Chapter 8 2. Lovely as Uncle Sun Tong

Before the battle begins, some gossip.When Maodun was destroying the frontiers of the Han Dynasty in the northwest like rain and wind, the gangsters of the Han Dynasty were still indulging in the old dreams of heroes.These self-made nouveau riche, except for eating and drinking all day long, are just bragging and striving for success.At this time, it happened that Liu Bang had finished his rewards for his meritorious deeds, and everyone was assigned a share of the rewards they deserved.Coupled with the fact that Liu Bang hosted banquets every day, this group of people became even more unscrupulous.

When this group of people is normal, they are mostly rough men; when they are killing enemies, they are almost red-eyed animals; when they are drunk, they are a group of dancing devils.On the big banquet, I saw everyone drinking wildly. Some people ran outside the palace, yelling at the sky, counting the bad things about Tyranny; Some people even pour wine on each other's heads, or compete with each other with bare arms and thighs; some are like drunk crazy, holding up wine and laughing at Liu Bang! It's messed up, it's messed up, it's really messed up! This scene is described by a Confucian saying: the ruler is not the ruler, and the minister is not the minister.Liu Bang shook his head, feeling extremely depressed.The world is surnamed Liu, not your surnames Zhou and Guan, let alone those surnamed Zhang and Li. If things go on like this, if they don’t see the dignity of the emperor and the humbleness of the ministers in their eyes, then what should I do as an emperor? , Didn't he really become the head of a hooligan?

Liu Bang really wanted to find someone to teach these people a lesson in etiquette, but when he thought of Qin Chao's group of great gifts, he felt a lump in his heart.Qin Shihuang's set of rituals of respecting superiors and inferiors is simply not learned by humans.A lot of red tape, walking in the palace is like stepping on a minefield. Every time you take a step, you have to think about whether it is in accordance with etiquette; Doesn't fit?This set of harsh and harsh methods had to be abolished, and only simple ones were used. But to say it is simple, it is too simple, just like the scene of the banquet in front of you, the problem is already very serious.Time does not wait for courtesy, courtesy must treat others!A new set of court etiquette must be used to restrain the officials, otherwise, the Han Dynasty would be a bunch of rogue beasts.

If you want to learn Chaoyi, you must first recommend Confucianism.Confucianism is the originator of Chinese etiquette, and it belongs to a time-honored inspection-free enterprise.But here comes the problem again. An emperor like Ying Zheng who doesn't love Confucianism but only loves Legalism has so many troublesome rituals. If he really wants to learn Confucianism, wouldn't that be more troublesome? Of course, things were not as bad as Liu Bang thought.As the saying goes, every generation has a generation of heroes, and every dynasty has its court rituals. Someone has come up with a solution to the court ritual problem for Liu Bang, and this person is Shu Suntong!

Uncle Suntong is also Xue Ren.The so-called Xue people are people from Xue County (now southeast of Sheng County, Shandong Province) in the State of Lu.The State of Lu is the hometown of Confucius. This is the place where masters of etiquette and law are produced. It is a tradition that has been passed down since before Confucius.Chinese craftsmanship, whenever it comes from a place, must first be monopolized by it, just like today's Wenzhou people monopolize the shoe industry, Jingdezhen people monopolize ceramics, and the same is true in Lu State. If you don't want things, you will go to the state of Lu, which monopolizes the state of etiquette.

Shu Suntong was not invited by Liu Bang himself, but he sent it to his door on his own initiative.This Uncle Sun Tong spent half of his life in one word: slippery.But there are many kinds of cunning, and some people are just lovable, and Shusun Tong is one of them.Uncle Suntong conquered the world by virtue of etiquette, and he could catch up to the era of Ying Huhai. In the Qin Dynasty, Shu Suntong was conscripted into the palace because of his profound knowledge and good at writing articles, and he was waiting for a doctor. The so-called doctor waiting for Zhao refers to waiting to be appointed as a doctor.The ancient doctor is not the doctor at this time. The ancient doctor is an official title. He is mainly responsible for managing documents and archives, compiling books and writings, imparting knowledge, and cultivating talents. His position is equivalent to the person in charge of the National Library of China today.Later, when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled in Daze Township, Ying Huhai summoned all the doctors and Confucian scholars and asked: Chen Sheng, a native of Chu, captured Chen County. What do you think of this?

