Chapter 1083: Sitting and forgetting without front
The eight schools of Confucianism each follow their own path!
Although the inheritance is different, the origin comes from the founder Confucius. Over hundreds of years, he has mixed the ways of hundreds of schools to develop a practice, with eight channels running in parallel, and it has gradually taken shape more than a hundred years ago.
Over the past hundred years, Confucianism has continued to divide and gather together. Although the original interests are consistent,... it is detrimental to the overall situation of Confucianism as a whole.
This is quite similar to the enfeoffment of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The emperor was in the middle and the princes stood guard. If the emperor could maintain his own strength, the princes could only surrender.
Nearly a hundred years ago, Meng Kezi achieved great success, overwhelming the main line of Confucianism and achieving integrated practice. Today... it is still so strong. This is the lineage from which the head of Confucianism came to Meng Kezi.
Sure enough, the successor behind him failed to carry forward Meng Kezi's teachings. Then other branches, such as the equally powerful Zisi lineage and Yanhui lineage, may not have this intention.
Fu Nian had already discussed this issue with his master Gong Duzi before he came to the throne. Now... it seems to be more serious. Among the eight lineages, there are many branch disciples involved in the affairs of the hundreds of families.
No matter when the Qin State conquered Han and Zhao, or today, there are still disciples who remain in it. Confucianism is difficult to give a strong restraint. The way of benevolence and etiquette is not empty talk.
"Head!"
"..."
After dozens of breaths, the disciples of the Eight Meridians automatically gave way to a path leading to the main entrance of the Little Sage Village. Fu Nian bowed his hands to his left and right, nodded and stepped forward, walking into the home he had left for a long time.
Climbing the nine steps, the first thing you see... Everything in the Little Saint's Manor has not changed. It is still so elegant, still so clear, and still has the same bells and ritual music.
In addition, there are more bronze ritual vessels displayed in the courtyard, more brocade silk strips floating in the sea breeze, and more elegant connotations lingering in the void.
"Fu Nian, you have gained a lot from your trip to Qin. The Inner Sage and Outer King you have cultivated are unique Confucianism and Taoism. This... Confucianism and Taoism master deserves you."
Continuing to march towards the courtyard, several older men with gray beards and hair came to meet them. They were the remnants of Confucian celebrities from the previous generation.
Although the reputation is not obvious, the truth is still profound.
Fu Nian saw this and gave him a deep bow. Immediately, he heard the sounds of appreciation in his ears.
"Uncle Master, you have too much reputation."
Feeling this, I spoke out in one sentence.
"Senior Brother Gongduzi did not misjudge you."
Another word came.
"I will live up to Master's expectations and carry forward Confucianism."
Fu Nian bowed.
"Haha, let's go, today. It's a blessing that you, the head of the Confucian family, have returned. There are still many things that need to be dealt with by you next, so I won't interfere with you."
"After a few days, come back and find me."
Another loud word came, and then the sound gradually faded away, and the footsteps also faded away.
Fu Nian bowed on the spot, saluted again, raised his head, and watched as several uncles left one after another.
"Senior brother, everything is ready. When senior brother finishes bathing and washes away the dust, it will be a big feast!"
Yang Kuanwen followed and pointed at the bustling hall that had been prepared long ago.
"Um."
Fu Nian nodded.
After taking a breath, he turned around the courtyard area and headed to the small courtyard where he was before, which is the rear of the Little Saint's Villa. He walked eastward from Xianyang without stopping. It was indeed time to take a good bath.
"Senior brother, the head brother has returned, and the Confucian family... seems to be going through changes."
Head Fu Nian disappeared from the depths of everyone's eyes, and everyone around looked at each other, then went directly to the Hall of Benevolence and Ceremony that had been arranged long ago to investigate.
The man on Mo is like jade, and the young master is unparalleled in the world.
After the complete fall of Korea, after that struggle, after being forcibly sent back to Songhai by Wei Zhuang, and after practicing with Senior Brother Tan Zhique, his whole body was full of elegance, and every move he made was benevolent and courteous.
Wearing a plain blue brocade robe and long boots, he looked very handsome and graceful as he walked. Wherever he passed, there were many Confucian disciples greeting him, and they kept returning the favor.
Not long after, we arrived at a pavilion on the water in Xiaoshengxian Village. There... a man was sitting quietly, holding an ancient book in one hand and playing chess with the other. He pointed his fingers and moved vigorously, and the black and white chess pieces were spread across the chessboard.
In recent years, Senior Brother Yan Lu's cultivation has made great progress. Although he cannot detect the specific cultivation of Senior Brother Yan Lu,... the increasingly dusty aura emanating from his body is enough to be seen.
Between the eyebrows, there is neither sadness nor joy.
In his words, he was neither humble nor arrogant.
When discussing the Tao, neither be arrogant nor impetuous.
Take action without haste or delay.
