"Then how do you think the country should be governed, old man?"
Chen Xiang asked again. He still couldn't give up the Confucianism he had studied for many years, and he wanted to continue trying to defeat Old Man Xu in his speech.
"I don't know how to govern a country, I only know how to govern my farm."
Old man Xu shook his head. He had never thought about how to govern the world. He was just a farmer and all he had to think about was farming.
"That's right, Master. You said that agriculture is the foundation of the world, but how can we govern the world with agriculture as the foundation?"
"Agriculture is ultimately just a minor path. Governing the country ultimately depends on Confucian disciples like us and our Confucian knowledge."
Chen Xiang thought he had found a way to defeat Old Man Xu. This year, he began to talk about major events in the world and make comments on future developments.
But after he spoke for a long time, Qin Qi asked him a question.
"Has any of the kings of these seven nations accomplished what you describe? Has anyone among those who govern the world accomplished it?"
"Throughout his life, the sage Confucius never truly achieved the goal of governing the country and the world with Confucianism. How can you, a kid, think you can surpass Confucius?"
Qin Qi looked at Chen Xiang and saw the loophole in his words at a glance. The other party kept saying that Confucianism can accompany the world.
But, did anyone in these seven countries rule the world with Confucianism? Were the aspirations of Confucius fulfilled?
Even saints failed to govern the country with Confucianism. How dare you, a little disciple, say that you can govern the world with Confucianism?
If not, what is the difference between you and the old farmer in front of you?
Oh no, there is still a difference. The old farmer knows what he should do, and he will not talk nonsense about the world affairs.
And you, an educated person, don't recognize the actual situation, but just speak recklessly in a group of people. Isn't that ridiculous?
"......."
Chen Xiang was speechless again for a moment because of what Qin Qi said. It was true that even Confucius could not do it, so how could he possibly do it?
He himself knew that it was basically impossible for him to succeed in persuading the King of Qin this time, but if he went, he would be known as a Confucian scholar who served the country and the people.
But after a life-and-death experience, and after a conversation with Old Man Xu and Qin Qi, he found that it seemed to be meaningless.
He thought he had set an example and sacrificed his life for his country, but in fact he did not make any real contribution to the country.
His behavior is nothing but self-gratification!
"I don't know how to govern a country, but I know how to farm. I think people all over the world want to grow their crops well."
"First of all, the king must understand one principle: take from the people and use it for the people."
Old Man Xu spoke at this time. He began to talk about his own experience in farming. Chen Xiang immediately calmed down and listened attentively.
"I think we shouldn't set up warehouses. Using those things to store them won't do any good to people's livelihoods."
"We should distribute what we have to everyone who needs it, and the king should know how to exercise moderation."
"He cannot make endless demands on the people; he must do so in moderation. Even war should be done in moderation.
Old Man Xu does not agree with war, but he is not against war either. War has never disappeared since ancient times.
But he believed that large-scale meaningless killings should not be caused, and wars should not be started without cause.
These are all due to a lack of understanding of moderation and appropriate behavior.
"If we don't set up warehouses and distribute everything to everyone, what will we do if we encounter an emergency?"
"What if there's a natural disaster causing famine? Even though we don't have any right now, shouldn't we prepare for it?"
Chen Xiang once again discovered the mistakes in Old Man Xu's words. He immediately questioned him and continuously attacked the other party's flaws.
"Hey, kid, after all these years of studying Confucianism, is all you've learned how to verbally attack others?"
"The idea is not about how the words are spoken, but about the meaning behind them. The old man is not good at speaking, and there are often loopholes in his words.
"Instead of thinking about the meaning behind the words, you just keep looking for loopholes in them and attack them."
"Is this the benevolence of a saint's disciple?"
Qin Qi couldn't help but shook his head. Most Confucian disciples were like this now, not trying to find the meaning behind the words.
Instead of understanding the underlying philosophy, they blindly search for loopholes in the superficial rhetoric. How is this any different from the sophistry of famous scholars?
"When the old man said there should be no warehouses, he didn't mean what you understood. He meant that food or other valuables should not be stored there.
"It should be used for the benefit of the people, not stored in the treasury of kings or nobles for people to admire."
"That grain can be used to cultivate more fields, and that money can be used to dredge rivers and govern the world."
"Instead of exchanging them for gold, silver, treasures, antique jades, and then putting them in the treasury for viewing, then these gold, silver, and treasures will be of no use.
"The wealth of the world comes from the people, so it should be used to govern the world. The better the world is, the more wealth it will have."
"Old man, let's not play with him anymore. This kid's realm is too far behind ours. He can't understand what we are saying at all."
Qin Qi shook his head. Chen Xiang was now completely like fermented bean curd. He had no idea where his path lay, nor did he know how to seek it.
