This morning, Jia Cong was sleeping peacefully, so he was lifted up from the bed. Jia Cong woke up with a startle, and stared at Liu Xiaoqi. Liu Xiaoqi let go, and Jia Cong fell back to the kang with a "thud"
Go up and pretend to cry: "Daughter-in-law—someone is bullying your child's father—"
Liu Xiaoqi waved his hand in disgust: "Get up quickly! Mr. Lu is coming today."
Jia Cong quickly snuggled back into bed: "He will definitely ask old man Lu Jian, and then he will know that I like to sleep in, and then he will come later."
Liu Xiaoqi said: "The death anniversary of Saint Kong is only a few days away. Master Kong still has to rush back. Time is of the essence."
Jia Cong lazily said "Hmm". After a while, he sat up and said, "Master Kong, hurry back and care about my business! He won't come over!"
Liu Xiaoqi rolled her eyes at him: "Qi Cheng will come."
Jia Cong wailed and lay on the quilt: "No... I hate Confucian rules the most."
Even so, he still had to get up. He drooped his eyebrows and eyes as if he had been cramped. He slowly changed his clothes and couldn't even eat breakfast. Liu Zhuang asked, "What's wrong with Uncle Jia?"
Liu Xiaoqi said: "Zhuang'er, don't pay attention to him, he is just too lazy."
Jia Cong yawned and said, "I'm willing to save time for eating and sleep. I'll just have more snacks later." He simply leaned back on the pillow and took a nap. Everyone had no choice but to let him go.
Mr. Lu didn't come until six o'clock in the morning. Jia Cong looked at his pocket watch after hearing the news, and looked at Liu Xiaoqi with great sadness for half a day. Liu Xiaoqi just didn't see him and walked out. Shen Zhimo said leisurely: "Zhou
Sir! The guests are about to arrive."
Jia Cong slapped his face a few times to cheer up, stood up and stood at the door of the guest house. From a distance, he saw Lu Jian, the old and the young, accompanied by two guests. It was Mr. Lu and Mr. Kong. Then they slapped each other.
He smiled and came forward to greet them. After exchanging a few words, Jia Cong accompanied them and sat down before entering the hall.
Master Lu's face glowed red, he pointed at Master Kong with a smile and said, "Mr. Zhou, this is Mr. Yunxian, the direct son of Duke Yansheng."
Jia Cong stood up and held his hands in his hands: "Hello, Mr. Kong." Kong Yunxian was stunned for a moment and returned the greeting with a smile. Jia Cong sat down and said, "Uh-Mr. Lu, at his age, it's hard to call him sir."
Master Lu and Lu Jian were both stunned. Lu Jian explained: "Our Qi State highly respects the saint Confucius, so his direct grandson is also called Mr."
Jia Cong puzzled and said: "The whole country respects the sage Confucius. I think this child is only thirteen or fourteen years old. If even the elders respect him as sir, it will not be conducive to the child's growth. If too much pressure affects the physical and mental health,
It’s not good.”
The two elders of the Lu family were still stunned. Lu Jian had no choice but to continue: "Even the prince called him sir."
Jia Cong frowned and looked at Kong Yunxian with pity: "The reason for co-writing is for political correctness. This child is so pitiful that I don't know if he has ever had a good time since he was born."
Lu Jian still said in confusion: "Mr. Zhou, he is the direct descendant of Confucius, the saint."
"I know. I also admire Sage Kong, but Sage Kong and his descendants are completely different individuals. Ancestors are ancestors, and children and grandchildren are children and grandchildren." Jia Cong said, "Liu Che and Li Shimin are all emperors through the ages, and their direct descendants
Aren't people also perishing and their country perishing?" Liu Zhuang coughed twice, and Shen Zhimo quietly moved a little further away from Jia Cong.
Lu Jian hurriedly said: "Well... everyone has different opinions on this matter, so there is no need to argue. My uncle came over today and wanted to ask Mr. Zhou for advice on something."