All the living beings said: "Chen Sheng is rebelling, please send troops to destroy him quickly!" When Ying Huhai heard this, he felt very upset, and a cloud immediately appeared on his face.Seeing that Hu Hai's expression was wrong, Shusun Tong hurriedly stepped forward and said: Please rest assured, the emperor, the world has been unified for a long time, and there are no rebel soldiers, they are just a group of bandits! A person who knows current affairs is a hero.Shusun Tong's flattery was comfortable enough, and Ying Huhai's face was filled with a satisfied smile. He was born as a Huhai, loved by heaven, and admired by the people. Where did the rebel soldiers come from?

Ying Huhai is obviously serious about Ah Q, and he deserves to be Ah Q's great-grandfather.At this time, in order to satisfy the spirit of victory, Ying Huhai asked Zhusheng again: Let me ask you again, is Chen Sheng a rebel or a bandit? Ying Huhai's trick really worked. Some people followed Shu Suntong and said it was a robber, but some people still insisted on the conscience of scholars, saying that Chen Sheng was a real rebel.Now, Ying Huhai was really angry. Uncle Sun Tong clearly said that this was a bandit, but some people dared to call it a rebel.Come here, pull down all the Confucians who said they were against the soldiers, and cut off all the other robbers, and get ready to receive rewards!

Sure enough, Shusun Tong received a big reward, twenty bolts of silk, a suit of clothes, and changed from candidate doctor to official doctor officer.This is the real Shusun Tong, who lives up to his name, who is smooth and flexible, and just because of a word that adapts to the wind, he earns him a lot of money. It would be wrong to say that Shusun Tong said something against his will, that he wanted to get promoted and get rich.In fact, when Shu Suntong received the reward, he was so frightened.When he returned to his residence with the prize in his hands, the Confucian scholars taunted him one after another: Excuse me, sir, have you taken pictures today?

Sun Shutong became popular as soon as he heard it, what a fart!Do you really think that I live by flattering, if I don't, I almost die.After finishing speaking, he put down the reward, turned around and took his disciples away.From then on, uncles and grandsons took all the big and small, and there were no less than ten people who took refuge in him. They served Xiang Liang and King Huai of Chu before and after, and finally ran to Liu Bang, the king of Han, to make a living. We know that Liu Bangte hates scholars, especially those useless scholars.Shusun Tong's career is only in etiquette, not military tactics.Therefore, if you want him to come up with a plan like Li Shiqi, it will be more difficult than reaching the sky.However, Liu Bang still likes Shu Suntong very much. In the final analysis, there is only one reason, this is a person who knows how to be flexible.

