Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 775: Supportive and stubborn
It was a sunny day when the first lecture was held at the public school. Unlike Zhang Shou's previous lectures, the name of the "Gathering of Sages" had been spread, and because of the demonstration effect of Yue Shanzhang and others, there were indeed many famous scholars and wise men who came to the capital this time, and candidates from all over the country were also familiar with these local celebrities, so word spread quickly, and there were really many people who responded.
There were five lecturers in the first session, including Chen Xianzhang. The lectures lasted five days, and all 1,500 tickets were sold out. Even the places that Ge Yong had originally promised to reserve for the students of the public school to stand and listen were not accepted by many candidates.
After all, the name of "Standing in the Snow while Master Cheng's Door" has become an idiom that has been passed down to this day, and they also hope to have such a name of standing in the snow to listen to lectures. However, Lu Wan and Liu Zhiyuan did not let go of this bottom line, and the weather was not good. It was clearly the twelfth lunar month, but the color of the sky was very clear, and there was no sign of snow.
After the candidates inquired, the Imperial Observatory also said that it would not snow recently, so not many people were willing to stand in the open air to listen to the lecture. After all, what was the point of being exposed to the wind and cold and taking the risk of not being able to hear clearly, and not being able to show your thirst for knowledge? A few people who were determined to learn were still trying to fight for it, but most people gave up.
Zhang Shou had experience in large-scale lectures before, so he did not use the students from Jiuzhang Hall and Banshan Hall to maintain order this time, but used other public school students who had studied for a period of time and had made great progress in dealing with people. These young people in neat school uniforms, although immature but full of vigor, also gave people a glimpse of the image of the public school.
But compared to these students, the candidates who got the tickets to attend the lecture were most concerned about whether the prince would come to the lecture like Zhang Shou did before, and how many dignitaries would come to show their support...and no one expected that when the first trial lecture began, Academician Kong, who had returned to Beijing in a low-key manner and was said to be sick from exhaustion, suddenly came!
Even though this current cabinet minister was dressed in casual clothes and had a gaunt face, at first glance he looked like an old scholar who had failed the imperial examinations many times, he did not come alone, but with four followers. At a time when every scholar had to enter with a previously issued admission ticket, it was naturally rare to have followers. And among so many scholars, it was even more normal that someone had seen him.
As the first person recognized him, the news spread from one person to ten, and then to a hundred. Finally, Academician Kong came to listen to the lecture in person. The news spread like a whirlwind throughout the public school like a plowing field. Even Zhang Shou, who was taking time out to give history lectures to the students of Banshan Hall before the lecture began, heard about it.
"What is Mr. Kong doing here?"
In Banshan Hall, Zhang the big guy was least interested in cabinet ministers like Academician Kong, so the first thing he mentioned was old man Kong - even though Academician Kong always considered himself to be young and strong and not old at all.
There were also many people who agreed with Zhang Dakuai. Some even claimed that Mr. Kong came with ill intentions, or that he wanted to gain a reputation for being courteous to the wise.
Faced with this chaotic scene, Zhang Shou remembered that Zhu Ying had told him that Zhu Tingfang and Academician Kong had reached a compromise and sent people to support Chen Xianzhang's lectures, but Academician Kong now did this, and he couldn't help but laugh.
This move by Grand Secretary Kong would probably make the first famous scholar who gave a lecture today burst into tears of gratitude. And that person would never have thought that Grand Secretary Kong was just trying to circumvent the verbal agreement reached with Zhu Tingfang, and in addition to supporting Chen Xianzhang, he also supported the other lecturers. However, he probably selected people, otherwise he would be too idle for a cabinet minister if he attended every lecture.
At that time, he felt strange when he heard Zhu Ying mention it - although he didn't think that someone from a noble family like Zhu Tingfang would insist on Wang Datou's impartiality and selflessness, he was not the kind of person who would let off Scholar Kong easily.
So, Zhu Tingfang didn't expect that Master Kong would default on his debt? No, even if his brother-in-law didn't have a perfect plan, he still had the ability to anticipate the enemy's moves. In other words, maybe people didn't care whether Master Kong would play tricks. Or... people were expecting Master Kong to play tricks!
Maybe the person standing behind Zhu Tingfang was not just his father-in-law, Duke of Zhao Zhu Jing, but the emperor. Therefore, Zhu Tingfang was able to suppress the obviously very bad murder case.
