Chapter 475: Killing All the Way

Heavenly Way, King's Way, Human Way.

This is a topic that has been frequently mentioned throughout history, since ancient times.

And it is quite obvious that this Mohist School is one that venerates the Heavenly Way.

What they discard is the King's Way. They believe that the world should be fair, and that the emperor should also be just one part of the Human Way. Such thinking, if placed in later generations, would naturally be communism; there is nothing wrong with that. But clearly, it is not suitable for this feudal dynasty.

It is even less suitable for the theory of "advancing with the times."

Liu Zheng pondered for a moment, standing with his hands behind his back.

Only after a moment did he open his mouth and smile.

"Liu Zheng believes that when the three are integrated into one, it is the State Way!"

"What is the State Way?"

"What kind of way is the State Way?"

Questions were hurled at him one after another.

Liu Zheng continued: "I have already said that the three combined into one is the State Way. Why is there still a need to ask?"

Those who asked were all left speechless.

Since it is the three combined into one, it is naturally the Heavenly Way, the King's Way, and the Human Way; not one can be missing. This is obviously different from their thinking.

That person asked again: "With the three ways combined, how does one govern?"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "Those who seek the height of a tree must secure its roots; those who desire the flow of a river to be far must dredge its source; those who think of the peace of the state must accumulate virtue and righteousness. If the source is not deep and one hopes for the flow to be far, if the root is not secure and one seeks the tree's height, if virtue is not thick and one thinks of the state's peace, though I, Zheng, am of inferior wisdom, I know it is impossible, let alone you, sir?"

"A ruler of men holds the weight of the divine vessels, dwells in the greatness of the realm, and will exalt the loftiness of the extreme heavens to forever preserve boundless blessings. If one does not think of danger while dwelling in peace, or guard against extravagance with frugality, if virtue does not dwell in its thickness and feelings do not overcome desires, this is also cutting the roots to seek the tree's lushness, or blocking the source while desiring the flow to be long."

"Of all the heads of state who receive the brilliant mandate of Heaven, none do not have their way manifested through deep worry, yet their virtue declines when success is achieved. There are truly many who have a good beginning, but few who can reach a good end. Is it that it is easy to take but difficult to keep? In the past, when taking it, there was a surplus; now, when keeping it, there is a deficiency. Why? When in deep worry, one must exhaust sincerity to treat those below; once one has achieved one's ambition, one indulges in feelings to act arrogantly toward others. Exhausting sincerity makes Wu and Yue one body; acting arrogantly toward others makes flesh and blood like passersby. Even if one uses strict punishments to supervise them and uses awe and anger to shake them, they will ultimately avoid trouble without harboring benevolence, appearing respectful without being convinced at heart. Resentment does not lie in greatness; what is to be feared is only the people. The water that carries the boat can also overturn it; this should be deeply guarded against. With a speeding carriage and rotten reins, how can one be negligent?"

"If a ruler of men can truly see what is desirable, he should think of knowing when to stop to warn himself; when there is to be construction, he should think of knowing when to stop to bring peace to the people; when thinking of high danger, he should think of humility to cultivate himself; when fearing overflow, he should think of the rivers and seas that receive a hundred streams; when enjoying hunting and tours, he should think of the three drives as a limit; when worrying about slackness, he should think of being cautious at the beginning and respectful at the end; when worrying about being blocked, he should think of an open mind to accept those below; when fearing slander and evil, he should think of correcting oneself to dismiss the wicked; when bestowing favors, he should think of not awarding wrongly due to joy; when punishments are applied, he should think of not using anger to punish excessively. By summarizing these ten thoughts and magnifying these nine virtues, selecting the capable and appointing them, choosing the good and following it, then the wise will exhaust their schemes, the brave will exhaust their strength, the benevolent will spread their kindness, and the faithful will offer their loyalty. With the civil and military competing to serve, the ruler and ministers will have nothing to do; one can exhaust the joy of leisure and travel, and one can nurture the longevity of Song and Qiao. With the zither ringing and hands folded, one transforms without speaking. Why must one labor the spirit and distress the mind, replace those below in their duties, exhaust the ears and eyes of intelligence, and damage the Great Dao of non-action?"

The entire scene.

Was silent as the grave.

"Good!"

Situ Kong was the first to hear it, his eyes lighting up, and he followed by shouting it out.

He looked at Liu Zheng again with burning eyes.

What a long essay on governing the world!

In it, he connected this Heavenly Way, King's Way, and Human Way very clearly, with logical clarity from beginning to end. From far to near, from large to small, from Heaven to man!

