Outside Zhanlu Valley!
On a piece of grass, Confucius's students surrounded them. Only in the center, Confucius sat on a soft cushion, waiting for Fan Li and Sun Wu.
At the invitation of Zilu and Yan Hui, the two came to Confucius' place.
"I've met Mr. Confucius!" Fan Li and Sun Wu bowed slightly.
"You two, please sit down!" Confucius smiled slightly.
Fortunately, Fan Li is still just an ordinary money and grain officer of the Yue Kingdom. Sun Wu is the general of the Wu Kingdom. In order to win over him, Wu Zixu even went to the front and rear in order to win over him. He is also the founder of the military strategist.
Now, the two of them gave Confucius a gift, and Confucius actually accepted it calmly? Not even a gift in return
Didn’t Confucius advocate the Zhou rites? Why is it so rude
Sun Wu was also very magnanimous. He took a deep breath and nodded without saying anything.
The two slowly knelt down and sat on the cushions.
"I left in a hurry and didn't bring anything with me. I just lent Ou Yezi a pot of warm tea to entertain you two!" Confucius said with a smile.
Bi Zilu immediately stepped forward, poured tea and handed it to the three of them.
"A gift from Master Ou Yezi?" Fan Li asked in surprise.
Sun Wu picked up the tea and took a sip without being polite. He didn't say anything after drinking, just looked at Confucius.
"Mr. Confucius, what did Master Ou Yezi tell you? Why can you enter the Zhanlu Valley, but we can't? But Master Ou Yezi, are you willing to give you a holy sword?" Fan Li asked curiously.
When the Holy Sword was mentioned, Sun Wu's eyes suddenly lit up.
Taking a deep breath, Confucius looked at the two of them carefully.
"I left immediately. I didn't have time to wait for Ou Yezi to make the sword. Maybe in this life, I will never come here to teach swords!" Confucius said.
"Oh?" The two of them showed a trace of confusion.
"You really want Ou Yezi's sword?" Confucius looked at the two of them.
Sun Wu frowned and said nothing. Clearly full of desire.
Fan Li smiled bitterly: "It's Young Master Gou Jian who wants the Holy Sword!"
"What about you?" Confucius looked at Fan Li.
"Me? I'm just a money and grain officer of the Yue Kingdom, or a small money and grain officer who was promoted by the literary class and reused by the young master Gou Jian. What's the use of the holy sword if I want it?" Fan Li's voice was filled with sadness.
"I can hear your soul crying!" Confucius looked at Fan Li and said.
"Me?" Fan Li suddenly raised his head and looked at Confucius.
Sun Wu also looked at Confucius in surprise, and then looked at Fan Li. What did Confucius mean
"Perhaps what I say next will be a little too superficial, but after today, maybe you and I will never see each other again in this life! I will never set foot in the right and wrong places of Wu and Yue in this life. , I hope you can listen to what I say, and it can be considered a gift from me to you in this life!" Confucius looked at the two of them and said solemnly.
The two looked at each other, confusion visible in each other's eyes.
"My ability in this life is limited. I can't do much, and I don't have time to do much. I just hope you will keep the following words in mind!" Confucius said solemnly.
At this moment, Sun Wu suddenly stood up and saluted Confucius: "I am willing to listen to Confucius' teachings!"
Sun Wu founded the military strategist. Sun Tzu's Art of War has thoroughly studied some people's hearts, and he has a deep understanding that soldiers are not afraid of deceit. However, Confucius only sees sincerity, so Sun Wu will naturally not put on airs anymore.
No matter what Confucius said is useful or not, at least it is not harming yourself!
"I would like to listen to Confucius' teachings!" Fan Li also stood up and bowed slightly.
Confucius looked at Fan Li: "I don't know how grateful you are to whom, but I know that your current life is not what you want!"
"Me? I want my current life!" Fan Li shook his head.
In his current life, Fan Li would be satisfied as long as he could be close to Xi Shi and see Xi Shi's smiling face every day.
Confucius smiled slightly: "You know whether you want it or not. I just want to tell you that you have to ask yourself every day. Is what you want originally yours? Who made you lose what you should have?" Something! Who is it?”
"Huh? Mr. Confucius, I don't understand what you said?" Fan Li asked confused.
