Who is not Cao Cao?

Chapter 114 Mencius, the way to save the world

The fence that Zhao Yun led others to build before has long since disappeared, replaced by a ten-meter-high earthen wall.

On each city wall, there is an arch standing, and there are many passers-by walking inside and out.

If it was just like a small town before, then it is a city at all now!

Entering from the south gate, the houses on both sides of the street are in order, merchants and hawkers are shouting at the side, and there are children, chickens and dogs running around, a cluster of lively fireworks.

It wasn't until the deepest part that He Yan saw the attic he built at the beginning, and the houses built by Cao Pi, Cao Jie and others were also surrounded by guards on the left and right.

"Who did this...?"

While He Yan was looking at the pavilion, a child ran out of it.

When he saw He Yan, his eyes were a little excited and shy, he just pointed at He Yan and kept shouting: "He, He, He..."

"What, what, what? Call me Dad!"

He Yan unceremoniously dismounted and carried Deng Ai on his shoulders: "Where's your mother?"

After Deng Ai was picked up, he touched He Yan's face: "Yes, it's inside."

Afterwards, Deng Ai thought of something, and hurriedly said: "He, he, don't, don't do bad things to my mother, mother!"

"Look at what you said! What is a bad thing?"

He Yan walked through the corridors with strides, and he saw Deng's mother leaning on a pillar with her sleeves rolled up and a needle and thread in her hand, mending something.

Seeing that Deng's mother didn't find him, He Yan quietly covered Deng Ai's mouth, sneaked around behind Deng's mother, and hugged her in his arms with lightning speed.

"Who!"

Deng's mother was also taken aback when she was attacked suddenly, her tense body softened only when she saw He Yan's face, and she honestly let He Yan cling to her body.

"Why did you come back so suddenly? Didn't you say hello in advance?"

Mother Deng, who just turned [-], was at her most coquettish and charming. She blushed and hid in He Yan's arms: "Let me tell you in advance so that I can prepare meals for you."

"No, it's you who eats."

He Yan originally wanted to go forward and bite Mother Deng's earlobe, but Mother Deng seemed to have thought of something suddenly, and hurriedly left He Yan's arms, and kept signaling with winks.

"Wow?"

He Yan, who had been ruined by something good, looked up, only to find that there was actually a person sitting in front of the window on the second floor, looking at He Yan with great interest.

"Brother Changwen?"

Seeing that He Yan finally found himself, Chen Qun also came down from upstairs: "It's because I disturbed Marquis Shen and his wife's affection."

As soon as these words came out, Mother Deng's face turned even redder, she glanced at He Yan coquettishly, then quickly lowered her head again.

Deng Ai looked at He Yan with disdain, as if saying, "I reminded you, who told you not to listen..."

Seeing Chen Qun, He Yan looked at Chen Qun suspiciously, as if doubting Chen Qun's motive for appearing here.

"Yulang, Master Chen is now Ai's teacher, and he comes to teach Ai how to read every day."

Deng Ai's teacher?

Chen Qun also came forward at this time: "To tell you the truth, when I came to visit Marquis Shen, Marquis Shen had already gone to Guandu with Captain Cao, so I missed it by accident."

"On the same day, I found that your son is very intelligent. Although he stutters, he has a quick mind, so I decided to accept him as a disciple."

Deng Ai is like a piece of jade that has been covered up. As long as you understand him patiently, you will sooner or later discover his extraordinaryness.

Chen Qun is naturally a patient person. After he realized Deng Ai's extraordinaryness, he also loved talents and decided to accept Deng Ai as his apprentice.

"Later, I stayed here and helped Marquis Shen renovate the manor by the way, which is somewhat presumptuous."

He Yan was a bit dumbfounded: "Emotions are written by Brother Changwen? I said who can directly build a city, so that's the case."

"Since brother Changwen is willing to accept the boy as his apprentice, it is naturally his blessing."

He Yan patted the top of Deng Ai Yuanyuan's head: "The Chen family in Yingchuan studied ancient Chinese classics, paying attention to classics and writing to govern the world. You must study hard from your teacher."

Deng Ai was a little anxious when he heard this, and Chen Qun also said: "Marquis Shen, I am only teaching him the enlightenment, and there is no scripture."

This made He Yan a little puzzled: "Why?"

"The ancient texts and modern texts are no longer in line with the etiquette and law of the world, and they are no longer useful for the world."

He Yan looked at Chen Qun in surprise, apparently he did not expect that the head of the Chen family in Yingchuan would be so extreme, even a little...rebellious?
The study of Confucian classics is the same as that of the great man, and it has lasted for 400 years. At this time, to say that the study of the Confucian classics is not in accordance with the etiquette, is it not to say that the great man is hopeless?
"Why does Marquis Shen look at me with such strange eyes?"

"Could it be that Marquis Shen thinks that this Confucian classics can make things right?"

He Yan shook his head: "It's just that I didn't expect Brother Changwen to say it so abruptly. I really wasn't prepared at all."

Chen Qun was Xun Yu's son-in-law after all, and his grandfather Chen Shi was a county meritorious officer four times, Yuzhou five times, six three princes, and a proper dutiful son of a big man. It is really surprising that he said these words.