"Excellent!"

"Bravo!"

"Well said!"

Not long after, the sound of cheers in the mountains rose again, lingering and never-ending.

Liu Zheng chuckled.

Just kidding...

This was the famous "Ten Thoughts Memorial" written by Wei Zheng for Li Shimin during the Tang Dynasty!

This long essay was the most suitable for the ideology of this feudal society, coordinating the ruling class and the people of the world!

It did not have the Mohist School's complete rejection of the imperial family, nor did it have the Confucian School's various kowtowing to the imperial family. Wei Zheng's governing philosophy always highlighted that the people are the most important, the state comes second, and the ruler is the lightest.

Such an argument was most appropriate for refuting the Mohist School!

"This, this, this..."

Zhang Yang, beside Situ Kong, had already changed his expression at this moment.

Damn it!

If those few short words just now were considered by him to have elements of trickery, then this quite magnificent masterpiece of governance was absolutely a total crushing of these Wangbei people in terms of both governing theory and literary talent!

Continue walking.

At the fifty-eighth step.

"Prefect Liu, you advocate the Great Dao so highly, what do you think of Strange Skills?"

Liu Zheng smiled: "The extension of knowledge lies in the Investigation of Things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, intentions are sincere; when intentions are sincere, the heart is rectified; when the heart is rectified, the person is cultivated."

"The ultimate of things is principle. I, Zheng, have always believed that Engineering is the trend of future society; where does the talk of Strange Skills come from?"

"Well said!"

"Great Good!"

At the one hundred and seventy-third step.

"When the Viscount heard the 'Shao' music in Qi, he did not know the taste of meat for three months. Prefect Liu, what Way is music and sound? Zhuangzi believed that ritual and music are luxurious and hypocritical things. What does Prefect Liu think?"

It seems he is a music expert!

In his impression, Zhuangzi and the Zhuangzi School, like the Mohist School, believed that ritual and music were hypocritical.

Speaking of this, there is also a little story to mock the Confucian School.

One night, two Confucian disciples went to rob a grave. The great Confucian kept watch on the ground, while the small Confucian committed the crime in the grave. The great Confucian asked: "Dawn is coming, how is it going?" The small Confucian replied: "I haven't even untied the clothes yet! This dead person has a pearl in their mouth!"

However, this dialogue was in verse.

The great Confucian asked: "The east is brightening, how is the matter?"

The small Confucian said: "The clothes are not yet untied, there is a pearl in the mouth."

Then, the small Confucian, while digging for the pearl in the dead person's mouth, chanted: "Green, green wheat, grows on the hillside. If you didn't give alms while alive, why hold a pearl in your mouth when dead!"

Two clowns, performing such thievery, yet not forgetting to chant ritual and music; it was truly incomparably ironic.

Liu Zheng said indifferently: "Literature and music should be Great Arts."

"Its meaning lies in having no intent!"

The entire crowd cheered again!

This statement came from a response by Mo Yan in later generations; regarding the meaning of Literature, he said, the greatest meaning of Literature is that it has no meaning!

This statement is thought-provoking.

Because it has no meaning, yet it continues to exist—is this not its most unique quality?

If this is true for Literature, is it not also true for music?

It may not produce any direct benefits, yet it can change a person deep within their thoughts, thereby indirectly influencing the bigger picture.

This is their meaning!

Keep moving!

"Prefect Liu believes that a healer..."

"With a hundred acres of farmland, irrigation without worry, and three households in the family, Prefect Liu thinks..."

"When things reach their limit, they become principle! But, what happens after the limit?"

"Chemistry!"

"Sunrise and sunset, the waxing and waning of the moon, Prefect Liu believes..."

"Prefect Liu is brimming with talent; I would like to compete in poetry, how about it?"

"Very well!"

"Regarding the art of Geomancy, Prefect Liu..."

All the way up, he swept through everything.

The people following Liu Zheng were already stunned at this moment.

Those from Wangbei were already dumbfounded from listening.

Any question, any field—the questions from these people were bizarre and strange, including Astronomy, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, medicine, Physics, Chemistry, philosophy, statecraft, music...

Yet this Prefect Liu...

Actually went all the way without obstruction!

In the blink of an eye, he had already surpassed five hundred steps!

Situ Kong was shocked.

Zhang Yang's face turned dark.

Jie Yu was left bewildered by what she heard.

Pei Yanran and Qin Zhangfeng also felt a sense of reflected glory.

Who else?

May I ask, who else is there!