Chapter 3: The Hundred Schools of Thought

They all have descendants wandering in the secular world, waiting for an opportunity, a chance to rise and regain their former glory. Wind, remember, no matter what happens in the future, stay away from the disputes of factions; these conflicts can lead to the downfall of a vast empire, something that ordinary people cannot bear.

Liu Feng had actually contemplated these words for an entire day. Here, he subtly employed a little trick; perhaps this question could reveal Dou Yin's stance, thereby indirectly shedding light on Dou Yin's background.

The faint light in the study continued to flicker, as Dou Yin leaned back against the chair. His handsome and gentle face now bore a somewhat unpredictable expression. In front of him lay the book just used by Liu Feng, with neat and elegant handwriting on its pages.

Resolutely, Dou Yin took another sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said: "What Feng Er has proposed indeed carries new ideas, something that has never been suggested in thousands of years. In fact, my uncle has also considered this, but deemed it too unconventional, so he did not delve into it further. Today, since Feng Er has brought it up, my uncle will share what he knows, hoping it will be beneficial to Feng Er. Let us start with the various schools of thought, as this may also help Xiao Yue understand."

Therefore, my nephew feels that the fundamental premise of learning the doctrines of Confucianism is not very reasonable. However, why is it that various countries vigorously promote it, and scholars increasingly admire it? Even the common people show no awareness of opposition. Here, my nephew finds it somewhat perplexing and hopes that my uncle can provide clarification.

The flickering lights cast a gentle glow on Dou Yin's handsome face as he looked tenderly at the two children engrossed in their books. He was determined to impart all his knowledge to Liu Feng. The child did not disappoint him; he was exceptionally gifted, often able to draw inferences from one example to another. Particularly, the ideas presented in the illustrations and texts were both novel and persuasive, with profound implications that could rival those of ancient sages, which brought Dou Yin great comfort.

At this moment, Dou Yin truly transforms from his usual carefree demeanor, exuding an indescribable elegance and refinement, which brings Liu Feng a multitude of unique experiences

Uncle has praised me. I, as a child, have read the various schools of thought and can generally understand their meanings. However, Guan Zi once said, "The rise of governance lies in following the people's hearts; the fall of governance lies in going against the people's hearts"

My nephew believes that the people are the foundation of the state, and I wholeheartedly agree. After all, the people are paramount; without the multitude, there is no home, no nation. Without a nation, there can be no ruler's dominion.

Dou Yin nodded in satisfaction, stating, "As for what Feng Er mentioned regarding the 'Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parent, Teacher' of the school of thought being esteemed by the ruler, this is inevitable; it is a necessity of imperial power. As for the common people, as long as those in power provide appropriate benefits within their realm of governance, they will naturally not resist. Thus, the temptation of enduring ten years of hardship in the study, only to achieve fame and recognition in a single morning, arises."

Raising his head to look at the two pairs of eager eyes, he decided to share what he knew with them. If fate were to lead Liu Feng back into that vortex, there would be no way to stop it. It would be better to let him know a bit more; perhaps it could save the boy's life in the future

At this moment, Dou Yin could hear his own heartbeat. If he remembered correctly, these were all written by Liu Feng before he presented the various schools of thought. If these are Liu Feng's own ideas, then this child is indeed quite intelligent and somewhat extraordinary. Could it be that the heavens intentionally granted this child a unique perspective and exceptional wisdom

However, each school is actually an ancient entity that has been inherited for thousands of years, and its influence is unimaginable. The schools of Confucianism, Daoism, the military, Legalism, and Mohism are well-known to the public. However, what is revealed to outsiders is merely a small part of their true nature; their influence is deeply intertwined, and those schools that do not manifest in the secular world should not be underestimated

However, although Aunt Wu agreed to Xiaoyue's studies, deep down she still held the belief that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. Learning was something reserved for the daughters of wealthy families; therefore, most of Xiaoyue's time during the day was spent practicing domestic skills, in accordance with Aunt Wu's wishes, so that she could marry someone and become a good wife who supports her husband and raises children

The doctrine of the school states that "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teacher" clearly places the sovereign above the people. The current stance of the school is vigorously promoted by the Han and Wu dynasties, and even the distant lands of South Shu and the Latila Empire are gradually beginning to accept it. I believe that if this subservient mindset encounters a wise ruler, the nation will prosper and the people will live in peace, enjoying their livelihoods; however, if it encounters a foolish or tyrannical ruler, it will inevitably lead to chaos and conflict.

The cold winter nights arrive rather early, especially on rainy or snowy days, when the small town becomes silent and still, with the flickering lights and the stars in the sky reflecting each other. In the study, the flame of the oil lamp flickers from time to time, illuminating two earnest little faces.

In fact, it is referred to as the Hundred Schools of Thought, but among them, only a few have had a significant influence, namely the Confucian, Daoist, Mohist, Legalist, Logician, Yin-Yang, Diplomatic, Miscellaneous, Novelist, Military, and Medical schools. Many of these schools have already faded into obscurity, and it can even be said that they are no longer known to later generations

After a moment, Liu Feng raised his head and saw that Xiao Yue'er was still looking down at her book. Liu Feng then picked up his brush and began to make notes on the scroll, writing down some of his understandings and insights from the book, while also marking the parts he did not comprehend. By the time Liu Feng had finished writing, Xiao Yue'er had also completed her reading. Seeing her put down the scroll in her hand, Liu Feng softly said: "Uncle, we have finished reading this section, and there are some parts we do not understand; I hope you can provide some answers for the child."

