warring states careerist

Chapter 520 Freshmen

Ximen Leopard was not surprised by the fact that his son was going to study in Sishang. Since many stories happened this year, since he made such a choice, his heart is probably as firm as iron.

Or maybe at this time, the heart may not be as hard as iron, but just a mass of mud.But in the end, it will be fired into hard pottery and warm porcelain on Sishang.

Ximen Bao didn't say any more words of parting, but asked: "When Wu Qi was studying in the past, he once said that he would not return to his hometown if he was not a minister. Do you want to say something similar when you leave like this? For example, Said, the world is unfavorable, vow not to return home?"

"I'm sixty and two years old this year. Even if the Mohists say everything is right, it will take decades to say the least. I want to know, on the day of my funeral, should I tell your brother in advance so that he doesn't have to worry about it?" Need to wait for you to come back?"

The story of Wu Qi is well known among the nobles of Wei State, Ximen Bao said these words are not desolate, just want to ask.

Ximen Shu bowed and said, "Father, Mohists are also human beings. The Mohists love both, which means to love others as you love yourself. If I don't know how to love myself and my father, how can I be able to do both?" Love the rest of the world?"

"It's just... maybe, I will love you with the righteousness, customs and etiquette I believe in."

"A person who supports thick burials once asked Mozi, "Long burials and long funerals are not the way of heaven. They talk nonsense about Chinese gentlemen, and they do what they want, and they don't choose what to do?"

"It is said that if such things as burials and funerals are not the way of heaven, then why do Chinese gentlemen choose? Because Chinese gentlemen all choose, so this must be the way of heaven."

"But Mozi said that when the parents of Yiren Kingdom in the south of Chu died, they had to cut off their heads before burying them. After the people of Yiqu Kingdom died, they burned them on fire. This is just a habit. It's not the way of heaven, it's just a habit, and it should be changed."

Speaking of this, Ximen Shi saw that his father seemed to be about to say something, and hurriedly said: "It's just like when you ruled that He Bo married a wife. According to those people's principles, why did many people participate in He Bo's marriage? Then this must be It is correct, so it cannot be abolished. That’s not how it works.”

"But you also abolished it, and you also issued a decree to severely punish He Bo for marrying a wife. This is also a change of customs. In fact, it is no different from a grand burial or a festival burial; mourning for three years and three days."

"The meaning of the Mohist school is that mourning for three years is a ritual that harms the world and must be abolished. When Mozi passed away, his disciples only mourned for three days, because the remaining time can be saved to do things that benefit the world. Even farmers, three years If you are in mourning, you cannot harvest crops; even if you do all kinds of work, you will not be able to make utensils after three years of mourning; these are all etiquettes that harm the world, and customs should be changed."

"So, I will come back when the time comes, but I hope you can know that I am in mourning for three days because I love you."

People at this time do not deny life and death, and this is not a curse.

Ximen Leopard laughed loudly, did not express any more, neither nodded nor reprimanded, but waved his hand and said: "So, then go."

Ximen Shu bowed again and retreated.

After leaving the house, Ximen pig bypassed the chaotic crowd on the street, thinking that the officials had informed the people and gathered near the city gate to prepare for the expedition.

Different from Wu Qi's recruitment system in Xihe, Ximen Leopard's policy in Yedi is to put soldiers in agriculture. The people farm and produce on weekdays, and participate in certain military training on time. Once the war starts, the people are immediately recruited to serve.

This is the second large-scale recruitment in Yedi, but this time the situation is completely different from the last time.

On the way to the Mohist stronghold, Ximen Zhu heard a lot of complaints and dissatisfaction about the expedition on the street. He smiled and turned into the distant streets.

Knocking on the door he often came in and out of, Ximen Xie took off his robes, revealing the cotton, a kind of robes that are very popular in the lower class nowadays, due to the advancement of weaving technology and the large size of the cloth leading to changes in cutting. It originated from the civilian clothing of the Mohists in Sishang.

The aristocratic costume on his body was not heavy, on the contrary, it was very light in weight, but when he took it off, it seemed as if he had lifted a heavy burden, and he let out a long breath.

Walking into the door where he often listened to lectures, the middle-aged man with a severed finger smiled at him, and then continued to talk to the young man who was kneeling there and listening to lectures.