He pulled Old Man Xu outside, leaving Chen Xiang alone in the room, thinking about what Qin Qi had just said.
He felt that what Qin Qi said made sense, but the Confucianism in his heart had become a huge mountain.
He couldn't climb over the mountain, and just as he was struggling, a man came over.
"Well, young sir, I heard you can write. Could you please write a letter for me?"
This person came over with charcoal and coarse cloth in his hands. These were their paper and pen. He looked at Chen Xiang and was a little nervous.
"Of course, helping those in need is what I should do."
Chen Xiang immediately agreed, and then began to write down every word the man said, and after he finished writing it down.
The man thanked Chen Xiang again and again, and then went to look for those who were preparing to return to South Korea. He wanted to ask them to take the letter back to him.
Chen Xiang looked at the man and was stunned. The letter was sent to his wife and children. The content was probably that he was doing well.
I will be able to find a place to stay outside soon, so my wife and children can stay here for a while longer.
After questioning, Chen Xiang learned that the man had five children, three of whom were boys, all of whom were forcibly conscripted.
There was only one girl left who was not old enough to stay. If that was all, it would be fine.
While recruiting soldiers, South Korea was also collecting food. All the food and money in their homes were robbed by the soldiers.
Men had to go out to find food to prevent their wives and children from starving to death. Oh, why was he not conscripted?
Because he is old and has a disabled leg, people dislike him because he can only eat plain rice, so they don't want him.
Chen Xiang suddenly felt that what Old Man Xu said might be right. War is terrible, but what is even more terrible is not having enough food.
He looked at the heavy snow outside. How many people would die in this war? How many people would starve to death in this heavy snow because they didn't have enough food?
"Thank you very much for explaining this to me just now, sir. Your knowledge is truly vast."
Old Man Xu was even more impressed by Qin Qi's knowledge.
"If anyone else said this, I would definitely be happy, but when you say it, old man, I always feel like you are flattering me."
Qin Qi smiled and then said, "How do you think the Way of Agriculture relates to the universe?"
"Well, agriculture is rooted in heaven and earth. We are born from the earth and grow from the sky. We should follow the changes of the seasons and act according to the 24 solar terms.
"Although this may not be good for the little creatures growing in the ground, they certainly haven't adapted to the changing seasons."
"This won't last long, just like fire can't burn in water or fish can't survive on land."
"Many people think that adapting to the right time and place is a sign of incompetence, but I believe that the natural order of heaven and earth is what it is, and it won't change whether we adapt to it or not.
"It is better to follow nature than to go against it."
Old Man Xu didn't have the idea of going against the will of heaven. They were creatures born and raised by nature, so why should they always go against the will of heaven?
Isn't it nice to live in harmony with nature?
"Natural, balanced."
Qin Qi heard the principle of yin and yang balance from Old Man Xu's words, just like the method of practicing the five elements and five internal organs that he had studied before.
When the five internal energies are balanced, they will naturally strengthen each other. This is the benefit of balance. If the balance is destroyed, various problems will arise in the body.
"The four seasons of heaven are divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are divided into yin and yang. Spring is Shaoyang, summer is Laoyang, autumn is Shaoyin, and winter is Laoyin."
"The four seasons correspond to the four symbols: the Azure Dragon of spring, the Vermillion Bird of summer, the White Tiger of autumn, and the Black Tortoise of the map."
The illusory shadows of four spirits appeared around Qin Qi. They were located in the four directions, and each evolved into spring, summer, autumn and winter.
The beginning of spring, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Spring Breeze, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Grain Rain, time enters summer, and the Azure Dragon is also changing.
The summer begins with the Beginning of Summer, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, and Greater Heat. Time changes into autumn, and the Vermilion Bird is also changing.
In autumn, there are the Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, and Frost Descent. As time changes and winter comes, the White Tiger is also changing.
The beginning of winter, light snow, heavy snow, winter solstice, lesser cold, greater cold, time changes and enters spring again, the cycle of the four seasons begins again!
"The earth is divided into four images, which give rise to the eight trigrams, which in turn give rise to sixty-four scenarios!"
In addition to the right time, the right place began to appear around Qin Qi, first divided into Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun and Dui.
They represent heaven, earth, wind, thunder, mountain, marsh, water and fire respectively, which are constantly combined with each other to form one scene after another.
At the same time, it integrates into the four seasons, and Qin Qi stands in the changes of the four seasons, and his body also changes constantly.
He felt that his perception of the world had been maximized at this moment, blunting its sharpness, resolving its conflicts, harmonizing its light, and becoming one with the dust.
At this moment, he felt that he had merged into the heaven and earth, and the energy of the heaven and earth naturally merged into himself with every breath.
His physical fitness is also constantly improving! His realm has been elevated again, and at the same time, he has also taken the Four Symbols and Four Spirits practice a step further.
