Li Mu has said this, can anyone say otherwise? Furthermore, as Li Mu said, this is a rare opportunity for everyone present. Everyone joins in the grand event, which shows that people just like to join in the fun.
, and it is published in black and white in a book. If your article can occupy a place in it, it will definitely be a great help to your personal reputation.
Li Mu thought for a moment, then took up his pen and wrote down "A gentleman loves money and gets it in the right way" in a few big characters.
Everyone gasped when they saw this question. They carefully looked at Li Mu's expression and wondered what he meant by raising such a question. Did he mean anything?
"Everyone, let's start writing." Li Mu gestured to hang up his topic, and then asked everyone to return to their desks and start writing. No one thought that Li Mu was messing around. As a person who can break through the siege and win the double championship,
How could the person at the top of the list be fooling around?
Seeing that everyone was starting to compose, Li Mu said to Lu Yi and others around him: "Let's not be idle anymore. Let's also write an essay and join in the fun."
"I'll show my shame." Naturally, Lu Yi and others did not dare to refuse.
Li Mu nodded, changed to a piece of clean rice paper, and started writing without thinking. He didn't know whether he had already typed up the manuscript or if he was really quick in writing and didn't need to think.
Lu Yi and others also hurriedly sat down, their fingers trembling with nervousness. Although Li Mu called it a competition, to them it was actually a test, and it was about Li Mu's opinion of them.
If the views expressed are contrary to Li Mu's, it goes without saying what the consequences will be based on his character.
A gentleman loves money, and he acquires it in a proper way. This sentence is often considered to be "Confucius said." But in fact, this is a sentence from Zengguang Xian's essay in the Ming Dynasty. The original sentence is, "A gentleman loves money, and he acquires it in a proper way."
Tao: A chaste woman loves sex and should accept it with etiquette. This means that as long as she does not harm others and uses ethical and legal methods to obtain money, there is nothing wrong with loving money. Even if a chaste woman loves sex, she must comply with etiquette.
Only then can I accept that everyone loves beauty, and it is normal for women to love sex.
It kind of means ‘persuading others’.
But in fact, although these words were not said by Confucius, they were indeed derived from Confucius's remarks. There is a passage in "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren Chapter" about the way a gentleman loves money and how to acquire it. It says: "Confucius said, wealth
Being rich and noble are what people want. If you don’t follow the right way to get it, you can’t get rid of it. Poverty and lowliness are what people hate. If you don’t follow the right way to get it, you can’t get rid of it.”
To put it simply, everyone wants to get riches and honors, but if they cannot get it through proper channels, a gentleman will not be able to enjoy it comfortably. Everyone wants to get rid of poverty, but if they cannot get rid of poverty in the right way, a gentleman will not be safe.
It perfectly explains the core idea of "a gentleman loves money and takes it in a proper way".
Although Confucius expounded his views, he did not give an answer to what "Tao" actually is. Instead, his academic successor Xunzi gave an explanation of Tao.
Chapter "Xunzi Honor and Disgrace": "The great distinction between honor and disgrace is the constant state of safety, danger and benefit. Those who put righteousness first and benefit later are honored, and those who benefit first and then righteousness are disgraced; those who are honored are often prosperous, and those who are humiliated are often poor; those who are prosperous often control others, and those who are poor are often
Always controlled by others: this is the difference between honor and disgrace. Those who are simple and timid are often safe, and those who are bold and aggressive are often harmful; those who are comfortable are often happy and easy, and those who are harmful are often worried and dangerous; those who are happy and easy often live long, and those who are worried about danger often die young: this is safety and danger
Interest and harm are the constants."
This is human nature. How do others treat people who value profit? Even if people who value profit have gained something, they have lost trust. This is "poverty-no way to go". The way forward is
I'm afraid it won't work, because everyone is wary. When such a person approaches you, you will doubt his purpose, worry about being used, and guard against being abandoned. Therefore, putting profit first and righteousness later will not work, so "poor"
Always controlled by people."
Why does "the honorable always lead"? Because honorable people practice righteousness. "Where righteousness lies, they do not give in to power, regardless of their interests, and the whole country does not change their views. They attach great importance to death and uphold righteousness without being disrespectful."
The so-called righteousness is to do what should be done. So what is the right thing to do? The most important thing in the world is "for the people". "Mencius" says: "The people are the most important, the king is the most important, and the country is the second."
"
Even if a country is given to him, he cannot change his conduct, and he will even sacrifice his life for righteousness. For such a person, if he makes a profit, who in the world will have any objection? If there are people who obstruct the "glorious man", I am afraid he will be reviled by the world.
