Ximen Leopard was not surprised by the fact that his son was going to study in Sishang, since there were a lot of stories that happened this year, since he had made such a choice, he was afraid that his heart was already as strong as iron.

Or maybe at this time, the heart may not be as hard as iron, just a lump of mud. But eventually, it will be fired into hard pottery and warm porcelain.

Ximen Leopard didn't say more parting words, but asked: "When Wu Qi was studying in the past, he once said: If you are not a prime minister, you will not return to your hometown. Do you want to say something like that when you leave like this? For example, if the world is unfavorable, vowed not to return home? ”

"I'm sixty and two years old this year, and even if the Mo family is right, it will take decades to say less. I wonder if on the day of my funeral is to tell your brother in advance so that he doesn't have to wait for you to come back. ”

Wu Qi's story is known to everyone among the nobles of the Wei State, and what Ximen Leopard said in this remark was not sad, he just wanted to ask.

Simon bowed and said, "Father, the ink is also a human being. Mohist love means to love others as you love yourself. If I don't know how to love myself, how can I love my father, how can I love the rest of the world? ”

"It's just...... Perhaps, I will love you with the righteousness, customs and propriety that I believe in. ”

"There was once a person who supported a thick burial and asked Mozi, a thick burial for a long time, if it is not the way of heaven, saying that the husband is talking nonsense about the gentleman of China, for the sake of it, and not for the sake of it?"

"If such a thing as a thick funeral is not the will of heaven, then why do Chinese gentlemen have to choose? Because Chinese gentlemen all choose, this must be the way of heaven. ”

But Mozi said that Chu Zhinan's parents of the Kouren Kingdom had to cut off their heads and bury them after they died, and after the Yiqu people died, they were set on fire. This is just a habit, and the Mo family believes that the rites of thick burial and mourning for three years are not the way of heaven, but just habits and customs, and they should change customs. ”

Speaking of this, Simon Yu saw that his father seemed to be about to say something, and hurriedly said: "Just like when you ruled the river and married a wife. If according to the reasoning of those people, why do many people have to participate in Hebo's wife? Then this must be correct, so it cannot be abolished. That's not how it works. ”

"But you also abolished it, and issued a decree to severely punish Hebo for marrying a wife. This is also a kind of changing customs, in fact, it is the same as thick burials and festival burials; There is no difference between three years of mourning and three days of mourning. ”

"The righteousness of the Mo family believes that serving three years of mourning is a ritual that harms the world and should be abolished. When Mozi died, his disciples only mourned for three days, because the rest of the time could be saved to do things that benefited the world. Even if a farmer has been mourning for three years, he cannot harvest crops; Even if you work for hundreds of years, you can't make tools after three years of mourning; These are all rituals that harm the world, and they should be changed. ”

"So, I'll be back then, but I want you to know that I love you for three days."

At this time, people do not shy away from life and death, and this is not a curse.

Simon Leopard laughed loudly, did not say anything more, neither nodded nor reprimanded, but waved his hand and said, "So, then go." ”

Simon said goodbye and retreated.

Out of the house, Ximen Bi bypassed the crowd that began to stir up in the street, thinking that the officials had informed the people, and gathered near the city gate to prepare for the expedition.

Different from Wu Qi's conscription system in Xihe, Ximen Leopard still implemented a policy of employing soldiers in Yedi, where the people cultivated and produced on weekdays, participated in certain military training on time, and immediately conscripted the people to serve once the war began.

This is Yedi's second large-scale call-up, but this time is completely different from the last one.

On the way to the Mojia stronghold, Ximen Yu heard a lot of complaints and dissatisfaction on the street about the expedition, he smiled, and turned into the distant streets.

Knocking on the door he frequented, Ximen Yu took off his robe and revealed a cotton cloth that was now very popular at the bottom of the floor, a cotton cloth that originated from the Mo family in Sishang.

The aristocratic clothes on his body were not heavy, on the contrary, they were actually very light, but when he took them off, it seemed to be unloading a thousand heavy burdens, and he exhaled a long breath.

