vstars Chapter 97 The Li Family, a Powerful Family
Chapter 97 The Li Family, a Powerful Family
Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Li Family, a Powerful Family
Ye Ru's words made the group of people freeze, their faces blank.
This certificate is known throughout the entire Confucian and Taoist continent. It contains the power of the Holy Path, and even if it is lost, it will return to its original owner.
"You are Ye, the chief of the case..."
The scarred man swallowed hard; he had never actually encountered the real deal before!
The scholar's expression became even more peculiar, and then he suddenly knelt down:
"Master Ye, I have been ignorant of etiquette and deserve to die. Please forgive me."
This scene caused the other two robbers to kneel down as well.
"Please forgive me, Lord Ye."
This made the atmosphere even more awkward, and Ye Ru couldn't bear to reprimand them:
"It is a great virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them. Please rise, all three of you. I cannot accept such a great gift."
Kong Hexuan stared at the four of them in disbelief, then suddenly clapped his hands:
"So you are Chief Ye. I am truly honored."
Ye Ru gave a wry smile, and then said:
"Why did you become outlaws? And when did I become Lord Ye?"
"Lord Ye, please forgive us. Your name is known to everyone in Hunan and Hubei. We people call you the reincarnation of the God of Literature. The three of us decided to follow you, but we ran out of money along the way, so we had the idea of becoming outlaws."
The scholar said admiringly.
"You will follow me?"
"Please, Lord Ye, take us in. I, Wang Hu, may not have any other skills, but I am an excellent cook."
The man in the lead, named Wang Hu, patted his chest and said proudly.
"Forehead……"
"Please, Lord Ye, take us in."
The scholar and the other two also pleaded.
"Brother Ye, you should take in the three of them, otherwise I don't think they will give up."
Kong Hexuan looked at Ye Ru with some envy. Even he and his fellow people couldn't make people follow him willingly.
Ye Ru sighed, then reluctantly agreed. Besides Wang Hu, the scholar was named Song Tao, and the other person was named Wang Yuan.
The carriage suddenly had four more people, making the somewhat boring journey a little more lively.
After an unknown number of days, a huge city appeared above Ye Ru and his companions. The city was extremely ancient, and above the city gate were two large characters.
Luzhou.
After the five people were checked, they went inside, while Xiaobai was treated as a pet by Ye Ru.
Ye Ru and his three companions entered Luzhou and finally stopped in front of a huge restaurant. Looking up, they saw the words "Zhong Sheng Lou" (Hall of Saints) on the roof. People were coming and going at the entrance, most of them weary scholars.
"Let's eat first. Today I'm hosting to thank Brother Ye Ru for his kindness along the way."
Kong Hexuan and others went in first, followed closely by Ye Ru and the others.
Stepping into the Hall of Saints, one is greeted by vermilion railings and pavilions, exuding extravagance.
"There are so many people from the various holy families."
Kong Hexuan was somewhat surprised to see some people.
"This time it's truly a fierce battle."
Ye Ru naturally noticed the extraordinary qualities of the others, and his longing for the National Scholar Competition grew even stronger.
"Brother Kong, I've missed you terribly since we parted ways in the capital."
As everyone looked at each other, a boy dressed in the robes of a child scholar walked in, followed by two attendants.
"Brother Li Chi? The Li family actually sent you out."
When Kong Hexuan saw this person, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, seemingly without any goodwill towards him.
"Brother Kong, you actually associate with such lowlifes. Aren't you afraid of disgracing your status?"
"What did you say!"
Li Chi glanced at Ye Ru and the others, his eyes filled with contempt, and sneered, which made Wang Hu shout out, and everyone around looked over.
"The Li family, a powerful clan? It is said that the Li family is also a family of sages, but the great Confucian scholar Li Si assisted Qin Shi Huang in burning books and burying scholars alive, which is why he was reduced to a powerful clan."
"Who are those people? How come they can be with the Confucius family?"
"They were probably some of the Kong family's followers."
Countless people chattered on.
"So they are descendants of the great Confucian scholar Li Si. Back in the Qin Dynasty, Li Si burned books and buried scholars alive, which was a great achievement."
Ye Ru said calmly.
These words caused Li Chi's expression to change drastically, and the others also looked strange. Li Si was ordered to burn books and bury scholars alive, but this was a permanent pain for the powerful Li family. Almost everyone except those from the Confucian and Mencian families was afraid of offending the Li family.
But the boy in front of them actually reopened the other person's wound.
Back then, Li Si refuted the enfeoffment system and advocated prohibiting the people from using the past to criticize the present and from using private schools to slander the government.
Qin Shi Huang adopted Li Si's suggestion and ordered the burning of all historical records of the states except for the "Qin Records". He also ordered the surrender and burning of privately held copies of the "Book of Poetry" and "Book of Documents" that were not in the Imperial Academy. Anyone who dared to discuss the "Book of Poetry" and "Book of Documents" was put to death, and those who used the past to criticize the present were exterminated. Private schools were banned, and more than 480 people were buried alive, which was condemned by scholars at the time.
This burning of books and burying of scholars alive set a precedent for "rule of the ignorant" and "quarrels among the academy" in the feudal period.
Sima Qian, the historian, also recorded this event in his historical book "Records of the Grand Historian" and strongly criticized Li Si and Qin Shi Huang, which is why the Li family became a powerful family rather than a noble family.
"Back then, my Li family ancestors abolished the feudal system, standardized the written language, and standardized weights and measures. Their achievements will last for thousands of years. How dare a mere scoundrel like you make such a presumptuous statement!"
Li Chi roared at Ye Ru, as if he were about to attack him with his fists and feet.
"Li Si and Zhao Gao forged an imperial edict to install Huhai, and killed Fusu, Meng Tian, and Meng Yi, ultimately leading to the downfall of Qin. If Fusu had not died, the Second Emperor would not have been murdered, and Qin could not have perished. What I am saying is also the truth."
Ye Ru's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.
Li Chi took a deep breath and shouted angrily:
"I want to have a verbal battle with you!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions, and even Kong Hexuan's pupils shrank.
Although the burning of books and burying of scholars made him dislike the Li family, Li Chi's talent was also first-rate, ranking among the top students in the various aristocratic families.
Moreover, although the Li family studied under Xunzi, they eventually became one of the Legalists, advocating the principle of "law before kingship," deeply embodying the essence of Legalism and Xunzi's school of thought.
Ye Ru looked at Li Chi and suddenly smiled:
"Are you really going to have a verbal battle with me?"
"Ye Xingjun, don't engage in a war of words with him. Even I know that Li Si and Zhao Gao were corrupt and caused the extermination of their clans by forging imperial edicts. I'd rather just throw him out to save him from embarrassment."
Wang Hu rolled up his sleeves, eager to try.
"Our ancestor served Qin, and through a minor transgression, assisted the First Emperor, ultimately leading to the establishment of the imperial dynasty. He was appointed one of the Three Dukes, a position that can be considered highly respected. His merits outweighed his faults. How can you, a lowly country bumpkin, make such a judgment?"
"Wen Zhan, do you dare or not?"
Li Chi's expression changed, but he shouted again in a stern voice.
Upon hearing this, Ye Ru sighed. Li Si was a political victim in history, but it was only at the end that this was realized. This led to Li Si's last words to his son before his death, when he forced a smile: "I wish to take you out with me again, leading our yellow dog, to chase rabbits at the east gate of Shangcai. How can that be possible!"
After a moment, Ye Ru raised his head and said something that brought a look of pity to everyone's faces:
"bring it on."