Spring and Autumn I Am King

ps: Chapter 2 is at night

Confucius' mansion is located in the northern suburbs of Yexian City, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Zhao Wuxi's car arrived in a moment, and when he was at the gate of the city, he met Yan Hui, who came to greet him.

"Yan Hui has met Uncle."

Zhao Wuxi helped him up and said with a smile: "I haven't seen him for twenty years, but Ziyuan has become a great Confucian in the South, spreading the Central Protoss religion in Wanye, and he is well-known far and wide in Ye."

On this historical line, Yan Hui, who should have died early, is still alive. His serious illness is still due to Zhao Wuxi's instructing Zigong to ask Zhao Guoling Que to heal him. It can be said that Yan Hui owes Zhao Wuxi a life, and it is precisely because this beloved disciple did not die, and Zi Lu did not die in Wei, that Confucius could live so many more years than in history...

Although Yan Hui had a long beard under his chin, his personality and attitude were no different. He was still wearing coarse clothes that looked a little chilly, with a gentle smile on the corner of his mouth. Respectful and humble but not humble, very different from those "gentlemen and Confucians" who bowed and knelt in front of Zhao Wuxi to ask for an official position yesterday.

Therefore, Zhao Wuxi's attitude towards Yan Hui is naturally different from that of Youruo and others. After all, in the more than ten years in the south, Yan Hui has traveled all over Jingchu, visiting famous mountains and rivers to collect disciples, while collecting those princes. When heading south, the Zhou Dynasty classics scattered in the state of Chu were collected and brought back to Yexian, where they were compiled together with Confucius. Unconsciously, he added a lot to the "Poems" and "Books" that were lacking, and then began to revise the poetry and music, so that the "Ya" and "Ode" were restored to their original tunes.

These academic achievements in Yedi were brought to the Linzhang Academy by quilt Zhang. With these things, the Confucian banner could enter the Academy and compete with Mingfa.

Zhao Wuxi acquiesced to the existence of Confucian scholars in the school, not only to give Zigong, Ran Qiu and other important officials who were Confucian disciples a face. In his view, although Confucianism prefers the past rather than the present, and likes to write moral articles rather than practical ones, it also has many uses.

No one is better at revising rituals and music, and presiding over rituals. A country needs not only internal rigidity, but also external robes that cover shame. Confucianism is this robe. Qin Shihuang burned poetry and books, but he kept a group of doctors beside him. Later, when Liu Bang raised his army, he despised Confucian scholars, and even urinated and insulted them in their Confucian crowns. tyrant.

The most important thing is that this school has many shortcomings, but at one point, it is irreplaceable by other schools, that is, the persistence in "transforming the barbarians with the help of the Chinese".

Although Legalism can be used to formulate national standards, it is difficult for people to generate centripetal force to control the country with techniques and power. Once the national tension is weakened, it will be a disintegration. The Mohists were more of a school that advocated seeking common ground while reserving differences, and had no interest in expansion and annexation. They believed that the barbarians had their own way of living, and the Rong people had the way of the Rong people.

Only Confucianism believes in the value orientation of "using Xia to become barbarians". The difference between Yi and Xia was originally mainly a natural distinction of blood. Those who are not of our race must have different hearts. Xia people, Zhou people, Yin people, and Yi people are clearly distinguished. In order to bridge this natural division of ethnic groups, after the Zhou Gong system of ritual and music, from the perspective of the ritual and music system, the distinction between Yi and Xia was highlighted as a cultural difference. As a result, Xia, Zhou, Yin, and even most of the Dongyi were combined into a new "Zhuxia", and the same surnames Ji, Jiang, and Ying, who were called barbaric and uncivilized in the four realms, were derogated as "Yi Di". Confucianism inherited this idea, noble and inferior, and believed that the barbarians could be transformed into each other. As long as the barbarians are taught by Chinese customs, they can also be incorporated into the Chinese system.

