Xinshun 1730

Chapter 1026 Fragmentation ([-])

"You are being polite. Just now, I heard you talk about the power of the world. It makes sense. I was itchy for a while, so I couldn't help interrupting."

Speaking of some polite words, the young man who was talking there just now tried his best to make a few polite words in official Chinese.

The scholar sat next to him and briefly introduced himself.

The scholar's surname was Meng and his first name was Songlu. He studied with Cheng Tingzuo, a famous scholar in the south of the Yangtze River.

Because what Cheng Tingzuo learned was the knowledge of the ancient northern Confucianism school, and this school pays attention to [Rites, Music, Farmers, Soldiers, Astronomy, Earth, Food and Goods, Rivers and Canals, all the committees explore the source]. They are based on Lizhou and Tinglin, so they have learned a lot and classified them as practical.

It is also the pillar of the southern biography of Yan Li School in the north.

Before Cheng Tingzuo and Wu Jingzi broke up because of the reform of the salt administration, now that the news of the reform came again, Cheng Tingzuo asked his disciples to go to Haizhou to see and meet.

The reason why Cheng Tingzuo didn't go by himself was complicated.

Age is only one reason, and the other reason is the key.

The northern ancient Confucianism school, founded by Yan Yuan, actually faced the same problem as Dashun: break but not stand.

Song and Ming Neo Confucianism must be criticized.

But Yan Yuan's attitude is that he doesn't bother to debate the scriptures, just criticize.

The so-called [ancient poems and books are just the spectrum of economics, but the path to get it, the authenticity is irrelevant].

Translated into a common saying, it is "It's no use beeping and debating the scriptures, see you later."

Whether it works well depends on the effect and practice, and don't talk too much about such things as Qi, Li, and Tai Chi.

And that leaves the big question.

It is impossible to break without building, and many things cannot be seen only on the matter.

The school of ancient Confucianism itself is too utilitarian, and to reflect righteousness from utilitarianism is already very close to heresy.

In addition, he didn't have a gatekeeper in his mouth, so he sprayed people and ruthlessly.

In the academy, students are also taught swordsmanship. In school gatherings, students often use swords, guns and sticks, "lifting stones over distance, performing martial arts and singing and dancing", and they are extremely strict with the students.It is said that his disciple is good at swordsmanship, and he took the sword to the street. Someone asked if he knew how to play with a sword.Out of modesty, the disciple said no, but was reprimanded by Yan Yuan for being hypocritical and asked him to perform some saber techniques in public. The disciple still knelt down and begged the master for forgiveness.

Later Liang Qichao commented that one of the reasons why their knowledge was eventually annihilated was "too bitter".

Ordinarily, this smell is actually an obvious imitation of Confucianism, but the times have changed after all, and there are too many legacy from the past, which makes many people think that this smell is not very Confucian.

In addition, as long as there are only "paths" and no "authenticity", and too much pursuit of utilitarianism, it is always too heresy.

Some things, in fact, have taken root.And with the intrusion of other religious philosophies with worldviews, things like "qi" and "reason" must be clearly identified.

In addition, if you want to prove that you are not a heretic, you must not only talk about reality, but also explain the scriptures.

So when I came to their side, the point was not to criticize, but to "interpret the scriptures and draw meanings to prove my moral economy."

Cheng Tingzuo now basically recognizes the development model of southern Jiangsu, and believes that although it has shortcomings, it has great potential.He hopes that he can be the one who transforms Confucianism into guiding the real economy and integrates the principles of Confucianism.

Historically, Hu Shi commented on him, saying that he "in the atmosphere of Manchu imprisonment, most scholars were trapped in exegesis and textual research, and only two people had the dream of creating a 'new philosophy'. One was Cheng Tingzuo, and the other It's Dai Zhen."

However, because this new philosophy may be the foundation, it is really difficult.

It requires a solid foundation in Confucianism.

It is also necessary to see these new things, new developments, new ideas, and new ideas.

It is also necessary to integrate these into one, not mutually exclusive.

