People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Cao Ze felt a tremendous force pressing down on him, restraining his behavior, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Is this the five-character mantra of the Confucian "Five Constant Virtues"? It is indeed incredibly powerful and worthy of being a prominent school of thought.

I wonder how it compares to the Six Jia Secret Incantation and Nine True Words of their Taoist sect.

"Without manners, one cannot stand."

Kong Chuan flicked his sleeves and scolded, "What kind of behavior is this!"

The disciples and followers of each family remained silent.

On the "Lecture Room" platform, the unspoken rule is that whoever is giving the lecture must abide by their rules.

If we're talking about whose rules are the best and most attractive, it's the novelist, one of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Unfortunately, it's a rare sight, occurring only once a year, and each appearance is considered a major event.

Because the novelist talks about everything from meat to vegetables and includes all sorts of gossip, he even jokingly calls the leader of the Yin-Yang School a coat hanger.

When you get carried away, you'll say anything, just to have a good laugh.

Oh, that novelist who was the leader of the Bagua Yin-Yang School in Handan last time is already dead, his grave overgrown with weeds.

Chapter 76 Go Visit Your Mother

"Yesterday I only gave a brief overview of the Three Character Classic, and many parts were not explained clearly."

"Since young friend Cao Ze is here on the Hundred Schools Forum today, let him give you a lecture on the Three Character Classic."

Kong Chuan gave up his seat and asked, "What does young friend Cao Ze think?"

Cao Ze smiled helplessly, "Confucius said, 'Since you're here, make the best of it.' This junior will respectfully comply."

An untimely voice rang out.

"Mr. Zigao, Cao Ze is a descendant of military strategists. How could he understand the essence of Confucianism and compose the Three Character Classic?"

Cao Ze looked over and saw that he was dressed as a Confucian scholar.

"Who are you?"

"Little Sage Village, Zihan."

"Why can't I understand the essence of Confucianism?"

"This……"

Zihan was speechless for a moment. Yesterday, she heard Kong Chuan recite part of the Three Character Classic. She was both impressed and displeased. He was a Confucian scholar of the Sun family and, like Xunzi, believed in the evil of human nature.

Today, upon first hearing that the Three Character Classic was not written by Kong Chuan, but by an unknown descendant of a military strategist, I asked the question without hesitation.

But he had studied at Xiaoshengxianzhuang after all, and he quickly recovered from his brief moment of confusion.

"Mencius said that human nature is inherently good. However, if human nature is inherently good, why would there be so many wars between states? As a descendant of military strategists, you should understand this point even more."

"Therefore, I agree with Xunzi's statement that human nature is evil, and that goodness must be feigned. Rather, human nature is inherently good at birth."

Cao Ze smiled faintly. He could tell that if it were Kong Chuan's "Three Character Classic," Zi Han would not have jumped out at all.

"Brother Zihan, I have a question for you, please don't feel offended."

"Please feel free to speak."

"If, I mean if."

"Your wife and mother have both fallen into the river. Your only son, eight years old, begs you to save them, but you cannot swim and will drown. Will you save them or not? If you will, will you save your mother first, or your wife?"

Kong Chuan stroked his white beard, thinking to himself, "Mencius said that when people see a child about to fall into a well, they all feel alarm and compassion. Is young friend Cao Ze trying to use this to make a point?"

"This one……"

Zihan pondered for a moment and said, "I desire both fish and bear's paw. If I cannot have both, I will give up my life for righteousness."

"I will sacrifice my life for righteousness; I will definitely save them!"

"Save the wife first or the mother first?"

"Without a mother, there is no child; as a son, I must save my mother first!"

Zihan's gaze hardened: "This is my Confucian way!"

"Human nature is inherently driven by self-interest, and by the desire for life and the fear of death. Although human nature is inherently flawed, it can be corrected through education!"

Many disciples from various schools of thought below the stage applauded and praised the performance.

"it is good!"

"One who possesses the spirit of Confucius knows that doing something is impossible, yet still does it!"

……

Zihan secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she had almost been completely entangled by Cao Ze.

Cao Ze gave a half-smile; this guy wasn't falling for it, but that was alright.

"Let me ask you again, is this what you want to save?"

