Established a millennium family since King Wu defeated Zhou

Chapter 146 Going to Qi Country

It can be seen from the cultivation of Luo Guogong's children that Luo Guo has always cared about the practical ability of his children, and believes that sitting in the palace cannot govern the world.

Mencius is indeed a genius, but even Luo Hong, who likes his articles very much, thinks he is still too immature.

In the past, Confucius was well-known in Luo, but his thought really matured after he traveled around the world and educated countless students.

Only then did Confucius completely return to basics and become that sage.

There was a reason why Mencius wanted to go to the Kingdom of Wei to preach the way of benevolence and righteousness.

Wei State was the first country to reform the law, but the results of the reform have been lost in the wars of the past dynasties, so Wei State is in need of a new road to recover Wei State from exhaustion, and Confucianism naturally needs to be strong in terms of recuperation. to the Legalists.

The second is the existence of the Qin State. The Wei people called the Qin people tigers and wolves. The continuous failure made the Wei people fear the Qin people.

However, after staying in Luo Guozhong for a year, Mencius changed his mind slightly, and he decided to go to Qi Guozhong first.

Because although Mencius was not the unknown person when he first came to Luo Kingdom, he was not a famous sage after all. If he went directly to Wei Kingdom, the King of Wei might not even bother him.

But Qi State is different. Although the Qi State Office has been secretly trying to get rid of Luo State and go it alone in order to prove itself, the relationship between the two parties has always been good.

Mencius is the son-in-law of Luo State. If he goes to Qi State in this capacity, Qi Wangshen will definitely meet him.

Qi Wangshen was the Prince Shen who defeated the army of Yan State and regained the lost land of Qi State. His prestige reached its peak after recovering Qi State. In addition, Yan State invaded Qi State, resulting in the death of a large number of nobles. It was a lot bigger before starting.

Along with Mencius, in addition to his wife Meng Ji, there was also one of the disciples of Luo Guogong, the son Qiwen.

The son, Qiwen, is Meng Ji's elder brother. He also likes Mencius's articles very much, so he volunteered to travel with Mencius all the way, recording Mencius' words, deeds and growth.

There was also a group of guards dispatched to protect Luo Qiwen and Meng Ji.

Sure enough, as Mencius had expected, Qi Wangshen entertained them warmly, and showed great interest in Mencius being favored by the State of Luo.

No one knows better than Duke Qi how difficult it is to marry a daughter of the Luo family. After all, there is an unknown amount of Luo family's blood flowing in his body.

Even if the Duke of Qi wants to marry the prostitute of the Luo State, it still depends on the character and talent of the individual. If the character is not very good or too incompetent, Luo State will not marry.

King Shen of Qi ordered his maid to bring the wine to Mencius, and asked Mencius, "Mencius, Luohou and the crown prince both praised your talent in their letters, and son Qiwen also praised you full of praise. I think you are a sage with great talent. up.

The invasion of Qi by the six kingdoms caused Qi to wither. I want to know how to restore Qi to its former strength? "

A smile appeared on Mencius's face, and he said generously: "It's very simple, as long as the king treats your people benevolently and righteously."

Qi Wangshen said: "Isn't the widow not treating the people of Qi well enough?
The law in Qi State is not as strict as that of Qin and Wei, the nobles in Qi State are not as rampant as in Chu State, and the selection of soldiers is not as strict as other countries. Isn't this considered benevolence and righteousness in treating the people?

Qi State once prospered because of this, everyone has seen this. "

There is a world of difference between the Qi Legalists who were born in Guan Zhong and the Sanjin Legalists who were born in the art of punishment, so Qi State can indeed be regarded as a relatively moderate Legalist family, and the results achieved are not bad. , Qi really regained its hegemony and became the number one among all countries.

But Mencius didn't think so, and Mencius, who was good at making up fables, quickly said: "Your Majesty, you think that Qi is prosperous because of laws, and this may be right.

But let me also tell you a story.

In the state of Song there was a farmer who planted wheat in the first year and had a good harvest.

Then the next year when he was planting grain, his neighbors said to him, "There is a difference between planting wheat and grain, and you need to learn a new way of planting." '

But he didn't listen, and continued to grow wheat in the same way, and finally failed.

Your Qi State is like this. Before Qi State was strong and the people were rich, so your laws and regulations are not strict, and your taxes are not serious.

But after the war, the lives of the people of Qi State have become difficult. Even your palace has unrepaired areas. If you use the previous law at this time, it will make the people of the country feel harsh.

Just like your hand, in the cold water, it may be bitterly cold, but it is still bearable.

But if you put your hands first in hot water and then in cold water, can you bear it? "

Qi Wangshen shook his head and said, "Soak in hot water first, then cold water. This is a punishment for criminals. Naturally, I cannot bear it."

Mencius said with a smile: "It is obviously the same basin of cold water, why is there such a big difference?
It is because the temperature of your hands is different.