The so-called flexibility is not flattery.There has never been a lack of flattering kings around Liu Bang. The reason why Liu Bang admired Shusun Tong was that he could take off the long and wide stinky Confucian gown very flatteringly, and put on the short and refined Chu clothes native to the state of Chu. .Furthermore, Shusun Tong has no talent for strategy, but he has a good eye for finding talents, so he often recommends some strong men who used to be bandits to Liu Bang, which makes Liu Bang have no reason to reject this Confucian talent in his heart! At that time, there were more than one hundred disciples living with Shu Suntong.The reason why so many people followed Shusuntong was because Confucianism and etiquette performances, just like today's theater troupe, cannot perform if there are not enough people, so Shusuntong must manage his disciples well and wait for the opportunity.However, this world is like a pot of porridge, the more it boils, the worse it gets. Confucian scholars wait and wait, and all day long they only see the master busy there, but they don't find anything for them to do.So, this group of people collectively complained to Shusun Tong: We have followed you for many years, but you always recommend some thieves to Hanwang, why do you refuse to sell us? Shu Suntong sneered, and said loudly: You are really crazy!It is time for the world to use soldiers. May I ask, can you fight?The reason why I recommend strong men to the King of Han is because they are born to kill the enemy, can you do it?Please stay safe and don't be impatient, as soon as the world calms down, it will be our first day! Shusun Tong made it clear that the Confucian scholars were not created to fight for their lives on the battlefield, but to embellish the peace of the world.As the saying goes, if you have enough food and clothing, you know etiquette. If the world is not peaceful and the bloodshed and conflicts don't stop, the people will not have enough food and clothing. What is the use of etiquette?It’s like today’s villagers, it’s their nature to love to watch operas, but there are many children in rural areas, the economy is backward, and food and clothing are problems. You still want them to invite opera troupes to sing operas, isn’t that nonsense? All of a sudden, the disciples were all awakened by Shu Suntong's words, so they had to concentrate on waiting. Shusun Tong and his disciples waited for so many sunsets and moonrises, how many starry nights and sleepless nights. They were so heartbroken and melancholy that they waited until the opportunity finally came.This opportunity is the above-mentioned matter of Liu Bang's ministers losing their composure and shouting and jumping after drinking. Over the years, Shusun Tong was like an old cat squatting beside Liu Bang, whenever Liu Bang had a slight change in mood, he could feel it clearly.Shu Suntong had long seen that Liu Bang was dissatisfied with his subordinates' long-term drunkenness, so one day, he found an opportunity to sell his Confucianism career, which had been delayed for many years. Shusun Tong said to Liu Bang like this: It is difficult for us Confucian scholars to fight against the generals aggressively and kill the enemy, but we can defend the Han industry with them. I am willing to go to the State of Lu to recruit all the students, and together with my group of disciples, I will build you a I don't know if the emperor is willing to do the court ceremony? Liu Bang hesitated, and asked: Is this thing troublesome? Uncle-Sun Channel: No trouble at all!The five emperors were all able to have fun, and the three kings also did not have rituals. Rituals are not a rigid old thing, but a rule set according to the times and the world, and taught people to abide by it.The rites of the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin dynasties were all different and changed, so I may adopt the director of the ancient Zhou rites, mix Qin Yi, and modify them into ceremonies suitable for the style of the times. Liu Bang nodded, but he still said uneasy: You can try to do it, but you must pay attention to it. When formulating the court ceremony, avoid trouble and take care of my mood! Liu Bang is so cute! Only when there is a lovable master can a lovable minister be made.Shu Suntong patted his chest and promised Liu Bang that if the emperor is not at ease, he can inspect the goods first and then pay the bill. If he is not satisfied, he will return or replace it! Yes, the Shu Suntong at this time is not the person at that time.At this time, he was smug, full of high morale and confidence to win.Ritual, ritual, ritual, for many years, bleakly persevered, and never said to give up.Today, as if waiting for a thousand years, the war is over, and it is the turn of the Confucian scholars to whitewash the peace! Shu Suntong set off.Within a few days, Shu Suntong returned to his hometown of Lu to recruit soldiers and recruited more than 30 Confucian scholars.The state of Lu lacks everything, but there is no shortage of Confucianism. Two Confucian scholars refused Shusun Tong's invitation. Their reason was: You, Shusun Tong, have served countless monarchs. You have never heard of it. Flattering, I have never heard of you doing serious things; the rituals and music you do are not in line with ancient methods, you should invite others to go, don't come to tarnish our reputation! Uncle Suntong laughed.These two things that don't grow brains are really stupid when they read books. Trees die and people live. Once the mind dies, even if Confucius is reborn, there is no power to save him from the brain damage.In this world, every flower and grass, every tree and every object, even the sun, moon and stars, are all in motion and change.Keeping pace with the times, advancing with the times, is not only the way of life, but also the way of progress in life. Even if you don’t understand this basic truth, you will only read classics behind closed doors, and you will really only read yourself as an old antique up. For these two Confucian scholars, Uncle Sun used two words to label them: vertical Confucianism!Shusun