Cheng Tingzuo wants to stay in Songjiang Mansion, hold his head down, study and understand, write books and talk about it, master it well, and stop wandering around.In these years, when you are a little older, you will die easily if you travel thousands of miles.It's better to save your body and perfect the theory in Songjiang Mansion.

This time, Meng Songlu followed the teacher's advice and went north from the south to see the whole process of Haizhou's salt reform, so he passed here.

Judging from Meng Songlu's attire, one can tell that this school is really just like Liu Yu's evaluation of Protestantism and old religion. Those who shout for retro are mostly reformers; conversely, reformers are often the most primitive.

This school is good at martial arts, although it calls ancient times and ancient Confucianism, it does not prevent them from replacing the swords at their waists with muskets, and they do not wear three-foot swords.

Meng Songlu also heard these young people gossiping there just now, and it sounded quite reasonable, and he even had a feeling that he could see the sun behind the clouds, so he came here out of curiosity.

After asking, I found out that the young man who spoke just now was of the same clan as himself, and his surname was also Meng.

However, the name is not so elegant, it's called Meng Tiezhu.

After asking again, I learned that these people are going to participate in official training and are going to Funing County.

When the businessman in the distance heard this, he couldn't help but whisper in his heart.

The businessman must have heard of such a big incident over there a while ago.

The businessman had a lot of sympathy for the squires who were executed, and felt that Duke Xingguo had gone too far this time.It's nothing more than reselling some Hegong food, what's the big deal?It should be good to impose a fine, but the result is direct killing, which is inevitably a bit too severe.

Now who is doing business, who doesn't have something bad about him?Cheating and abducting are all common means.I don’t mention selling private salt by myself. Isn’t it common to mix sand and gray salt into private salt?
Today, he was shot for reselling Hegong grain. If he thinks that he does not resell Hegong grain anyway, he will not take it seriously. Next time, what if he strictly arrests fraud, adulteration and smuggling?

What the businessman didn't expect was that from the mouths of these poor students, each of them didn't care about killing so many people, and didn't even discuss whether it was right or wrong. They seemed to think that this was not worth discussing at all. thing.

Including the scholar who just went over to talk to him, they didn't discuss whether killing someone was a bit too much.

On the contrary, they are discussing, the person has been killed, what should be done after that?

Meng Songlu was a little curious, and wondered what Meng Tiezhu, who had a lot of insight into the matter, thought about Juntian.

He didn't mention his teacher, but only said: "Nowadays in the counties of Funing, all the evil gentry have been eradicated, and the court should implement the law of equalizing the land. I wonder if you have any opinions on Mr. Xi Zhai's theory of equalizing the land?"

As soon as Meng Tiezhu opened his mouth, he directly offended Meng Songlu.

"I've seen it. I probably looked at it, but I think it's all nonsense."

Meng Songlu's face suddenly turned ugly, Yan Xizhai is also his master, and others directly said that the master's ideas are nonsense in front of him, how can you not be angry?

That is to say, if he has a better self-cultivation, if he is a little bit worse, it is time to pull out the musket.

However, Meng Tiezhu didn't notice the hesitant look on Meng Songlu's face, and he opened his teeth and claws and sprayed there.

"The methods of Yan Xizhai, Li Gangzhu, and Wang Kunsheng are all bullshit. According to Li Gangzhu, the population will multiply, so what should we do if we can't equalize the land in the future?"

"What is his idea? What he wants is to divide the fields in the world into upper, middle and lower."

"If all the fields are of the highest grade, then the average amount is 150 mu; for the middle-grade field, the average amount is [-] acres; for the lower-grade fields, the average amount is [-] acres."

"When the population grows in the future, the middle farm has been developed and maintained, and it has become a first-class farm. Then the middle farm for one person can become two people..."

"Let's not talk about whether he has planted land, just say one thing. In our village, even if the land is averaged, where can each household average 150 mu, [-] mu, or [-] mu?"

"That doesn't mean it's enough, let's talk about one more."

"The imperial court doesn't even have official land, so how can they equalize the land? What kind of bullshit ideas do they come up with? Some say they let tenants farm for 30 years and make a transition slowly; If there is no tax, everyone will dedicate their fields to official land; some say they will directly restore the well field system."

