After waiting for a while, it was finally time for the students to leave school. After the heavy students left in twos and threes, Li Mu came from the corridor to the school.
When Kong Yingda saw him, he immediately bowed to his master. Li Mu turned aside to show his disapproval and said: "Old Kong, why do you take this joke seriously? You really want to be my disciple. If you want to be, I still can't." If you don’t want to accept it, how old are you?”
Kong Yingda was no longer angry in front of Li Mu, as if he didn't hear his push, and said stubbornly: "Whether you accept it or not is your business. I, Kong Yingda, have said what I said, and I will do it."
"Okay, that's up to you." Li Mu looked at the students who had stopped because of his arrival, and said, "I am here today on your majesty's order to give lessons to the prince and the king of Yue. It has nothing to do with you and so on. Go home."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, all the students refused to leave. Even those who had walked to the door retreated. Those who could accompany the prince to study in Chongwen Hall were all royal relatives and nobles, and they were with the prince. They are of similar age. The purpose is to allow them to get in touch with the prince as soon as possible. When the next generation, after these people ascend the throne, they can better assist the prince who ascends the throne to govern the country.
In the words of later generations, this was a group of standard princelings.
The prince is twelve years old this year, and the oldest among these people is only fifteen or sixteen, and they are all hot-blooded young people. They are already familiar with the various legends about Li Mu. How much ability does this nominal professor of Chongwen Hall have? , they are also curiously tight.
Kong Yingda has such a high status that he actually bowed to him in public, which surprised and encouraged these young people. They were not much younger than Li Mu, and they thought they could do things that Li Mu could do. I even want to know how to do it.
Seeing that everyone had returned, Li Mu frowned and said: "Your Majesty has ordered me to teach the prince and the king of Yue. Do you want to listen in? It's not impossible to listen, but you have to be mentally prepared. Logically speaking, this lesson can be It’s not for you to listen to.”
The students didn't care what was suitable or not, they all saluted Li Mu, sat cross-legged on the futon, and expressed their wishes with actions.
Kong Yingda couldn't help but feel a little disgusted in his heart. These bastard students, all of them were listless when I was in class. Li Mu didn't go to class for a day in a month. Look at how excited you are. You have heard how he teaches, and you know what he teaches. Must be good?
Li Mu looked at Kong Yingda, who quickly calmed down, bowed and saluted, and said, "I also want to hear the knowledge of Zhuluhou."
"Oh, it's just a casual class. What are you doing? It really troubles me..." Li Mu sighed, rubbed his stomach, and suddenly saw a young eunuch walking next to him, who seemed to be heading towards Li Zheng from Tai Chi Hall. Those who went to the palace raised their hands to stop him: "Who is that!"
The little eunuch pointed at himself in surprise. Li Mu nodded and said, "Yes, I'm calling you. Do you know me?"
The young eunuch was also a godson of Eunuch Gao. How could he not recognize this influential figure Li Mu? He quickly came over to salute and said, "I have seen Zhuluhou."
Li Mu took out a 'little goldfish' from his sleeve, threw it to the little eunuch, and said: "Please go to the Lizheng Palace and send me a message. Today, I have an extra class at the Chongwen Hall. I think it will be delayed." It's lunch, you go to see His Majesty. If you don't dare, just tell Eunuch Gao to arrange a meal and send it to Chongwen Hall. Make it sumptuous. I will be happy with all the meat."
The little eunuch was confused. Did Marquis Zhulu use the palace as a tavern?
Seeing that the young eunuch was not moving, Li Mu frowned and said, "Go!"
"Oh oh oh, thank you Lord Marquis for the reward." Under the temptation of the 'little goldfish', the little eunuch obviously couldn't resist it. Anyway, it was just a passing sentence. He should not be blamed on himself, so he took the risk!
The little eunuch left quickly. Li Mu turned around, looked at the students, and Kong Yingda, who had found a futon somewhere and knelt down next to him, and said: "Just now I listened to a piece by the old Confucius under the eaves of the corridor.
The teaching of 'Benevolent Government' is really wonderful. Even I, a genius, can't find any faults."
When Kong Yingda heard this, he raised his chin slightly and thought to himself, I finally have something that makes you look at me with admiration. Wait, I don't need you to look at me with admiration. It's funny!
"After I heard this, I felt really sad for you."
???
Kong Yingda's head was filled with questions, and so were all the students' heads. This was a bit of a twist. What did it mean? The teaching was good, so why was it sad?