In fact, it can't be said to be suppressed, because it was just a verbal agreement. Since the arrival of Master Kong today is equivalent to distorting the transaction, it is only natural for Zhu Tingfang to go back and get Master Kong Jiu away. I'm just afraid...
Thinking of this, Zhang Shou narrowed his eyes slightly, knocked lightly on the podium to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said with a smile: "I have consulted you in advance about today's lecture, and you all said you were not interested, so I did not reserve seats for you over there. Of course, even if I were there, I probably wouldn't understand it, so I'm here now."
Zhang Shou was about the same age as everyone else, but they were teacher and student. In addition to the prestige he had built up from various things in the past, he did not like to put on airs as a teacher unless it was necessary. At this time, I did not understand what he said, and Zhang Dakuai and others below were all amused.
Zhang the big guy was the first to start the commotion, saying, "When teachers explain history, they either explain it briefly or eloquently, as if they were telling a story. But when these old masters explain history, they seem to be reading from history books, and they use a lot of verbal language when explaining things. It's really a headache to listen to them. So, you should accept your fate. Apart from us, other students are not suitable for you!"
Zhang Shou was so amused by what Zhang Dakuai said that he beckoned for someone to come over. When Zhang Dakuai really stood up and came forward with a tough look on his face, he grabbed the person and pulled him out.
Faced with this scene, the students in Banshan Hall were not shocked. Instead, they all started to make a fuss with glee. Some even started betting on what kind of lesson the big guy Zhang would receive.
Although Zhang Shou was never a person with outstanding martial arts skills, he was a teacher after all, and he was not like other strict teachers who wielded the ruler majestically. Since he arrived at the public school, he had come up with many new punishments for the troublemakers among them, so they were both submissive and afraid of him.
Zhang Shou no longer used punishments such as copying books and doing exercises, but the punishment of reciting books, especially reciting backwards, was really painful for them. Some of them even had to learn foreign languages... and some even had to sing and dance! There was one time when a large group of people skipped class when Zhang Shou was not teaching. The feeling of squatting in the horse stance at the end was really unforgettable for them.
Afterwards, their waists and legs were so aching that they felt like they were dying. Many people lamented behind their backs, saying that it would be better to get a beating!
Now that Zhang the big guy was dragged out of the classroom, he thought of Zhang Shou's endless corporal punishments. He was about to make a few excuses for himself, but Zhang Shou suddenly let go of his hand and said something he had not expected at all.
"Go to the lecture hall where the class is held, find the Grand Master Kong, and then ask him quietly how your brother is doing."
Seeing Zhang Dakui's surprised face, Zhang Shou patted him on the shoulder and said calmly, "You have heard of Doctor Kong of the Taichang Temple, the cousin of Master Kong. He has committed serious crimes, including murders. Several cases are still pending in Shuntian Prefecture. If you ask this, Master Kong will think it is a provocation. You can handle it yourself ."
Zhang the big guy was stunned at first, and when he came to his senses, he saw Zhang Shou actually turned around and went into the house. He immediately shouted loudly: "My father and Old Man Kong don't get along well, so why should I be afraid of him? I'll go now. Maybe when I go back, my father will know that I dared to squeeze Old Man Kong in person, and he might be so happy that he will give me some good things from between his fingers!"
"Teacher, just wait!"
Zhang Shou left in a valiant and proud manner, and his last words were so loud that many students could not help but whisper to each other. So when Zhang Shou came back, someone couldn't help but ask, "What task did the teacher assign to our head of the dormitory? Why did he leave so happily?"
"That's right. God knows what the task is. You know, Zhaizhang failed the monthly exam this time and lost his position as a tutor in the Eastern Palace. He was almost beaten to death by the Earl of Xiangyang."
The person who spoke was Zhang Dakui's enemy, who had just pricked up his ears and listened carefully. Now his face was full of gloating, "Just now he suddenly said that he wanted to squeeze out the Grand Scholar Kong. What will the Earl of Xiangyang reward him? Could it be that he really intends to confront the Grand Scholar Kong?"
"What do you think?" Zhang Shou looked at these students who were much more cunning and had stronger personalities than those in Jiuzhang Hall, and then said calmly, "He went there to pass on a message for me and provoke Master Kong. If you dare, you can chase him back and take over this mission."
When they heard that they were actually going to provoke Grand Scholar Kong, the students who had been chattering just now suddenly became quiet for a moment.
