Only deep, only few, only God.
What He Yan said just now was actually borrowed from the original words in the Book of Changes.
In He Yan's last words, he said, "It is only God who is quick without haste and arrives without walking. I have heard his words but have not seen him."
"Wei Shen" refers to Xiahou Xuan. "Wei Ji" refers to Sima Shi. "Wei Shen" refers to He Yan himself, as I have only heard his words but never seen him.
The three aspects of the way of the sage described in the Book of Changes were used to include Xiahou Xuan, Sima Shi and He Yan himself, which is truly an ingenious design.
If we use more practical words to describe it, Xiahou Xuan is insightful about worldly affairs, Sima Shi focuses on practical matters, and He Yan has profound thoughts. This is probably what it means.
Xiahou Xuan clapped his hands and praised: "Brother Pingshu's study of Yi theory seems to be more profound."
He Yan smiled and said: "If you keep renewing yourself, you will keep renewing yourself day by day. If you keep reading the Book of Changes, you will keep renewing yourself."
Sima Shi nodded involuntarily.
He Yan looked at Sima Shi and said, "Ziyuan, what do you think of my three comments? You, I and Taichu are on the same list. I think it is enough to make you famous."
Sima Shi bowed and said, "I am truly ashamed of what Brother Pingshu said. I really don't deserve it."
"Why not?" He Yan laughed out loud, "Not to mention that Ziyuan is a talented person in Luozhong, just based on your status as the son of Sikong, how many people dare to speak up?"
"By the way, Ziyuan." He Yan asked, "I will have a banquet with Li Feng and Zhuge Dan in a few days. You and Taichu should come together. And Du Shu and Du Wubo are also in Luoyang, so it's a good opportunity to meet them together."
"Du Shu? Is he from the Jingzhao Du family?" Sima Shi asked.
He Yan laughed and said, "Ziyuan, you don't know? Du Shu is the son of the former Shangshu Pushe Du Ji, Du Bohou. This time, he was recommended by your father Sima Sikong to be a Lang in the Shangshutai."
Sima Shi then realized.
The so-called entangled relationships among the gentry were based on official positions and academic studies, mixed with many complicated official circles, marriages, and friendships among colleagues.
For example, Du Shu’s biological father Du Ji.
Sima Yi's father, Sima Fang, when he was the magistrate of Luoyang, once recommended Cao Cao as the Northern Inspector of Luoyang, which provided a preliminary guide for Cao Cao's official career.
After Sima Fang was transferred to Jingzhao Yin, Du Ji was a former official under Sima Fang. Du Ji later came to Xudu and was recommended by Xun Yu to be an official. After Du Ji's death, in the first year of Taihe, Sima Yi recommended Du Ji's son Du Shu, and Du Shu also came to Luoyang from his hometown Jingzhao.
Who can say anything when promoting the virtuous without avoiding relatives? The Later Han Dynasty had been like this for two hundred years.
A is B's former official, B is C's fellow townsman, C and D are good friends and colleagues, and D married his daughter to A.
In this way, the children of the gentry families would not have to worry about becoming officials, at least they would have no problem being clerks in the state or county. Power can also multiply!
Xiahou Xuan interrupted and asked, "When did Zhuge Dan return to Luoyang?"
He Yan glanced at Xiahou Xuan and said, "When Zhuge Gongxiu was a water official, he once tested the boat with Shangshu Pushe Du Bohou, who was Du Shu's father Du Ji, on the Tao River. After encountering a storm, Du Bohou drowned in the water, but Zhuge Gongxiu was saved, and he was demoted because of this."
"This time, I was recommended to the Shangshutai by the Minister of Works along with Du Shu."
Xiahou Xuan nodded. Zhuge Dan was also famous, but he had never met him. It seemed that he would finally get his wish.
Sima Shi was a little dazed for a moment as he listened to the conversation between the two.
Was He Pingshu willing to make me famous because of my talent and character, or because Xiahou Taichu persuaded him, or because of the many students and former officials my father had made?
Sima Shi was confused for a moment, but soon he thought it through. He was not a good-for-nothing, so why shouldn't he be worthy of a little reputation? Just accept it!
Could it be possible that all of the eight dragons of the Xun family back then could be as powerful as dragons?
This way of He Yan becoming famous is probably the first time in the world, and it is much higher in style than the likes of "God".
Only because he is profound can he accomplish the affairs of the world, he is Sima Ziyuan.
If I could become a Sikong like my father, I should be able to be considered as "accomplishing the affairs of the world", right?
……
In the afternoon, after finishing archery practice, Cao Rui set off for Wang Lang's Situ Mansion.
As usual, Cao Rui went there on horseback, not liking to ride in a carriage. In addition to Liu Ye and Yang Fu, who were on duty today, Wei Zhen was also called along.
Cao Rui leaned over and asked, "Master Wei, what do you think about corporal punishment? Is it really as important as Master Zhong and Master Wang said?"
Wei Zhen, who was always serious, actually joked today and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, do you think this is important?"
Cao Rui was also a little surprised to see Wei Zhen talking with a smile: "To be honest, I think it is not important whether corporal punishment is restored or not, but Master Zhong and Minister Wang have been discussing it for a long time, and I am not sure whether there is some deeper meaning in it."
Wei Zhen nodded: "I have two guesses, one good and one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?"
