Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 247 Fighting for a Single Word

Exchange ideas! Exchange ideas!
If there's no interaction among everyone, what's the point of communicating?

It really turned into a class.

But this raises another question: this group of prime ministers, high-ranking officials, and talented scholars are exchanging knowledge with three纨绔 (playboys) here.

We must be incredibly idle to do something like this.

Is everything alright now?

If this gets out, it will make us a laughing stock.

The resentment people felt towards Wang Maozhong deepened even further.

It's all because of you, the stable boy, that everyone's in this predicament.

It’s not true if you say it, and it’s not true if you don’t say it.

Whether it was Zhang Shuo, Yuan Qianyao, or officials like Han Xiu and Yu Qin, none of them could bring themselves to communicate with Wang Xi.

If we're talking about exchanging ideas about traditional opera, then we can discuss that.

After all, matters of romance and intimate pleasures are topics that can be discussed regardless of age or social status.

The key point is that you invented that opera, so you are the authorities. It's only natural to communicate with you.

But Taoist thought is a traditional field of knowledge, and everyone here is very proficient in it. You're not qualified to discuss it with me.

Li Longji also felt a bit awkward and thought to himself, why not start it himself? Just as he was about to speak, someone suddenly spoke up first: "Naturally, the way of all things is greater than the way of governing a country. As the saying goes, those who follow the will of Heaven prosper, and those who defy the will of Heaven perish. The system of the state should also follow the way of all things."

The speaker was none other than Zhang Jiuling.

Zhang Shuo glanced at him, stroked his beard and smiled, thinking to himself, "Finally, his wish has been fulfilled."

Since Li Jieman and Wang Shuang first proposed the concept of work-study at Zhang Baishou's shop, Zhang Jiuling, who came from a humble background, strongly agreed with it. Later, he also agreed with and supported some of the ideas put forward by the nameless man. He had always wanted to sit down and discuss philosophy with the nameless man, but unfortunately, he never had the opportunity.

He actually valued scholarship more and didn't care about talking to Wang Xi. However, since his official position was not high, he didn't dare to speak rashly. Only after a while, seeing that no one responded, did he quickly stand up.

He was certain that what Wang Xi said today was taught by the anonymous master, and that communicating with him was equivalent to communicating with the anonymous master.

He then said, "In fact, throughout history, many foolish and tyrannical rulers have attempted to go against the will of Heaven, leading their countries to their demise."

The officials nodded, but that was all; there was no applause or cheering.

Because they can all answer this question, and even students from the Imperial Academy could probably answer it.

This is nothing at all, which is why they found it difficult to speak up. If it were difficult, they would have been more inclined to express their opinions.

"Mr. Qujiang is absolutely right."

Wang Xi nodded, "That's exactly the point. That's why when I answered your question, I said that Confucianism and Legalism should be based on the Way. Without the Way, both Confucianism and Legalism will decline."

Li Longji couldn't help but smile, giving Wang Xi two approving glances.

He very much wanted to promote this idea in the court, and he had complained to Wang Xi last time about why he hadn't mentioned it.

“Confucianism and Legalism are based on the Dao?” Zhang Jiuling was taken aback. Didn’t he just say that they originated from the Dao?

“base”, “source”.

A single word makes all the difference!
Wang Xi nodded and said, "That's right! That's right! Just now, didn't Mr. Qujiang say that the way to govern a country should be based on the way of all things? And isn't the way to govern a country today the study of Confucianism and Legalism? And the way of all things is the Taoist thought. Isn't this Confucianism and Legalism based on the Tao? I really didn't expect that Mr. Qujiang would think the same way as me. No wonder he praised me back then."

Zhang Jiuling was completely dumbfounded.

wrong!

Is that what I mean?

Zhang and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering how their conversation had somehow turned into a discussion of Confucianism and Legalism being based on Taoism.

Clearly, they didn't mean that, but Wang Xi's words made it seem like that was the case.

How is this going?

It's worth sorting out.

Zhang Jiuling himself was also sorting things out, but he was quick-witted and soon figured out the key point. Wang Xi had previously talked about the way of all things and then extended it to the way of governing the country, which was definitely still limited to Taoism. However, Wang Xi applied the latter way of governing the country to Confucianism and Legalism.

This kid is really cunning. Zhang Jiuling shook his head and said, "No, no, the Dao you just mentioned, whether it is this Dao or that Dao, refers to the Dao of non-action, not the Dao of Confucianism and Legalism. You are only emphasizing that Confucianism and Legalism originate from Dao, not that they are based on Dao."

As soon as he said that, almost all the officials realized what he meant.

That kid is really cunning; he managed to fool us all.

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "I'm not talking about the way of inaction, but the way of governing a country."

Zhang Jiuling said very seriously, "The way of governing a country that you just mentioned is based on the principle of non-action, and there is no mistake about that."

"no no."

Wang Xi shook his head vigorously, saying, "What I'm talking about is the way of governing a country. Whether it's inaction or Confucianism and Legalism, they are all within it. Otherwise, Mr. Qujiang wouldn't have said that those who follow the will of Heaven prosper and those who defy it perish. The system of a country should also be based on the way of all things."

Zhang Jiuling was stunned and speechless for a moment.

That seems to be what I mean.

But he didn't intend to express that Confucianism and Legalism are based on the Dao.

The idea that one is anxious could shake the dominant position of Confucianism. Although the Li family has always advocated Taoism, the ministers still value Confucianism more, and the Imperial Academy teaches Confucianism the most.

Li Longji stroked his beard smugly, thinking to himself, "Today I'll show you my little nephew's talent. Haha!" Wang Xi's eyes darted around, and he said, "Mr. Qujiang, how about this? Let's put ourselves in his shoes and you'll know what kind of Dao I'm talking about."