The night grew deeper, and as Liu Feng stepped out of the study, a gust of cold wind made him shiver involuntarily. Aunt Wu led little Yue'er back, while he slowly walked back through the darkness, the words of his uncle still echoing in his ears

Dou Yin taught Liu Feng about the various schools of thought, hoping that in the future, should he find himself entangled in difficulties, he could timely avoid risks. He inadvertently noticed Liu Feng's writing: "The ruler supports the academic sect to counterbalance other schools and deceives the people for easier governance," along with a small note below: "The academic sect willingly bows to the high-ranking figures of the Western Han Dynasty; those in high positions also have lofty aspirations."

Liu Feng stood in the courtyard for a long time, patting his slightly cold face. Forget it, he thought, it’s better not to dwell on it. I will eventually know what I need to know. My uncle has given up so much for me; since he doesn’t want me to know, there must be a reason behind it. With this thought, Liu Feng stomped his slightly numb feet and went inside to rest.

As for Xiaoyue, at the beginning, Dou Yin intended to casually teach her, treating it as a way to keep Liu Feng company while giving the little girl something to do. Gradually, Dou Yin also discovered that Xiaoyue was indeed a lively girl, who approached her studies with great seriousness

After taking a sip of tea, Dou Yin smiled and said: "If there is anything you do not quite understand, feel free to mention it. As the saying goes, 'Extraordinary texts are appreciated together, and doubts are analyzed together.' My uncle and I will analyze it with you, and perhaps my nephew and Xiao Yue will come up with some astonishing remarks."

Initially, there was only Liu Feng. Later, Liu Feng noticed the longing gaze in Xiao Yue'er’s eyes and subsequently pleaded with Dou Yin to take her along. As for Dou Yin, having watched Xiao Yue'er grow up, he had long regarded her as half a daughter, so he readily agreed to teach her as well

However, with Liu Feng's performance over the past few years, Dou Yin began to slowly change his mind. Since Feng'er has received such favor from the heavens, it is better for him to be aware of certain matters. Who knows when the situation might force him into an undesirable position, so it is better to prepare Feng'er in advance. Under the faint light, Dou Yin gazed thoughtfully at the dark night outside, stroking a piece of crystal-clear Qilin jade, in which the red character "兵" stood out vividly.

The dim light provided a better disguise for Dou Yin, whose expression was somewhat shocked. Are these two children really only five years old? Especially with Liu Feng's questions; these are matters Dou Yin had also contemplated before, but they pertain to the relationship between rulers and subjects, as well as the struggles between different schools of thought. He had always been reluctant to involve these children in such disputes. Should he speak up or remain silent? Dou Yin felt a bit hesitant

At this moment, Dou Yin's serious expression and deep concern filled Liu Feng's heart with warmth, prompting him to quickly lower his head and respond: "I will remember my uncle's teachings."

Every evening after dinner, it is Dou Yin who spends time in the study clarifying doubts and answering questions for Liu Feng. This is also Liu Feng's favorite time, as it allows him to gain insight into many aspects of this life.

Master, I just heard the young master say this. In front of Dou Yin and Wu Ma, Xiao Yue'er still does not dare to call Liu Feng 'brother', lowering her head to avoid Liu Feng's dissatisfied gaze. Xiao Yue'er also feels that something seems amiss. Furthermore, how many schools of thought are there among the Hundred Schools of Thought? Xiao Yue'er remembers the master previously mentioning that only the School of Learning, the School of Principle, the Military School, the Legalist School, and the Mohist School remain. What about the other sects? Have they really just disappeared?

I still do not know my uncle's background, but how could someone who knows so many secrets be an ordinary person? It seems that my uncle's background is quite profound, Liu Feng silently sighed to himself. Does that mean I also have a hidden secret that no one knows about?

Perhaps this is an opportunity. Five years ago, the elder brother, whom I admired for his elegance and extraordinary talent, passed away unexpectedly. That night, I was fortunate enough to be there; otherwise, the elder brother's only descendant would have also been killed by that beast. Truly, since ancient times, the royal family has known no kinship. This has always been an unspeakable pain in Dou Yin's heart. As a result, Dou Yin chose to remain hidden from the world, dedicating himself to nurturing Feng Er, hoping that he could stay away from that vortex and live as a commoner in this life, free and untroubled.

After a pause, Dou Yin continued, "The Hundred Schools of Thought originated during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when various heroes emerged and states were numerous. In order to attract talented individuals and strengthen their power, each ruler treated those with scholarly abilities with great respect, leading to a time of vibrant discourse among various schools of thought, with many schools emerging in response to the circumstances."

In just the brief span of two hours, Dou Yin indeed revealed many unknown secrets, allowing Liu Feng to thoroughly understand the struggles between imperial power and academic factions, as well as the overt and covert rivalries among various schools of thought. It appears that behind all the noble façades lies a shameful web of undisclosed interests.

Common people can become officials through selection, and once they become officials, they gain power. This allows them to transform from being subjects of oppression to oppressing others, leading the common people to become even more deeply entrenched in ignorance. This is the nature of power tactics, the manipulation employed by those in higher positions. Consequently, academic sects that align with the needs of the authorities naturally receive strong support and significant development