Chapter 20 Seventeen, Confucius on politics

"I want to ask my master a question." "My lord, please speak." "In your opinion, what is the most important thing in governing the country?" Confucius replied: "A ruler should be like a ruler, a minister should be like a minister, a father should be like a father, and a son should be like a son. In this way, the country can be governed." After several days of ups and downs, Confucius and his disciples finally drove into Linzi, the capital of Qi State. Confucius saw Linzi's neat streets and bustling business, which was better than Qufu, and sighed: "Ah, Qi is a big country after all, and its capital is much larger than Qufu."

Approaching the center of the city, the royal palace of Qi State was shining golden under the sun. Confucius suddenly thought of the fleeing monarch, and felt a little pain in his heart.Confucius thought, on the way, he heard that Lu Zhaogong fled to Qi State, and he didn't know who received him, so he turned his head and said to Zilu: "Zhong Yuan, drive the car to the building first, we will stay here temporarily, and then you can go and find out where Mr. Lu lives and whether he is safe." "Okay, teacher." The carriage stopped in front of a small hotel. Confucius and the others unloaded their luggage and stayed in this small shop.

During the meal, Zeng Xi said, "Master, please tell us the history of Qi." Confucius swallowed the meal and said: "Qi State was first granted to Jiang Taigong by King Wu of Zhou. Later, Qi State came out with a Ming Jun named Qi Huangong. Because of his reuse of Guan Zhong, he implemented a series of reforms and made Qi State strong. Get up. After Duke Huan of Qi merged some small countries, he joined forces with the monarchs of Song, Chen, Cai, Zhu and other countries in Beixing, and became the first overlord in the Spring and Autumn Period, and also the most famous overlord."

"Ah, no wonder Yilinzi is so prosperous." Zeng Xi said. Confucius ate a little food, and said: "Qi State has declined a lot now, the officials and ministers have merged with each other, the royal family is weak, and the power has fallen." Zigong said, "It's very similar to our country of Lu!" Confucius said: "However, since the state of Qi used Yan Ying as its chancellor, the monarch can basically compete with the power of the Qing doctor." Yan Hui said: "If Mr. Lu had reused the teacher, San Huanzi would not be so rampant." "Alas!" Confucius sighed, "Those who know me will return."

After dinner, Confucius and his disciples sat under the tree at the entrance of the building to enjoy the shade, waiting for Zilu to come back. Zi Yuan shouted: "Teacher, I found out." Confucius asked anxiously: "Where is the monarch now? Is he well?" "Teacher, don't worry, the monarch was picked up by Gao Zhaozi, and he said to treat each other with courtesy!" "That's good, that's good. It's good to be treated politely, the fugitive king." Confucius breathed a sigh of relief. Zilu said again, "Duke Jing of Qi went to visit the king."

"Okay, okay, thank you, Lord Qi. Tomorrow we will visit Gao Zhaozi." Zilu said, "Teacher, that Gao Zhaozi, like Sanhuanzi of Lu State, is a person who usurped his power." Confucius said: "That's right. The state of Qi is now dominated by the Guo clan and the Gao clan. However, he treated Lu Zhaogong courteously. We will pay homage to him tomorrow and visit the monarch on the one hand." The next day, Confucius and his disciples drove to the gate of Gao Zhaozi's luxurious mansion. Zilu helped Confucius out of the car. They went to the gate, and the guard informed them to enter.

Confucius and the others waited outside.After a while, Gao Zhaozi went out to greet him in person.He bowed his hands to Confucius and said, "Ah! I have admired you for a long time, and I have admired you for a long time. The famous Confucius of the State of Lu came to Han, and I was unlucky to welcome him, and I was disappointed to welcome him far away." Confucius also bowed and said: "I take the liberty to come here. I'm sorry to disturb you. Doctor Gao is well." Confucius pointed to his disciples again and said, "They are all my disciples." "Oh, welcome, welcome, come in, please!"