Although most of them are either rich or noble, and Academician Kong seems to be on the decline recently, and it is not known how long this elder can serve, this does not mean that they can casually confront this Prime Minister who is not the Prime Minister.
In front of others, they would never admit that they were such cowards, but in front of Zhang Shou, they didn't care whether they were embarrassed or not. Someone immediately said awkwardly: "The abbot is still stubborn. If I did something like this, I would be beaten to death by my father!"
These students of Banshan Hall were already familiar with the common sayings such as "headstrong" after following Zhang Shou . When the first person made a self-deprecating remark, the others followed suit.
In short, except for the stubborn big guy Zhang, although the others had been domineering outside, they didn't dare to challenge the Grand Secretary Kong. Even if they said they dared to do it, everyone could see that it was just talk. If they urged this guy to go now, he would definitely back down immediately.
At the end, someone suddenly added: "If Zhang Chen or Zhu Erlang were here, they would probably dare to do it just like Zhang the Big Guy."
As soon as these words came out, someone shouted angrily, "Of course they dare. Zhang Chen has offended everyone over the years. Except for the last time when he was beaten by Duke Qin because his mistress went to the outer yamen of the Silijian to block the door, he has never suffered any loss! As for Zhu Erlang... He was beaten by his father and brother since he was a child, but he is not afraid of it. Now that he has our teacher's support, he is even less afraid!"
Zhang Dakuo didn't know that his action would actually cause heated discussions in Banshan Hall. Of course, if he knew, he would definitely hold his head high, because he was sure that his father, Xiangyang Bo Zhang Qiong, would support him. If he was the most stubborn person in Banshan Hall, then his father, Xiangyang Bo Zhang Qiong, was the most stubborn person among the nobles.
Even Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu's fathers, Nanyang Marquis and Huaiqing Marquis, were impeached by the censors. They either wrote to defend themselves or to plead guilty. There would always be a corresponding reaction. But if it was Zhang Qiong, the Earl of Xiangyang... the impeachment of the censor? What is that? I have never heard of it. I will ignore it. I only care about my own happiness. What does your impeachment have to do with me?
The feud between Zhang Qiong and Kong Daxueshi was that Zhang Qiong was impeached by Kong Daxueshi nearly twenty years ago. Other nobles might not bear grudges, or they would keep them in mind, especially when Kong Daxueshi rose to prominence and entered the cabinet. However, Zhang Qiong, the Earl of Xiangyang, bore the grudge for twenty years, often mocking Kong Daxueshi behind his back, and even scolded him in public.
Based on these reasons, Zhang Dakui dared to take on such a task, otherwise he would not dare. He is not Zhang Chen, the only son, who is used to being arrogant in the capital. Is he crazy to confront the elder for no reason?
Even though he had his father as a backer and Zhang Shou as a teacher, when Zhang Shou came to the presence of Master Kong, he was still a little nervous. In fact, no one knew how many candidates wanted to meet Master Kong to get closer to him today, but the students in the junior, middle and senior classes of the public school could at least follow the teacher's instructions after repeated teachings and reminders.
Therefore, except for the big guy Zhang who came on the orders of Zhang Shou, all the other candidates who wanted to get close to him had been stopped long ago.
Scholar Kong, who had prepared himself for a possible counterattack today, had been alert to the situation around him, so he noticed the big guy Zhang as soon as he appeared. Seeing that someone had indeed come to him, he naturally raised his spirits. Sure enough, the next moment he heard the big guy Zhang say, "Scholar Kong, the teacher has something to ask you."
Zhang Dakui couldn't tell whether Master Kong was in a good or bad mood at the moment, so he asked in the most stable tone possible: "May I ask how your brother is doing now?"
Scholar Kong felt as if a stone in his heart had suddenly fallen to the ground. He smiled and said calmly, "Thank you for asking Scholar Zhang to check on him. He has been ill and has been getting better and worse these days. When I came out, he was still unconscious."
Because Zhang Shou said that Master Kong Jiu was involved in several major cases, so the answer of Master Kong that avoided the main issue certainly would not satisfy Zhang Shou. So, although he could take this answer back and convey it to Zhang Shou, which would be considered as completing the task, he suddenly asked a straightforward question for some unknown reason.
"According to what Grand Secretary Kong said, no matter how many sins one has committed, as long as one is sick, it will all be over?"
