Chapter 1273 Customs
Chapter 1273 Customs
In mid-April, the market in Bianliang was closed.
As soon as Liu Xiaogang came out, he got the news that the Luoyang market had already handed over the money and goods to Shan Yinan.
It was also at this time that he found out that Princess Jingfu had actually transferred the commercial bill to the emperor, and the emperor transferred it to Shan Yinan.
It's actually possible!
He looked at the commercial bill that Pingyuan Liu had transferred to him, and seemed to be thinking about something.
"Juro." A call came from a distance.
Liu Xiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a carriage parked not far away, with more than ten riders following it.
It turned out to be Jing Gong.
Liu Xiao turned around and told his followers to wait a moment, then quickly stepped forward to salute.
"Come up." Jing Gong Shao Gong waved his hand.
Liu Xiao got into the car immediately, and only then did he realize that there was another person in the car, who was Zhao Wang Shao Xu, so he saluted again.
"Please sit down." Shao Xu returned the greeting and smiled gently.
Liu Xiao sat next to Shao Gong, facing Shao Xu.
Shao Gong was holding a booklet with many words written on it.
He took a quick look and saw the words "Star Latitude" written at the top. Then he looked below and saw -
The emperor asked: "Are the signs in the sky manifestations of the Tao?"
The Prime Minister clapped his hands and said, "That is indeed the case."
The emperor asked again: "I heard that the Wang family of Langya studied astronomy for generations, and they determined the ancestral tomb according to the stars and fields, and thus became one of the Three Dukes. Is this true?"
Prime Minister Su replied: "The weight of the tripod and the cauldron is due to the influence of the ancestors and the political wisdom, just like the two wheels of a cart."
The emperor sighed and said, "I also have such a view. Looking up at the Qianxiang, it is the step to the real Tao. What is the benefit?"
The Prime Minister said: "It can measure the sea weather and tides, and can tell the direction of the Big Dipper. With this, we can sail across remote areas and make millions of dollars."
The emperor clapped his hands and said, "Great is the art of Taoism! It can be put to such great use."
This...what kind of magical book is this?
Liu Xiao was not interested in realizing the wonderful benefits of the Great Dao, nor did he understand metaphysics, but he was interested in the so-called "shortcut" because it was really beneficial.
Could it be that the Wang family of Langya was able to become the Three Dukes and Prime Ministers because they had a good choice of ancestral tombs? It seems that there is such a saying that the ancestral tombs are determined by observing the stars. In addition, can we really rely on observing the stars to predict the weather and tides at sea, and even to locate and sail to remote areas?
He didn't know much about sailing, but he felt that it made some sense. If this was really possible, then "making millions in goods" would be an understatement.
"Interested?" Shao Xu asked.
"That's right." Liu Xiao stopped pretending and nodded immediately.
"This is 'Luhua Wen Dui', which pretends to be a conversation between the emperor and the prime minister, and writes about many things that happened during the enlightenment of the great way." Shao Xu said, "Huangtou."
Shao Gong then handed the book to Liu Xiao.
Liu Xiao took it carefully and looked at the first article.
The first chapter, "Asking about the Way", can be said to be the beginning of the story: Tao gave birth to all things, and all things contain traces of Tao, which are called "traces of the Way".
The great way is hard to find, but by holding on to these traces, perhaps we can get closer to the way. Maybe one day if we are lucky and have accumulated enough, we will attain the way.
In ancient times, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs in pursuit of the Tao.
Shennong may not have ultimately attained enlightenment, but he did gain something. He lived for 120 years, far exceeding that of ordinary people.
Liu Xiao didn’t know whether Shennong really lived for 120 years, but for such a famous figure, it should be true, right?
A long life is an extremely real and even precious benefit.
Who doesn’t want to live longer? From ministers to peddlers, everyone wants to live longer.
Perhaps, in the future many people will study herbs and even hunt turtles to look for clues to the Tao - no one will study the human body, right?
The second chapter, "Alchemy", made him read it with great fascination.
Alchemy can be said to be the eternal pursuit of Taoism.
Are there many believers nowadays? A lot.
