Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 944 Zuo Qiuming from Lu

"What you said with one step, Da Miao also!"

In the debate square, a scholar stood up, refuted Zuo Qiuming's statement, and said loudly: "Women in the house commit adultery, and it has happened since ancient times."

"So far, in all the kingdoms of the world, among the four fields, and within the high gates, there are countless treacherous people."

"Only restrained by etiquette, I am afraid that treachery will still prevail!"

"This kind of treachery can't grow. I Wu people should abide by the law, start from small, and grow from small to big. Therefore, I think that we should put an end to the trend of treachery and formulate penalties!"

"Women who commit crimes will be punished with fifty sticks and jailed for one year. Men will be punished with one hundred sticks and exiled to the frontier for three years!"

"To serve as an example to others, to show the severity of punishment!"

As soon as this remark came out, the scholars present couldn't help whispering and whispering.

They believe that such punishment is too severe.

After all, it is not uncommon for an unmarried woman to have an affair with someone else, or even get pregnant before she is married.

Why should such severe punishment be enacted to combat such treachery?

"What you said, sir, is unfair."

Zuo Qiuming got up again and retorted: "As you said, sir, there are countless countries in the world, among the four fields, and within the high gate, there are not many evildoers."

"I heard that in Yandi, as well as in the Guanzhong, Southwest, and Lingnan areas of my Wu State, there are people from the countryside who live with their daughters who have a foreign surname so that they can have children. I don't know if you agree with this custom?"

"This……"

The scholar was at a loss for words.

There are indeed many such things.

Not uncommon!

As far as Qingji knew, like the people of Qin, they were neighbors with Quan Rong in the early years, and they fought against each other for generations.

At the same time, mixed blood was produced, and customs and habits influenced each other, giving the Qin people some nomadic temperament.

When Wu Zhou conquered the Shang Dynasty, the Qin tribe was loyal to the Shang Dynasty.

In the early Zhou Dynasty, they were severely suppressed and excluded from the cultural circle of the Central Plains, so they maintained more of the original characteristics of Rong and Di in culture.

It is not a special case of Qin State to use women to sleep and entertain guests in this era. Yan State, which is located on the border, also has this custom.

Moreover, in the south of Wu State, there are still some mountain village tribes who still retain this bad habit.

Scholars all know this kind of thing.

And they've probably all done it, having sex with country house women.

Scholars are a profession with a bright future, and are admired by ordinary people, just like "scholars" and "juren" in later generations. Therefore, in the eyes of the common people at the bottom, scholars have good genes and let their daughters be born with him. A son and a half daughter, maybe they can become scholars in the future...

It is worth mentioning that the theory of women's innocence was advocated by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism formed in the Song Dynasty. During the peak period of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, touching the sleeves of a garment was considered unethical, let alone sleeping with them?

"Guests meet each other, and women serve as lodgings. On the night of marriage, there is indeed a custom of no distinction between men and women."

At this time, Li Ke stood up, bowed to Zuoqiu Ming and said, "This is a bad habit. If the new law is introduced, this bad habit must be eradicated, so that the wind of treachery will disappear in our country of Wu from now on!"

"Hehe, may I ask what your name is, sir?"

"Under Li Ke!"

"Oh, it turned out to be Li Zi, who has known his name for a long time!"

Zuo Qiuming saluted Li Ke.

Li Ke, who is in his twenties, as a disciple of Deng Xi, is well-known in Xianyang and even Wu.

He did not become an official, but he traveled around the world to study all the year round in order to enrich his experience and broaden his knowledge.

"What's next?"

"Lu Ren, Zuo Qiuming."

"Qiu Zi, I've heard of you. Qiu Zi's words are really sharp, but why are you sticking to the theory of etiquette? As far as I know, you are not a Confucian child, why do you respect Confucianism so much?"

Hearing this, Zuo Qiuming said calmly: "Hundreds of schools have their own strengths. Although I am not a disciple of Confucius, I also admire Confucianism and have the heart to learn!"

"Just now, Li Zi, you said that there are 'guests meet each other and stay with women' in various parts of Wu, but Li Zi knows, what is the reason?"

Li Ke said slowly: "I have some understanding. People in the countryside live in remote places, or a dozen families, or dozens of families. Their ancestors are relatives, of the same clan, and they have lived there for generations."

"The same surname is not married, let alone the blood relationship is so close?"

"Therefore, they are just 'guests meet each other, and women serve as lodgings'."

"good!"

Zuo Qiuming nodded, agreed with Li Ke's statement, but changed the subject, and said, "Li Zi, since you know that there are such customs in some places in Wu country, and you have no choice but to meet each other as a guest, let's talk about it." Why should there be a law forbidding adultery?"

"Isn't this forcing some Li Shu to change their customs, and even have to go out of the mountains and stay away from their homeland?"

Hearing this, Li Ke said indifferently: "Since they are the people of Great Wu, they should obey the king's orders and abide by the laws of the country. It is a great blessing for them to walk out of the mountains and live outside!"

"..."

Zuo Qiuming was stunned for a moment.

"it is good!"

"color!"

The scholars on the square applauded and cheered.

"Li Zi is right. Your Majesty did not force those barbarians of the Rong tribe to change their customs. Some bad habits are unacceptable."

"If this method can force them out of the mountains and live with us Wu people, it would be perfect!"

"It's really a feat!"

"No, I still think that it is too serious to enact legal sanctions to prohibit adultery."

When the scholars had different opinions, Zuo Qiuming was still unconvinced, so he glanced at Li Ke, and argued: "The current draft specifically lists the crime of adultery without husband, and if it is a crime for adulterer without husband, it is a big mistake!"

"If you think it's a crime, it's not appropriate to the people's hearts. Dare to ask Li Zi, if you rape someone, what is the crime for a woman? What is the crime for a man? His parents are not strict, should they be punished together?"

"it is good!"

Zuo Qiuming's sharp words stopped Li Ke from asking, and the scholars couldn't help but shine their eyes, and they all supported Zuo Qiuming.

Li Ke thought for a while, and then said: "If it is wrong to commit crimes, both male and female offenders, as well as their parents, should be punished."

"Okay. Let me give you an example, Li Zi!"

Zuo Qiuming squinted his eyes and said: "If one day, a man and a woman commit adultery, and the incident comes out, and the woman's father kills the adulterer, may I ask, is the woman's father guilty? How should it be dealt with?"

Li Ke heard the words, thought for a while, and replied: "The woman's father killed someone, and he should take his life. It depends on the circumstances. If the manslaughter is negligent, he doesn't have to pay his life. If he kills intentionally, he should take his life!"

Zuo Qiuming said with a smile: "If this happened to the envoy, I'm afraid it will cause an uproar and a riot!"

"Why?"

Li Ke was a little puzzled.

"An affair between a man and a woman is considered adultery, which means that adultery between a man and a woman is not a crime. And if the woman's father kills the adulterer, he is killing a criminal. Is this also a crime?"

"It means that the man who commits adultery is an ordinary person, so the crime you mentioned, Li Zi... is not established!"

(End of this chapter)