Chapter 480: The virtuous and unworthy of people are like rats!
Li Si sighed sadly: "It is indeed time for the new policy of Da Qin to be consolidated. Your Majesty is worried, and I have been having trouble sleeping and eating!"
Ying Zheng said calmly:
"Back then, I was walking like a dragon and a tiger, but I had no time to pay attention to details."
"The New Deal of the Qin Dynasty has been implemented for several years. Not only has it not weakened the resistance of the restoration forces, but it has exhausted the reserves of the Qin Dynasty and dissipated the core power of the Qin government. As the emperor who rules the world, I am so short-sighted. How can I lead the world?
"
"If I had seen through this earlier, why would I do this?"
Hear the words.
Li Si's face changed drastically.
However, Ying Zheng seemed to be paying no attention and continued: "Li Si, how many years have you been in Qin?"
Li Si looked extremely reserved.
Respectfully:
"Return to Your Majesty."
"It has been nearly thirty years since I entered Qin."
"Thirty years? Has it been so long?" Ying Zheng seemed to be in a daze, then nodded and said: "It's about thirty years. In addition to you, I also had Wang Wan, Wang Jian and Wei Liao by my side.
, Dunruo, Zheng Guo, Meng Wu, Wang Ben and others, now you are the only one left."
Ying Zheng looked at Li Si, who had gray beard and hair, and couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"you're old."
"And I am also old."
Hearing this, Li Si quickly knelt down.
Trembling:
"Your Majesty is in such good health, how can you say you are old?"
"Under the rule of Your Majesty, Great Qin has entered the right path. Although I am old, I can still do my best for Your Majesty. As long as Your Majesty is willing to use me, I will follow Your Majesty for the rest of my life and will have no other thoughts."
Ying Zheng waved his hand.
smiled and said:
"The Qin Dynasty is in serious trouble right now, and it still needs its rulers and ministers to manage it. You don't need to worry too much."
"It's just that I have been confused about the current affairs of the Qin Dynasty recently. I not only think of Xunzi. Although Xunzi is a master of Confucianism, he actually admires Legalism. Xunzi may have some good ideas about the chaos in the world at that time. Unfortunately, Xunzi has passed away and everything has been in vain."
"well."
Ying Zheng shook his head and left without saying anything else.
Hear the words.
Li Si knelt down numbly.
a long time.
He finally came back to his senses, but Ying Zheng had already gone away.
Li Si slowly stood up from the ground.
in mind.
But it has drifted far into the past.
The sun was scorching, like baking and steaming. On that day, the sweltering heat in the hall made people unbearable, so Xunzi proposed to teach outside the hall, that is, under a large locust tree that covered the ground with green shade, and set up a few plans and pictures.
straw mat.
Xunzi said at the time: "A country without etiquette is not righteous. When Tang and Wu gained the world, they did not take it away, but by practicing benevolence and righteousness and cultivating etiquette, and the world would naturally return to it. When Jie and Zhou lost the world, they did not lose it, but by practicing unrighteousness.
If etiquette is disrupted, the world will naturally perish."
At that time, everyone else praised it.
He said things like, 'No one will survive without courtesy', 'Nothing will be done without courtesy', 'The country will not be at peace without courtesy' and so on.
but.
At that time, one of the fellow disciples had a different opinion.
That is Han Fei.
Han Fei rarely spoke in the classroom.
Because he was born with a stutter and struggled to speak, he had always been reticent and mostly talked about writing. Before that day, Han Fei was not outstanding among his brothers. At that time, Han Fei seemed to be
After holding it in for a long time, I decided to speak freely. When I spoke, it was like a river flowing straight out, without any hindrance. There was a lot less stuttering due to excitement.
He still remembers what Han Fei said.
Han Feidao:
"The Master's Theory of Etiquette and Righteousness."
"Nothing wrong!"
"But times have changed! It doesn't apply now."
"In the era of the Holy Kings, there were few people but plenty of land, abundant vegetation and abundant food and clothing, not much wealth but plenty of goods, and the people did not fight."
"Therefore, etiquette and justice can be discussed."
"At that time, it was not easy to govern and to lead."
"In those days, Yao lived in a broken house, ate elm bark, drank water, and was wrapped in tree clothes. His life was no better than that of the master's guard today. Shun got up early every day to work in the fields, and his life was far more miserable than today's hard work.
Yu passed through the house three times without entering. He traveled all over the nine provinces to control floods, and his legs were so tired that he became lean and lean. Among the kings, no one wants to suffer that kind of suffering. How can we not be courteous to each other?"
"Nowadays, the population is large but the foundation is weak, the support is poor and the property is few. The people have to fight, so it is difficult to understand etiquette and justice."
"Don't talk about a king, let's talk about a county magistrate. He entertains every day, sings every night, lives in a luxurious house, and has a bus. When one person achieves enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, future generations can enjoy the blessings. Who doesn't want to? Fight for power and position.
,Can’t you beat me to a bloody head?”
"Using the lenient and gentle government of the past to govern today's anxious people is like riding a wild horse without borders."
"Danger!"
What Han Fei said at that time was truly shocking.
Everyone was stunned.
Have they ever heard such bold and insightful remarks before?
Especially their teacher is Xunzi.
Confucian master.
However, Xunzi was not angry. Instead, he asked Han Fei kindly: "In your opinion, how should the country be governed today?"
It was Han Fei's words that completely clarified the direction for Li Si.
Han Feidao:
"What are the common people afraid of?"
"Power too!"
"Common people don't read and are illiterate. What etiquette and justice do they know?"
"Confucius is a sage in the world. He practices benevolence and righteousness throughout the sea. He has only seventy followers."
