Chapter 41 postscript

The vast majority of intelligent and talented people, brave and powerful people are aggressive.The moral standard divides them into two categories: those who work hard to benefit the majority are good people; those who only focus on their own power, status and material desires while harming others are bad people.The size of a good person or a bad person depends on the number and degree of its favor or damage.In most periods of politics, bad people are in power, so there are people who want to replace them; some people want to carry out reforms; there is another kind of people who have no hope for reforms, and do not want to join forces with those in power. Their choice is to withdraw from the whirlpool of struggle and be alone.So there have always been establishment factions, rebels, reformers, and hermits.

The traditional concept in China is to encourage people to "be good at learning and become an official". Like Confucius, "know what is impossible and do it", but they also have a very high evaluation of hermits, thinking that they are noble.Hermits do not contribute positively to society, yet their behavior is very different from that of power grabbers, providing another example.The Chinese are very lenient in morals, as long as they do not harm others, they are considered good people.There are many hermits recorded, such as Chenmen, Chu Kuangjieyu, Changju, Jieyu, Heshuqi, Yuzhong, Yiyi, Zhuzhang, Liuxiahui, Shaolian, etc. Confucius respected them all, although, I don't agree with their style of work.

Confucius divided hermits into three categories: like Boyi and Shuqi, those who do not give up their will and do not sacrifice their dignity ("do not lower their aspirations, do not humiliate their body"); Some sacrifices are made, but words and deeds are reasonable ("I humiliate my body by lowering my aspirations, be honest in my words, and worry about what I do, that's all"); , not to participate in politics ("reclusive and speak out, clean body, abolish power").Confucius spoke very well of them all, apparently thinking that the hermit had a positive side as well.

To participate in political activities, the will and dignity have to be sacrificed, which is helpless.As a judge, Liu Xiahui was dismissed three times, and he was advised to go abroad.Liu Xiahui insisted on justice, and replied: "If you serve people in a straight way, how can you not be deposed three times? Why go to the country of your parents when you serve people in a wrong way?" ().The key is in "doing people".To be in politics for the benefit of the public is to be a person; to serve the public by adhering to principles, and not to be concerned about fame and wealth, although you have to obey the orders of your superiors, you can also be said to be a "hermit"—as for a hermit in the general sense, the basic requirements It is to seek the liberation and freedom of individuality without having to deal with others.

When I write martial arts novels, I want to write about human nature, just like most novels.Through some characters in the novel, this novel attempts to describe some common phenomena in China's political life for more than three thousand years.Allusive novels don’t make much sense, and the political situation will change soon. Only by depicting human nature can it have longer-term value.Reckless seizure of power is the basic situation of political life in China and abroad in ancient and modern times. It has been like this for thousands of years, and I am afraid it will still be like this for thousands of years to come.People like Ren Woxing, Dongfang Bubai, Yue Buqun, and Zuo Lengchan were not mainly martial arts masters, but political figures.Lin Pingzhi, Xiang Wentian, Master Fang Zheng, Taoist Chongli, Master Dingxian, Mr. Mo Da, Yu Canghai and others are also political figures.There are all kinds of characters like this in every dynasty, and probably in other countries as well.

The slogan "for thousands of years, to unify the rivers and lakes" was written in the book in the 1960s.It is a common phenomenon of human nature to let Woxing become corrupted by holding power.These are not additions or adaptations after the book was completed. When "Ming Pao" was serialized, 21 Chinese, Vietnamese and French newspapers in Saigon were serialized at the same time.During debates in the South Vietnamese Congress, members often accused the other party of being "Yue Buqun" (hypocrite) or "Zuo Lengchan" (those who attempted to establish hegemony).Probably due to the political turmoil in South Vietnam at that time, ordinary people were particularly interested in political struggles.

Linghu Chong is a born "hermit" who has no interest in power.Yingying is also a "hermit". She has the power of life and death over the heroes of the Jianghu, but she would rather live in seclusion in the back alleys of Luoyang and entertain herself with the piano and flute.In her life, she only values ​​personal freedom and the stretch of personality.The only thing that matters is love.This girl is very shy and shy, but in love, she is the initiative.When Linghu Chong's love is tightly wrapped around Yue Lingshan, he cannot be free.Only when he and Yingying were in the same cart on the road outside the green gauze tent, his infatuation with Yue Lingshan finally disappeared, did he get spiritual relief.At the end of the book, Yingying stretched out her hand to clasp Linghu Chong's wrist, and sighed: "Unexpectedly, I, Ren Yingying, will be locked up with a big horse monkey for life, and will never be separated again." Yingying's love has been fulfilled, she is very satisfied Yes, but Linghu Chong's freedom was locked again.Perhaps, only in Yilin's one-sided love, his personality is rarely restrained.

Human life, full and complete freedom is simply impossible.To get rid of all desires and achieve great enlightenment is not something ordinary people can do.Those who are passionate about power, driven by the desire for power in their hearts, can't help themselves and do many things that violate their conscience. They are actually very pitiful. In traditional Chinese art, regardless of poetry, prose, opera, or painting, the pursuit of individual liberation has always been the most prominent theme.The more turbulent the times are and the more miserable people's lives are, the more prominent this theme becomes.

"People are in the rivers and lakes, and they can't help themselves." It is not easy to retire.Liu Zhengfeng pursued freedom in art, valued the irresistible friendship, and wanted to wash his hands in a golden basin; the four friends of Meizhuang hoped to hide their names in Gushan and enjoy the fun of playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting; . For a hero like Guo Jing who risked his life and knew what was impossible, he should have greater moral affirmation.Linghu Chong is not a hero, but a hermit like Tao Qian who pursues freedom and individual liberation.Feng Qingyang is disheartened, ashamed and depressed, and retires.Linghu Chong was born unruly.On Heimuya, whether it is Yang Lianting or Ren Woxing who holds the power, any casual smile by others will lead to death, and arrogance is even more unacceptable. The freedom of "Swordsman" is the goal pursued by characters like Linghu Chong.

Because what I want to write is some common characters, which are common phenomena in life, so this book has no historical background, which means that similar situations can happen in any dynasty. Nineteen eighty.Fives