Liu Zongyuan’s Tongye Fengdi’s Discussing Series: Liu Zongyuan’s Selected Works from the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties 2. Xi said: "I will grant you a title." The Duke of Zhou came to congratulate him, and the king said: "This is a play." Zhou Gong said: "The emperor cannot play with you." He then sealed the weak younger brother in Tang Dynasty 3. I don't think so. The king's younger brother should be granted the title of Ye. It is appropriate for the Duke of Zhou to speak to the king at the right time and congratulate him for his success without waiting for his performance. If he should not be granted the title of Ye, the Duke of Zhou would be in trouble. If the land is dominated by humans and weaklings, how can he be made a saint? Moreover, the Duke of Zhou must not be stubborn about what the king said, but he will definitely implement it? If there is misfortune, will Wang Yitongye Xifu Temple 4 follow suit? All the virtues of a king are shown in practice. Suppose you don't get it right, even if you change it ten times, it won't be a disease; if you want to get it right, you can't make it easy, how about making fun of it? If the play must be carried out, it is the Duke of Zhou who teaches the king to pass by. I think that when the Duke of Zhou assists the king, he should follow the Tao, be calm and happy, and return to the great center. You must not say anything when it fails; nor should you restrain it or gallop it, making it run like an ox or a horse. If you are anxious, you will be defeated. Moreover, the father and son of the family cannot restrain themselves by this, how can they be called monarchs and ministers? This is a matter for a straight little husband5, which is not suitable for Zhou Gong to use, so it cannot be trusted. Or it can be said: Feng Tang Shu 6, Shi Yi Chengzhi 7. Notes 1 Ancient transmitters: refers to Lu Buwei, the editor of "Lü Shi Chun Qiu" and Liu Xiang, the author of "Shuo Yuan". 2 Cheng Wang gave tung leaves to his younger brother: Ji Song, the king of Zhou Cheng, used tung leaves as a gui (jade products used by emperors as vouchers) to give to his younger brother Shu Yu. 3 Tang: An ancient place name, in the present-day Yicheng area of ??Shanxi Province. King Cheng named his uncle Yu here, and later it was renamed Jin. 4. Fusi: refers to women and eunuchs. 5: Looks smart. 6 Uncle Tang: That is Shu Yu. Because he was granted the title of Tang Dynasty, he was called Uncle Tang. 7 Shi Yi: Yin Yi, Taishi of the Zhou Dynasty.

The translation of the ancient book says: Ji Song, the Chengwang of the Western Zhou Dynasty, took a piece of tung leaf cut into the shape of a Gui (a Gui was a ritual vessel held by princes and ministers in ancient times), played with his younger brother and said, "Put the This seal is for you." Once Zhou Gong knew about it, he came to congratulate him. King Cheng said, "I am joking with him." Duke Zhou said, "The emperor has no jokes." King Cheng granted the Tang Dynasty to his younger brother. In my opinion, this is not right. If the younger brother of the crown prince can be granted a title, the Duke of Zhou should promptly explain the truth to the king and should not congratulate him while he is playing games to approve the matter. For example, his younger brother should not be granted a title, but the Duke of Zhou actually granted many places and people to King Cheng's younger brother with a playful remark, asking him to be the monarch there. Can Duke Zhou be called a saint? Moreover, because the emperor is the respected king of all people, the Duke of Zhou must do what he says and do it. He must obey him and achieve success. If unfortunately, the king becomes a king and plays games with female eunuchs, should he also use jokes to divide them? Generally speaking, the virtue of a king depends on how he governs. If it is not done properly, it is not too much to change it ten times. If it is done properly, it cannot be changed, not to mention he is the speaker of the game! Even if it is a joke, it must be carried out. This is because Duke Zhou made a mistake in teaching Cheng Wang. I think about it carefully. When Duke Zhou assists the king, he should be calmly and gently persuaded with etiquette and righteousness. He must be guided to an impartial and upright position. When King Cheng makes a mistake, don't try to explain it to him. There is no need to restrain him everywhere, indulge him, or make him act like a cow or a horse; being too impatient will lead to bad things. Moreover, within a family, between father and son, this inappropriate management method cannot be exercised, not to mention that King Cheng and Duke Zhou are monarchs and ministers by title! This was a clever thing done by the young husband, and it was not something Zhou Gong should have done. Therefore, what is said in ancient books is not credible. Some people also say: "The matter of King Cheng conferring the title of Uncle Tang was prompted by Yin Yi, the Taishi at that time."

Commentary This article discusses the issue of how ministers should assist the monarch. Through the allusion of Tongye Fengdi, the author criticizes the absurd phenomenon that ministers must obey a monarch's casual joke, and advocates not blindly following the words and deeds of the ruler, but looking at its objective effects. In a feudal society, expressing such a view required extraordinary courage.