Ximen Shu quietly walked to an open space in the corner and knelt down. After the wait was over, the middle-aged man waved to him, and Ximen Shu moved closer.

"Are you ready? You have to know, what does it mean for you to take this step?"

Ximen Zhu nodded and said without any hesitation: "Yes, I know. This means that my aristocratic blood is meaningless, and I am just one of the people in the world in Sishang; it means that my compassion is in Sishang It’s not about being different; it means I’m probably going to start with the most ordinary things because I’m new.”

The middle-aged man smiled and said: "It seems that you are ready. Regret is a matter of the future, not a matter of the present. At least, you are ready now."

"Tomorrow morning, there will be a caravan carriage, and a few people like you will go to Sishang together."

"This afternoon, I'm going to take you to see something."

Simon Shu didn't ask what he wanted to see, but just nodded.

This year, he watched a lot of things, and he couldn't guess what to watch this time.

This year, he saw the suffering of farmers, the fatigue of all workers, and the grievances of businessmen. After seeing too much, he realized something.

As for what was going on, he had to go and see it on the last afternoon before leaving Yedi, but he couldn't guess.

In the afternoon, Ximen Zhu and several others followed the middle-aged man with the severed finger and walked to the gate of Ye City.

Ximen Shu glanced at the middle-aged man with some doubts. This open space in front of the city gate was the place where the people were recruited to gather.

Because his father, Ximen Bao, was wearing a military uniform, and was standing next to a big drum standing in front of the city gate, where private soldiers were gathering, and many people from Yedi had already gathered in the open space.

This is the second large-scale recruitment of people since Ximen Bao ruled Ye.

The first time he was recruited was when Marquis Wen was still alive. Some people spread rumors that Ximen Bao was not suitable to be a county guard, and that he did not exploit the people so that the treasury was empty.

The dangerous land of Ye is just the place that strangles Zhao Guo's throat. Marquis Wen couldn't help but check it out, so he came here to check it out.

Ximen Leopard beat drums in front of the city gate. Before the third drum was exhausted, all the people assembled, each prepared food, and their parents sent them off, thinking that the county guard would die.

Marquis Wen first learned of Ximen Bao's policy of "putting soldiers in agriculture and storing grain in the people", and seeing that the people's hearts are available, he was relieved.

In history, Ximenbao had a very high reputation in Yedi. Even after the establishment of the Han Dynasty hundreds of years later, because the canal planned by Ximenbao blocked the royal road, it decided to merge the three tributaries and only keep one of them.

However, the people did not listen to the local officials at all, thinking that there was only one sheriff in Yedi, and that was Ximen Bao hundreds of years ago, and these ditches were planned by Ximen Bao, they would not agree to change, and eventually the local area had to adopt The way of changing the imperial way did not arouse dissatisfaction among the people.

Since Ximen Bao ruled Ye, it was resented by the people at the beginning of "the people can't be worried about it". After the Zhang River was governed, ironware and new planting technology and improved seeds were introduced, the water in Yedi was irrigated. This made the people in Ye land more and more prosperous, and the people respected Ximen Bao very much.

Now that many years have passed, Yedi is more prosperous than before, and it is said that the people's respect for Ximen Leopard will be even greater than before.

But this time drumming was a little different.

The last time it was sent off by parents, willing to die for the county guard, each carrying food, shouting loudly.

But this time, the crowd was silent, loose and uneven, some were silent, some sighed, or some were dissatisfied with talking too much.

There is a saying in later generations that when Ximen Bao ruled Ye, the people did not dare to bully him.

Ximen Leopard has its own method of thunder and knows the art of relaxation. Although the corvee is light and frivolous, back then Zhihebo threw Hebo into the water without saying a word, and then changed customs. Naturally, the law is strict.

As a Ye Shou, he was not only a local governor, but also a military commander. He put soldiers in the peasants for training every year, and the military orders were strictly enforced.

Ximen Zhi knows this very well. In reality, spreading news, once the drums are played, those who fail to arrive three times will be punished.

Although all the peasants and soldiers arrived this time, their momentum was not as good as before, and there was no such agitation as before that "the former county guard served to fight to the death".

