Chapter 108 Hu Dahai Doesn’t Want to Study
That afternoon, Chen Biao received Zhu Yuanzhang's handwritten letter.
Chen Biao sighed again: "My lord's handwriting is so beautiful, Dad..."
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly said: "My handwriting is also very beautiful now!"
Chen Biao thought of his father's handwriting. Although it was far inferior to his lord's, it could still be considered neat, and it was obvious that he had put a lot of effort into practicing.
He had no choice but to say against his will: "Yes, Dad's handwriting is also very beautiful now."
Looking at his father's smiling face, Chen Biao sighed in his heart and reflected on himself.
Unconsciously, he developed an inexplicable competitive spirit, just like those bad parents in modern times who always talk about "other people's children" and compare their own fathers with Zhu Yuanzhang.
This is not good. Reflect on this.
After Chen Biao reflected on himself, he said, "Dad, when will you write a large calligraphy piece? I'll hang it in my study."
Zhu Yuanzhang was even happier: "Okay! I'm a little busy recently, I'll write to you when I have time."
Zhu Yuanzhang was eager to practice calligraphy and give his son the best calligraphy.
Zhu Wen was about to say something to mock his fourth uncle, but Chen Biao noticed and kicked him on the calf, making him shut up.
After Zhu Yuanzhang went back to work at the Ming Palace, Zhu Wenzheng and Chen Biao boarded a carriage bound for the military camp in the suburbs. Zhu Wenzheng asked curiously, "Brother Biao, can you read my mind? Why did you kick me just as I was about to say something insulting about Fourth Uncle?"
Chen Biao was speechless: "I don't need to read your mind. I know what you want to say by looking at your expression. Whatever you are thinking is written directly on your face."
Zhu Wenzheng touched his face and said proudly, "I am indeed a straightforward person."
Chen Biao was even more speechless. Is this something that his cousin should be proud of?
On the way, Zhu Wenzhen and Chen Biao introduced the situation in the military camp.
The military camp is at the foot of a mountain, and the entire mountain is used as a training ground. Hu Dahai now lives with his two sons, eating and sleeping in the military camp, and never goes home.
Chen Biao was puzzled: "Why? My lord shouldn't treat them so harshly."
Zhu Wenzheng said, "The three of them refused to return to Tianfu City in order to avoid the Lord's inspection of their work."
Neither Hu Dahai, nor his eldest son Hu Deji who pretended to be Hu Dahai's adopted son, nor his second son Hu Guanzhu liked reading.
Hu Dahai himself had great respect for scholars and often recommended scholars to Zhu Yuanzhang. He also played a role in recommending the Four Masters of Eastern Zhejiang.
But although Hu Dahai admired him, he started to avoid it when he was asked to study on his own.
When Ye Chen was his partner, he would often chase him and force him to study.
How could a mere official not even know how to read? Hu Dahai would surely become a high-ranking official in the future. Whose high-ranking official couldn't read?
Zhu Yuanzhang specifically instructed Ye Chen to at least teach Hu Dahai how to read and write. Ye Chen, following Zhu Yuanzhang's orders, would chase Hu Dahai, who didn't want to study, with the "teaching stick" Zhu Yuanzhang had given him, and beat him. This was a very beautiful sight in the local government and military camps.
After Hu Dahai returned to Yingtian, he took advantage of the fact that Ye Chen and Zhu Yuanzhang were very busy and hid in a military camp in the suburbs. It has been almost a month now.
When Hu Dahai learned that Chen Biao was coming, he almost burst into tears.
My lord, why do you force me like this?
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu both sighed and tried to persuade their father.
"Father, you should study hard."
"Dad, I'm such a loser, but now I can read the Four Books and Five Classics by myself. How can you be even more useless than me?"
"Hey, big brother, please be quiet... Father, you don't want to be scolded by the young military advisor, do you? The young military advisor is so young, it would be so embarrassing for you to be scolded by him."
"Dad, don't bully the young military advisor because he's young. If you dare to look down on him, Mr. Ye Er will not let you go with the stick in his hand."
"Hey, big brother, think before you speak. Father, review the literacy textbook that Mr. Ye compiled for you."
"Don't embarrass our Hu family."
