Diqin Designer

Chapter 26 I don't want Confucianism to continue to poison the world of China for two thousand years
Looking at Li Nian, Ying Zheng said: "After listening to what you said, I think Confucianism is not bad, and the disadvantages you mentioned are not too excessive..."

What Ying Zheng meant by this was: After hearing what you said, I think Confucianism is okay and is beneficial to the king's rule. As for the disadvantages of Confucianism that you mentioned, it doesn't seem to be a big problem and is still acceptable!
This is a very normal thought for Ying Zheng as a king and a ruler.

Li Nian said: "If there is no country outside the country, and no one outside the people, Confucianism is indeed acceptable, but this world is not just about the Qin Empire!"

Ying Zheng frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Nian said: "Yesterday, I told the king that there are countries outside of Daqin, such as the Xiongnu in the north and the Dayuezhi in the west. In fact, there are more countries and lands, far more than the countries that Daqin knows about now, but the current transportation is inconvenient and it is difficult to travel, so they are blocked. But when the transportation is convenient, what do you think will happen?"

This goes without saying. Of course, if the two countries meet, the weaker side will most likely be bullied or even destroyed.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng frowned. Could it be that in later history, China had experienced such an experience, being bullied by foreign countries and even being forced to the point of national destruction? And was it related to Confucianism?

If this is the case, it’s no wonder that Li Nian dislikes Confucianism!

Li Nian said: "With your wisdom, the king must have expected what would happen. When two countries meet, it is nothing more than the strong bullying the weak."

"Throughout history, China has been the strong side most of the time, but there have also been times when it was weak, suffered humiliation, and nearly perished."

Although he had guessed it, Ying Zheng was still shocked when he heard Li Nian say it with his own ears. Although they were separated from the people of later generations by time, they were all descendants of the Qin Dynasty and shared the same blood of Yan and Huang.

"These times of weakness were caused by many factors, but I think Confucianism must be one of them and cannot escape blame!"

This is the real reason why Li Nian dislikes Confucianism. He believes that Confucianism has hindered the progress of Chinese civilization and is one of the reasons why China has suffered many disasters in history.

"If there were only China in the world, the influence of Confucianism might be negligible, but there are many countries, not just China."

If there was only China in the world, even if the dynasty changed every two or three hundred years, it would still be a fight between brothers, with the meat rotting in the pot. However, the reality is that there is not only China in the world, and sometimes one's own meat is taken away by outsiders.

"While other countries are making progress and developing rapidly, China is still under the influence of Confucianism and is even regressing."

"When foreign barbarians attacked our Chinese land and killed our Chinese people, those Confucian ministers were clamoring to treat them with benevolence and to influence the bloodthirsty barbarians with benevolence and righteousness. Little did they know that the barbarians feared power but not virtue, so that our Chinese people suffered from the barbarians several times. Sometimes, Confucians even took the initiative to argue for the barbarians, proving that their enslavement of the Chinese was legal and reasonable."

Li Nian became furious when he thought of some of the actions of Confucianism during the Yuan and Qing dynasties. As the most mainstream school of thought in China, it had no courage or backbone at all. It would have been fine if it did not call on Han people all over the world to rise up in resistance, but it actually fawned on foreign races and provided legitimacy for their rule.

"When foreign ships sailed across the vast oceans, plundering wealth and seizing land around the world, we were still influenced by Confucianism and immersed in the beautiful dream of the Celestial Empire, turning a blind eye to changes in the outside world, until our country was opened by the powerful ships and cannons of other countries, suffering unprecedented humiliation."

Some people say that the sprouts of capitalism appeared during the Song and Ming dynasties, but in Li Nian's view, as long as Confucianism remains the mainstream of this land, it will only be a sprout and will never develop.

Because it will definitely be suppressed by Confucianism and will not be able to achieve anything.

It is extremely difficult for an environment under the influence of Confucianism to spontaneously undergo major changes. A society under Confucian ethics is very stable, and stability means that change is difficult. Even if there are slight changes, they are all within the framework of Confucianism.

The framework is fixed, how can it change?
Therefore, those heroes in Chinese history who wanted to bring about change either became losers or patchwork workers. It was not until the country's doors were opened with powerful ships and cannons and the knife was placed on their necks that they had no choice but to break the cage woven by Confucianism for thousands of years.

"I know that it is biased to attribute all the problems to Confucianism, but Confucianism has influenced China for more than two thousand years, so it is inextricable. Therefore, I do not want Confucianism to be used by the king and harm China for another two thousand years, even if the Confucianism of today is not the Confucianism of later generations!"

Ying Zheng was silent for a long time, and then said, "I understand what you mean. Although Confucianism is beneficial to the king, it makes China stagnate. Foreign countries are changing, but China has not changed. This will eventually lead to China suffering great humiliation."

"To be honest, when you talked about the benefits of Confucianism for the monarch, I was also tempted. But what you said makes sense. Choosing Confucianism may make the monarch's rule more stable, but it will make China lose its future."

Ying Zheng looked at Li Nian and said, "Although you did not tell me what kind of humiliation China suffered in later generations, I can see that the humiliation must have been great. With your personality, you are unwilling to accept it."

In Ying Zheng's eyes, Li Nian is a timid, greedy, afraid of death, hedonistic, and unambitious person, which is not in line with his age at all.

But this person just spoke so passionately, proving that his blood is still hot.

This is what a young man in his twenties should look like!

Ying Zheng continued, "I have conquered the six kingdoms and unified the world. I am not only the King of Qin, but also the ruler of China. I will never rule the Qin with Confucianism!"

After saying this, Ying Zheng could no longer use Confucianism. He could not control what future kings did, but at least in the era when he ruled the world, it would not happen!
Li Nian stood up and bowed solemnly to Ying Zheng, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng said, "Don't be in a hurry to thank me. I summoned you today not to ask about Confucianism, but because you talked with Su Xu and found that you didn't agree with any of the various schools of thought."

"You should know that the Qin Dynasty ruled by the Legalists, but according to you, the Legalists should not be able to govern the Qin Dynasty. I want to know the reason."

Confucianism had not yet become a prominent school of thought in the world, and the Qin Dynasty did not use Confucianism to govern the country. Confucian affairs could be dealt with later, but the Qin Dynasty was actually using Legalism to govern the country.

After knowing that there were problems with using the Legalists to govern the Qin Dynasty, Ying Zheng naturally wanted to find out as soon as possible.

The problems of Hu Hai, Zhao Gao and others can be delayed, but the Legalists are influencing the Qin Dynasty at all times.

If the Legalists were indeed one of the reasons for the demise of the Qin Emperor II, then every moment the Legalists influenced the Qin Emperor was equivalent to the Qin Emperor taking one step closer to destruction.

"Your Majesty, I do not disapprove of the various schools of thought. I admire their scholarship very much. Even Confucianism, I think it has some merits in guiding people to be good and cultivate their character. I just do not believe that they can govern the world well."

(End of this chapter)