Establish a destiny for the people, establish a heart for the world, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations.

This sentence was said by Zhang Zai, a great scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty.

In the West, when theocracy was still above all else, the ruling elites of the Song Dynasty were exploring the relationship between people and society in secular society, and were deeply thinking about the mission of the ruling elites.

The highest ideal always feels like it is being shelved on the shelf, and there are very few people who can achieve it.

However, the fact that such sentiments can be born and be promoted to a high position shows that the people in this land have reached a consensus in this regard.

In the darkest times, the common people were treated as nothing more than nothing, and the land of China was devastated. In the chaos of confusion and doubt, future generations will look through history and see those feelings that shocked the past and the present, and they will eventually find the meaning of their existence and find their way back to the past.

Return to your own mission.

Reading this sentence, it seems that it cannot change the situation at the moment, cannot make people full, and cannot save the people on the front line.

However, it has been passed down, and like the righteous sentiments of many sages, it has injected resilience into this nation and is imprinted on the hearts of countless people with lofty ideals, making them clear about the meaning of their existence.

Perhaps it is this kind of sentiment that enables this nation to rise from the ashes of darkness every time and shine brighter than before.

Zhang Zai and Er Cheng have a close relationship. How could Luo Congyan not know Zhang Zai's famous sayings?

When the emperor said it, Luo Congyan felt proud in his heart.

In history, great thinkers such as Yang Shi and Luo Congyan, although they were Confucian scholars, were both staunch anti-Jinists.

Even Zhang Zai was full of passion when he was young and wanted to join the army and destroy Xixia.

Luo Congyan's expression changed, and he said excitedly: "This is the great road."

"Sir, are you willing to help me rebuild the country?"

"Thanks to the Emperor's mercy, I am willing to die as a martyr."

Zhao Ning added: "I would like to hear the details of Sir's teachings."

Luo Congyan had never imagined that he would be such a courteous and virtuous corporal today. The incident of killing a minister before was widely spread throughout the world, and many people privately criticized the tyrant.

But now it seems that this Zhao Guan family does not look like a tyrant at all?

He is clearly a wise leader who works hard to govern.

Luo Congyan said: "In the past, Dong Zhongshu and Gongsun Hong studied the classics and became officials but did not follow the Tao. They made everyone protect their official positions and abandon the Tao, and there was no loyalty."

"Changes in the world do not originate from the four directions, but originate from the imperial court. For example, if a person's Qi is hurt, the cold and heat will easily subside; if a tree is sad, the wind and rain will break easily."

Luo Congyan means that the turmoil in the world does not come from the people, but from the court. If the officials have no selfish motives and the king restrains himself and restores etiquette, the world will be governed.

This is exactly an ideal state of Confucianism, and it is actually very consistent with society under the level of productivity in ancient times.

Regarding the current land annexation in the Song Dynasty, collusion between officials and businessmen, heavy taxes, corruption, feeding the common people, and corrupt border defenses, which one was not the work of treacherous officials and corrupt officials?

It can be said that Luo Congyan's understanding is a progressive understanding of the constraints of public power in the classical era.

After all, Luo Congyan was a person from the 12th century. He had the limitations of his time. It is already good to realize this step.

Zhao Ning said: "Sir, is there anything you can do?"

Luo Congyan continued: "When a gentleman is in court, the world will be in order. If a gentleman is in power, there will always be chaos in the world, which will make the ruler worried and good-hearted, so he will rule. When a villain is in court, the world will be in chaos. If a villain is in power, there will always be chaos in the world."

Such words make people happy and lazy, leading to confusion."

Zhao Ning said: "I don't understand what I'm saying when you say that virtue cannot be relied upon. He also says that when a gentleman enters the court, the world will be in order."

You say that you should not rely too much on morality, but at the same time you say that if gentlemen with high moral standards are allowed to enter the court, the world will have long-term peace and stability. Isn't it a contradiction?

Luo Congyan said: "Therefore, the king should be benevolent and consistent with the law. The court must not tolerate big treachery, and the small faults of friends must not be tolerated. If big treachery is tolerated, the world will be in chaos. If small faults are not tolerated, there will be no integrity. The court's legislation must be strict, and there must be officials to practice it."

The law cannot be unforgivable. If it is not strict, it will not be enough to stop the evil in the world. If it is not forgiving, it will not be enough to understand the world's feelings."

Zhao Ning couldn't help it anymore: "Shan! Sir, these words are like gold and stone!"

The unity of benevolence and law mentioned by Luo Congyan means that benevolence and the rule of law must be unified. The court must not only know how to implement benevolent government, but also strictly enforce the law.

This supplements the flaw in his previous sentence of relying solely on the establishment of a dynasty by a gentleman. This is also an idea that many Confucian scholars do not possess.

Luo Congyan was indeed a great thinker in the late Northern Song Dynasty, and Zhao Ning felt this firsthand.

However, what is a thinker and what is a politician are clearly defined.

Thinkers have clear thoughts, and politicians not only have clear thoughts, but also sophisticated skills in governing the country.

Thinkers pay more attention to the level of Tao, while politicians are familiar with both Tao and skills.

Luo Congyan is a thinker, not a politician, and Zhao Ning knows this.

It didn't matter, he didn't expect Luo Congyan to enter politics. What he needed was for Luo Congyan to carry forward his ideas in official studies.

It’s not about criticizing people harshly, but it’s about those who are able to occupy their position and follow the good path.

This is the way to employ people, and it is also the way to be a king.

Zhao Ning said: "I will give you the title of Bachelor of Guanwen Palace."

The Grand Bachelor of Guanwendian is a second-rank official, which is higher than the third-rank official of Bao Zheng's direct bachelor of Longtuge.

Of course, this is a false position, and it is the ultimate favor.

Luo Congyan said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best."

The ancients used loyalty to maintain hierarchical order, but if those in power have too much power, wouldn't they be able to do whatever they want?

Why restrain the powerful?

In ancient China, there was external Confucianism and internal legalism. On the surface, it was Confucianism, but in fact, its core relied heavily on Legalism.

But how did ancient laws restrain the powerful class?

Luo Congyan said that officials should be upright with virtue, and that officials should cultivate their minds and cultivate virtue. He also said that benevolent government should be unified with the law, and law enforcement should be strictly enforced.

These are all levels of Tao.

How to strictly enforce the law?

This in itself is a huge problem.

The enforcement of law involves the balance of multi-party games.

From a macro level, it is impossible for the powerful class to harm their own interests.

Internal supervision by powerful people has a certain effect, but after all, it is self-examination, but it also lacks deterrence.

What to do?

Therefore, Taizong said: People can carry a boat, but they can also capsize it.

The people are the deterrent to the justice of the law.

After Luo Congyan retired, Zhao Ning was in a difficult mood and pondered for a long time in Wende Hall.

He picked up his pen again and began to write: "On the Boat People".

The establishment of the official school was imminent, and this matter was handled very low-key.

On May 27, the Zhao family arranged for the first batch of officials to enter the official school, all of whom were young officials from the Department of Agricultural Affairs.

The textbooks for the official school are ready: "Seeking Truth from Facts", "On Officials", and "On the Boat People".

Of course, there are also Luo Congyan's "Yu Meng Jie", "Study Records", "Zun Yao Lu", "Tai Heng Lu", and "The Doctrine of the Mean".

At this point, the New Deal Yamen and the New Learning were combined for the first time.
Chapter completed!