During the Qin Dynasty, he brought chaos to the seven kingdoms.

Chapter 27 Debating with Xunzi

The sky was clear and the air was fresh, with clouds drifting lazily by.

"I am an old man, so I will get straight to the point. Human nature is evil; what appears good is often feigned. If there were no propriety, laws, or teachers in the world, everyone would fight and strife, leading to chaos and thus evil. What do you think, young friend?"

Xunzi directly presented his own viewpoint, gave a brief overview, and began with an introduction.

Although it may seem simple and superficial to modern people, it was absolutely insightful during the Warring States period two thousand years ago.

Cao Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Master, you are mistaken. Human nature is principle. Humans are born from the principle of heaven and earth, so there is no inherent evil in human nature. The 'Four Beginnings' that Mencius spoke of are like the first signs of a spring. Although they are sprouts, they are rooted in the principle of heaven. If you say that human nature is evil, then please tell me: when an infant sees a child about to fall into a well, he naturally feels compassion without having been taught—is this not clear evidence of the goodness of human nature?"

In other words, he was not the real Zhu Xi, the sage who is most misunderstood by modern people because of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Otherwise, with Zhu Xi's knowledge reserves of over a thousand years more than Xunzi's, as well as his profound understanding of Confucianism and Xunzi, he would certainly have been able to clearly explain Xunzi's situation.

The hundreds of scholars sitting around held their breath, while the cicadas chirped loudly in the wind.

A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

Regardless of other factors, Cao Yuan's nonchalant attitude towards contemporary Confucian scholars is enough to earn him the title of a genius.

Xunzi had already read Cao Yuan's essay "Human Nature is Good or Evil" and had already thought about and responded to the "principles" in it.

In response to Cao Yuan's remarks, he calmly replied: "A baby seeing a well may not necessarily feel compassion. If the baby is extremely thirsty, with only food and water in sight, how could it have the leisure to care about anything else? The so-called 'compassion' is actually the beginning of 'artificial' (man-made) behavior that only emerges after the teachings and moral cultivation of sages. Without teaching, people only know how to pursue their desires; without artifice, the world is only inhabited by beasts. Therefore, it is said: Goodness arises from the artifice of sages."

As a contemporary literary master, he was already very familiar with the chapters of Mencius' "Gongsun Chou Part 1" and had a deeper understanding of them.

Cao Yuan was already in the zone, his gaze calm.

"The Master's words subtly confuse the nature of things with the nature of people. Grass, trees, tiles, and stones only have qi (vital energy), not li (reason); while humans possess both qi and li. If human nature is inherently evil, then where do rites, righteousness, and the virtues of Yao and Shun come from? Goodness cannot arise from evil, just as muddy water cannot become clear on its own. Goodness must have its source, and this source is the principle of Heaven, which is the inherent goodness of human nature."

Xunzi stroked his beard and remained silent.

Cao Yuan remained calm and unhurried.

The air seemed to stand still at that moment.

Fu Nian paused, his wrist hovering as he recorded, his hands slightly closed in deep thought.

The nameless man pondered the profound meaning behind it, his expression enigmatic.

Han Fei and Li Si, their faces bruised and swollen, looked at each other in disbelief that Cao Yuan could so easily debate with their teacher.

As for Jing Ni Li Wu and Xiao Meng Jiang, they were just there for the spectacle; they basically didn't understand anything.

I just think Cao Yuan is amazing, he can fight Xun Fuzi, who is not good at martial arts, to a standstill.

"Hehe..." Xunzi laughed, his emotions fluctuating, and a gentle breeze suddenly arose around him.

"Let me ask you, young friend: If human nature is inherently good, why would we need the three hundred verses of the Book of Rites and the three thousand verses of the Book of Ceremonies? Why would we need punishments and laws? Goodness is sufficient; what use is teaching? It is precisely because human nature is inherently evil that sages are needed to establish rites and music, to transform human nature and to create artifice. If everyone would save every child they see, what need would the world have for laws and emperors?"

He was able to teach Legalist scholars like Han Fei and Li Si, so he must have been well-versed in the study of law. This can be said to be one of the reasons why he believed that "human nature is inherently evil".

Few people who have studied the law would believe that "human nature is inherently good".

Cao Yuan seemed to sense the tension and decided to speak freely. Just as there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield, there are no elders and juniors on the debating stage.

