Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 776: Jiang Taigong Fishing
If Zhang Shou were here, facing Zhang Dakuai's inexperienced questioning, he would surely helplessly remind him, "Don't force yourself to act like a fool..." However, since he sent Zhang Dakuai to ask this question, he had no hope of getting any result. Whether Confucius really walked away in anger or retorted, it didn't matter.
As a result, Zhang Dakui was immediately met with a fierce counterattack from Kong Daxueshi: "What do you mean no matter how many crimes you have committed, as long as you are sick, it will all be over? What crime did Kong Jiu commit? Tell me clearly, and I will go back and ask someone to surrender to the government! My Kong family is innocent, if there is really a scum, I will never tolerate it!"
This is different from what the teacher said!
If Zhang Dakuo was replaced by his father, Zhang Qiong, the Earl of Xiangyang, he would have been ridiculed immediately and would not have paid any attention to the righteous words of Confucius. However, Zhang Dakuo was not his father who had made great achievements on the battlefield. After being yelled at by Confucius, he was a little timid.
Fortunately, there is also a savage element in his character, so after a moment of stunned silence, he immediately said stiffly: "My father often said that those people in this world who are passionate and righteous often cannot stand up to scrutiny. There are too many who say one thing and do another, and they often give up their duties. Master Kong should not learn from these people who say one thing and mean another."
After saying this, he was afraid that Master Kong would fight back again, so he bowed solemnly and immediately ran away. Sure enough, he had only turned around and walked out a few steps when he heard Master Kong's angry voice: "Like father, like son!"
Fortunately, I walked fast. If my father heard this sentence, he would not be angry, but would praise me. Zhang Daku thought so in his heart, and quickly quickened his pace, ignoring the surprised looks from all around.
The candidates who came to listen to the lecture couldn't help but be surprised. If this happened in the local area, even the wealthy and powerful would not offend the local officials too much. Not to mention the prefect, even the county magistrate would often show some respect to him, so as not to encounter a tough and fearless person who would ruin his family. So in their view, the current cabinet elder was simply a well-known figure.
Now, a man like Mr. Kong would actually be confronted by a young man in person?
Scholar Kong, who knew Zhang Dakui, had originally planned to have a heated debate with him in public. He had even prepared many fierce speeches, and then try to break some news at the critical moment to minimize the impact of Mr. Kong Jiu's cases on himself and his family.
But he never thought that the obviously young and inexperienced big guy Zhang would just run away after saying something! Just now, he heard someone arguing with him unconvinced after conveying Zhang Shou's question. He thought this guy was easy to deal with. Now it seems that none of Zhang Shou's students are easy to deal with. They are so cunning!
Qi Liang, who was here today because of Zhang Shou's instructions, saw that the face of Academician Kong changed several times, and finally he sat there with a sullen face, he couldn't help but admire the shrewdness of this elder, but he couldn't help wondering why Zhang Shou would look for a piece of charcoal like Zhang Dakuai for such a matter.
If it were him, wouldn't it cause such a big commotion? When the news spreads, the person who is giving the lecture today might think that Zhang Shou is deliberately going against someone, so he is trying to make Kong Daxue run away...
Zhang, who was still frightened, ran all the way out of the lecture hall, almost rushing back to the Banshan Hall at the fastest speed. When he finally supported his legs and stood up straight, he found that there was complete silence all around him. After he straightened up, he saw that everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
"It seems that you have completed your mission and returned." Zhang Shou had just revealed Zhang's mission to other students. Seeing him return, he couldn't help but tease him. Seeing that the burly young man was a little confused, he smiled and said, "Everyone knows what you did there. Looking at you, could it be that you were speechless after being questioned by Master Kong and returned in defeat?"
"I will return defeated! I should leave him speechless!"
Zhang the big guy immediately became excited and exaggerated his glorious achievements in front of Confucius. Even so, most of the dandies were envious and jealous of him for being able to speak so openly in front of Confucius. After all, being able to act arrogantly in front of small people is one thing, and being bold in front of big people is another.
Although Zhang Shou found Zhang Dakuai's unnecessary actions somewhat amusing, since there was no major conflict and the expected purpose was achieved, he did not say much. Instead, he motioned for Zhang Dakuai to sit down, and then said with a smile: "Okay, we have been delayed for a while. Now let's continue the lecture. Let's review the Battle of Feishui and talk about the chances of Former Qin's victory..."
