Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 91
Zai Yu narrated the function of Qu Yuanli, and Dong Anyu and the rest of the Zhao clan's magistrates were gradually fascinated by it, and for a moment they forgot the time.

They couldn't help showing joy on their faces, and they were more confident in completing this year's plan.

Dong Anyu couldn't help admiring after listening to Zaiyu's discussion: "I heard the lord mention you before, saying that you are a Confucian scholar taught by Kong Zhongni, so I think you should not understand these folk affairs.

I didn't expect that when you opened your mouth, you were as mature as an old craftsman who has been practicing for many years. "

Zaiyu said modestly: "It is precisely because I am a student of Master that I understand these knowledge of world management!"

Dong Anyu frowned and asked, "But I heard that Kong Zhongni wanted to revive Zhou rituals in the East.

Although his ideas are good, the world today is no longer the world of Yao and Shun.

In today's world, there are no gentlemen, and evil is everywhere.

How could it be possible to treat villains with courtesy? "

When Zai Yu heard this, he suddenly understood why Dong Anyu wanted to see him today.

Although he is interested in Quyuanli, the most important thing is that he doubts my intention to promote benevolent government to Zhao Yang!

Zaiyu thought for a while and knew that he must not lose in this debate.

If he falls here, it will definitely shake Zhao Yang's confidence in carrying out benevolent government.

He did not directly refute Dong Anyu's argument, but asked instead: "Then what method do you think should be used to govern the people?"

Dong Anyu said: "I was ordered to supervise Shangdi. In the mountains of Shangdi, there is a canyon that is extremely disgusting, but no one has ever fallen into this canyon.

Not only has no one fallen into it, even livestock such as guinea dogs, cattle and sheep have never fallen into it.

Therefore, when formulating laws and regulations, as long as the precipitous canyon of Shangdi is referred to, and the crime is set as an unpardonable and certain death situation, then naturally no one will dare to violate it.

In this way, how can the people not be governed? "

After Dong Anyu finished speaking, before Zaiyu could speak, Zigong couldn't sit still.

He replied: "Master once taught us: If you use power and legal prohibitions to manage the people, and use criminal laws to restrain them, then the people will only pray for forgiveness and punishment, but they will easily lose their sense of shame.

Using morality to guide the people and using etiquette to regulate their behavior can not only make the people understand right and wrong, but also make them obey from the heart.

You use capital punishment to manage the people. Although you can make them submit to you, how can the people be convinced? "

When Dong Anyu heard this, he didn't answer Zigong directly, but bowed down and said: "I will act in my life, and only pay attention to three points. As for the others, they are not in my consideration."

Zigong said displeasedly, "Then what are the three points?"

Dong Anyu said: "As a subject, you must be loyal to your lord. As a friend, you must trust your relatives and friends. To govern a country, you must be brave to sinners."

As soon as Dong Anyu said this, Zaiyu and Zigong immediately realized that the situation was not good.

On the surface, his words are expounding on his own principles.

But to talk about loyalty is to implicitly question Zaiyu and Zigong's advocacy of benevolent government to Zhao Yang. This is very likely to harbor evil intentions and want to overthrow the Zhao family.

Talking about trust is to distinguish the relationship between closeness and closeness, and to show Zhao Yang that, as a courtier of the Zhao family, he is obviously more trustworthy than the two outsiders from the Lu state.

As for a person who dares to sin, he is accusing the benevolent government advocated by the Confucian scholars as a whimsical product to maintain a good reputation.

Zigong was about to open his mouth to fight back when he suddenly felt someone tug on his sleeve.

He looked sideways and noticed that Jae Yu's lips moved slightly.

Judging by the shape of his mouth, what Jai Yu said was impressive: "Don't fall into his trap. Follow his words, and whatever we say is wrong."

Only then did Zigong realize that he was in a hurry and almost caught Dong Anyu's way.

He hurriedly shut his mouth, calmed down, tried his best to suppress his anger, and calmed his mind down again.

While Zi Gong was adjusting his status, Zai Yu immediately filled the gap.

When Zigong spoke just now, he had carefully analyzed the current situation.

Dong Anyu is deeply trusted by Zhao Yang, and has been doing his best for the Zhao family. If they start with the close relationship, they will only say more and make more mistakes.

And it will not work to criticize Dong Anyu from the perspective of governance strategy.

Because although Dong Anyu implemented the "unpardonable law", his performance when he supervised the ground is obvious to all.

After the implementation of the law of unforgiveness, Xiadi was indeed well governed as Dong Anyu said.

At the juncture of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the implementation of severe punishments and strict laws is more effective than the promotion of benevolence and morality. It is a clear proof that Qin State was able to unify the world with the help of Shang Yang's reform.

Therefore, if Jae Yu wants to win, he can neither attack from the illusory nor fully demonstrate from the perspective of reality.