"A gentleman wants to change, there must be someone to find a way out for everyone."

Chen Qun stepped forward: "I didn't have a clue, but after seeing Marquis Shen's arrangement, I did have some ideas. I wonder if Marquis Shen is free tonight? How about going to the mansion to have a talk?"

"Forget it today, there is a family banquet in Sikong's mansion, I promise mother that I will go back."

Seeing Chen Qun eager to share the bed with him, He Yan sensed something was wrong.

This Chen Qun... What exactly is he going to do?
After hearing this, Chen Qun naturally didn't mind waiting another day, so he postponed the date of meeting by one day.

After Chen Qun left, He Yan immediately stepped forward and put his arms around Deng's mother: "Go! Enter the house!"

"It's still daytime..."

"What happened during the day? Let's go!"

"Ai is still..."

"Deng Ai! If you are sensible, go out and play by yourself!"

--------

--------

The next day, He Yan set off from Sikong Mansion, packed presents and came to Chen Qun's mansion.

Because Chen Ji, Chen Qun's father, had passed away less than three years ago, the whole house was in a simple and plain appearance.

In the quiet and ethereal hall, Chen Qun had been waiting for a long time, and when he saw He Yan coming, he also took the initiative to greet him.

"Marquis Shen."

"Brother Changwen."

He Yan handed over the gift in his hand: "Brother Changwen left in a hurry yesterday, and he hasn't given the reward for helping to repair the residence. These are all worthless items, so I hope you don't dislike them."

Having said that, the basket in He Yan's hand contained several sea pearls the size of eggs, each of which was worth more than a hundred gold.

Chen Qun didn't refuse either, as the so-called friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, if it was a polite resignation, it would not be the style of a person like him.

"It seems that Marquis Shen has gained a lot from this expedition."

"It's true that the harvest is quite rich, but the pressure is also quite high."

He Yan sighed: "Especially the recent gossip in Xuchang City, the family members in Sikong Mansion look at me differently and dare not get close, let alone outsiders?"

"How do you say this?"

"Brother Changwen hasn't heard the rumors about me?"

"The rumors are false, but the credit is not."

Chen Qun and He Yan sat cross-legged: "Could it be that Marquis Shen is planning to hide his clumsiness at such a young age?"

"If I really want to hide my clumsiness, then I will honestly go to watch the food and grass in Guandu this time."

He Yan did not regret what he did.

When those hungry soldiers and wounded soldiers and prisoners appeared in front of him, He Yan never hesitated.

"Then why are you still so anxious afterward?"

He Yan was a little confused when he heard Chen Qun asking such a question.

"I heard...Sikong canonized Marquis Shen as Lieutenant Yao?"

"Indeed."

However, Chen Qun didn't congratulate He Yan, instead he sneered, "I don't know when, but this person who has made such great achievements wants to make a compromise. It's really weird."

He Yan looked around and lowered his voice to Chen Qun: "Brother Changwen...are you dissatisfied with Sikong?"

"No."

Chen Qun stared at He Yan: "Sikong's behavior is in line with the rules in the eyes of the world."

"But what conforms to the rules in the eyes of the world must be correct?"

He Yan heard Chen Qun's words, and felt that this great talent who could formulate the "Nine Grades of Zhongzheng System" in the future already wanted to do something at this time.

"I understand. Brother Changwen is not here to enlighten me, but to lure me into the gang."

Chen Qun seemed to want to get something from He Yan.

"Since Marquis Shen has spoken out, then I won't hide it anymore."

Seeing that He Yan is a sensible person, Chen Qun also opened the skylight to speak clearly——

"In today's world, rites and music have collapsed, and the so-called Confucianism governing the world is even more nonsense."

"Many Confucian scholars read all the ancient books, trying to find a way out from the scriptures of sages."

"As my father, Ding You, I also consulted the scriptures, trying to find a way out for the current world with the principles of saints."

"Brother Changwen, have you found it?"

"found it."

"Whose classic?"

"The sage Mencius."

When He Yan heard this name, he couldn't help being a little stunned: "Why him?"

"The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least!"

Only now did He Yan know how the "Nine Grades of Zhongzheng System" formulated by Chen Qun's later generations came into being.

Are feelings learned from Mencius?

It is true that Mencius has the people-oriented thought of "the people are the most important, the community is second, and the king is the least". But at the same time, Mencius also has a set of strict hierarchical governance ideas that "those who work hard govern people, and those who work hard govern people".

Therefore, the "people are the most precious" in the previous sentence, in addition to referring to the general public who work, more refers to "workers" like Chen Qun.

It has to be said that as long as Mencius's set is slightly modified, almost all of it is beneficial to the family. It is no wonder that Chen Qun chose Mencius as a good medicine for saving the world.

If we add the two propositions of "law first king" and "husband's benevolent government must start from the economic circle", it will almost completely take politics, law, and finance out of the hands of the imperial power, and put them under the name of the aristocratic family .

Obviously, what Chen Qun realized from Mencius should be to strengthen the family and then cut the flesh and blood of the imperial power to save the world.

The issue is……

"Brother Changwen, are you looking for me for such a big matter?"

(End of this chapter)