Confucius and the others entered Gao Zhaozi's hall, sat down, and the family served tea. Gao Zhaozi asked: "The master is here to visit Lu Zhaogong?" "Exactly." Confucius said. Gao Zhaozi said: "Mr. Lu is now living in Yangzhou. Mr. Qi once went to Noi to condolences Mr. Lu, and I accompanied him. Mr. Lu is well now, so you can rest assured!" Confucius heaved a sigh of relief, stood up and saluted, "The subjects of the State of Lu have thanked the doctor." "Where, where, as a human being, how can you not save people in distress." Gao Zhaozi also said: "I heard that my master has both virtue and ability. If you can be reused by the king, you will be able to show your ambitions. I want to introduce you in front of the king of Qi. I don't know what is the master's opinion?"

Confucius replied neither arrogant nor humble: "Mr. Xie, it would be a great fortune for Confucius if he could meet the King of Qi." "Very well, I will introduce you." After they talked about some principles of governing the country, Confucius got up and said goodbye: "Then Confucius will sue." "No hurry, no hurry, please sit down, please sit down, today the old minister is holding a family banquet to cleanse the wind and dust for your master and apprentice, and please master, master and apprentice to show respect." During the banquet, Gao Zhaozi held up the bottle to Confucius and his disciples and said, "You have worked hard all the way, please enjoy it to your heart's content."

Confucius also raised his bottle: "Thank you, Dr. Gao, for your kind treatment of Lu Guojun. My teachers and students thank you." The disciples of Confucius all stood up with a swipe and raised their glasses to thank Gao Zhaozi. "Thank you, Doctor Gao, for taking care of Lord Lu." "It should be, it should be! One day Mr. Lu will return to his country, and now it's only temporary!" "I hope so." Zilu said. Gao Zhaozi asked again, "Where does Master live now?" "The building on the street." "Ah! I'm rude, I'm rude, how can you let the master live in that small house, you can live in my house."

