Father Han Gaozu

Chapter 399
"Your Majesty, even if this witchcraft is not credible, it is a little ominous to order them to curse and kill."

In these days, Zhou Chang felt more and more powerless.

He is not too young. As a veteran who followed Emperor Gao to found the country, his grandson Zhou Yi has now assumed the important position.

But now, Your Majesty, he is always making troubles, and it's okay to cause troubles. This one is "kill or bury", and the burial is often handed over to Zhou Chang to take care of the aftermath. Zhou Chang only feels physically and mentally exhausted, not every All the old officials were Zhang Cang, and Zhao Tuo became stronger as he got older.

"Don't you believe in these witchcraft's claims?"

"I just want to expose their true colors!"

Zhou Chang sighed and said, "If your majesty wants to ban witchcraft, you can make Zhidu do more propaganda in the Dibao newspaper, write about witchcraft and cheating, and ruin his reputation, so that the people will not easily believe it. Yes. You are not the fundamental method, you can ask Zhang Shaofu to deal with this matter, it is the most suitable for him to do this."

Liu Chang looked at Zhang Cang next to him in surprise.

"Master? Is that so?"

Zhang Cang did not refute, but said calmly, "If your majesty instructs you, this minister can do it."

Seeing Liu Chang was still a little puzzled, Zhou Chang explained: "Your Majesty, do you know how Xunzi views ghosts and gods?"

"do not know."

"Your Majesty, Xunzi said: What's the reason for the rain when the 雩(er) is there? He said: "It's nothing, but it's still raining without the 雲(er)."

Seeing Liu Chang's blank eyes, Zhou Chang sighed helplessly again and looked at Zhang Cang, "Come and tell Your Majesty."

Zhang Cang nodded and looked at Liu Chang.

Liu Chang has never seen Zhang Cang look so serious, Zhang Cang has always been very lazy, there is no light in his eyes, as if he doesn't care about anything, and nothing can disturb him, but at this moment, he even looked at him. When Master's eyes shone brightly, everyone couldn't help but sit up straight, with a loud voice.

"My teacher said: There are certain routines in the operation and changes of nature. It will not exist because Yao rules the world, and it will not die because Jie rules the world. If you use the correct governance measures to adapt to the laws of nature, things will be done well. ; treat the laws of nature with the wrong governance, and things will go wrong."

"My teacher said: Strengthen agricultural production and save money, then it is impossible to make people poor in the day; if the means of living are sufficient and can adapt to the changes of the weather and carry out production activities, then it is impossible to make people sick; Mistakes, it is impossible for people to suffer in the end!"

"My teacher said."

Zhang Cang's voice became louder and louder, and the whole person exuded an unprecedented state, as if a layer of seal on his body had been touched, revealing the true body of the Great Confucian.

"The meteor fell, the trees cracked, and people in the capital were terrified and asked: What's going on?

"My teacher replied: Nothing! This is a change that happens in nature, a phenomenon that things appear less often! Don't be afraid!!"

"It rained during the ritual of asking for rain, and the people in the capital asked: Why is this?
"My teacher replied: "Nothing! It's like it rains even if you don't hold a sacrifice to pray for rain!! The sacrifice is just a decoration, and it will rain if you don't sacrifice!!"

Liu Chang was dumbfounded, not only dumbfounded, he was even dumbfounded.

Are sacrifices in vain? ?Is this really something a great Confucian can say? ? ?
After Zhang Cang finished talking about Xunzi's "Tian Lun", he talked about "Uncovering" again, combining many of Xunzi's remarks such as "South of Xia Shou", and Liu Chang was more surprised when he heard it.Because he found that his ancestor was exactly the same as himself.

He did not believe in ghosts and gods, and believed that all witches were deceitful. He completely smashed the statement that "Jie and Zhou died without offering sacrifices", and shouted loudly: "Nature will not care about Yao, Shun or Jie Zhou, as long as things are not done right. , everyone will be destroyed! Not because of the power of heaven, but because of manpower!!”

Liu Chang stroked his beard, and his eyes kept shining.

He found one more common ground with his patriarch.

We all like to use allusions, regardless of the origin of the allusions, we are all irritable, we all like to scold people, and we don’t believe in ghosts and gods.
"Xianzai, Cang Ye!"

