At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 251: A filial piety depends on one’s heart but not on one’s deeds

No wonder Wang was so surprised.

He knew Chen Wen's status as the dean of Lujiang Academy, and even if Du Ji, the governor of Lujiang County, was in front of him, he would bow respectfully.

You must know that Chen Wen was not only a well-educated scholar, but he had also been appointed as the governor of Yangzhou before, and his status was evident.

Now, the respected dean of Lujiang Academy was accompanying those three middle-aged people. How could Wang Hui not be surprised?

Even though he had long known from his wife that these three people had some connections in the government, he never expected that their status would be so respected.

"What are their identities?"

Wang Hui looked puzzled and turned to observe the nearby students of Lujiang Academy, hoping to learn the identities of the three people from them.

It's a pity that the students who used to like to speak freely in the past have serious faces today, and no one is whispering.

As time goes by.

Seeing that almost all the teachers and students from Lujiang Academy had arrived, Chen Wen immediately stepped forward and said loudly: "The general patrolled east to Shu County and took the time to come to Lujiang Academy to test your knowledge. "

"The general is here today. You can speak freely. Don't embarrass Lujiang Academy!"

After Chen Wen finished speaking, many students in the audience were in an uproar, and Wang Hui was even more stunned.

Although he had vaguely guessed that the identities of the three people would not be simple, he did not expect that among them was the famous general Zhou Ziyi.

Although he was shocked, Wang Hui couldn't help but feel hot in his heart.

He was as talented as the other students. What he lacked was family background and a reputation for being unfilial.

If you can be appreciated by the general, what do the above problems mean?
It’s not just Wang Hui.

Although students from well-established families in the academy had already heard some rumors, they still felt unbelievable when Chen Wen confirmed it in person.

Immediately afterwards, many students became excited.

They knew that the general was the most powerful prince in the world after Yuan Benchu. Even if he could not unify the nine states in the future, he could at least rule across the river.

If he can gain the attention of the general and become a founding hero, he will be granted the title of general and wife.

Feeling the fiery gazes of the academy students, Zhou Qi walked to the front and said with a smile: "In recent years, Lujiang Academy has produced many outstanding talents."

"It is precisely because they serve as officials in various counties and counties that the politics of Jing and Yangzhou can be made clear and the people can live and work in peace and contentment."

"On behalf of the people under my rule, I would like to thank all the masters at Lujiang Academy for cultivating so many outstanding talents for the government."

"I also hope that the students who are still studying in the academy will become pillars of talent in the future and live up to what they have learned throughout their lives."

Zhou Qi missed her, and warm applause suddenly broke out from below.

Zhou Qi waited for a moment and saw that the applause still did not stop, then he raised his right hand and pressed it slightly in the void.

Only then did the excited students stop applauding.

Zhou Qi did not say too many polite words, but said straightforwardly: "If you want to be an official, you need not only talent and learning, but also good moral character."

"The great Han rules the world with filial piety."

"I'm going to take filial piety as my theme today. I want to hear your students' opinions on filial piety."

"I wonder if any talented person would be willing to take the stage and explain what filial piety is?"

As soon as Zhou Qi finished speaking, a student from an aristocratic family stood up and said, "I am not very talented and I plan to go on stage to make a fool of myself. I would like to ask the general and all my teachers and classmates to correct me."

Being able to show your face in front of the general is a rare opportunity, and you can soar into the sky because of it.

At this point, it would be foolish to remain humble. On the contrary, whoever stands up first to explain his point of view may be valued by the general.

The other students were about to stand up, but were overtaken by this person, and they all secretly regretted it.

Fortunately, they still wanted to save face after all, so they did not compete noisily for the opportunity to speak first. Instead, they hoped that the other party would make mistakes so that they could have a chance to perform.

Zhou Qi saw this student being so active and immediately said with a smile: "In that case, let's go on stage and talk about it."

This student from an aristocratic family was not afraid at all. After ascending to heaven, he first saluted Zhou Qi, then he saluted Chen Wen and other masters very respectfully, and finally turned around and saluted slightly to the many students in the audience.

After doing all the etiquette, the man said: "Your body, hair and skin, are given to your parents by not daring to damage them. This is the beginning of filial piety. It is the end of filial piety when you stand up for one's conduct and make a name for future generations to show off to your parents."

"Filial piety to a husband begins with serving relatives, ends with serving the king, and finally establishes one's integrity."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion, filial piety lies in serving one's parents, being loyal to one's ruler, and cultivating one's moral character."

"Clap clap clap!"

After the student finished speaking, the audience burst into warm applause.

He started with the Confucian classic "The Classic of Filial Piety" and directly elevated filial piety to self-cultivation and governance. This not only explained filial piety well, but also showed loyalty to Zhou Qi in disguise.