Ximen Shu was outside the crowd and found Ximen Leopard pacing with his hands behind his back in front of the big drum at the city gate. He knew that it was his father's movements when he was nervous and angry, and thought...it was understandable.

The crowd is gathered, the morale of the army is low, and the face is full of sighs and resentment. How can we fight?
Ximen Shu didn't know what his father was thinking, but he saw Ximen Leopard walking in front of the crowd and asked: "Old people, more than ten years ago, this drum sounded twice, and everyone came here with soldiers and food."

"The one standing here today is still me, why have you all become like this?"

Everyone didn't answer, Ximen Shu thought to himself, maybe his father also knew that the people are not willing to fight now, especially since Sanjin was once an alliance, and now it is for the struggle between Mr. Zhao, how can the people be willing?
It was only ten years ago that wars were fought, blood was shed, and people were killed. Why did the people follow with soldiers and food?
He thought again, if he was asked to come here today to see something, is it because he wants to see these people?

At this time, Ximen Bao asked again: "I am a Ye Shou, and I have no concubines in my family, no horses in my stables, and no gold and jade in my house. Compared with those officials who are corrupt and seek personal gain, isn't it worthy of praise?"

This is the truth, and everyone said: "It is commendable."

Ximen Leopard asked again: "I am the guard of Ye, lightly shake the labor, build water conservancy, collect less tribute, and store grain for the people. This makes the people rich and healthy, and the benefits of the Zhang River irrigate tens of thousands of hectares. The people have no food and clothing. Worry. Have you all forgotten all of this?"

This is also the truth, everyone also said: "I haven't forgotten."

Ximen Leopard sighed: "I am the county guard, and I have achieved the ultimate. Now, the princes need your strength, can you only enjoy what I said, but can't fight for me and the country? More than ten years ago, you were willing to die for it, but after more than ten years, could it be that I, Ximen Leopard, have changed?"

Everyone also said: "You have not changed."

Ximen Leopard asked, "Then why are you so depressed today? Is anyone willing to answer me?"

He asked three times, but no one stood up. Many people avoided Ximen Leopard's gaze, their eyes dodged, and they seemed a little ashamed.

Under this kind of shame, some people stood up and said: "We are wrong, Ye Shou like you is worthy of our death."

But even if someone said this, most people were still downcast and did not arouse the roar of the crowd.

Ximen Leopard asked loudly: "Who can stand up and talk about today's why?"

Finally one person came out from the crowd, saluted Ximen Leopard and said, "Please let me answer for you. But please forgive my possible sins."

Ximen Leopard nodded, and the man said: "There are good breeders who raise pigs."

"Every morning, the herdsmen go to mow the grass, and when they come back, they add sweet potato leaves and corn kernels to boil, and then feed them to the pigs."

"At noon, the herders will clean up the piggery to clean up the excrement."

"At night, we will light the wormwood again to smoke those annoying mosquitoes."

"Wait until the winter moon, the pigs are fattening. So the herdsman wanted to kill the pigs, so he walked into the pig house with a knife. The pigs in the pig house scattered and ran away."

"The private shepherd asked: Why are you running away? Haven't I done enough?"

"A pig said: You did a great job, but didn't you do all this to kill pigs? So, you want us to let you kill us because we are grateful for your good work? "

Just after this person finished speaking, Ximen Leopard's face changed, and he said angrily: "These are all the words of the Mohist family to disrupt the world! Now that there are many warring states, you must attack the State of Zhao, and if you don't attack the State of Zhao, won't the State of Zhao come to attack the State of Wei? ? Then, as Wei people, shouldn’t you stand up and defend the Wei country?”

The person who spoke just now looked at Ximen Bao and sighed, "This is the kingdom of Wei of the princes and nobles, not ours. You are a good man and a good Ye Shou, but we don't know why we want to attack Zhao."

"Military orders are strict and cannot be violated. Therefore, we stand here as soldiers for you and the noble Wei State. However, you also demand that we, who are as imposing as Nie Zheng's assassination of the Qin Dynasty, want to die for our wishes... Isn't it like the breeder wants the pigs in those pens to keep running?"

"We will obey the military order. But don't ask us why we are not aggressive."