Even if you don't believe in Taoism, you will still have heard of alchemy due to the influence of the trend.
Aren't there father and daughter Wang Bin and Wang Danhu mentioned here? They have refined hundreds and thousands of elixirs just to achieve enlightenment.
Liu Xiao's elder brother is also refining the elixir...
Maybe the Jie people didn't have the foundation, and they were not good at refining it, and even the fucking furnace cracked.
I don't know how much money I've spent, but there's not a single result.
According to the book, maybe the method is wrong.
The materials for alchemy should be classified into different categories, and their color, shape, smell and nature should be carefully identified. Then, "try endlessly", that is, conduct repeated experiments and record every process. Eventually, you may get the real elixir.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t get it, there is still “comfort”, which is the legendary magic of turning stone into gold, and enriching your family wealth.
Liu Xiao was not very interested in refining the real elixir to achieve enlightenment, because he knew that his foundation was poor and he could not refine this thing, but he could refine gold!
If you can't make gold, what about other things? Maybe other things are also useful and can make money.
Liu Xiao was excited and turned to the third chapter, "Star Latitude". Well, I have read it, and it is useful. When he was about to turn to the fourth chapter, the carriage stopped.
"Here we are." Shao Gong patted Liu Xiao on the shoulder and said, "I'll leave the book to you. Copy a copy for yourself and send it back to me when you're done."
"Okay!" Liu Xiao closed the book.
He was basically certain that this book would appeal to people like him who only thought about making money, and it would also appeal to scholars.
"Shilang." Shao Gong had already gotten off the car, but Zhao Wang Shao Xu looked at him and said, "You are a wealthy businessman, so you should understand this book well. You are a wise man, you don't understand metaphysics, and you don't have much interest in metaphysics. I will tell you straight, doing things according to what is described in the book will be good for you, and even better for the Shangdang Liu family. My father's efforts in the second half of his life may be pinned on these. He wants to do something, but he doesn't know if he can succeed. Are you willing to be the pioneer?"
"Your Highness doesn't need to persuade me, I am already willing." Liu Xiao said.
Shao Xu nodded and said, "Many people have never understood what my father cares about. He doesn't follow the straight path, but chooses to take the small road."
This seemed to be a warning to Liu Xiao, as well as his own feelings.
After he finished speaking, he got out of the car and left. "I'll take you back, and we'll say goodbye." Shao Gong smiled and waved outside.
Liu Xiao was helpless as his followers were still in the market town.
Well, they will go back by themselves.
******
Shao Xu entered the palace through the Tixiang Gate and went straight to the Lichun Terrace on the west side of the Guanfeng Hall.
There were two other guests on the stage, namely Yu Xi, a scholar from the Wanxiang Academy, and his brother Yu Mao.
The three of them then greeted each other.
Shao Xun motioned his son to sit down, then looked at Yu Xi and said, "Why has Yu Xi been observing the stars for years and nights? Is it to discuss the mysteries of the Tao?"
"I have been interested in this since I was young, not for the sake of discussing mysteries," Yu Xi replied.
"I heard that Sima had summoned you to serve in the government several times, but you refused every time. Why?" Shao Xun asked.
"If the royal army had not destroyed my family, I would not have taken up the official position," said Yu Xi.
Shao Xu looked at Yu Xi in surprise.
Shao Xun laughed and said, "I am lucky to have you. Now that Luhua Wendui has been published by my son, you have also read it. What do you think?"
"It might be useful." Yu Xi said.
Shao Xun nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"Most of the scholars believe in the mystical world. Among them are some who are free and unrestrained. They believe that the way is natural and that they only need to act according to their own hearts, transcending the teachings of the world and letting nature take its course. They are not bound by etiquette and follow their hearts, and this is the way of the Tao. They are people like Ji Shuye." Yu Xi said, "They can even shout out, 'How can etiquette be established for us?'"
"The second group of people also believed that Taoism follows nature, but they were not as shocking as the first group. The Shangshu Ling Le Yanfu (Le Guang) and others in Jin Dynasty were like this. They believed that Ji Shuye had gone too far, and the etiquette and laws should still be observed."
