Daqin: A buff of incredible comprehension

If a minister makes a mistake, he should be punished accordingly according to the law; if he makes a significant contribution, he should be rewarded according to the law. He should not give out rewards arbitrarily just because the king is in a good mood. Everything must have a clear standard.

Only in this way can everyone be convinced.

Shang Yang spread the concept of rule of law throughout the Qin State, even at the cost of his own life, and this led to the powerful Qin State we see today."

Ying Zheng did not expect Zhao Chen to have such a high opinion of Shang Yang, but this is indeed the fact. Shang Yang made an indelible contribution to the glory of the Qin State today.

"Think about it, Father, can Confucianism achieve this?

Under the Confucian system, a king might reward meritorious officials just because he was in a good mood."

If after a period of time, other people made the same contribution to the country, but because the monarch was in a bad mood at the time, the reward they received would be reduced.

Similarly, the monarch's mood also plays a decisive role in punishment. This emotional reward and punishment system will lead to dissatisfaction among officials, asking why others receive more rewards while I receive a heavier punishment?

This is the most significant difference between the rule of law and the rule of man.

Of course, the Legalists were not perfect, but it could be said that their thought was most suitable for the turbulent era of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and was superior to the governing philosophy of Confucianism, Mohism, and Taoism.

After all, at this stage, the power of the monarch is enormous. Even if they do not actually have much real power, formally speaking, all decrees must be issued in the name of the monarch in order to convince the subjects of the whole country.

The laws of the Legalists were jointly formulated by the monarch and his ministers. Therefore, no matter which school of thought, it could not form an effective constraint on the monarch.

Confucianism attempts to use morality and benevolence to regulate the behavior of the monarch. If the monarch does not practice benevolent governance, he will be condemned.

The Mohists used the threat of ghosts and gods to persuade the monarch that if he did not care for the people, heaven would punish him;

Taoism uses the concept of non-contention to warn monarchs that being too greedy will lead to greater losses.

The Legalists used laws to restrain the monarch. If the monarch violated the law or ignored the regulations, he would also face severe consequences.

Just imagine, is there any of these schools of thought that can impose mandatory punishment on the monarch for his temporary mistakes?

The answer is no. This raises a serious question.

When a monarch makes small mistakes over and over again, there are no immediate consequences. For example, if he is just a little unkind today, or simply violates a law, these will not immediately lead to the collapse of the dynasty.

However, as the saying goes, "a thousand-mile dike is destroyed by an ant hole", and eventually the monarch's gradually accumulated greed will lead to the collapse of the entire dynasty.

Another shortcoming of the Legalists is that the "law" itself is very rigid and lacks flexibility.

It was developed as a preventive measure through prior estimation and the occurrence of earlier cases.

However, there are always areas that are not covered by the law, which is one of the reasons why the law is never perfect and needs to be constantly updated and revised.

Although the Legalists advocated adjusting the law according to changes in social contradictions, which was much better than the Confucianists' adherence to established rules, it still could not completely solve the problem of legal loopholes.

Some people will exploit loopholes in the law and act recklessly as long as the law does not have clear provisions.

This is a flaw in the Legalist approach to “governing by law” – over-reliance on the law and the belief that the law can solve all problems. This view is wrong.

Therefore, I believe that we should adopt the approach of "Confucianism on the outside and Legalism on the inside" so that we can achieve true balance.

"Well said, Confucianism on the outside and the law on the inside, practicing Taoism! Chen'er, you are indeed outstanding, very good, hahahaha!"

"I'm almost done, time to go!"

This time, Zhao Chen did not give Ying Zheng time to react and disappeared from Zhangtai Palace in a flash.

"This kid, haha!!"

Ying Zheng shook his head helplessly.

Continue to ask for flowers, monthly tickets, and various data...

"Zhao Gao, remember this?"

"My king, I remember everything."

"Give me the records. You will handle the tea matter yourself. The method must not be revealed. Otherwise, you will be held accountable."

"Yes!"

"Send those people from the Nong family to the young master and tell him that Tian Guang has taken control of the Nong family."

"I'll go right away!"

After Zhao Gao left, Ying Zheng carefully studied Zhao Chen's arguments, and the more he read, the more shocked he became.

"Gai Nie, what do you think of what the Master said? As a member of the strategist family, you are not mentioned by the Master. Do you feel dissatisfied?"

"Your Majesty, I mean absolutely no harm, and I dare not make any unwarranted comments about you. However, what you have said is indeed a blessing for Great Qin. And frankly, your understanding of the theories of the sages is unmatched. Even those sages would be astonished if they knew how you interpreted it today!"

Gai Nie's admiration for Zhao Chen has reached the point of prostrating himself.

No wonder the master was willing to give up the joy of seclusion to become the young master's mentor.

He is a genius, truly extraordinary.

"This is exactly what I want. It's like a wake-up call. All my previous doubts have been resolved. You are truly a gifted talent, Chen'er!"

"What your Majesty said is absolutely true."