“Hahaha.” Cao Rui laughed, “Good or bad is just a punishment. Master Wei, please tell me the good guess first.”
"As you wish." Wei Zhen said, "Perhaps it is because there are too many death sentences that corporal punishments should be reinstated to reduce the number of deaths and increase civilian manpower."
Cao Rui listened to Wei Zhen's words silently. The three words "maybe" in Wei Zhen's words actually made his attitude very clear.
People are already making fun of it, how can I still agree with it?
"What about the bad guess?" Cao Rui asked. "The bad guess," Wei Zhen stroked his beard and said, "I'm afraid it's something beyond the law enforcement process."
Cao Rui frowned: "In terms of procedure? What does corporal punishment have to do with procedure?"
Wei Zhen glanced at the emperor unhurriedly and said, "Your Majesty, it's not the corporal punishment process that's problematic, it's the death penalty."
It was something that could be understood at once; Cao Rui just didn't think of it at that moment.
The so-called corporal punishment could be pronounced by local governors, and the imperial court generally would not interfere.
However, the death penalty had to be reported to the imperial court for approval and could only be carried out after the emperor's nod.
When the late Emperor Cao Pi trusted Xiahou Shang very much, he issued an edict to give Xiahou Shang the power to "kill or save people, and to exercise power and do whatever he wants". At that time, Jiang Ji tried his best to dissuade Cao Pi, saying that such power was not something that a minister could have, and thus forced Cao Pi to take back the edict.
Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and looked at Wei Zhen. Wei Zhen now knew that the emperor understood, so he nodded in response.
Very simple! If corporal punishment is adopted, a considerable portion of the exile and death penalty that require the approval of the court will become corporal punishment that can be decided by local prefectures or the court administrative agencies.
Isn't this the power of 'killing people alive' being decentralized?
If it was just about the law, Cao Rui might still be confused. But when it comes to power, Cao Rui is no longer confused!
That’s what happened!
The team slowly arrived at the gate of Situ Mansion, and Situ Wang Lang and his eldest son Wang Suyi greeted them at the gate.
Cao Rui pulled the reins of his horse and saw Wang Lang bowing respectfully to someone behind him. He smiled and asked as he sat on his horse, "This is the first time I come to visit Situ."
"Situ Wang, who is the person behind you?" Cao Rui pointed his whip at the person next to Wang Lang.
"Your Majesty," Wang Lang replied, "It is my eldest son, Wang Su, Prince Yong."
"Ziyong, come and pay your respects to His Majesty." Wang Lang turned around and said.
Wang Su then paid his respects with great ceremony: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Cao Rui nodded, then dismounted and asked, "Quickly stand up. The son of the Minister of the Interior was once a cavalry officer, right? Is he living at home now?"
Wang Su stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, I am now at home studying."
"Read? What books should I read?" Cao Rui asked with a smile.
To Cao Rui's surprise, Wang Su gave a long list of answers: "I have read the Five Classics, the Book of Prophecies, the Book of Mathematics, and the Book of Taixuan. I have read the ancient text classics, the modern text classics, and the books of Taoism."
Cao Rui was a little surprised and raised his eyebrows slightly. Why did Wang Su's reading sound so similar to the classicist Zheng Xuan?
But Cao Rui did not ask, but said two words lightly: "Very good."
Wang Lang led the emperor and his entourage into the palace, and then several people went into the hall and took their seats.
The emperor sat in the hall, while Wang Lang, Wei Zhen, Liu Ye, Yang Fu and others sat below, and Wang Su simply stood behind his father Wang Lang.
Cao Rui didn't waste any words and asked directly: "Wang Situ, I heard about the dispute between you and Master Zhong this morning."
"Why does Situ oppose the restoration of corporal punishment, and why is this more correct than what Master Zhong said?"
Wang Lang was silent for a moment, then he cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, Master Zhong and I do have different ideas."
"Taifu Zhong believed that there was a problem of too light or too heavy punishment. Many people who committed crimes were either sentenced to prison or death, but there was a lack of a middle punishment between the two."
"I believe that the reason why saints and wise men made laws is to promote education and implement virtuous policies. Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty abolished corporal punishment, and it benefited the world for hundreds of years. If Your Majesty wishes to be a saintly monarch, it is really inappropriate to restore corporal punishment."
Cao Rui nodded: "What Situ just said is actually a question of concept?"
"It's because of the different philosophies." Wang Lang replied, "If you think the death penalty is too much, then you can reduce it and increase the number of imprisonment and exile."
"If the purpose is to reduce the number of deaths, why can't the prison terms of criminals be increased? Instead, why must hands and feet be cut off?"
"I think this is not a good policy."
Cao Rui then asked: "If, as Situ said, banning corporal punishment is a virtuous policy, is this virtuous policy really that important?"
Wang Lang replied solemnly: "Your Majesty, the world is not stable now. First, reinstating corporal punishment will cause dissatisfaction among the people; second, corporal punishment will give the enemies of Wu and Shu an excuse to 'comfort the people and punish the criminals'; third, corporal punishment will make the people of the enemy dare not surrender to Wei."
"Your Majesty, this is a benevolent policy of not using corporal punishment. I hope Your Majesty will exercise extreme caution."
Wang Lang's words seemed reasonable, but Cao Rui keenly noticed that Wang Su, who was standing behind Wang Lang, seemed to have a look of surprise on his face. (End of this chapter)
