Shang Yang reformed the law, acted according to law, loved selflessly, killed people without violence according to law, and rewarded unkind government according to law. Don't those who flatter Shang Yang just want to make friends with him for personal benefit? Shang Yang regarded all the people attracted by the merchants as disorderly people and moved to the border to guard the border. Lords and saints will inevitably like to listen to compliments, and after they have a good impression on a person, they will selectively enforce the law. This is the principle that flatterers seek personal gain. Flatterers praise officials everywhere, and others will think that he has a good relationship with his superiors and then take care of him everywhere. If you praise others everywhere, but are severely punished by others, then people who are attracted to you will speak ill of them everywhere and slander a person's reputation.
This is the historical contribution of Shang Yang. Talking about the history of China can't avoid the Qin Dynasty, and talking about the history of the Qin Dynasty can't avoid Shang Yang. Since we can't deny Shang Yang's contribution, we should vilify his reputation, make him a representative of treacherous court officials, and let the ignorant scold Shang Yang. Sima Qian fully affirmed Shang Yang's historical contribution, but personally attacked him, and his evaluation of Shang Yang was "unkind and ungrateful"! If Shang Yang's law enforcement is selective, such as lenient to the nobles who have the right to speak and strict law enforcement to the people who have no right to speak, then future generations will not have a "mean and ungrateful" evaluation of Shang Yang. After all, history records emperors and princes. Who will record the voices of the people?
Shang Yang regarded Confucianism, chivalrous men and businessmen as social moths, and generals and peasants as pillars of the country. Confucianism has always held the right to speak, while chivalrous people are deeply loved by the people. Soldiers and peasants have no right to speak. Confucianism has continuously strengthened the image of Shang Yang's cruel traitor for thousands of years, and chivalrous people have become synonymous with chivalry and righteousness. Then later generations will naturally think that Shang Yang is a villain and a villain, and naturally it is impossible to become a hero! People forgot that they were slaves, and Shang Yang promoted them to civilians. People also forget that Confucian scholars are still exploiting them, and chivalrous people are still killing innocent people for fame and fortune. Nominal and reality are often impossible to be highly consistent!
People like skilled craftsmen and think they are great, but they look down on carpenters, blacksmiths and masons who are closely related to life. As we all know, Mozi has been flying kites for three years, and people don't need to fly kites at all; The morality of Laozi and Confucius is profound and profound, and 10 thousand people can't reach that height. It is human nature to pursue unrealistic fame and fortune and ignore realistic fame and fortune! Just like sunshine is silent, but everyone can't live without it; But people will still accuse the sun of sunburn on their skin.