Walking through the door where he often listened, the middle-aged man with his severed finger smiled at him, and then continued to talk something to the young man who was kneeling there and listening.

Ximen Yan quietly walked to a corner and knelt down, and when the wait was over, the middle-aged man beckoned to him, and Ximen Yan leaned over.

"Are you ready? You know, what does it mean for you to take this step? ”

Ximen Yan nodded, and said without the slightest hesitation: "Yes, I know." This means that my noble blood is meaningless, and I am only one of the people in the world in Sishang; This means that my compassion is not different in Sishang; This means that I may have to start with the most ordinary things, because I am a new person. ”

The middle-aged man smiled: "It seems that you are ready." Regret is in the future, not in the present. At least, you're ready now. ”

"Early tomorrow morning, there will be a caravan wagon, and several people like you will go to Sishang together."

"I'm going to take you to see something this afternoon."

Ximen Yu didn't ask what he wanted to see, just nodded.

This year, he has seen a lot of things, and he can't guess what he will see this time.

This year, he saw the hardships of the peasants, the tiredness of the laborers, and the grievances of the merchants.

As for what was going on, he had to go to see it on the last afternoon before leaving Yedi, but he couldn't guess.

In the afternoon, Ximen Yu and a few people followed behind the middle-aged man with a severed finger and walked near the gate of Yecheng.

Ximen Yan glanced at the middle-aged man with some doubts, this open space in front of the city gate was the place where the people were recruited to assemble.

For his father, Simon Leopard, dressed in military uniform, was standing beside a large drum in front of the city gate, where private soldiers were assembled, and many of the people of Yedi had gathered in the clearing.

This is the second large-scale conscription of people since Simon Leopard's rule.

The first time he was recruited, when Marquis Wen was alive, some people spread rumors that Ximen Leopard was not suitable to be a county guard, and he did not exploit the people so that the treasury was empty.

Ye Di is dangerous, it is the important place that chokes the throat of Zhao Guo, and Wen Hou can't help but notice it, so he comes here to check.

Ximen Leopard beat the drum in front of the city gate, the three drums were not finished, the people all assembled, each prepared food, and the father and mother sent off, thinking that the county guard would die.

Wenhou first knew Ximen Leopard's policy of "keeping soldiers in agriculture and storing grain in the people", and saw that the people's hearts were available, so he was relieved.

Historically, the reputation of Ximen Leopard in Yedi was extremely high, even after the establishment of the Han Dynasty hundreds of years later, because the water canal planned by Ximen Leopard blocked the royal road, and it was decided to merge the three tributaries and leave only one of them.

However, the people did not listen to the local officials at all, thinking that there was only one county guard in Yedi, that is, the Ximen Leopard hundreds of years ago, and these ditches were planned by the Ximen Leopard, and they would not agree to change them, and in the end the local people had to change the royal road, which did not arouse the dissatisfaction of the people.

Since the Ximen Leopard ruled Ye, it was also the first time when "the people could not worry about it" was resented by the people, and then the Zhanghe River was governed, iron tools and new planting techniques were introduced, and the water irrigation of Yedi made the people of Yedi more and more prosperous, and the people's respect for Ximen Leopard was also very great.

Now, many years later, Yedi is richer than before, and it is said that the people's respect for Simon Leopard will be greater than before.

But this time the drumming is a little different.

Last time, it was the grandmother who sent her off, and she was willing to die for the county guard, each carrying food, and shouting hard.

But this time, it was the crowd that was silent, loose and uneven, many silent, some sighed, or some were dissatisfied.

Later generations said that Ximen Leopard ruled Ye, and the people did not dare to bully.

Ximen Leopard has his own thunder means, knows how to relax, although he is light and thin, but when he was governed by Hebo, he threw Hebo into the water without saying a word, and then he had to change customs, so naturally the law was strict.

He was a local governor and a military commander, and he trained the soldiers in the peasants every year, and his military orders were also strict.

Ximen Yu knows this very well, the reality spreads the news, once the drum is beaten, those who fail to arrive three times will be punished, not the kind of virtue that abuses the wishes of the country.

