Kai Fu Han

Chapter 106: Mencius said righteousness
Luo Gao and Xu Zhong walked towards Luo Cheng's study together.

"Butler Xu, do you know what father wants from me?"

After hearing Luo Gao's question, Xu Zhong replied:
"I don't know, but there was news from the Luo family's spies outside just now. I think it has something to do with it."

The two came to the study, but Luo Cheng was not there.

"Master, please wait here, I'll go down and get busy first."

"it is good."

Luo Gao was waiting around in the study room. He turned over the books on the desk out of boredom and accidentally saw the words "Attack on Liujiabao" displayed in the middle of the desk.

He quickly looked up and looked around, then came to the door and looked outside. After confirming that no one was there, he quickly came to the desk, carefully picked up the paperweight, and finally read the entire content on the note.

"This!!"

I put down the paperweight, but in a panic, I didn't put it back as it was.

This news shocked Luo Gao.

At this moment, Luo Cheng came in from the door.

"I've been busy lately and haven't been able to test your knowledge. I'm going to test you today."

Luo Cheng crossed Luo Gao, walked back to the desk and sat down. When he saw that the paperweight on the table had been moved, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Recite "Mencius" and I will do what I want."

Luo Gao's understanding was already in chaos. How could he calm down and recite it?

"The fish is what I want; the bear's paw is also what I want. You cannot have both, and you would give up the fish and take the bear's paw. ... Life is what I want; righteousness is also what I want. [-]. Those who cannot have both are those who sacrifice their lives for righteousness. Life is what I want..."

Seeing that Luo Gao was reciting intermittently, Luo Cheng interrupted him.

"Stop, stop!, tell me your understanding of Mencius' meaning of 'righteousness'."

Luo Gao barely regained his composure:

"Righteousness also means a heart of shame."

Luo Cheng was obviously not satisfied with Luo Gao's answer.

"According to the text, righteousness is appropriate, and it is the unity of one's own morality and behavior. Everyone in ancient and modern Confucianism is familiar with it, and no one can accurately define the original meaning of 'righteousness'. Today, you can't even recite the books of sages proficiently, how can you understand 'righteousness'. You should study hard at home these days and don't run around, especially you can't go to Liujiapu."

"Yes!"

Luo Gao responded and exited the study, heading towards his room.

Walking on the road, people seemed a little distracted and muttered:
"..., it is to enable the people to live and die without regrets."

"So that people can maintain their health and die without regrets."

When he reached the door of his room, Luo Gao's eyes finally became firm. He did not enter the room, but turned and walked out the door.

……

"Master, the young master is out."

Xu Zhong stood in the study and reported to Luo Chenghui.

"Let him go. Luo Gao is better than me. He has sacrificed his life for righteousness."

"The master is in power and has nothing to do."

It turned out that Luo Cheng himself could not decide whether to reveal this decisive news to Liu Xinqi, so he transferred this problem to Luo Gao.

……

Time goes back to noon on the [-]th.

After Liu Xinqi discussed with everyone, he took three teams of soldiers and Gao Yuan to sail towards Changdao.

An afternoon was spent promoting Liujiabao's policies on several inhabited islands in the Changdao Islands, and allowing the soldiers to demonstrate their abilities as "immortal soldiers and immortal generals."

Finally, he promised: "Liujiabao will always only charge one-tenth of the taxes on farming and fishing from all tribesmen, and will never increase taxes. After all tribesmen have paid taxes to the tribe, they will not pay any taxes to the court, regardless of tax." No matter how much, Liujiabao will take care of it, so the clan members don’t have to pay a penny more.”

Those who vowed to join Liujiabao were also given one month's guaranteed monthly salary - fifty kilograms of food stamps on site.

After being baptized by the extraordinary force of the "immortal soldiers and generals" and stimulated by Liu Xinqi's promise of "one out of ten taxes" and "never increase taxes", most of the islanders swore to join Liujiabao.In the end, Liu Xinqi counted 330 new forces recognized by the system, accounting for [-]% of the population of Changdao Township.