Hu Dahai became angry and chased after his "adopted son" Hu Deji to beat him.
Seeing that he couldn't stop Hu Dahai, Hu Guanzhu had no choice but to run away with his elder brother.
Hu Deji wondered as he ran: "Dad won't beat you, why are you running?"
Hu Guanzhu said expressionlessly, "Didn't I tell you after we met again that we would share the joys and sorrows together from now on?"
Hu Deji's heart warmed, and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly: "Okay."
When the two brothers were young, Hu Guanzhu was raised by Hu Deji, and the two brothers had a very good relationship.
Later, Hu Dahai took his second son to join the army. The old lady was reluctant to leave her eldest grandson and kept him with her. Hu Guanzhu was taught to have the same strong character as Hu Dahai, while Hu Deji was spoiled and became a good-for-nothing playboy.
Hu Dahai wanted to change Hu Deji's temper, but the old lady didn't allow it. His wife also cried and made a fuss, saying that she wanted to keep one of the children by her side to prevent anything from happening on the battlefield.
Hu Dahai was busy fighting wars all over the country and had no time to quarrel with his family, so he left Hu Deji in Yingtian.
Hu Deji chose the path of not wanting to go out with Hu Dahai to suffer hardships. But when Hu Dahai agreed to the path he had chosen, Hu Deji began to complain again and hated his excellent brother.
To put it bluntly, he himself knows that he is a loser and is just jealous of his younger brother.
When Hu Deji was lectured by General Chang and Mr. Ye, he realized that it wasn't impossible. He could do it well if he wanted to. His jealousy faded.
Although he was only an adopted son and his younger brother would be the head of the Hu family, he had brought this upon himself, a sin that nearly ruined the entire family. Besides, if he worked hard enough, he could also earn a future for himself.
Hu Deji asked, "Do you remember how we escaped when we were little?"
Hu Guanzhu nodded vigorously.
The two brothers smiled at each other, then suddenly turned around and ran towards Hu Dahai who was chasing them.
Hu Dahai was stunned, and one of the two brothers pretended to pounce on Hu Dahai to make Hu Dahai focus his attention on him; the other one squatted on the ground and swept his leg, hitting Hu Dahai's legs like a whip.
Hu Dahai was swept to the ground by his burly son.
Damn it! Two unfilial sons who killed their father!
Hu Dahai was indeed a veteran. He immediately adjusted his posture and rolled on the ground to relieve the force of falling to the ground.
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu had already run far away.
Hu Dahai stood up and jumped up in anger: "If you have the guts, don't come back!"
Zhu Wenzheng walked over with Chen Biao, wondering, "Who's not coming back? General Hu, who offended you?"
Hu Dahai cursed, "Who else could it be! My two unfilial sons! I'm going after them now!"
Hu Dahai was about to run away when Zhu Wenzheng grabbed him and said, "Wait, don't even think about escaping. My adoptive father said that we must check your homework today. After we check, you can beat your son however you want. Right, brother Biao?"
Chen Biao raised his head and gave Hu Dahai a cute smile.
Hu Dahai looked at Chen Biao's gentle smile with dimples, and his heart sank. The anger aroused by his sons was immediately cooled down by the ice water.
Hu Dahai said in a muffled voice, "I'll have someone capture the eldest and second sons, and we'll be together as father and son!"
This is my, Hu Dahai’s last stubbornness!
Zhu Wenzheng couldn't help laughing: "Okay, hahaha."
Chen Biao glanced at Zhu Wenzheng. Zhu Wenzheng immediately coughed twice and tried to stop laughing: "Let's find a place to sit and wait."
Hu Dahai saw the silent communication between Chen Biao and Zhu Wenzhen, and had an idea in his mind.
Zhu Wenzhen was an extremely capable person, but his arrogance and temper were as outstanding as his abilities. Even his lord would sometimes get so angry that he would whip him, but he might not be able to whip this stubborn Zhu Wenzhen.
Chen Biao only needed a look to teach Zhu Wenzhen to save face.
This world-famous young military strategist and gentleman truly lives up to his reputation.
So Hu Dahai felt even colder in his heart.
When Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu learned that Zhu Wenzhen and Chen Biao had arrived, they immediately ran back.
