Chapter 355 Let the bullets fly for a while
"Oh? Sit down."
Behind the large desk, the world-famous scholar smiled and pointed to the free seats in the room.
Zhengyang was obviously more patient with this student whom he valued highly.
He smiled and said: "It seems to be a difficult problem for you to come over and ask me so late at night. Tell me, what is the problem?"
Lu Cheng did not refuse and sat down first, then respectfully said to his mentor:
"May I ask, sir, how can we understand that the mind is the reason?"
"Is it feasible to give to conscience?"
“How should we view the unity of knowledge and action?”
He didn't talk nonsense and asked the questions directly without further explanation.
Because he understands that his mentor doesn't need it.
If these three incomprehensible words are thrown out to the public, they will be completely confused and unable to understand them.
If it were told to ordinary readers, they would only be able to understand the superficial meaning, unable to connect the three, and still not understand.
In the ears of people like Song Juren, one can feel out the mystery...
But for Zhengyang, there is no need for a long speech to explain the problem, just three or two words are enough.
As he asked his question, Zhengyang, who was originally smiling, slowly stopped smiling.
The great scholar of the time frowned, first smacked his lips, then pondered, and then gradually fell into trance.
No one spoke in the room, the only thing quiet was the chirping of insects outside the window.
Neither master nor disciple said a word across the dim yellow lampshade on the table.
Lu Cheng did not dare to disturb his mentor out loud. To him, these few words were like a sharp dagger, tearing apart the fortress built up by decades of study and shaking the theoretical framework in his heart slightly.
Although it was far from the level of collapse of the mind after just a few sentences, Lu Cheng had a hunch that 'the heart is the principle' was like a seed that had been planted in his heart.
Even if he deliberately ignored it or didn't agree with it, from the moment he heard it, he could never forget it.
The seeds will even take root, sprout, and gradually grow into towering trees, opening strong city gates.
He even had a strong premonition that if this seed was like a dandelion, it would spread in the wind and sow the earth.
In the future, it may grow into a new behemoth that shakes up the original "proper learning".
It was precisely because he had foreseen that possibility that he felt uneasy and fearful from the bottom of his heart.
Especially when the teacher and Dong Xuan were about to discuss their studies, an idea suddenly appeared that was enough to fundamentally attack "righteous learning"...
Coincidence?
Lu Cheng didn't dare not pay attention to it. This was the biggest reason why he came all night!
Time passed very slowly, and Lu Cheng gradually became restless, and the fear in his heart was spreading like weeds.
Because the teacher has not given an answer yet!
Is it possible that even my mentor couldn't figure it out or refute it for a while?
a long time.
Mr. Zhengyang finally looked at him, frowned, and said slowly:
"I need to think about it. You should go back first and come back tomorrow."
Lu Cheng felt dizzy!
These words sounded very familiar to him. He opened his mouth, and finally stood up, cupped his hands, walked out of the room with heavy steps, and closed the door.
After walking another dozen steps in the cold night, he turned around and saw his mentor's motionless reflection on the inn window, like the shadow of a stone sculpture.
A night of silence.
As if nothing happened, no one knew that the bullet Zhao Duan handed out from the air had no business and hit Zhengyang between the eyebrows.
…
…
The next day dawned, which was also the penultimate day of "Plum Garden Theory".
The tense atmosphere in the city became increasingly intense.
Zhao Duan took a car to the Xiuwen Museum early in the morning to see how Master Dong was preparing.
But he was in vain and was told that the Grand Master had gone to the Imperial College.
Zhao Duan was surprised and rushed to the highest university in the Yu Dynasty for the first time.
The person who received him was the fourth-grade official of the Imperial Academy, an old man with a scholarly demeanor and an elegant temperament.
"Zhao Shijun is here to visit us. We are a rare visitor." Old Jijiu greeted him with a smile.
Zhao Duan went straight to the point with a smile:
"I heard that the Grand Master was here, so I followed him to have a look."
The old priest led him along a scholarly corridor. On the pink and white walls, there were paintings of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, and even the red lacquered wooden pillars were decorated with poems.
As the two walked, they saw only a few teachers and students. The Imperial College looked particularly empty today.
"The grand master was giving lectures in the lobby inside, and all the teachers and students in the prison went to listen." Lao Jijiu explained.
Zhao Duan said in surprise: "Lectures? At this time?" Lao Jijiu explained seriously:
"Discussing studies is not just about preparation behind closed doors. Although the Grand Master does not need to publicize and build momentum, he will also rehearse and practice."
According to him, most of the time there is no secret weapon hidden in intellectual debates.
After all, both sides of the debate are world-famous Confucian scholars. Their opinions and works have long been public and are not secrets. Therefore, in order to win, in addition to the height of knowledge itself, it also requires a certain amount of practice.