Ximen Bao laughed loudly and said, "The Mo family's words of self-interest and benevolence are really disturbing people's hearts! Since they say self-interest, will there be Ye Shou who will do better than me after the Zhao people come over? At that time, it will be replaced by a corrupt Ye Shou." Keep it, or become the fiefdom of the nobles, won't you regret it by then?"

The speaker said humanely: "The Mohist said: To build a country's capital is to be upright and long. It's not to be high on its rank and rich on its salary. It's wrong to lose wealth and honor. It's for the benefit of all people and the elimination of harm. The rich and the poor and the poor and the poor are also safe and dangerous."

"Originally, the establishment of the princes, doctors, and county guards was not to allow them to enjoy a life of luxuries and extravagance. It was to benefit and eliminate harm for all people, rich and poor, and peace and chaos."

"If you are a Ye Shou, your duty is to benefit and eradicate harm for the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. We are grateful to you because you have done the work for the benefit and elimination of the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. At that time, we were willing to die for it, because we didn’t know that building a country’s capital and standing upright to grow up is not to be high on its rank, rich on its salary, and wrong on the loss of wealth. This is to benefit all people and eliminate harm, rich and poor , security and chaos."

"Now we know. This should be a matter of duty, but now it can make people feel grateful. Isn't this a disease of the world?"

"So, we will abide by your military orders, but we will not die for Wei Xiao out of gratitude like we did ten years ago."

"You said that Zhao Guo may send Ye Shou who is corrupt, but it may also send Ye Shou who is not corrupt. All of this is not something we can choose. You are a good Ye Shou, but this does not mean that we can The reason to die for the prince."

"We respect your military order, what else do you want?"

"Do we have to let each of us bare our upper body, shouting long live the Great Wei and fighting to the death? Is this possible?"

"Those who stood up just now are just grateful for your kindness and feel that you are very good. I am sorry for not dying for you. But I want to live. Will you feel ashamed for letting me die?"

Listening to these words from a distance, Simon Shu sighed.

The middle-aged man with the severed finger next to him asked with a smile, "In your opinion, are they weaker than before?"

Simon Shu shook his head and said, "No, they are braver than before. Being able to dare to defend their own interests is the greatest kind of bravery, and they did not have such bravery more than ten years ago. They are not cowardly, but braver."

"When they need to defend what they are willing to defend, the Xia of Kyushu is full of warriors."

"It's like universal love. Universal love is to love others as you love yourself. If you don't even know how to love yourself, how can you know how to love others?"

"If they don't even know how to defend their own interests, how can they be expected to fight to the death to defend the interests of others?"

"If you don't even have the courage to speak out for your own interests, how can you expect them to die for others?"

"That person is right, this is not their Wei State. This is the Wei State of the princes and nobles."

"Based on the meaning of the Mohists, all the people in the Kyushu belong to the world, and there is no distinction between people from Qin, Chu, Zhao, Han, Wei, and Qi."

"Wen Zi of the past Ji said: If you are not of my race, your heart must be different. This family is nothing more than a clan. The surname Ji and the surname Mi naturally do not agree. He also said: The same surname, the same heart, the same heart, the same moral comrades... In the end, this The whole world is nothing but the struggle between the Zhao family, the Wei family, the Ying family, the Han family, the Tian family, and the Xiong family, isn't it just that people who are not my race must have different hearts?"

"If people in the world have no surnames, what does the dispute between the Wei and Zhao surnames have to do with those who have no surnames? Why do they die? Different surnames mean different aspirations. How can we be comrades without surnames?"

After finishing speaking, he thought for a while, looked at the people who were sighing because of this recruitment, took a deep breath and said: "They are like me, as if they have been reborn. Maybe they were pigs and sheep before, but now they want to be human." .”

He turned his gaze to the crowd, wanting to continue to hear what his father would say.

The middle-aged man patted Simon on the shoulder and said, "Come on, you've seen what I want you to see. You're right, they want to be human now."

After all, get up and walk away, regardless of everything before the city gate.

Ximen Shu got up, took one last look at his father, and at those people who would obey the military order but were unlikely to die for it, smiled, and didn't know who he was nodding at, or at everyone nodded.

Then he turned around and left with the middle-aged man.

(End of this chapter)