History of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 145 Borrowing Food·Criminal Code (Four Thousand Three)

If you are looking for a dying country or a country in trouble to implement this strategy, it is a holy and wonderful move, but if it is not... harming the future of the people in order to strengthen the country!

Feng Yun asked again: "National policy, in response to the general trend of a country, is your policy your own policy, or is it a policy determined for a country?"

But Guan Zhong turned a deaf ear.

"There is nothing wrong with Yu's strategy. All countries can use it. Which country I want to enter will be lucky!"

"Boom!" Guan Zhong's whole body was shaken and he rushed away with force.

Feng Yun was disappointed, Guan Zhong was doing business and had learned the core of businessman-profit.

Their good and evil intentions are all for profit, focusing on the benefits of this world, regardless of the virtues of future generations.

His talent is greater than his virtue!

In this way, Feng Yun did not do anything that undermined his moral integrity.

"This is your own decision, that's all..."

Guan Zhong has become a first-class scholar!

His literary heart is firm, which is all based on this so-called "people-oriented"...

"I thanked Mr. Feng. If Mr. Feng had not taught me in the court, I would not have understood this... the rule of law, and Guan Zhong would not have strengthened his heart at this time, and became a first-rate scholar, and his path will be prosperous."

Guan Zhong's attitude changed drastically, and he was vaguely arrogant, as if he wanted to prove himself and was unwilling to give in to Feng Yun's persuasion.

"The way of Guan Zhong will be proved to Lord Feng!"

After saying this, Guan Zhong stood up and bowed deeply in accordance with the great ceremony.

Regarding this…

"Yan, it's time for us to leave."

Zou Yan glared at Guan Zhong.

"You're a villain, huh!"

"If you don't want to respect me, then stop barking, bah!"

Zou Yan followed Feng Yun and prepared to leave the guest house with him...

Guan Zhong raised his head, his eyes filled with shame, but immediately determined.

"Husband... Mr. Feng, the ways are different and cannot be planned, but Yu's way was opened because of you. Let Yu send you back..."

Feng Yun stopped.

"Stones from other mountains can be used to attack jade. No one's Tao is born perfect. It all needs to be carved and polished in the world..."

Feng Yun recognized that Guan Zhong's teachings could achieve success, but recognition did not mean approval.

After saying that, Feng Yun sighed slightly.

"If you want to implement the rule of law based on the so-called 'people-based' approach, and also divide the four peoples based on my statement that 'all people under the monarch are the people', you will naturally need strong measures to make people obey your orders and restrain them.

.”

"Is this what you are missing right now?"

Hearing this, Guan Zhong bowed.

"Does Mr. Feng have any teachings?"

Feng Yun shook his head slightly.

"I won't teach you, but I can find you a sage teacher."

"Ah?" Guan Zhong was puzzled.

Feng Yun pursed her lips lightly and looked at Fengxue in Tongcheng, her smile not reaching her eyes.

"Come to the Palace of Classics tomorrow."

After saying that, he took Zou Yan into the white snow and left quietly.

Guan Zhong looked far away and bowed again.

"Guan Zhong has his own way..."

In the guest house, those who were on the march waited for Feng Yun to leave before talking in low voices.

"That's...Fengjun?"

…

At the same time, Zou Yan, who was walking on the road, groaned and felt indignant.

"Master Yun, don't you dislike Guan Zhong's way?"

Zou Yan wondered why Feng Yun still wanted to help Guan Zhong.

"There are many things that I don't like, but putting aside my dislike and looking at them, there are many extraordinary things in them that make people sigh."

"Just like the cold winter snow, passers-by don't like it...but the farmers in the fields are counting on the winter snow to freeze the pests to death. If you remove the pests, how can it be compared to this winter snow?"

Hearing this, Zou Yan gathered his cloak.

"But I still don't like winter snow. It's so gray that I can't see anything clearly. The whole country is extremely quiet."

"You don't like it, but you can't change him."

Feng Yun patted the white snow on Zou Yan's bun.

"Let's go, you want to know why I helped him, I will tell you tomorrow."

The Palace of Classics has arrived.

I saw a soldier coming forward in a hurry.