Liu Xinqi drew 53 cards at once and got 35 one-star cards, [-] two-star cards, and two three-star cards.

Among them, the three stars are Xu Sheng (group) and Han Dang (group).

After returning to Penglai Port, Liu Lizhen was asked again to select 51 well-trained clan soldiers, and with their consent, cards were attached to them.

Promote Liu Xinyuan to captain of the seventh team, and then increase the number of soldiers in the first (Liu Xinyang), fourth (Liu Xinbao), sixth (Liu Xinjun) and seventh teams to 20.

Arrangements were made for Liu Lizhen to go to Baishiwan overnight to make up the number of clan soldiers to 300.

"You are drinking doves to stop the bleeding. How can you distribute so much food to so many people? You also have to take over their taxes."

Liu Lizhen took the time to say to Liu Xinqi.

"Don't worry, except for the monthly salary guarantee, pension and workmanship that remain unchanged, you can calculate our payment capacity and determine the value for other monthly salaries. I have not promised how much we will pay." Liu Xinqi replied: " As for taxes, I recognize the State of Zhao but not the State of Qi, so I don’t plan to pay taxes until the State of Zhao comes back."

"Then you broke your promise? Moreover, this will make the monthly salary for growth, childbirth, pension, etc. very small, which is unfair to the previous clan members."

"I will find a way later. I'll pass this level first and then talk about it."

Liu Xinqi plans to use the magic weapon of "insurance" later. In addition to the clan subsidy, the other part can be coordinated by all clan members.In this way, people who pay for insurance get more, while those who don’t pay can only get a small part of the family subsidy.

……

In the Liu family compound, Liu Xinqi came back to spend time with his mother and Zhou Yue in the evening. He will definitely not be able to stay at home for a long time.

knock, knock, knock

Hearing a knock on the door, Liu Xinqi opened the door and saw Luo Gao standing outside the door, his expression very different from usual, plain but firm.

"What happened when you came here so late?"

"Go in and talk"

……

After Luo Gao finished speaking, Liu Xinqi asked curiously:

"Even if I have saved your life, your Luo family's help to the Liu family in Dengzhou has already been paid off. Why do you want to 'betray' your own class and inform me?"

Luo Gao seemed to have thought about Liu Xinqi's question a long time ago, and replied directly:

"This is not a betrayal. I have my own persistence. I feel that my actions are in line with my 'righteousness'"

Liu Xinqi became even more curious when he heard Luo Gao raising the topic at such a high level.

"Oh? What do you say?"

"I often come to Liujiabao for leisure, and I have also been to Baishiwan. I think you have done what the sages said about 'benevolence' in your treatment of your tribe and prisoners, and you have done so to 'enable the people to live and die without regrets.' And a benevolent person is invincible. So I choose to help you."

"You..." Liu Xinqi shook his head, not knowing how to evaluate Luo Gao.

What Luo Gao said about "enable the people to maintain their health and have no regrets even if they die" comes from "Mencius" What a widow is to a country. It is what Mencius said to King Hui of Liang. Mencius believed that if you can "preserve your life and have no regrets even if you die", you can achieve what Confucianism strives for. The politics and society of the kingly way advocated are the "beginning of the kingly way".

Luo Gao's thoughts will make people feel naive in later generations, because countries are destined to communicate with each other based on survival and interests, and benevolence and righteousness can only be luxuries for the strong.The same is true between forces.

But in the thoughts of Confucian scholars of this era, benevolence and righteousness are a lifelong pursuit and their ultimate belief.

"Thank you, you are my good brother. I was hesitating before, but now I know what to do."

"Go back and tell your uncle that there will be a big burden for him later and let him be prepared."

Luo Gao was a little confused and asked, "What do you mean?"

"You will know in a few days, and then you can join us without any scruples. I know you have always wanted to join."

"Really?" Luo Gao was a little surprised and didn't want to ask anymore.

"real."

"Okay, I'll go back and wait."

(End of this chapter)