Chapter 24 Sixth, let’s talk about monarchs and ministers

Now, it seems that it is time to review the relationship between the monarch and his ministers. Monarch and minister father and son are the most important human relationship in Chinese history.Back then, the young Confucius went to Qi State to look for a job. Qi Jinggong asked him why he governed the country. Confucius answered "Jun Jun, ministers and ministers, father and father, son and son", that is, the king is like the king, the minister is like the minister, and the father is like the father. Father, son like son.Qi Jinggong nodded and said yes, yes, if the emperor is not the emperor, the ministers are not ministers, the father is not the father, and the son is not the son, even if there is food, can the widows eat it?

In fact, the four characters of monarch, minister, father and son are the most important political concepts, moral norms and system design in ancient China. Therefore, since the Western Zhou Dynasty, they have been vigorously built, established and maintained, and cannot be shaken. Of course, before and after the Qin and Han Dynasties, the relationship between monarchs and ministers was different.From the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, in theory, the family members were loyal to the ruler of the family, the ministers of the state were loyal to the monarch, and the ministers of the world were loyal to the master of the world.In the Warring States period, the emperor disappeared, and the three-level allegiance became two-level allegiance.However, the level-by-level allegiance remains unchanged, and the relationship between monarch and minister remains unchanged.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, there were no princes, and the level-by-level allegiance became direct allegiance.The emperor is the only monarch, and everyone else, from officials to common people, are ministers.However, it also depends on the morals of the world.If the world is in chaos, each will be the master.For example, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhou Yu was loyal to Sun Quan, Guan Yu was loyal to Liu Bei, and Guo Jia was loyal to Cao Cao.Although the objects of allegiance are different, the relationship between monarch and minister is still the key link. Obviously, in ancient China, the relationship between the monarch and his ministers was the foundation of social stability and the cornerstone of the monarchy.Other relationships can also be regarded as monarchs and ministers, for example, the father is the monarch of the family, and the husband is the husband.Brothers and friends seem to be equal, that's because there is a gentleman above them.Without a father, the elder brother is the king.Isn't the way of monarchs and ministers righteous?

Unfortunately, it is inherently inadequate. The downside is inequality.The father of the monarch is undoubtedly higher than the courtiers.This is against human nature, so we have to try to make up for it.The remedy is to replace equality with reciprocity.For example, "the emperor is benevolent and the minister is loyal, the father is kind and the son is filial", or "the emperor envoys the ministers with courtesy, and the ministers serve the emperor with loyalty". 19 That is to say, both ruler and subject, father and son, have moral obligations and must abide by the rules of the game.Failing to do so can be costly.

There is a well-documented case for this. In 559 BC, Duke Xian of Wei invited two senior officials to dinner.According to the etiquette, the two doctors came to the court hall on time and in good attire, and waited there respectfully.However, you can't wait for the left, you can't wait for the right, the sun is going down, and Wei Xiangong still hasn't shown up.Finally, he was found shooting geese in the garden.And when I met two doctors, I actually started talking to them without taking off my crown. This is a serious faux pas.The leather crown is a military or hunting suit.Therefore, ministers see the king, and the king sees the ministers, even in war or hunting, they must at least remove their crowns (take off the leather crowns).In the sixteenth year of Duke Cheng of Lu, the officials of the state of Jin encountered the chariot of the king of Chu three times, and each time they had to remove their crowns.The king of the Communist Party of Chu sent envoys to condolences to him, and he immediately took off his hat and obeyed.In the twelfth year of Lu Zhaogong, King Ling of Chu, who was wearing a hunting suit, received his ministers. He not only took off his hat, but also wore (take off the shawl) and gave up the whip (throw away the whip).To not take off the leather crown is to treat the other party as an enemy or a beast.It is even more blatant humiliation to treat guests to dinner and wear hunting clothes.The two officials of Weiguo couldn't bear it anymore and were furious, so they launched a mutiny and expelled Xiangong from the country, and they didn't let him return to the country until twelve years later.

When this happened, the ruler of the state of Jin was Gong Gong.Duke Mourning asked his musician Shi Kuang: Is it too much for the people of Wei to expel their king?Shi Kuang said, I am afraid that their king is going too far.The monarch is the host of sacrifices and the hope of the people.If the people are disappointed, why is he needed?God loves the people like a child.God establishes a king for the people, is it to let him ride on the heads of the people to do his best? 20 This is a powerful statement and should be applauded. It's a pity that the king needs benevolence, and the father needs kindness. There is no operable system to supervise, and there is no way to supervise.Whether they are benevolent, kind or not, and whether they observe etiquette or not, it all depends on their self-consciousness.On the contrary, the absolute authority of monarchs and fathers is natural and reasonable, unchallenged and unshakable.The result is that a ruler can be unkind, but a minister cannot be unfaithful; a father can be unkind, but a son cannot be unfilial.Even if the emperor's father is faint and violent, he is likely to be as unfortunate as Shen Sheng: if he is loyal, he will die; if he is filial, he will also die.If you don't die, you will be disloyal and unfilial; if you die, you will have both loyalty and filial piety.

What bastard logic is this! What kind of shit morality is this! So the courtiers can only try their luck, or just figure it out.The common feature of Hutu, Rick, and Qingzheng is that they abide by the way of courtiers, but neither betray their conscience nor give up their dignity.If you want to kill, it's up to you!Damn, take it!I could die, but make it clear.If you die for no apparent reason, don't do it! Xun Xi has another attitude, that is, unconditional loyalty.In his opinion, being entrusted by others requires loyalty, let alone entrusted by the emperor's father?As for success or failure, it is up to people to plan and make things up to God.

This is probably the basic position of most courtiers.Because in any case, the king is the head of a country; the father is undoubtedly the head of the family.If the monarch is humiliated, the whole country will be humiliated; if the monarch is in trouble, the whole country will be in trouble.Therefore, after Duke Hui was captured, the officials of the state of Jin all disheveled their hair, pulled up their tents and followed. Qin Mugong had no choice but to send an envoy to spread the word: You don't have to worry so much, do you?The widow accompanies the king of your country to the west, just to comfort the soul of the old prince of your country, 21 How dare you do anything excessive?

On the other hand, the officials of the state of Jin performed the great ceremony of a dying or dead country in fear and respect, prostrating three times and kowtowing three times.They say: Great Your Majesty!The ground is under your feet, and the sky is above your head.The emperor and queen have heard your oath.We, the humble ministers of foreign countries, boldly stand at the bottom of the wind, waiting for your benevolent orders! twenty two Later Jin Huigong was released, and this scene also played a role. There are many other factors at play.One of them is the successful mediation of Jin diplomats.

Uncle Zhan walked towards the cauldron, grasping the ears of the cauldron tightly with both hands, Shout out to the sky: kill me, kill me! From now on, those who serve the country with wisdom and loyalty, They all end up in the same way as me! 19.See "The Analects of Confucius · Bayi". 20.See "Zuo Zhuan Fourteen Years of Duke Xiang" for details. twenty one.According to "Zuo Zhuan Xi Gong Ten Years" and Yang Bojun's annotation, after Jin Huigong came to the throne, he took possession of the concubine of the former prince Shen Sheng.Shen Sheng showed his spirit to the fox, saying that Duke Hui would be defeated by Han.

twenty two.See "Zuo Zhuan Fifteen Years of Duke Xiang" for details.