There is an old saying: There is a dilemma between loyalty and filial piety.

But from this student's point of view, loyalty to the emperor is a part of filial piety, so the Han Dynasty's so-called "ruling the country with filial piety" can be understood as loyalty to the emperor.

Zhou Qi smiled when he heard the student's remarks, but did not comment too much, but asked: "Are there any other opinions?"

As soon as Zhou Qi finished speaking, another student couldn't wait to go to heaven. After saluting, he said directly: "The filial piety is the scripture of heaven, the righteousness of earth, and the conduct of the people."

"Upholding filial piety is the right thing to do and is the way of heaven."

"For a filial person, residence will bring him respect, nourishment will bring him joy, illness will bring him sorrow, mourning will bring him sorrow, and sacrifice will bring him severity."

"The emperor's filial piety should be based on love and respect for his relatives, and moral education should be imposed on the people and punishments everywhere; the filial piety of the princes should not be arrogant at the top, be high but not dangerous, be restrained and prudent, and be full but not overflowing; Qing Dafu The filial piety means not speaking out against the law and not doing what is not right. There is no choice in words or deeds in the body. The filial piety of the nobles means being loyal and obedient in matters, protecting their position and observing the sacrifices. The filial piety of the common people means using the way of heaven, dividing the benefits of the earth, and taking care of one's body. Spend money sparingly to support your parents.”

The student who took the stage spoke in detail about all the filial obligations that different classes should fulfill.

Immediately afterwards, the academy students came on stage to explain filial piety from all angles and aspects.

They are indeed knowledgeable and cite scriptures.

However, Zhou Qi discovered that the filial piety these people talked about was ultimately inseparable from the "Book of Filial Piety".

On the contrary, they did not talk much about how to honor their parents and serve their elders. Instead, they extended filial piety and finally linked it with loyalty to the emperor.

Looking at the many students talking eloquently, Zhou Qi seemed to have some understanding of why the feudal dynasty valued filial piety so much.

In the final analysis, it is still conducive to governance.

Seeing the students taking the stage to speak one after another, but still unable to escape the circle, Zhou Qi suddenly asked Wang Hui to take the stage and asked with a smile: "What do you think is filial piety?"

After saying this, the originally warm atmosphere seemed to have been suddenly poured cold water on, and everyone looked at Wang Hui eagerly.

One of them even stepped forward and bowed to Zhou Qi, saying: "The general may not know something. Wang Hui has a lack of moral character. He starved his mother to death. He is a very unfilial person."

"Isn't it ridiculous to invite him to the stage to discuss filial piety?" Some students from aristocratic families also spoke out to denounce Wang Hui.

Wang Hui looked ugly, lowered his head and said nothing. He just clenched his hands with his nails already embedded in his palms.

Looking at the many excited students from aristocratic families, Zhou Qi waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said: "The matter of Wang Hui starving his mother to death will be discussed later."

"I want to know what filial piety is in Wang Hui's heart."

Zhou Qi pushed Wang Hui to the stage, not only to clear his name, but also to see if the other party could seize this opportunity.

If Wang Hui does not dare to speak up for himself to this day, then no matter how talented and learned this person is, he still lacks courage and cannot be reused.

If this is the case, Zhou Qi doesn't need to care too much about Wang Hui.

On the contrary, if Wang Hui can bravely face his heart and seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to defend himself, he will be qualified to be promoted by Zhou Qi.

Seeing that everyone quieted down and focused their attention on him, Wang Hui took a deep breath and then slowly raised his head.

There was no longer any cowardice or shame on his face, and no more pain and confusion in his eyes.

Just as the previous students said - the hair and skin of the body are received from parents and do not dare to damage them, which is the beginning of filial piety; establishing oneself and practicing the Tao, making a name for future generations to show off one's parents is the end of filial piety.

Wang Hui could not provide his mother with favorable material conditions during her lifetime, causing her to starve to death.

If after his death, he can rely on his hard study, establish himself and practice the Tao, and become famous for future generations to show his parents, wouldn't it be a kind of filial piety?

If he gives up on himself because of self-blame, fails to seize this opportunity, and eventually dies in the field without a name, it would be the greatest disloyalty to his parents.

Thinking of this, Wang Hui had already planned not to escape, but said in a deep voice: "I secretly believe that filial piety means obedience. If you don't disobey your parents' orders, you can be filial."

As soon as Wang Hui's voice fell, someone immediately sneered and said: "Your words are a bit too biased."

"If your parents ask you to kill people, set fires, betray the monarch, and do things that violate morality, do you still have to obey them?"

"Can such obedience be called filial piety?"

Wang Hui looked at the man and said, "The so-called filial piety is so profound and profound, how can it be summarized in one word?"