"No, no, Doctor Gao, we should live in the hall!" Confucius said. "No, no, stay at my house, so I can help you meet friends who know Qi." "This……" "Why are you hesitating? That's it!" Confucius had no choice but to nod in agreement. Therefore, Gao Zhaozi called the old housekeeper over and ordered: "Arrange a room for the master, and then send a car to the building to bring their luggage." "yes." Confucius and his entourage temporarily stayed in the mansion of Dr. Gao Zhaozi. In a remote town in Qi State, beside the road outside the town, stood Lu Zhaogong and several of his followers.Lu Jun's face was haggard and his eyes were sad. When he heard that Confucius was coming to visit him, he stood outside the town and waited early. He was living in another country. The lonely and sad Lu Jun kept sighing... A carriage came galloping, gradually approaching the small town, the people in the carriage recognized Lu Jun, stopped quickly, got out of the carriage and trotted over. "My lord, you have suffered." Confucius kowtowed to the ground. "Master, please get up quickly." Lu Jun helped Confucius up with both hands. "My lord, you are shocked." The disciples also kowtowed to Lu Jun. "Please get up quickly." Lu Jun helped them up one by one. Seeing Lu Zhaogong's pale and haggard face, Confucius was very sad and couldn't help crying. "My lord, it's windy outside, let's go inside..." Confucius said sadly. This is a small courtyard house, the decoration outside the door is not bad, the soldiers of Qi State are guarding the outside, and the soldiers of Lu Jun himself are standing guard at the inner door. Entering the main room, Lu Jun took a seat in the middle, and he ordered his followers to bring a chair for Confucius to sit on.Confucius insisted on standing, and his disciples stood behind Confucius. Lu Jun was very moved, thinking that although he was down to this point, Confucius still treated him with great courtesy, which showed that Confucius was indeed a sage, not a snob.In the future, if I can return to Lu Fuguo, I will definitely use Confucius again. Confucius said: "Your Majesty, the people of Lu State miss you very much, and look forward to your return to the country as soon as possible." Lu Zhaogong sighed and said: "It's difficult! I look forward to returning to the country every day, and dream of Qufu every night. Although Qi Jinggong treats me well, it is out of courtesy and he is unwilling to send troops to help me return to the country. Alas, I only hate that Sanhuan Ji Pingzi is too hateful. Although I am a monarch, all the power is in their hands. What kind of monarch am I? Sigh..." Confucius said with emotion: "The reason why the state of Lu was ruled by San Huan is because of the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the ruler cannot be like the emperor, and the ministers are not like the ministers, so the restoration of the rituals can restore the country." Lu Zhaogong nodded and said, "You're right, you're right, if you don't pay respects, you won't be able to restore the country!" Lu Zhaogong said again: "The Sanhuan dictatorship has been in power for a long time. It didn't happen in a day. Their roots are deep and intertwined. It's not easy to pull them out!" After speaking, he sighed again. "Where do you live?" Lu Jun asked. "My lord, we are temporarily staying at Dr. Gao Zhaozi's house." "Oh, yes, I am exiled to Qi State this time, and Gao Zhaozi has taken good care of me. If you can get Qi Jinggong to use you through him, then maybe I can return to the country early." "Gao Zhaozi has already said that he will recommend me in front of Qi Jun. If Qi Jinggong is willing to meet me, then I will work hard." "Okay. Have you visited Yan Ying? What he said in front of Qi Jinggong is more useful than Gao Zhaozi." Confucius said: "My lord, I have not yet visited Yan Xiangguo, because he has three dynasties and three monarchs, and it is difficult for him to have one heart and one monarch. Therefore, it is impossible for him to recommend me sincerely." "But you can't offend him." "Yes, Monarch, Kong Qiu understands." Confucius asked his disciples to present the food brought from their hometown to Lu Jun.Lu Jun was about to reward Confucius, but Confucius thanked him. He said: "It is a time of crisis when the monarch is exiled in another country. How could Confucius have the heart to ask for a reward from the monarch, and it will not be too late when the monarch returns home and restores the country." "Also." "Then, my lord, Confucius and his disciples will leave, please take care of your lord." "thanks." Lu Jun sent Confucius and his disciples outside the gate. After Confucius and his disciples kowtowed again, they bid farewell with tears. This morning, the weather was sunny and sunny, and Confucius and Gao Zhaozi climbed the steps of the Qi Palace together, because Qi Jinggong was going to receive him. The majestic and majestic palace of the King of Qi is more golden than that of the King of Lu. Confucius thought that the reason why Qi is richer than that of Lu is because of the implementation of a series of reforms. If the king of Qi can reuse me, I will also encourage him to carry out the new policy .When I return to the state of Lu in the future, I will implement a series of