Everyone knew what kind of temper Zhu Wen Zheng had, and they were afraid that if they ran a step slower, they would offend Zhu Wen Zheng.
When the two arrived, they immediately apologized to Zhu Wenzhen and Chen Biao.
Zhu Wenzheng frowned. "What do you mean by being so polite? You're making it seem like I'm such an unreasonable person. Biao'er, don't believe them. I'm your cousin and I'm someone who's easy to get along with. They're just being too polite."
Chen Biao laughed: "Of course I know that Brother Zheng has a good temper."
Chen Biao jumped off his chair and bowed to Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu, saying, "Two young generals, I have long admired you."
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu immediately said, "Young Military Advisor, we have long admired you."
Hu Dahai urged, "They're already here, let's test them too!"
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu looked at each other in confusion. Dad’s exam was over so soon?
Chen Biao asked, "Would you two young generals like to rest for a while?"
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu quickly said, "No need, please, young master."
Chen Biao took out a box of cards from his sleeve.
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu were extremely confused. Wasn't this a test on reading and calligraphy? What was this?
These are the literacy game cards that Chen Biao prepared for his younger brothers. The game content is similar to Connect the Dots.
The cards are divided into two piles, one with pictures and the other with words. After the cards are shuffled, they are arranged into a large square. The matching pictures and words that can be connected can be "eliminated".
The advanced version will also have prop cards and elimination rules, upgrading from connect-the-dots to cancel-the-dots. Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er love it so much that they play more than a dozen games every day and learn to read very quickly.
After Chen Biao briefly explained the rules of the game, Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu were stunned. Could this be the way to play calligraphy?
The two men immediately wiped the sweat from their palms on their clothes and shouted that they wanted to give it a try.
A mistake counts as one life. Hu Deji cleared the five life levels, and Hu Guanzhu cleared the seven life levels. Both of them have reached the level of literacy that allows them to read independently.
Chen Biao calculated that if they could pass the level with ten lives, it would be considered a pass, if they could pass the level with three lives, it would be considered an excellent score, and the final result must be to pass the level without any damage.
Hu Deji asked curiously, "How many lives did it take for Dad to get through this?"
Hu Dahai's face immediately darkened and he glared at his eldest son fiercely.
Chen Biao smiled without saying anything, wanting to give Hu Dahai some face. But Zhu Wenzheng was not one to give others face. He immediately said, "General Hu is using the exhaustive method."
Hu Guanzhu was puzzled: "What is the exhaustive method?"
Zhu Wenzheng said, "My brother Biao said that trying all possibilities is called exhaustive method."
Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu: "...Puff."
The brothers quickly covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.
Hu Dahai's complexion was already darker than his bronze skin.
Chen Biao sighed in his heart.
He heard that Mr. Ye Er had been teaching General Hu for over a year. Even if adults were slow learners, General Hu wouldn't have much time to spare for study. But how could he...
After studying for a year with Mr. Ye Chen, one of the “Four Masters of East Zhejiang”, I still could not read after returning?
Didn't Mr. Ye Chen have a teaching staff in his hand? How come he didn't beat you to death?
Chen Biao thought that Mr. Ye Chen really had a good temper.
In order to save face for Hu Dahai, Chen Biao asked Zhu Wenzhen to "go out and play" with the brothers Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu, while he stayed to chat with Hu Dahai.
Chen Biao didn't believe Ye Chen would be perfunctory in receiving Zhu Yuanzhang's order to teach Hu Dahai. Why did Hu Dahai still need to use the exhaustive method to play the word matching game after a year?
After hearing Chen Biao's tactful question, Hu Dahai hung his head and said, "I tried hard to learn. I learned it at the time, but I forgot it the next day."
Hu Dahai stammered and spoke with grievance as he spoke about the pain he experienced in learning to read and write.
I learned it, then I forgot it; I learned it again, then I immediately forgot it again.
He was just like a person in later generations with very poor language talent who was memorizing English words. He memorized them for a month, but kept going back to the first page and refused to turn the page.
Chen Biao looked at Hu Dahai and imagined those poor students in school in modern times.
Just by listening to their descriptions, you can feel their pain.