When dealing with the barbarians, Rong and Di scattered all over the Kyushu, killing alone cannot solve the problem. Constantly conquering, accepting, and assimilating is the only way to do it. At this time, the Confucian School came in handy, educating the barbarians with moral etiquette, changing customs and habits, weakening the fighting power of the four barbarians, and the people gradually no longer regarded themselves as barbarians, and turned to Mu and converted to China.

Historically, the reason why the Han was able to achieve more results in unification than the Qin, also had the effect of spreading Confucianism. Although later generations criticized this school a lot, they contributed to the establishment of a unified country. After the Song and Ming Dynasties, there were not many Qiang and Miao people in the south who gradually thought of themselves as Han people, and even began to spread poetry and calligraphy to their families, which continued to spread to the periphery.

Therefore, Zhao Wuchen will learn the lessons of Qin and Han. In the school, the three cores are the law, the examination of objects, and the ritual and music, as the troika of official theories, and at the same time, several unofficial schools have been added to stir up dissent. Name and Fa focus on building order, and tinkering with scientific progress. As for Confucianism, don’t they like to have teachings without distinction? Just throw them to the frontier to spread and educate them.

Therefore, Yan Hui's educational achievements in the south have become a textbook example. Zhao Wuxi specially gave him a ride with him, and also invited Yan to go back to Yecheng to give lectures and publicize his experience in spreading Central Plains culture in Chu.

Yan Hui humbly declined again and again, but finally agreed, but he sighed with emotion and said, "Actually, in terms of learning, the Master is better than the countless ones. If you look up, you will be more high, and if you drill, you will be more firm. Looking ahead, suddenly behind. The Master is good at guiding students step by step, enriching my knowledge with classics, and regulating my words and deeds with etiquette, making it impossible for me to stop studying. For twenty years, I have tried my best, and I seem to have achieved something. But when I looked up, I realized that the Master's knowledge was still standing in front of me. I wanted to catch up, but I couldn't catch up..."

Yan Hui's remarks hinted that Zhao Wuxi, rather than letting him give lectures, might as well invite Confucius to come back...

"Ziyuan knows Confucius' temperament better than Gu. The widow ruined his Zhou ritual order. It would be good to attack without banging the drum. Let him be used by Zhao? I'm afraid it is impossible."

If it were not for his stubborn temper like an old cow, Confucius would not have been in exile for more than 20 years, still unwilling to return to the state of Lu.

Yan Hui was also clear, Wei Ran sighed and said no more.

After a while, Zhao Wuxi asked again, "Besides compiling Spring and Autumn, what else is Confucius busy with recently?"

Yan Hui said, "The Master has been very fond of studying the Book of Changes recently, to the point where he almost forgot to eat and sleep. Apart from eating and sleeping, he couldn't put down the scroll, and even broke the cowhide string that was woven through the slips many times."

Zhao Wuxi was a little stunned: "I remember that when Confucius was in the Central Capital, Confucius was not very good at "Yi", and he regarded "Yi" as the opposite of seeking virtue, being humble and doing justice. How can you be so obsessed with it now?"

Wu Xie was somewhat incomprehensible. He raised his head and looked up at the clear blue sky after the winter had cleared, and he was speechless for a while.

Could it be that Confucius, who had been searching for him all his life, became superstitious in his later years?

While talking, Confucius’ mansion has arrived, still a small yard with a small area. Vegetables are grown in the garden, chickens and ducks are raised in the dill, and the stream is gurgling, taking away the hustle and bustle of Ye County...

"It's exactly the same as the layout of the old house in Qufu."

Zhao Wuxi suddenly laughed: "Jiao often misses her hometown, so she set up a courtyard like this in Changle Palace. It is also very quiet. Quietly flipping through the book, don't disturb me."

No matter what else, even for the sake of marrying his 20-year-old wife and their daughter, Zhao Wuxi had to have some respect for Confucius.

What's more, every Chinese in later generations has a Confucius in his heart. In the hearts of different people, he is either hypocritical, or truly enlightened, or the most holy teacher, or a sinner through the ages. Those who know others say that his heart is worried, and those who do not know others say what he wants...