…
The young eunuch hurried to the Li Zheng Palace. As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the palace, he heard His Majesty yelling curses. He didn't know who he was scolding. He secretly peeked in through the crack in the door. The Queen was persuading him, but his godfather did not dare to say a word.
, there seems to be a shoe print on his shoulder. Judging from the size of the shoe print, it must have been kicked by His Majesty.
What should I do? Going in to send a message at this time is not tantamount to seeking death?
But if you don't pass it on, what should you do with the little goldfish in your sleeve? After collecting it, can you still send it back? He is not Eunuch Gao. As the chief eunuch, even the uncle of the country has to give some face, but he is just
He was just a eunuch with a little status in the palace, or was it because he hugged Eunuch Gao's lap and became his godson, otherwise he would have no face at all? If Li Mu wanted to punish him, it would be too easy.
After hesitating at the door for a while, the little eunuch gritted his teeth and entered the palace.
Although he had walked very lightly, he was still discovered immediately. When Eunuch Gao saw it was him, he hurried over and scolded: "It's getting more and more unruly. Who let you in? Get out now!"
The little eunuch hurriedly knelt on the ground and said tremblingly: "Godfather, if my son doesn't know the rules, there is really nothing he can do about it. Just now, my son passed by Chongwen Hall and was caught by Zhulu Hou. He insisted on sending a message to his son. He didn't dare to offend him.
Him!"
The little eunuch thought to himself, anyway, you asked me to pass on the message, so I just passed it on. So what if I put the blame on you? I'm afraid you won't allow it?
When Li Shimin heard this, he immediately didn't blame the little eunuch for being unruly, and cursed: "You see, this guy is so arrogant. He wants to tell me something, but he doesn't even say it face to face. Who does he think he is when he grabs someone to tell me something?"
"
Li Shimin glared at the young eunuch and said, "Just tell me what he wants you to preach!"
The little eunuch was shaking like chaff and stammered: "Zhulu Hou said, he said that he would give extra classes to the students in Chongwen Hall, which would definitely delay lunch. Let, let him prepare it. He also said that it would be more generous, and he would enjoy all kinds of meat.
.”
"He went to teach?"
Hearing what the little eunuch said, Li Shimin was not so angry anymore. After all, Li Mu did what he asked him to do, and he obeyed him no matter what. But Li Shimin had some doubts about whether Li Mu was perfunctory, and frowned and thought for a while.
, said: "Senior cadre, go to the imperial dining room and inform the students. When preparing meals for the students, I want to go and see if what Li Mu wants to say will mislead the students."
Eunuch Gao took the order and left, taking the young eunuch to go ahead. Li Shimin put on his clothes and said to the queen: "I, Li Mu and Kong Yingda will have dinner at the Chongwen Pavilion. The queen doesn't have to wait any longer."
"Your Majesty, you must control your temper. Although Li Mu quarreled with Your Majesty, he did everything His Majesty asked him to do. I think it is better than those who flatter but do nothing.
Much better”
"Okay, I think you were bribed by him." Li Shimin said angrily, even though he admitted in his heart that Queen Changsun was right, but he was the emperor and had to save face.
Li Shimin quietly came to the eaves of the corridor and happened to hear Li Mu arguing with Kong Yingda.
"... I dare to ask Zhuluhou, since you think the 'benevolent government' I just taught is good, why do you think it is the 'sadness' of all the students? Could it be that it is not good?"
"Your lecture is good, but the content is wrong. Isn't it sad?"
Kong Yingda was furious and jumped to his feet: "You mean what Kong Sheng said is wrong?"
Li Mu chuckled lightly and asked: "Old Kong, let's not be in a hurry to get excited. Let me ask you, who are you talking about the so-called benevolent government?"
Kong Yingda had a straight face and didn't want to answer, but felt that he was losing his momentum by not speaking, so he replied: "Of course it is for the king and the ministers. They understand the principles of benevolent government and implement benevolent government to the people.
Only then can the world return to its heart."
Li Mu laughed again: "Dare I ask, is Confucius' career in life worthy of praise?"
No one knows his ancestors better than Kong Yingda. In his life, Confucius was indeed not commendable in his official career. The first official he served was Ji's official, and he worked as a warehouse manager for a nobleman named Ji. Later, he became a warehouse manager.
Well, he became an official and changed his job from managing warehouses to farming. When Confucius was thirty-five years old, Lu was in civil strife. Confucius had no choice but to travel to Qi and found another job as a retainer of Gao Zhaozi, or a staff member for short.
. He worked as an aide from thirty-five to fifty. During this period, he traveled around the country and made no achievements in political achievements. He did have many apprentices. But unfortunately, not many of his apprentices were reused.
