Chapter 462: Straightforward and Just, Understanding Righteous Qi!
“Meng Mu moved three times, choosing neighbors to live near.”
“Confucius’s child does not know how to scold, and Zeng Zi’s child does not know anger; it’s because they were born to be well taught.”
“Whoever a child associates with shapes their character and actions.”
“Hence, when a person is born, there is no distinction between good and evil; it all relies on postnatal cultivation and education.”
“Though the ancestors of the Qin State were from the barbarian tribes, they valued national development, harbored great ambitions, quelled disputes, and unified the world—what’s so wrong with that?”
“Why can’t you, Sage Confucius, accept this?”
“Who unifies the world isn’t important; what matters is what it brings to the world afterward!”
“If the ruler of Qin later neglects to govern diligently, imposing harsh taxes and tyranny, then even unifying now will lead to downfall sooner or later.”
“But if he reforms and brings peace and prosperity to the people, naturally, the world will support him.”
“When the people’s hearts align, great things can be achieved; when they drift away, it leads to immediate demise.”
“The development of the country lies in its people, not in you or me.”
After finishing, Li Mo was parched.
However, Confucius hadn’t even offered him a cup of water.
He had no choice but to endure the thirst.
Suddenly, Confucius stood up and said, “Good, good point about the people. Now, I ask you again, why have you come here?”
Li Mo paused and replied, “I seek a method.”
“What method?”
Locking eyes with him, Li Mo stated, “A method for changing fate.”
“Whose fate?”
“My fate.”
Confucius smirked coldly, “Your fate? You always speak for the benefit of the people; why then seek to change your own fate instead of accepting it as the common folks do? Do you not feel any guilt for such selfish behavior?”
Each of his words struck Li Mo’s heart like a heavy hammer, resonating deeply.
Li Mo lowered his head, struggling internally, constantly questioning himself.
Do I feel guilty?
“No guilt!”
Suddenly, he raised his head vigorously, his voice strong and resonant.
He firmly questioned, “Why should I feel guilt?”
“A gentleman cultivates himself by rectifying his heart inside and presenting himself correctly outside.”
“I seek a method for changing fate, with a clear conscience and righteous spirit—why should I feel guilt?”
Changing my fate is my business; it doesn’t affect others.
My search for such methods is also aboveboard.
If I can change, that’s my skill.
I’m not using someone else’s fate to fill my own, so why should I feel remorse?
Confucius gazed at the spot where Li Mo’s heart lay, as if trying to see through his inner thoughts.
“Righteous Qi? Do you know what Righteous Qi is?”
Li Mo replied without hesitation, “A gentleman stands firm with righteousness in heart, acts openly, and will never be misled by petty and dark individuals.”
“To act justly, to sit upright, and to conduct oneself without shame—this is Righteous Qi.”
“Punishing evil and promoting good, saving people from water and fire—this is also Righteous Qi.”
Confucius stepped forward suddenly and exclaimed, “You support Qin in unifying, causing countless deaths and injuries in the great wars—does that count as Righteous Qi?”
Li Mo immediately felt a tremendous weight on his shoulders, as if it were urging him to bow down and admit guilt.
Yet he stood tall and replied, “Is enduring a moment’s pain not a path to unification? Would the world have no wars and deaths without Qin’s unification? I accelerated the process, ending wars faster and decreasing casualties, allowing peaceful days to arrive sooner. What’s wrong with that?”
“I dare say I am guiltless!”
Confucius stepped forward again, his voice stern as he questioned, “You seek to change fate, is it not out of selfishness?”
Li Mo felt the pressure increase; beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
But he laughed heartily, “I am straightforward and just, unreserved and open—that’s my skill. What’s wrong with that?”
With this ability, why shouldn’t I do what I want?
Confucius took a third step forward, nearly face-to-face with Li Mo.
His voice grim, he challenged, “Truly straightforward and just, without guilt in your heart?”
The pressure on Li Mo reached its peak; sweat poured down him.
He couldn’t comprehend why Confucius kept pressing him on this.
But upon questioning his heart, he realized he hadn’t done anything shameful.
To act rightly and sit properly, to discern good from evil, and never have he unjustly killed the innocent or bullied others.
He replied, “Without guilt in my heart!”
In the library, hundreds of Confucian disciples exchanged glances.
They looked at Li Mo, who remained still, and someone whispered, “National Advisor, National Advisor, you’ve read it all.”
Seeing he still had not reacted, everyone was confused and baffled.
The personal sacred texts left by Sage Confucius were limited, yet Li Mo had read them all and showed no sign of getting up.
In fact, he was holding the last bamboo slip as if it had entranced him.
“Uncle Master, what do you think?”
In light of such a situation, Fu Nian, not knowing what to do, approached Master Xun, who had been dozing beside him.
Master Xun closed his eyes and shook his head without a word.
“Understood.”
Fu Nian realized what he meant.
That was to let Li Mo continue without disturbing him.
Just as he turned to instruct the Confucian disciples, a gentle wind suddenly swept through the library.
Master Xun, who had been drowsy, snapped his eyes open.
He sprang to his feet, staring at Li Mo’s seemingly entranced back, and murmured incredulously, “This… is Righteous Qi…”
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