The first famous scholar to give lectures at the public school was Yan Yuxi, who did not continue to take the Jinshi examination after passing the imperial examination, but directly entered the government as a Confucian instructor. After that, he served as several academic officials of varying degrees in the Imperial College, but was never able to advance to the next level.
It was said that he was a favorite disciple of Xue Xuan, a famous master of the Hedong School, but for Zhang Shou... who was that? He didn't know either the teacher or the student. He didn't know. He didn't understand.
So, although that person was not one of the famous scholars he met in Ge's house last time, he still resolutely missed the meeting and continued his history lectures in the Banshan Hall with a lot of interaction with students. Letting a guy like him who is so bad at philosophy listen to some reasoning... It would be better to kill him. You know, this reasoning is not that reasoning, that is pure liberal arts science!
As Zhang Shou did not come, Academician Kong was secretly proud of himself, because not only did he come himself, he also called several disciples to come and help. He thought that as long as the outstanding figure of the second generation of the Hedong School who was giving the lecture found out that he was there but Zhang Shou was not, he would naturally know what was going on.
Another reason for his coming today was that he had some friendship with Yan Yuxi's teacher, Xue Xuan, who founded the Hedong School and was well-known in the north in recent years. The other party was an orthodox Neo-Confucianist and was also a cabinet minister in the past. Compared with the Chongren School, he was of course more willing to show his closeness.
Therefore, after listening to the lecture, seeing that what Yan Yuxi said was approved by many candidates, the response seemed quite good. Kong Daxueshi, who chose to come to support on the first day of the day, also breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up happily, clapped his hands and praised: "It is said that Xue Hedong is the descendant of Zhu Xi's school. After listening to Yan Yuxi's lecture today, I really have learned the style of my teacher."
Yan Yuxi had already noticed that Grand Scholar Kong was coming. However, he had always been a simple and simple person. He kept his distance from the powerful but was unwilling to get too close to them. So Grand Scholar Kong did not say anything. He had planned to leave quietly after speaking. Who would have thought that Grand Scholar Kong would actually praise him in public.
Although it was unexpected, the middle-aged man still smiled calmly and said, "Master Kong, thank you for your praise. How can I be compared with you? What I just said can only touch upon one or two principles at most. I only regret that I cannot explain it more deeply to you."
The candidates dared not interrupt in front of the cabinet minister, so they could only watch with envy as Confucius praised Yan Yuxi's talent and virtue. Some clever people realized that the cabinet minister was trying to promote the famous scholar who was giving the lecture today, and they were very glad to be able to attend today's class.
As expected, Grand Secretary Kong said in public: "You have been in the Imperial College for many years, but unfortunately you have fallen into a low position. Otherwise, the Imperial College would not be in such a state of trouble. However, the current predicament of the Imperial College lies in the county schools and prefectures. I intend to recommend you to be the Imperial Censor and the Supervisor of Northern Zhili, so as to change the current trend of laziness and decadence among students!"
Yan Yuxi almost felt that he was hallucinating. You know, he only had a superficial dabble in the imperial examinations. After passing the provincial examinations when he was young, he worked as a small school official for a while. After his mother's death, he mourned for three years and then went to worship Xue Xuan as his teacher. After returning from school, the predecessor of the predecessor of Confucius recommended him to the Imperial College as the academic director. However, he soon offended the popular Jiang Gelao.
So after that, he had been working as a minor official of the eighth or ninth rank. Two years ago, he simply resigned and taught in his hometown.
Even just three years ago, his teacher was once summoned to the capital to join the cabinet. At that time, all the students of the Hedong School were extremely excited. But the fact proved that although Xue Xuan was good at teaching his disciples, his temperament was incompatible with the emperor.
Most importantly, Jiang Ge Lao's method of ostracizing people was simply superb. In less than a year, the teacher retired to his hometown.
This time he came to the capital, he was also asked by other fellow disciples to understand the temperament of the current prince, the future emperor, and whether the Hedong School should devote itself to officialdom or education in the future. As for other issues, he has not yet thought about them.
Therefore, when Confucius threw such a huge bait, he really didn't dare to swallow it, nor did he want to swallow it. How could he, a juren who hadn't even passed the imperial examination, get a position like the Inspector of Northern Zhili?
If Academician Kong knew what Yan Yuxi was thinking at this moment, he would definitely scold him for being useless.
