Qin Official

The small palace and temple on the top of Mount Tai can only accommodate the emperor and the prime minister Jiuqing. The rest of the people have to guard the fire outside.

Hei Fu carried the wine bag and after searching for a while, he found Zhang Cang huddled and trembling at the back of the palace. Zhang Cang made some inspiring remarks today, but he was regarded as a scourge by the ministers. Even his senior brother Li Si reprimanded him, and was finally driven away impatiently by the emperor. Although he was not convicted and punished, his indifference and disgust were obvious. This will be seen clearly. I frowned in the rain and thought.

"It's cold on the mountain, drink some wine to warm yourself up."

Heifu handed him the wine and said with a smile: "What you are thinking about now is that the whole world is turbid and you are the only one who is clean, and everyone is drunk and you are the only one who is sober?"

"Don't dare."

Zhang Cang was wrapped in a wool blanket, took a sip of wine, raised his head and asked Heifu, "Do you also believe that this rain is God's will?"

Heifu said: "I don't think so. I also think that the sun rises and sets, and the wind and rain are unpredictable. This is the law of nature. If it does not survive for Yao or perish for Jie, it has nothing to do with the feelings of heaven and man?"

Unlike the other side's sorcerer's agreement in front of Qin Shihuang, Heifu's political lessons for so many years have not been in vain. He believes in materialism from the bottom of his heart. Even the matter of time travel, he believes that it can be explained by science.

"You mean, what I said is right?" Zhang Cang was a little moved, and Hei Fu was the first person to stand up and recognize him.

"Of course I believe it, Zihu, do you still remember what the last paragraph of Xunzi's "On Heaven" said?"

"Remember, this is my favorite chapter, I can memorize every word!"

Although Xunzi's disciples came from the same school, they focused on different things. Li Si focused on the art of emperors, Han Fei focused on Laozi and Xingming, Fuqiubo inherited Xunzi's Confucianism, and Zhang Cang learned a lot, but he loved it the most. The most important thing is mathematics and calendar. Correspondingly, he has also delved deeply into the "Tian Lun" which explores the laws of the world.

Zhang Cang wiped the water from his face and wanted to recite loudly, but was afraid of attracting others, so he could only recite in a suppressed and low voice:

"If you think about it from the sky, you can use it with animals and animals to control it! If you praise it from the sky, you can use it to control the destiny of heaven! If you look forward to the time and wait for it, you can use it according to the time! If there are many things, you can use them with Cheng. It can be transformed into something!"

Hei Fujie praised: "Well said! Everything depends on man-made efforts. Giving up man-made efforts and hoping for blessings from God would violate the principles of all things!"

Xunzi's theory is not only primitive and simple materialism, but has risen to the height of dialectics! He did not simply criticize the superstitious customs of praying, but also constantly emphasized people's subjective initiative. When translated, doesn't this sentence mean "understanding the world" and "changing the world"!

In this era of ignorance and superstition, Xunzi's thoughts are as dazzling as lightning piercing the night sky! He is worthy of being the master of hundreds of schools of thought!

After praising him, Heifu sighed again: "Zihu, I really envy you for meeting such a good teacher. It's a pity that Xunzi has passed away. I can't go to Lanling to listen to his lectures, and I don't have the opportunity to be his disciple... "

"Although the Master has passed away, the knowledge left behind will never be destroyed."

Zhang Cang was encouraged and gritted his teeth and said: "I know that it is really inappropriate to say these words on the top of Mount Tai today, which ruins His Majesty's desire to pray for immortality. But these truths are not understood by Your Majesty and the gentlemen. , even Prime Minister Li no longer mentions it, but Zhang Cang will not abandon it! He will definitely carry it forward!"

"How difficult it is."

Hei Fu shook his head: "Although Xunzi's words are true knowledge and insights, there are very few people in the world who believe them."

It goes without saying that in Guizhou, there is still a big gap between the thoughts of ordinary people in society and the heights reached by the elites. Everyone in Heifu's family believed in the gods, and his mother even donated a Shaosiming temple beside Yunmeng Ze. If you look through the "Book of the Sun" again, you can get a glimpse of people's numerous taboos and complicated spells to ward off evil spirits and exorcise ghosts.