"Repeat what I just said!" Confucius looked at Fan Li and said.
"Does what I want originally belong to me? Who made me lose what I should have? Who?" Fan Li frowned and looked at Confucius.
"Yes, that's it, Fan Li. There is no doubt about your ability. Don't always underestimate yourself! Remember this sentence I gave you. The reason why you don't understand what it means now is because you haven't found yourself yet. One day, you will You will understand the meaning of this sentence!" Confucius said solemnly.
"Ah? Me!" Fan Li didn't understand for a moment.
Or maybe Fan Li seemed to have a guess in his confusion, but he didn't dare to think about it.
"What should be said, I have already said, when you have enlightenment, you can change everything. I believe that if your ability is fully utilized, it will be extraordinary!" Confucius said solemnly.
Fan Li had a look of confusion on his face.
Although I still can't understand it now, and I can't understand it, I still stood up and bowed solemnly to Confucius: "Thank you, Mr. Confucius. I will remember your words and ask myself once a day. If you understand it in the future, I will thank you again, Mr. Confucius!" "
Confucius nodded: "Just remember, go back!"
"Ah?" Fan Li was slightly startled.
Fan Li also wanted to ask about Ou Yezi, but Confucius had already seen him off, which made Fan Li anxious and depressed.
However, Fan Li did not dare to disturb him, thanked Confucius, and left.
Sun Wu watched Fan Li leave in confusion from beginning to end. When he was walking back to the Yue army, he was questioned by Wen Zhong.
"Mr. Confucius, do you also like to meddle in their business?" Sun Wu suddenly laughed.
Confucius shook his head: "I can't control it, and I don't have time to control it, but if I don't do anything, it's wrong! This is Fan Li's disaster, and he should resolve it himself!"
"Mr. Confucius, you can tell at a glance that Fan Li's disaster is within the Yue Kingdom. I wonder if Mr. Confucius can also tell at a glance where the disaster for me is?" Sun Wu looked at Confucius and asked curiously.
Confucius looked at Sun Wu, smiled slightly and said: "You? No disaster can stop you!"
"Oh?" Sun Wu looked curious.
"I just want to remind you that the countries of Wu and Yue are places of right and wrong. Your talents should not be left in the internal strife of Wu and Yue!" Confucius said solemnly.
"Hahaha, Mr. Kong thinks too highly of me!" Sun Wu said disapprovingly.
"Do you trust Wu Zixu and the others?" Confucius said with a smile.
Sun Wu took a sip of tea and said nothing. Obviously, he could not be provoked by Confucius with just one word.
"I know, you want a holy sword!" Confucius said.
"Oh? Why did Mr. Kong teach me?" Sun Wu's eyes lit up.
"How much the Kingdom of Wu respects you, you should be able to realize it when the Holy Sword comes out. If Ou Yezi's next swords are not unexpected, most of them will flow into Wu and Yue. By then, can the Kingdom of Wu give you a Holy Sword? , it’s clear at a glance!” Confucius laughed.
"Mr. Kong, do you think that if Wu gets the holy sword, he will hide it and prevent me from touching it?" A flash of disbelief flashed in Sun Wu's eyes.
"I won't say much about the future. Maybe they will give you one? Just like Wu Zixu had one, but...!" Confucius said with a smile.
Sun Wu frowned slightly. Obviously he doesn’t believe Confucius’ provocation!
"Ou Yezi promised to give me a sword!" Confucius said.
"Oh?" Sun Wu's eyes suddenly lit up.
"I will temporarily store it in Ou Yezi's place. Maybe I will never have the chance to pick it up in this life!" Confucius said solemnly.
"What do you mean, Mr. Kong?" Sun Wu breathed a little quickly.
"When you clearly see the true nature of Wu and Yue and break away from Wu and Yue, take this order and go to the Zhanlu Valley. Ou Yezi will leave my sword to you for safekeeping! You can take care of it for me!" Confucius took out a sword. A warrant was handed to Sun Wu.
Sun Wu opened his mouth and looked at Confucius in disbelief: "Ou Yezi really gave you a sword?"
"That's right! Ou Yezi and I are old acquaintances!" Confucius nodded.