Jia Cong asked: "What's the matter?"
Both of them looked at Mr. Lu seriously. Mr. Lu had not yet recovered from what Jia Cong said. For a long time, he looked at Jia Cong and then at Kong Yunxian. Kong Yunxian said politely: "What Mr. Zhou said is absolutely true. My ancestors
His career cannot be pursued, we just have to try our best not to lose his old man's face."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Why should you be so low-key like the old master at such a young age? There are always new areas for younger generations to explore. Maybe in thirty years your achievements will surpass that of Confucius?"
Lu Jian also smiled and said: "Sage Confucius has become a saint. It is impossible for anyone to surpass Confucianism."
"Then create a separate school of thought!" Jia Cong said, "It doesn't have to be philosophy, it can also be literature, history, mathematics, chemistry, architecture, psychology. Later generations mentioned that the Confucian family in Qufu had an old Confucius and a younger one.
Kong, isn’t that a nice thing to say?” Kong Yunxian was also stunned.
Lu Jian quickly winked at Mr. Lu: "Uncle! That article!"
Mr. Lu had come to his senses, hesitated for a moment, and took out an article from his pocket: "Mr. Zhou, this is the article that Mr. A wrote yesterday." The servant handed it to Jia Cong.
Jia Cong was full of curiosity. Last night, several of them had guessed that this article was either about political commentary or about armaments. Otherwise, why wouldn't people be allowed to read it? When he got it, he took a look at it, and it took him a long time to hold back his eyes. There was an essay at the top.
It discusses how various places offer sacrifices to Confucius temples. The following paragraph is where the author discusses his own point of view: in recent years, the sacrifices performed in Qufu Confucius Temple are not the ancient system, but ancient systems are preserved elsewhere. The worship of Confucius in Qufu should be re-examined and revised. See
After finishing the article, Jia Cong looked stiff and gave a fake smile - probably what Mr. Zhao found at home were some sociological papers on sacrifices to Guan Temple, sacrifices to Mencius Temple and other similar sociology papers.
Mr. Lu asked: "Mr. Zhou, do you think what this article says is reasonable?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "The most ancient people drank hair and drank blood. Civilization was born due to the abundance of materials. Etiquette evolved from scratch along with civilization. For thousands of years, human etiquette has been gradually evolving, and the rituals of sacrifice have naturally also changed.
.The ancient system he researched was not the oldest ancient system, but an ancient system from a certain period in the past. There have been different 'ancient systems' before and after, so why should the one he happened to find be the best?
What's more, the most ancient ancient system may not be good. Materials in the Spring and Autumn Period were much poorer than now. Mr. Zisi may have wanted to use a bigger and more majestic way to sacrifice his grandfather, but there were no such things at the time. Later generations will not understand the events of the past.
, it is natural to modify the ancient system according to the world customs at that time. For example, the number four is quite auspicious now, but maybe it will be unlucky hundreds of years later? Later generations will inevitably modify the 'four' in the etiquette to other numbers.
People today only need to take the essence of the ancient system and discard the dross."
After hearing this, Lu Jian unconsciously touched his palms: "Take the essence and discard the dross. Mr. Zhou's words are right!"
Jia Cong said sternly: "I know that you all just want to research the ancient system and establish it as a system to pass on to future generations. But the winds in future generations will definitely be different from now. We will all be dead by then, and who will care about it."
Mr. Lu frowned and said: "No matter how the times change in later generations, in the end nothing will change away from the sect. The foundation of Confucianism is still Confucius."
Jia Cong glanced at everyone solemnly, sat upright and said, "If I said that Confucianism will soon decline, you probably wouldn't believe it."
Everyone was shocked. Lu Jian shouted: "How outrageous!"