But no matter how you feel, this is a cultural imprint that has accumulated for two thousand years, whether you like it or not, it just can't be washed away or thrown away. Countless times of changing dynasties, throwing graves and disgracing reputations, campaigning to overthrow, and knocking down to the ground, I thought I would never see this fellow again, but when I turned around, he came back, and was regarded as a symbol of the cultural core by national leaders. Consecrated again, continued to be criticized, continued to start another cycle of bad reputation, but he just held his hands there, smiling without saying a word.

Zhao Wuxi always felt that the smile of the Confucius statue was a more mysterious smile than the Mona Lisa.

A major feature of China's history after the Qin Dynasty was the rise and fall of flowing dynasties, and the iron-beaten Confucius. No one can escape this person.

Unless... change his fate and status from the source!

This, Zhao Wuxi asked himself, he had already done it.

With a few worries, Wu Xie got out of the car in front of the door, and asked people to remove the five cars of books that were a gift for Confucius, but don't be disturbed by admission to the hospital.

Afterwards, Zhao Wuxi followed Yan Hui and walked inside.

However, before they could knock on the door, the door of the back room slowly opened...

An old man who was white, with a thick beard reaching to his chest and squinted eyes, but still neatly dressed, stood inside the door, looking at Zhao Wuxi, who was bowing to him, his face was serious and his eyes were like torches.

I don't know how long it took, his expression slowly relaxed, he silently returned the salute, and turned sideways, it seems that the opposite is not the prince and uncle who is about to be a monarch, but an old friend who will visit in the future for many years.

"Come in, Zitai, I gave a divination the day before yesterday, so it's time for you to come..."

...

Confucius is old, this is Zhao Wuxi's first sense. In the past, he was nine feet and six inches tall, but now he looks a little rickety, almost only as high as Zhao Wuxi.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that his former tiger's back had hunched over, his entire figure had shrunk in a circle, his wrinkles were covered by a thick white beard, but his eyes were no longer open, and he kept coughing. Because Yan Hui and Zilu were not dead, and even Kong Li was alive and well, there was no need to send black people with white people, so Confucius was able to live a few more years than in history, but at present, I am afraid that there is not much time... …

However, it was not what Zhao Wuxi had imagined. As soon as they met, Confucius was as arrogant as he was in the past, criticizing his various behaviors, and finally broke up unhappily. Today's Confucius seems to have seen it a bit, and doesn't want to talk too much. Like an ordinary old man who is already a little confused, he first asked his daughter in Yecheng. Is it okay? He also said that he was very satisfied with Yu Boya, his grandson-in-law.

It seems that he has forgotten the break when the two people's past ideas and practices conflicted?

It seems that he is already looking forward to teasing his great-grandson and living a contented life?

At fifteen, he set his mind on learning, at thirty he stood up, at forty he was free from doubts, at fifty he knew the mandate of heaven, at sixty his ears were obedient, at seventy he followed his heart's desire without overstepping the line...

He is in his seventies this year, and he has been able to do whatever he wants, listen to unpleasant words, and treat all kinds of remarks correctly.

If so, Zhao Wuxi would be much relieved.

Afterwards, Confucius pointed to the open paper on the table and said: "The printing technique of Zhao State is a national tool for the benefit of all people in the world. , this thing is more useful than all kinds of siege equipment, strong armor and sharp blades, if Zhao Guo had more similar things..."

Confucius' house is still densely populated with slips, half of which are bamboo slips, half are paper books, and most of them are sent by Zigong.

"There is one thing that I want to give to Master."

Zhao Wuxi took out a box from his sleeve, opened it, and took out a small glass mirror embedded in a frame made of tortoise shell...

Confucius probably had heard of this thing. The glassware of Zhao State has become a luxury like porcelain, and the nobles of Chu are rushing to it, but he waved his hand: "Zai Zhao is also a dying old man, if you want this What's the use."

"This is no ordinary mirror."

Zhao Wuxi walked to the front of the desk and put the place under the light, the light went straight through the glass...

"This is a lens, a new creation of Luban. The principle is the same as the telescopic mirror used in the military, which can magnify the words that cannot be seen clearly, so that it is easy to see. Wu Xie thinks that the master may be able to use it."