Sun Wu's eyelids twitched slightly, he was hesitant to believe Confucius' words, but there was no need for Confucius to lie to himself
Confucius never had the chance to touch that sword in this life, so let me keep it for you
"What? You don't want to?" Confucius smiled.
"No, it's just that everything happened so suddenly. I don't know what Mr. Kong wants me to do?" Sun Wu asked curiously.
"You don't need anything, just keep it for me. That's enough! When I come to pick it up one day, just return it to me!" Confucius said solemnly.
"That's all?" Sun Wu said in disbelief.
"That's all!" Confucius said solemnly.
Sun Wu looked at Confucius with a complicated expression, and finally said with a wry smile: "Then I would like to thank Mr. Confucius!"
Sun Wu carefully took the order from Confucius! The way I looked at Confucius became more and more complex.
"That's the case, then so be it!" Confucius stood up and said with a smile.
Sun Wu stood up in confusion.
Looking at Confucius, he slowly got on the carriage.
"Mr. Confucius, if I get a sword in the future, I will thank you for it!" Sun Wu said solemnly.
"No need, I may not see you again in this life, so don't look for me! Just take care of yourself!" Confucius shook his head.
Confucius stepped onto the carriage, and a group of students led the carriage toward the distance.
Sun Wu was left looking at the carriage where Confucius left with a complicated expression.
"Sun Wu, what did Confucius tell you?" Wu Zixu came forward curiously.
Sun Wu hid the order given by Confucius in his sleeve and shook his head: "Nothing!"
"Oh? Nothing? It's nothing. It's nothing. That Confucius is wandering around, not being welcomed by all countries in the world, and still enlightening as a mortal. He will not have any future in this life. Don't care about what he said! You are the general I recommend. "Everyone in the Wu Kingdom respects you very much. Don't worry, King Wu and I will work hard to help you get a holy sword!" Wu Zixu immediately comforted him.
Sun Wu looked at the holy sword at Wu Zixu's waist, and then pinched the warrant given by Confucius. For a moment, his expression was complicated.
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Meeting Ou Yezi was just a small episode in Confucius's pursuit of the Tao. Confucius' greatest pursuit in this life was to understand the Tao and realize the Confucianism and Taoism that would bring peace to all generations.
It's been another eleven years since I said goodbye to Ou Yezi.
During these eleven years, Confucius traveled around the world and once again suffered from the coldness and chaos of people's hearts. Confucius was now fifty-one years old.
Fifty-one years old, students never leave. Every face is full of perseverance towards the road.
On the side of a main road, Confucius discussed the Tao with his students.
At this moment, Confucius' hair was slightly white, but his whole body was full of righteousness. Above his head, the sea of dao reached a width of 30,000 miles.
In the sea of 30,000 miles of avenues, Confucius's current achievements are astonishingly bright.
Ziyu came back from exploring the road ahead.
"Teacher, we are now in the Song Dynasty again!" Ziyu said.
"Back again!" The gray-haired Confucius sighed with a flash in his eyes.
"Yes, in the Pei land of the Song Dynasty, students heard that I was living in Pei land and was in the process of enlightenment!" Ziyu said again.
"I?" All the students were stunned, and solemn expressions flashed in their eyes.
At the same time, each student's eyes flashed with fierce fighting spirit. It seems that he wants to fight Taoists again to avenge Confucius in Luoyi for being insulted by Laozi's students.
The students all showed fighting spirit, and as they studied with Confucius for a long time, they felt that Confucianism was definitely not inferior to Taoism. Who would admit that the Taoism they had adhered to for decades was inferior
All the students looked at Confucius together.
Confucius was fifty-one years old at the moment, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.
He seemed a little unwilling, seemed relieved, seemed to let go, and seemed to be worried.
"After all, I have a feeling of frustration in my heart. Now that I'm here, let's go and meet him. Ziyu, you take my invitation to me. Our carriage will catch up with you soon!" Confucius looked at Ziyu and said .
"Yes!" All the Confucius students clenched their fists and shouted in unison.
ps: A little historical knowledge: Confucius met Lao Tzu twice in his life, once in Luoyi when he was thirty years old, and once in Peidi of Song Dynasty when he was fifty-one years old.