"Gai Nie, you have another junior fellow apprentice in Korea."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"You go to participate in the war to destroy Han, and you must find a way to bring your junior brother back. I'm sure the young master will make proper arrangements."

"I obey your command, Your Majesty!"

Gai Nie muttered to himself.

Junior brother, you chose the wrong path, but luckily there's still a chance. I hope you can cherish it!

On the other side, Zhao Chen hurried back to Weiyang Palace, fearing that he would be recalled by Ying Zheng again.

But unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to the palace, someone was waiting for him.

This person is Guiguzi.

"Teacher, why are you here..."

"Sir, you are finally free. I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Haha, what does the teacher want to call you for?"

"I wish to discuss Taoism with you, young master."

Guiguzi made a gesture of invitation, and a chess game was already set up in front of him.

Zhao Chen was speechless.

I just dealt with my father and now I have to deal with the teacher. Will there be anyone next?

When can we have some peace and quiet?

But he had to sit down and play chess with Guiguzi.

"Have you forgotten that you have me as your teacher?"

"Why do you say that, teacher?"

"You didn't call me when you were enlightened, but let others benefit from it. It seems that you have long forgotten my existence. But, after all, my teacher is not a beautiful woman."

Zhao Chen was speechless for a while.

Is this still the Guiguzi I am familiar with?

"Teacher, whether or not I can achieve enlightenment is not something I can influence. It just happened that Sister Yan Fei and the others were present at that time."

"Haha, Master, I understand. It was just a joke."

"In that case, let's get started. How do you understand Taoism, young master?"

"Teacher, the Tao is difficult to describe. According to the ancients, the Tao follows nature. Nature is everything, and all things exist within it. You are also a part of the Tao.

The Tao does not distinguish between good and evil, light and darkness. There are evil people in the light, and good people in the darkness.

Water flows through all things selflessly and nourishes all things without asking for anything in return. The Tao is the same.

As insignificant as ants, they are a form of life. They strive to survive, add color to the world, and also follow the ways of nature.

All things in the world, though they may be strong or weak, constitute the Dao and cannot escape its scope. However, we can sense the vastness, depth, and infinity of the Dao.

Zhao Chen gently placed a piece down and said with a smile:

"Teacher, you lose."

Guiguzi laughed when he heard this.

"Sir, your talent is astounding. Even my teacher, or even the ancient sages Laozi and Confucius, are probably not as talented as you!"

"Teacher, you are too kind. I just got enlightenment by chance and glimpsed a corner of the world. These are probably not even the surface of the Tao, and are still far from the real Tao." Zhao Chen sighed.

He understood, and only after enlightenment did he realize how profound and vast the truth was.

Human life is limited, but Tao is infinite.

Wouldn’t it be better to spend your limited life comfortably, occasionally comprehend the truth, and appreciate the scenery along the way?

Fortunately, Guiguzi didn’t know what Zhao Chen was thinking at the moment, otherwise he would have punished him.

You're really showing off like that.

He just lay there comfortably and made sarcastic remarks.

"Teacher? Teacher?"

"What's wrong, young master?"

"I've made up my mind. I'll avoid the affairs of the Qin Dynasty if I can. I'll just lie in the sun every day, fish, and drink. With Yan Fei and the others by my side, I'll have a carefree life. Isn't that great?"

Guiguzi:………………

Sir, are you serious?

However, such a life is indeed very tempting. If you don’t know how to enjoy life, wouldn’t it be a waste of life?

Besides, he has lived for hundreds of years. It seems that I have been too confused all these years. Even a three-year-old child like you thinks more clearly than me.

"I never thought that after living for so many years, I am not as clear-sighted as you, sir. But as a young master of the Qin Dynasty, can you really enjoy a carefree life?"

"Why not? I've decided. From now on, no matter what happens in Daqin, I will not get involved, unless..."

Before Zhao Chen could finish his words, the guards brought Zhao Gao in.

"My humble servant greets you, sir!"

"Zhao Gao, why are you here again?"

"Sir, I am here on the king's orders to bring the farmers to you."

"Okay, let's put them at the farm! I'll go check it out tomorrow."

"I obey, little one."

After Zhao Gao left, Guiguzi looked at Zhao Chen with a smile and said jokingly:

"Young Master just said that he would not interfere in the affairs of the Qin Dynasty. How come..."

Faced with Guiguzi's teasing, Zhao Chen smiled slightly, looking a little embarrassed.

Oh my god, that was too much, and I got slapped in the face immediately.

“Teacher, I said not to participate, but I also mentioned exceptions, and this is that exception.

Furthermore, to live a good life requires sufficient strength. It's not that people don't understand that life is short and they should enjoy it, but they simply don't have the resources. If they stop to enjoy life, their loved ones might fall into hardship. This is why I want to make Daqin even stronger."

Zhao Chen explained with specious arguments.

"Haha, forget it. I can't win against you. Let's stop here today! After listening to what you said, I have a new understanding of many things, and I need to think about it carefully."

"Teacher, can you teach me the swordplay you're so proficient in? I'd also like to see the teachings of your school of swordplay, is that okay?"