Death is the greatest equalizer in the world.
No matter how heroic or full of arrogance you are, a single cut across the neck and all noise will cease.
When this soldier named Li Tong, aged 28, swung his sword to decapitate Guan Yu, Cao Wei was inspecting the rural households outside of Xianping City accompanied by his ministers.
On the way back to Xianping City and passing through the southern gate, Cao Wei unexpectedly saw a familiar figure here.
"Minister Xiahou Xuan paying respects to Your Majesty."
"Tai Chu?" Cao Wei stared at Xiahou Xuan for a few moments on his horse, then said, "Xiahou Xuan, rise!"
"Your Majesty's grace." Xiahou Xuan stood up straight and bowed, "I arrived in Xianping today and heard that Your Majesty was inspecting the suburbs. Therefore, I have been waiting here."
Three years have passed, and Xiahou Xuan's demeanor and elegance are still as 'bright and clear as the sun and the moon entering one's bosom' as before, but he seems to have become more reserved and stable.
Cao Wei had some reflections, "Time flies, as if it were flying. Time passes so quickly. Tai Chu seems to have grown up a bit. Let's follow me into the city, I have something to ask you."
"Following your order." Xiahou Xuan bowed with his hands, and then walked naturally to the front of Cao Wei's carriage and took the horse reins of the white horse, as if he had never left the position of Censorate Secretary.
The emperor's party entered the city and arrived at the magistrate's mansion, where Cao Wei also summoned Xiahou Xuan to the hall.
Cao Wei said, "I remember that I invited you to come from the rightbeach in mid-April. It's only two months ago, but Tai Chu's arrival is not slow."
Xiahou Xuan bowed and said, "Your Majesty has issued an order, how dare I delay even a moment? After receiving the imperial letter, I immediately headed north. I stayed at the residence of Zheng Publican in Quanzhou for two days and then joined the fleet carrying grain supplies by sea to Liankou."
Cao Wei nodded, "That's right. Since the army arrived in Liaodong, the supply of grain has been transported by sea. For you to travel alone along the coastal road must have been difficult."
"Tai Chu studied in Qiao County for three years, what have you gained?"
Xiahou Xuan replied, "I stayed at home and read books for three years without stepping out, and I have only understood four or five out of the 'Three Mysteries', which I am already content with."
"What are the 'Three Mysteries'?" Cao Wei asked.
Xiahou Xuan explained, "The 'Three Mysteries' refer to the three books, namely 'Laozi', 'Zhuangzi', and 'Yi Jing (I Ching)'. "
"I remember now." Cao Wei lightly slapped the table and pointed to the Zhongshu (Grand Secretary) Pei Qian, "I seem to have seen a book in the hands of Grand Secretary Pei, which is about Xuanxue (Mysticism). "
Pei Qian laughed and bowed, replying, "Your Majesty saw the book from me, which is Tai Chu's commentary on 'Zhuangzi'. It was obtained by my younger brother Pei Wenji from Tai Chu and then given to me."
Cao Wei looked at Xiahou Xuan and said, "I did not expect Tai Chu to have been studying Xuanxue for these three years. Is he really going to become a doctor of the liberal arts and take up a position at the Chongwen Guan or the Taihua School?"
"What has Tai Chu been studying?"
Xiahou Xuan bowed and began to explain, "Over the past three years at home, I have been studying the 'Three Mysteries,' but it's just about the topic of 'essence and non-essence, existence and non-existence.'"
Cao Wei had not been involved in such academic issues for a long time. At this moment with nothing to do, he patiently asked, "What does the term 'essence and non-essence' refer to?"
Xiahou Xuan said, "The concept of 'essence and non-essence' refers to the question of what is the essence of the world and the beginning of creation. In the past, He Yan and He Pingshu carefully studied 'Laozi,' and with the saying 'All things in the world are born from having, and having is born from non-being,' they believed that everything in the world comes from 'non-being'."
Cao Wei asked, "What use is there in such profound theories about 'essence and non-essence'? I have personally led the army to campaign in Liaodong, and the soldiers have fought on the battlefield, and the people have worked and cultivated. None of this has anything to do with these theories about 'essence and non-essence'."
