Lutz and Confucius (3): Lutz is unhappy.

Confucius couldn't realize his ideal in Lu, so he traveled around the world with others.

Confucius and his party came to Weiguo, and You Ran drove. Confucius saw people coming and going in the market of Weiguo, and sighed: How dense the population is!

You Ran said: The population is already large. What should we do?

Confucius said: Make them rich.

You Ran asked again: What should I do if I am already rich?

Confucius said: educate them.

Confucius came to Wei with such an ideal. Wei Linggong warmly received Confucius. He knew that Confucius was proficient in military affairs and was going to crusade against Jin recently, because Jin took in his rebellious son. Therefore, he asked Confucius about the arrangement of the army.

Teaching the people is Confucius' ideal, and military conquest is Confucius' most disgusting thing, not to mention the dog-blood scuffle between father and son, which violates etiquette. So, Confucius said:

Confucius replied, I have heard some things like sacrifice; I know nothing about the army.

Wei Linggong, of course, knew that this was Confucius' evasive remark, and he was very unhappy.

Wei Linggong's wife Nanzi is not only a stunning beauty, but also has a strong political talent, but her reputation is very bad. Wei Linggong likes Nanzi very much and listens to Nanzi's orders. Nanzi heard that Confucius had been to defend the country and wanted to meet him, because Confucius was a sage and gentleman who was famous as a vassal at that time. Shiji wrote:

Nanzi sent someone to see Confucius, saying that gentlemen from all walks of life would come to see me if they were not ashamed to call their husbands brothers. I heard that Mr. Wang is here. I want to meet him. Confucius declined politely at first, and then "had to look at it".

Why is it "necessary" to see Nanzi?

First of all, she is the wife of the monarch, and Li Yu should visit, not to mention your wife's kind invitation. Secondly, Confucius realized that in defending the country, it was this Nanzi who really took power. If we want to defend our country and carry forward the ideal of benevolence and righteousness, we must have a good relationship with this Nanzi. Therefore, even if meeting her may tarnish her reputation, I will try it bravely in order to promote benevolence and righteousness.

It's also bad luck Confucius met Nanzi, which not only did not help realize his ideal, but brought quite bad consequences. The Analects of Confucius said:

The teacher went to visit Wang Wei's wife Nanzi, and Luz was very unhappy. Probably he was livid and said a lot of ugly words, which drove Confucius to swear:

Confucius swears that if what I do is not in conformity with etiquette and morality, let God reject me! Let God hate me! In our words today, it is: if I do something wrong, it thunders five times a day! It thundered for five days!

Does Lutz suspect that the teacher is greedy for Nanzi's beauty, or even an asshole who has done something out of line? Absolutely not! Then why did Confucius swear before Lutz? This is somewhat puzzling.

Let's put this question aside first, and then let's take a look at what a doctor named Wang in Weiguo thinks about this matter. Wang is an upright and upright man, who has the military merit of defending the country. He used to worship Confucius, but when he learned that Confucius had met Nanzi, he felt incredible and went to visit Confucius.

Wang asked Confucius, there is a saying that it is better to curry favor with the kitchen god than with the Austrian god. What does this mean?

The Austrian god is the god of the family and generally does not take care of things. Although the kitchen god is the little god in the family, he is in charge of the family's three meals a day, every word and deed. According to folklore, when family members do good deeds, Kitchen God throws a copper coin into the jar, which reads "good"; If you do something bad, he will throw a coin into the jar with the word "evil" written on it. Someone has done a lot of bad things, and his evil jar is full of money. This is called "full of evil". On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Kitchen God will go to heaven to report all the good and evil that people have done. Doing more good deeds is a godsend; If you do a lot of bad things, you will get what you deserve. Therefore, on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, people will offer sacrifices to the kitchen god and put delicious candy on it, hoping that the kitchen god will eat the candy, make his mouth sweet and say a good word before God. In fact, this is the behavior of villains, not the behavior of gentlemen. A gentleman should sit upright when doing good deeds, not flatter, engage in relationships and intercede after doing bad things. What's the use of kissing the kitchen god's ass if you really do too many bad things?

"Flattering the Olympics is better than a stove" was a proverb at that time, and everyone understood its meaning. Wang asked Confucius, of course, with a metaphor. The Austrian god here refers to Wei Linggong, the king of Wei; Kitchen God is Wei Linggong's wife Nanzi. It means: Now that we are defending our country, everyone thinks that it is better to curry favor with Nanzi, the wife of the monarch who is really in power, than with Wei Linggong who is not in power. Confucius, you are a gentleman, how can you take such a detour for a villain?

