Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 30 You are right!
Madam Miao quickly chased after him, fortunately her father didn't run very fast.

After catching up, he hurriedly said, "Sir, don't be angry with Zui Xinglai, he is just talking nonsense!"

After Zhao Zhen walked out of the house, he calmed down a little, and his thoughts gradually became clearer. He didn't think so.

On the contrary, he felt that what Zhao Xin said seemed to make some sense.

King Xuan of Qi asked Mencius how to get along with neighboring countries.

What Mencius seemed to answer was how to protect oneself.

If a big country wants to protect the world, it must be benevolent to small countries.

If a small country wants a big country not to attack it, it must be wise.

He also said that a big country being benevolent to a small country is a sign of optimism.

This so-called "optimist" probably means someone who is self-satisfied.

Even though I am older than you, there are definitely strong and weak people in this world.

Just like animals, although wolves are more powerful than sheep, they will not necessarily eat all the sheep.

This is the way of heaven!
When a big country is benevolent to a small country, it is following the way of heaven. There is no need to kill others just because they are weak.

only……

That’s probably because Mencius did not live to see King Zheng of Qin.

Although the era he lived in was the end of the Warring States Period, it was still at least several decades away from the unification of the Qin State.

and so……

Only Mencius would think that big countries and small countries should live in peace.

But considering the current national conditions of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen felt that this was indeed wrong!

Big countries should not live in peace with small countries and be kind to them.

Li Yuanhao should be tortured to death.

If the previous Taizu, Taizong, and his father had been able to deal with Li Yuanhao and Li Yuanhao's ancestors, to be honest, there would not be the threat of western bandits in the Song Dynasty today.

of course!

Zhao Zhen thought that Zui Xing was not entirely right.

Because perhaps from the beginning to the end, the Song Dynasty was not benevolent to Li Yuanhao.

It's just that I don't have the ability.

Whether it was during the reign of Taizu, Taizong, or Zhenzong, our ancestors must have thought about recovering these places, but they simply could not defeat them.

and……

During the reigns of Taizu and Taizong, the real powerful enemy was the Liao Kingdom, and Li Yuanhao's ancestors were completely insignificant.

……

So he stopped and thought for a long time.

Zhao Zhen then said to Lady Miao, "Don't be silly. Why would I be angry with Zui Xinglai? I just want to find someone to find out what Mencius meant."

Even though Zhao Zhen is an ancient, there is a generation gap between ancient people.

After all, Mencius had been dead for nearly 1,300 years at this time, and these ancient classics often contain profound meanings.

therefore……

Sometimes, even Zhao Zhen could not say that he definitely understood what the sages said.

Therefore, many great scholars in later generations came out to write annotations for these famous classics.

of course!

For Zhao Zhen, it is better to ask people directly than to look up annotations.

After all, there are so many scholars in the Song Dynasty, and it would be a waste to just leave them alone.

Madam Miao also frowned and said, "Zui Xinglai was just talking nonsense, did you take it seriously, sir?"

Zhao Zhen said, "But I do have some doubts about what Mencius said. All right! Go back! Watch him read!"

Madam Miao: “…”

Then, Zhao Zhen really went to ask someone.

Moreover, he soon got a satisfactory answer. The other party explained: "Your Majesty, I think what Mencius wanted to express is that a country must have benevolence and wisdom. When it is benevolent, it must be benevolent; when it is wise, it must be wise. With benevolence and wisdom, the country will prosper; without benevolence and wisdom, the country will decline. This is what Mencius wanted to express."

This bachelor's knowledge is different.

So he was also very curious. Gou Jian was such a person that he must have used conspiracy and trickery to finally defeat Wu. Moreover, serving Wu was something that people would feel ashamed of if it were to be told to others. But why did Mencius praise him so much in his words? So that's what he meant!

When you are strong, you must remain benevolent; when you are weak, you must be wise and understand how to survive as a small country.

This is what Mencius really meant!

But it is not the most popular thing to say that big countries must be kind to small countries.

But be kind when it is right!

Before dinner...

Zhao Zhen rushed back.

Then he told Zhao Xin about this.

After listening to his reinterpretation and looking at the original text, Zhao Xin now seriously suspected that Zhao Zhen was over-interpreting the meaning of Mencius' words.

Maybe Mencius really thought so, but Zhao Xin did not think that this text expressed the meaning of being benevolent when doing good.

This is definitely an over-interpretation.

but……

Zhao Xin was too lazy to argue with him, otherwise, he might not be able to have dinner and might even be angry enough to eat his fill.

Then he said: "Dad, you are right!"

Zhao Zhen asked: "Why, you don't accept it?"

Zhao Xin replied again: "I am convinced, I am really convinced! Madam Miao, I want to eat shrimp!"

Madam Miao rolled up her sleeves and peeled shrimp for him.

It can only be said that Zhao Zhen did not receive such treatment.

Zhao Zhen felt that he still didn't seem convinced, but seeing that it was time for dinner, he didn't say anything more.

He just said from time to time, "Let him peel it himself."

Madam Miao said, "Zui Xinglai is still young."

Zhao Zhen was jealous and said, "You have never peeled it for me."

Madam Miao replied, "You didn't eat it before, sir."

Zhao Zhen: "Ahem! But I want to eat today!"

This autumn is a great time to eat shrimp.

Very fat.

But in ten days or half a month, it may not be so good, because winter is coming. The shrimps are hiding, so it is estimated that it will be difficult to catch them.

Of course!
Zhao Xin definitely didn't eat the shrimp for nothing.

If you eat it, you will know how to write the word "shrimp". Although he actually knew how to do it a long time ago!
Zhao Huirou was also dissatisfied at this time: "Sister, why do you always let him peel it? I want it too!"

Zhao Zhen said, "Daddy will peel it for you."

then……

Perhaps it was because Zhao Xin was looking at her, Zhao Huirou looked at Zhao Xin provocatively.

Then he said, "Daddy, peel it for me. If not, Zuixing will peel it for me."

Zhao Xin was too lazy to pay attention to her.

Continue eating.

You have to grow up well.

He couldn't be like his father, looking extremely weak.

After dinner, the next step is to take a bath.

This bath...

Sometimes it's during the day, sometimes it's at night.

During the day, I usually choose a sunny afternoon, and then I can play in the water. As for the night… I just go as fast as I can! I’m afraid I’ll catch a cold.

It's a pity that he is still young now.

Even if he could really go to court, the most he could do was listen to what others said.

If he really wanted to make a statement, it is estimated that no one would listen to him.

(End of this chapter)