Aspirations

Chapter 160

"Master Cui, don't worry, listen to the officer to finish." Xia Xiang chuckled, with a harmless smile on his face, "Feng Dao's defection to Li Cunxu is indeed puzzling, at least on the surface, it is harmful to integrity, but To judge whether a person's actions are good or bad, we should not only look at the surface, but also look at his starting point. Feng Dao is an official, if he seeks fame and fortune, it is naturally contemptuous. But during his expedition with the army, he and the soldiers He shared joys and sorrows, lived with the soldiers in thatched huts, slept on horse feed, rewarded the soldiers with his own salary, and sent home the beauties whom his subordinates plundered to send to him.”

"It's just a show, trying to catch fame and pretend to be noble." Yang Jiang snorted and sneered contemptuously, "If he can do something that is subservient to the enemy, will he hide a lot of wealth and beauties? Feng Dao is really a traitor who seems loyal. .”

Xia Xiang smiled knowingly: "If Yang Yasi can do such a noble thing to gain fame and reputation, it will not be easy."

Yang Jiang blushed, opened his mouth to say something, and swallowed it back.

Xia Xiang continued: "Feng Dao went home to observe filial piety because of his father's death. At this time, he was already a popular person in front of Li Cunxu. Local officials were moved by the news and came to express their hearts. He refused all of them. He kept filial piety for his father and lived in a hut , but took out his own salary to help the poor, and secretly helped the villagers who were unable to cultivate the land to cultivate the land. When the villagers came to thank them, he denied that he did it. Xu Xiancheng and Yang Yasi did good deeds by themselves without leaving their names. Going for fame or pretending to be noble?"

Xu Heguang coughed a few times: "This, this, Feng Dao is a very ambitious person. He does not covet the petty profits in front of him, but seeks greater benefits."

"That's right." Xia Xiang clapped his hands and applauded, "Now there is a person in the imperial court who is far better than Feng Dao. The name of Kuai Qing spread throughout the government and the public. The emperor called him several times, but refused to accept it. He claimed that he wanted to write a book, but in fact he thought the official position appointed by the emperor was too small. He was recruited several times and failed, which made him more famous. It was known all over the world. The emperor was thirsty for talent, and when he was recruited again, he appointed him as the fifth-rank magistrate, and he took up the post happily. After taking the post of magistrate, he made drastic reforms, quickly accumulated official names, was promoted one after another, and finally entered Beijing as an official until today... ..."

Cui Xiang's heart sank, Xia Xiang actually compared Hou Pingpan to Feng Dao, and couldn't help feeling very unhappy.But thinking about it further, he couldn't help being horrified. What Hou Pingpan did was really similar to Feng Dao. Before that, he really didn't think of comparing Hou Pingpan and Feng Dao.

Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang also heard what Xia Xiang said, and at the same time cast a disapproving look at Xia Xiang.

Xia Xiangcai didn't care about the eyes of several people, and continued: "Shortly thereafter, Li Siyuan launched a rebellion, Li Cunxu died in the rebellion, and Li Siyuan succeeded to the throne for Tang Mingzong. Tang Mingzong attached great importance to Feng Dao, and soon promoted Feng Dao. Dao served as the prime minister. Tang Mingzong was a talented and vigorous emperor. After he succeeded to the throne, he cared for the people and encouraged farming, so that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Once he asked Feng Dao, "Nowadays the world has a good harvest, the people should be rich, right?" Feng Dao replied No, grain is expensive for hungry peasants, and cheap grain hurts peasants. Nie Yizhong’s "Shang Tian Family Poems" says that new silk is sold in February, and new grains are sold in May. Heal the sores in front of the eyes and gouge out the flesh and blood of the heart. I wish the king’s heart, Turn it into a bright candle. It doesn’t illuminate Qiluoyan, but only illuminates the escape house... After Tang Mingzong heard it, he was speechless for a long time. He asked people to write down this poem and read it aloud in the future.”

Cui Xiang was also moved, nodded and said: "The period when Feng Dao served Tang Mingzong was the most outstanding period in his life, and he did do some things for the people, but it was not all mediocrity. A few years later, Tang Mingzong died, and Tang Minzong succeeded to the throne. He was the fourth emperor Feng Dao served. Killed. And what did Feng Dao do? After Tang Minzong fled, when Li Congke attacked the city, he led all the civil servants in the city to surrender. Because of his surrender, Li Congke looked at him highly after he succeeded, and still Reuse him. Li Congke is the last emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the fifth emperor served by Feng Dao."

Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang all cast admiring and flattering gazes at Cui Xiang, and Xu Heguang couldn't wait to flatter him: "The Cui Fuzun is knowledgeable and talented, and I have been educated."

Cui Xiang waved his hand: "Stop talking nonsense, and listen to Xia Xianzun to continue."

