The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

Chang Kaishen felt a little disappointed in this trip, he actually wanted to ask some advice on the emperor's tactics, but Zhou Hexuan persuaded him to implement a democratic and constitutional government.

Damn constitutional democracy!

The frequency of this word is so high that Chang Kaishen's ears are almost hearing calluses, and it hasn't stopped since the end of last year. What Zhou Hexuan said just now hit Chang Kaishen's sore foot. He was indeed playing tricks, using "suppression of bandits" to divert people's attention from demanding constitutional government.

But to be honest, Chang Kaishen has already approved the legalist thought of governing the country from the bottom of his heart. Especially the use of law, technique, and power. This is the ability that a leader must have. Potential is the foundation, law is the link, and technique is the driving force. The three complement each other and promote each other. Any problem in one aspect will affect the other two. By.

An idea suddenly popped up in Chang Kaishen's mind: If you study Confucianism, you can become a gentleman, and if you study the Fa, you can become an emperor!

Now I heard from Zhou Hexuan that the Taoism of Huang Lao has gone a step further. He asked curiously: "Didn't Taoism always pay attention to quietness and inaction, and practice in seclusion?"

Zhou Hexuan explained: "The chairman is talking about the Lao-Zhuang School. Taoism is mainly divided into three schools, namely the Lao-Zhuang School, the Yang-Zhu School and the Huang-Lao School. Maybe I have summed it up a little bit inaccurately, but in general it is like this: Zhuang's theory belongs to anarchism, Yang Zhu's theory belongs to liberalism, and Huang-Lao's theory only talks about the way of governing as a king."

"Specially talking about the way of governing as a king? Tell me carefully." Chang Kaishen became a little interested.

Zhou Hexuan continued: "The 'huang' in the Huang-Lao School is the Yellow Emperor, and the 'Lao' is Lao Tzu. Why do you include the Yellow Emperor? It’s because it talks about the study of the emperor. The Huang-Lao School originated in Qi State, Qi State founded the world's first government-run school called "Jixia Academy". The core knowledge of this school is Huang-Lao's learning, so Huang-Lao School is also called Jixia School. It is precisely because Qi State pursues Huang-Lao's Only by learning can the national power be rapidly expanded."

Chang Kaishen nodded subconsciously, and asked Zhou Hexuan to continue.

Zhou Hexuan said: "In fact, Huang Lao's theory is not pure Taoism, it should be called miscellaneous learning. Its core idea is Taoism, but it completely integrates Legalism, and also adopts Confucianism, Mohism, military, agricultural , name, yin and yang, and vertical and horizontal. For example, the well-known "Lushi Chunqiu" is an important work of the Huang-Lao School. Another Taoist Huang-Lao School's work "Heguanzi" is even considered by scholars of all ages to be the The book of war. Let’s put it this way, since the Han and Tang Dynasties, any generation of Chinese prosperity has actually applied Huang Lao’s learning.”

"Huang-Lao's study also incorporates Confucianism?" Chang Kaishen asked in surprise.

Zhou Hexuan nodded and said, "Yes, one of the propositions of Huang-Lao's theory is to use both punishment and morality, which is compatible with the legalist and Confucian ideas of governing the country."

Chang Kaishen asked strangely: "Isn't it true that all dynasties in China have used Huang Lao's learning?"

"That's right," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "The so-called foreign Confucianism and internal law, in the final analysis, is the study of Huang Lao."

Chang Kaishen asked again: "Then what's the matter with respecting Confucianism?"

Zhou Hexuan explained: "Dong Zhongshu's exclusive respect for Confucianism is another combination of Confucianism and Huang-Lao's theory, which absorbs a lot of Huang-Lao's thoughts. "Inaction" is not laissez-faire, but quiet and inaction under the premise of establishing the ruling order. The king's inaction is based on the achievements of his subjects, that is, "the king is free and the minister works", which is a bit like the British constitutional monarchy. But it is just like that, because The right to decide is still in the hands of the monarch. When Dong Zhongshu respected Confucianism alone, he perfectly integrated the core of Huang Lao's theory of "governance by doing nothing" into his Confucianism system, and used it to explain the way of governing the country, the way of the monarch and his ministers, and the way of the monarch. Wang Zhengshu. For example, selecting talents and appointing talents, appointing officials according to their talents, this is a typical Huang-Lao theory, which developed into the imperial examination system in later generations."

Chang Kaishen continued to nod, obediently listening to the academic lecture.

Zhou Hexuan continued: "Let's talk about the relationship between punishment and morality. Dong Zhongshu's explanation of punishment and morality mainly continues the benevolent and moral governance of Confucius and Mencius. But in terms of the theory of punishment and morality, it borrows the Yin-Yang theory of punishment and morality from the Huang-Lao school. This is very important, and it has been the fundamental criterion for the formulation and implementation of Chinese laws for more than two thousand years."