"Fengjun, where have you been?"

Asking knowingly.

But Feng Yun didn't expose it either.

"Master Feng, please." The door opened, and the armored soldier came in facing Feng.

When they arrived in front of the main hall, they saw the old gentleman pacing back and forth. After seeing Feng Yun, he hurriedly stepped forward.

I saw that the old gentleman's bun was getting messier and messier. If it weren't for the rich clothes he was wearing, he might have been regarded as a refugee from somewhere.

"Old sir, there is no need to rush..."

The old gentleman handed Feng Yun his newly written outline of the criminal code with hope in his eyes.

"Fengjun, please take a look. I can't bear to hear Fengjun's words. I feel really uncomfortable."

Feng Yun took the silk book and came to the desk in the hall to warm himself by the fire and read.

What he said surprised Feng Yun.

He couldn't help but look up at the old gentleman.

"You really think so?"

In the criminal code, except for the large and small public monuments and the king, all people have the same law, and there is no more distinction.

"That's right, old sir. This is in line with Gao Tao's moral character."

Feng Yun had already figured out a way to deal with the big and small public tablets and the king, who were both special and outside the law.

The public, big and small, have privileges, but if they dare to act recklessly, this privilege will also be a reminder to them. Their punishment is not written in the law, because this punishment is in the hands of the king.

If the king behaves recklessly, his country will be destroyed. Feng Yun does not want to interfere more in this regard.

Because talking about democracy at this time is just in vain, and no country can tolerate him.

"In the future, we only need to add common crimes based on the actual situation of Baiyue, and use Baiyue. When we encounter new crimes during the use of Baiyue, we can add them to the code. Only by practicing in this way can we have a perfect criminal code."

This is also the difficulty in establishing a criminal code - a large number of cases to complete.

In Tong State, the use of new punishments in such a perfect country is nothing less than a major reform, and even the monarch can't resist the opposition.

If there is any problem with his punishment, it will shake the foundation of the country and destroy the country's society in one fell swoop.

"Okay, okay, okay!" The old gentleman was overjoyed, and immediately took out a new piece of silk and began to ask Feng Yun about the situation of the people and the country in Baiyue, in order to obtain a criminal code.

Feng Yun could only think about it, tell everything he could, and explain the crimes and punishments together with the old gentleman.

As the two men debated their punishment, it was getting late.

The old gentleman was still full of energy, but Feng Yun stopped talking.

"Sir, it's time for you to rest. The punishment cannot be accomplished in a day."

"I have something else to tell you, sir. Tomorrow, I have a friend who will come to the Classics Palace to visit me."

"He has a national policy in his hands, but lacks a criminal system. I hope to use Gao Tao's punishment to have a look at it and learn from Gao Tao's virtues."

"I hope Sir will inform Mr. Tong so that Gao Tao's great virtue and justice can be spread."

Hearing this, the old gentleman didn't care much.

"Feng Jun is free to say that punishments are not words of thought, but rules of deterrence. The punishments in the "Zhou Rites" are for all the world to see. How can I, the ancestor of Tongguo, be stingy and not let a single person watch the punishments."

This is also true.

Punishment, only when the world knows it, can the deterrence of punishment be demonstrated, and the world will not dare to cause chaos!

"That's it, thank you sir."

Feng Yun said goodbye to the old gentleman, and the old gentleman hurried away with a silk book filled with writing.

Wait until the next day, early morning...

Another criminal code was presented.

"The old gentleman is obsessed with this crime." Feng Yun joked and accepted it.

At this time, a guard came forward.

"Fengjun, there is someone outside the palace looking for you."

Hearing the sound, Feng Yun nodded.

"Let me in."

Not long after, a man wearing Baiyue costume walked into the hall.

The old gentleman on the side was slightly surprised when he saw it.

I heard Feng Yun ask the Baiyue man in Jiuli dialect: "But what's the news about Baiyue?"

The Baiyue man didn't look too much, and just said in Jiuli language: "Fengjun, everything is well in Baiyue."

"It's Chu and Yangyue."

When Feng Yun heard this, he frowned slightly and whispered in Zhouren dialect.

"Yang Yue?"