Only by adopting the method of combining fiction and reality can we see the hope of victory.

Zai Yu tried his best to think, and suddenly a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind.

He sneered, raised his head and took a step forward, saluted Dong Anyu loudly, and then stated.

"You think that advocating rituals of the week means not using the rule of law, which is incorrect.

Punishment, this is something that has existed since ancient times.

However, the purpose of the country's decrees to kill criminals is to prohibit evil, not to kill ordinary people.

"Shangshu" said: "Justice punishment and righteous killing, don't take it as your heart."

Punishment must conform to justice and cannot be used arbitrarily.

I have heard that when an army loses a battle, it cannot be solved by beheading soldiers.

The continuous occurrence of criminal cases cannot be stopped by severe punishment.

The reason, why is this?

The country's enlightenment did not work, and the blame does not lie with the people, but with the rulers who are responsible for enforcing the enlightenment.

It is clear that the law enforcers failed to enforce the law, but they blamed the common people, saying that they did not abide by the laws and regulations.

Later, they sent people to intimidate them with cruel punishments. This kind of behavior is not governing the country, but harming the people!

Arbitrary taxation and extortion make the people fall into poverty, and they can't eat enough to eat, so they will naturally have a treacherous heart that violates the law.

It is easier to obey laws and regulations when you are rich.

Poverty requires him to live in peace and contentment, which is not something ordinary people can bear.

If the people cannot be enriched or enlightened, but they are required to abide by the laws, isn't this the most brutal crime in the world?

This kind of practice is the truly unforgivable capital crime!
When my teacher went to Chengzhou to study with Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu once told him: When the law is strong, there are many thieves.

The more items in the law and the stricter the regulations, the more thieves will be rampant in the world.

The purpose of establishing laws and regulations is to govern the country and appease the people.

The original intention of punishing criminals is to prevent similar cases from happening again.

The more laws and regulations established and the harsher the punishment, the easier it is for officials to shirk their responsibilities up and down, so that the country cannot be revitalized.

Isn't this kind of behavior as stupid as putting out a fire with a salary and raising the soup to stop the boiling! "

When Zaiyu finished speaking, the whole audience was shocked.

Dong Anyu half opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

In fact, in today's debate, if he hadn't put forward the argument of "unforgivable crime", Zaiyu would have no chance of winning.

But it was precisely because he put forward this point of view that Zaiyu was able to diverge from it and further elevate the "unpardonable crime" to the level of tyranny.

Now that Dong Anyu's argument has been shattered, there is no possibility of a comeback.

But he is not someone who can't afford to lose. As he himself said, Dong An's actions throughout his life have always been based on the principles of loyalty, trust, and courage.

Since he dared to sin against others, he also dared to sin against himself.

After thinking about Zaiyu's argument, Dong Anyu couldn't help sighing, then took a step back and bowed to Zaiyu.

"You are walking on the broad and bright avenue, and I met you at the narrow fork, so I should walk quickly to avoid it."

Dong Anyu's words were very tactful, but everyone could hear the meaning of admitting defeat.

Zhao Yang couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

His heart is actually very contradictory.

On the one hand, he agreed with Dong Anyu's statement of the unpardonable crime.

But on the other hand, he also agrees with Zaiyu's benevolent government.

It was precisely because of the vacillation that he simply facilitated the meeting of the two, allowing them to distinguish right from wrong.

Now that the competition has been divided, Zhao Yang naturally smiled and came up to smooth things over.

He called Dong Anyu's name affectionately, and said: "Yuan! Once upon a time, Xu Qu, a small official in Guangmen Town, Yangcheng, fell ill, and asked me for the liver of a white mule to cure his illness.

You said angrily: Xuqu this guy!He even counted on the master's white mule.Allow me to kill him!
Let me advise you: it is too unrighteous to kill people just to keep animals alive.Isn't it a manifestation of benevolence to kill livestock to save human life?

You didn't agree with my words at the time, but later when I led an army to attack the Di people, I couldn't attack them for a long time.

Thanks to Yangcheng Xuqu leading the officials from Guangmenyi to climb to the top of the city and capture the head of the enemy's armored warrior, so that our army of the Zhao family was able to defeat the enemy.

This incident just proved what Zaizi said!
So, as a lord, how can he not be sympathetic to his subjects? "

After speaking, Zhao Yang stood up from his seat, walked up to Jae Yu and saluted him.

"Although I am older than you, I have indeed received your teachings today. As you said, the Zhao family should implement a benevolent government.

If after the people have become rich and educated, they still have evil hearts.

At that time, I will consider no longer pardoning his crimes! "

　In terms of voting, readers place more emphasis on the quality of the author than on the excellence of the update.

　　——Excerpt from "Zaiyu's Diary"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)