Jia Cong sighed softly: "You will understand if you just think about how Confucianism arose. From the time when Saint Kong founded Confucianism to when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposed hundreds of schools of thought and only respected Confucianism, it must have been four or five hundred years. We know that Confucianism is not
It was born to be brilliant. The past two thousand years were not without its downturns. After all, it was just Confucianism that made everyone in the world listen to the emperor, and the emperor liked it very much. The emperor held soldiers in his hands. In the early days, the navigation industry was not developed.
Both the rebels and the prince who failed to seize the throne have nowhere to escape but to wait for death."
He paused and said, "It's different now. There are thousands of ships going to overseas countries every day. Situ Yue, the ancestor of the Yan Kingdom, failed to seize the legitimate son, and became a businessman of the Southeast Asian Kingdom of Java. He has no interest in getting involved in the seizure of the legitimate son.
The seventh prince of the Wu Kingdom was planning to go to South America to establish a kingdom in a few years. Prince Shui Rong of Beijing and Prince Huo Sheng of Nan'an both became kings abroad. If this had happened in the past, they would have killed everyone - how long ago did Prince Yizhong die?
?Everyone, there are too many phoenixes, dragons and grandsons, and most of them are not fuel-efficient lamps. It is not that there are no other schools besides Confucianism, but in the early days the emperor did not give them official positions, so they had no sense of existence. Now, according to Confucianism
Meaning, of course, all the talented people in the Yan Kingdom should serve the current young prince, right? The previous prince also needs talents! If the Confucian people don’t follow him, he just chooses talents from other families. Whoever is missing will not be able to survive, right?
The princes of each family have their own preferences. The king of Qi respected Confucianism, the king of Shu favored martial arts, and the king of Wu before loved wealth. As long as the officials are not just for the Confucian family, it will not take long for the Confucian family to be on an equal footing with other families. From the standpoint of Confucianism itself, it is not in decline.
What?"
There was silence in the room for a long time. Lu Jian said slowly: "May I ask Mr. Zhou, is Confucianism already on an equal footing with other schools in Yan State?"
"Not yet," Jia Cong said, "Prime Minister Lin Daiyu is a serious Confucian disciple. It's hard to say in the future."
Lu Jian was stunned for a while, then said with a wry smile: "Lin Haiweishi gave birth to a good daughter."
Jia Cong said: "The overseas world is really too big, and its territory is dozens of times that of our country. We can't tell it yet. Wait, in another twenty or thirty years, the princes of various countries will gradually grow up. Those who want to win the throne will be unwilling to lose.
After bowing and kowtowing to their brothers three times, they left one after another and established countless countries in foreign countries. Confucian children had official positions in their own countries, and there were certainly not many who were willing to leave their hometowns. The rest of the Legalists, military strategists, Mohists, and Taoists would definitely follow them when they heard that there were officials.
Let's go. A hundred years later, Confucianism will definitely disappear." Lu Jian always felt that there was something wrong with what he said, but he thought about it for a long time and couldn't figure it out.
Kong Yunxian said: "As long as it is still prosperous in its own country, it cannot be considered in decline."
Jia Cong said calmly: "You may not be able to prosper in your own country. For example, in the Lu country next door, a relative is in power, and the young King of Lu does not see the possibility of being able to govern personally. A while ago, some madman wrote to the Liu family uncle, asking him to
He returned to the throne in accordance with etiquette and law, so he was beaten to death in court? Etiquette and law must be maintained by the authority."
Lu Jian said coldly: "Sooner or later the Liu family will rebel. When they take over the Lu country, they will still have to use Confucianism."
Jia Cong smiled and said, "What if they never rebel?"
Lu Jian hummed: "Everyone knows Sima Zhao's heart."
Jia Cong shook his head: "Liu Tong is not Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao has conquered the world and has great power. Of course he can force the emperor to abdicate. The small land of Lu is surrounded by children of the Situ family. If he rebels, he will be
It is an excuse for other countries to find trouble. On the contrary, as long as he holds on to the power and does not let go, raising the King of Lu in vain, and his children and grandchildren will continue to raise the children and grandchildren of the King of Lu in vain, never proclaiming himself a king but always holding the power, then the Kingdom of Lu will always be safe."
