Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Seeing Lu Wensheng and the others, Meng Chuanbai was very enthusiastic. As they walked, they chatted about all sorts of things. However, Lu Wensheng felt that this was not enthusiasm for "fellow disciples of aristocratic families". Instead, it felt like he was trying to relieve some emotion...

Unfortunately, some of the people or things mentioned in Meng Chuanbai's words were destined not to get a response from Lu Wensheng and others.

However, Meng Chuanbai just wanted to complain and didn't care whether there was any response or not. After chattering for a while, he suddenly fell silent and looked a little distraught.

Suddenly, his ears were quiet. Lu Wensheng was still a little uncomfortable: "Brother Zeming, what's wrong?"

Meng Chuanbai hesitated for a moment and sighed.

"If the world wants to be well governed, it can only do so by promoting virtue, spreading education, and benefiting the people. Then the people will be blessed... This is what my teacher taught me, and it is also written in the book, but after this trip, I saw a scene that I had never seen before.

They sold their children with straw labels on their heads; they kowtowed and sold their bodies but could not beg for a grain of rice; the whole family took turns wearing the same piece of clothing with a dozen patches. Those who worked wore the clothes when they went out, and the rest of the people huddled together on the kang to keep warm.

Guanyin's belly was swollen from eating too much soil; her children starved to death, froze to death, she cried and cried, and finally she felt guilty about eating her children; she was so hungry that she said, "This wood is so soft, it feels like meat", but in fact...

I discovered that the people don't want anything like moral education or enlightenment. They want to eat, to be warm, to have justice, and to survive. However, the so-called "books of sages" did not teach me how to do this.

So, are the things in those books just empty talk? In essence, they wrote these high-sounding things for fame and fortune? And who is really doing it?

What should I do? The silk thread for my clothes comes from them, my food comes from them, my rich life comes from them, and I seem to be the one who oppresses them...”

As Meng Chuanbai spoke, he turned his head to look at the refugees behind him who were hoping to get asylum. They were hesitant and confused, not even daring to meet Meng Chuanbai's gaze - but it was these "mud legs" who were ignored and full of vicissitudes of life who supported the operation of such a big country.

If he didn't know these things, he could still be a carefree young man without any worries, and when he reached the age, he would obey the family's arrangements and get an official position.

But after witnessing these horrific scenes that could be described as hell on earth, he could no longer deceive himself. He could not even enjoy the resources with peace of mind and return to the world he believed in.

He began to think about why this happened. He felt that it shouldn't be like this, but he couldn't figure out why.

He spoke with such sincerity that even the other disciples were affected by his emotions and were moved. Tears flashed in Meng Chuanbai's eyes, and he couldn't help but choke up with deep emotion - he thought that reading these books of sages would allow him to create an ideal world, but the reality dealt him a heavy blow, and he couldn't help but feel confused about the future.

The world outside the ivory tower is not a utopia where people can do whatever they want.

I can read the books of sages, but I can't control what's happening outside the window. God has given me a compassionate heart, but not the ability to save all living things. I am someone who feels compassion, but I am also someone who stands by and watches - I empathize, but I can't do anything.

These words suddenly popped up in Lu Wensheng's mind, and he looked at Meng Chuanbai for a long time without saying anything - as a person from the upper class, he could actually see the suffering of the common people below and even wanted to do something for them, which was already very rare.

At least he really kept the words of the sages in mind and wanted to do something for the people.

Meng Chuanbai saw many things on the way, and he kept them all in his heart. He couldn't find the guards to talk to, as their class meant they couldn't resonate with each other. When he saw "the same kind" as Lu Wensheng, his emotions seemed to have found an outlet.

"Sir, be careful with your words!"

It is not an exaggeration to say that Meng Chuanbai's remarks are questioning the "books of sages" and those great and respected Confucian scholars. However, in this era where respecting teachers is regarded as more important than anything else, this is extremely disrespectful.

Moreover, there was even dissatisfaction towards the aristocratic family in his words. If it were to get out, Meng Chuanbai's reputation and even the reputation of the Meng family in Xuzhou would be affected. The captain of the guards was terrified and sweating profusely after hearing this. He did not care about being offended and quickly interrupted him.

Perhaps it was because Lu Wensheng had been a quiet listener, and he seemed to be a very kind person, so Meng Chuanbai became a little "outspoken". When the captain of the guards reminded him of this, he realized that he had said something about "losing his head" and was suddenly at a loss.

"My young master is used to being casual and outspoken. I hope you won't mind." The captain of the guards apologized, but he felt that he was doomed - these young masters from noble families had been reading "books of sages" since childhood, and their Young Master Meng was afraid that he would become the target of public criticism.

Meng Chuanbai felt a little annoyed. It wasn't that he regretted saying these things, but he just blamed himself for revealing his past to someone he didn't know so easily.

Lu Wensheng: "What's written in the book is different from reality? That's right, it's different."

Meng Chuanbai thought he was going to be criticized: "Huh?"

Yan Qingshu: “What the books say may not be unreasonable, but it is not suitable for today’s situation - this is the world that is wrong, the rulers are indifferent, corrupt officials deceive their superiors and subordinates, aristocratic families firmly control the channels, students study only to become famous, and no one is willing to speak for the poor...” I didn’t read so many books in vain.

Lu Wensheng: "It's just because it's different that we have to make reality the same as in the book. Only when we feel the difference can we know what to do...

If the people want to eat, then we should improve farming tools, find good seeds, encourage farming, and find ways to feed them; if they want to wear warm clothes, then we should raise silkworms and reel silk, encourage weaving, and let them wear warm clothes; if they want justice, then we should give them justice! If they want to survive, then let them survive! "

Meng Chuanbai: "...It's easy to say, but isn't that a big move?" And it is very likely that his property will be confiscated and he will be beheaded. By then, the family will not only not protect him, but it will be good enough if they don't kill their own relatives for the sake of justice.

Meng Chuanbai seems to be a person who has awakened his consciousness but is not very firm.

Liu Jiqian: "We have to do it because it is not easy. Nothing great is easy, but if we succeed, it will be a great achievement that will go down in history."

Liu Jiqian knew how to judge people by their appearance. Without saying anything else, he simply evoked the most unpretentious wish in the hearts of scholars of this era - to be recorded in history.

Meng Chuanbai was so eager to eat this pancake that he shed tears.

(The "books of saints" in the article refer to those that only have general principles but no practical significance. They are not meant to be a thorough criticism! I added the ""!)