Right? This truth from Lao Tzu is: "He who builds well will not be destroyed." A building is not damaged because it is very solid, but because no one wants to destroy it. Why doesn't anyone have this wish? Because the people who built this building
People are virtuous people!
If you put benefit first and then righteousness, it will be unethical; if you put righteousness first and then benefit, you will get it wisely.
Lu Yi thought about it and felt that this was a trap set by Li Mu. The topic he gave was "A gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way", but what he really wanted to express was that a gentleman cannot compete with the people for profit.
The purpose is to allow wealthy families to consciously transfer their interests and to prevent the occurrence of plundering and getting something for nothing.
The more Lu Yi thought about it, the more he felt that he had guessed it right. This was in line with Li Mu's usual practice! He was a profound scholar, so he settled on his idea and quickly conceived a harshly worded article.
Putting down her pen, Lu Yi gently rubbed her wrist and thought to herself, will this time leave a good impression on Mr. Hou? I have betrayed my own camp and become a licking dog that goes along with it!
…
In that room, Li Mu also finished writing his article and looked up at the crowd. He happened to see Lu Yi put down her pen and sit upright, looking at him.
"Is it finished?" Li Mu asked calmly.
"It's finished." Lu Yi chuckled lightly, showing that he was very at ease and that his ideas had already coincided with Li Mu's, so he even said: "It's just something I've been thinking about in my heart. I guess I've drafted it early."
"Bring it up, I will read it." Li Mu waved slightly.
"Yes." Lu Yi put the still-undried article on the big case list. Seeing that Li Mu had finished writing, she also asked, "I wonder if I can also read the Hou Ye's masterpiece?"
"Why not?" Li Mu nodded, picked up his article, and motioned for him to take away his.
The two of them sat next to the big case and read each other's articles.
When Li Mu wrote an article, he naturally did not need to consider anyone's opinions. He mentioned "the desires of rich and noble people" and generously defended his personal desires. He said, "A husband's selfishness is the heart of a man. People must have selfishness."
, and then the mind will see; if it is selfless, then there is no mind."
He believes that selfishness is human nature, and it is selfish nature that makes people pursue progress.
For example, farmers work hard just to produce more food and satisfy their appetites; the industrial and commercial classes work hard to produce more products just to satisfy their selfish desires; scholars work hard to satisfy their selfish desires of promotion and wealth.
Study hard.
From this, Li Mu bluntly put forward the view that "human desires are natural principles". Only when people have desires can they "love money". The right way to get it comes later. If people don't even have desires, there is no way to talk about it later.
thing.
In the article, he also said that "Heaven has made peace with the world," elevating the exchange relationship between people, that is, commercial transactions, to a level that is consistent with heaven's principles.
So as a regulator, how should we promote commercial activities? Li Mu gave the answer, that is, 'the best way is to do nothing, the best governance is silent, and the best teaching is silent'. The court and the government can only maintain national peace and social stability, and they have no influence on society.
Without interfering or interfering less with the economic life of the country, and allowing everyone the freedom to act in his own way, people's natural instinct to pursue wealth and trade freely will establish a self-regulated, harmonious and long-lasting social and economic order.
That is to say, 'the government should not change its customs, and its nature should not interfere with its abilities', which is his ideal 'rule of the people'. By fully giving each participant the space to make free choices, such a business environment can achieve
The effect of 'taking it in the right way' is just like the inaction advocated by Lao Tzu. Doing it deliberately is not good.
…
Lu Yi was confused after reading Li Mu's article.
He couldn't tell whether he went off topic or whether Li Mu's writing was off topic. Although everyone wrote policy papers with the same topic and derived many things, Li Mu's extension was probably a bit far.
However, from Li Mu's perspective, it makes sense for him to write such an article to express his attitude. After all, as a common people, what we study is how to get things in a proper way, and as a person who makes rules, we must consider how to give a proper way to get them.
environment.
Soon, Lu Yi figured out the purpose of Li Mu writing such an article. As the ruler of Luoyang City, Li Mu wanted to express an attitude to everyone, that is, he admired hard work and getting rich, so it had to be in line with the 'Tao'
He supports all methods of getting rich. Moreover, he does not think that a gentleman's love for money is a bad thing. Instead, he thinks it is a good thing and regards this as the source of motivation for struggle.