In short, although the teachings of Confucius and Saints are highly praised by later generations, they are all the result of continuous improvement and adhesion by several generations. Confucius’s initial theory and a set of things he himself did not understand. It has only been since the Han Dynasty.
After "deposing hundreds of schools of thought and only respecting Confucianism", successive Central Plains dynasties continued to strengthen the status of Confucianism and "deified" Confucius. Some things that were not very visible were downplayed or even not mentioned. However, these so-called "flaws", Confucius's descendants
It couldn't be clearer.
Li Mu also knew that Kong Yingda, who was a descendant of Confucius Sheng, would definitely hesitate when talking about these things. He did not want to argue with Kong Yingda about these things, so he stopped and continued: "I have also studied the so-called benevolent government of Confucius. The word benevolent government,
It did not start with Confucius. What Confucius talked about was the 'benevolence'. He believed that rulers should be lenient to the people and extend favors, which would help win over the people's hearts. Then Mencius further elaborated and came up with the theory of benevolent government."
Li Mu looked at Kong Yingda and said: "If there are no omissions in the book I read, the word benevolent government must have originated from "Mencius Liang Hui Wang I": "The king is like benevolent government to the people, sparing punishment, thinning taxes, and cultivating deeply.
It is easy to work. A strong man spends his spare time cultivating his filial piety, loyalty and trust. He goes in to serve his father and brothers, and goes out to serve his superiors. He can use the stiles to defeat the strong armor and sharp soldiers of Qin and Chu. 'Old Confucius, I can say that.
right?"
Although Kong Yingda was angry, he didn't dare to talk nonsense about the saint's classics. He searched his memory and found that indeed, as Li Mu said, the word benevolent government originated from "Mencius" and nodded expressionlessly.
Li Mu added: ""Mencius Gongsun Chou" also said: 'At this time, in a country of ten thousand chariots, if a country implements benevolent government and the people are happy, it will be like hanging upside down.' I won't give more examples, everyone.
You can read the books yourself. In short, benevolent government as mentioned by Confucius and Mencius requires some necessary conditions. First, as a ruler, you must have a certain degree of benevolence and be lenient towards others. Second, as a common people,
, only by knowing kindness can we repay the ruler's benevolent governance. To put it simply, the ruler uses generosity and kindness to please the people and exchange for their support."
Kong Yingda couldn't help but said: "What's the problem with this? In your eyes, is this wrong?"
"Of course it's wrong!" Li Mu asked: "Old Confucius, let me ask you, even if the king and ministers implement benevolent government according to Confucius and Mencius' words, what should we do if the people do not know the kindness?"
Kong Yingda didn't think twice and blurted out: "Of course it's to educate, isn't that what we do?
As soon as these words came out, all the students nodded, and even Li Shimin who was in the corridor nodded subconsciously, because all of them had received this kind of consciousness since childhood. After Li Shimin came to the throne, he also followed the practice of recuperating and recuperating, which is the same as in ancient times.
Kings are no different.
But Li Mu shook his head and said: "Old Kong, there are tens of millions of people in this world, how many can you educate? You have been teaching disciples all your life. Let me ask you, can you teach ten thousand people?"
Kong Yingda pursed his lips and snorted: "You are making excuses. I am just one person, how many disciples can I teach? Kong Sheng only had three thousand disciples in his life. I have more than two thousand disciples so far, which is already too many!"
"Oh, more than two thousand people." Li Mu sneered: "If you compare the people to the sea, the people you Kong Yingda has taught in your whole life are just a drop of water. Even if there are a hundred Kong Yingda, the most you can teach is just a ladle of water. You
Can you be educated?"
Kong Yingda was speechless, and Li Mu added: "And have you ever thought that anyone can afford to read? People who can afford to read, even if they are from so-called poor families, are people who have no worries about food and clothing. On the outskirts of Chang'an
There are many tenant farmers who don’t even own their own land, how can they afford to study?”
Kong Yingda said nothing, and Li Mu said again: "If you take a step back, even if you can educate yourself, have you ever thought that there are some people in this world who are stubborn, greedy, and shameless, so just use your strength
Even if you talk too much and vomit blood, he won't be able to educate you. If you treat him well, he thinks you should. No matter how much kindness you give him, he will find it too little. Even if you regard him as an ancestor.
Even if he is offered a confession, he will be at peace with himself. He has no kindness at all. When encountering big events, he will betray him even when he should. Do you dare to say that there is no such person?"