"What I said does not violate the orders of my parents, and it can be considered filial piety. It is just a manifestation of filial piety."

"Zengzi once asked Confucius: Dare I ask if a son can be called filial by obeying his father's orders?"

"Confucius said: Therefore, if it is unjust, then the son cannot but fight with his father, and the minister cannot but fight with the king. Therefore if it is unjust, then fight with him."

"Loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness are all good qualities and cannot be distinguished."

"Your Majesty said that parents letting their sons commit unjust acts by killing people and setting fires is contrary to filial piety. According to Confucius, if parents do unjust acts, the son must not disobey his father."

"Based on righteousness, not contrary to loyalty, and obedient to parents, this is the most filial piety."

The man was refuted by Wang Hui's words and was immediately speechless.

Zhou Qi became interested and asked, "What should happen if the parents do something unjust and the son dissuades them but the parents don't listen?"

There is no doubt that this is a proposition.

Wang Hui's understanding of filial piety is first based on Wei Guangzheng. What should we do if our parents do something that goes against Wei Guangzheng and refuse to listen to their advice?
If in later generations, you can still act according to the law and perform righteous acts of exterminating relatives, this is how many TV dramas show it.

But in this era, that cannot be the case.

Even if parents commit crimes, if their children report their parents, they will be punished for being unfilial.

For this reason, this era even introduced the practice of hiding from each other.

In other words, if parents or relatives commit crimes, hiding their traces is not a crime of covering up, but is legitimate.

Even if the government knew about it afterwards, they would not punish the person who had shielded him.

Regarding Zhou Qi's problem, if Wang Hui said that he broke up with his parents or reported it, it would go against the common concept of filial piety in this era and would be tolerated by the people in the world.

If Wang Hui chooses to ignore it, he will overturn his previous views, which is equivalent to a slap in the face.

Faced with this proposition, Wang Hui remained silent for a long time before speaking categorically: "If the king is not upright, the ministers will defect to foreign countries; if the father is not kind, the son will flee to another country."

As soon as this sentence came out, everyone present was surprised.

In just two sentences, he explained Mencius' concept of monarch and ministers, and also avoided the trap dug by Zhou Qi.

Mencius said: If the ruler treats his ministers like his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his heart and soul; if his ministers regard his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as a fellow countryman; if his ministers regard his ministers as earth and mustard, then his ministers will regard him as a bandit.

What Wang Hui said, "If the emperor is not upright, the subjects will defect to foreign countries" actually coincides with Mencius's concept, and it is also the common concept of loyalty to the emperor in this era.

As for the last sentence, it not only ensures that you will not bear the reputation of being unfilial, but also avoids not collaborating with the wrong parents. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Seeing Wang Hui's quick thinking, Zhou Qi couldn't help but secretly expressed surprise.

Unexpectedly, the man who had just been rendered speechless by Wang Hui shouted angrily: "You, who starved your mother to death, have the right to talk about filial piety here?"

When Zhou Qi heard this, his face darkened.

He had just said that Wang Hui would postpone the matter of starving his mother to death, but he did not expect that the student was so angry that he dared to mention it.

Wang Hui clenched his fists and his face turned red. After all, he still did not defend himself.

He knew that it was not appropriate for him to speak about this matter, so he could only keep his mouth shut.

Zhou Qi turned to look at the man and asked calmly: "May I ask your Excellency, is it considered filial piety to provide for your parents so that they have enough food and clothing?"

The man nodded and said, "Of course it's considered filial piety."

Zhou Qi continued: "If supporting your parents is considered filial piety, the cows and horses in your house also need to be supported. If we only talk about supporting them, what is the difference between parents and cows and horses?"

When the man heard this, his face turned red, but he didn't know how to refute.

Zhou Qi's words also quoted Confucius' words. If you just provide for your parents, it is not considered filial piety at all.

Zhou Qi sighed slightly, pointed at Wang Hui and told the hidden truth in public. Everyone was shocked after hearing this. They were shocked that Wang Hui had such a difficult life before, but also admired the old lady's righteousness in sacrificing her life to keep her son and daughter-in-law alive. .

After seeing everyone sighing, Zhou Qi said: "Filial piety lies in the heart, not just in actions."

"If you just want your parents to have enough food and clothing without any respect or love, even those with wealthy families can do this. Can this be considered filial piety?"

"Wang Hui's family is poor, but he still struggles to squeeze out food from the rations to support his mother. However, because his mother does not want to drag her son down, his son starves to death. How can we say that Wang Hui is unfilial?"

At this point, Zhou Qi's voice suddenly became louder and said: "Filial piety is the first of all good deeds, and there is no filial son in a poor family!"

"Pornography is the first of all evils, no one is perfect in this world!"

(End of this chapter)