In ancient times, although the Chinese were very utilitarian and believed in all kinds of gods, they just did not believe that there was no god.

Materialism has no foundation at the bottom, but what about the top?

First of all, the emperor with the blessing of "Destiny" will never admit it. Once he admits it, immortality and seeking immortality will all come to nothing. This is absolutely unacceptable to Qin Shihuang.

Looking at the middle class of society, among the intellectuals of the nine schools and ten schools, Mohists respect ghosts and gods, Confucians pay attention to the sense of heaven and man, Taoist Huang Lao is also very fond of mysticism, not to mention the alchemist Yin Yang family, they are Those who rely on ghosts and magic to make a living.

Legalist theory rarely talks about the gods of heaven and earth, and also praises the power of people. However, in the Qin Dynasty, most of them were officials. Apart from strictly following laws and orders, they rarely used their brains to think about deeper things.

After thinking about it, the only ones who might accept this theory are farmers who work hard and hope to use human power instead of God's reward to increase food production...

Since the debate between heaven and man that shocked Jixia decades ago, it has been determined that Xunzi's theory of "the separation of heaven and man, and the victory of man over heaven" will only be believed by a few people. This group of people is still regarded as a heresy...

Zhang Cang's ideas are like a candlelight in the dark night, weak but dazzling. However, any wind or rain will destroy it and it may not be lit again until a long time later.

Heifu didn't want that two thousand years later, someone would find Xunzi's words in the pile of old papers and say in surprise: "Our ancestors' thoughts reached such a high level at such an early time!"

So he made his own suggestion.

"In my opinion, if you want people to believe something, it's no use just talking about it, you have to prove it!"

Zhang Cang was surprised: "Proof?"

Heifu reminded him: "For example, when I was the director of the pavilion, people in my hometown often said that fireflies are transformed from rotten grass and rotten bamboo roots. Everyone believed it, but I didn't believe it."

"So in my spare time, I rummaged around in the mud beside Yunmeng Ze and discovered that fireflies actually lay eggs. In autumn and winter, fireflies lay their eggs on the grass roots by the water and lurk in the soil. , the grass chrysalis turns into an adult insect and emerges from the soil. In the eyes of others, it is the so-called rotten grass turning into a firefly!"

"That's it!" Zhang Cang was also a little surprised. He had never observed it himself and thought that the fireflies were really made of rotten grass.

"look."

Heifu spread his hands and said: "You are like this too, let alone others? People don't understand the changing process of things and only see the results. Because they don't understand why, they call them 'gods'. But if we can find out this changing process, let people know it." That’s it, take off that mysterious gauze! This is the proof I mentioned, it is based on the facts to prove the authenticity!”

"I see!"

Zhang Cang is a smart man, and he can understand it easily. He was overjoyed: "I said that the stars rotate, the sun and the moon alternate, the four seasons have their seasons, and the wind and rain are blowing. These are all natural occurrences and not God's will. But no one believes it because they don't believe it." The changes in this can only be attributed to the number of days. Unless I prove it and find out the change process!"

Dialectics, dialectics, just dialectics, how can it be done without evidence? Seeing Zhang Cang being led to a new path by him, Hei Fu was secretly happy and said: "That's right!"

Zhang Cang became excited, took a sip of wine, untied his sheep's fur, walked into the rain that had eased a lot, raised his head, laughed, and read a simple and mysterious poem.

“In the beginning of ancient times, who preached the gospel?

The upper and lower parts have no form, so how can we examine them?

Is the sun and moon safe? Lie Xing An Chen?

From the light to the dark, how many miles have you traveled? "

Zhang Cang turned back to Master Hei and said, "This is the "Heavenly Questions" left by Quzi when he visited Jixia Academy! At that time, Master often looked at it and recited these more than 170 questions, calling it "eternal". A most amazing work.”

Hei Fu nodded, this was like a very ignorant human child asking questions to the unknown universe!

Zhang Cang sighed: "I didn't understand it back then, but now, I understand! What I have to do is to answer these questions one by one. The rules of the movement of the sun and the moon, why are there days and nights? Why do the four seasons rotate? Let people know why it rains and when it will rain!”

He sighed: "But this is too difficult. I, Zhang Cang, am forty years old. It took me more than ten years just to compile half of "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic". If I want to explore these questions, I am afraid that I will be killed." I'll spend the rest of my life in it! But..."

