Many people nodded repeatedly.
Some people think that the saying "He who steals a hook will be put to death, and he who steals a country will become a marquis" makes a lot of sense, and most people think that the demand Fang Yun mentioned at the end makes sense.
At this moment, all the great scholars and university officials turned their eyes to where Fang Yun was, using all their strength to listen carefully, while the rest of the Hanlin scholars or other scholars all moved towards Fang Yun involuntarily.
"You're right. It's better to be in a stable place where you can be well fed and clothed than to be in a place where you could be killed at any time. Even if the food, clothing, shelter and transportation are worse, at least you can survive." Fang Xingyan said.
"Stability and tranquility are the most basic needs of normal people. Therefore, two great men who were truly supported by the people appeared in that period, Confucius and Mozi. Have you noticed that, to a certain extent, the holy ways pursued by Mohism, such as "universal love", "non-aggression" and "honoring the virtuous", are surprisingly similar to the Confucian benevolence, righteousness and propriety? Even the "simple burial" that is opposed to Confucianism, Mozi only advocated it in weak and poor areas, and even said bluntly that if lavish burials can make the people feel at ease and allow some poor people to engage in related businesses and earn money, then lavish burials are also benevolent and righteous. The only difference between the two is that Confucius practices benevolence and righteousness from top to bottom, while Mozi practices benevolence and righteousness from bottom to top."
Everyone nodded slightly. Confucianism and Mohism have always been in opposition, and few people dared to say such words.
"Confucius's 'benevolence' has many meanings, but the most important ones are 'benevolent monarchs' and 'benevolent government'. Only under benevolent monarchs and benevolent government can the people be more stable. In Mencius' time, Mencius emphasized 'righteousness'. Why? Because during the Warring States period, there were no benevolent monarchs and benevolent government in various countries. It was far more chaotic and desperate than the Spring and Autumn Period. As a result, Mencius no longer had any hope for benevolent monarchs. Therefore, when looking at the people, the country and the monarch, he said that 'the monarch is the least important'. Mencius valued 'righteousness' more. He no longer pursued benevolence and righteousness that can be generalized, but pursued 'morality' that everyone should abide by. When everyone abides by morality, he even encourages us to use radical means to uphold justice, even if it means killing the monarch."
"Then, why did Xunzi emphasize 'ritual'? If Confucius was a kind old man who firmly believed in 'teaching without distinction' and believed that everyone could be taught well, then Mencius was like a righteous man who felt the suffering of the people and sympathized with the common people but looked down upon the king. And what about Xunzi? Not only did he not believe in the king, not only did he not believe in the people, he basically did not believe in anyone except Confucius, he only believed in heaven, and believed that only 'ritual' could solve everything. Moreover, his ritual was very different from that of Confucius. Strictly speaking, Confucius' ritual was 'ritual and music', which was to establish a system that people would take the initiative to abide by, but Xunzi's ritual used order and rules and regulations to constrain the king and the people, so he cultivated Han Feizi and Li Si, two giants of the Legalist school. If you savor it carefully, you will find how cruel the world experienced by the three saints was!"
Everyone was attracted by Fang Yun's novel argument and shocked by the clues hidden behind the Three Saints' Holy Way. After careful consideration, they discovered that the human race was moving towards despair step by step, from benevolence to righteousness, from righteousness to courtesy, and finally from courtesy to law. What was hidden behind it was almost a dark history.
Many people were shocked and speechless. What kind of despair and struggle did the human race go through to give birth to this vine rooted in darkness that spanned thousands of years.
Fang Yun said slowly: "When you look at history with an impartial eye, you will find that it was not Confucianism that chose the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, nor was it Confucianism that chose the Qin Emperor and the Han Emperor. Rather, it was the rulers, ministers and people of that era who chose Confucianism. It was history that chose Confucianism. It may not be because Confucianism is so perfect. It may just be because no other school of thought can surpass Confucianism, and no other school of thought can better represent the needs of all people from all walks of life at that time."
Most people just pondered deeply, but the higher the literary status, the more shocked they were. Fang Yun's words were truly shocking. If they were said in Shengyuan Continent, it would be enough to shock hundreds of schools of thought. No matter whether it was Confucianism or other schools, they would criticize Fang Yun.
However, these people also believed that after the initial heated debate, once things calmed down, everyone would find that what Fang Yun said was true.
“If one day, the human race creates a more powerful and perfect holy way, then, even if Confucianism has a thousand faults, we should also know that in the period of human ignorance, Confucianism was that bean of light, swaying in the encirclement of monsters and barbarians, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, but it always led the human race forward until the heaven and earth reopened, the clear and the turbid were separated again, and the sun shone on the world.”
For some reason, everyone from the common people to the great scholars felt an unprecedented shock and impact from these words, and their hearts were even more moved than Fang Yun's reconstruction of the clues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and law.
Fang Yun smiled slightly and said, "Let's go back to our previous topic. Why does Confucianism suppress our nature to some extent? Why do we stop you from being angry and keep you quiet when you are afraid? Because we are human beings, we must control ourselves as much as possible. The tyrants, butchers, murderers, lunatics, etc. in the past dynasties were unable to control themselves when they did evil, which led to disasters."
Fang Xingyan murmured to himself, "I understand what you mean. I will apologize to those who persuaded me. I really shouldn't have lost control of myself. However, I am not the saints who control the human race. When I think about my own impending death and that I am actually burying myself, I really can't study as calmly as you do. Fang Xusheng, tell me the truth. Swear to your literary courage that you are as calm as a well and are you really studying with the same mentality as usual?"
Everyone was stunned, with different expressions on their faces, but no one said anything.
Because they want to know the answer, everyone wants to know.
Fang Yun smiled, straightened his body, turned around and left, continuing to do his job as an inspector.
Everyone thought Fang Yun would not answer, but they heard his voice.
"How could I be the same as usual? How could my heart calm down? My blood is surging, my literary courage is reciting loudly, and my literary palace is roaring, because I am telling myself all the time that I will clear the obstacles on the road for the human race, I will lead the human race to the Ice Emperor Palace, I will do my best to keep as many people alive as possible, and I will kill every monster of the Ice Clan who stands in my way! You said that you were wailing, angry, and complaining there, which was no different from us studying. Now studying can't help us solve the problem of life and death in the ancient land, and can't kill more monsters. Yes, you are right, there is no difference between us."
Fang Yun paused for a moment and continued, "It's just that we know that studying is useless today and tomorrow, but in a year or ten years, it will definitely turn into our holy power and become the cornerstone of our literary status, allowing us to kill more monsters and live a stable life. We are not just studying, we are also pinning our hopes on this, because we believe that one day, maybe a hundred years later, or even a thousand years later, the descendants of the survivors among us will remember this road leading to the Ice Emperor Palace and us who are studying. By then, someone will say that this stable human race is what you wished for!"
Fang Xingyan looked at Fang Yun's back and his eyes turned red.
Then, Fang Yun suddenly laughed happily, and walked while laughing, saying: "I was actually very excited when I was studying these days, because I carry the hope of all the human race in the Shihan Ancient Land. What if I can do it? Don't worry, I may not be able to lead each of you out of the Ice Emperor Palace, but this saint will carry every hope on his shoulders!"
Two lines of hot tears slid down Fang Xingyan's face, blurring his vision and also blurring the green-shirted man between heaven and earth.
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