Wang is right. Confucius went to see Nanzi, which really took a detour of "clinging to the Olympics but not cooking". How should Confucius answer? Slip of the tongue and deny it? Denying what he did was not Confucius' character; Just admit it? Then Confucius really became a flattering villain, and he couldn't get along with it in the future. Confucius' answer is:

Wang asked cleverly, and Confucius answered cleverly. He neither denies nor admits specific things, but refutes them in reason. Confucius said: it is not like this. If we have offended God, it is useless to kiss up to the chef or the Austrian God.

The implication is: it doesn't matter if you say I flatter anyone, I just hope that the avenue will work on earth. If you violate heaven, it is useless to flatter anyone. This is the consistent principle of Confucius:

There is nothing that Confucius can or can't do, just compare it with righteousness. If it is righteous, do it without hesitation; If it is not in line with justice, we will never do it. For a young lady with a bad reputation like Nanzi, young people flock to curry favor with her. And gentlemen are afraid to avoid it, for fear of tarnishing their reputation. But Confucius is different from both. He neither flatters nor evades. As long as it helps to promote benevolence and righteousness, why not? He didn't want to seek any benefits for himself at all. He didn't care if his reputation would be damaged.

Confucius paid a visit to Nanzi according to the etiquette, and there were rumors in the society immediately that Confucius was really a moral gentleman? How do gentlemen do things that "flatter rather than cook"? Those ugly words shot at Confucius like invisible poisonous arrows, which also embarrassed the disciples. Therefore, Lutz was very unhappy.

Confucius only needs to express his views on the slander of others, and will not make too many useless explanations. But Lutz is not happy, firstly because he is implicated by himself, and secondly because Lutz feels wronged and unworthy for himself. So Confucius patiently explained the reason for him and comforted his injured little heart.

Confucius told Luz bluntly: My Tao is blocked because God hates it! God hates it! This is fate, don't resent anyone, you don't have to feel unhappy about it. A vector is an arrow, extending as straight as an arrow. Give no, no, pronounced pǐ, like no, it is extremely lucky and unlucky.

Sages are like this. If they succeed in their career, it is natural, natural, not their own credit. They won't be greedy for talent. I tried my best, but I failed in my career. That's a rejection from heaven. There is no need to complain.

Although Confucius told me bluntly, Lutz may not really understand what fate is. In the face of stormy suspicion and slander, Confucius was as calm as water. Simply put, this is probably the way God hates me. Since God refused, how can I blame others?

Lutz probably felt ashamed after listening to the teacher's words-the teacher's mind was as broad as the sea, and those words sank to the bottom of the sea like poisonous arrows. And I'm like a kicker, just one word away, and I jumped into the sky. Shame on master and apprentice!

The Book of Songs says:

Wang and others did not understand Confucius' meeting with Nanzi, and thought that Confucius had a purpose. Lutz knew that the teacher was worried about Tao and wanted to find Hongdao. Lutz's displeasure is his indignation at the world and his deep respect for the teacher. His displeasure expressed this true feeling several times.

Gong Fa 'an was Ji's servant, Lu's doctor, and later betrayed Ji and asked Confucius to help him. Confucius considered going there. Lutz was very unhappy and said to the teacher: Forget it if there is no place to go! Why did you go to Gongshan? Because Gong Fushanfa is a traitor and his teacher is a great teacher, why should he help a notorious rebel and thief? Lutz's unhappiness is the same as when Lutz saw Nanzi, and he also blames the teacher for not being so wronged.

Confucius said: Did he just tell me to eat for free? If someone can really use me, I may be able to start an Eastern Zhou Dynasty!

Confucius' meaning is obvious. He went to Gongshanfu for only one purpose, that is, to make the country rich and strong, and other personal reputation issues need not be considered.

Once again:

Buddha Gui is a servant of Zhao Jianzi, a doctor in the State of Jin. After he rebelled, he also asked Confucius for help. Confucius is going. Lutz was unhappy again and said, "I once heard you say,' If that man did something bad himself, that gentleman wouldn't enter his country'. Now the Buddha is making trouble in Zhongmou, and the gentleman is going to other places. How does this make sense? "

Confucius said, "Yes, I did. However, there is also a saying that you haven't heard:' No matter how hard things are, no matter how hard they are ground, they won't be thin; The whitest thing, no matter how it is dyed, will not be black.' Am I a melon? How can I just hang in the air and not be eaten? "

From this chapter, we can better understand the different realms of Lutz and Confucius. Luz is very unhappy. He is worried that the teacher's reputation will be tarnished and his image will be damaged. He doesn't want the teacher to get in touch with people with bad reputations. Confucius considered the rise and fall of the world and the sufferings of the people. He thinks that a person in the world must do something useful to the society, otherwise it will be like a melon with no one to eat, living an empty life and losing the meaning of being a man.

