The Great Wei Empire in the Warring States Period

Wei Shen returned to the inn. Wang Xiao saw that Wei Shen was back and quickly fetched water for Wei Shen to bathe. Wang Xiao asked,"Master, do you want that woman to train you?" Wei Shen shook his head and said,"No, a man's life is full of water." To achieve a great cause, my ideal is to dominate the world. Women will only affect my ideal!""Then, I will get water for the young master to bathe." After Wang finished the novel, he went to fetch water.

In the early morning, Wei Shen got up early and said to Wang Xiao:"Xiao Wang, I will go to Jixia Academy later. You just stay in the inn!" Wang Xiao said with a cup of his hands:"I obey." Wei Shen left from Jixia Academy

After entering, he asked the host beside him:"Sir, where is Mr. Meng Ke now?" The host replied:"Oh, he, Mr. Meng Ke is reading in the library. Do you need me to take you there?" Wei Shen cupped his hands and said,"Thank you very much!"

Wei Shen came to the book pavilion, looked at the seven-story attic, and thought: How many books can be stored in such a big book pavilion? The whole bookstore is in a square shape, and there is a unicorn in the four corners of each floor. The whole bookstore looks like it has a strong calligraphy style.

The scholar on the side told him:"This scholar, the Qilin above is to hope that all students can become Qilin talents through studying. It is also a very good meaning. This scholar, there are three military books in this pavilion alone. Eighteen volumes, a total of 367 volumes of Taoist books, a total of 800 volumes of Confucian books, and a wide variety of books of various schools of thought are stored in it. It can be said to be a priceless treasure. Ah!" After hearing the arrival of Sheren, Wei Shen knew that this person must also be a person who loves learning.

Wei Shen walked into the library and saw many students reading in the entire library. It was so quiet that you could even hear the heartbeat! Wei Shen walked slowly and asked a student in a low voice:"Brother, where is the book of Confucianism?" When the student saw Wei Shen, he also whispered:"It's on the third floor." Then he looked again. Bamboo slip in hand.

Wei Shen walked up to the third floor step by step, taking every step carefully to avoid making too much noise and disturbing their reading. After arriving on the third floor, he saw Mencius reading in a corner. Wei Shen stepped forward and saluted:"Sir, I am Wei Ming, and I have come to ask you for advice on Confucianism!"

Mencius looked up and saw Wei Ming and said:" Sit down." After Wei Shen sat down, he said,"Mr. Meng Ke, I am here to ask you about your philosophy on governing the country."

Mencius heard that Wei Shen wanted to hear his philosophy on governing the country, so he said:"Don't delay the people." During the farming season, there will not be enough food to eat; if fine fishing nets are not put into large ponds to catch fish, there will not be enough fish and turtles to eat; if the mountains and forests are harvested according to certain seasons, there will not be enough wood to use up. There is endless food, fish and turtles to eat, and there is endless wood to use up. This makes it possible for the people to feed their families and attend funerals without any regrets. People have no regrets in life, death or mourning. This is the beginning of the kingly way. Plant a lot of mulberry trees in a five-acre house, and a fifty-year-old man can wear silk. Chickens, dogs, pigs and other domestic animals were raised without any delay, and people in their seventies could eat meat. A hundred acres of farmland, if farmers are not prevented from cultivating it at the right time, families of several people can avoid hunger. If schools are run conscientiously, and the principles of filial piety and brotherhood are repeatedly taught to the children, the old people with gray beards and hair will not have to carry or carry Walking on the road carrying heavy objects. Seventy-year-old people are clothed in silk and satin, and have meat to eat, and the common people do not suffer from cold and hunger. This has never happened before and the world cannot be subdued. After hearing this, Wei

Shen asked:"So, how should a king manage the country?" Mencius replied:"If we implement benevolent government on the people, use less punishment, reduce taxes, promote deep farming and diligent weeding, and let young people learn the principles of filial piety, respect for brothers, loyalty, and trustworthiness at home while farming." Serve your father and elder brothers and respect your elders outside, so that a country can achieve long-term peace and stability. If a country wants to be victorious in foreign wars, it must implement benevolent government. King Wu of Zhou implemented benevolent government, so he won the Shang Dynasty; King Tang of Shang implemented benevolent government, so he won the world. The Xia Dynasty won the world. These two kings were not as powerful as their opponents, but because of their benevolent governance, they won the world. As long as the king of a country is willing to implement benevolent governance, the world will belong to him sooner or later.