Tong told his disciples again: Don't be like these two hard-headed guys. A person who doesn't know how to adapt will be a dead end wherever he goes!After finishing speaking, Shusuntong took more than 30 people back westward and returned to Chang'an City. Shu Suntong is ready to rehearse, and the location is set in the outskirts of Chang'an.In order to enhance the effect, Shusun Tong not only used more than a hundred disciples, but also borrowed all the people who studied literature around Liu Bang for training. One month later, the program of Chaoyi was completed, Shusun Tong rehearsed, and Liu Bang came to watch and practice in person.The result is: the effect is very good, the emperor is very satisfied.And make a decision on the spot, such a court instrument can be implemented!Therefore, Liu Bang ordered: All officials must attend Shusuntong's Chaoyi training class and learn it before the beginning of October, otherwise, they will be driven out of Chang'an City. To be honest, the ministers of the Han Dynasty were nothing more than peasants who had just washed their feet and went to the fields. Etiquette is no less than driving a group of landlubbers to the shelves, and the result can be imagined.But, the elder brother of the emperor has given orders, you have to learn if you don't want to, unless you don't want to hang around in Chang'an City anymore. Thankfully, most ministers finally learned to "tend" before the beginning of the year. 200 AD, October.The Changle Palace was completed.The Han Dynasty decided that on the first day of the new year, all the princes and officials should go to Changle Palace to pay homage to the emperor. The era of Shusun Tong has finally arrived, and he has waited ten years for this day.Needless to say, this set of fancy etiquette put into practice by Liu Bangken will still dazzle people today. Its performance process is as follows: Before dawn, the princes and ministers must wait in line outside the Changle Palace.At the beginning of the day, the audience began to preside over the ceremony, guiding them into the gate of the palace one by one according to the rank of princes and generals.At this time, the palace flag was fluttering, and the guards were on display. I saw cavalry, infantry, and various weapons in order.At this time, I saw the audience shouting "Turn" one after another, so the ministers walked quickly into the designated position in small steps. Of course, the positions are not random. Heroes, lieutenants, and generals at all levels are arranged in order on the west side, facing east; all civil officials are arranged in order from the prime minister on the east side, facing west.Immediately afterwards, nine protocol officers called the emperor to arrive from top to bottom.So, I saw Liu San coming out of the palace on a "dragon chariot". At this time, all the officials raised their flags to call for guards, and then led officials from the princes to the six hundred and above to salute Liu San one by one. congratulate! During the whole process, no one was not afraid, no one did not hold their breath, and no one dared to make noise without authorization! This is not over yet, the wonderful things are yet to come.After the ceremony, the next step is to set up a banquet, and the princes and officials stand up in order of respect and toast to the emperor.After pouring wine for nine rounds, the audience just announced "stop drinking", which means it's over. Full face up and down, only then let out a long sigh, it's finally over! But this is not enough to leave. At this time, the censor who supervised the etiquette came to the crowd, picked out the officials who did not comply with the etiquette one by one, and took them away from the scene.Where are they going?There's nothing good about it other than spanking and strengthening. At this time, Liu Bangpan was enjoying the court ceremony on the high seat, just like enjoying the breeze and the bright moon.He couldn't help but proudly said to Shu Suntong: Damn it, I just found out today that being an emperor is really cool! Liu Bang made Shusun Tong the Minister of Sacrifice (Taichang) on ​​the spot, and rewarded him with five hundred catties of gold. Shu Suntong thanked Liu Bang, and took the opportunity to say: My more than one hundred disciples have followed me for many years. Without them, the majestic and solemn court ceremony cannot be made today. Please the emperor grant them official positions! Liu Bang laughed loudly, good uncle Sun Tong, you have not forgotten your roots in your fortune.Alright, I will make them all Lang Guan!As the saying goes, one person attains the Tao, and the chicken and dog ascend to heaven.In one day, more than one hundred disciples of Shu Suntong who had complained for many years were all promoted.What is even more admirable is that Shusun Tong did not take the five hundred gold for himself, but gave all of it to the students. This time, the more than 30 Confucian scholars recruited from the state of Lu were overjoyed. They all sighed in admiration: Shusun Tong is indeed a sage who understands current affairs in the world! If the Han Dynasty is a train, then Liu Bang is the locomotive, etiquette is the track, and Shu Suntong is the senior engineer who laid the track.Since then, the Han Dynasty finally had a set of etiquette to observe. In fact, the set of court rituals formulated by Shusun Tong basically followed the old rituals of the Qin Dynasty, from the title of the emperor to the names of officials and palaces, etc., without much change, so later generations also called it the Han Dynasty. It was inherited from the Qin Dynasty by the Han Dynasty.The bright moon in the Qin Dynasty and the pass in the Han Dynasty, this is not only a simple connection of time, geography and space, but also reflects an inseparable cultural umbilical cord! However, in order to prevent others from grabbing jobs, Shu Suntong bound this set of etiquette rules and regulations into a book and hid them in the deep palace.From then on, apart from Confucianists, ordinary people would not be able to recruit themselves if they wanted to be self-educated.