Chapter 450: Shang Jun enters the capital, Kong Ming’s praise
The middle-aged man seemed to have noticed Zhuge Liang's gaze. He nodded slightly, then walked into a corner and smiled cheerfully: "Servant, warm up a pot of wine."
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment!"
The waiter shouted, his eyes looking at the middle-aged man in plain clothes again and again, as if he could see how extraordinary this man was.
The middle-aged man also showed some curiosity when he saw that Zhuge Liang's eyes were always on him and never moved away.
"Kong Ming?"
Shen Li also looked at Zhuge Liang with a puzzled look on his face, and his face was full of confusion. It was really rare for him to lose his composure like this.
"Hahaha!"
"Mr. Shen, it seems the time has come."
Zhuge Liang did not explain, but stood up with a solemn expression, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the middle-aged man with a look of reverence on his face.
"May I ask your Excellency, are you Mr. Shang?"
"you know me?"
There was a look of surprise on Shang Yang's face, but when he felt the aura of blood connection on Zhuge Liang's body, a hint of surprise and a kind smile appeared in his eyes.
"Junior Zhuge Liang, pay your respects to Mr. Shang."
"Shang Jun's name is like thunder in my ears. I didn't expect to see the real person today."
"Hahaha!"
Shang Yang smiled heartily again, looked at Shen Li who was not far away, and said softly: "Is the old gentleman with you?"
"Why don't you sit at the same table and have a drink and talk?"
"I think so too!"
Zhuge Liang nodded with a smile, and then looked at Shen Li: "Mr. Shen, the person you have been looking for to carry the cauldron is here. Can you come and talk to me?"
"good!"
Shen Li also smiled, carrying the wine bottle on the table, and came to sit next to Zhuge Liang. He wanted to see who the person who could make Zhuge Liang behave like this was.
"May I ask who your Majesty is?"
"Shang Yang!"
"Shang Yang?"
Shen Li had never heard of his name and looked at Zhuge Liang with a puzzled expression, but Shang Yang said with a smile: "He's just a country man, but he's an old gentleman. I'm afraid he's an extraordinary person, right?"
"This is the Right Chancellor of the DPRK, Master Shen Li."
"It turns out that you are facing each other on the right, and Shang Yang is being rude."
Shang Yang stood up, bowed his hands in a neither humble nor overbearing manner, and then sat down.
"Mr. Shen, Mr. Shang is the master of legalism in the world. His talents are a thousand times better than Kong Ming's!"
"It is my great fortune that Lord Shang was born!"
Zhuge Liang's expression was rarely excited, and he looked at Shang Yang with respect.
"oh?"
There was a strong look of curiosity on Shen Li's face. When he was living in seclusion, he would often discuss things with Kong Ming. Although he had just passed his weak years, his knowledge and speech, his thoughts, his tolerance for all things, and his unfathomable depth.
But I have never seen him admire someone so highly. Even the eternal indifference is reflected in his expression, and his words are full of compliments, just like a student meeting a learned master, with a hint of admiration. .
It really surprised him.
"To be praised so highly by Kong Ming, you must have great talent. I'm sorry."
"Don't dare!"
Shang Yang smiled and said softly: "Just now, I was waiting outside the door for the discussion between the two gentlemen. Unexpectedly, Kong Ming turned out to be an old friend, which is Shang Yang's luck."
"I have admired the name of Master for a long time. He is a kind man and his teachings are deeply admired by me. I should pay my respects to Shang Yang."
"Shangjun."
Zhuge Liang raised his wine glass and said to Shang Yang: "Just now, what I said to Mr. Shen was just from a political standpoint, and it was based on the general trend. It was about reform and magic. I hope you can give me some advice."
"Don't take it seriously."
Shang Yang smiled, drank a cup with Zhuge Liang, and said with a smile: "Just now, what you two said about the imperial examination system is very refreshing to Yang Yang. Let's leave it aside for now. However, I heard that the imperial court intends to reform the military system, but there is great resistance in the court. ”
"I'll just briefly talk about one or two, and I'd like you to correct me."
"Appreciate further details."
Shang Yang nodded slightly, looked solemn, and said softly: "Now, Your Majesty intends to reform the military system. The basis of his reform is nothing more than changes in establishment, rewards, and generals. His original intention is to rectify the military system, refine distinctions, and make Its combat power increases and its power returns.”
"From my point of view, there are no similarities or differences between the military system reform and the political reform. They are both based on law and involve power struggles, balance of forces, and changes between the old system and the new system."
"What Mr. Shang said is absolutely true."
"The purpose of reform is to strengthen the country and replace the old system with the new system. The reason is to stand up for the country, the country, and the court."
"Great kindness!"
"This is exactly the original intention of the reform. However, the existing system is all serving the aristocratic families, the powerful, and the famous families. If you want to reform, you will inevitably touch those with vested interests. This is why the reform is difficult."
"Today, His Highness King Yong has destroyed noble families, brought peace to the family, eradicated corrupt officials, and eliminated corrupt officials. This has laid the foundation for the next step of reform. If Martingale's prediction is correct, the DPRK and China will be polarized in recent days."
"They are mostly the old guard, led by those with existing vested interests, who resist change and suppress new laws, and the new forces, led by Qingliu, who promote reforms and advocate new systems."
"Sir, he knows things like a god. As he said, although His Majesty intends to change the law, most of the civil and military officials in the dynasty are on the opposite side."
"Why!"
Shen Li sighed leisurely, with a look of helplessness on his face. He was praised by the world as a contemporary great scholar and highly respected, but now, if he wants to touch the interests of those people, he will inevitably go against them.
It can be called a cold and fickle world!
"Sir, Shang Yang dares to ask, where is the basis of governance in the world today?"
"Of course it lies in the court, the king, and benevolent governance!"
"Sir, you mean that the world today, the Central Plains countries, are governed by people."
"Of course!"
Shen Li looked at Shang Yang in confusion and asked doubtfully: "Rule by people, since ancient times, whether it is the Sui Dynasty or the previous dynasty, they are all based on rule by people and benevolent governance. This is the inheritance of more than a thousand years in the Central Plains."
"Haha!" Shang Yang smiled, looked at Shen Li and asked: "Then according to your opinion, how about rule by people?"
"Human rule is the foundation of governing the world. A wise and virtuous monarch promotes benevolent governance, restrains the world with etiquette, and determines the hierarchy of the old and the young. This kind of governance is far better than that of barbarians. It is because of the word etiquette that the civilization of our Central Plains has prospered!"
"Now, it is the right way to take benevolence as the foundation, restrain people with etiquette, and rule the country by law."
Shang Yang took a sip of wine and looked at Zhuge Liang beside him: "What do you think, Kong Ming?"
Hearing Shang Yang's question, Zhuge Liang did not rush to answer, but fell into a brief contemplation. Today's Dayu is very similar to the Han Dynasty. He respects Confucianism and abides by the law, but it is not implemented.
In the era of Shang Jun, etiquette and music collapsed, and moral principles were lost. It was a period of transformation from governing the country by people to governing the country by law. How should he answer?
...