…
Is this the way to sit and forget?
It is the Tao of Confucianism, and it is also the Taoist Tao,...it is ultimately the great road between heaven and earth.
"What's changed?"
Wearing a light blue robe with a Confucian crown, he was not in regular clothes for today's important events. The words of Zifang echoed in his ears, his expression did not change, he nodded, and another chess piece fell on the chessboard.
"Today... when the master brother returns, he pays homage to the Eight Meridians one after another."
"Isn't that strange?"
The existence of the Eight Meridians and Eight Paths is not a secret within Confucianism. Many people know it. Even Confucianism itself admits it, and hundreds of schools of thought also know it.
But in any case, it is rare to see it in public.
The head of Fu Nian returned from Qin and was rewarded by Qin King Ying Zheng as a Confucian and Taoist master, which was worthy of Qin and Ying Zheng's temporary attitude towards Confucianism, which he admired very much.
However...according to Zhang Liang, this appreciation is more due to Confucianism's status in the land of Qi and Lu. The Qin State sent troops on two fronts, attacking Yan and Wei, and the Qi State could not make any move.
Chu State has decided not to take action.
This is what Confucianism is for.
As for the states of Yan and Wei, if they cannot support themselves, Zhang Liang feels that Qin will most likely ignore the so-called Confucian and Taoist masters. Over the past hundred years, Qin has committed many treacheries.
Guigu deceives the Chu State six hundred miles across the country, and it is already known to all the countries in Shandong.
Those are all distant events, but at present... there may be more important things within Confucianism. The return of the head of Fu Nian and the clarification of the eight lines of Confucianism are of extraordinary significance.
It seems... that the matter of the Eight Meridians needs to be brought to the light.
As he thought more deeply, Zhang Liang's face became a little solemn, so he came here to chat with senior brother Yan Lu.
"What's so strange?"
Yan Lu kept moving his hands. On the chessboard in front of him, the black and white chess pieces were intertwined. Either the black piece won or the white piece won. He didn't stop talking.
"The battle between the eight meridians must have a result!"
Zhang Liang's bright and thoughtful eyes narrowed, he took a step closer, sat across from Yan Lu, scanned the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard, smiled slightly, and nodded, waiting for Senior Brother Yan Lu to drop a black chess piece.
Immediately, the white chess piece follows.
"What result?"
Yan Lu raised his head and glanced at Zifang helplessly. He couldn't even let himself play chess properly. He looked at the white chess pieces played by Zifang. After getting familiar with them, he dropped a piece.
As for the ancient book in his hand, he folded it up and placed it on one side of the table.
"The eight meridians are one, and the Hunyuan is as one."
"From now on, Confucianism should not have eight lines, but only eight lines of inheritance."
Zhang Liang didn't take it seriously. He already knew the temperament of this senior brother very well. He was aloof from the world, liked elegance, and was indifferent to everything. He didn't take it seriously.
"Then...so what?"
Yan Lu looked at the situation on the chessboard in front of him. According to what the chess record said, this game... the black chess piece should win. Could it be that Zifang wants to reverse the overall situation?
Thinking of this, he smiled slightly and answered his question casually.
"In order to unite the eight meridians, Master Fu Nian wants to gather the power of Confucianism and completely take the Confucian path into his hands. He needs a great opportunity."
In a time of great strife, the disputes among the Eight Meridians helped Confucianism grow rapidly, which was a huge benefit.
Moreover, Confucianism does not shy away from different opinions. For example, Master Xun’s words are different from those of Meng Kezi. However, this does not prevent Master Xun from becoming a pillar of Confucianism, not to mention that Master Xun is famous in hundreds of schools of thought.
The current situation is not suitable anymore.
The Qin State was unstoppable. As expected, it captured the land of the Three Jin Dynasties and had an overwhelming advantage. Even if it did not attack the Chu State, if Confucianism in the Xia wanted to develop, it would have to rely on the Qin State.
The meaning of the head of Fu Nian is to keep the right and moderate and not to participate in too many schools of thought, but this is not the case for the other seven branches, especially the Zisi branch, the Zizhang branch, etc.
If the other seven meridians cannot be fully controlled, the seven meridians are likely to cause trouble for the Confucians.
To put an end to such troubles, the only way is to unite the seven meridians into one body and return the eight meridians to their origin. From then on, Confucianism will no longer have eight meridians, but only the eight meridians will remain.
One should respond to everything, and all decisions should be made by the leader. The theory of the eight meridians can be discontinued.
But... the combined power of the seven meridians cannot be blocked by Meng Kezi alone, unless Master Fu Nian has an excellent opportunity to deal with the matter of the seven meridians in one fell swoop.
"What... opportunity?"
Yan Lu looked at the chessboard, um...yes, the chess piece in the sub-fang was a good move, which was interesting. After thinking about it for a while, he decided to follow up with a chess piece.