Chang Kaishen finally understood: "That is to say, our current Confucianism is actually Huang Lao's theory that absorbs the best of all schools of thought, and Dong Zhongshu's new Confucianism that incorporates Huang Lao's theory is already different from that of Confucius and Mencius. Very different."

"That's true," Zhou Hexuan nodded, "but after Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, Confucianism transformed again, eliminating and suppressing many thoughts of Huang-Laoism. So in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Chinese people's thoughts gradually tended to be imprisoned, so that Surpassed by Western civilization. Because the very important theory of Huang-Lao's study is "follow the way of heaven", here "the way of heaven" refers to the laws of nature and society. Make rules accordingly.”

Chang Kaishen is a loyal supporter of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. He felt a little awkward when he heard this, but he still asked patiently: "How to use Huang-Lao's learning to govern the current China?"

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "I won't talk about quietness and inaction, monarchs and ministers, because the current situation in China is not suitable. The Huang-Lao school's quietness and inaction are based on a stable ruling order. First, let's talk about the law. Governing the country, easing punishment and simplifying administration, resting with the people, and governing the country according to the law, can you do it, chairman?"

Chang Kaishen said: "The laws of the Republic of China are getting more and more perfect, of course it can be done."

"The law is the law, what's the use of just enacting it?" Zhou Hexuan sneered, "Take last year's disaster relief as an example, the commissioner who cooperated with the British in embezzling disaster relief food is still at large. Can this also be called ruling the country by law?"

Chang Kaishen said with an unhappy face: "I also hate corrupt officials, but when the water is clear, there will be no fish. There is no way around it."

"What about lenient punishment, simplified administration, and rest with the people?" Zhou Hexuan said, "As long as these two points can be achieved, within ten years, China's national power will surely grow by leaps and bounds."

Chang Kaishen said: "The country is troubled both internally and externally. How can we rest with the people? We need money and food to quell chaos and defend against the enemy, and disturbing the people is a last resort. You can just talk about how Huang Laozhi uses 'skills'. I have to stabilize the situation first. to do what you said."

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "It's very simple. There are two important ideas in Huang Lao's study, which are called following the Tao according to the nature and keeping the male and female."

"Why?" Chang Kaishen asked.

"Because the way of heaven is to follow the trend, give them what most people desire most," Zhou Hexuan said, "even if you can't give them, let them see hope. For example, why is German fascism developing smoothly now? ?Because Hitler complied with public opinion, most Germans want revenge, revitalize the economy, and revive the nation. Chairman, you want to engage in fascism in China. Same."

Chang Kaishen said: "Now the biggest public opinion in China is democracy and constitutional government. How can I give them?"

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "Even if you can't give it, at least you have to act like you want to give it. For example, make a step to allow the democratic parties to participate in politics, but they only have political participation and no decision-making power. I think most democrats will be happy , because they saw hope."

Chang Kaishen nodded and said, "That's one way. What about keeping the female and using the male?"

Zhou Hexuan said: "Keeping the female and using the male is a specific power technique. To put it bluntly, it is the change of the virtual and the real. The monarch should be virtual, without a sense of existence, but it is everywhere. Just like God, invisible, intangible, but everyone's head There is a sky. If there is a problem in the process of governance, it must be an official bad thing. Officials must be severely punished. The supreme ruler is always right. Once outstanding achievements are made, it is the credit of the supreme ruler. The benefits that are due, the rulers enjoy the greatest fame."

Chang Kaishen didn't say a word, he naturally understood in his heart that he played this trick very well, but he didn't expect it to be learned from Huang Lao.

Zhou Hexuan said: "There is another explanation for keeping the female and using the male, which is to formulate a strategy and implement the strategy vigorously. Generally speaking, it is to strengthen and improve the execution of civil servants on the premise of not disturbing the people as much as possible. This is very subtle and requires great skill. political capacity."

The more Chang Kaishen listened, the more satisfied he became. As the boss, he was a half-way monk, and he learned all kinds of abilities and methods by himself, which was not as systematic as Zhou Hexuan said. Immediately smiled and said: "Mr. Zhou, please explain in detail the application of the methods, skills, power, advantages, and power of Huang Laozhi."

Zhou Hexuan talked nonsense according to his own understanding, until it was getting dark, Chang Kaishen still listened with interest, and almost didn't take notes on the spot.

Zhou Hexuan was naturally carrying private goods, such as persuading Chang Kaishen to let the democratic parties participate in politics. Although it is only a fake democracy, at least there are some constraints. National Party officials cannot be as unscrupulous as they used to be when they corrupted the law.