He created the Three Talents practice method, where heaven represents the time, earth represents the location, and man represents himself, experiencing the baptism of various hexagrams after the four seasons.
Human life will naturally be constantly polished and strengthened in the cycle of reincarnation. At this time, every breath is a training for oneself!
...Requesting flowers...
The Tao is in everything in the universe. Even just farming is a way to pursue the Tao!
"Who can beat me in this round?"
Qin Qi opened his eyes. He was full of energy and vigor. He felt that the world was in his palm. This move of "I am the world" was even more powerful!
This move is no longer about forcibly utilizing the power of heaven and earth, but rather following the natural course of heaven and earth, thereby utilizing the power of heaven and earth!
Just like the saying, give me a fulcrum and I can move the earth! Qin Qi only needs a small amount of force to
Affect the operation of heaven and earth!
"Sir, you are truly amazing."
Old Man Xu was not too surprised by the various strange phenomena that appeared around Qin Qi. Instead, he was quite happy for Qin Qi.
He felt a strong vitality and hope from Qin Qi, and he felt that Qin Qi must have encountered something good.
"I will accept the praise this time without hesitation. After all, my enlightenment this time is really impressive."
Qin Qi smiled, his aura became more restrained, his body and hands were constantly undergoing the natural cycle of the four seasons.
Xu Xing and Qin Qi then talked a lot, ranging from planting techniques to the integration of agriculture and commerce.
From how to deal with possible natural disasters to how to manage farmland within a country.
The two of them talked until dark. Qin Qi was ready to go back. Before leaving, he and Old Man Xu suggested:
"I know a powerful king. You can ask him for a piece of land and then tell him about your agricultural achievements."
"He should value you very much and might even be willing to promote your agricultural science throughout the country."
The person Qin Qi was talking about was Ying Zheng. What's the most important thing in a war? Soldiers? Generals? No, the most important thing is food and fodder!
...0...
When logistics are insufficient, even the strongest soldiers and generals cannot guarantee victory. However, with sufficient logistics and strong soldiers and horses, an ordinary general can also win a battle!
If Ying Zheng wanted to unify the world, he would not ignore this key point. Old man Xu would definitely be valued after he went there.
"If I were younger I might have done that, but I'm old now and I can feel I don't have much time left.
"I'm not going to give up trying just because I'm dying, I just don't want to die halfway through trying."
"Not only will I regret it, but it will also hurt the person who trusted me."
Old man Xu refused, not because he was going to die, but because he was afraid of betraying the trust of others.
"You can find a few students and let them pass on your agricultural knowledge."
Qin Qi said.
"No, I'm not good at speaking and I can't teach students, and they may not understand what I mean.
"I don't want to mislead the young people. After all, living according to my way is very hard. I don't have good clothes, no good shelter, and I have always lived a hard life."
"I don't want to force others to learn from me."
Old man Xu saw his future student in Chen Xiang. If he taught students, they would probably become like Chen Xiang.
He only paid attention to the appearance of his words, not the inner core. He didn't want to hurt others or himself, so he could only find a place to die peacefully.
"You said everything is a natural cycle, so why don't you try to follow nature?"
"I suddenly had the urge to cultivate farmland here because of my agricultural studies, and you happened to come across this farmland and were attracted by it."
"I came back here and was attracted by your theory again, so I asked you to promote it. How do you know that this is not part of nature?"
"Just like the wind blows plant seeds far away, and insects pollinate flowers, aren't these all natural?"
Qin Qi said.
"Maybe you're right, sir. I should give it a try. If it succeeds, more people will have enough to eat."
Old Man Xu thought about it and felt that what Qin Qi said made sense. He didn't know what would happen in the future, but that didn't stop him from trying.
Although he is old, his heart is young. His heart is still flowing with passion and full of hope.
"Who is the king you are talking about?"
"King Qin Ying Zheng, when you get there, tell me your name, and it will work."
Qin Qi chatted with Old Man Xu for a while, and before leaving, he asked, "By the way, old man, your last name is Xu, what's your name?"
"What about me? Well, I need to think about it. My last name is Xu, and my given name is Xing."
Xu Xing spoke. He was still the same dark, thin old man, with a simple smile on his face.
Qin Qi suddenly thought of something and shook his head: "The Qin Dynasty's timeline is so chaotic, but it's also pretty good.
Qin Qi said goodbye to Xu Xing and left. On the way, he said to himself:
"I didn't expect to meet the farming sage Xu Xing at this time. Speaking of which, Xu Xing is farming here, so how did the farming family come about?"
"Forget it, everyone has started cultivating immortals, so it's understandable that the timeline is a little messed up.
Qin Qi stopped thinking about this problem, humming a song and left happily.
Today is also the third update, this is the first update, Qin's Moon will be finished in two more episodes.