Chapter 123: To Not Die Is to Be Immortal

When discussing Confucianism, one must mention a pivotal historical event: the burning of books and the burying of scholars.

After the First Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huang) conquered the six kingdoms, he sought to consolidate his regime and unify ideology. Following the counsel of Li Si, he made a swift decision: to ban books nationwide and burn the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Chief among these were the *Classic of Poetry* and the *Book of Documents*, two of the most essential works of the Confucian school.

The *Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Qin Shi Huang* state: "Unless held by the erudite scholars, anyone in the empire possessing the *Poetry*, the *Documents*, or the works of the Hundred Schools shall bring them to the governors and commandants to be burned. Those who dare to discuss the *Poetry* or the *Documents* shall be executed in the marketplace. Those who use the past to criticize the present shall have their clans exterminated. Officials who witness such violations and fail to report them shall be considered equally guilty. Those who have not burned their books within thirty days of this decree shall be branded and sent to hard labor at the city walls."

What does "branded and sent to hard labor at the city walls" mean? These were two brutal punishments of the Qin Dynasty. Branding, or ink-tattooing, involved carving characters into a criminal's face and rubbing ink into the wounds so the mark would never fade. "Hard labor at the city walls" meant forcing prisoners to build the Great Wall as unpaid laborers. Under the conditions of that era, being sent to build the Great Wall was essentially a death sentence; few ever returned.

As the "burning of books" campaign progressed, the laws grew even more draconian. Even discussing the *Poetry* or the *Documents* became a capital offense. Those who "used the past to criticize the present" faced the annihilation of their entire clan. This was a fatal blow to the Confucian school. The sheer terror of the era can be felt in the words of the First Emperor’s eldest son, Prince Fusu: "The empire has just been pacified, and the people in distant regions have yet to settle. The scholars all study the teachings of Confucius, yet Your Majesty punishes them severely with harsh laws. I fear the empire will not be at peace; I humbly pray Your Majesty consider this."

For this single, honest statement, Fusu infuriated the First Emperor. He was promptly exiled from Xianyang and sent to assist Meng Tian in building the Great Wall. This illustrates the intensity of the First Emperor's resolve regarding the "burning of books."

Later, the First Emperor ordered the burial alive of "over four hundred and sixty violators," earning himself eternal infamy. While some scholars argue that those buried were not "Confucian students" but rather charlatans who had deceived the Emperor with promises of an "elixir of immortality," this does not negate the fact that the Confucian school was the greatest victim of this catastrophe.

The First Emperor made such decisions precisely because he placed too much faith in Legalism. The State of Qin’s success in destroying the six kingdoms and unifying the world was inextricably linked to its reliance on the Legalist school. From Shang Yang’s reforms to the rise of Ying Zheng and the employment of figures like Han Fei and Li Si, Qin had undergone centuries of reform and development, transforming from a tiny, impoverished state into a power capable of conquering all others.

Legalist philosophy advocates governing through law. Especially after unifying the six kingdoms, the Qin Dynasty employed "heavy codes," with laws that were exceptionally severe to strengthen centralized power. Yet, under such "heavy codes," the people often lived in misery, filled with fear. This was the exact antithesis of the "rule by ritual" championed by Confucianism.

Confucius believed, "If a man lacks benevolence, what has he to do with ritual?" Thus, the Confucian school advocates governance by virtue—to "guide them with virtue and regulate them with ritual." It seeks to restrain people through moral norms in a gentle manner, unlike the Legalist approach of using cruel punishments to instill fear.

In other words, compared to other schools, Confucianism stood in direct opposition to the entire Qin Empire. Ying Zheng naturally loathed Confucianism. Furthermore, the newly unified Great Qin Empire had just launched campaigns to strike the Xiongnu in the north and the Baiyue in the south, achieving an unprecedented legacy. Ying Zheng boasted that his achievements surpassed those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; how could he possibly regard the people of the six former kingdoms with any respect?

However, the negative impact of the "burning of books and burying of scholars" rippled across the entire world. As Prince Fusu said, "The scholars all study the teachings of Confucius." At that time, Confucianism was already the largest school of thought in the six kingdoms. Within the borders of Great Qin, there were countless admirers of Confucianism. In his haste to unify ideology, Ying Zheng used the "burning of books"—a method that stifled the wisdom of the people—which directly shook the foundations of Qin's rule.

In a sense, the destruction of Confucian teachings and the persecution of its students by the Qin Dynasty indirectly fueled the peasant uprisings at the end of the dynasty. This was a collision between the imperial system and the thoughts of the people, an irreconcilable conflict. When the Emperor's vision stood in opposition to the world, the people naturally could not accept such governance. Rebellion was inevitable.

Consequently, after Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, he immediately abolished the "harsh laws and severe punishments" of the Qin. He advocated governing with Confucianism, supplemented by Legalism. In the twelfth year of Emperor Gaozu’s reign, he personally traveled to Qufu to sacrifice to Confucius and enfeoffed Kong Teng, the eighth-generation descendant of Confucius, as the Lord of Confucius's Sacrifices. This philosophy of governing through Confucianism reached its zenith during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. For the two thousand years of feudal dynasties that followed, Confucianism remained the orthodox ideology, and the descendants of Confucius were granted hereditary titles for generations.

