76Chapter 76: Heaven and Man's Inspiration, Emperor Wu's Thoughts
Who is Dong Zhongshu?
A mainstream figure who advocated "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone", he was a top Confucian figure who mixed the ideas of Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Mohism, Yin-Yang School, Five Elements School, and other famous masters into his own thoughts. He was also the savior of Confucianism.
It was during Dong Zhongshu's era that Confucianism completely became a tool of imperial rule, but it was also during this era that Confucianism truly stepped onto the stage of history.
From then on, in the vast land of China, there was only one mainstream thought, and that was Confucianism.
As for the other Mohist, Taoist, and Yin-Yang schools?
They are all nothing but unorthodox practices.
Dong Zhongshu looked at the people in the audience, talked about his thoughts, and spread his thoughts again and again. His only hope in this life was to let Confucianism completely suppress the other thoughts.
.... .....
After the sermon, Dong Zhongshu returned to his room. Beside him sat his three disciples, all with humble and respectful expressions on their faces. "Teacher, Marquis Cheng'en has sent a visiting card, hoping to visit you."
Dong Zhongshu closed his eyes and shook his head slightly: "I said I was ill, very ill, unable to get up, and unable to meet with the Marquis of Cheng'en."
The disciple who spoke had a hesitant look on his face. He looked at Dong Zhongshu and said, "Teacher, why?"
"Your Majesty now hates Confucianism just as much as the late emperor did. The Chen, Zhou, and Dou families will not stand on our side. The Chen family has always been neutral, while the Zhou family has always followed in the footsteps of the Chen family."
"Dou Ying is a great believer in the teachings of Huang Lao."
"But these few people are the only ones who can have a say in the court. If we help Marquis Cheng'en this time, and his power grows, won't he also help the Confucians?"
"Then you can complete the revenge you desire."
Dong Zhongshu didn't open his eyes, but he felt a little disappointed with his disciple. He sighed slowly and said, "You only saw what would happen to Marquis Cheng'en in the future, but didn't you see what happened to Marquis Cheng'en today?"
"The news in Chang'an says that the Marquis of Cheng'en has joined forces with the Queen Mother, hoping that His Majesty will recognize the orphan girl the Queen Mother left behind and grant her a higher title."
"But your majesty, the two Chens, one Zhou, and Dou Ying all refused."
"Why do you think Marquis Cheng'en came to the Confucian school at this time?"
The disciple said without hesitation, "That's probably it."
He looked at Dong Zhongshu and said, "But if we help Marquis Cheng'en, we can still stand firm, right? Confucianism emphasizes filial piety, and although the Han Dynasty advocates the teachings of Huang Lao, it still values filial piety and governs the world with benevolence and filial piety."
"Even the posthumous titles of the late emperor and Emperor Wen contained the word 'filial piety'. How could we possibly fail if we help Marquis Cheng'en now?"
Dong Zhongshu chuckled softly, looking at the young man and shaking his head slightly. "You also said that the country should be governed by filial piety, but this is just a slogan promoted by Your Majesty and others. Even if it is not done in this way, what reason do you have to rebuke the emperor?"
"Even if we help Marquis Cheng'en win this time, what good will it do? We will be hated by the two Chens, by the Zhou family, by Empress Dowager Dou, and even by the Emperor."
Dong Zhongshu's eyes were cold: "Can Queen Mother Wang's 'filial piety' surpass that of Empress Dowager Dou?"
He looked at Changsha State in the distance. At that time, Jia Yi's sixth child was still serving as prime minister in Changsha State, and his situation was more difficult than that of his previous brothers.
"Do you want to repeat what happened to Jia Yi?"
The disciple's forehead was covered with a little cold sweat. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and then said softly, "Teacher, you are right. I was not considerate enough."
He asked cautiously, "Then, Master, when do you think Confucianism should emerge?"
Dong Zhongshu looked at the chessboard in front of him and said, "When... Your Majesty needs us."
He had a determined smile on his face.
"Now, the world is in chaos, and the thoughts of hundreds of schools are being forged in this great melting pot of heaven and earth. Wanderers and scholars are all expressing their opinions, and the retainers of the princes are discussing the affairs of state endlessly."
"But is he a weak person now?"
"His character is even more brutal than that of the previous emperor. I have observed the celestial phenomena and the brilliance of the emperor's star is unmatched in the world. Only the Qin Emperor can be compared to him. He is definitely a tyrannical ruler."
"Snap—"
Dong Zhongshu placed a chess piece in front of him on the board, his expression tinged with sarcasm. "How can the emperor be at ease with the chaos under heaven today? He will surely implement measures to unify the country!"
This is Dong Zhongshu's judgment.
"And in the great unification, the most important measure is thought!"
"Only by unifying the hearts of the people through thought can the emperor, like a ship with its steered ship, steer the people of the world in the direction he desires!"
"This is our chance!"
"Three years at the shortest, five years at the longest!"
"Confucianism has waited for so many years, enduring the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing. Can't it wait for just three to five years?"
In the apricot orchard, apricot leaves slowly fell and then spread on the ground, forming a thick layer.
.... .....
Guandu
Potazawa
The Great Wall on the west side of this marsh extends to Guandu in the east and connects to Qushui in the north. It is about 40 miles from east to west and about 20 miles from north to south. There are sand hills in the marsh and 24 pools above and below. The rivers and canals are connected and the deep pools are connected.
During the Warring States Period, the lake here slowly dried up, and then Shachu was exposed. The Chen family moved to Guandu and regarded this place as their ancestral land, and then built their ancestral home and garden here.
The ancestral garden covers a very large area and stretches as far as the eye can see.
It is also called "Chen Garden".
Chen Garden, a relatively remote corner.
The courtyard is very simple and does not look like the place where any important person lives, which is actually the case.
The person living here is Chen Xi's fourth child, "Chen An", the eldest son of his lineage. Because of Chen An, his lineage is not very popular among the Chen family, but the Chen family will not neglect them because of this.
After all, they are the "direct lineage".
So I still live in Chen Garden.
The reason why the place is so quiet and peaceful is not because of neglect, but because the owner of this place, "Chen Yi", does not like the prosperous and lively scenes, so he lives here.
With him was Chen Yi, the direct descendant of the third branch of the Chen family.
The lake water was clear. The two sat there, staring blankly at the lake in front of them, and sighed softly: "The lake water is clear, but it's hard to describe the waves in my heart."
"This idea...was ultimately created by you and me."
The two looked at each other and smiled slightly.
Their names will probably be known throughout the world soon.
.... .....
Guandu Marquis Mansion
"Snap—"
Emperor Wu was drunk and slammed the table: "Why does she treat me like this?"
"Do you really think I'm a three-year-old child?"
"He talks a lot about morality and justice, but he says he just misses his daughter. All he thinks about is fighting for power and gain, and wanting to dominate the world!"