Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 414 The pre-Qin sages have not been students for many years.

At the end of the Warring States period, Qi State, Jixia Academy.

Five miles to the south of the school palace, there is a three-acre field where the crops are growing very well, and the greenery is very conspicuous.

Qin Zhiyong was wearing coarse clothes and was weeding in the field.

It has been six years since he came to Jixia Academy, and Qin Zhiyong studied under Xunzi, who worshiped wine in Jixia Academy.

Therefore, Qin Zhiyong became Li Si, Han Fei, and Zhang Cang's fellow apprentices.

Qin Zhiyong looks like a young man in his prime, but in fact his real age is slightly older than Xunzi.

It's just that Qin Zhiyong has a lifespan of close to 400 years, and his age in his 70s is indeed only equivalent to his youth compared to Shouyuan.

It is Qin Zhiyong's luck to come to the pre-Qin period and witness the collision of ideas and wisdom of "a hundred schools of thought contending".

It's a pity that Qin Zhiyong didn't come decades earlier.

When Qin Zhiyong came here, Mencius had passed away for decades.

In fact, Qin Zhiyong most wanted to worship Mencius as his teacher.

After all, what Qin Zhiyong cultivated was "awe-inspiring spirit", which is most closely related to Mencius.Of course, it is also a blessing to be able to worship under the sages of Xunzi.

In the past six years, Qin Zhiyong has devoted himself to his studies, keeping a low profile and modesty.In Jixia Academy, he had the least sense of presence.

The others are very public. As long as there is an assembly in Jixia Academy, they will publicize their ideas and ideas.Everyone has their own little thoughts.The vast majority of people who come to the academy to study and promote their ideas are to win the appreciation of the powerful and the monarchs, so that they can smoothly enter the official career and become an official.

Only Qin Zhiyong was an exception.

Qin Zhiyong's purpose is clear, it is to be inclusive of all rivers, absorb the essence of a hundred schools of thought, increase wisdom, enrich the spiritual world, so as to improve his state of mind.

In the eyes of caring people, it is almost impossible to really hide one's knowledge.Those who don't know Qin Zhiyong ignore him.

But Xunzi knew that his new disciple was extraordinary.

Zhang Cang likes arithmetic and is currently correcting "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic".

Li Si was deeply scheming, and his main attack was the emperor's mind.

What about Han Fei?It is a special liking for Legalism.

Strange to say, the three best disciples of Xunzi did not really inherit the knowledge of Confucianism.On the contrary, it was the young disciple Qin Zhiyong who studied Confucianism most profoundly.

Xunzi's thinking is very open-minded, and he will not interfere with the students' preferences.As long as the students are willing to study, no matter what kind of knowledge, as long as he understands, he is willing to teach.

Compared with sages like Xunzi, those rotten Confucians in the Qing Dynasty were not worthy of lifting shoes.

Li Si and Han Fei came to the edge of the field and shouted at Qin Zhiyong who was doing farm work: "Little brother, the teacher asked you to go back to the school."

Qin Zhiyong raised his head, took off his straw hat, and said calmly, "Senior brothers, what is the teacher looking for me for?"

When doing farm work, Qin Zhiyong's mind is always peaceful with a trace of joy.This kind of joyful emotion not only nourishes the body and mind, but also nourishes the mind.

Through labor in the fields, there will be a harvest in autumn.Joy is like water overflowing, soaking Qin Zhiyong's body and mind in sweetness.

The saliva secreted from his mouth was as sweet as honey.

Li Si said: "I don't know. The teacher just asked us to call you back. When you see the teacher, you will know what it is."

Qin Zhiyong picked up the hoe and said, "Then let's go. It happens that I'm a little hungry and I need to go back to eat."

Han Fei said: "Junior brother... With your ability, as long as you want to become an official...you will definitely...be able to be reused by King Qi."

Han Fei stuttered a bit and spoke intermittently.

Before Han Fei and Qin Zhiyong discussed Legalism, Qin Zhiyong's remarks were bolder than that of a person who likes Legalism.However, Qin Zhiyong's understanding of "law" is almost unprecedented.

Qin Zhiyong said with a smile: "Brother, I haven't finished learning the teacher's knowledge, and I don't plan to become an official yet. What's more, even if I want to become an official, I will not be in Qi State."