Regarding Lutz's worry, Confucius once again firmly told Lutz not to worry about his reputation. Because he knows that others can't be defiled if they want to defile him, and they can be harmed if they want to harm him. Whether it's Nanzi who defends the country, Fufafang in the country of Lu, the mountain in the country of Lu, or the Buddha cave in the country of Jin, Confucius can get in touch with these muddy people calmly, because he has been able to get rid of mud. No cynicism and slander in society can hurt him.

Confucius' cultivation is beyond Lutz's imagination, so he is always worried that his teacher will be hurt. And Yan Hui can learn more, he felt the teacher's accomplishment:

Yan Hui Confucius, such as Mount Tai. The higher you look, the higher you get. It is also like an indestructible body. The more you study it, the stronger it becomes. However, Yan Hui did not fully understand the depth of Confucius' cultivation. In Yan Hui's view, Confucius is like a man of God walking on a cloud:

I just saw the teacher in front, and suddenly he was behind. The teacher is persuasive, broadens me with words and binds me with courtesy, so that I can't stop and move on. I tried my best to catch up, looking at the teacher as if he was in front, trying to catch up, but I didn't know how to get there.

This is the realm of Confucius, which ordinary people can't really understand, and often ridicule and satirize Confucius with the heart of a villain. The world treated Confucius this way, but Confucius said:

Confucius said, I don't complain about others, I only study benevolence and reach heaven. The only person who really understands me is probably God, right?

After reading this sentence, we can understand the first chapter of The Analects. Confucius said:

He has been studying hard, and when he got to school, he understood everything without any confusion, so he was very happy.

If you are the only one who knows everything and others don't know anything, then you are talking to the duck and casting pearls before swine. For example, the teacher said that a good boy is a good student. As a result, you don't agree with the teacher at all. You must say that good students are those who can play games and fall in love! Will the teacher be so angry that he wants to find a piece of tofu to die?

Don't think it's a joke, there are many such things. You can't make sense at all, so you must shut up, because the more you talk, the faster you will die. This is the situation of Confucius at that time. But Confucius didn't shut up. He kept talking. He said:

Aren't you a gentleman if others don't understand you? Therefore, it is really difficult and lonely to be a gentleman. At this time, if someone agrees with the truth, shares the same interests with you, comes to learn from you, and then teaches others, so that more people can become knowledgeable and polite. It will be very convenient for us to communicate, and we can get the message with one eye without wasting our breath or even getting the message. Everyone can live in harmony and be happy. So Confucius said:

This friend is not a bad friend, not a fair-weather friend, but a like-minded person who came to Wan Li to study. How can such a friend come from afar without making people happy?

However, even disciples who have studied with Confucius sometimes can't understand Confucius, especially when they are in great confusion. This time, Lutz is not happy again:

Confucius and his party ran out of food in the state of Chen, and many disciples were too hungry to get up. Luz was very unhappy. He asked indignantly, "Will a gentleman have no water?" Because our philosophy is: good people are always rewarded, and gentlemen are the best people in the world. We usually listen to your teacher's instruction, study hard, be charitable, obey the law, be determined to serve our country and be a good person honestly. How can good people like us be so desperate?

When everyone was so hungry, Confucius was in a bad mood, but he was scolded by student Luz. If he were an ordinary teacher, he might scold Luz. But Confucius was a real gentleman, and he did it. "People don't know and don't care." Confused about Lutz, Confucius said quietly:

Confucius said that a gentleman is indeed poor, but he can persist; And once the villain is poor, he will run amok.

Cai Chen's ear is an important event in Confucius' global travel. The Analects of Confucius is recorded simply, but it is recorded in detail in Confucius' family language:

Dr Cai Chen said to Xiang Mou, "Confucius is a saint, and all his taunts are the illness of princes. If it is used in Chu, it will be dangerous. "

Then the apostles separated from Confucius. Confucius can't go, he has no food for seven days, nothing outside, not enough soup, and all the scholars are sick. The more generous Confucius is, the more he speaks string songs.

King Zhao of Chu hired Confucius to go to Chu, and Confucius was going to visit King Zhao of Chu. Passing by Chen Guohe Cai Guo. Chen Guo and doctors in Cai Guo planned to say together, "Confucius is a saint, and all his criticisms hit the prince's heart.". If Confucius is hired by Chu, it will be dangerous for both. " So he sent troops to stop Confucius.

