Shusun Tong surrendered to Liu Bang, the King of Han, and did not recommend any Confucian disciples, but specifically selected those strongmen who he had previously scolded as thieves. The disciples did not understand why, and they all secretly scolded him behind his back.
Shusun Tong was a native of Xueyi (薛邑, in present-day Qufu, Shandong), who was recruited during the Qin Dynasty as an erudition of literature and awaited appointment among doctors. When Chen Sheng revolted, Qin II heard the report and summoned the doctors to discuss. The doctors said: "Chen Sheng is rebelling against the imperial court, hoping that the emperor will quickly send troops to suppress them." Qin II listened and changed his face.
At this time, Shusun Tong stepped forward and said with a smile on his face: "Everyone's words are wrong!" For example, if there is a unification today, there are wise men at the top and sages at the bottom, where there are those who dare to rebel! This is just a bunch of hairy thieves stealing and pickpocketing, and it's not worth mentioning. ”
Only then did the second turn his anger into joy, reward his uncle Sun Tong heavily, appoint him as a doctor, and hand over to the judges the Confucians who said that Chen Sheng and others were rebellious. When Shusun Tong returned to the building, the Confucians ridiculed him: "Why are you so good at patting horses and sneaking whiskers?" Uncle Sun Tong said, "You also said that I almost couldn't escape the tiger's mouth!" So he fled and followed Xiang Liang; when Xiang Liang died in battle, he followed the King of Chu Huai; when the King of Chu Huai was moved to Changsha, he stayed behind to serve the King of Chu; the Han army attacked and he surrendered to the King of Han. Shusun Tong wore Confucian clothing, and the King of Han hated it, so he changed to a short coat in the style of a Chu person, and the King of Han was very happy.
When Shusun Tong surrendered to the Han Dynasty, there were more than 100 Confucian disciples who followed him, but he did not recommend any of them. Instead, he singled out the strongmen he had previously scolded as thieves and recommended them. The disciples did not understand why, and they all secretly scolded him behind his back. When Shusun Tong knew this, he said to them, "The King of Han is risking the stone to fight for the world, will you fight a war?" So I recommend those warriors first. Don't worry, there will be times when you will be reused. ”
The King of Han appointed Shusun Tong as a doctor. After the King of Han pacified the world, Shusun Tong formulated the etiquette and official system of the imperial court. At the beginning, Emperor Han Gao abolished all the tedious etiquette of the Qin Dynasty and strove to make it simple and easy. But in this way, the courtiers drank wine and competed for merit, and when they were drunk, some people shouted and screamed, and even drew their swords to cut down the pillars of the house. Emperor Han Gao was worried about this situation, and when his uncle Saw that the fire had arrived, he suggested to the Emperor: "Those Confucians, it is not okay to fight the world, but it is necessary to keep the industry." I am willing to recruit Lu Di Confucians and work with my disciples to formulate the etiquette of the pilgrimage. Emperor Gao said, "Isn't it too annoying?" Uncle Sun Tong said, "Of course not." ”
Shusun Tong was then ordered to recruit more than 30 Lu Di Confucian students. Two Confucian students in Ludi refused to participate, scolding him: "You have served nearly ten masters and made a fortune by bragging and patting horses." What you're doing is not in line with the old ways, and we are ashamed to participate. There you go. Don't tarnish us! Shusun Tong smiled and said, "You guys, you are really despicable Confucians, who don't even understand the changes in the situation." ”
Shusun Tong then traveled west with the 30 recruited men, plus more than 100 of the emperor's academically trained ministers and his disciples, to conduct exercises in the wilderness. After more than a month of exercise, Uncle Sun Tong invited the emperor to see it. The emperor watched the ceremony they held, felt that it was concise and practical, and it was not difficult to do, so he held a formal pilgrimage meeting in October. On the day of the pilgrimage, everything was in order, and no one dared to laugh and shout that it violated etiquette. Emperor Han Gao sighed and said, "I only learned today about the honor of being an emperor." So he appointed his uncle Sun Tong as Taichang (the official name in charge of the ceremonies of the temple) and rewarded him with five hundred catties of gold.
Shusun Tong took the opportunity to say, "The Confucians have followed me for so long, and now that the imperial ceremony has been formulated, it is all their credit, and I hope that the emperor will reward them." Emperor Gao made them all become lang officials, and Uncle Sun Tong left the palace and gave all the five hundred gold he received to all the Confucians, who said happily: "Mr. Uncle Sun Tong is really a saint and understands the important affairs of the times." It can cater to worldly considerations and change with the times. In the past, we blamed him. ”
