Chapter 2 2. The will of Confucius

Confucius met Zigong before his death. Zigong, surnamed Duanmu, named Ci, styled Zigong, was one of the most important students of Confucius.He came from other places after hearing the news that Confucius was seriously ill.When Zigong arrived, Confucius was walking at the door with a cane.Seeing Zigong, the first thing he said was: Ci, why are you here so late! This is April in the sixteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu (479 BC).The setting sun in early summer is falling steadily into the vast field, a little helpless and stubborn, but it still puts a golden edge on the dark clouds above. Yes, Phnom Penh.

In fact, Confucius is "Phnom Penh", and the "sun" that is about to fall is the Zhou system and Zhou culture.Confucius knew this very well.Only in this way, he has to explain the funeral to Zi Gong. So, what is Confucius worrying about? salvation. I remember that when I was traveling around the world, Confucius and his party returned to Cai State from Ye County (Ye Duru Society) in Chu State, but could not find the ferry.At this time, Zhong You (Zi Zilu) was accompanying and acting as the driver.Confucius took the reins and asked Zilu to "ask about the ferry".

Zilu went to the edge of the field and asked for advice from the two men who were plowing the field side by side.These are two hermits, named Chang Ju (read Ruju) and Jie Ni. Chang Ju asked, "Who is that holding the rein?" Zilu said: Confucius. At this time, Zilu was talking to the elder, so he called Confucius by his first name. Changju asked again, "Is that Confucius from the state of Lu?" Zilu said: Yes. Chang Ju said: Then he knows where the ferry is! There is something in the words.It means: Didn’t Confucius in your family give advice to the people of the world?Still can't find the ferry?In other words, Kong already knew where the way out was, so why bother to ask me?

Both explanations work. Zilu hit a soft nail, so he had to ask Jie Ni again. Jie Ni asked: "Which one is sir?" Zilu replied: Zhong You. Jie Ni asked again: "Are you a student of Confucius from the state of Lu?" Zilu said: That's right. Jie Ni said: Now the whole world is flooded, who can change it?Who will you change with?Instead of just rejecting bad people like Confucius did, it is better to reject the whole society like us. After finishing speaking, the two of them just immersed themselves in their work and stopped talking. Zilu had no choice but to go back and report to Confucius, who was filled with emotion.Confucius said: If the world is peaceful, why should I travel here and there?Yes, it is precisely because there is no way in the world that we want to save the world!

The question is, can it be saved? Can't help. Even Zilu understood this point.Zilu said, "If the Tao is not working, it is known."That being the case, why do it?Because a gentleman is responsible.Standing up is just to promote one's own ideas and fulfill the responsibilities of scholars. It is incumbent, and we can only persevere.Once, Zilu failed to enter the city before closing, so he slept overnight at the outer gate of Lucheng.The next morning, the official at the city gate asked Zilu, "Where are you from?" Zilu said: From Confucius. The little official said: Ah!Is it the person who knows it can't be done, but still wants to do it (the one who knows it can't be done)?

What a "know what can't be done", this is the spirit of Confucius.This kind of spirit is worthy of respect, and in fact some people respect it.A small official who guarded the frontier once said to Confucius' students: The world has been innocent for a long time, and God must make Mr. a teacher of the people. This petty official whose title is "Yifengren" is not wrong.After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Confucius was really revered as "the most holy teacher of great success".It's a pity that he, the people's mentor, is just a gorgeous golden border, which is not useful.What's more, the golden border is not decorated with the Zhou system that Confucius wanted to restore, but the Qin system or Han system that he never thought about and would not like.

Undoubtedly, this is not the behest of Confucius. It's a pity that this can't be up to him. Indeed, history is not created by heroes, but the appearance of heroes is shaped by history.Whatever image history requires of him, he can only be that image.If we must know the real Confucius, then his last words to Zigong should be reliable—there has been no way in the world for a long time, and no one really believes in my proposition. So, what is Confucius' claim?

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