Wei Shen nodded after hearing this and asked:"What should a king pay attention to?" Mencius replied:"

The king of a country must first set an example so that the people will act in accordance with the law; secondly, he must be diligent and frugal and considerate of the people's suffering; thirdly, he must have a benevolent heart so that the people will obey; and fourthly, he must respect his teachers and respect his teachings." Only the wise men in the world will seek refuge. The fifth is to accept advice with an open mind, and loyal ministers will come close, while the traitors will stay away. The sixth is to make rewards and punishments clear, so that the people will follow. Only in this way will they know their own shortcomings. If the king of a country can do this At six o'clock, the country will be strong! Wei

Shen was very happy after hearing this. He stood up and worshiped:"Sir's words have enlightened me. I sincerely ask you to come to my country, Wei!"" Mencius saw him making the teacher's bow and saying that he wanted him to go to Wei State. He was a little confused and asked,"Who are you, this student?"Wei Shen said quickly:"I am the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Wei. I beg you, Sir, to come to my Kingdom of Wei! When Mencius heard that he was the crown prince of Wei, he stood up and bowed to him:"It turns out that he is the crown prince of Wei. I am here to pay my respects. I have been to many countries, but no king is willing to implement benevolent government. At that time, I heard that Wei implemented the second After the reform, I found that they also implemented some benevolent policies. I also wanted to go to Wei State, but I heard that the king of Wei State did not like Confucianism, so I finally came to Qi State to be a lecturer!"

Wei Shen said:"What you just said, sir, can be said to be in my heart. When Wei Wenhou reused Tian Ziwen and Duan Qianmu, the Wei Kingdom finally became great. I hope that sir can come to our country, just like Wei Wenhou did. Just like Tian Ziwen, help me in Wei! Mencius said:"Since His Highness the Crown Prince has said so, I will definitely go to Wei!"

Wei Shen added,"Sir, why don't you follow me to the inn where I'm staying to have a detailed discussion?" Mencius said:"Respect the prince's order!""

In the inn, Wei Shen and Mencius had a meal together. Wei Shen raised his glass and said,"Sir, I toast you this glass of wine on behalf of the state of Wei!" Mencius also picked up the wine glass and said,"To Your Highness, the Prince." Wei Shen said:"I wonder, sir, who among the countries in the world has the ability to dominate the world?" Mencius put down his wine glass, thought for a moment and said,"Looking at all the countries in the world, only Qi, Wei, and Qin can dominate the world!" Wei Shen asked:"Sir, why do you think that the only countries with the ability to dominate the world are Qi, Wei and Qin?" Mencius explained:"Qi has the advantage of fishing and salt, and now that the country has Tian Li and Zou Ji to assist it, the country will naturally become stronger, and Qin has the heart to dominate the world. It is awesome to be ambitious, and the Qin people are brave." He is the bravest among all the countries in the world. I remember the people of Qin State like to say:"We are brave and brave, old Qin, we will fight against the national calamity together." We can know that the people of Qin were ambitious. Through Wei Wenhou's reform, Wei State became strong in national power. Now it is undergoing the second reform. The national power has far exceeded that of Wei Wenhou. Therefore, it also has the ability to dominate the world. Wei

Shen asked again:"What do you think of all the countries in the world?" Mencius answered again:"

Although Qin is ambitious and has the heart to dominate the world, the country is very poor. Although the people of Qin are very brave, if a country is poor, no matter how brave and warlike the people are, they are only strong on the outside and weak on the inside!" Although the Qi State has the advantage of fishing and salt, its vision is not far enough. For the sake of a small profit, it offends all the neighboring countries. It can be said that haste makes waste, and small gains are seen. Then nothing will happen. Although Chu State claims to have millions of soldiers, the nobles in the country occupy a large amount of land, and the common people do not have an acre of land. The nobles severely exploit the common people. Although the Chu State seems to be very wealthy, the people at the bottom are extremely poor. Although South Korea has the most powerful weapons in the world, its people are timid and cowardly. It is impossible for a timid and cowardly country to achieve great things. Zhao State is located in the north. Although the country seems to have a relatively vast land, the land that can be cultivated in the country only accounts for half of the country's territory. One quarter, if this country fights with a foreign country, it can only fight quickly. If it falls into a protracted war, Zhao will be defeated! As for the Yan State, it has been unknown for hundreds of years. Although the country has more than 300,000 soldiers, its monarch has no ambition to make progress, and the other small countries are completely inadequate. This is my view of all the countries in the world!"

After hearing this, Wei Shen thought to himself: It seems that Mencius's analysis of all countries in the world is also very profound. He is worthy of being a celebrity at all times and in all over the world! Wei Shen said:"Sir, what should we do with our country now?"

Mencius replied:"The current Wei State has implemented the second reform. The country has gradually become stronger and has far surpassed other countries. However, we should pay attention to the development direction of this country. The Qin State in the west must not pay attention. The Qi State in the east. Because the Qin State has ambitious ambitions, it must be guarded against, while the Qi State has a very low vision. There is no need to worry about the development of the Qi State. First, the Wei State must strengthen domestic development, secondly, the Wei State must continue to train its army, and thirdly, the Wei State must pay attention to the north. Zhao State, because although Zhao State seems to obey the orders of Wei State, in fact it does not recognize Wei State at all. Fourth, Wei State needs to develop education and cultivate more talents. If a country wants to be strong, talents are essential!"

After hearing this, Wei Shen said:"Listen to what you said, if you study for ten years, I will definitely recommend you to my father after returning home!""——Come on, cheers!