"Gong Ai of Lu, I am alone in the south. Who among the people within the territory will not surrender?"
"It is not that Duke Ai of Lu was more benevolent and righteous than Confucius, but the common people were afraid of power."
"Common people are like unfilial sons at home. They don't listen to what their parents say, they don't pay attention to the advice of their neighbors, and they don't change their ways after being taught by their teachers. They are taken to the government, locked up and flogged, and they immediately behave themselves."
"Severe penalties can make people fear you!"
“Confucian scholars who write articles advocating heresy, knights who use weapons to disturb public order, politicians who use foreign forces to gain self-respect, kings who form gangs, courtiers who pursue their own private interests, and industrial and commercial individuals who do not engage in farming and war, should all be severely punished.
.”
"Kill without mercy!"
"Even if you can't, you should catch one or two typical people to kill the chicken and scare the monkey."
"With generous rewards, people will flock to you."
"Those who are diligent in farming will be rewarded according to the number of hours of work; those who are brave enough to fight will be rewarded according to the number of heads they capture."
"Set three or four examples and the whole country will follow them."
"In addition to rewards and punishments, ordinary people are strictly prohibited from thinking wildly. Those that are flashy, confusing, and messy should be burned."
"Use the law as a teaching material and let officials teach, so that the world can have a standard of right and wrong. Everyone's speech should be based on the law and their behavior should be in accordance with the law."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Plowmen only know how to dig the soil; warriors only know how to behead bravely."
"If the king can rule the country in accordance with the law, how can the country not be strong?!"
"By then, not only will he be dominant, but his achievements will surpass those of the Five Emperors and catch up with the Three Emperors."
Between words.
Han Fei's forehead was bright, his eyes were shining, and he was full of energy.
But the whole place was completely silent.
Everyone looked at each other in shock, not daring to say anything to each other.
Xunzi came from Confucianism, but Han Fei defined Confucianism as a school that wrote articles advocating heresy, and even set up a leader to burn the articles. This is a treasonous and unethical statement, and can even be called deceiving the teacher and destroying the ancestors.
Think of this.
Li Si frowned slightly.
He thought about it carefully in his mind.
What did I do at that time?
immediately.
Li Si couldn't help but smile bitterly. When he saw Xunzi's face turned gloomy, he thought that Xunzi was dissatisfied. In order to worry about Xunzi's expression and prevent Xunzi from being too embarrassed, he chose to refute Han Fei out loud.
He said at the time: "What Brother Han Fei said is true. It is only the 'propriety and righteousness' mentioned by the Master, and I probably cannot give up. If the country is not governed on the basis of 'propriety and righteousness', even if it achieves hegemony in the future, I am afraid that it will be an unkind hegemon."
, unjust deeds..."
This is the thought.
Li Si's forehead was dripping with cold sweat.
He thought about what he said next.
"If you maintain the general trend of the world, you will be safe. If you plan for it without the right way, you will be in danger. Even though you are not talented, I dare not forget your teacher's teachings. We would rather serve a weak country with etiquette and justice than help a feudal state.
To a powerful country that is unkind."
Li Si looked out the door fiercely.
But the surroundings were empty, and there was no sign of anyone.
Li Si looked away and suddenly noticed that his cheeks were red and hot, his heart was still beating wildly, and he couldn't help laughing to himself.
"Li Si, Li Si."
"What's wrong with you? Are you scared?"
"No!"
"You have always been fearless, always confident, and never looked back. Why are you afraid?"
"In terms of background, you are just a petty official, a self-deprecating toilet rat who used to hang out in the toilets. It was fate, talent, will, and observation that pushed you to the high position of the prime minister of the empire.
The ultimate in serving others."
"You have not betrayed His Majesty's trust, let alone this high position. You are not like other officials who are still sitting on the table. Since you entered the Qin Dynasty, you have fulfilled your duties and are well-known. His Majesty's reliance on you is obvious to all. Since ancient times, there have been many times.
The children of the ministers and the children of the emperor are marrying each other? Only you, Li Si, can take the seat."
"Then why are you afraid?"
"Where does the fear come from?"
Li Si's mood was heavy and erratic.
The heavy and fluttering snow is almost as reluctant to leave as it was just now.
After His Majesty returned from his hunting tour, his words and deeds seemed to have undergone some unpredictable changes, and he had some unspeakable thoughts.
What kind of changes? What kind of worries?
He vaguely caught some shadows.
But it cannot be confirmed.
In fact, he had already noticed His Majesty's intention to amend the New Deal, and also noticed the possible changes in the situation of the court. He had already noticed it since His Majesty intended to slow down the corvee service in the world and postponed the people in Guanzhong from doing the corvee service.
But he was indeed afraid.
He was afraid that His Majesty would correct his rule and ask him, the Prime Minister, to sacrifice himself and go to the altar.
Yes and yes!
In life, the most shameful thing is humbleness, and the saddest thing is poverty. However, he had been in a humble position for a long time and suffered from poverty. He could not bear it for a long time, so he deviated from his choice.
He doesn't want to be a toilet rat, he wants to be a hamster rat.
He knew very well that if he died or was deposed, he would be attacked by those who were dissatisfied with the Qin government. At that time, all his achievements could not withstand the fierce attack like a tide. Shang Jun's achievements were as high as Mount Tai.
, even if he got into a car accident because of the change of ruler, can Li Si's prestige, power and achievements be greater than that of Shang Jun?
If the crime of tyranny is imposed on him, Li Si, how can it be solved by genocide?
So he didn’t dare to say anything to correct the shortcomings!
But now His Majesty has begun to think about the pros and cons of the New Deal, and has begun to amend some laws that can easily cause turmoil in the world. And where will he go from here?