Jinling, light rain.

The unique mist of rain and mist in the south of the Yangtze River filled the huge Changning Palace.

However, the warm-colored study room of fifty or sixty square meters was filled with the unique mist of ambergris. Chen Shengan was sitting behind a large bookcase, wearing a loose linen robe that exuded a halo under the bright lights.

A simple, lustrous mutton-fat jade hairpin accentuates the neatly combed bun, which becomes increasingly black and shiny, exuding a hint of tranquility in the purity.

He held a volume of the Confucian classic "Mencius" in his hand and read quietly with the sound of raindrops hitting the bamboo leaves outside the window.

Compared with Confucius's relatively vague theory centered on benevolence, Mencius went a step further in both his interpretation of the theory of benevolence and his exploration of human nature.

Mencius advocated benevolent government, and for the first time put forward the groundbreaking idea of ​​"the people are valued more than the monarch", and he also perfected the concept that human nature is inherently good, and that innate goodwill needs to be nurtured in order to survive in the long term.

Sound familiar?

This is the origin of human nature, good nature, and personal cultivation.

Chen Sheng is certainly not unfamiliar with this concept.

But a common problem for visitors from different time and space is that they know a little bit about everything, but they know too much about everything.

Just like the proposition that human nature is inherently good, in the time and space of his previous life, a Chinese person could subconsciously say one, two, three, four when he heard these four words.

Even those who hold the opposite view that "human nature is inherently evil" can casually cite evidence such as children watering ant nests with boiling water to support their argument.

But in fact, very few people have actually read Mencius’ interpretation of the proposition that human nature is inherently good.

Mencius proposed a thought experiment based on the concept of human nature being good: a child you never knew was playing by the well and suddenly lost his footing and fell into the well. You happened to be passing by and saw this scene accidentally. The first thing in your heart was

What was the reaction? What was your first behavioral reaction?

[To be honest, I have been using Yeguo to read and catch up on books recently. I can switch sources and read aloud with many sounds. www. Android and Apple are available.]

You don’t care about whether there are people around you, you don’t care about the outside world’s evaluation of your behavior, and you don’t care about your reputation or dishonor.

Just trace the most primitive and instinctive reaction in your heart...

Mencius believed that this is benevolence and that human nature is inherently good.

This is also the most fundamental conflict between Confucianism and Legalism.

Confucianism believes that human nature is inherently good and only needs to be guided and improved personal cultivation to create a harmonious world where everyone is a gentleman.

Legalists believe that human nature is inherently evil, and it is necessary to strictly enforce laws, use high pressure to intimidate and control the people, in order to create an orderly world where everyone goes their own way and performs their duties.

At this point, Chen Sheng actually has no opinions of his own. Whether it is that human nature is inherently good or human nature is inherently evil, he thinks it is too absolute and does not support it.

What he pursues is a simpler and gentler outlook on life: you must not have the intention to harm others, and you must have the intention to guard against others.

And his attitude determines the direction of his governance.

However, he still has a long, long way to go before he can level this bowl of conflicting, boiling water, and there are still many, many things to learn.

Chen Sheng has read Mencius's teachings many times, and he has gained something new every time...

At the right time, Meng Yi bowed in, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, we have an urgent report on the special battle situation."

Chen Sheng said calmly without raising his head: "Send it up."

"only!"

Meng Yi bowed forward and presented a secret letter sealed with fire paint in front of the eucalyptus.

After Chen Sheng calmly made the bookmark, he picked up the secret letter and opened it. He glanced at the signature in the lower left corner of the letter out of habit, but saw that the signature was not Chen Feng, but Chen Qiu.

He frowned and looked carefully.

After a while, he put down the letter and pondered for a long time with a slightly gloomy look on his face. Finally he said: "The edict is that the Baijia Academy of Jixia Academy will immediately ban Taoism. The Taoist bachelors in the academy will leave our Han territory within seven days. If they exceed the deadline, they will be punished as treason."

.”

"It is decreed that from now on, Taoists will not be allowed to preach, gather, or discuss Taoism in our territory of the Han Dynasty. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished as a traitor."

"The Second Army of the Red Army is summoned to return to the capital immediately to defend the capital."

"Send a message to Li Xin, the general of the Northern Expedition, telling him that Taiping Dao colluded with Taoism to assassinate the king and plot the fate of the Han Dynasty. Let him take matters into his own hands."

After a pause, he picked up the scroll again and said calmly: "The royal guards will cancel their rest from now on, and all personnel will go to guard the palace in two shifts. Chen Feng will immediately enter the palace to pay an audience."

Meng Yi squeezed his palms and bowed to the end: "I obey the king's order. Long live my king. Long live the king."