Confucius was surrounded and couldn't walk. He was deprived of food for seven days, and he could not get in touch with the outside world. He couldn't even eat inferior food, and his followers fell ill. Confucius, on the other hand, gave more impassioned lectures, playing the piano and singing for his classmates to inspire them.

Confucius saw that Luz, who had always been optimistic and strong, was depressed and could not persist, so he called Luz in to talk to him.

Confucius asked Luz: The Book of Songs says,' There are neither bison nor tigers in the wild.' This is really like our present situation. Is there anything wrong with my way? Why did we become like this?

Lutz was hungry and humble, and there was no place to vent his anger. When he heard the teacher ask this question, he vented all his anger on the teacher. He said with a livid face, "A gentleman should not worry about anything. Perhaps the teacher's kindness is not enough, so people still don't trust us; Maybe your wisdom is not enough, teacher. People are unwilling to carry out our ideas. And I've heard the teacher say before:' God bless those who do good, and God punish those who do evil.' Now, teacher, you have accumulated virtue, have benevolence and righteousness, and carry out your ideas for a long time. How can you be in such a poor situation? "

Lutz was originally dissatisfied with this chaotic society and resented that the teacher's avenue could not be implemented, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he vented all his grievances on the teacher. Although he usually respects his teacher, he lost his mind and lost his temper at this time of poverty. It can be seen that Lutz's cultivation has not yet reached home. Confucius originally wanted to find a way to speak, but he was inexplicably scolded. But Confucius was not angry at all, but patiently explained the truth to Lutz.

Confucius said, Zhong You, you still don't understand. Let me tell you something.

Do you think the benevolent will believe? Then Boyi and Shu Qi wouldn't starve to death on the shouyangshan.

Do you think a wise man will be appointed? Then the Prince Bigan of Shang Dynasty would not be cut off.

Do you think loyal people will be rewarded? Then Guan Longfeng of Xia Dynasty wouldn't have been killed.

Do you think the suggestion will be adopted? Then Wu Zixu of Wu would not have been forced to commit suicide.

It is a matter of luck not to meet a wise monarch; Virtue is a matter of talent.

There are many people who are knowledgeable and far-sighted, but unfortunately, it's not just me, Kong Qiu.

Moreover, Lan Zhi grows in the deep mountains and forests, and no one appreciates it, so it will not emit fragrance; A gentleman cultivates self-cultivation and does not change his moral integrity because of poverty.

How to do it depends on yourself; Life and death lie in destiny.

Therefore, Zhong Er's hegemony in Jin originated from Cao Wei; Gou Jian, King of Yue, was born in Huiji.

Therefore, people with low status and no worries are not far away from thinking; People who always want to live a comfortable life have no ambition. How can such a person know the result of a person who is ambitious?

Confucius' words are meaningful. I wonder if Luz listened. But then Mencius certainly understood. He wrote in the article:

If you are now in a happy and comfortable state, don't let yourself go, don't be arrogant and extravagant, your ambition will be suppressed, and people will often become useless in happiness. If you are in trouble, don't be afraid, don't feel inferior, don't doubt yourself and don't give up on yourself. You should be as humiliated as Zhong Er, as diligent as Gou Jian, the King of Yue, and as self-reliant and confident as Confucius. If our academic performance is still average, we should start to work hard, set up our ideals and cultivate our ambitions. Confucius said:

If you lose your ambition, you will be like a deflated ball. No matter how much you pat the encouragement, it won't bounce up and become a piece of garbage. When you encounter poverty again, you will become an unruly villain and a scum and cancer of society. Confucius was worried that Lutz would become such a person, so he earnestly said to him:

Lutz will probably blush after hearing this, because he is playing a "poor" villain role. Therefore, a gentleman or a villain, a hero or a coward, can only be distinguished in the most difficult times. Confucius once said:

Lutz failed to uphold the virtue of a gentleman when he was poor. Etiquette, manners, self-cultivation these leaves originally in Hua Mao were all blown away by the cold wind of poverty, leaving only the bare trunk, revealing the honest nature and becoming a rude person. Integrity is good, but these leaves are not decorated with civilized manners, just like upright trunks without leaves, which are not gorgeous enough. Confucius said:

Honest and frank quality and elegant demeanor are the only people who are polite. Lutz is still a clown with more quality than literature. There are still many things I haven't learned about teachers, and I don't know how deep the realm of teachers is. Therefore, every time Lutz is criticized by his teacher, he admires his teacher even more. He knows that there are things in the teacher that he will never finish learning. Because of this, Lutz has never left after worshipping Confucius as a teacher, and has been studying with Confucius all his life. Gradually, when more and more people in society don't understand Confucius, Lutz understands teachers more and more.