Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 17 The Brave Zigong

Zigong opened the bamboo slips and began to read aloud.

"Zigong asked: "Guan Zhong is not a benevolent man? Duke Huan killed Prince Jiu, and he couldn't die, so he met him again.

The Master said: Guan Zhongxiang, Duke Huan, dominated the princes, ruled the world, and the people have received his gifts to this day.Wei Guanzhong, I have been sent to the left side..."

Zaiyu listened to Zigong's recitation and made some comments from time to time.

"A little more emotion, you read so calmly, you should fall asleep again in a while."

Zaiyu dared to raise opinions, and Zigong really dared to listen.

In order to survive the class, he really worked hard.

Zigong cleared his throat, and continued to read, his tone was up and down, and his voice was sonorous and powerful.

"A man who is benevolent is not like a husband and a woman who are merciful. He has been blasphemed in the ditch without knowing it! This kind of sincerity is not what a gentleman does!"

"Okay, okay!" Zaiyu encouraged while applauding: "Keep reading, keep it up, it's best to recite the whole text. You wait here, I'll help you get a basin of cold water, and wash your face in a while to sober up!"

After finishing speaking, Zai Yu left his seat, picked up the gourd scoop from the courtyard water tank, and slipped out through the back door of the academy.

He walked around from the back door to the front door, tiptoeing towards the stone bridge to the west, if Yang Hu wanted to visit his master, he would definitely walk on this stone bridge.

But he looked around for a long time, but still did not see Yang Hu, the bridge was only crowded with busy Qufu people.

Occasionally, I can see a few Confucian disciples wearing crown hats and jade jades, who are still eager to come to class.

Did Yang Hu go back on his word?
Can't you?
Zai Yu absent-mindedly went to the river to scoop up a ladle of water, then went back to sit down in the academy, and handed the gourd ladle full of water to Zi Gong.

He said uneasy: "Come, drink water."

He completely forgot that his ladle of water was originally intended to wash Zi Gong's face.

Zigong's mind turned into a mess at this time, so he didn't question him, but obediently took a swig.

But as soon as the water was poured into his mouth, Zigong felt something was wrong.

He nudged Zaiyu who was distracted with his elbow: "My son, where did you get this water?"

Jai Yu replied casually: "Where else did it come from? Of course it came from the water tank!"

"Isn't it?" Zi Gong frowned, rolled his tongue slightly, and spat out a dried shrimp from his mouth: "Then what's the matter with this shrimp?"

"Huh?" Zai Yu was stunned: "Master, did you raise shrimp in the water tank?"

"This account will be settled with you later!"

Zigong glared at him angrily, then turned his head and began to recite the bamboo slips again: "Zi said..."

The sun gradually rose, and more and more Confucian disciples came to the academy, but no one came to announce Yang Hu's visit, and Zaiyu felt restless.

Why hasn't Yang Hu come yet?
If there is no accident, Yang Hu should have an accident, right?
The students arrived one after another, and Confucius also came out of the room with a roll of bamboo slips, waiting patiently while reading classics.

The disciples began to revise their books one after another, consciously began to read in the morning, and Zigong's voice was the loudest among the morning reading.

At this moment, Zi Gong felt that he had entered a mysterious state, he could not hear any sound in his ears, he could not see anything else in his eyes, and he only had the bamboo slip in front of him in his heart!

When Confucius saw his disciples working so hard, he was naturally very relieved.

He closed his eyes, stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly, as if he was enjoying the morning reading of his disciples.

Suddenly, the janitor of the academy ran in in a panic. He walked around the disciples' seats and came to Confucius and said in a low voice, "Master, Yang Hu asks to see you."

Although the janitor's voice was low, it still couldn't escape the ears of Zaiyu who was sitting in the first row.

Joy welled up in his heart, and the uncontrollable smile at the corner of his mouth forced Zaiyu to hold up the bamboo slips in order to hide his face behind.

Confucius slowly opened his eyes and sighed helplessly.

"Oh, why is he here again? Go and tell him that I'm not here. "

The gatekeeper leaned over and said: "Ke Yanghu said that the position of the little Zongbo in our country belongs to you, and he must invite you to come out of the mountain today."

"Little Zongbo?"

These three words fell on Confucius' ears like thunder.

The official position of Lu State was inherited from Zhou Li.

As the deputy of Da Zongbo, Xiao Zongbo is not as prominent as Da Zongbo, but the scope of his supervisor is very in line with Confucius' wishes.

Xiao Zongbo's duties include not only offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple and the Sheji Altar of Lu's ancestors, but also offering sacrifices to the five emperors and other sages according to the changes of the seasons.

In addition, it also manages the five ceremonies, namely auspicious rites, ominous rites, military rites, guest ceremonies, and honorary ceremonies. When officials and even the monarch exceed the etiquette laws, Xiao Zongbo also has the power to give advice and picket them.

Daily expenses such as chariots, horses, clothes and other daily expenses of the Duke of Lu, and the personal rewards from the monarch to his courtiers must also be confirmed by Xiao Zongbo before they can be actually distributed.

The significance of granting the official position of Confucius Xiaozong Bo is not limited to this. Most of the official positions in the Spring and Autumn Central Plains countries are tied to the title.

According to the regulations of "Zhou Li", the young Zong Bo was served by two Chinese doctors.

That is to say, once Confucius became Xiao Zongbo, he would immediately be awarded the title of Zhongdafu and a fief corresponding to the status of Zhongdafu.

The possibility of realizing his ambitions and the great benefits of accepting office were at hand, and Confucius fell silent.

Accepting an official position is tantamount to helping Yang Hu, which is unrighteous.

If you don't accept the official position, you will lose this opportunity, but you will also preserve your virtue.

"Ugh……"

Confucius let out a long sigh, not knowing what to choose for a while.

Confucius' sigh interrupted the disciples' morning reading, and everyone looked at Confucius, not knowing why the master sighed.

In the silence, Zigong's voice was like that roc bird in the backyard of King Chu Zhuang.
"Zi I asked: According to your statement, as long as it can benefit the people, is it okay to sacrifice your own reputation?!"

Confucius looked at Zigong with his mouth half open, surprised that he would read aloud in the silence.

In Confucius' impression, Zigong was a good boy who knew etiquette and integrity, but this kind of thing seemed to be what that kid Zaiyu would do.

But why did Zigong behave uncharacteristically today?

Confucius suddenly thought of something, and then related to the content of Zi Gong's morning reading and the conversation between the master and his disciples yesterday, Confucius couldn't help but smiled kindly.

You guys!It's really hard work!

Zigong said in a trembling voice: "I only care about my own reputation and ignore the people. Is this kind of behavior that a gentleman should agree with?"

After Zigong finished reading, the audience fell silent.

All eyes were on him.

Confucius stood up slowly, and said loudly to the gatekeeper: "You are right! Is it possible to preserve virtue by abandoning the common people?

Go and reply to Yang Hu, I'm going to be an official.

As for those who want to criticize me, you can criticize me too! "

　Nice web essay.
　　Well, but I can't describe its splendor to you like the author.

　　So, that is to say...

　　Let's follow up next time!
　　——Excerpt from "Zaiyu's Diary"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)