Zhang Cang raised his head suddenly, the fat man's eyes were full of determination.

"The road is long and long, and I will search up and down!"

"Well said!" Heifu clapped his hands, but complained in his heart: "Brother, you will still have a long life for the rest of your life..."

Heifu was full of confidence in Zhang Cang. How did he say that? Mathematics is the basis of all sciences! Zhang Cang, a great mathematician, was born to do science.

He believed that with his help, this fat man weighing more than 200 pounds could become the founder of natural science in China!

Hei Fu stepped forward, patted Zhang Cang on the shoulder, and encouraged him: "Although everyone is drunk now, you are alone awake, and the whole world is dark, but you are alone bright, just like the dark clouds have completely covered the sky and the earth, and there is no trace of light. , but as long as you persevere, you will be able to keep the clouds clear and see the sunrise!"

"No." Zhang Cang said with a smile: "Sometimes, no matter how long you stay, the clouds will not disperse on their own. You have to reach out and move the clouds to see the sun!"

Hei Fu was surprised, and then he looked at each other and smiled with Zhang Cang.

Amid laughter, it rained in the middle of the night and stopped!

…

Early the next morning, at five o'clock, the showers had stopped and the clouds showed signs of dispersing.

Qin Shihuang was already sitting in the pavilion on the top of the mountain, accompanied by his ministers, waiting for the sunrise.

At this moment, the east side of the pavilion is filled with clouds and mist from the soles down, as vast as the sea. In the sea of ​​clouds, more than ten islands can be vaguely seen, shrouded in clouds and mist, which are other peaks of Mount Tai.

Looking into the distance, the clouds in the sky are like lines. They were originally gray and white, but soon they became colorful. This is the sun rising. Its color is pure, red like cinnabar, with red light below. I shake it and look back. Looking at the peaks to the west of Riguan Peak, some are illuminated by the sun and some are not. They are red or white, and the colors are mixed. They all look like they are bending down and bowing.

Seeing this situation, Qin Shihuang remembered that he had humbly prayed to the sky yesterday, but it was replaced by a heavy rain. It was night that changed into a neither humble nor arrogant attitude, fighting against the sky, but the result was that the clouds opened and the mist dispersed, and the sun rose in the east. He couldn't help but reveal A hint of sneer:

"God, do you bully the weak and fear the strong?"

He believed that this cloud and rain was pushed away by his own power!

That day, on the top of Mount Tai when the weather turned sunny, Qin Shihuang ordered his soldiers to erect a stone. Li Si wrote the words himself, and the craftsmen carved them on the stone. This was a stone carving for Mount Tai, praising the virtues of Qin Shihuang and indicating that he had won the title.

"When the emperor comes to the throne, he makes laws and regulations, and his subordinates revise them."

"Personally inspect the people in distant places, climb Mount Tai, and explore the East Pole."

"The great righteousness will last forever, and it will be passed down to future generations. Don't abandon it!"

Qin Shihuang slightly modified the original stone inscription. He no longer respected the seventy-two emperors in ancient times, but regarded himself as "unprecedented since ancient times, and beyond the reach of the five emperors."

Before the Qin Dynasty, the world was dim and chaotic. From then on, the world entered a new stage of new light! In this way, the legitimacy of the Qin Empire was proved.

Disobey the ancient king, but follow the current king!

In the evening, after all the ceremonies were completed, Qin Shi Huang sat in a chariot and descended from the shady slope of Mount Tai. When he was nearing the foot of the mountain, the emperor turned back again and looked at the mountain that left a deep impression on him.

When I first climbed the mountain, I felt that it seemed to be a high mountain and difficult to climb. After all, it is the number one mountain in the world that is worshiped by the Qilushi people and has countless meanings.

When he reached the top of the mountain, a storm was about to come. Qin Shihuang felt that it was not very cold at the height, just like when he was governing the country, he stepped on the wrong foot and found abyss everywhere.

But now, after coming down the mountain, Qin Shihuang felt that this was just an ordinary one among the countless dangers he had overcome in the thirty-one years since he ascended the throne.

Looking back again, leaving Taishan behind, Qin Shihuang also left a brief comment.

"This mountain..."

He said contemptuously: "How short!"