"I don't think any of these ghost ideas are useful. Let's say that if you are a gentry, are you willing to hand over the land to the tenants in 30 years?"

"What's the difference between this and empty talk? I also said that if the yield per mu is a thousand catties, even if the current rent is used, it will be enough without equalizing the land. But isn't this nonsense?"

After he finished spraying, a classmate next to him replied angrily.

"Actually, it's not impossible."

"You can restore the patriarchal system."

"For example, your family has [-] acres of land. You have three sons, and the eldest son inherits it as the grand master."

"The remaining second and third sons are branches."

"Relying on the taxes collected from the eldest son's land, the imperial court collected taxes to raise ships and soldiers, and let the second and third sons go overseas."

"If you go to Nanyang, or go to other places, you will also be divided into [-] acres of land."

"In this way, we can really make a well. I think it will take a long time to fill up the open space on the earth."

It seemed that they often discussed similar topics. When this sarcasm was said, all the people beside them burst into laughter.

Meng Songlu felt that this sentence was not ridiculous, it was a solution. Why did it seem like a joke to these people?
"Everyone, this is not ridiculous. Isn't this method impossible? I'm so stupid, I really don't know what's so ridiculous?"

Meng Tiezhu glanced at Meng Songlu and asked, "Do you know where the most difficult part of this method is?"

"where?"

"In equalizing the land. You have to equalize the land first, then you can collect enough taxes, and then you can support this large-scale migration and reclamation. The problem is that the first step of equalizing the land can't be done, isn't it the next step? Is it an idiot's dream?"

Meng Songlu frowned, and couldn't help but said: "Isn't Funing County now the means of equalizing the land?"

Meng Tiezhu couldn't help laughing and said: "You are a serious scholar, let me ask you, what do you think about the Juntian matter?"

For this question, Meng Songlu has an orthodox interpretation of his school, and it is an interpretation that is absolutely in line with the righteousness of Confucianism.

"Mencius said: The way of the people is the way. Those who have permanent property have perseverance, those who do not have permanent property have no perseverance, and those who do not have perseverance, let go of evil and extravagance, and do everything."

"Ming is in danger of perishing all over the world because the people have no permanent property."

"Therefore, controlling the people's permanent property is the foundation of the king's government. If the people have no permanent property, they will have no perseverance. If the land is not equal, everyone cannot have permanent property."

"Therefore, equalizing the land is the most benevolent government in the world."

"The well is the same as Tuogu."

His answers are watertight, and whether the internal logic or the Three Views are standard and orthodox Confucian Three Views.

It is to control the permanent property of the people.

Meng Tiezhu directly asked: "Equal land is the most benevolent government in the world?"

"Of course! Equalizing the land is the most benevolent government in the world!" Meng Songlu replied resoundingly.

Meng Tiezhu couldn't help laughing and said: "Then let me ask you a question, if you offend me, don't blame me."

"please say."

"Suppose, if you shaved your hair and became a traitor and led the way when the country was founded, and I stabbed you to death, what do you think?"

Meng Songlu was stunned for a moment, feeling that there was no need to answer this question at all, right?

"Why do you need to ask? Righteousness, good kill!"

"But the problem is, if you have this great righteousness, you have to find other faults about you, saying that you are morally corrupt, plundering, harming one side, bullying men and women, you are a jerk, you are not a good person, etc., before you can be chopped off. Kill you, otherwise people will ask me to say cruelty. Then there is no use for this righteousness?" Meng Tiezhu asked again with that mean smile on his face.

This metaphor is very simple, and Meng Songlu was stunned for a while, not knowing how to answer it.

Obviously, it was talking about Funing Juntian.

Since, according to the great righteousness of Confucianism, controlling people's property and equalizing land is the most benevolent government in the world.

Moreover, Dashun is governed by Confucianism.

So, with this righteousness, what else is there to talk about?Shouldn't it be enough?
The imperial court did not dare to equalize the land, dare not say that the equalization of land is the most benevolent government in the world, and use benevolent government as an excuse to force the equalization of land.But he could only cover it up, insisting on finding some random reasons.