In the current Great Tang, the Emperor has ascended the throne and, at the Imperial Academy, "suspended sacrifices to the Duke of Zhou and elevated the Master (Confucius) to the rank of Former Sage," which demonstrates the high regard the Emperor and the court hold for Confucianism. The Kong clan of Qufu may not appear on the list of the "Five Surnames and Seven Families," but they have endured for over a millennium, surviving longer than any other aristocratic house. Throughout the ages, regardless of who sat on the throne or how chaotic the world became, every ruler has treated the descendants of Confucius with courtesy, offering preferential policies and bestowing titles. The depth of the Kong family's foundation is beyond imagination.

Kong Wen is a direct descendant of Confucius. Even if he were not the eldest grandson of the current family head, his status would still be exceptionally high. Even more impressively, Kong Wen is a master of learning and a great Confucian scholar of his generation, holding significant weight in the academic world. Lu Xin never expected such a figure to be hiding quietly in the crowd, let alone that he would emerge to defend him.

Last night, during the chaos in Chang'an, Kong Wen was a key figure. The Daoist priestess Shangguan Yunyi had come specifically to find him, causing a disturbance at the Baifu Inn that set the stage for the slaughter. Li Chunfeng had praised him highly, saying his "righteous spirit had grown to the point of manifesting the He-Luo Yin-Yang Diagram," protecting him under heaven and rendering him immune to all arts.

Kong Wen’s appearance caused the expressions of the noble youths to shift. Changsun Wuji, previously incensed, gradually suppressed his rage. Even Li Xiaogong, who had been about to leave, paused and turned back, his face etched with gravity. In truth, Kong Wen was the same age as Changsun Wuji and Li Xiaogong; the three were men of the same era and understood each other well.

"The Kong family of Qufu! Brother Xiding, this man seems determined to help those two boys. This is troublesome."

"Hmph, 'troublesome' is an understatement. The Great Tang reveres Confucianism and honors Confucius. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has elevated the Master to a Former Sage and repeatedly decreed that Confucius temples be built in every prefecture and county for seasonal sacrifices. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Kong family has no one in the court; they possess immense prestige. Throughout history, which emperor has not given them a measure of respect? Moreover, this Kong Wen is a master of calligraphy, poetry, and painting, having gained fame throughout the world ten years ago. My father says he has reached the supreme realm of cultivating the spirit through study; his Confucian righteous spirit can even manifest externally. I never imagined he would come to the capital at this time. Could he be here for the imperial examinations?"

Wang Xiding's face was deathly pale, his brows locked in a frown, revealing his apprehension. Nearby, Zheng Huiming and Lu Houze exchanged glances and fell silent.

Meanwhile, Changsun Wuji coughed twice, forcing a smile onto his face.

"So it is Brother Xiaocheng. It has been many years; you look better than ever."

"You are too kind, dear brother. Everything is well. Fujii, let us not argue over right or wrong today. Compared to this, His Majesty's examination is far more important."

"Brother Xiaocheng, you... sigh, very well. Let the Prince handle this matter; I shall no longer intervene."

Changsun Wuji and Kong Wen were clearly acquainted, addressing each other by their courtesy names. Upon hearing Kong Wen ask him to let Lu Xin and his companion go, Changsun Wuji’s expression flickered. Yet, after a long silence, he nodded in agreement. Even stranger, from the moment the incident began, everyone had been arguing over right and wrong. Even when Li Xiaogong stepped in to protect them, there were many who opposed him. But this time, the entire crowd fell silent; no one interjected, and no one dared to voice an objection.

"Hahaha... The Kong family of Qufu, truly worthy of being the household of a sage. Kong Wen, I heard of your name over a decade ago. It is a pity that I was campaigning on horseback in those days and never had the chance to meet you. Meeting you today not only fulfills my long-held wish but also places me in your debt. If not for the impending examinations, I would certainly invite you to my estate for a few cups of wine."

"Your Highness is too generous. I merely speak of the matter as it stands, taking no side and offering no praise or blame. As for the wine, since it is an invitation from the Prince, how could I refuse?"

"Truly?" Li Xiaogong was slightly startled, then replied with joy, "Does Brother Kong Wen not intend to participate in the examinations?"

"Heh, a sudden whim, that is all. Now that I have arrived in Chang'an and witnessed this prosperous age and the scholars of the world, I am content. Fame and rank are not things I must possess. It would be better to leave the positions open for these young men to serve His Majesty."

As Kong Wen spoke, his gaze swept over Zhang Yuzhi, Zheng Huiming, and the others. His voice sounded calm, yet his tone was incredibly lofty. However, none of those present showed any displeasure. Even arrogant figures like Zheng Huiming responded with deep respect, offering the courtesies of a student.

After speaking, Kong Wen walked toward Li Xiaogong and finally stopped in front of Luo Binwang. He smiled and placed his hands on the child's shoulders, his eyes filled with kindness, as if looking at his own son.

"You are still young; why the rush to enter the official world? Chang'an is not suitable for you. Why not return to Qufu in Yanzhou with me? It will not be too late to return for the examinations after you have come of age."

"Are you a descendant of the Sage Confucius?"

Luo Binwang had been filled with resentment, and having suffered serious injuries, his expression was chilling and fearsome. But at this moment, a glimmer of warmth finally appeared in the child's eyes. Kong Wen's words once again moved the onlookers. Even Li Xiaogong blinked his left eye in sudden realization.