Liu Chang couldn't help clapping his hands.

Zhang Cang was stunned, why would you imitate Confucius? ?
After speaking, Zhang Cang naturally returned to his original appearance quickly, his eyes became casual again, as if he would never focus on one place, his face was indifferent, and he wanted to beat him when he saw it.

After Zhang Cang explained it like this, Liu Chang could understand it, and naturally he understood what Zhou Chang meant. He found that Zhou Chang was right. Xunzi's faction was the most suitable for this matter. Thoughts, simply do not believe in these things, even the sacrifices are fake, let alone witchcraft.

"Master, I'm going to build a mansion in Chang'an, and call on the world's most famous Confucian scholars to study the theories of the Patriarch!"

"what?"

Zhang Cang was a little surprised, he shook his head, "I'm afraid that these people make up random things, and after a hundred years, it will become the doctrine of cheap Confucianism!"

"Hahaha, my ancestor's true biography is here, who can change it?"

"Your Majesty, there are many disciples of the teacher, and it is entirely possible to let more talented people take the position."

"No, it's up to you! What you said just now! Even I understand it!!"

When Zhang Cang walked out of the Hall of Honor with Zhou Chang with a stern face, Zhou Chang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty wants to promote Xunzi's theory, you can do this for Your Majesty with your heart."

Zhang Cang didn't seem very happy, "My teacher once told me that when a school receives too much attention, it will face the most severe test."

"I'm afraid that I will become the common enemy of all factions."

Zhou Chang suddenly put on a look of sudden realization and said, "Oh, yes, I almost forgot, you are different from other people, you are the most cherished of life, when all the ministers are taking huge risks to do things, only You hid at home and didn’t go out on the pretext of being sick. Nowadays, scholars all over the world are trying to make their school valuable. You are the only one who has only accepted one disciple and is unwilling to teach others more. I don't care what you care about, it's just the wives and concubines around you."

Zhou Chang was very dissatisfied with Zhang Cang's previous timid behavior.

However, Zhang Cang ignored Zhou Chang's ridicule, he said with a smile, "You can't blame me, this is what the teacher taught me."

"Did you follow Xunzi to learn about intercourse?"

"At the beginning, the teacher called us together and asked about our aspirations. Some of my senior brothers said they wanted to be state ministers, and some said they wanted to be sages. The teacher asked me about my aspirations, and I said that I wanted to be an official and eat meat every day. , add a few more beauties."

Zhou Chang was stunned, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Didn't Xunzi drive you out?"

"No, teacher, he wasn't angry. He turned his back and forth with laughter, and then told me; if he really thinks so, then go for it."

"I'm not doing things according to the teacher's instructions now, aren't I?"

Zhou Chang was speechless, until Zhang Cang left, he reacted and cursed: "If Xunzi knew at that time that you were talking about a few beauties and you were referring to hundreds of beauties, he would definitely not have said that!!! "

Zhang Cang returned to his mansion helplessly.

He really didn't like these academic disputes. It was because he was too lazy to debate that he accepted Jia Yi as a disciple. He wanted to let this incompetent help him to collide with other schools, but this incompetent actually went to be the prime minister of the country. Yes, this shit has fallen on his head again, but it doesn't matter. If other schools come looking for trouble, then close the door and don't see them.

Zhang Cang thought so, but things didn't seem to make him wish.

When Tianzi started building the mansion with great fanfare and announced that he would invite someone to study Xunzi's theory, the person in charge Zhang Cang became the object of contempt by everyone. Who is Zhang Cang?A person whose personal virtue is at a disadvantage, is he worthy of doing this?
Zhang Cang was completely free of the abuse from unexpected people, and refused several people who came to ask for advice.

But this kind of behavior attracted more people to him. Zhang Cang's attitude gave others the impression that this fellow was not good at debating. He was afraid! !
When Zhang Cang walked out of the mansion and went to the Shao Mansion, his car was stopped by these people.

"Mr. Zhang? I heard that you are seriously ill. I can finally see you today!"

Among the people who came to him, there were not only those from other schools, but also many Confucians.

Except for some people who were against Xunzi, more people were actually against Zhang Cang. They agreed with His Majesty to build it, but they all hoped that they could take over this matter.