Xia Xiang continued: "Afterwards, Shi Jingtang killed Tang Mozong and established the Later Jin Dynasty, that is, the Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin Dynasty. Shi Jingtang was the sixth emperor Feng Dao served, and he also relied heavily on Feng Dao. Shi Jingtang sent envoys At the time of Khitan, none of the civil and military officials dared to go, because Khitan was a barbarian, and they were afraid that they would never return. Feng Dao volunteered to go. When he arrived in Khitan, the Khitan emperor wanted Feng Dao to be used by him, but Feng Dao did not want to stay in Khitan Shi Jingtang proclaimed himself a minister to Khitan, calling himself the son of the emperor. Feng Dao said, Khitan and Jin are the country of father and son, and there is no difference whether the minister is in Khitan or Jin. After hearing this, the Khitan emperor was overjoyed and let him come back. Many people in later generations called Feng Dao a slave without a king and no father, a slave among slaves. But if Feng Dao didn't say that, how could he work for the benefit of the people and inherit the Han culture if he was left in Khitan?"

"Running for the benefit of the people and the inheritance of Han culture? Hehe." Cui Xiang couldn't help sneering, "After returning, when Shi Jingtang was seriously ill, he asked Feng Dao to help his youngest son ascend the throne. Unexpectedly, Shi Jingtang had just died, and Feng Dao Dao turned around and put his promise to Shi Jingtang behind him, and led the court officials to support Shi Chonggui as emperor. Shi Chonggui was the seventh emperor Feng Dao served. Because of his meritorious service, Shi Chonggui also valued Feng Dao very much. Unfortunately, The good times didn’t last long, and Shi Chonggui was soon eliminated by Khitan Emperor Yelu Deguang, and Feng Dao changed his court again and became Yelu Deguang’s important minister. Yelu Deguang was the eighth emperor served by Feng Dao.”

"Forgetting one's ancestors!" Xu Heguang was filled with indignation, "As a Han Chinese, I really have no shame in bowing down to the Khitan people."

Yang Jiang shook his head: "Scum! Shame!"

Xia Xiang smiled silently. There are many things in the world that cannot be seen only on the surface. If he really judged a hero based on integrity, Confucius would not have traveled around the world in order to educate the world and left a famous story through the ages.Even Li Bai was ecstatic when he heard Li Longji's edict, and immediately "laughed up to the sky and went out, how can I be from Penghao".Feng Dao's actions are not tolerated by the common world, and it is also reasonable. After all, not everyone can have Feng Dao's feelings of compassion.

Feng Dao's heart is for the common people in the world, regardless of his personal name, it is the heart of the real elephant, the invisible great voice Xisheng.

Xia Xiang didn't refute the few people, and just went on to say: "People in the world scold Feng Dao for serving Yelv Deguang just by forgetting his ancestors, but they don't know that Feng Dao is not for himself, but for the people. After Yelu Deguang succeeded to the throne, Zhi Complacent, he asked Feng Dao triumphantly and arrogantly, how can the people in this world be saved? The implication is that if I want to kill the people in the world now, what can you do to me? Feng Dao replied, even the Buddha In the next life, it will be difficult to save the people of the world. But your Majesty is superior to the Buddha, and it is easy to save the people of the world. Yelu Deguang was very helpful after hearing this, and laughed, dispelling the desire to massacre the people."

"Whenever the Hu people went south, all the land of the Central Plains was slaughtered. The bones were exposed in the wild, there was no rooster crowing for thousands of miles, and there were only a hundred people left behind. The thoughts were heartbreaking. But in Yelu Deguang who wanted to massacre the people, the people of the Central Plains were about to be wiped out. During the disaster, Feng Dao used flattery to resolve the disaster, saved countless lives, but brought him a thousand years of infamy. Saving countless lives with the infamy of one person, if it were my official, I would never I will hesitate for a moment, where the Tao is, even though thousands of people rebel against it, I will go there!" Xia Xiang slammed the ground, sonorous and powerful, his eyes were extremely firm, and his tone was extremely firm, "I want to ask Xu Xiancheng and Yang Yasi, are they personal? What is more important is the name of the people, or the lives of countless people?"

Xu Heguang didn't dare to meet Xia Xiang's aggressive gaze, so he bowed his head and remained silent.If it is said that a person's name is important, it is inhumane and unrighteous to harm countless people just for the sake of false name.If it is said that the lives of the common people are important, but they have been infamous through the ages, it is disloyalty and disfilial piety.Which is more important, benevolence and righteousness or loyalty and filial piety?He couldn't answer.

However, Yang Jiang was still stubborn, his neck stiffened, and he said generously: "I would rather die generously than live a servile life. I think that loyal ministers do not matter to the second king, let alone the Khitan people. It is better to die to show one's will than to live in vain. .”

