Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 380 Taiping Road

"I feel that Taipingdao has infringed upon my rights!"

After staying in the Western Regions for a while, visiting several temples, and participating in a few Cuju (ancient Chinese football) matches in the Wusun Kingdom, He Bo arrived in Xinxia.

When he saw the statues of deities in the newly built Taoist temple of Taipingdao, he frowned and immediately summoned Zou Yan to defend his rights.

Zou Yan glanced at the statue on the high platform, which, apart from having a long beard and a more majestic and imposing look, was exactly the same as He Bo's. Then he said confidently, "Don't ghosts and gods look like this?"

"And wouldn't it be better to venerate you as the Supreme God of Heaven, to show our power and respect?"

"Moreover!"

"I was merely imitating the old system of Ye County!"

He Bo, hands on his hips, said, "Ximen Bao made the statue of me back then, but he did so only after getting my consent!"

"Now I ask the spirits: Do you agree to my veneration of you and to use this to spread the ideals of my Way of Peace?"

"can!"

He Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his chin slightly raised, and pardoned Zou Yan, the Great Teacher of the Way of Peace, for the crime of "taking without asking".

As for the sculptures next to his statue that look very much like Mencius, Zhuangzi, and even Zou Yan himself...

He Bocai couldn't be bothered to care!
Anyway, the first two dead men aren't here, so they won't know that their appearance and certain experiences were stolen by Zou Yan and listed as part of the "Taoist Masters".

How is the Way of Peace developing here?

He Bo took out some fine wine, sat down opposite Zou Yan, and began to drink and talk with him.

"Very good."

Zou Yan lamented, “I originally thought that people who believed in Buddhism would be misled by those eloquent monks, like the people of Sindhu in the south, who would abandon their families and businesses for a vague miracle and reject other religions.”

Fortunately, their Chinese characteristics have not faded.

Because the way the Way of Peace spreads its teachings is far more practical than those monks who go around begging, arguing, and demanding explanations of mysteries.

In addition, the Xia Kingdom frequently experiences water-related diseases and epidemics, and therefore places great importance on medical treatment...

So as soon as the Taiping Dao (Taoist sect) members came out carrying what they called "talismanic water," but which was actually a cooling and disease-curing soup, people immediately followed, grasping the hands of the Daoist masters and excitedly saying:
"I've been a Taoist for a long time!"

"Could you give me two more bowls of that healing talisman water?"

Initially,

The Taoist priests were still somewhat puzzled, "But I saw you go to the Buddhist temple next door to pray before..."

The man remained calm and composed, saying, "That was just youthful ignorance!"

"Now I have abandoned darkness and embraced the light!"

...This kind of thing has happened many times.

It seems that in the entire Kyushu, one cannot find a believer as pragmatic as the virtuous men of the Xia Dynasty.

Faced with missionary work that is beneficial to them,

They turned and left without even having to make a decision.

He Bo nodded after hearing this and was no longer worried about the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism.

But he couldn't help but ask, "The current doctrines of the Way of Peace incorporate ideas from various schools of thought, such as Yin-Yang, Taoism, Logicians, Confucianism, and Mohism. Won't there be any conflicts?"

The disciples of these schools of thought still clash in the underworld today, and they frequently end up in jail for "fighting if they can't win an argument," which shows that they have truly mastered the teachings of a hundred schools.

For this,

Zou Yan simply said calmly, "I am currently working on the book 'Taiping Jing'."

"As long as you, the spirits, don't tell these things to the dead ghosts in the Central Plains, that will be fine."

Zou Yan's Taiping Dao (Way of Peace) incorporated far too many things.
If a great Confucian scholar like Mencius were to see this, he would probably be so angry that he would rise from the dead on the spot.

After all, Zou Yan's approach was far more audacious than Dong Zhongshu's.

The latter, in order to maintain his identity as a Confucian disciple, adopted a somewhat coy attitude.
The former, relying on his status as one of the philosophers and his death, started throwing wild, unruly punches.

He Bo waved his hand and said, "I can't be bothered with this kind of nonsense!"