The same guy who has not even passed the imperial examination and is not even a scholar, is now serving as a teacher to the prince. You are a second-generation disciple of the Hedong School, but you feel unworthy of being an inspector and censor. Isn't this a joke?
So, when Yan Yuxi showed a somewhat panicked expression and sincerely expressed that this matter was of great importance and required careful consideration, Academician Kong just thought it was just humility, but most of the other candidates below were truly envious.
Although many people had seen and remembered the scene where the big guy Zhang questioned the great scholar Kong, after the many teachers and students had dispersed, the rumor circulating outside was that the famous scholar Yan Yuxi, who was giving a lecture today, was about to be the governor of northern Zhili!
Among the four remaining lecturers at the moment, although Chen Xianzhang did not force any outcome, the other three were all busy preparing at their desks, hoping to become famous in one fell swoop - at the same time, they also hoped that Mr. Kong or other dignitaries would be able to visit and build momentum for them, or they would find ways to suppress others.
The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace did not come in person to listen to the lectures on the first day, which also made them feel hopeful .
Little did they know that after learning that Grand Secretary Kong went to the public school and publicly promised to recommend a censor for the Northern Zhili Inspectorate, the emperor said something to his little prince that would definitely make anyone drop their eyes when they heard it.
"What a pity. I originally thought that Yan Yuxi was a man of honor and knowledge, so I planned to invite him to the palace to give you a trial lesson. If he is good, I will keep him as your teacher. Since Master Kong thinks he is suitable to be the inspector of Northern Zhili, I will delay for a while and approve him."
The third prince simply didn't know how to evaluate his father. He had just asked himself if he wanted to have Chen Xianzhang as a teacher, and the matter hadn't been settled yet, but he told himself that he had originally planned to get Yan Yuxi to be his teacher?
You know, he now has more than twelve lecturers in the Eastern Palace. If he adds more, he won't be able to distinguish what each person is teaching - although each person teaches one course, unlike Zhang Shou, many lecturers will unconsciously mix their personal interpretations into the content, so he is a little overwhelmed.
But even though his father had always cared about him, the Third Prince thought again and again about the issue of the configuration of the lecturers and did not raise any objection immediately. Instead, when Zhang Shou came to give a lecture that afternoon, he even dismissed Chu Kuan and asked Zhang Shou and Lu Sanlang sincerely in front of them. He felt that the East Palace lectured too much and would it be easy to confuse the content of the lectures.
Faced with such a thorny issue, Lu Sanlang, the only one who did not have to worry about whether he could be re-elected as the Eastern Palace tutor, could not help but feel a headache.
If someone else had asked him, he would have evaded the question long ago, but the problem was that the person who asked the question was the Third Prince, the Crown Prince. So he racked his brains for a long time before he said uncertainly, "If Your Highness the Crown Prince doesn't want to add more people, or if he thinks that the current lecturers have some flaws, why not tell the Emperor that if the lecturers in the East Palace are good, they can be kept, and if they are not, they can be released?"
"Will this make people feel disrespected?" The Third Prince frowned, "Especially when someone is very confident in his lectures and is highly praised by the world, but I don't think it's suitable for me. If I invite him to come for a while and then send him out of the palace, then if the news gets out..."
He didn't say the second half of his words directly, but Zhang Shou and Lu Sanlang both understood what he meant. Seeing that Lu Sanlang was already confused and obviously couldn't think of a good idea, Zhang Shou said softly: "Your Highness, why don't you ask the emperor directly? There are so many lecturers left in the East Palace. First, it is easy to confuse the lectures. Second, there are conflicts between their philosophies. Third, and most importantly..."
"It is difficult to show the importance of the lectures in the Eastern Palace. Therefore, whenever the emperor meets someone with real talent and knowledge, he wants to put him in the Eastern Palace as a lecturer. Is this for the purpose of making the best use of people, or for the prince's study? If it is for the purpose of making the best use of people, it would be very appropriate to recommend someone like Confucius to supervise the Northern Zhili. If it is for the prince's study, why not let the lecturers in the Eastern Palace learn from the Eastern Palace tutors and rotate them on a monthly basis?"
When the emperor heard what Zhang Shou said, he burst into laughter. Then, under the confused gaze of the third prince, he tapped his son's forehead and said, "I am indeed testing people one by one. But so what? My prince wants to hire a teacher. Shouldn't all the famous teachers in the world come to give a trial lecture and then select the best ones to be admitted? I am also like Jiang Taigong fishing and waiting for the bait to come!"
