Chapter 35 5. What era is this?
Gamblers, swindlers, diners, businessmen, and all kinds of people appeared one after another, and they performed colorful and vigorous tragedies and comedies.There are actually many more people involved in the show.For example, Mao Sui who recommended himself, Jing Ke who assassinated Qin, and Lord Xinling who rescued Zhao are all familiar to readers.So we can't help asking: What kind of era was the Warring States Period?
The age of the gambler.
Yes, times, like people, have their own personalities.Therefore, if the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period are compared to people, then the Spring and Autumn Period is an aristocrat, and the Warring States Period is a commoner; the Spring and Autumn Period is a gentleman, and the Warring States Period is a villain;It's just that gamblers in the Warring States Period often have blood and blood, and they are even heroes at the same time.A hero's gamble is a gamble.That pride and chivalry are still fascinating and desirable.
Such as Feng.
Of course Feng is not a gambler, but he is also a gambler.He buys people's hearts for Mr. Mengchang, which is to do futures and to gamble.In fact, his extension of the loan period and burning of bonds were not authorized by Mr. Mengchang.Moreover, if Mr. Mengchang was not dismissed later, this investment would not show a return.Therefore, when Feng Hao burned his Xueyi bonds with great passion, wasn't he gambling?
However, Feng is righteous.
After Mr. Meng Chang dismissed his chancellor, all the three thousand diners under his door scattered like birds and beasts, leaving only one Feng, and only Feng was the one who helped him make a comeback.Therefore, after the restoration, Lord Mengchang said to Feng: If those villains dare to come back, I will definitely spit on their faces.
Feng immediately bowed down and bowed down.
Meng Changjun was shocked: Sir, do you want to apologize for those guys?
Feng said, no!The minister wants to apologize for the emperor's inappropriate remarks.Your Majesty should know that there is life and death, which is the normal way of heaven; it is human nature to dislike the poor and love the rich.Those who go to the market and shopping malls flock in in the morning and dismiss them in the evening. Is it because they like the morning and hate the night?No, because what they asked for was gone by night.So please don't blame those people for leaving.
This may be the most righteous thing Feng did, but what he said was benefit, and his loyalty to Lord Mengchang was also expressed as benefit.This is very different from Spring and Autumn.In the Spring and Autumn Period, speaking and keeping one's mouth shut is ritual, and in the Warring States Period, speaking and keeping one's mouth shut is profit.This point can be seen at a glance by comparing "Guoyu" and "Warring States Policy".
Here, we clearly see the characteristics of the Warring States period.
what feature?
Profit-seeking.
Su Qin should have a deep understanding of this.At the beginning, when he went out to earn a living and returned to his hometown with nothing, everyone looked down on him, and his parents didn't even talk to him.Later, when he returned to his hometown wearing the clothes of the Prime Minister of the Six Kingdoms, no one in his family dared to look up at him, and his sister-in-law even served him like a servant.Su Qin smiled and asked his sister-in-law: What is the reason why you are arrogant before and respectful later?The sister-in-law crawled forward, put her face on the ground and said: Because you are powerful and rich now!
This is blatant snobbery.No wonder Su Qin sighed: If a person is poor, his parents will not regard him as a son; if he is rich, his relatives will come to flatter him.Is it possible to not care about money and status in life?
The pain of the skin, the talk of experience!
Indeed, the Warring States Period was an era of "true villains".In the past two hundred years, society has also provided vast space and infinite possibilities for all kinds of people.For example, Yu Qing was originally a pauper whose real name and surname were not known.But he wore straw sandals and carried an umbrella to persuade King Zhao Xiaocheng. Upon seeing him, he was rewarded with a pair of gold hundred yi and white biscuits.Such overnight fame and fortune, how can there be no temptation for scholars?
What's more, the threshold is extremely low, only one mouth is needed; the cost is also extremely low, only one conversation is required.Therefore, when Zhang Yi was suspected of being a thief and was beaten severely, the first thing she said after returning home was: Wife, do you think my tongue is still there?
The wife smiled and said: The tongue is still there.
Zhang Yi said, "That's enough!"
It doesn't even matter if you don't have a solid tongue.For example, among Meng Changjun's diners, there are everyone.In the end, the one who could learn how to bark like a dog helped him steal the fox white fur, and bribed the concubine of the King of Qin;Chicken crows and dogs steal, isn't it also in exchange for wealth and glory?
Those who are barefoot are not afraid to wear shoes.If a person originally had nothing, as long as he dared to act bravely, he might become rich and powerful. Who wouldn't want to bet on him?It is a surprise to be able to be righteous like Feng.If you can benefit yourself by benefiting others like Lu Buwei, you must be considered smart.When Lu Buwei met a stranger in Handan, he spoke very clearly and straightforwardly: Of course, I must make my lintel bigger, but my lintel depends on the lintel of my son to make it bigger, so we must cooperate.
The Warring States Period was an era of profit-seeking.
There is no sense of morality in such times.Su Qin even publicly said to King Yanyi, I am not honest, and it is your blessing, my lord.Those who talk about integrity stick to morality, who will run for the interests of the king?
When Su Qin said this, he really didn't mean to be pretentious, on the contrary, it should be regarded as a thorough understanding.In fact, many princes and princes in the Warring States Period were born as gamblers. Their actions in international relations are actually unavoidable for gamblers.As the saying goes, "Those who usurp and steal are listed as princes; a country that is treacherous and deceitful is established to be strong."Therefore, the upper class abandoned benevolence and righteousness and emphasized political power; the princes and states abolished courtesy and emphasized war.As a result, those who came into being were counselors and strategists; those who made great progress were local ruffians.
This is the Warring States Period - only about utilitarianism and no morality, as long as the purpose is unscrupulous, the winner is a prince and the loser is a bandit, whoever has power will be the master.
The Warring States Period was an era of immorality.
That's right, if the Spring and Autumn Period was just a collapse of ritual and music, then the Warring States Period was already a moral decline.This is undoubtedly an extremely serious matter for Chinese civilization.Because the institutional support of Chinese civilization is the well field, patriarchal clan, feudalism, rituals and music; the consensus of the whole people is to govern the country with virtue, maintain order with ritual, and achieve harmony with music.The rule of virtue is "one center", and ritual and music are "two basic points".The core values of the Chinese nation are reflected in this whole system.
However, this entire system fell apart during the Warring States Period, and it was impossible not to collapse.Yes, Chu is the Southern Barbarians, Qin is the Xirong, Yan is the Beidi, Tian Qi and Zhao, Wei, and Han are usurpers, which one is the purebred royal family of Ji and Zhou?What's more, even if Huaxia is authentic, it can't resist three major changes: 1. The land is state-owned, and small farmers are granted according to their household registration and taxes are collected; 2. The princes are merged, and the land and people are no longer divided; .That is to say, the well field system was abolished, and the land grant system was established; the feudal system was abolished, and the county system was established; the Shiqing system was abolished, and the bureaucratic system was established.Everything has changed, from the economic base to the superstructure.How can social life, cultural psychology and ideology remain unchanged?
The foundation is shaken, the pillars are collapsing, where is China going?
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