Mr. Lu immediately said: "In the future, there will naturally be people who will take your side."
"The Qing Dynasty needs soldiers and horses, my lord!" Jia Cong spread his hands and said, "Now is the age of firearms. I don't know how many people will die and how much it will cost to fight a war. The country of Lu is not big. Which prince do you think will be idle?
Using the human heads and firearms of our own soldiers and horses to do such a good thing? You may not win the battle. Liu Tong is a military commander, not to mention they have the Japanese Liu family as their backing. The world has been divided, and the population is much more valuable than earlier."
Kong Yunxian said: "The general trend of the world is that if it unites for a long time, it will divide and unite. Sooner or later, it will unite again, and the imperial court will have to use Confucianism again."
"It's hard to say. Firearms are too destructive, and war will not break out easily." Jia Cong smiled softly, "Maybe the next time we join forces, it will be the Federation."
Several people asked at the same time: "What is the Federation?"
Lu Jian hurriedly said: "I know. It was originally a system in small Western countries." Then he elaborated. After hearing this, the two elders of his family looked at each other in disbelief.
Jia Congnai said seriously: "Because national borders can no longer restrict the flow of people, the innate advantages of Confucianism in the imperial court have disappeared, and the future is completely unpredictable. Therefore," he pointed to the articles on several cases, "this is not a big deal.
Meaning. The original intention of the sacrifice is to express the admiration of the ancestors by future generations. As long as it is in mind, the specific implementation is not important. If it is for political deterrence and the ritualization of the sacrifice to show authority - I am afraid it will not achieve the purpose."
There was silence in the room for a moment, and Lu Jian whispered softly: "It's okay in Qi State."
Jia Cong twitched his lips: "Okay..." After a while, he said again, "The important point is not whether it is made in ancient times or not, but whether King Qi is happy or not. Find a favored eunuch and give him five hundred taels.
For the money for tea, why don’t you ask him to help find out what the prince wants? Why should we have a serious discussion? Say a thousand words and ten thousand, ancestor worship is a private matter of the family. The Situ family also worships the ancestors of the Kong family.
It's not mixed in." Liu Zhuang coughed twice.
Lu Jian sighed heavily: "Mr. Zhou never took the Kong family seriously, nor did he take the Situ family seriously."
Jia Cong complained: "These two families are the most powerful in the world. How could I not take them lightly?"
Lu Jian glanced at him: "It's not that he doesn't take it lightly." He sighed again and shook his head.
Jia Cong thought for a while: "Mr. Lu is talking about respecting their authority? Do you, the Lu family, respect these two families? Not really. Neither does the Cui family next door. Everyone is just pretending. I'm too lazy to pretend."
Liuzhuang coughed again. Jia Cong slapped his mouth and muttered, "What nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Jian couldn't help turning his head and covering his mouth with laughter.
Kong Yunxian quietly glanced at everyone and said: "I will go back to my hometown tomorrow. Is Mr. Zhou interested in going with me?"
"Thank you for the invitation, Master Kong." Jia Cong said, "With all due respect, your family's ancestor worship will definitely involve several highnesses from the Qi Kingdom fighting openly and secretly. I am afraid of causing disaster to Chi Yu, so I dare not go. I also ask the young master and your father to be prepared.
Guard, beware of assassins."
Mr. Lu said: "Your Majesty will send troops to protect us."
The corner of Jia Cong's mouth twitched: "I really don't know whose family is worshiping the ancestors. Anyway, pay more attention to the Green Forest people." A thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and he slapped the table and said, "Master Lu, come next door with me. I have an idea -
—" He looked at the others and said, "I will discuss this quietly with you alone."