"Rites, music, and penal administration are not for 'correcting evil,' but for 'restoring the original state.' Like a pearl covered in dust, the dust is not the essence of the pearl; wiping away the dust reveals its brilliance. Human nature may be good, but it is obscured by temperament. Therefore, sages teach people to change their temperament, preserve heavenly principles, and eliminate human desires. Teaching is about wiping away the dust, not about reshaping its essence. Confucius taking 'dust' as the essence of the pearl is like mistaking a thief for one's own child!"

The hundreds of Confucian scholars in the audience were in an uproar.

Han Fei covered his swollen face, unable to bear the sight any longer. "Brother Cao is finished."

Li Si nodded in deep agreement, pointing to his still swollen head. His teacher really knew how to beat people.

Fu Nian and Wu Ming silently watched the old man and the young man in the arena, and suddenly felt that times had changed, and changed so fast.

Xunzi sneered, "You are quite the debater! Let me ask you: If a person lives alone in the wilderness, without any manners or education, how is his behavior any different from that of a beast? Can such a person be said to have any 'heavenly principles'? If human nature is inherently good, why must one 'eliminate human desires' to see heavenly principles? It is clear that heavenly principles are precisely the overcoming of human desires, not something inherent. Therefore, it is said: good comes from the outside; evil arises from within."

Cao Yuan sighed and said, "The Master took the 'nature of temperament' as the 'nature of heaven and earth.' Those who live alone in the wilderness are not without goodness, but their goodness is obscured by desires and selfishness, and cannot be used. Dogs and horses are also well-fed, but they cannot learn propriety and righteousness; humans can learn, which proves that humans have the principle of inclination towards goodness, and this principle is their nature. Therefore, goodness is within, not without."

Both sides got straight to the point, opening up the discussion and leading to a heated debate.

Xunzi's words were sharp and incisive.

Cao Yuan does whatever he wants, and by watching short videos of "vulgar scholars" and "hype scholars" that he often watches, as well as explanatory videos on Bilibili, he is not at a disadvantage.

An old man and a young man fought fiercely in the middle of the day, until the end of the afternoon.

As the summer sunset paints the ground, the cicadas' chirping grows ever more boisterous.

The two on the field were locked in a stalemate, neither able to refute the other, let alone determine a winner or loser.

Xunzi sighed and said, "You are even more outstanding than my two disciples. Let me say one last thing."

Cao Yuan, looking somewhat weary, said, "Master, please speak."

Fortunately, he was still young; otherwise, without any cultivation experience, he might not have been able to outlast the old man.

His brain was practically burning up and smoking.

"Throughout my life, I have encouraged learning, upheld etiquette, and emphasized the law, because I deeply understand that what makes a person human is not their innate nature, but their accumulated efforts (acquired skills). If one believes in the inherent goodness of human nature, then people will inevitably become lazy and use 'nature' as an excuse for indulgence. The theory of inherent evil is both a warning bell and a stepping stone."

Xunzi sighed deeply.

Cao Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"My senior brother once told me this. He spent his life investigating things and cultivating himself with reverence because he firmly believed that what makes people teachable and valuable is the inherent goodness within them. If one believes in the evil of human nature, then one will surely give up on oneself, thinking, 'I am inherently evil, and there is no use in changing myself.' The theory of the goodness of human nature is a beacon and a foundation."

Xunzi was taken aback.

After a long while, Xunzi suddenly smiled and said, "You and I both talk about the importance of 'teaching.' I believe that teaching comes from the outside and transforms evil into good."

Cao Yuan smiled and said, "I believe that education should begin with inner awakening, followed by the preservation of goodness."

The evening breeze blew by, the debate ended inconclusively, and the echoes lingered for a long time.

The old man and the young man smiled at each other, as if they had seen a kindred spirit, or a respected rival.

The students in the audience were completely bewildered and could not keep up with the pace of Cao Yuan and Xunzi.

Han Fei and Li Si were extremely shocked, their faces, swollen from being beaten by Xunzi, filled with disbelief.

"To think that he could fight the teacher to a draw..." Han Fei exclaimed in amazement. "Brother Cao is a man of profound learning, and the Confucian lineage will surely be expanded once again."

Li Si sighed softly, "I underestimated the talents of the world."

Without a doubt, Cao Yuan taught him a harsh lesson.

This was even greater than the blow Han Fei had dealt him.

At least they don't yet have the ability to debate and argue with their teachers.

"boom!"

A sudden change occurred.

Fu Nian, who was writing furiously and immersed in the world of "reason", suddenly had his pen break and the table in front of him explode at the same time.

A powerful aura suddenly emanated from him.

Fu Nian raised his head blankly, only to meet Xunzi's gratified gaze.

"...Master Uncle, I've succeeded?"