"We'll talk about it when the Way of Peace spreads to the Central Plains!"

"However, you've combined the Five Elements Cycle with the Mohist concept of punishing the wicked, and you've been promoting it extensively. Aren't you worried that the Xia Emperor, in his anger, will send people to suppress you?" The Five Elements Cycle

This is an important concept proposed by Zou Yan.

He first proposed:
The changes in the world are based on the operation of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, and all things must be born and die within this scope.

Then, extending this to governance, this saying arose—

The change of dynasties, like the mutual generation and restraint of the five elements, is a normal thing and in accordance with the laws of nature.

The Mohist principle of "punishing the wicked" stemmed from its advocacy of valuing the virtuous:
Because they admire the virtuous and capable, it is normal and in accordance with natural law to oppose corrupt and decadent leaders!

The combination of these two factors is enough to make even the most powerful and wealthy shudder!

When He Bo first heard this idea, his brow twitched, and he was relieved that Zou Yan, the "great teacher," had died long ago.

otherwise,

Even being torn apart by five horses wouldn't be enough for Zou Yan.
Such traitorous remarks warrant at least the excruciating punishment of every form of torture invented from the Xia and Shang dynasties to the present day.

Zou Yan scoffed and said, "What's there to worry about?"

"I have combined the Mohist system of Grand Masters with the power of the Way of Great Peace... Given the current state of the Xia Kingdom, it is impossible to stop them."

Prolonged peace has led to neglect of military preparedness.
Don't blame the emerging forces for rushing over and punching it.

"Moreover, I believe that such advocacy is actually beneficial to the future of the Xia Kingdom."

With a change of expression, Zou Yan said this to He Bo.

"The Xia Kingdom is geographically isolated, with mountains and the sea blocking its way to the east and west, making it difficult for enemies to attack; and there are no overly powerful enemies to the north and south to exert pressure on it..."

"After the envoys returned from their mission to the Han Dynasty, Emperor Xia issued an order for reform, but it was not seriously implemented by either the emperor or the officials!"

Even the death of the former crown prince was related to the emperor sending him to inspect the border troops in the south.

This made the aging Xia emperor even less willing to pay attention to such matters.

Therefore, although the order was issued, it was in name only.

After the nobles went to chant scriptures, the entire Xia Kingdom became complacent and idle.

Mencius said, "If a country has no advisors or remonstrating ministers at home and no external enemies abroad, it will surely perish!"

unfortunately,

The principle that "one is born in hardship and dies in comfort" is known to many, but it is not necessarily upheld by everyone.

Isn't this the current state of the Xia Kingdom?

"The descendants of the Xia people must not become as 'peaceful' as the people of Sindhu!"

"If there's no external pressure, then let's create turmoil within it!"

"We can't afford to be idle!"

Xinxia was the last vassal state enfeoffed by the Zhou emperor, and also the first branch of the Xia people outside the Zhou territory.
How could someone of its stature be allowed to fall into depravity?
"King Wen of Xia also supported my approach!"

Long after he died
King Wen of Xia had come to terms with many things.

In any case, as a wise and virtuous ruler who will be remembered in history, even if his descendants cannot preserve the ancestral temple, he can still continue to live on for a long time thanks to the praise of the people and scholars.

Therefore,
Compared to the rule of one family or clan, King Wen of Xia was more concerned about the future of the various Xia states.

The Western Qin was situated in a strategically important location, and its troops were constantly training and dared not be careless.

As the ancestral homeland, the Central Plains has produced many talented individuals. Even if it declines temporarily, a new and powerful dynasty will emerge afterward.

Even the Qi Kingdom in Japan, due to its poverty and frequent natural disasters, was forced to tighten its belt and develop a resilient character.

How can Xinxia be the most incompetent and unambitious among all the Xia people?

"The Way of Peace is good!"

"If the successor doesn't think this way, then let him die and argue with me, his ancestor!"

On the ancestral mausoleum mountain where the ancestors of the new Xia dynasty are buried, King Wen of Xia stood with his hands behind his back, determined to bear all the pain for his descendants and the people of the Xia kingdom.

(End of this chapter)