The more he struggled to memorize, the more he disliked studying. Dislike for learning forced him to continue, only to become even more disliked when he failed... a vicious cycle. Hu Dahai was unwaveringly loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang, never disobeying his orders; he himself understood the importance of studying and calligraphy. A brave general, fearless even of death, hid in the barracks to avoid studying, demonstrating the depth of Hu Dahai's aversion to learning.
The two sat facing each other in silence.
Chen Biao drank half a cup of tea and said, "With the lord's current high-spirited attitude, I'm afraid he will become emperor in a few years. He can conquer the world immediately, but he can't rule it immediately. General Hu's descendants still need to study hard, or at least learn to understand the truth, so that they can serve as officials in the Taiping Dynasty."
Hu Dahai said dejectedly, "I know."
Chen Biao said, "My lord intends to open a literacy class in Yingtian, and have the generals take turns to come back to attend the class to test their literacy level. Those who pass can continue to fight, and those who fail will receive remedial training."
When Chen Biao talked about this incident, he felt very sad.
Nowadays, every faction in the world has only a handful of outstanding generals who can fight. Only the lord is so willful that he dares to say "If you fail the cultural subjects, you are not allowed to go out to fight", and he is not worried at all about having no one to fight.
The lord has too many outstanding generals under his command. Any one of them would be a fierce general that would be praised to the sky by the outside forces. Even a victorious general like General Chang can be stationed in the rear as a "Marshal of Colonial Farms".
After learning the news, Uncle Xu Da immediately wrote a long and flowing parallel prose to his father.
The parallel prose doesn't have much literary talent, but the handwriting is neat and the format is correct, which shows that Uncle Xu Da no longer needs to come back for extra lessons.
My father tore Uncle Xu Da's parallel prose into pieces with a "clatter", and he was cursing all the time, as if he was looking forward to Uncle Xu Da coming back to make up for the lessons.
Hu Dahai was completely stunned: "Little Military Advisor, are you telling the truth?"
Chen Biao said, "Uncle Hu, you can just call me Biao'er. It's true, I'm also one of the tutoring teachers."
Chen Biao was helpless and hoped that the older students would be more sensible, otherwise he would have no choice but to take out the golden medal of "As if the King of Ming is present" and spank these older students.
Chen Biao wasn't worried about offending anyone. In this era, respecting teachers was fundamental morality. If these generals resented him for his strict teaching, they would be the ones in trouble.
Hu Dahai burst into tears. "No, this is not true. I, Hu Dahai, have shed sweat and blood for my lord. I have conquered and defended cities. I want to see my lord now! My lord, you can't do this to me!"
Chen Biao: “…”
He began to wonder if Hu Dahai was a time traveler. Why did he say such interesting things?
Or is it that the essence of human beings is to repeat themselves, and many of the Internet memes in later generations were played by our ancestors in history books?
Chen Biao pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Hu Dahai, saying, "The Lord is doing this for your own good. When there are fewer wars in the world, or when the generals are old or injured and can no longer fight, will you just stay in the palace and grow fat? The Lord also wants you to continue to serve as officials. No matter what kind of official you are , if you don't read, can't read, and don't understand the twists and turns in official documents, you will be led into a pit, and your previous accumulated merits may not even save your life."
Hu Dahaimeng pouted: "Little military advisor, don't scare me!"
Chen Biao said, "Why would I scare you? Uncle Hu may not have read books, but he must have heard stories. Our lord is a good man and will definitely not treat brothers badly in the future. But if a brother breaks the law, the lord cannot protect him, otherwise what difference will there be between him and the tyrant Yuan emperor? You follow the lord, so you certainly don't want him to become like this, right? The lord has already made an exception for you."
Hu Dahai trembled all over.
He remembered that his eldest son should have been executed. If this matter were to get out, it would cause great damage to the reputation of the lord.
This is what he owes his lord, and he can't owe his lord anymore!
Hu Dahai wiped his tears vigorously and said, "I, I will try my best. If I fail, then I won't go to the war. I will follow Marshal Chang and become a general of the military farm! I'm good at farming!"
Chen Biao felt relieved when he saw that Hu Dahai finally stopped avoiding studying.