Zhang Cang just smiled, "Thank you for your love, I'm going to the Shaofu to do business, and I'll talk about it later."

"Please don't worry, we have something very important to ask you for advice."

"I have little knowledge, so what do you guys ask me for advice? In this Chang'an, the only great scholar is Uncle Fu Qiu! I have only served a great scholar like him in my life. If you want to ask for advice, you can go to him, if you want to let me If you are convinced, you can also persuade him first!"

Hearing Zhang Cang's words, a great Confucian immediately said: "Duke Fuqiu has suffered from Tingwei, and now he is still recovering at home, how can he find him?!"

"Then wait for him to recover. Everyone, I'll go first."

"Isn't Zhang Gong afraid of us?"

"Yeah. Everyone is full of experience, I am naturally afraid."

"you"

In the face of this guy who is not good enough, everyone is really helpless.

Seeing that these people were speechless, Zhang Cang then ordered the driver to continue on their way. Just as Zhang Cang was about to leave, he suddenly heard a sentence from the crowd: "Xunzi Shaude."

Zhang Cang was suddenly stunned, turned his head slowly, and looked at the people in front of him.

Each of these people raised their heads, and Zhang Cang searched among them for a moment.

"Mr. Zhang? What are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for a virtuous gentleman."

"you!"

"Are you a Confucian scholar of Mencius' school? Xunzi said: Mencius was defeated and gave birth to a wife. It can be said that he was able to improve himself. It seems that he has not been able to improve himself before thinking about it, so why should he think about it?"

The Confucian turned pale, his eyes widened in anger, and someone helped him: "This is not true."

"Indulgent, peaceful, and beastly behavior, is it not enough for the disciples and grandchildren to govern their arrogance?"

The man's face turned pale and his hands trembled.

"Not twelve sons."

Zhang Cang said, Xunzi's non-twelve sons can be said to have taught all the schools of the world, including Confucianism, and it was a complete murder.

But the people of the Huang-Lao School were not so afraid at the moment. After all, although Fei Shili scolded the Yang Zhu School and other factions, these Huang-Laos were not among them, probably because of their influence in Xunzi’s time. Limited, even Xunzi didn't bother to scold them.

"I heard that you used Xunzi's theory to persuade His Majesty to give up the sacrifice. Is this to incriminate the Sheji?!"

Zhang Cang looked at the arrogant questioning of these people, Zhang Cang probably already understood in his heart that those words must have been said by these people, and he asked calmly: "Everyone attaches great importance to sacrifice and believes in the words of witches, is it because of Wushu? The worst?"

"You you. You. No. No."

Where did these Huang Laos still say a complete sentence, their bodies were all softened, their eyes were full of horror, and they were so scared that they almost collapsed on the ground, embarrassed.

Zhang Cang drove away very calmly.

"Oh, trouble, you insist on coming to me to argue. What should I do now?"

"Master Fuqiu. All these faults are my fault. Please forgive me."

Liu Chang's face was full of helplessness, sitting on the edge of the bed at this moment, coaxing Bo Fu Qiu.

After Fu Qiubo was released, he recuperated at home.

It's not because he was tortured. No matter how mad Hou Feng was, he wouldn't torture an old man of such an age, and at most kill him.This was mainly because of Uncle Fuqiu's guilt. He felt that as the person in charge of the Taixue, he failed to protect his students. More than a hundred people died, and Uncle Fuqiu was extremely distressed.

During these days, he basically did not eat or drink, and washed his face with tears all day, only feeling that he was dereliction of duty.

Knowing this, Chang Liu naturally hurriedly brought the imperial physicians here. Chang Liu actually liked Uncle Fu Qiu very much. Although he now belongs to other schools, he is one of the few real teachers in the temple. The person who understands Liu Chang is still a very kind old man.

These imperial students went to the palace by themselves to submit letters, and they were killed by Hou Feng despite the dissuasion of Uncle Fuqiu. No matter what, Uncle Fuqiu couldn’t be blamed, but Uncle Fuqiu didn’t think so, and he had already explained it to his disciples. After the funeral, ready to apologize to death.

Another Warring States-style old stubborn!

Hearing Liu Chang's words, Bo Fu Qiu finally agreed to speak.

"Your Majesty is not in Chang'an, what does this have to do with His Majesty?"