"What a loyal minister does not matter to the second emperor, Yang Yasi, remember what you just said." Xia Xiang smiled lightly, and did not refute Yang Jiang's words, "When Yelu Deguang returned to Khitan, he asked Feng Dao and other subordinates to follow him. On the way, Yelu Deguang died of illness, and Feng Dao and others stayed in Zhenzhou. Liu Zhiyuan, the great ancestor of the later Han Dynasty, regained Zhenzhou, and Feng Dao belonged to Liu Zhiyuan. Liu Zhiyuan was the ninth emperor served by Feng Dao. After Liu Zhiyuan died of illness, Liu Chengyou succeeded to the throne. The tenth emperor served by Feng Dao. Soon after, a rebellion broke out in the Later Han Dynasty, and the general Guo Wei was ordered to go to war. After the victory, Guo Wei proclaimed himself emperor, destroyed the Later Han Dynasty, and established the Later Zhou Dynasty as the Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty. Guo Wei was the No. .11 emperors."

"After Guo Wei died of illness, his adopted son Chai Rong succeeded to the throne as the later Zhou Shizong. Zhou Shizong was the No.12 emperor served by Feng Dao. In the same year, Feng Dao died of illness at the age of 73. Zhou Shizong was deeply saddened and abolished the dynasty. Three days later, Feng Dao was posthumously crowned King Ying, posthumously named Wen Yi. Six years later, Taizu launched a mutiny and established the Great Xia. It is a pity that Feng Dao was born in troubled times and ended up in troubled times all his life. He has made great achievements in pacifying the world. If he lived to this day, he would also be gratified that the people will finally no longer suffer from wars and chaos, and can live and work in peace and contentment."

Cui Xiang smiled indifferently: "If Feng Dao lived to the time when the Taizu opened the dynasty, he would probably be killed by the Taizu. The Taizu hated double-faced people the most in his life."

Xia Xiang shook his head and said, "It's not necessarily true. The Taizu was so broad-minded, how could he kill innocent people indiscriminately? The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were only a short period of fifty years. There were constant wars and rebellions. The emperors took turns. Come to my house tomorrow, who is the orthodox Is he the real son? Yang Yasi keeps saying that he wants to be loyal to the king and serve the country. May I ask which king you will die for? In times of war, it is the wisest way to protect yourself, hide in the deep mountains and old forests, and live in seclusion. A poem, write a few words, remember the previous dynasty, recite the wind and moon to express the rise and fall, the famous festival is there, and it is good for oneself, but what is the use to the country and the people? Can the people eat and wear warm clothes, or can they let the people eat? The people are no longer displaced? Eat the king's salary and bear the king's worries. Who is the king? You are the king and the people."

The more Xia Xiang talked, the more excited he became. He used Feng Dao's incident to beat Cui Xiang, Xu Heguang, and Yang Jiang. Feng Dao has truly served the country and the people all his life, and he is truly selfless. , but secretly colluded with each other, intending to rebel, only for self-interest, just want to get promoted and make a fortune, compared with Feng Dao, it is more than a thousand miles away.

Xia Xiang's heart was surging. Feng Dao was originally a Confucian scholar, but he was not as pedantic as a Confucian scholar. It is thousands of times stronger than many so-called sages and celebrities who only know how to protect themselves and live in seclusion.

"The country is in trouble, the people are in trouble, if you just turn around and leave, hide in the mountains and enjoy yourself, this is not integrity, this is mediocrity, it is incompetence, it is greed for life and fear of death!" Xia Xiang swept his eyes with pity and contempt Pass Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang, "Don't forget, your salary is the blood and sweat of the people. When the people are in trouble, you don't care about the life and death of your parents and take care of yourself. Is this the way of a gentleman? This is the way of inhumanity, injustice, loyalty and filial piety. Feng Dao served twelve emperors. Apart from protecting countless people, he also did a great deed of great merit. He persisted in publishing classics on a large scale, preserved Confucian culture, inherited Chinese culture, set things right, and made great achievements. Must be. Without Feng Dao, I am afraid that most of the sage books you read today will be burned and wiped out by the Hu people and foreign tribes."

"Who knows that Feng Dao didn't do this to survive in troubled times?" Xu Heguang smiled disapprovingly, "Xia Xianzun respects Feng Dao so much, and wishful thinking that Feng Dao is for the country and the people is too biased and subjective."

"Really?" Xia Xiang couldn't help sneering, "I want to ask Xu County Chancellor, Feng Dao, he is not greedy for money, not lustful, and does not form cliques for personal gain. He has worked hard all his life and has been reused by twelve emperors successively. Just imagine, the person who can be valued by the twelve emperors will be a person who forgets his ancestors or a shameless person? He has never relied on cheating and despicable tricks for his promotion. Relying on one's own talent and character. A gentleman is like a thousand-year-old grass, who can be proud of Xueshuang but not a pillar of support. Some people may think that Feng Dao is not a gentleman who is proud of Xueshuang, but he can relieve the people from hanging upside down and save the common people from suffering. Pillars!"

(End of this chapter)