Han Fei was surprised and said, "Junior Junior Brother doesn't want to stay in Qi State? Then... which vassal state do you want to go to? Chu State or Zhao State?"

Qin Zhiyong said: "If there is a chance, I plan to go to Qin."

Han Fei asked, "Why?"

Qin Zhiyong said: "Because Qin has a better future. I am more optimistic about Qin!"

The atmosphere in Qi is very bad, and the dignitaries and monarchs don't have the slightest enterprising heart.Qi State has a school like Jixia Academy, which can recruit talents from all over the world for its own use.With talents, there is everything. It stands to reason that Qi has the best chance to unify China.

And what is the state of Qin at this time?
Qin State does not have as many talents as Qi State, but several generations of Qin State monarchs have worked hard to rule, and when it comes to the generation of Qin Wang Yiren, the foundation of Qin State is considered to be well laid.After Yingzheng ascends the throne, he will be able to unify China.It's just that Ying Zheng is still a child, and he is still a proton in Zhao country.

Return to Jixia Academy.

Qin Zhiyong met Zou Yan who was giving lectures to promote the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements.

Qin Zhiyong saw the "Sword Master" Cao Qiudao demonstrating swordsmanship to his disciples.

Putting down the hoe and washing his hands, Qin Zhiyong went to meet his teacher Xunzi.

Xunzi was writing on the bamboo slips with a pen in his hand.

Xunzi has gray hair, no wrinkles on his face, and bright eyes, not cloudy like ordinary old people.

There was an aura of peace on Xunzi's body.Xunzi has no real energy, no martial arts, but his spiritual realm is a big realm higher than Qin Zhiyong.

Two years ago, Xunzi's mind reached the state of "safety".

Qin Zhiyong learned a lot from Xunzi, but unfortunately, he really couldn't learn the state of mind.Even if there is a role model in front of him, Qin Zhiyong can't imitate it.

Xunzi has no utilitarianism, but simply likes learning and teaching and educating people. His heart is very pure without any impurities.

Xunzi has seen through life and death and fame and fortune.

"Life is like grass to me, and money is like floating clouds to me." This is Xunzi's current state of mind.

This is the true self-improvement!

Qin Zhiyong's mental state is actually very similar to Xunzi's, but it's a pity he can't see through life and death.

It's just a little bit worse.

Afraid of death, one constantly wants to break the limit of lifespan and gain longevity, which is a kind of malpractice and restraint for improving one's spiritual realm.

The longer you can live, the more you fear death.The more you fear death, the more you pursue longevity.It's an endless loop.

Xunzi is already 70 years old. It is rare for people to reach [-] since ancient times. He has not pursued longevity and is not afraid of death.

When there is no fear in the heart, there is peace.

Xunzi did not deliberately cultivate his state of mind, but he only studied knowledge, and his state of mind unknowingly reached the state of "safety" in Confucianism.

Qin Zhiyong stood in front of Xunzi, saluted, and said with a little respect: "Teacher."

Xunzi put down his brush, looked up at Qin Zhiyong, and said with a smile, "You finished your field work?"

Qin Zhiyong nodded and said, "The grass has been hoeed. In autumn, when the crops are harvested, I can make porridge for you, teacher."

Xunzi said: "The unity of knowledge and action you advocate is the most reasonable. And you have achieved it. Your senior brothers are not as good as you in terms of state of mind. You can put down your body to farm and plant the crops well. Li Si and Han Fei It might not be possible.”

Qin Zhiyong said: "Students have not really achieved the unity of knowledge and action. Students know that as long as they see through life and death, and have no fear in their hearts and fear of death, their spiritual realm can reach the state of 'safety'. But I just can't do it."

Xunzi laughed: "You, you are too demanding of yourself. Zhiyong, King Qi wants to choose some people from Jixia Academy to go to Zhao State with the embassy. The old man recommended you. It is said that Zhao Guo has a Xiang Shaolong, a very interesting and strange person. Would you like to take a trip to Zhao Guo?"

Xunzi is from the state of Zhao, and he hasn't gone back to the state of Zhao for many years.

Qin Zhiyong clasped his fists and said, "Students obey the teacher's arrangement."

(End of this chapter)