Xiahou Xuan bowed and said, "The Yellow Emperor and Laozi's teachings, also known as 'government without action,' consider 'non-being' to be the source of the world. This corresponds to the Confucian concept of 'name-education.' Confucianism's concept of 'correcting names' and 'educating through example' is a synthesis of the principles of sovereign-subject relationships, filial piety, brotherly love, and legal hierarchies."
Cao Wei took a deep breath, thought for a long time, and then said, "Is it correct to understand that the theory of Taoism which discusses 'non-being' is deliberately opposed to the Confucian system of 'ruler-subject, father-son'?"
Xiahou Xuan shook his head, "There's nothing entirely opposite to this. However, He Pingshu's theory of 'valuing non-being' places more emphasis on the root, while regarding the branches of rites, education, and names as less important. It's not a complete denial of name education."
Cao Wei's dissatisfaction with He Yan deepened slightly, and then he continued to ask, "Since it's the 'essence and non-essence' theory, what does 'essence' refer to?"
"Since Your Majesty is concerned about practical matters, I won't discuss theory," Xiahou Xuan said, bowing. "Essence is the opposite of non-essence, which holds that Confucian 'name education' is useful, but personal feelings are more important."
The emperor and Xiahou Xuan were discussing 'essence and non-essence' and 'name education' here, but none of the other officials in the hall were distracted. They were all paying close attention to what was being said.
As the emperor, who is rich in the Four Seas, relies on laws and hierarchies to govern the world, who can do without 'name education'?
In other words, even outside the court and in the homes of the common people, filial piety, respect for the elders, and rites and laws, which are part of 'name education,' are necessary. How can one advocate for people to live as Zhuangzi did, taking a indifferent attitude towards life and death and rituals?
Such a useful ruling tool as Confucianism, how could Cao Wei be changed in thought by Xiahou Xuan's three or two words?
The answer is, of course, against.
Cao Wei maintained a composed expression and continued to ask Xiahou Xuan, "So, after three years of studying Taoism and understanding it by four or five, what do you think?"
Xiahou Xuan sighed and said, "Your Majesty, I have only understood the meaning of the book, but I do not know which one, 'being' or 'non-being,' is correct. No matter which path one takes, in the end, it's almost always proving oneself to oneself, as if one can never get out."
Cao Wei smiled and said, "Since even someone as wise as Tai Chu is just turning in circles about the words 'All things are born from having, and having is born from non-being,' then don't think about it."
"Daydreaming about such questions can't help the great Wei Dynasty in any way. Tai Chu is also a scholar of broad learning. Do you know that Confucius once said, 'Dedicate oneself to respecting ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance?'"
"Ba Yu, come over!"
Cao Wei reached out and summoned Jiang Wei from outside the door to stand beside him. He patted Jiang Wei on the shoulder and said to Xiahou Xuan, "In the past, Ba Yu and Tai Chu served as Censorate Secretaries together in my court. Three years later, Ba Yu followed me on campaigns, several times entering the enemy's camp as an envoy, and then again became a commander in the central army. This time, he has also established meritorious achievements."
"Tai Chu, is it more useful to do things like Jiang Wei, or is it more useful to engage in discussions about Taoism? Do I need to say more?"
"Tai Chu stunned, his expression seemed to freeze for a moment. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and bowed deeply towards the emperor with a full body bow: "
"Thank you for Your Majesty's enlightenment, and I am grateful. I've walked off the path! The three years of reflection have been illuminated by Your Majesty today! "Cao Wei looked at the young man in front of him, who was twenty-one years old, and nodded with a sense of emotion. Many people spend their entire lives trying to understand books that Xiahou Xuan mastered at the age of twenty-one. He completed the final loop on his path here, with Cao Wei as his guide."
It can be said that he is a brilliant genius.
The "essence and non-essence" theory, it's normal not to understand it. This question of the world's origin, for hundreds or even thousands of years after, has not been fully understood. How could Xiahou Xuan understand it just by looking at "Laozi", "Zhuangzi", and "Yi Jing (I Ching)"? It's impossible.
The emperor and Xiahou Xuan's actions made many people in the hall look stunned, unable to figure out what they were up to.
Cao Wei saw the confusion in the eyes of the assembly and laughed, "Who among you understands what I and Tai Chu have been talking about? Speak up for everyone."
Pei Qian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have some understanding of Taoism. Allow me to explain."
Cao Wei nodded, "Fine!"
