On the debate square of Jixia Academy, more than a thousand scholars gathered together, sitting on futons, eagerly looking forward to catching a glimpse of King Wu Qingji.

Of course, if possible, they must take advantage of this opportunity to shine.

Get Qingji's attention by catching people's attention.

Among the more than a thousand scholars, there were many who came specifically to watch the fun.

Compared to the School of Engineering, the School of Medicine and the School of Business, the School of Political Science is the most promising and has the largest number of students, accounting for more than half of Jixia Academy.

As far as Qingji knew, the number of scholars in Jixia Academy ranged from 3,000 to 5,000 all year round.

However, almost all scholars would choose the School of Political Science, thinking that they would become emperors, generals and prime ministers in the future.

Of course, the academics of the scholars were quite complex. Some of them may choose the School of Political Science as well as the School of Engineering and the School of Military Affairs.

The most popular college is the Political College, followed by the Military College.

It's just that scholars have the right to take elective courses. As long as you have talent in that area and are recognized by your teacher, it's not impossible to learn them all.

If a true genius can study hard for ten or eight years in Jixia Academy, Qingji will still provide financial support.

After all, there are too few scholars like this. They can be called national treasures, so Qing Ji will naturally value them.

"Human nature is good? Human nature is evil?"

After seeing the issue raised by Qing Ji, the scholars present could not help but whisper to each other.

"There are good people and evil people in the world, but the nature of a person should be good, not evil."

"No one can be sure of their good and evil right from birth, right?"

"Exactly!"

"Your Majesty, this issue is too biased. How can human nature be evil?"

The scholars couldn't help but shake their heads.

I feel quite helpless about this issue raised by Qingji.

In their view, human nature should be "good" rather than "evil".

Since it cannot be established, how can we argue about it?

How can we debate if there is no contradiction or conflict?

At this time, even those scholars who wanted to show off their originality in front of Qingji could not help but retreat.

In the center of the square, there is a square platform, which is the "debating platform".

Every scholar, or everyone, is qualified to stand on the debate stage and debate.

Qingji was on the square platform.

Qingji looked around, looking at Kongqiu, Laozi, Fan Li, Jizha, Sun Ping, Yan Ying, Ji Ran and others sitting on the left and right, and smiled slightly.

"Everyone, do you think human nature is good or evil?"

"Nature is good!"

Confucius stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Your Majesty's issue should not be established."

"Yeah?"

Qingji was noncommittal and turned his attention to Lao Tzu.

"Lao Tzu, do you think human nature can be divided into good and evil?"

Hearing this, I thought about it secretly, then bowed to Qingji and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that in the beginning, there is no distinction between good and evil in human beings."

"Everything in the world has an essence."

"If birds and beasts are to survive, wolves kill sheep, and eagles eat chickens, then can wolves and hawks be evil?"

"If we judge it by common sense, it is good to benefit others, and it is evil to benefit oneself. If it is beneficial to others, it is also good to beat others."

"If it is beneficial to oneself, then it is evil to treat others with courtesy."

"This would be biased."

The meaning of the last sentence of Laozi is probably: as long as it is beneficial to others, even if you hit them or scold them, it is good; as long as it is beneficial to yourself, even if you are respectful and polite to others, it is evil.

I hold an opposing view to this.

Qingji still fully agreed with Lao Tzu's views.

After all, the boundaries between good and evil are sometimes blurred.

Lao Tzu then said slowly: "The Book of Changes says: A house that accumulates good deeds will always be blessed, and a house that accumulates bad deeds will have lingering disasters."

"Thousands of virtues carry everything, and good things are only half and half full."

"The mind is free of attachments, the mind is pure, the good deeds are not attached to the appearance, the heart has nothing to give to, there is no one to help outside, and there is no one to do good inside. Even if you donate a penny, it is full of kindness."

"If you have the intention to do good, but only care about gains and losses, and are hesitant to do good, then even if you give away ten thousand taels of gold, it will only be half a good thing."

After a pause, Lao Tzu said meaningfully: "At the same time, there are biases in what is good, and there is what is right."

"What is good is right, and what is good is evil."

“Doing bad things with good intentions is called ‘the middle of the road’.”

"Doing good things with a bad intention is called 'righteousness in the middle'."

"Good things have their origins, and their virtues can be divided into different parts."

"Doing something completely out of a desire to help the world and benefit others, without asking for anything in return, is the 'right'."

"Those who have a heart to please the world, a heart of cynicism, and a heart of cynicism are 'qu'..."

Lao Tzu expounded his views on "goodness", which was very reasonable.

As for "evil", I'm not sure.

He does not believe that in the beginning, human nature is divided into good and evil.

Confucius had different opinions on this.

Fortunately, Laozi does not intend to debate with Confucius around the issue of "human nature is inherently good and human nature is inherently evil."

Otherwise, it will just be endless.

To use a vivid metaphor, it is——

You are not a fish, how can you know the happiness of fish?

Everyone has different views and naturally different ideas.

Confucius then followed suit and climbed onto the debate stage in the square, sitting upright.

This time he took the initiative to ask Ying to explain his point of view that "human nature is inherently good" to the scholars.

If there were any opponents, Confucius had the confidence to defeat them and remain invincible.

"When humans are born, their nature is inherently good."

Confucius looked around, looked at the scholars present, and talked eloquently: "In the past, when Sun Shu'ao, the commander of the Chu State, was young, he was traveling and saw a two-headed snake. He killed and buried it."

"Why? His mother asked about it, and Sun Shu'ao replied: If you hear a snake with two heads, you will die. If I see it, I am afraid that I will lose my mother and die."

"Those who are virtuous will be rewarded with blessings by heaven. Therefore, even though Sun Shu'ao was not cured, the people of the country believed in his benevolence."

After a pause, Confucius continued: "Nowadays, when people see a child about to fall into the river and are in danger of drowning, they all feel wary and compassionate."

"That's why it is said that everyone has a heart that cannot bear others."

"A heart without compassion is not human. A heart of compassion is the essence of benevolence!"

"good!"

"color!"

"Master's great talk!"

The scholars present couldn't help but cheered.

According to Confucius, when people see a child who is about to fall into the river and drown, how can he not feel compassion for him?

How could they not come to the rescue?

Sun Shuao was still a young man. He killed two snakes and was able to bury their bodies.

Because it is said that anyone who sees a two-headed snake will die, so Sun Shuao cried, not because he was afraid of death, but because he couldn't bear to let his mother give away the white-haired person to the black-haired person...

It can be said that Confucius was quoting scriptures. No wonder he was recognized by many scholars.

Confucius saw that everyone agreed, so he said with emotion: "Today's turmoil and strife, what's the point?"

"If you don't know the Zhou etiquette, you can't practice benevolent government. Taking killing and war as a pleasure is the key point!"

"..."

Qingji was a little bit dumbfounded.

When Confucius taught, he was to some extent bringing in "private goods".

But, at this moment, a different voice sounded!
Chapter completed!