This is tantamount to giving a step down for some people who want to do business, but are worried about their face. At the same time, it also invisibly improves the status of businessmen. After all, the Marquis said that a gentleman loves money and gets it in the right way, so a businessman
You have to conform to the constraints of "Tao" and you can still be a gentleman!
This is the reason why Li Mu continued to write articles together, to clear up the source and set the tone for his future governance.
Lu Yi came back to her senses and saw Li Mu who had already read his article on the other side of the desk. Seeing that he had come back to his senses, Li Mu said: "Mr. Lu is indeed a contemporary great scholar. His article is very insightful. My article
How about it? Do you think it makes sense? Sir, can you comment?"
"It makes so much sense." Lu Yi said with admiration on her face: "The Marquis has a commanding position, and his words are worth a fortune. The reputation of the Marquis will last forever and last forever..."
"Don't tell me these useless things." Li Mu waved his hand and said: "The article I wrote is somewhat off-topic, but it doesn't matter. The questions are given to you, not to test me.
.How about I give you a preface to this article?"
"The Marquis has a mind as big as the sea, which is beyond our reach."
Li Mu was very happy to be able to admit that he had gone off the topic. "This is a good topic, especially suitable for discussion in Luoyang. It can also give guidance to the gentry and common people, so as to correct people's hearts."
While Lu Yi was talking, she glanced at Li Mu's face with her peripheral vision, and seeing the look of approval on his face, she added: "Why don't we ask this question at the next gathering, and let all talented people participate, so that it can be better
It means something."
Li Mu nodded and said: "Mr. Lu sees the problem seriously, so let's do as you say." After a pause, he added: "The matter of printing will be done after the gathering. Mr. Lu will make a selection first and bring it."
Show it to me, and I will make a final decision, and the Marquis's government will fund it, and I will publish and print 10,000 copies first."
Ten thousand copies! Lu Yi took a breath, what a big deal, how much does it cost! However, he was not worried about this, it was not him who paid for it anyway, the more he printed, the louder his reputation would be, and Li Mu was the one who
If this matter is left to him, can his article still be accepted?
Lu Yi quickly agreed!
Just two days after the gathering, Lu Yi hosted the gathering and collected more than 40 articles, plus more than 30 articles from the literature hall. He made another selection and sent 50 articles to Li Mu's desk.
.
Li Mu deleted a few that had unclear intentions, and the remaining 40 articles were added with prefaces written by him, and he ordered them to be typed and printed.
Although Li Mu did not give a time limit, Bi Menting, who had just arrived in Luoyang from Chang'an to organize the printing bureau, took the initiative to put pressure on himself and completed the engraving, printing and binding in just three days. After Li Mu had read it, he published the book as soon as possible.
Got out.
All classes in Luoyang have long heard of this incident. After the book came out, there was a looting scene. The price of the book that was originally priced at the usual price was increased by up to ten times. Not only did the printing money be earned back, but the surplus reached 50%.
As much as 60,000 guan.
When Lu Yi heard this, she couldn't help but sigh that her worries were unnecessary. She was actually worried that Mr. Hou would lose money. How could such a thing happen to him?
The nobles, merchants, and gentry of Luoyang City saw the brochure and reacted very positively. The publication of this brochure by the Marquis of Luoyang showed at least three points.
First, the Marquis of Luoyang could sense everyone's worries and was willing to appease people's hearts. His attitude was more than a little softer than before, which gave the nobles and nobles hope.
Secondly, it showed the Marquis of Luoyang's determination to support business. In particular, his explanation that people have motivation only when they have desires was highly recognized by merchants.
Third, the Marquis of Luoyang is willing to create a good environment for business.
However, Li Mu's requirements for officials and Confucian scholars were not compromised at all. The "self-discipline treaty" of the Foreign Affairs Office must still be implemented. The Confucian scholars in the Literature Museum also hammered on the parts that should be hammered. It can be imagined that future literature
The readers of the library must be much more cautious when making any comments. The fireworks area near the literature library will also be deserted for a while.
Not surprisingly, this booklet was soon placed in front of powerful families and wealthy businessmen in Luoyang and even outside Luoyang.
Li Shimin's desk was immediately put with a copy, which unscrupulous people queued up to buy all night long. After reading it, Li Shimin had someone send the book to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and ordered everyone in the Ministry of Household Affairs to copy and circulate it, and sent it to Li Mu.
The 'preface' was preached in public during the court meeting.
Luoyang has obviously become an "economic reform pilot", and the experience accumulated in Luoyang is gradually affecting the economic trend of the entire Datang Dynasty.