reforms like Guan Zhong did. Qi Jinggong received Confucius in the upper study.The powerful minister Li Jia accompanied him. "I will see the king at Kongqiu." Confucius gave Qi Jinggong a big gift. "Ah, master, you are welcome, please sit down, please sit down." Qi Jinggong also returned the gift. Confucius and Gao Zhaozi sat down beside them. Qi Jinggong said: "I saw you when I came to your country. It's been five years in a flash. My wife hasn't grown old yet, but my reputation has grown a lot." Confucius said humbly: "Where, where, the king has praised you." Qi Jinggong said: "I want to ask my master a question." "My lord, please speak." "In your opinion, what is the most important thing in governing the country?" Confucius replied: "A ruler should be like a ruler, a minister should be like a minister, a father should be like a father, and I should be like a son. In this way, the country can be governed." After hearing this, Duke Jing of Qi felt a pang in his heart when he thought of Guoshi and Gaoshi's monopoly on power. He thought that this was right in his heart, so he nodded and said, "Master is right. If ministers overstep the ruler and sons don't obey their fathers, how can the whole world be like this?" It’s not a mess? Even if there is food in the warehouse, can I eat it again?” Duke Jing of Qi asked again: "According to Master, what is the most serious disadvantage that our country needs to overcome?" "Frugality. Against luxury." what!It's too late, Qi Jinggong sighed secretly. "You really deserve your reputation, Master. Your political views are so sharp! It seems that although Master is not from Qi, I think we hit it off very well." After hearing this, Gao Zhaozi took advantage of the situation and said, "Your Majesty, Master's political insights are indeed very insightful. If you can keep him..." "Okay, I'm going to seal Ni Ling to you, what do you think, Master?" Confucius wanted to entrust me with a land, so he was prepared to use me, but it was not appropriate to receive rewards for nothing, so he replied neither arrogantly nor humblely: "Thank you for your kindness, I will do my best to ask about the government. It is just a matter of fiefdom. Kongqiu can't accept receiving rewards for nothing, and I hope the king will understand." Duke Jing of Qi praised: "Master's character is really well-deserved. Admiration, admiration." Qi Jinggong asked again: "Master, can you live in the house of Doctor Gao? If not, you can live in the palace!" "Ah! How dare you, how dare you, it's good for Confucius to live in Dr. Gao's house, but it's just too much trouble." "Where, where, it is a great honor for the saint to live in the Han Mansion!" Gao Zhaozi laughed. "Okay, since Doctor Gao's hospitality is good, Master can stay here." Qi Jinggong said. "Xie Guojun, thank you Doctor Gao. Then... Qiu will leave." Duke Jing of Qi sent Confucius out of the palace and looked at his back with satisfaction. After dinner, Confucius and his disciples sat down and drank tea.Tomorrow he was going to visit Yan Ying, and Zilu asked, "Teacher, what kind of person is Yan Ying?" Confucius said: "Yan Ying is a talented minister. He is very talented. He used different strategies to assist Qi Linggong, Zhuanggong, and Jinggong three generations of monarchs. It can be said that he serves three monarchs and has three hearts." "Three Hearts?" Yan Hui opened his eyes wide, "Elder of the Three Dynasties?" "Yes. So it can be said that Yan Ying has more than talent but not loyalty." "Yan Hui understands. No wonder he is far less enthusiastic about you than Doctor Gao." Zeng Xi asked: "Master, I heard that he is eloquent and very witty." "Yes, once when Yan Zi was on a mission to the state of Chu, the king of Chu saw that he was short and wanted to insult him, so he deliberately refused to let him enter through the gate and told him to go through a small door next to the door. Yan Ying was very angry and said : "Am I going to be an envoy to a dog country today? Why do you open the dog gate? Only people who are envoys to a dog country can enter through the dog gate. Is Chu a dog country?" Just open the door." "Ah! Yan Ying is so clever." Zigong sighed. Confucius said: "There are many stories about Yan Ying!" "Teacher, hurry up." Zilu urged. "The king of Chu saw that this trick was not going to work, so he came up with another plan. When Yan Ying was having a banquet, he deliberately asked someone to tie up a thief to pass by. The king of Chu asked: Who was caught? The answer was: A thief was caught, and he was from Qi." The king of Chu laughed at Yan Ying: Are you Qi people good at stealing? Yan Ying replied calmly, I heard that it is also an orange, but if it is born in Huainan, it is a tangerine, and if it is born in Huaibei, it is a trifoliate orange. Different reasons. People born in Qi do not steal, but people in Chu can steal. Could it be that the water and soil of Chu will turn people into thieves? Chu has nothing to say." Zigong sighed, "Ah, that's a great answer." "Teacher tell me one more thing." Zilu urged again. "Okay, one time, Lord Qi went hunting in the mountains. He met a tiger when he went up the mountain, and a snake when he went down the marsh. Lord Qi thought it was unlucky, so he asked Yan Ying. Yan Ying