"nature."

Zihan argued vehemently, "Human nature is inherently evil. I was educated by Confucianism, which is why I was able to think of saving her. Otherwise, how could I possibly save my mother?"

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "So, without Confucian education, one wouldn't be able to save their mother?"

Zihan replied matter-of-factly, "Of course."

The non-Confucian disciples and students in the audience were unhappy, as if they had no reason to save their mother.

Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently built, Cao Ze changed the subject, saying, "So... do you all think that Zihan's mother believes her son is inherently evil?"

"puff!"

Completely bewildered, Jing Ke couldn't help but spit out the wine he had just drunk.

"No, his mother wasn't educated in Confucianism!"

A female disciple of the Yin-Yang School unleashed her Yin-Yang strange energy.

Zihan's face turned ashen, and she opened her mouth to say, "That's just a clever lie!"

"Brother Zihan! The lady you didn't save will agree with your statement that human nature is inherently evil!"

Seeing that chaos was brewing, Kong Chuan gently shouted, "Propriety!"

The scene fell silent again.

Let's stop discussing good and evil here.

Kong Chuan shook his head. "Zihan, your studies are not yet solid, so it is not suitable for you to travel and study so early. After your trip to Handan, go back to Xiaoshengxianzhuang and learn more from your senior brother, Fu Nian."

Zihan said with a look of shame, "I understand."

Kong Chuan said, "Young friend Cao Ze, please begin your lecture."

Cao Ze took a deep breath. He had been interrupted while casting his spell, and he still had a lot of witty remarks he hadn't finished saying.

"OK then."

It's fun to trash talk and argue, but building a reputation is more important.

So Cao Ze began to speak slowly.

The Three Character Classic, as an introductory text for later generations, is not difficult to understand.

However, compared to the various schools of thought during the Warring States period, this kind of reading material has many merits, especially since Cao Ze removed many of the dross ideas from it.

As Cao Ze recited the Three Character Classic in a serious and methodical manner, Kong Chuan's old face never stopped smiling.

There are plans to include the Three Character Classic as a foundational text for Confucian enlightenment.

Given the catchy and easy-to-recite nature of the Three Character Classic, it is likely that in a few years, most Confucian scholars will agree that "human nature is inherently good."

Brother Xun is probably going to be depressed.

Around noon, Zhao Qian, who had just woken up after staying up all night, left Guo Kai's Prime Minister's residence with his henchmen, ready for a day of tyranny and bullying.

Kong Chuan frowned when he saw Zhao Qian arrogantly leading his dog on the stone altar.

If it weren't for the presence of the Hundred Schools Forum here, he really wouldn't want to come to the east of the city.

Cao Ze, who was slowly reciting the Three Character Classic to build his reputation, naturally also noticed Zhao Qian.

He's just like his father when he was young—no, he's a plus version of Zhao Yan. At least his father had brains and vision, and could even fight against Ying Zheng.

And this Zhao Qian, without much thought, is now indulging in debauchery and bullying the weak.

Although he was Zhao Qian’s nominal teacher, he had a duty to discipline him.

But he's not brain-dead; this guy is basically beyond saving unless he's reincarnated.

Zhao Qian passed by the Hundred Schools Forum and saw a person on the high stone platform who looked so familiar.

"Your Highness, isn't this your teacher?" the lackey said, sticking out his lap.

Zhao Qian kicked him.

"What kind of teacher is he? He's worthy! What a clueless jerk!"

"Drag him away and chop him up!"

The lackey's face turned deathly pale, but he dared not utter a sound.

The henchmen shrank back, feeling uneasy.

The practice of chopping and eating was a common tactic used by Zhao Qian.

It involves chopping off a finger with a knife, skewering it on a stick, roasting it, and then letting the lackey eat it, bone and all.

They each lost two hairs, and one of their hands was already bald.

"You, go and find out what Cao Ze is up to, and if there's anything you can do to get back at him!"

A clever lackey ran over instantly, carrying several gold coins in his hand. After a few orders, he obtained a lot of information.

"Your Highness, we've found out. Cao Ze is lecturing here."

Zhao Qian slapped him across the face. "I told you to ask if there's anything you can do about him!"