Although the peasants and soldiers, including the household, arrived this time, the momentum was far less than before, and there was no agitation of "fighting to the death for the county guards" before.

Outside the crowd, Simon found Simon Leopard pacing in front of the city gate drum with his hands behind his back, and he knew that it was a movement that his father would only do when he was nervous and angry, and thought to himself...... That's understandable.

The people gathered, the morale of the army was sluggish, sighing and resentment were full of faces, how could this be fought?

Ximen Yu didn't know what his father was thinking, but when he saw Ximen Leopard walking in front of the crowd, he asked: "Fathers, more than ten years ago, this drum sounded twice, and everyone came with soldiers and food. ”

"It's still me standing here today, why have you all become like this?"

Everyone didn't answer, Ximen Yan thought to himself, I'm afraid that my father also knows that the people are not willing to fight now, especially the Sanjin Dynasty used to be an alliance, and now it is for the battle between Zhao Gongzi, how can the people be willing?

It's just that more than ten years ago, it was also a war, and there was bloodshed and death, so why did the people come with soldiers and food at that time?

And he thought, "Is it because I asked him to come here today to see something?"

At this time, Ximen Leopard asked again: "I am a Ye Shou, and there is no concubine in the house, no horses in the stable, and no gold and jade in the house." Isn't it commendable compared to those corrupt officials who seek personal gain? ”

This is the truth, and everyone said, "It is commendable." ”

Ximen Leopard asked again: "I will be a guard, gently shake the thin labor, build water conservancy, collect less tribute taxes, and store grain for the people." It makes the people rich, the people healthy, and the benefits of Zhangshui irrigate thousands of hectares. So that the people have no worries about food and clothing. Have you forgotten all this? ”

This is also the truth, and everyone also said: "I haven't forgotten." ”

Ximen Leopard sighed: "I have done my best for the county guard. Now, the prince needs your strength, can you only enjoy all that I have said, but not fight for me and for my country? More than ten years ago, you were willing to die for service, but more than ten years later, is it that I, Simon Leopard, have changed? ”

The crowd also said, "You haven't changed. ”

Simon Leopard asked, "Then why are you depressed today?" Do any of you want to answer me? ”

He asked three times in a row, but no one stood up, and many people avoided Simon Leopard's gaze, dodging in their eyes, as if they were a little ashamed.

Under this kind of shame, some people also stood up and said: "We were wrong, you are worthy of our death." ”

But even if someone said this, most of them were still dejected, and it did not provoke the roar of the crowd.

Simon Leopard asked aloud, "Who can stand up and tell me why today?" ”

A person finally came out of the crowd, saluted Simon Leopard, and said, "Please let me answer for you." But please forgive me for my possible sins. ”

Simon Leopard nodded, and the man said, "There are good shepherds and pigs." ”

"Every morning, the herders go to cut the grass, and when they come back, they add sweet potato leaves and corn kernels to boil, and then feed them to the pigs."

"At noon, the farmer cleans the barn and sweeps the manure clean."

"At night, we have to light wormwood again to smoke those annoying mosquitoes."

"By the time the winter moon comes, the pigs are fattening. So the herder wanted to kill the pig, so he went into the barn with a knife. The pigs in the barn scattered and ran away. ”

Then the shepherd asked, "Why do you run?" Am I not doing enough? ”

A pig said, "You are doing so well, but aren't you doing all this to kill pigs?" So, do you want us to kill you because we thank you for a good job, so that you don't run away? ”

As soon as this person finished speaking, Ximen Leopard's face changed, and he said angrily: "These are all the words of the Mo family's troubles in the world!" Now that there are many warring states, if you don't attack and don't attack Zhao, won't Zhao come to fight Wei? So, as Wei people, shouldn't you stand up and defend the Wei State? ”

The man who spoke just now looked at Ximen Leopard and sighed: "This is the Wei Kingdom of the princes and nobles, not our Wei Kingdom. You are a good person and a good Ye Shou, but we don't know why we want to attack Zhao State. ”