Chen Sheng waved his hand, and Meng Yi bowed and exited the study.

The bright candle light danced on the pages of the book exuding the faint fragrance of ink. Chen Sheng whispered to himself: "Okay, if you don't take action, I will really treat you as a good citizen..."

Two quarters of an hour later, Chen Feng, covered in moisture, hurriedly stepped into the study, clasped his hands and said: "General Chen Feng, I would like to pay my respects to the king. Long live my king."

Chen Sheng glanced at the wet robe on his body, turned his head and whispered outside the room: "Send two cups of hot tea in, and bring me one of my robes."

Chen Feng chuckled and said: "I will eventually lose my dignity, thank you for your grace."

Chen Sheng smiled and raised his chin: "You are the only one who talks nonsense. Sit down and talk."

Chen Feng clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After he sat down, Chen Sheng got straight to the point: "Where is Mr. Zhuang now?"

As early as last year after the Battle of Xuzhou Binhai, Chen Sheng handed over the portraits of Master Kong and Master Zhuang to the Special War Bureau, asking them to pay attention to the whereabouts of these two men.

Although the whereabouts of these giant elders are elusive, and the divine dragon has never seen its head or tail, even with the special warfare situation with strongholds spread all over the cities in Han Dynasty, it is impossible to truly grasp the whereabouts of these two men.

But as long as they appear publicly in Han Dynasty, the special operations will always be able to catch some clues.

Well, Old Master Kong and Old Master Zhuang also knew about this, and Old Master Zhuang also took the opportunity to blackmail him into having several big meals during the special war...

Chen Feng recalled for a moment and said: "The last time Old Master Zhuang appeared in our country was probably half a month ago, near Lingling."

After Chen Sheng heard this, he thought to himself, "Sure enough."

After he had just read the sentence in Chen Qiu's letter, "Opportunities must not be missed, they will never come back", and he was thinking about what kind of opportunity this was.

After thinking about it, there are only two factors:

First, more than half of the Han army was out on conquest, the situation in Kyushu changed, and the internal defenses were empty.

2. Master Confucius went into seclusion in Shun Ling for enlightenment...

He prefers the latter. After all, his aura of human emperor and the fate of the Han Dynasty that enveloped Changning Palace are not decorations. All cats and dogs can harm him through the remaining aura of the Han Palace in Chen County.

The one who can attack him from a distance in this way is at least a first-rate Grand Master!

And the battle at that level is the responsibility of Master Kong and Master Zhuang...

Master Zhuang appeared near the place where Master Confucius attained enlightenment, which undoubtedly proved his inference.

He had seen the communication method between Master Kong and Master Zhuang, and did not think that it was necessary for Master Zhuang to go to Lingling in person to communicate with Master Kong.

"Think of a way."

Chen Sheng pondered for a moment, picked up Chen Qiu's secret letter on the eucalyptus table, and handed it to Chen Feng, who was changing his robes below: "Give this letter to Old Master Zhuang."

It's shameful to call your parents if you can't beat them.

But it works!

Moreover, he, Master Confucius, Master Zhuang and others all performed their respective duties.

He didn't bother Old Master Kong and Old Master Zhuang in the fight at the bottom.

On the other hand, Master Kong and Master Zhuang were often unable to control themselves, causing the power of the higher-ups to fall on him.

Chen Feng took the secret letter and saw that the envelope was not sealed. He knew that the content in the letter could be read by him. He immediately opened the secret letter and browsed it quickly.

Before he finished reading, his brows knitted into a ball, and murderous intent surged between his brows: "Your Majesty, the general is asking for orders to eliminate the traitors!"

He clapped his hands and said loudly.

Chen Sheng shook his head slightly and said: "I have made comprehensive arrangements for this matter. You just need to increase the supervision of the capital area during the special war."

If this matter can be solved with just one word of killing, there is no need for a special battle to take action. Just press a royal order, and all the hundreds of Taoist masters in Jixia Academy will be killed today!

But the problem is that this matter cannot be done arbitrarily.

As far as Chen Sheng knows, the current Taoism and the Taoism in his impression have not yet separated.

Taoism is a philosophical thought.

Rather, Taoism is a religion.

It is true that more than half of Taoists are Taoist priests.

But after all, there is still half, just a simple bachelor...

For example, Master Zhuang's thoughts were deeply influenced by Taoism.

Is it difficult to regard Master Zhuang as a Taoist priest?

Chen Sheng couldn't tell the difference and was too lazy to distinguish it.

Simply put the pressure on the Taoists, let them fight on their own, and let them give Chen Sheng an explanation!

Anyway, if he doesn't nod for one day, Taoism will no longer be able to spread within the territory of the Han Dynasty.

It's not him who's anxious.
To be continued...