Pei Qian coughed lightly: "Xiahou Taichu's theory on essence and non-essence in Taoism is not related to the country's actual affairs and has nothing to do with the people of the world."
"And Confucius said, 'Respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance.' This is not because Confucius doesn't understand the concept of ghosts and gods, but because he only uses sacrifices as a means of educating the people, without really taking into account whether ghosts and gods exist or not."
"Taoism is also a general topic. What's the point of worrying about these have or no have? As the emperor just said, governing the world and quelling rebellion require actual work."
Pei Qian bowed again towards the emperor, "So the best way is just not to think about it."
Cao Wei laughed and patted his hands, "Pei Qian's analysis is indeed thorough. This is exactly what I meant."
At this point, Xiahou Xuan said, "Since I have come here, I hope that I can do some practical work to repay Your Majesty."
Cao Wei pointed at Sima Yi and said, " Chancellor, I want to assign Tai Chu to work under you. You can let him handle the logistics and grain supply affairs to give him some experience."
Sima Yi bowed and answered, "Your servant will follow Your Majesty's command."
……
The following afternoon, the Goguryeo King Youjui returned to Xiangping along with Sun Li.
As they approached the prefect's office, Youjui, who had been chatting with Sun Li for a long time on the way, urgently sought help from Sun Li:
"Sun General, if I see the emperor later, how should I speak to him? I have never met a great sovereign before. Please point me in the right direction."
Sun Li looked at this chubby man in his thirties with fair skin and no beard, dressed in sumptuous attire, and said in a calm tone, "The emperor is mighty, wise, and decisive. Just answer whatever he asks you, and don't hide anything at all."
"Thank you, Sun General, thank you, Sun General!" Youjui kept bowing repeatedly. However, his bowing speed was too fast, making it look comical.
Standing outside the prefect's office, the two of them waited for a long time until the Censorate Secretary Xiahou Hui emerged from the office, bowed, and said, "The emperor has summoned General Sun and King Goguryeo."
"Thank you, Secretary," Sun Li replied with a bow.
The two of them were led forward by Xiahou Hui until they bowed in the hall and were finished. Sun Li's first sentence left Youjui speechless.
"Your Majesty, while fleeing, Poo Sun Yuan was killed in battle with my troops. Here is the head of Poo Sun Yuan. Please verify it."
Having said that, Sun Li lifted the wooden box at his side and glanced several times at Xiahou Hui.
Cao Wei waved his hand: "A head is not something worth looking at. Let the Chancellor check it. I don't need to see it in detail. Who killed Poo Sun Yuan?"
Sun Li replied honestly: "He was killed by a lieutenant of my troops during the battle. His name is Li Tong. He also came with me this time and is waiting outside the hall. Would the emperor like to see him?"
Youjui felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension.
As the death of Gongsun Yuanyu left the emperor uninterested in seeing his head, and I previously considered him as the top enemy, it is truly pitiful.
Cao Wei said, "There's no need to see him. Gong Sun Yuanyu is indeed a rebel without a doubt. The soldiers who kill the enemy will receive rewards from the court. Where is this man from?"
Sun Li replied, "Lieutenant Li Tong is from Didao, Longxi, and is twenty-eight years old. He was selected to join the central army as a county soldier in 204 during the Taihe era."
Longxi Didao? And also surname Li?
Cao Wei seemed to recall something, smiled, and said, "Since he joined the central army during the Taihe era, I'll grant him the title of Marquis of Guan Nei. Promote him to be a Marquisial Commander at a thousand stone salary, and send him away to a county outside. Sun General, your merit will be accounted for later."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Li bowed and answered.
Cao Wei turned his gaze to Youjui and briefly asked a few questions before directly asking, "In the past, the relationship between Goguryeo and the Poo family was in alliance with Poo Sun Yuan. I have previously chosen to let it go. Now, I will grant you the territory of Goguryeo as a nation, and make you the King of Goguryeo with an equivalent status to that of a Duke in Great Wei. Will you accept this?"
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty's grace!" Youjui directly knelt and kowtowed, his movements were more agile this time.
Cao Wei pointed at Youjui and looked at Sima Yi, "Let the other matters be handled by the Chancellor with the King of Goguryeo. I will rest first."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please take your time." Sima Yi stood up to greet. (End of this chapter)
