In Chinese history, the most influential person is Confucius. Yanzi, a contemporary of Confucius, often appeared in middle school textbooks and was also a big name. Have two famous people from ancient times been in contact? How about relationships?
The relationship is not iron at all. Confucius once privately criticized Yanzi, and the wind leaked, which was severely refuted by the latter. However, he is of high quality and good character, corrects his mistakes in time, and comes to the door to ask for forgiveness.
Lu Zhaogong, the monarch of the State of Lu, was not angry that he was being suspended, and led his troops to fight with the powerful subjects, but he was defeated and fled to the State of Qi for refuge. When the country was in turmoil, Confucius could not stay still and also moved to the state of Qi.
In the country of Qi, he heard the wonderful "Shao Le", and March did not know the taste of meat.
Confucius was only thirty-five years old, in addition to listening to songs and hearing tears, there was also the impulse and dream of making meritorious contributions, so he threw himself into the Gao noble family as a courtier, hoping to save the country and approach qi Jinggong, a leader.
The kung fu paid off, and his wish was quickly fulfilled. When Jing Gong received him, he casually asked, "Why didn't sir go to see my Minister of State Yanzi?" ”
Thirty-five years old is still a young cadre, not sleek enough, Confucius's answer is very straightforward: "I heard that YanZi's ministry to the three monarchs is quite smooth, it seems that there are three kinds of thoughts, do not see it." ”
He criticized the general manager in front of the chairman, which was simply smashing people's jobs and cutting off people's future, and it was rude.
Yan Zi successively served the Duke of Qi Ling, the Duke of Qi Zhuang, and the Duke of Qi Jing (see the previous article in this number, "Yan Zi feared the monarch, respected the slaves, was less than six feet tall, but let the world look up"), and has always been upright and established a dynasty, and has been attacked for no reason, more wronged than Dou E.
Jing Gong turned around and sold Confucius and relayed his words to Yan Zi. Yan Zi replied calmly: "It is not that I have three kinds of thoughts, but that the three monarchs all have only one mind: to make the country stable, so that I can work smoothly." I have heard that to say what is right is wrong and what is wrong is like slander. Kong Qiu will be one of them. ”
The confession is witty and powerful, and it is worthy of the prestige.
Confucius's proud protégé Gong also advised the teacher to meet Yanzi, and Confucius still brought out the set of accusations of "three minds". The conversation between the teacher and the student spread to Yan Zi's ears, and the latter had to retort again: "Serving three monarchs with one mind will be smooth; serving one monarch with three minds will not be smooth." Confucius did not understand my actions, but he accused me of success, how rash and ignorant. I used to respect Confucians, but now I am deeply suspicious. ”
There was a mysterious force that carried Yanzi's words into Confucius's ears. Confucius pondered for half a moment and decided to admit it: "I talked about Yanzi privately, but I did not say that the other party's shortcomings were too great. Since he had lost his word, he should have been ridiculed by Yan Zi, and he was my teacher. So he first sent his disciples to kill me to apologize, and then personally came to the door to greet me.
The deeds of the two great masters dueling in the air and the complete victory of Yan Zi are recorded in the "Spring and Autumn of Yan Zi", and it is difficult to distinguish between true and false. Yanzi's denial of Confucius is found in both the Records of History and yanzi Spring and Autumn, and its credibility is higher.
Qi Jinggong asked Confucius for advice on how to govern the country. The answer of the founder of Confucianism, not out of the "king, subjects, fathers, sons", that is, each of them is in his place, and the world is at peace. The ruler could not yearn for such a utopian scene, so it was not long before Jing Gong humbly asked for advice again, and this time, Confucius's instructions condensed into two words: "Save money."
The cliché of the empty head and the brain is talking about the luxury of Zhongjing Gong. Jing Gong felt that he had met a high-ranking person, and intended to divide the land and reuse Confucius.