said that the mountain is the tiger's nest, and the swamp is the snake's lair. So it is natural to meet tigers on the mountain and snakes in the swamps. How can we talk about bad luck? There are three kinds of bad luck in a country. It is unlucky; the third is to use it and not let it be used in state affairs, which is three unlucky. How about it, do you admire it?" The disciples hurriedly said: "Admiration, admiration." "Also," Confucius said, "Yan Ying is a well-known honest minister, who advocates frugality and opposes extravagance, and often advises the king, so he is quite popular among the people." "Then, teacher, let's go visit him!" Zilu said. "Of course, we will go tomorrow morning." Confucius and his disciples went to visit Yan Ying, and when they reached the gate of Prime Minister Yan Ying's mansion, they saw Yan Ying standing outside the mansion to welcome him.Confucius hurriedly got off the carriage and walked quickly with his disciples. A dramatic scene began, which attracted many passers-by to stop and watch. It turned out that Yan Ying was a short man, while Confucius was a tall man. One tall and one short formed a sharp contrast, so it seemed that Yan Ying was shorter and Confucius was taller. Ah, why is Yan Ying so small?The disciples were all taken aback. At this time, both Confucius and Yan Ying seemed a little embarrassed, and Confucius hurriedly bowed his head and asked: "Hello Xiangguo." "Master, how is it? It's been five years since I left, and I'm still so strong." Yan Ying raised his head and said. "Old, old." Confucius said with a smile. Confucius' disciples also paid homage to Yan Ying. "Okay, please come in, please." Yan Ying stretched out his arms as a gesture of invitation. The people who stood and watched said: "Oh, both of them are great people, one is Xiangguo and the other is a saint." Confucius and his disciples were shocked when they entered Yan Ying's house. The living room was so simple that there were nothing but three tables.The floor is covered with reed mats, and the living room is just a thatched hut.Can not help awe, Confucius sighed: "Everyone praises Prime Minister Yan for his integrity, and it's true. The disciples must have seen it." "Saw." After sitting down, Confucius introduced to Yan Ying: "He is Zigong." , "Oh, righteous man, long-awaited, long-awaited." "He is Zilu." "Oh, brave, nice to meet, nice to meet." "He is Yan Hui." "Ah! It's your most perceptive student." "He's Zeng Xi." "Oh, your first pupil." Confucius laughed and said, "Yan is very familiar with us!" "Of course, the master's disciple is strong. Can I not know about you, a disciple of the great sage?" The two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while, and Confucius said: "My lord Meng took refuge in your country, and was warmly received by your lord, you, Doctor Gao, etc. Our teachers and students are very grateful to Prime Minister Yan." "Where, where, my minister has only done something that should be done, so it's nothing to worry about." "Have you visited Mr. Lu?" "Got it. So well organized and safe, I couldn't be more grateful." "Oh, as long as you are satisfied, please ask us if you have any requirements." "OK." The refreshments came, and Yan Ying took the opportunity to look at Confucius, and saw that he was more robust than he had seen five years ago, with a full sky, bright forehead, bright eyes, wise and heavenly wisdom, and his demeanor and self-cultivation were extraordinary. Yan Ying was taken aback, everyone said he was a saint, but indeed he was extraordinary. Of course Confucius also took the opportunity to look at Yan Ying, ah, he is much older than five years ago, not only is he short in stature and has a small head and face, but a pair of small eyes are shining brightly, looking forward to shooting stars, he looks extremely alert.Confucius sighed, he is really outstanding. After everyone had a few sips of tea, Yan Ying said: "Let's just have some refreshments, everyone, my cold residence never sets up delicious food and wine." Confucius thought, he deserves to be a honest minister, even he is so frugal with people from other countries. Yan Ying asked: "Master, is this a special trip to visit Mr. Lu?" Confucius wanted to say yes, but also wanted to say no. What does he mean? He is testing whether I intend to stay in Qi, and I don’t know if he welcomes me... He hesitated for a moment and then said noncommittally: "Of course the main thing is I came to visit the monarch, but I am not in a hurry to go back, because the country is still in chaos." "Oh... well, well. Don't rush, don't rush." Yan Ying probed again: "I heard that Duke Jing received you." "Oh, yes. Mr. Jing is a wise gentleman, and he is very kind to Mr. Lu. Our teachers and students are very grateful." "What else did Jinggong tell you?" "Oh, Duke Jing also said that he would give me the Niling land, but I didn't accept it." "Oh... oh, Master is too polite, you should accept it, you should accept it!" A trace of haze flashed across Yan Ying's face, but he immediately returned to his original state. Of course Confucius did not pay attention to the change on Yan Ying's face. The two sides exchanged some opinions on etiquette and governing the country, and then Confucius and his disciples left.