He didn’t mention Chu State, only Yang Yue, and then said in Jiuli dialect: “What’s the matter?”

The man replied: "The envoy from Chu State wants to see you...but the secret guards of Tong State are always guarding you, and we can't get close."

In response, Feng Yun nodded and his eyes moved slightly.

"No problem, just ask the Chu State envoy to come directly to the Palace of Classics."

The Baiyue man nodded.

Feng Yun asked again: "How is the food, and how are the people of Guai?"

Feng Yun had already arranged a plan to use food to lure the people of Guai through the An clan and sneak into Baiyue.

This is also the reason why Feng Yun sent envoys to various countries to seek alliances and borrow food.

The Baiyue man said: "Jun Feng, we have enough food for now."

"We have an alliance with the Han State and need to mobilize 20,000 soldiers to go there, but recruiting troops takes time, so we temporarily stationed the previous 5,000 at the border of Guai. In just a few days, 2,000 common people have entered through Anshi

Baiyue, change your name and surname, and become a person from Baiyue."

"These two thousand people of Guai, plus the five thousand armored soldiers guarding them before, make the number seven thousand, and this number is still growing as the people of Guai are secretly recruited."

"The envoys from Han cannot understand the Jiuli language. We have sent the old and weak among them to the rear, and they can't tell anything."

Hearing this, Feng Yun nodded.

Five thousand soldiers were used as guards to control the people of Guai lured from Guai. As the snowball rolled, more and more people came.

After the number exceeds 20,000, the old and weak among them will be introduced into several newly built agricultural areas around Baiyue City.

Those who are young and strong and capable of fighting remain on the battlefield.

In this way, the old and the weak are intimidated, and the young and strong dare not act recklessly.

From Han Guo's point of view, Baiyue has also fulfilled its agreement, and its number of people is exactly the same.

"How is Yao Di?" Feng Yun asked again.

You know, Baiyue's real armored soldiers are all in Yao, intimidating Yangyue.

The Baiyue man replied: "We have recruited 20,000 soldiers, led by witches and great elders, to guard Yao."

"While guarding, we are also speeding up the construction of Xunyang City."

Feng Yun nodded.

"That's good...go back and let the envoy from Chu come and see what he wants to do."

"promise."

The Baiyue man left.

The old gentleman beside him hesitated.

"Master Feng, is this a matter of Yang Yue?"

He had also heard about the Yang Yue incident, but like the people, they all believed that Yang Yue would be the first to attack, and it would not be Tong, so he did not worry too much.

Feng Yun nodded.

"Yang Yue is to the west of Pengli Ze and is becoming more and more unscrupulous. We, Baiyue, are bordering it, and now we have a gap with Gu Ai. We are fighting on both sides."

Feng Yun has a worried look.

"Nowadays, domestic food supply is difficult to survive the winter and welcome the spring."

Feng Yun did not lie. The five thousand stones of Han State were simply not enough to support so many soldiers and the people who farmed in the east.

Ten thousand stones is the number calculated carefully.

What's more, Feng Yun also wants to recruit the people of Guai. This expenditure will cause the rest of the people of Baiyue Kingdom to go hunting in winter to prepare for emergencies.

but……

"To be honest, sir, the New Deal in Baiyue is now in place. If we ask the people to borrow food, this will undoubtedly add obstacles to the implementation of the New Deal."

"Food is the most important thing for the people, it's no lie..."

"If I, the ruler, cannot even guarantee food, how can they continue to support my policies?"

Feng Yun shook his head and sighed slightly.

On the side, after hearing the sound, the old gentleman looked nervous and asked tentatively: "Master Feng, how much food does Baiyue need?"

Feng Yun lowered his eyebrows.

"It takes ten thousand stones."

"Ah, this..."

Ten thousand stones is not a small amount for a big country, let alone a small country like Tong.

However, I heard Feng Yun say: "First, Baiyue borrowed two thousand stones on the condition of sending 20,000 troops to garrison the border between Gu'ai and Han. Then they allied with Han, and then with Tong and the British, and finally came out.

He sent Yangyue to Yue and obtained another three thousand stones on the pretext of quelling the war around Pengli Ze."

"Now it's still five thousand short."