"The military order is strict and cannot be disobeyed, so we stand here as soldiers for you and the Wei State of the princes and nobles. However, you also ask us to be as imposing as Nie Zheng's assassination of Qin, and to die for the sake of wishing...... Isn't that like a farmer wishing that none of the pigs in the barn would run away? ”

"We will follow military orders. But don't ask us why we don't have a lot of momentum. ”

Ximen Leopard laughed and said: "The Mo family's words of self-interest and benevolence really disturb people's hearts!" Speaking of self-interest, could it be that after the Zhao people called, would Ye Shou do better than me? When the time comes, you will change to a corrupt Ye Shou, or become a fief of the nobility, won't you regret it at that time? ”

The man who spoke: "The Mo family said: The construction of the country is upright, not high, generous, rich and wrong." This will be for the prosperity of all the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. ”

"Originally, the princes, doctors, and county guards were not set up to let them enjoy a life of luxury and luxury. It is to eliminate harm for the benefit of all the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. ”

"You are a keeper, your obligation is to eliminate harm for the benefit of all the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. We are grateful to you, because you have done things for the benefit of all the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. At that time, we were willing to die for it, because we didn't know that the original construction of the country was upright and long, not high-minded, generous, rich and wrong. This will be for the prosperity of all the people, the rich and the poor, and the safety and chaos. ”

"Now we know. This should have been a matter of duty, but now saying it can make people grateful to Dade, isn't this the world's disease? ”

"Therefore, we will abide by your military orders, but we will not die for Wei out of gratitude as we did more than ten years ago."

"You said that Zhao might send a corrupt Ye Shou, but it could also send a non-corrupt Ye Shou. It's not up to us to choose, you're a good servant, but that's not a reason for us to die for the prince. ”

"We obey your military orders, what do you want?"

"Do you have to let each of us bare our bodies and shout long live Dawei and fight to the death? Is this something that can be done? ”

"Those who just stood up are just grateful for your kindness, think you are very good, and are sorry for you not to die. But I want to live, will the prince feel ashamed to let me die? ”

Simon listened to these words from a distance and sighed.

The middle-aged man with a severed finger next to him asked with a smile, "In your opinion, they are more cowardly than before, right?" ”

Ximen Bi shook his head and said, "No, they are braver than before. To be able to dare to defend their own interests is the greatest bravery, and they did not have such bravery more than ten years ago. They are not cowardly, but braver. ”

"When they need to defend what they are willing to defend, the summer of Kyushu will be full of warriors."

"It's like love. Love is to love others as you love yourself, and you don't even know how to love, so how can you know how to love others? ”

"If they don't even know how to defend and protect their own interests, how can they be expected to fight to defend the interests of others?"

"If they don't even have the courage to speak up for their own interests, how can they be expected to die for others?"

"That person is right, this is not their Wei State. This is the Wei state of the princes and nobles. ”

"With the righteousness of the Mo family, there are all people in the world in Kyushu, and there is no distinction between Qin, Chu, Zhao, Han, and Weiqi."

"In the past, Wen Ziyan said: If you are not of my race, your heart will be different. This clan, but the clan. The surname Ji and the surname Mi are naturally different. He also said: the same surname and one heart, one heart and one mind, and comrade with one virtue...... In the end, this world is just a dispute between the Zhao family, the Wei family, the Ying family, the Han family, the Tian family, and the Xiong family. ”

"If there are people in the world, there are many surnames. What does the dispute between the Wei family and the Zhao family have to do with those who have no surname? Why die? Different surnames mean different aspirations, and if there is no surname and clan, how can you be comrades? ”

After speaking, he thought for a while, looked at the people who sighed because of this call-up, took a deep breath and said, "They are like me, like a new life. Before, they might have been pigs and sheep, but now they want to be human. ”

He turned his gaze to the crowd to continue hearing what his father would say.

The middle-aged man patted Ximen Yan on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, you have seen what I want you to see." You're right, they want to be human now. ”

Then get up and walk away, and leave nothing before the gates.

Simon got up, took one last look at his father, and at the last look at the people who would obey the orders but were unlikely to die for them, and smiled, not knowing who to nod at or at everyone.

Then he turned around and left with the middle-aged man.