Yan Zi disagreed, analyzing that the Confucian red tape did not conform to the national conditions. Jing Gong thought about it and turned back to Confucius perfunctorily: "I'm old, I can't appoint you." ”
Confucius knew that there was no drama, and returned to the country of Lu. After all, it is the "Most Holy Ancestor", even if the rice bowl is smashed in the hands of Yan Zi, not only does not resent the attack, but on the contrary, it is highly respected, which can be described as a sea of energy.
The Analects record Confucius's evaluation:
Zi Yue: "Yan Ping Zhongshan is good at making friends with people, and respects them for a long time." ”
Yan Zi, the name baby, the word Zhong, 谥 "Ping". Confucius sighed that Yan Pingzhong, a man, was good at making friends with others, and the longer he befriended, the more respectful others became.
Confucius boasted, but far from saying the merits of Quan Yanzi. In "The Left Biography", we can see the image of a far-sighted, honest and selfless politician.
When Yan Zi sent an envoy to the Jin Kingdom, he talked with the Jin State's xianchen uncle Xiang and pointed out worriedly: "I am afraid that the State of Qi is approaching the end of the world. The Tian clan borrowed grain from the outside world with a large number of private utensils and recycled it with a small quantity of public utensils, buying people's hearts at any cost. The monarch abandoned the people and made them subordinate to the Tian clan, and the State of Qi would belong to the Tian clan. ”
He looked far and well, and he saw it very accurately, which was completely in line with the trend of history. After the successive deaths of Yan Zi and Duke Jing of Qi, the Tian clan arbitrarily abolished the monarch, and eventually replaced the descendants of Jiang Taigong as the lord of the State of Qi.
Yan Zi served as a high-ranking official, but he was very strict with himself and lived frugally. Jing Gong did not want to go, and offered to improve the housing conditions for him: "Your house is close to the market, small and low humidity, noisy and dusty, the living environment is too poor, change to an open and bright mansion." ”
"Forget it. I am not enough to inherit the family business, this set of property left by the ancestors, has been luxurious. Moreover, it is close to the market, so it is convenient to buy things. "Yan Zi does not engage in specialization, and finds a reason to resign."
"Really fake? Are you close to the market and know how expensive the items are? ”
Yan Zi said of course he knew. Jing Gong asked, what is expensive and what is cheap?
"Prosthetic legs are expensive, shoes are cheap."
At that time, the punishment was harsh and the legs were cut off, so the prosthetic legs sold well. Yan Zi took the opportunity to advise, cutting off his legs excessively.
Jing Gong understood, was touched, and ordered that the punishment be reduced.
During YanZi's business trip to jinguo, Jing Gong still upgraded his residence. By the time Yanzi returned, the new house had been completed and delivered.
At this time, pushing the boat along the water to move in, who can still gossip? Yan Zi did not change his original intention, thanked him, and found a construction team to bulldoze the new house and rebuild it, restore the original pattern, and let those who were demolished move back.
Jing Gong did not agree at first, and Yan Zi had to entrust someone to do the boss's ideological work and gain support.
Taking the back door to the relationship, just to reduce their own treatment, is rare in ancient and modern times.
On the day of Yanzi's death, Jing Zhengzheng was playing outside, received bad news, and immediately jumped on the express train of the horse and galloped to the funeral. On the way, the car was slow, jumped off the car and ran, ran for a while, found that his speed was not as good as the carriage, and boarded the car again. After arriving at the crowded capital, he got off the car four times and ran, wiping away tears while running, and every inch was chaotic.
He rushed to Yanzi's house, crouched down on the corpse and cried bitterly: "Sir advises me every day, and the small mistakes are not missed, and I am still indulging in pleasure and do not know how to restrain, so the people have grievances." Now heaven has sinned against the state of Qi, and will not inflict misfortune on me, but on sir. The Country of Qi is in danger, and to whom will the people ask for help? ”
The grief of a king of a country is beyond normal feelings, and if it is not enough to reflect the greatness of a generation of sages, then you may wish to take a look at Sima Qian's comments:
If Yan Zi is still in the world, even if he is whipped and driven, it is what I yearn for.