First of all, unlike the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, the pre-Qin Dynasty had a complete system of selecting talents. Although we often hate the imperial examination system in those days today, it is a method of selecting talents anyway. Just as today we say that the college entrance examination is not a panacea, so far it is the only and most favorable method. At least compared with aspiring young people in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Confucian scholars under the imperial examination system are much happier-at least they have a clear path and a clear method (as long as they chew those books well).
However, in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, let alone the imperial examination was still far away, and even the popular imperial examination system in the Han Dynasty had not yet appeared. The hereditary system used in the Western Zhou Dynasty is falling apart, and the civilian class from the bottom is eager to enter the political arena. In this case, the only way for these talented people to enter the official career is to actively show their talents to the monarch, so that the monarch can appreciate himself and reuse himself, thus realizing his ideals and ambitions.
This situation is similar to our social interview today. You show your ability, and then the company decides whether to hire you. The difference is that the interview was a hundred times more difficult than today. Because there are many bosses today, this one won't work. You can change it to another one. But at that time, there were only seven bosses (a little more in the Spring and Autumn Period), without any certificates of CET-4 or CET-6 or computer level, relying on two mouths.
Therefore, in such a grim situation, eloquence has become a compulsory course for people to lead to the temple. There are so many candidates in the vast sea of people, how can I make my introduction book stand out? This is a university question.
As a result, many aspiring young people practice eloquence and constantly ponder the king's psychology in order to meet the king with one blow.
Secondly, let me talk about the second point. The complicated international situation at that time also gave these scholars an opportunity. If the world is at peace, no matter how eloquent you are, it may not be easy to get ahead. But the situation at that time was really good for them. Countries are separated, and diplomatic relations are confusing. Today they are allies, tomorrow they may be rivals. At this time, it is especially necessary to have such a group of people who can talk especially. When the country needs allies, it can use its own arguments to make the other monarch willing to form an alliance, even if the two countries have just fought to the death on the battlefield. When the country is in danger, they can use their golden words to persuade the other side to withdraw their troops, and even if they continue to attack, they can completely destroy their opponents.
Especially at the end of the Warring States period, the power of Qin became more and more powerful, and the unification of Lian Heng became the theme of the relationship between countries, which became particularly obvious. In order to protect themselves, the six countries need to form an alliance to offset the threat of Qin; In order to avoid being isolated, Qin needs to dissolve the six-nation alliance in order to achieve divide and conquer. At this time, it is often difficult to use force, so those eloquent lobbyists became the most active and conspicuous people in society at that time. The needs of the times require them to appear. In other words, they were diplomats more than 2,000 years ago, and they are the best diplomats. Their mouths are often even related to the life and death of the whole country (this is really a very exciting thing).
Thirdly, I think it should be mentioned that the power of example is infinite! The lobbyist industry, although it has many talents, great pressure, high risks and few opportunities, has considerable returns. However, the famous lobbyists in history are all cadres at or above the ministerial level, and they can still rank among the officials when they are finished. Zou Ji was the Prime Minister of Qi, and Ganluo was worshipped as Shangqing at the age of twelve. Zhang Yi became the first prime minister of Qin, not to mention Su Qin's beheading of the six countries. There are many people in history who can be high officials because of some words-this temptation is too great. To put it bluntly, in those days, anything was possible.
The above are probably the external and internal causes of the prevalence of lobbying in the pre-Qin period, and the places that have not been fully considered need to be supplemented.
Third, the influence of a mouth:
What kind of things can you do with a mouth and a golden word? The lobbyists in the pre-Qin period explained to us with their wonderful lives. Looking at their life behavior, we can actually divide them into two types.
One is to save the country and benefit the people. Zou Ji, Mencius and Candlelight mentioned above are all such people. Although they are also proficient in debate, they regard debate as a means and tool to save the national crisis, satirize the monarch and put forward the idea of benefiting the country and the people. These people are undoubtedly the pillars of society. Therefore, in times of crisis, there are always a group of eloquent people who, with their own talents, defend the dignity of the country and forge their own monuments.
The other is to pursue fame and profit. Such as, and the most famous Su Yizhi, all belong to this type. Many lobbyists and consultants are practitioners of utilitarian philosophy of life. Contrary to Confucianism's emphasis on benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith, and the pursuit of moral perfection in life, it takes realistic fame and fortune as its life purpose and life value basis. For fame and fortune, it pays attention to positive actions and theoretical practice. Utilitarianism sometimes does whatever it takes for fame and fortune. If Su Qin can't lobby Lian Heng, he will lobby Zonghe. In these people's minds, it doesn't matter which country they stand on. It is important that their fame and fortune must be realized and their ambitions and ambitions must be supported. Joining Lian Heng is just a means of Su Qin, and his purpose is fame and fortune.
"Life is alive, the potential is infinite, and the world can be ruined!" The world is in chaos, the world is getting worse, people are treacherous, and all choices are based on real fame and fortune. The so-called "laughing at poverty rather than prostitution" is a true portrayal of society. Even the parents, wives and sisters who are connected by flesh and blood are so heartless when you have no money or power. Once you are rich and powerful, they are all fawning and coquetry, and they also bluntly tell the reasons.
The world is like this, and I can't blame them.
Postscript:
Today, when we look back at the familiar or unfamiliar history, we can't help but have a boiling passion when we look at the lobbyists who are full of enthusiasm and talk, and dare to point at them with their clothes.
Are they cute, pathetic, disgusting or respectable? ...
Some of them became famous, some died, some were destroyed, and some celebrated for centuries. ...
But no matter what, they all live so wonderfully and differently. Their dribs and drabs have also been written into history, becoming allusions for people to understand and learn in past dynasties, giving people countless inspirations.
Because of their existence, a few years later, we can also say: Who says nothing is a scholar? Two mouths and one tongue can reach a million soldiers and destroy a country with thousands of troops!