The same is true for the people of Qi. Their situation has changed, but you are still using the old law. Is this appropriate?
If you treat your people more benevolently now, reduce their taxes and labor, let them farm freely, and leave surplus grain, so that you can support your family.

Elderly people can live, young children can be supported, and the whole family can live a normal life, instead of being destroyed by those officials.

If you can do this, will anyone not appreciate your kindness?
If you can do what Luo State did, even if Qi State does not have a strong army for the time being, so what?

You'll have millions of soldiers willing to fight for you, and you'll have a rich country to back you up.

A stable country will never rely on steep mountains and rivers and fortified cities, but on the support of the people of the country.

This is what King Su said, that those who attain the Dao will be helped more, but those who have lost the Dao will be helped less. "

Regarding Qi Wangshen, Mencius did not preach the kingly way when he first came up, but he first praised and slandered the Qi Fa family, saying that they are no longer suitable for Qi and should be abandoned.

As for how to do it, listen to me, take the royal road like the Luo Kingdom, take a good rest, don't go down to collect taxes every day, and the property of the country's family is not enough to pay taxes. When the time comes, there will be money and food. The people of the country are grateful to you Naturally, there is no need to worry about other countries.

Sounds like no problem, but the key is timing.

The cultivation of people's hearts is calculated in ten years, and the reduction of tax revenue can be seen at that time. More than ten years are enough for the legalists to complete the accumulation of reforms to strengthen the country, while the king's way has just begun.

Qi Wangshen thought to himself: This is a sage similar to Confucius, no wonder Luo Guoguo values ​​him, but the way of benevolence and righteousness is not suitable for Qi.

Qi Wangshen did not adopt Mencius's political views, and he still harbored the dream of hegemony in his heart. Although Mencius was a little depressed, it didn't show on his face.

Mencius gave lectures in the state of Qi and debated with Qi Fajia and Qi Mo. Although Qi Mo is specialized in debates, Mencius is an extremely rare debate genius. He is good at using various metaphors to prove his ideas. The text is very beautiful, and often uses the Fubixing technique of the Book of Songs to enhance its persuasiveness.

In just a few months, Qi Mo, who specializes in debate, has been defeated, and Qi Fa, who specializes in practice, is even worse.

The cartloads of letters from the people of Luo Kingdom who followed Meng Ke finally had a place to use. They started to record, and then sent them back to Luo Kingdom immediately.

Mencius also said to Luo Qiwen in private: "The relationship between Qi Mo and Luo Mo is like a firefly and a bright moon, these people have basically lost all the good aspects of the Mo family.

Qi Mo's extravagance and waste of funerals is too astonishing, completely deviated from the Mohism's ritual burial, the name of the Mohism is empty, but there is no reality of the Mohism, it is not as good as Chu Mo who fights and kills all day long, at least Chu Mo sympathizes with the poor common people . "

Luo Qiwen was delighted to hear this, Confucian disciples disliked the wasteful funerals of Mohist disciples, this could be included in a comic book, but it's a pity that it's not from the Song Dynasty.

With Mencius' fighting power, if Luo Mo is not counted, it is estimated that only the resurrection of Mo Di from the past can compete with Mencius, and the second-generation giant Yang Shengzi has a high probability of not being able to do so.

When Mencius and Luo Qiwen left Qi State, Qi Wangshen, who was already well-known in Qi State, naturally came to see Meng Ke off in person, "Mencius has a great talent, but I can't use it. It's my fault."

When the nobles of Qi State left, Luo Qiwen smiled and asked Mencius who was beside him: "Ke, you obviously have the talent to serve the country, but you have run into a wall in Qi State, how do you feel?

I saw you speaking freely in front of the King of Qi and debating in the Qi State. You are not some pedantic Confucian scholars, but you are well versed in affairs.

Don't you feel regretful that these practices are not used, but domineering words? "

Luo Qiwen followed Mencius the whole time, and he and Mencius didn't care whether they could occupy a high position among the nations and gain wealth and glory.

The Luo family married his prostitute daughter to him so that he would not give up persistence for the sake of gold and silver.

For Rockwell, the essence of wisdom bursting out of Mencius's mind is the most important.

For Mencius, the most important thing is to practice the ideals in his heart.

Mencius smiled and said: "With benevolence and righteousness in your heart, what is there to care about in the world?

In the past, Confucius had the ability to be a magistrate, but he traveled to other countries without success, but some of his students became prime ministers.

Is this because Confucius' knowledge is not as good as that of his students?It's just the seven words "I follow the way of King Su".

I failed to achieve what I wished in Qi State today, but it's just "I follow the way of Luo State" instead of submitting to the king. "

Luo Qiwen laughed loudly, "Okay, that's how it should be.

If you don't have such courage, how can you become a generation of sages? "

(End of this chapter)