In fact, this problem has not been perfectly solved in China two thousand years later.

The allusion that 'as soon as the old lady in Nanjing fell to the ground, the moral quality of the whole country dropped by half' is enough to show that it is not feasible to rely on moral quality to maintain social order. A complete political system must have a sound legal system in order to ensure normal social order.

As for moral literacy, it can only be used as an auxiliary means to make up for some legal loopholes in events where the boundaries are blurred and the law is difficult to determine.

From this point of view, Huang Laoxue's governing philosophy in the early Han Dynasty was actually very advanced: while taking the law as the criterion, he ensured that the social atmosphere was not led astray by advocating the improvement of moral quality.

Compared with the Legalists' all-reliance on the legal system and the Confucianism's complete expectation of the moral cultivation of the people, Huang Laoxue's proposition is undoubtedly more comprehensive and more realistic and feasible.

However, when theory is theory, and when it is actually the government and the people, it is not so easy to operate.

——The combination of criminal and moral education, what is the main and what is the supplement?

If the two are on equal footing, then the question must arise: how should a certain matter be decided when it violates the law and conforms to the prevailing morality of the era, or when it violates morality and does not violate the law?

Therefore, the question raised by Zhang Cang translates to the meaning: the combination of criminal and moral use, should it be based on criminal punishment or morality?

Being able to know the 'combination of criminal and moral use' can only prove that Ji Yan has some understanding and involvement in Huang Laoxue, but whether he can be convincing in actual operation can he see that Ji Yi is not suitable for being an official.

In Zhang Cang's expectant eyes, Ji Wei thought for a long time before giving his answer.

"At night, Xiao Xiangguo uses the Han law to educate the people, and what the people can and cannot do."

"The younger generation is foolish, and those who use both criminal and moral virtues should take the law as the backbone and the cultivation of virtue as flesh and blood, so that the people can be happy and the country will be forever."

After that, Ji Yi bowed again, and added: "This is only the private opinion of the younger generation, if there is a fallacy, please don't blame the boss." ”

Zhang Cang nodded with a smile, and raised the bottle to invite: "The opinion of the servant is quite undesirable for Huang Lao, and the old man respects him very much." ”

After drinking, Ji Yan returned to his seat under Zhang Cang's eyes, filled another bottle, and walked to Liu Budo's side.

"I'm still young..."

Regarding Ji Chen's answer, Zhang Cang could not say that he was disappointed, but he could not talk about it as a bright eye.

——The law is the muscles and bones, and benevolence and righteousness are attached to it, which is Huang Laoxue's current official interpretation of 'the combination of criminal and moral use'.

Judging from Ji Chen's reaction, Zhang Cang could probably guess that this was the conclusion that Ji Yan came to after thinking about it; Rather than copying from books.

From this point of view, Ji Chen's performance can be regarded as qualified: as a literati, Ji Chen already has his own thoughts, not a nerd who knows what it is and does not know why.

But this modest answer also made Zhang Cang's expectations for Ji Yan gradually fade away - following the rules, only caring about theory and ignoring reality, judging from the current performance, Ji Chen's achievements before the age of forty will not exceed the defense of a county.

Very simple reason: Ji Yan is about to become the adjutant of Jiuqing at the level of a thousand stones: Feng Changcheng, and then, in order to make up for the shortcomings of the local ruling qualifications, Ji Yan will inevitably be sent to the local county by His Majesty to gild, and then wait for the opportunity to recall the center to plan for a higher level of Jiuqing chief official.

In the process of local governance, a similar problem will inevitably arise: a certain Haoqiang killed a farmer, and then the widow of the family came to the door at night and killed Haoqiang's entire family.

According to Ji Chen's theory, although this person is a blood relative of revenge, according to the provisions of the Han law, if the murderer dies, this person still cannot escape the death penalty.

Such a theory may be understandable in other eras, but in the Han Dynasty, this is definitely a fallacy!

- Parents were killed, and if you want to take revenge, you will be sentenced to death?

As long as such a thing appears, it will directly shake the national foundation of the Han family's 'ruling the world with filial piety'!

What's more, the strict laws of the Qin period have left an indelible negative impression in the hearts of the people of the world, and if the law is still the main standard, it will undoubtedly pierce the skin of the Han law - this Qin law also!

Therefore, it is simply not feasible to govern with the law as the main benchmark at this time; In terms of specific governance, it is still necessary to take morality as the benchmark and the building of people's customs as the first priority.

At this time, most of the Jiuqing were naturally the founding fathers who made great military achievements with Emperor Liu Bang; But Zhang Cang knew in his heart that one day, the political arena would be replaced by the bureaucratic class that had climbed up step by step.

This matter has already shown signs now: Henan guards Wu Gong, is good at governing the people, fair and just, and was called into the center and appointed as Jiuqing!

In the future, the tendency for politics to be dominated by the bureaucratic class will only grow faster; When the founding heroes are almost all dead, Jiuqing is afraid that they will all be old officials who have come up from the place.

At that time, if Ji Yan wants to become the chief official of the Central Jiuqing Division, he must have a beautiful local ruling resume in order to block the mouth of the court.

So what kind of magistrate can have the opportunity to be promoted to the center and become Jiuqing?