"You were not in Taixue at the time. What does this have to do with you?"

"I didn't teach them well and let them take such risks. How can it be considered no fault?"

"If you say that, then I have not disciplined the minister well, and I am also guilty."

Uncle Fu Qiu was silent for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty. They have no selfish intentions, they are all for the big man. Maybe their thoughts are wrong, but they have no bad thoughts."

"I know you can rest assured, I will definitely prevent such a thing from happening again!"

"However, please eat something, and don't punish yourself like this again, otherwise, I will stay here with you too, if you don't eat or drink, it will be punished!"

This rogue tactic was the most effective. When Chang Liu asked people to spread a table here, Uncle Fu Qiu finally gave in and got up to eat something, but it wasn't much.

Liu Chang also tried his best to change the subject and turned the subject to Xunzi's theory.

Bo Fu Qiu said seriously: "Your Majesty can have such an idea, it's great. At the time, the teacher called us over and asked us about our aspirations. Some of the brothers said that they wanted to be the prime minister of the country, and some said that they wanted to save their own country. , When I came to me, I said: I want to open a school, accept more disciples, teach them with heart, and become a person like you."

Liu Chang asked, "The Patriarch must be very happy, right?"

"No, he said to me seriously: You can't be someone like me."

"Ah??? Did you offend him?"

"No, the teacher told me: there is only one situation, and there is only one uncle."

"Who is it?"

Uncle Fu Qiu opened his mouth, and Liu Chang suddenly reacted, "Oh, he is talking about himself."

"The teacher is right, I really can't be like him. I didn't teach my disciples well, and I didn't protect them well."

Seeing that the topic was changed to this again, Chang Liu hurriedly cleared his throat and asked, "Ah, by the way, Duke Lu also asked the patriarch for advice. Do you know what Duke Lu's original ambition was?"

"Yes, he said he wanted to be someone like Su Qin and Zhang Yi."

"Well, the ancestor didn't beat him??"

"Never."

"What about Mr. Mao?"

"He said it would be fine if he could read more books"

"It's boring. By the way, where's my teacher?"

"Uh, I forgot."

After appeasing Uncle Fuqiu, Liu Chang led the crowd towards the palace.

Chao Cuo lowered his head and followed behind Liu Chang. In these days, Chao Cuo has lost a big face, and he has performed well in his peers, but he is the worst.

He was as arrogant as Chao Cuo, how could he bear this, he was sullen all day long, his head bowed, and he didn't even dare to speak, as if he had changed himself.

Liu Chang glanced at him and asked, "Why didn't you speak?"

"It really is."

"Okay, what happened in the past, don't have to talk about it, cheer up, I still have something to ask you."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"You said that a person is extraordinarily arrogant, who usually ignores everyone, argues with people everywhere, but does nothing when something happens, what kind of person can you call such a person?"

Chao Cuo's face turned even redder, and he subconsciously looked at his saber.

This is too shameful, that is, the ethos of the big man is different. If 20 years ago, Chao Cuo should commit suicide now.

Can a big man's minister be humiliated?You can humiliate, but only a little bit, not too much.

Looking at Chao Cuo who was so ashamed, Liu Chang shook his head.

"Wrong. Xunzi said; no matter how much you say, it is better to do something useful!"

"You usually think of yourself as arrogant, but what about this time? If you were arrested by Zhaoping, even if you were arrested by Zhang Buxuan?"

Chao Cuo lowered his head.

"However, you are still young, and you still have the opportunity to correct your mistakes. In the future, you should not always argue with others. You can't just talk, but also do things. Otherwise, you will become a person who can only talk empty-handed. Do you know the story of Bai Qi burying the Zhao people?"

"what???"

"In the beginning, the Qin State and the Zhao State fought. Zhao Kuo was the son of Zhao She, the king of the Zhao State. He read a lot of the art of war, but when they were fighting, he never even fought Bai Qi! Then Bai Qi was buried. A lot of people from Zhao! This looks like a person who can only brag about not being able to fight. If you let me come, I will fight in vain!"

"You can't be someone like Zhao Kuo!"

Chao Zuo opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but he held back.

Forget it, anyway, I understand what Your Majesty wants to say.

"I will definitely change my mind in the future, work hard, talk less and do more!"

"Hey, that's right!"

(End of this chapter)