Sure enough, for a hero like Hu Dahai who has a high sense of morality, moral kidnapping is necessary.
The lord is so good to you, how can you let him down, right?
After Hu Dahai had sorted out his appearance and calmed down, Chen Biao personally poured tea for him: "Uncle Hu, did you feel uncomfortable when you played this card?"
Hu Dahai washed his face sheepishly. Although he had stopped crying, his voice was still a little hoarse: "What's up?"
Chen Biao laughed and said, "I see that although Uncle Hu uses the exhaustive method to play this game, he hasn't given up after trying many times. He probably doesn't object to this way of learning to read."
Hu Dahai thought about how he felt about playing with the flashcards and nodded, "No objection."
Chen Biao said, "I think there are two reasons why Uncle Hu has difficulty learning to read. First, Uncle Hu doesn't need to learn to read in his current life, so he has too little time to practice. Second, learning to read is too boring. Uncle Hu is already very tired from marching and fighting, and it is very difficult to concentrate on learning to read..."
Chen Biao thought of Chang Yuchun.
Chang Yuchun also could not read or write, but after he decided to learn to read, he did not seek anyone to teach him. In just one month, he learned nearly a hundred characters and can now write official documents skillfully.
It is said that Chang Yuchun learned to read while riding a horse during the march. He was so skilled and brave that he was not afraid of falling off his horse.
His father helped to write interesting teaching materials, but Chang Yuchun relied entirely on himself. He didn't even have a proper teacher when he was learning to read, and he had to force himself to memorize things by rote.
A ruthless person like Chang Yuchun can succeed wherever he is.
This is probably one of the reasons why Chang Yuchun, a bandit who surrendered to his lord relatively late, was able to become the marshal second only to Uncle Xu Da.
Hu Dahai nodded repeatedly: "Young Master is right!"
Hu Dahai has changed his name from a young military advisor to a young master.
Chen Biao was helpless: "Uncle Hu, I always said just call me Biao'er. You are so polite that I feel embarrassed to continue."
"Biao'er, Biao'er, my good Biao'er, please continue." Hu Dahai said immediately, "Is there any hope for my current condition?"
Chen Biao almost reflexively said, "There's no hope. Wait till you die. Goodbye." Hua Tuo finally managed to stop himself from saying something and said, "As long as Uncle Hu doesn't regard literacy as a burden but as a hobby, it won't be that difficult. Uncle Hu can lower the requirements. We don't need the imperial examination, just literacy will be enough."
Chen Biao put out the literacy cards again: "Let's play a game, this time with props."
Bombs, hammers, color changes... Candy Crush is more fun with props. Although the literacy efficiency is much lower, it feels more like a game.
After Chen Biao demonstrated it once, Hu Dahai was able to get the hang of it.
He quickly figured out how to use the props, and since the content of the cards hadn't changed, he was able to quickly understand the meaning of the cards and remember the "same" cards.
After only playing four games, Hu Dahai didn't miss any more and played very smoothly.
Chen Biao did not add any content to the cards, but played more than ten games with Hu Dahai using this deck of cards. He knew that Zhu Wenzhen had played a game with Hu Deji and Hu Guanzhu respectively, and returned triumphantly after winning a great victory.
"Biao'er, what are you doing? Are you still taking the exam?" Zhu Wenzhen put a towel soaked in cold water on his head. In order to prevent the smell of sweat from bothering Chen Biao, he had just taken a shower by the well.
Chen Biao shook his head: "It's not an exam, it's a game. Brother Zheng, do you want to play?"
Chen Biao took out another deck of cards and said, "This deck is the same as the one Uncle Hu is playing with now. You two can compete to see who is faster. Do I need to remind you how to use the props?"
Zhu Wenzheng said, "No need. I will do it. Can General Hu do it? Will he be greatly shocked?"
Chen Biao smiled and said, "You'll know if you try it."
Zhu Wenzheng said: "Okay, come!"
Hu Dahai was a little nervous.
Chen Biao gave Hu Dahai a soothing look, and then Hu Dahai accepted the challenge.
Then, Hu Dahai, who was very lucky, quickly launched a global bomb, and Zhu Wenzhen, who had always had bad luck in the game, was defeated miserably.