After Confucius took the letter suspiciously, he put it on the slips with words like mosquitoes and flies, and it was easy to read a lot. He couldn't let it go, and couldn't help but praise: "It's really a good thing..."

However, Zhao Wuxi carefully discovered that the pile of briefs on Confucius' case was basically related to Zhouyi, and the ground was also covered with tortoise shells and grasses, arranged in the shape of gossip, as Yan Hui said. , Confucius has been obsessed with Zhouyi deductions lately.

He asked, "Master, have you started enjoying Yi?"

Confucius put down the lens, raised his head, and said, "Of course, when I was young and old, I regarded the Book of Changes as a pure book of divination, so I rejected it. It was not until I found the "Yixiang" scattered by Zhou Taishi in Chu. I feel that it contains a lot of ancient last words. It contains the virtue of Zhou Gong and the reason why Zhou is the king of the world..."

After he finished speaking, he sighed with regret: "Unfortunately, if you let me live a few more years, then I will be able to fully understand the rhetoric and meaning of the "Book of Changes"... However, Chao Wendao You can die in the evening!"

In recent years, Confucius has indeed undergone some changes. He pinned his ideals and judgments on world politics in the "Spring and Autumn", praise is praised, and derogation is derogatory. This is the part of him "doing what he wants". On the other hand, he also pinned his confusion about the universe and life in the Zhouyi system full of mysterious gossip, which is an important reason for his "smooth ears".

"Fate... In Wu Xie's heart, Master has always been a wise man and a brave man who went against fate. Is it possible that he has begun to believe in fate?"

...

"Looking at my life, I don't believe in fate."

After Confucius said this calmly, he told Zhao Wuxi something: "Shang Qu, the fortune-teller, once made a hexagram for me to test my career. In the end, he got the "trip" hexagram of the volcano, The top is Lihuo, and the bottom is Genshan, which is the second hexagram in the Ligong gossip, which means that even though I have some little wisdom, I have no life to rule the country, and I will eventually be displaced and become a bird without a branch..."

"Sure enough, the old man lived his whole life, but he did nothing. He failed to rule in the state of Lu, and was exiled in the state of Zheng. The land settled down, but was raised by Ye Gong and was not used, so I was disheartened..."

During these twenty years of living in exile, although Confucius had no worries about food and clothing in the second half of the journey, his heart was really depressed.

The ideal that he had been running for all his life was shattered, and the person who destroyed his ideal was precisely Zhao Wuxi, whom he once admired and admired very much, and the talented disciple turned to Zhao for various reasons. All that's left is rotten wood that can't be carved.

What's even sadder is that he has to watch helplessly as he hopes and yearns for the depressing world of Zhou Li, which collapses...

Zhao Wuxi understood that everything about Cai Cai was just an illusion. On the surface, Confucius didn't see a single thing, so he could only comfort himself with "the impermanence of fate", so that he would not be swayed by the current situation. Hit the pillar and die.

But it's impossible to say that you don't care.

"The matter of the State of Lu, the matter of the Jin Dynasty, and the matter that caused the complete collapse of Zhou Li were all caused by Wu Xie, Master, do you blame me?" Finally, Zhao Wu Xie said this sentence.

"Don't dare to blame Uncle Zhongyuan."

Confucius clenched his fists, glanced at Zhao Wuxi with extremely complicated eyes, released his hand again, and said, "This may be Ji Shi, this may be destiny..."

Feeling lost, he looked up to the sky and sighed: "Wuhu, the phoenix bird will not come, the river has no plans to arrive, the time is, the life is also!"

"No." Zhao Wuxi interrupted Confucius' sigh.

"Master, you said the opposite. In my opinion, Fengniao will come, and Hetu will come!"

He stood up and said to Confucius, who was full of pessimism: "Master, I am here today to tell you that I am going to be king, and I am going to replace Zhou Tianzi. In five hundred years, there will be kings in the world. , I will sublate three generations, and on this basis, establish a new dynasty! Open an era that is better than the past!"