Grand Master Dong used the Imperial Academy to hone his intellectual views, sort out his knowledge through lectures, accept questions from students, check for omissions and fill in the gaps, and get himself into a state of eloquence.
"That's it." Zhao Duan suddenly realized that he really lacked experience in such professional matters:
"Shall we go directly?"
He had already heard the faint sound coming from ahead.
The old priest smiled and said, "If you want to listen, please follow me."
As he said that, the old priest led him around a small road and climbed to a two-story building.
When Zhao Duan went upstairs, he couldn't help being surprised:
"His Majesty?!"
I saw, standing beside the railing on the second floor, the Empress of Yu, Xu Zhenguan, dressed in regular clothes and with flowing black hair!
"Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Zhao Duan instinctively smiled and walked quickly forward to salute.
Xu Zhenguan turned his head, his eyebrows stretched out on his beautiful face, and he smiled:
"Only you are allowed to come, but I am not allowed to come and take a look?"
"I don't mean that!" Zhao Duan waved his hands and said curiously: "Your Majesty also looks at the Grand Master..."
"Yes." Xu Zhenguan turned his head and looked down.
Zhao Duan stood beside her and followed her gaze.
From this angle, across a rockery, you can see an extremely spacious open-air lecture hall. Master Dong is sitting on the stage giving lectures. Below, there are densely packed teachers and students of the Imperial College, surrounded by water, which is spectacular.
With the practitioner's ear, one can hear Dong Xuan's lectures and debates with his students.
"Your Majesty, I'm going down first." Old Jijiu was a good person, and he led the way and went downstairs.
Xu Zhenguan arrived quietly, without any entourage. At this moment, only the emperor and his ministers were left in the pavilion.
"The Grand Master has lost weight in just a few days in order to cope with that Zhengyang." Xu Zhenguan said softly with emotion in his eyes.
Zhao Duan was in awe: "I have also heard that the entire Xiuwen Hall is busy with this matter. The grand master is old, but he still has to shoulder this important task. He is worthy of being the pillar of the country."
Xu Zhenguan said: "How is the public opinion outside the city?"
This is the tone of talking about work.
Zhao Duan is a person who knows how to understand situations. In this kind of atmosphere and situation, he will not ask for trouble to flirt with girls, so he said sternly:
"Generally speaking, there are naturally many voices supporting the Grand Master, but there are also some scholars who like to sing the opposite. I have sent people to keep an eye on it and compile statistics. However, the study is not yet open, and there are too many people paying attention. It is not easy to deal with. I plan to After the matter is over, sift through it again to see how many restless ones there are.”
Xu Zhenguan did not express any opinion on this, which was regarded as acquiescence.
She suddenly said: "Xu Zudi came into the palace to plead for Yunyang, but I rejected it."
There is such a thing... Zhao Duan was a little surprised, thinking that this prince still missed his aunt who was confined in the nunnery...
The empress's words seemed to be expressing her stance... telling herself to make herself feel at ease?
Zhao Duan agreed: "His Royal Highness will definitely understand His Majesty's good intentions."
Xu Zhenguan laughed at herself and sighed a little in her beautiful eyes. She didn't know whether it was because of these words or because of the uncles who were rushing to attack her.
"That Zhengyang was invited by King Mu. Do you know this?" Xu Zhenguan said softly.
Zhao Duan nodded and said curiously:
"Speaking of it, this Zhengyang is also weird. If he is hostile to us, he only came down to rebel after three years. If he said that he was bribed by King Mu, he refused the imperial court's invitation to enter the Xiu Wen Guan.
Is it possible that he is really dead-set and accepts King Mu as his master? But coming to Beijing this time, it is not a deadlock, and there is still a little leeway, which is very weird. "
Since Zhen Bao took the initiative to bring up King Mu, Zhao Duan no longer had to be taboo about the topic and stood decisively on the side of the empress, filled with righteous indignation.
Xu Zhenguan said softly: "Because Zhengyang has received favor from King Mu."
"oh?"
"Zhengyang was born in the Shi family of officials. He worked as an official in other places with outstanding political achievements and talents. His father was an official in Yunfu Road and later became seriously ill. At that time, King Mu took action and used the power of the palace to find a famous doctor. , I gave him precious medicine and put in a lot of effort, and my father hung up his life for two years.
After his father's death, Zhengyang resigned and went back to observe filial piety. Later, he immersed himself in learning and wrote books. He became famous, but he was no longer willing to serve as an official. "Xu Zhenguan explained.
Zhao Duan was surprised and said:
"So, this person came to Beijing to repay his kindness?"
This can explain why the empress did not come out to sing the opposite two years before she ascended the throne, and now she has come to Beijing.
"Probably so," Xu Zhenguan sighed:
"If I had known this, it would have been better to have captured him by force, which would have saved me today's trouble."
After a pause, she turned to look at her confidant: "Who do you think will win this time?"
(End of chapter)