"The third category is Pei Yimin, who believes that everything is self-generated and actively participates in the world. This is called the Chongyou School."
“This is the three-point metaphysics.”
Shao Xun hummed.
The first two categories are the Guiwu School, which accounts for the largest proportion in metaphysics. The first category is considered the radical faction, and the second category is the moderate faction.
The third category is the Chongyou School, which has relatively fewer members and is not very popular, represented by Pei Wei.
Of course there is a fourth category, those who do not believe in metaphysics, or pretend to believe in metaphysics, such as Yu Liang.
Shao Xun recently discovered a phenomenon.
After years of cultivation by him, the group of military nobles grew stronger and stronger, and then they actually began to split.
Some people read relatively less and still like to practice martial arts, hunt, and talk about military affairs. On the other hand, among those who read more, quite a few also like to talk about philosophical ideas.
If you think about it carefully, it is actually an inevitable phenomenon.
Although the warriors rose quickly and snatched many benefits from the scholars, they were still inferior in the final analysis.
Without saying anything else, let me ask you if an old noble family is willing to marry their daughter to your family, would you be willing? Perhaps some people can resist this temptation, but most cannot.
The importance of a woman from a noble family in their eyes is unimaginable, and they are willing to spend all their money for her.
This kind of thing was common until the Sui and Tang dynasties. At that time, the power of military nobles had greatly increased, and the status of military men was much higher than that of the Liang Dynasty established by Shao Xun.
Speaking of Daliang, Sun He was considered a student of Shao Xun. In order to marry his eldest son Sun Xiong to the daughter of the Wei family in Hedong, he spent all his family wealth and even borrowed money at one point.
When Zhang Shuo met the daughter of Wang from Donghai, he was completely unable to resist.
As for their teacher Shao Ze, let’s not talk about him. Except for a few Hu women, the harem is full of men and women.
Why? It’s simple: cultural influence.
They are educated and have the right to speak, and the social atmosphere reflects their mainstream values.
The customs of the North reflect elements of warriors, but also more elements of the gentry. After the two intermarry and collide with each other, they may merge into a new social customs, but that will be many years later.
Shao Xun still wanted to change their thinking. In the past, he couldn't do it wholeheartedly, and he only cultivated a group of warriors, which was considered a quantitative change and material accumulation. Now he can try to make a qualitative change and make material determine consciousness.
He also didn't know which direction the social atmosphere would go after what he did.
He only knew that if he did not make any changes in the field of thought, the Daliang Dynasty would still be dominated by metaphysics. It might be different from the metaphysics of the Southern Dynasties in history, with some more elements, but it would not be much different overall.
In the late Liang Dynasty, Buddhist elements may have been added, more people would talk about Buddhism, and metaphysics and Buddhism would partially merge.
Others are not time travelers and do not have the vision to see through the mist of history, but Shao Xun is worried.
In fact, the conditions are not yet ripe.
The best time would be twenty years later, when his layout in Jiangnan has achieved certain results. But he is not sure whether he has twenty years to live.
What made him even more frustrated was that his children, including the crown prince, might not understand the significance of doing so, and even if he explained it to them, they only half understood it.
After all, he is only eighteen years old and has too little experience. Many things require long-term work and accumulation before one can slowly comprehend them.
"Yu Qing, which of these three types of people do you think I should target?" Shao Xun asked.
"In my opinion, the character of scholars in the north is different from that in the south. Now the second type of people are the most numerous and the most worth winning over. They know how to adapt." Yu Xi replied.
"My son?" Shao Xun looked at his third son and asked.
"Father, learn from the best and achieve the middle." Shao Xu said, "There are many things in the Luhua Questions and Answers, and it is also under the name of seeking the truth. Maybe some people will be interested. We can find an opportunity to act then."
"Good." Shao Xun smiled and said, "This mission is not over yet, so don't let up."
"Yes." Shao Xu bowed.
In the evening, he left Lichun Terrace and took a look at the Secret Pavilion from a distance when he passed by it.
A group of people are repairing books inside, but no one knows how many years it will take.
(End of this chapter)