Zhang Jiuling asked, "How do we substitute it in?"

Wang Xi pretended to think for a while, then suddenly asked, "Are the country's current policies based on Confucianism?"

Zhang Jiuling replied cautiously, "That's true most of the time."

Wang Xi then asked, "Was it implemented according to Legalist principles?"

Zhang Jiuling pondered for a moment, "Although there are slight differences, it can be said that way."

Wang Xi continued, "So that means the country is governed by Confucianism."

“You could say that.” Zhang Jiuling nodded again, as this was a common understanding, but then added, “So, it was also governing the country with Confucianism, rather than based on Taoism.”

Instead of answering, Wang Xi asked, "Mr. Qujiang, suppose that one mu of fertile land can yield one shi of grain, but the imperial court only requires half a dou. Whose idea is this?"

Zhang Jiuling said, "This is of course Confucianism."

Wang Xi asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Jiuling said, "If we reduce taxes, the people will benefit more; this is a manifestation of benevolent governance."

Wang Xi said, "Then if we collect two bushels, isn't that against Confucianism?"

Zhang Jiuling paused for a moment, then said, "Not necessarily, it depends on the specific circumstances."

Wang Xi then asked, "Will the imperial court collect two shi (a unit of dry measure)?"

Zhang Jiuling replied, "Of course not."

Wang Xi asked, "Why?"

Zhang Jiuling said, "A mu of fertile land only yields one shi of grain, so the people can't possibly pay two shi of grain."

After that, he understood.

Wang Xi said, "Confucianism does not stipulate how much to harvest; it depends on the specific circumstances. However, it will not exceed the yield per mu. Even if it does, it will not yield enough. Isn't this based on the way of all things?"

Zhang Jiuling pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "If that's your interpretation, then you're right. Whatever your stance, you should follow the way of all things."

Wang Xi then said, "Then what's wrong with me saying that Confucianism and Legalism are based on the Way?"

Zhang Jiuling frowned, then nodded and said, "That's certainly true. But if Taoist thought is merely the law governing the operation of all things, wouldn't governing the country according to Taoist thought mean doing nothing at all?"

Wang Xi said, "Isn't this the essence of non-action?"

Zhang Jiuling smiled and shook his head, saying, "This is not inaction."

"This is non-action."

Wang Xi immediately turned around and wrote on the drawing board: "As I said before, the Dao is about non-action. If you want to understand what 'non-action' is, you must understand what 'the Dao' is. The Dao is the law governing the operation of all things."

Understanding the laws governing the operation of all things is the essence of Taoism. In short, my husband's approach to Qigong is a form of Taoism, a pursuit of non-action.

Conversely, if one cannot understand the Dao, it is difficult to comprehend the laws governing the operation of all things. Without understanding these laws, it is difficult to fulfill the condition of "those who follow the Dao prosper." After all, if one doesn't even understand the Dao, how can one know what is "following the Dao" and what is "going against the Dao"?

Huangfu Sengnian added: "This shows that even Emperors Wen and Jing did not achieve true non-action. Therefore, the elders present here may not understand true non-action."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed displeasure.

You kids have only studied for a few days, yet you dare to say we don't understand non-action?
"It's not a possibility, it's a certainty."

Wang Xi added insult to injury, continuing, "This is also why, throughout history, many policies promulgated based on Confucian and Legalist principles have failed. The reason is that they were either not based on the Dao, or they misunderstood the Dao."

As he spoke, he drew, and soon a teaching diagram of the three schools of thought—Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism—appeared on the drawing board.

Looking at the relationship diagram on the drawing board, Zhang Jiuling was once again lost in confusion.

With this explanation, Taoist thought is the root of everything, while Confucianism and Legalism are secondary.

Although Li Longji had heard of this theory beforehand, hearing it again today, and combining it with the diagram, gave him a new understanding.

"What you're saying is utter nonsense. The Way of Non-Action is not as superficial as you make it out to be."

Xu Jin finally couldn't hold back any longer. Zhang Jiuling was really useless, being rendered speechless by a young man. She immediately stood up and said, "Taoist thought has its merits, that's undeniable, but your theory is clearly a case of generalization and misrepresentation."

Everyone knows that since Emperor Wu of Han, all other schools of thought have been suppressed, and Confucianism has been exclusively honored. Although some Legalist ideas were incorporated, there was no Daoist thought. The claim that Confucianism and Legalism are based on Daoism is utter nonsense.

Wang Xi said, "Uncle Xu's statement is probably based on the fact that Emperor Wu of Han achieved great success, but in terms of governing the country, Emperor Wu of Han was a great failure."

It was precisely because Emperor Wu of Han exclusively promoted Confucianism, thereby abandoning the Confucian and Legalist principles based on Tao, that the Han Empire nearly perished. Emperor Wu himself even issued an edict of self-reproach.

Xu Jin froze, unsure how to refute, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Zhang Jiuling gave him a speechless look. Of all the examples, why did he have to choose Emperor Wu of Han? Isn't he just offering his face to be slapped?

They're just making things worse here.

But he was also pondering whether Emperor Wu of Han caused the decline of the Han Dynasty by abandoning the Confucian and Legalist principles based on Tao.
This point has never been explained in this way in historical records.

If we adopt Wang Xi's perspective, how should this be explained?

Zhang Shuo glanced at Wang Xi, stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Your theory is quite novel. Historical documents and other people's opinions all point to Emperor Wu of Han as being warlike and cruel to the people, which almost led to the decline of the country. You are the first to believe that the reason why Emperor Wu of Han caused the decline of the country was because he promoted Confucianism and abandoned Taoism. Why don't you explain it?"

(End of this chapter)