Since the imperial court did not dare to use this righteousness at all, it proves that either the whole world does not think it is a righteousness; or the imperial court does not want to do this righteousness at all.

Then, everything derived from this is just like what Meng Tiezhu said before - it's all bullshit.

If the mainstream of Confucianism all over the world does not believe that the equalization of land derived from the control of people's permanent property is a great righteousness, then talking about this righteousness itself is heresy and nonsense.

If, under the debate, it is believed that starting from the control of the people's permanent property, the equalization of the land derived from it is the most benevolent government in the world.But the imperial court did not dare to use this righteousness, which proves that the imperial court did not dare or did not want to do this righteousness.

Then, what Yan, Li, Wang, Cheng and others imagined, expecting the court to preside over Juntian, isn't that just bullshit?
People in the court and scholars looked at the Funing incident and thought of "Zheng Boke and Duan Yuyan", knowing that he was a fish or a beast, but baited and trapped him. Isn't this insidious and cunning?
Meng Songlu, the orthodox third-generation descendant of the most radical Yan-Li School in Dashun, did not consider whether this matter was just or not, but only considered how to implement Juntian to completely eliminate the annexation.

However, these new learners, watching this incident, under the subtle influence, feel that they are watching a farce, a joke.

It's a joke that it is obvious that you can directly add righteousness to the matter, but you are timid and insist on finding other reasons. Even this still causes the world to shake. This is really a joke.

In my heart, I don't think this is righteousness, but when faced with issues such as the control of people's permanent property, I have to admit that this is righteousness.

Its ridiculous level is close to that of the descendants who lamented Wei Guan Zhongwu and his left coat, shaved his hair and put it on the table;

Just like the joke Meng Tiezhu said, killing a traitor cannot be justified, and you have to find personal moral issues or even go to the third party, otherwise it is not a joke to say that you are cruel.In case there are three views in some places, take pride in it.

What's really ridiculous is that the righteousness that traitors should be killed is generally recognized by scholars all over the world, but they say it right, but they don't believe that this three views are right. This kind of lack of confidence leads to the need to find all kinds of reason to add.

To some extent, this is the same dilemma that Liu Yu is facing.

Liu Yu hopes to Juntian.

Confucian reformists also hope to equalize the land.

But the logic and meaning of the two are different.

The purpose of Liu Yu's equalization of land is to reduce land rents, lower interest rates, boost domestic demand, and promote industrial and commercial development.This is the first righteousness.

I have this great righteousness in mind, equalizing the land is equalizing the land, and it has nothing to do with morality.

It's just that the righteousness he thinks is not the righteousness of the mainstream three views in the world.

The Confucian Reformist's righteousness of land equalization originated from Mencius's idea that controlling the people's constant property is the foundation of the king's government, and constant property requires equal land, and equal land is the first benevolent government.

The problem is that this seemingly mainstream righteousness is actually just pretending to be mainstream, but in fact it is not mainstream at all.

Say yes with your mouth, but not at all in your heart.

Confucianism wants to make a difference in the new era, or if the ancient Confucian school wants to really establish a sect, it really needs to break and establish a whole system.

When talking about political aspirations, one has to talk about the economic foundation, grassroots structure, land system, taxation system, and industrial and commercial system.

To some extent, the last practice of Confucianism as a political group failed in the fourth year of Wang Mang’s new dynasty.

The school that is shouting for retro now, at least for now, many ideas are just fantasy and nonsense, and there is no practicality at all.

Because times have changed, the ancient Confucian school not only has to solve the problem of agriculture, but also solves the problems of scholars, industry and commerce.And with the development of Dashun, the issues of industry and commerce have become more and more important.

Can the framework of the past hold these things?Or are these new things stuffed into the old framework of the past?This framework can’t even fit in the productivity of Wang Mang’s era. Without changing the underlying structure, how can it fit in the productivity of the steam engine?
Meng Tiezhu's sarcasm did not reach this level of sarcasm, he just sneered at these people's ideas for being too nonsense.

Although Meng Songlu felt dissatisfied, he couldn't find any good reason to refute this young man with a mean face who always seemed to be mocking him.

(End of this chapter)