"Five thousand..." The old gentleman frowned and thought.

There are more than 100,000 people in Tong State, but its land is not abundant. The country's armaments, royal family expenses, officials' salaries, palace maintenance, tribute to the Zhou Dynasty, and large-scale sacrifices must be held...

After one year, its tax surplus is only a few thousand dan.

Over time, the food supply will deteriorate, and emergencies will be needed...

Tong Guo can get these ten thousand stones, but it will damage the foundation.

Only five thousand...

Although the Tong State is not bigger than the Han State, it can still take some.

Can……

Still need to consider.

"Otherwise, from my private treasury..." the old gentleman murmured.

At this time, another soldier came to report.

"Fengjun, there is a man outside who calls himself Guan Zhong and is looking for you."

Feng Yun nodded.

"Bring him in."

On the other side, the old man stood up and said: "Mr. Feng, there are so many guests here, I will go back first and come back tomorrow... Mr. Feng must take a closer look at this punishment code."

When leaving, the old gentleman mentioned it again, and then he hesitated and left.

Mr. Yuan Yuan left, Feng Yun smiled lightly.

Zou Yan on the side whispered: "Master Yun?"

Feng Yun nodded.

"You can see it."

This was Feng Yun's blunt apology, but it did give the two of them room to relax.

"Will Mr. Tong lend us food?"

Zou Yan saw that Lord Tong was also a person with ideas, not a monarch who only listened to his subordinates.

Feng Yun smiled and said: "Yes."

Feng Yun picked up the criminal code and looked at it carefully.

Guan Zhong also came in at this time.

"Feng Junan."

Guan Zhong lowered his head and looked around.

Seeing the neatly packed books and seeing Feng Yunzhi in the palace, I couldn't help but be envious and marveled at the fact that Feng Yun's reputation had attracted so much respect from Tong State that he slept in such an important place as the Palace of Classical Books of a Country.

This is a great respect for the literati.

"Yan, go and show him Gaotao's punishment."

Feng Yun did not want to personally teach Guan Zhong about Gao Tao's punishment. He only wanted him to see it for himself and understand Gao Tao's great virtue.

Although Feng Yun is not optimistic about the virtues in Gao Tao's punishment - he is too kind and virtuous, but forgets the viciousness of people, and mostly gives small punishments, so that the wicked are punished less, which breeds disgust and no longer has virtue.

Virtue, good deeds are bullied by evil, there are many unjust, false and wrong cases, crimes are not punished...

But those three very strong ideas can neutralize Guan Zhong's rule of law - putting profit first, and neutralizing the shortcomings.

First, it emphasizes the combination of virtue and law, the application of benevolent laws, and the human kindness outside the law.

Second, it emphasizes people-oriented thinking, that is, attaching importance to the people, loving the people, benefiting the people, paying attention to people's livelihood, and listening to public opinions.

Third, the administration of justice is fair and equal to both the king and the people.

"I hope you can understand something."

Guan Zhong took Gaotao's punishment from Zou Yan and was shocked after seeing it.

"Is this the punishment of Saint Gaotao?"

Feng Yun nodded. He said that if he found a sage teacher for Guan Zhong, he would do it naturally.

"With Mr. Tong's approval, you can watch it."

"Your rule of law, combined with punishment, can combine hardness and softness and achieve its perfection."

Guan Zhong's rule of law was too rigid, so Feng Yun thought of using soft punishment to neutralize it.

Although today's punishments according to Zhou rites are also gentle, they are gentle to the scholar-official class, and scholar-officials are only one of the four people classified by Guan Zhong.

Then why don’t we just ignore the other three people?

Therefore, Feng Yun had this intention.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Feng. Guan Zhong cannot repay Mr. Feng for his kindness in guiding us."

Feng Yun shook his head.

"I gave you Gaotao's punishment not to seek retribution. I just hope that you can prosper a country and add a bright future to the prosperity of the human race."

Guan Zhong was shocked when he heard this.

"For the human race?"

He respected and said: "Fengjun is not limited to one country, but sees the prosperity of the human race, so Guan Zhong worships him."

Feng Yun heard this.

Shake his head.

"Let's go read a book..."

"promise."

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