Or, the original poor and poor rule is governed very rich, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, and its attack is so big that it is transmitted to the court, and even the ears of the Son of Heaven, and is recognized by most people; Or, like Duke Wu, the reputation of being fair enough to spread to Chang'an, be known to the Son of Heaven, and be recognized by the court.

Which of the two can Ji Chen?

Leading the people under his rule to a well-off life, Zhang Cang did not believe that Ji Chen, who was born in Huang Lao and believed in 'ruling by doing nothing', could do it, and Wu Gong's way was also denied by Ji Chen's performance.

- Wu Gong was promoted to Jiuqing, not because of strict law enforcement, but because of 'peace'!

Zhiping does not refer to how much the law is obeyed, but the things handled by Wu Gong have been recognized and convinced by almost all the people and the bureaucrats under his rule.

In Zhang Cang's view, if Ji Yan is released in the future, there is a high probability that he will have to make trouble on the issue of law.

But Zhang Cang didn't care too much about this - in the final analysis, Ji Yi is still young.

In other words, compared to other officials from Huang Lao, Ji Chen's youth is too much.

Now in the court, let alone the adjutant of Jiuqing, that is, add all the officials who are qualified to go to the court, how many can there be under the age of forty?

You can count on one finger!

Jiuqing's deputies and above who are above a thousand stones, and they can't see anyone under the age of fifty!

Even Liu Budo's side, Ling Mian, who has been sitting in peace with the courtesy of a junior, is also relying on real military exploits, and the age of nearly forty years old, coupled with the purpose of gold plating in Chang'an by His Majesty, he barely became Jiuqing.

But Ji Yan has to directly serve as Jiuqing's deputy on the premise that he has no military merits and no political achievements!

Even if Zhang Cang understands in his heart that this is His Majesty's cultivation team, there are no available people in his hands, and he is a little pessimistic about Ji Chen's political prospects in the short term.

——If later generations believe in 'no hair on the mouth, no good work', the political arena in the early Han Dynasty was basically 'there is no white in the hair, and it will be bad when things happen'.

However, youth is not only a disadvantage of Jiyi, but also an incomparable advantage from a certain point of view.

——At the age of less than thirty, he received the trust of His Majesty and entrusted him with the post of a thousand stones, and this opportunity alone is already very rare.

As for Ji Chen's somewhat idealized 'fault', with the passage of events and the growth of experience, Zhang Cang believes that it will be slowly replaced by sophistication and stability.

The most terrifying thing is that if you calculate according to the average age of most officials in the court today: 70 years old, Ji Yan has at least more than 40 years of political career!

Even if Ji Yan is really an uncarnible rotten wood, after 40 years of qualifications, Ji Yan is enough to become a big man to be reckoned with in the political arena.

Even if he was sent out of the place, he didn't make any good political achievements, as long as he didn't make a big mistake, Ji Yan could also improve his qualifications a little bit, and at the age of forty to fifty, he was recalled to the center and appointed as Jiuqing.

Therefore, in Zhang Cang's heart, Ji Chen's evaluation is also very simple: qualified in school, a little green, carved a little, or can become a great tool in the future.

In general, Zhang Cang is still satisfied with Ji Yan - the confessor is from a background, and he can have this level of cognition now, even if Ji Yan is not excellent, he is above the level line.

And Ji Yan is the worst quality one in Liu Hongdi's team in Zhang Cang's mind...

Ling Mian, who has served as the captain of the Flying Fox Crossbow for more than 15 years, recommended by Chai Wu, the general of the Che Cavalry, is a character trained by the successor of the Flying Fox Army, with enough military merits, sufficient qualifications, and enough ability!

Qin Mu, Sima under the command of the captain of the Northern Army, was born in a family of generals, although his qualifications are somewhat insufficient, but he is excellent in the political component - a general!

Liu Budo, the elder of the clan, has the means, the ability, and the cheeks are thick enough!

Coupled with the above the level line, and with the sentence "The Son of Heaven is also" makes up for part of the qualifications...

For Liu Hongdi's knowledge and employment, Zhang Cang really admired the five-body throwing at this time - these people, the lowest achievements are all at the level of Jiuqing!

If you can steadily improve your qualifications at the same time, set up some martial arts and make some political achievements, you can't rule out the possibility of being ranked Jiuqing in 20 years!

Zhang Cang boasts that he has a good ability to know people, and he doesn't dare to guarantee that everyone he likes can reach the level of Jiuqing.

However, Liu Hong's accurate vision also made Zhang Cang let go of the worry in his heart - since His Majesty is so discerning, it will not make the pearl dust!

As soon as he thought of this, Uncle Tian and Wu Gong on the right got up together and came to Zhang Cang with a bottle.

"Thanks to the Marquis of Beiping for not giving up and the banquet, the two of us are grateful; Only toast three bottles to thank the Marquis of Beiping. ”

Zhang Cangzi also stood up with a smile and said respectfully: "The two of you have been away from Chang'an for a long time, and this time you have entered the court, and you will be friends with the old man in the future." ”

"It's a guest from afar, and the old man should do his best to welcome the two of them."

Uncle Tian and Gong Wu bowed again: "Thank you Beiping Hou." ”

After drinking a bottle, Uncle Tian staggered back to his feast, rubbing the corners of his forehead slightly to relieve the pain of drunkenness.

Wu Gong stayed behind and talked to Zhang Cang in a low voice.