood and sweat! Is what the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* records absurd? Or is it a true record of the pioneering efforts of our ancestors?"

Some keyboard warriors in later generations always say that everything outside the Central Plains is barbarians, what use is there in the desert lands, and that they cannot be governed due to inconvenient transportation, etc. But looking at the great deeds of our Chinese ancestors, I wonder if they have the face to call themselves descendants of Yan and Huang.

If the ancient Chinese had only thought about bullying their own people and living off the tributaries of the great river, would these keyboard warriors of later generations have emerged?
"My so-called 'expansion of territory' is not merely about restoring the old borders of the Han Dynasty! The achievement of 'enhancing technology' is not about merely guarding a corner of the land! The advantage of firearms is not just for breaching cities; the strength of ships is not just for crossing rivers; the convenience of roads is not just for sightseeing! Mozi said, 'If you want the country to be rich, the people to be numerous, and the administration to be well-governed.' If you want wealth, people, and order, how can you last long by merely adhering to the ways of Yu the Great? The ingenuity of craftsmen and the advancement of agricultural science require new land to test their effectiveness; the reproduction of the people and the circulation of goods require vast fields to accommodate their prosperity! The fertile lands of the Western Regions can grow fine grains; the humid and hot Lingnan region is suitable for rice and sugarcane; the grasslands of the northern deserts are suitable for grazing cattle and horses; beyond the East China Sea, there are even greater continents! These are all gifts from heaven, waiting for those with virtue and strength to seize them!"

Fei Qian's voice gradually rose, as if carrying a world-shaking power: "Confucius wrote the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, aiming for a unified world. But this 'unification' is not merely a confined space; it should be like a spark igniting a prairie fire, spreading its benevolence throughout the land!"

"We, the younger generation, should carry on the aspirations of our forefathers, uphold the spirit of investigating things and applying them to practical use, wield the sharp tools of specialized duties, and walk the great path of harmony among all nations! May the agricultural methods of our Chinese civilization educate distant lands, transforming overgrown wastelands into fertile fields; may the craftsmanship of our Chinese civilization benefit our neighbors, replacing crude tools with exquisite workmanship; may the medical arts of our Chinese civilization save lives from epidemics and revive those in dire straits; may the written language of our Chinese civilization spread benevolence and virtue, enlightening the ignorant in the primitive world!"

This is not invasion and plunder, but rather teaching people how to fish and sharing in peace! As the Book of Rites says, in the era of Great Harmony, people value trust and harmony, and do not only love their own parents and children! How can we now remain content with our own land? We must extend this virtue to others, reaching the entire world! May all under heaven, wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, be bathed in the light of Chinese civilization, and may everyone abide by the teachings of rites, music, benevolence, and virtue! This is the ultimate goal of "expanding territory and increasing skills," and it is the destiny we bear!

Pang Tong practically jumped up, his eyebrows and beard trembling, even his chin shaking. "My lord! My lord! This argument…this argument…wait, let me get pen and ink and write it down! It must be proclaimed throughout the land! Proclaimed throughout the land!"

What Fei Qian depicted was no longer an ordinary dynastic hegemony, but a grand blueprint for building a world order with advanced technology and efficient governance as the engine and the export of civilization as the link!

This goes far beyond the simple system of governance found in feudal dynasties, and could even evolve into…

A belief?
Moreover, this completely overturned the view of "Chinese and barbarians as barbarians" and also surpassed the traditional imperial model of later feudal dynasties, such as the Han and Tang dynasties, which were mainly based on military deterrence and the tributary system.

This is a "soft colonial" imperial model based on technological gaps, institutional advantages, and the attractiveness of civilization.

Fei Qian previously conducted experiments in the Western Regions and snowy areas, cultivating agricultural scientists, engineering scientists, doctors, explorers, and managers under the "specialized responsibility" system in Guanzhong and Longyou in the north...

They will gradually become pioneers in opening up new lands and spreading civilization!

The military merit system also shifted its focus from "granting land and titles" to "expanding territory," providing a broader stage for soldiers who yearned for land and achievements!
As long as the core remains immortal, the empire will endure forever!

Of course, some keyboard warriors will scoff, saying how could it possibly be immortal, and so on...

But what does it matter?

Just as the Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor took their first steps out of the tributary of a great river, it also signifies that the trend of unification of China has begun.

Now, as long as Fei Qian pushes the Han Dynasty to cross the Western Regions, dominate the Northern Desert, open up the Southern Frontier, and conquer the Eastern Sea, then naturally there will be successors who will go even further!

The road ahead is long and thorny, but the foundation we have laid and the fire we have lit today are the first ray of light that illuminates the long night and breaks through the ancient illusions. Perhaps one day, it will become a resounding sound that shakes the heavens and the earth and echoes throughout the world!