Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 947 Governing the Country and Peace of the World

"it is good!"

"color!"

The scholar's discussion won the applause and applause of the scholars in the debate square, and they agreed very much.

However, Zeng Shen was still unconvinced.

After thinking for a while, Zeng Shen said loudly: "I think there are three kinds of filial piety: the first is filial piety and respect for relatives, the second is not to humiliate, and the second is to be able to support."

"I traveled to Shen County in Nanyang County the year before last and found a case—"

"I couldn't support her so my mother threw herself into the river and survived after being rescued."

"At that time, there was a farmer named Jia who was unable to support his mother. Instead, he demanded money from his mother. His mother jumped into the river angrily and was rescued later."

"The order is based on the fact that Jia is too poor to support her, and her mother commits suicide. If she survives after being rescued, she should be reduced to a first-class apprentice."

"His mother begged to be exempted in her old age, and ordered that the offender be kept with a shackle and stick."

"In this case, the son left the mother without food and clothing, and the mother jumped into the river in anger (she was rescued later). The county magistrate who heard the case reduced the son's sentence."

"This shows that an important aspect guaranteed by 'children and grandchildren violating the edict' is the elder's right to provide for the elderly. As long as the elder's life can be maintained, the punishment for unfilial sons and grandchildren will be much lighter."

"His mother pleaded for remission on the grounds that she was old and needed to be taken care of. The judge allowed her son to stay in custody, and only imposed a cane punishment on the unfilial son (the punishment was reduced again)."

"This provision of the law is not to show leniency and mercy to the unworthy offspring, but to understand the heart of the parents and to reflect the authority of the elders—"

"The elders have absolute control over the freedom of their children and grandchildren!"

After a pause, Zeng Shen said again: "Therefore, I think this can be used as an example. Anyone who does not undertake the obligation to support the elderly can be given a verbal admonition. If he does not listen, it may cause the elderly to commit suicide and survive the above example."

"If the old man dies because of this, his unfilial son should be exiled."

Zeng Shen's remarks did not resonate with the scholars.

They whispered to each other and whispered together.

"It's just an exile, isn't it too light?"

"Such unfilial sons have already caused the death of their parents, so they should be killed as an example to others!"

"If the death of parents is related to the failure of their children and grandchildren to fulfill their support obligations, it is indeed an unforgivable crime."

"This is not murder, but it is also equivalent to manslaughter."

The scholar thought for a while, then continued to retort: ​​"What you said, sir, forgive me for not agreeing with it!"

"How do unfilial people stand in the world? If it's just because of poverty, they don't undertake the obligation to support their grandparents and parents. Wouldn't people in the world use this as an excuse to refuse to support the elderly?"

"I also encountered a case."

The scholar squinted his eyes and said: "In Yongxian County, there was a man with a slight lameness on his left foot, but he was still able to walk, but he was not ill and could not support his stepmother, so she hanged herself to death."

"At that time, the judge believed that filial piety was the first thing to do, and that a son should serve his parents, and he could not be negligent in his oral service day and night. It was not that he was sick and unable to work. His stepmother committed suicide because of lack of support, so he was sentenced to death."

"Sir, do you think the judge is fair?"

Zeng Shen shook his head and said, "It's not fair, it's too harsh."

"This case is very typical. The judge fully considered Wu Xiaozi's physical condition when convicting and sentencing. His left foot is slightly lame, but he has not yet lost the ability to work. His behavior of not supporting his stepmother cannot be exempted."

"However, I think that as long as the children and grandchildren work hard and work hard, they will be able to support their relatives. If their relatives commit suicide due to lack of support, the children and grandchildren should be severely punished for their inability to do good deeds."

"Therefore, unless the children and grandchildren themselves are incapable of working, everyone must properly fulfill their duty of support to their elders."

"One life pays another life, it is biased."

I once participated in a heated debate with the scholar, but no one could convince anyone.

However, what is certain is that both of them believe that everyone in the world has the obligation to take the initiative to support their grandparents and parents, and if they fail to fulfill this obligation, they will be punished.

Zeng Shen thought that he should be punished lightly, but exile and rod punishment.

The scholar thought that he should be punished strictly and executed directly, and all his family property should be confiscated.

"Isn't he Wu Xun?"

Qingji recognized that the person who was arguing tit-for-tat with Zeng Shen was his tenth son——

Son training!
This Young Master Xun was born to Qing Ji and his cousin... not his own cousin Teng Yu.

Since childhood, he has been extremely intelligent, good at debating, and has achieved quite a lot in academics.

"Your Majesty, it is indeed Mr. Xun."

Kong Qiu replied.

Hearing this, Qing Ji smiled and said, "This kid is promising."

It is indeed unusual for Gongzixun to be able to fight against Zeng Shen without losing the wind.

Qing Ji believes that not supporting the elderly is an illegal act.

Adult children have the obligation to support and assist their parents.

This obligation is indefinite, and the child shall continue to perform this obligation as long as the parents require support.

And cannot refuse to fulfill the maintenance obligation on the grounds of abandoning inheritance.

How to punish?

Each has its own reason.

Seeing that the scholars had debated for half an hour, but still hadn't reached a conclusion, Qingji lost interest for a while.

"Please, Your Majesty, decide!"

Seeing Qing Ji's dull expression, Yu Shi Zhong Cheng Bo Tong immediately flattered him and stood up and said.

On the debate square, all the scholars also set their sights on Qingji.

As a referee, Qingji is qualified to say it all.

After thinking for a while, Qing Ji said, "A grown-up child is obliged to support the elderly."

"If you fail to fulfill this obligation, you will be punished. Children shall not refuse to fulfill their obligation to support their grandparents or parents under any excuse."

"Anyone who violates the law will be demoted to slavery, their property will be confiscated, and the government will support the elderly instead."

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Being demoted to slavery and losing all the family property is more uncomfortable than directly killing those unworthy descendants.

Next, Ting Wei Deng Xi stood on the debate stage and announced the next topic——

Can children and grandchildren exercise the legitimate right of defense against their elders?

Zeng Shen stood up very actively and said: "There are no wrong parents in the world!"

"A gentleman establishes filial piety, the use of loyalty, and the value of etiquette."

"The children and grandchildren's lessons and punishments to their parents and grandparents are at most like Emperor Shun's 'big stick will walk away, and small stick will suffer'. There is absolutely no justifiable defense!"

"In ancient times, those who wished to manifest virtue in the world first ruled their country; those who wanted to rule their country first ordered their families; those who wanted to order their families first cultivated their bodies; those who wanted to cultivate their bodies first rectified their hearts; those who wanted to rectify their families Those who want to sincerely express their intentions first; those who want to sincerely express their intentions first extend their knowledge."

"Extending knowledge lies in investigating things. Investigate things and then know them, and then know them with sincerity; with sincerity, then the heart is upright, and after the heart is upright, then the body is cultivated. After the body is cultivated, the family is in order, the family is in order, and the country is governed, and the country is governed, and the world is peaceful!"

"it is good!"

"color!"

On the square, the scholars all clapped their hands and praised Zeng Shen's knowledge.

Unexpectedly, has Zeng Shen's Confucianism matured to this point?
Qingji appreciates it very much.

Historically, in Zeng Zi’s book "The Great Learning", he put forward the three cardinal principles (clearing morality, being close to the people, and striving for perfection) and the eight eyes (investigating things, extending knowledge, rectifying one's heart, sincerity, self-cultivation, regulating the family, governing the country, and peace of the world).

Now at a young age, Zeng Shen has extraordinary knowledge.

(End of this chapter)