After resting in the capital for a few days, he left Zheng Guo at the suggestion of Zigong. Zheng Gong didn't want to see him, and he didn't have face to stay in Zheng Guo again. So! No one wants to stay.

After leaving Zheng Guo, Confucius and his party originally planned to go to Chen Guo. But because he heard that Duke Wei was dead, Xinjun intended to invite him back. Confucius couldn't make up his mind and wandered on the road.

In 493 BC, in the second year of Lu Ai, Wei Ling died. This year! Confucius was 59 years old.

In the spring of 493 BC, Linggong wanted to appoint the young son Ying as the crown prince, but the prince Ying refused to resign. In the summer of the same year, Ling Gong Xue and Mrs. Ling (Nanzi) let Gongzi Yingcheng Linggong's will ascend the throne, but Gongzi Ying let the son of Prince Kuai Yu ascend the throne. Ji Yan! That is, the later Wei Chugong.

In June of the same year, Zhao Jianzi sent Yang Hu and others to send the crown prince Kuai Su back to defend the country, wanting the crown prince Kuai Shen to ascend the throne. When the patriots heard about it, they sent troops to attack Kuai. Kuai Shen is not allowed to enter, he is protected by staying in the house, and the guards are also dismissed.

This year! Confucius returned to defend the country once, but for fear of getting involved in the power struggle for the defense of the country, he left again after dealing with some things.

In 492 BC, in the twenty-eighth year of King Jing of Zhou, and in the third year of Duke Luai, Confucius was in Chen. This year! Confucius was sixty years old.

In the autumn of this year, Ji Huanzi of Lu State fell ill and regretted that he had not been able to use Confucius in the past and affected the revitalization of Lu State. Before he died, he instructed his son Ji Kangzi to recall Confucius to Xianglu. Later, due to the obstruction of the male fish, Ji Kangzi changed his mind and sent an envoy to call Confucius's disciple Ran Qiu instead.

Ran asked for the future, Confucius said: "Lu people call, not small use, will be big use." (Historical Records of the Confucius Family)

This year, Confucius was already sixty years old, and he wanted to return to his hometown.

During the period from the fourth to the sixth year of Lu Ai (491-489 BC), Confucius traveled between the states of Chen, Cai, Ye, and Chu.

In 490 B.C., in the fifth year of Lu Aigong, Confucius went from Cai to Ye. Ye Gong asked Confucius about politics and discussed moral issues about integrity with Confucius.

On the way to Ye Hui Cai, Confucius met a hermit.

Confucius and his entourage got lost and asked Zilu to inquire about the road. Outcome! Zilu met the hermit and was teased by the hermit.

The hermit teased: "Confucius is a sage, a man who guides the people to the path of happiness and well-being, how could he get lost?" ”

Zilu is a short-tempered person, so naturally he can't stand this anger, but he doesn't dare to attack if he asks for help. When he returned, he told Confucius about the hermit.

"Superior! It should be a tall man. Confucius asked Zilu to lead him over and meet the hermit.

When the hermit saw that it was indeed Confucius, he joked with him and played a fierce game.

"Sir! You've changed your concept! Confucius listened patiently, and waited until the other party finished speaking, and then pointed out one by one.

"Where did I change my concept?"

"We got lost and came to consult Mr. Yu. And the gentleman did not show us the way, but extended to the road of life. Isn't it? Don't? Isn't this a change of concept? ”

"Lao Tzu said: The outlook on life is not clear, if a person does not have a correct outlook on life, life is like a dream, living in a trance, what is the difference between getting lost and what Mr. said?"

"This?" When Confucius heard this, he felt that this was a master in the world.

Oh, yes! If a person lives in a daze, what is the difference between living in a dream and living in a dream? What is the difference between a person's outlook on life, worldview, and cosmology, a person who is not firm, who lives on the wall, and who has no moral bottom line, and who is truly lost?

"Kong Qiu is willing to listen to Mr.'s advice!"

"Don't dare to be instructed!" When the hermit saw that Confucius was serious, he said very directly: "If you don't believe in Lao Tzu's Taoism, you must open up a new one." So! I'll tell you explicitly! Hurry up and learn "Yi"! ”

"Learn Yi"?"

"Learn Yi"!" The hermit nodded and continued: "Yi originated from ancient times, and was later cultivated by King Wen of Zhou, and the thinking mode is closer to yours. ”

"Excuse me, sir? What do you mean by that? Confucius asked, puzzled.

"Lao Tzu's mode of thinking has changed a bit, and he is an old man who makes analogies to human beings and then to other things according to the phenomena of things. And then you deduce logic, you deduce materialism, and you may not be able to accept this advanced mode of thinking.

In fact! Lao Tzu's mode of thinking is not ahead of its time, he is dialectical materialist. As long as you accept it and are willing to accept it, it is easy to understand. Now, crucially, most people in the world are unwilling to change their previous thinking patterns, which has frustrated Lao Tzu's doctrine.

Just like you, you know that Lao Tzu's doctrine and thinking are correct, but you don't do what Lao Tzu says, but you want to change and find another way. Isn't it?

So! I recommend you to learn "Yi", learn the thinking mode of Yi, and learn the thinking mode of King Wen of Zhou. Furthermore! You are a firm supporter of the Zhou rites and the Zhou system, and your study may be of great benefit to your doctrine and thinking. ”

"Mr. Xie advises! So excuse me? What's easy? I've seen Yi before, but I'm stupid! I just didn't understand it. Confucius confessed honestly.

The hermit looked at Confucius and snickered inwardly. No! It's contempt.

In his eyes, no one who studies Yi will make any progress. Other words! Research is easy, but it is not helpful in life.

In the past, he was also a researcher and indulged in it.

Afterward! Knowing that Lao Tzu was living in seclusion in the country of Chen, he rushed over and asked for advice from the world's first talent. Outcome! was beaten by Lao Tzu's agitated generals, just like when Confucius read books on Zhou rites.

But differently! He accepted. And Confucius at that time did not accept Lao Tzu's radical generals.

Lao Tzu criticized him fiercely, and then pointed out Yi's shortcomings one by one. What are the disadvantages of easy? In Lao Tzu's eyes, Yi has great shortcomings. First of all: easy is unscientific. So! The results that come from the easy deduction are unbelievable.

According to Lao Tzu, Yi is to assume three or more outcomes, and then divination. Divination is determined to be the result. So! If we believe absolutely in the results and believe in the results of divination without thinking, we will create a situation that does not correspond to the actual results.

And the truly wise man, such as King Wen of Zhou himself, his divination method is different. No matter what the result of divination is, he has a way to deal with it in his heart.

Divination, no matter how things will turn out, there is a way to deal with it in their hearts. Before divination, the wise man imagined N outcomes. And then! Strengthen your beliefs through divination.

For the wise, they prefer divination to bad results. Only when divination results badly will we remember more profoundly: when we are faced with it, we know how to face it.

And the divination of the world, as well as the vulgar people, only wants the best result of divination.

This is the difference between man and the wise.

When the hermit talks to Confucius, he is actually playing tricks on Confucius and laughing at Confucius's thinking mode.

(End of chapter)