A Millennium Aristocratic Family Starting from the Shang Dynasty

Chapter 172 The Battle Between Confucianism and Ink
The Huai State welcomes the Mohists very much. Although Wang Pu thinks that many of the Mohist ideas cannot be realized, this does not prevent him from admiring the Mohists.

You must know that in addition to these ideas, the Mohists are also craftsmen, mathematicians, and astronomers with strong hands-on skills.The method of modifying equipment is extremely exquisite, and the craftsmen and supervisors of Huai State are not as good as it.

Those improved equipment are very good. All kinds of farm tools, spinning wheels, etc. are much easier to use than before. It is said that the Mohists have also creatively produced various defensive equipment. These things can almost change the trend of a war.

With such a great talent, even if these Mohists scolded him face to face, Wang Pu could bear it. Moreover, although the Mohist theory is a bit naive, the world needs these idealists in many cases.

The world would be a much worse place without these idealists.

Although Wang Pu felt that many of their ideas could not be realized, it did not prevent Wang Pu from respecting them and thinking that Mozi was a great sage.

The Mo family came to Huai State, led by Mo Zi, everyone wore short brown skirts, straw sandals, and long swords on their waists.Acting with orders and prohibitions, like an army.

If they hadn't brought Wang Pu's edict, these people would be regarded as enemies when they entered the city, and then launched an attack.

When this group of Mohists came to the academy, many Confucian disciples in the academy were stunned.

"Who are you, why come to the academy dressed like this?"

"Does the academy have regulations on what clothes people must wear when they come to the academy?"

The man was slightly taken aback and said, "No."

These Mohist disciples didn't speak any more, they just walked past him and entered the main hall of the academy.

At this time, in the main hall, it was a scholar of Confucianism who was explaining the theory of Confucianism.

"If the world is to be governed, rituals and music must be maintained, and those who violate the rituals and music must be severely punished. Farmers should farm, soldiers should fight, and handicraftsmen should go to work, so that everyone can perform their duties."

When these Mohists came to the academy, they frowned immediately when they heard the words of Confucian scholars.

"Farmers go to farm, craftsmen go to work, soldiers go to fight, and then the food and items produced will be provided for you to enjoy. Are the soldiers going to fight for the selfish desire of your king?"

"Look at the frequent wars in the world today, the people are displaced, and they don't have enough to eat. Is it because they don't work hard in farming? Is it because the handicraftsmen don't cover their clothes because they don't work hard?"

"Those princes and nobles only care about their own enjoyment, but have they ever cared about the people? All of them are extravagant and wanton enjoyment. Do such people think they should rule the world?"

"How can they be compared with those holy kings in ancient times? Is this the ritual and music you maintain?"

The Mohist's remarks immediately dismissed the Confucian scholars' remarks as useless, but after listening to his remarks, other school scholars also felt that his remarks were not unreasonable, and some people even applauded loudly, it is not a big deal to watch the excitement.

The Confucian disciples who came back to their senses were immediately furious, and shouted: "Who are you, you are so shameless, report your name!"

"Mohists, the bird slips away!"

Qin slipped away and said loudly, although Qin slipped away with simple clothes, he looked very imposing, and no one dared to underestimate him.

"Mohism? Are you here to debate with my Confucianism?"

"Come to this academy to debate with you!"

Hearing these words, the hall of the Academy suddenly became excited. You must know that every school debate is a feast.The surrounding clerks immediately began to prepare to record the remarks of both parties.

Confucian scholars are not afraid of debates. On the contrary, only Legalism can barely beat Confucianism in the academic palace.

Since the vast majority of legalist scholars went to various countries, there are only three or two legalist scholars in the academy, and they are still opponents of Confucian students.

Now hearing that the Mohists are coming to debate with them, these Confucian disciples are full of confidence.

It's a pity that what they met were Mohists who had been prepared for a long time. The philosophy of Confucianism has been spread all over the world in the past few decades. These Mohists are very familiar with it, and their advantages and disadvantages are also clear.And Mohism's remarks are hardly heard. In such a debate, how can Confucianism be an opponent?

In a debate, the Mohists often hit the nail on the head.The disciples of Confucianism were so defenseless that they almost hid their faces and fled.

The other schools who watched this scene were stunned. Where did this Mohist school come from? It is so powerful!
In the first debate, Confucianism was defeated. If the clerk hadn't seen that the situation was wrong, he would have interrupted the debate in advance to give the Confucian students some time to adjust, and the scene would have been even worse.

For the next five days, the Confucian students and the Mohist debated five times in a row, losing all five games.In the end, even a few Confucian students in the debate doubted what they had learned.

"Your so-called Confucianism, apart from adding some rites and music to show the majesty of the king, what good does it do for the people? It's just for fame!"

"You Confucianists emphasize filial piety, which is to make people observe filial piety for three years, wear hemp and filial piety, cry day and night, endure hunger and starvation, and don't eat meat. After three years, a good person has almost half his life left. This is the so-called filial piety? In my opinion, you might as well follow and continue to be filial."

"The people are poor, they work all day long, and they keep their filial piety for three years. Do you want their family to starve to death?"

"Your so-called three-year filial piety is just to show others that you are a filial son. If you want to buy people's hearts, you have a bigger picture!"

"For the sake of the so-called filial piety, you promote generous burials. Do you know the sufferings of those ordinary people? A rich burial will wipe out all the wealth of the family."

"What you are asking for is nothing more than a false name."

"The so-called gentleman is ill and his name is not well-known, he is a person who deceives the world and steals his name."

"Nowadays, the Huai Kingdom is at its peak, and the feudal lords are fearful. Does the Huai Kingdom respect heavy burials? Duke Huai passed away in all dynasties, but only a piece of jade bi was recorded on the bamboo slips. Only those who have made great achievements can be engraved on the tripod."

"You guys like extravagance, it's common to have rich burials, but you invite them to be called filial piety, how ridiculous!"

In the five consecutive days of debate, the Confucian students lost a lot and were almost scolded by the Mohists.A large part of the reason for this is that Confucianism is an aristocratic theory and is not down-to-earth.

Just like a thick burial, even a well-to-do family can't afford it.And those cumbersome sacrificial rituals, who else would use them except nobles?

The Mohists, on the other hand, stood at the grassroots level. If they kept their filial piety for three years, the whole family would starve to death. It would be a neat family.

In the Huaiguo Academy, the Mohists pressed the Confucian students one by one on the ground and rubbed them back and forth, and their reputation was greatly shaken.In Mozi's view, this set of Confucian theories is nothing but a hypocritical mask for the ruler, a shackle to imprison the common people, and a set of seemingly reasonable rituals and music to make the nobles suck blood from the common people.

Confucianism seeks fame, pays attention to etiquette, respect and order, while Mozi pays more attention to practicality. After all, in this war-torn era, Mozi wants to create a world for the common people.

(End of this chapter)