Chapter 218 Readers
The group dismounted at the entrance of the alley, the entourage stayed where they were, and Yang Feng led Hou Juan into the depths of the alley.
The alley is not wide, and the snow is densely covered with footprints, but there are no horseshoe prints and ruts. In front of a dilapidated door, Yang Feng knocked on the door knocker twice, then retreated to the bottom of the steps and waited silently. Han Ruzi stood beside him, feeling that he Like visiting a hermit.
After waiting for a while, the door was finally pushed open gently, and a boy in his teens came out and saluted the two of them, "You two, please wait in the back room."
Han Ruzi suddenly noticed an interesting thing. The Jianghu people's clasped fists and salutes seemed to be more casual. His hands were almost close to his chin, and his elbows were hanging down to his side. Politeness changed to fist and fist. The etiquette of a scholar is much more complicated. Even if it is just a child, he does it well: his hands are folded, about half a foot away from his chest, and his arms are stretched out as far as possible, like the wings of a chick.
After taking the pose, Jianghu people keep their hands, mouths and heads, and keep their eyes open to observe the reaction of the other party, but scholars are on the contrary, their hands and mouths do not move, only their heads and waists are slightly bent before they speak.
The etiquette of scholars may be a bit rigid, but it is these rigid gestures that show that they are not threatening and have absolutely no intention of using force.
Han Ruzi and Yang Feng were led to the backyard. There is really a cottage here. After entering, there are seats but no desks and chairs. Han Ruzi remembered his experience of taking classes in the palace, and thought that retro is really a very tiring thing.
There were a few small thin mattresses on the table, Han Ruzi knelt and sat in the guest seat, Yang Feng was a little later than him, to show the difference between master and servant, the door was half open, and the cold wind came in with the crisp The sound of reading seems to come from a group of children.
"Is this a private school?"
"Yeah." Yang Feng replied.
Han Ruzi was not surprised that Guo Cong's friend was a teacher, but he didn't expect that this person was teaching a group of children.
For the next time, the two waited silently, Han Ruzi pondered the difference between Jianghu people and scholars, wondering which kind of person Yang Feng preferred.
The book boy came again several times and brought furnaces, charcoal, pots, water, tea, cups, spoons and other kinds of tea utensils, about fifteen or six kinds, but he did not make tea, but politely apologized and asked the guests to wait. a while.
When the cold wind made the inside and outside of the cottage as cold as Guo Cong, Guo Cong came to teach the emperor about the classics and was about to sit on the stool, but at this time he honestly knelt down on the opposite side, and after saying hello, Make tea by yourself, the action is a little slow, but the steps are not messy.
Yang Feng walked forward on his knees, turned slightly to his side, and helped Guo Cong to make tea. The subject and the guest were distinct, but they cooperated seamlessly, as if they were making tea together every day.
This is a means of communication between scholars, such as the incision of Jianghu people, Han Ruzi can't understand.
Yang Feng delivered a cup of brewed tea to Hou Wan, Han Ruzi took a sip, gave a long hum, and said with a smile: "I understand why the door is open, and I have to be in the cold winter to drink it. The beauty of hot tea."
"Haha." Guo Cong laughed, here he no longer poses the image of a rotten and rotten Confucian, but rather a bit of high spirits, "The so-called cold season knows the pines and cypresses, the poor and the humble are the best friends, and the tired Hou drinking tea, there is a different taste. "
Han Ruzi smiled, holding the teacup in both hands, drank the water in small sips, feeling sweet, and couldn't say more.
Yang Feng only served Marquis Tien and did not drink tea himself.
Guo Cong took a sip and seemed to want to make a comment, but after hesitating, he gave up and chatted casually.
After about two quarters of an hour, the sound of reading outside disappeared, and not long after that, the master finally appeared.
This is a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a thin stature and a wide robe and big sleeves. He is exactly the same as the image of a scholar in the eyes of ordinary people, but his complexion is darker, and his demeanor is slightly reduced.
Han Ruzi heard from Yang Feng that this person was named Qu and Zixi. Although he was young, he was a famous scholar, a scholar in the last years of Emperor Wu, and he is currently a doctor of the Imperial College.
What Yang Feng didn't say is that this Qu Zixi is more interested in teaching children than adults.
Qu Zixi greeted Marquis Juan at the door, apologized for his late arrival, and after humbling with Guo Cong, he sat down.
The boy opened the doors and windows completely, and then Han Ruzi noticed that there were two plum trees in the corner of the yard. It is somewhat similar to Meixiang.
The best time to praise the tea has passed, and Han Ruzi didn't come for this, and waited for the other party to speak.
After the reception was over, Qu Zixi straightened his upper body, held the cup with one hand and the cup with the other, took a sip of the tea, as if it was a unique wine in the world, then slowly put down the teacup, silent for a moment, and started "lecturing".
He was indeed speaking in the tone of a lecture, as if he had just changed a class, and in front of him was still a group of students waiting for him to teach. Although his expression was solemn, his words were not jerky.
"Does Juan Hou believe that reading can make a person smarter?"
"I believe." Han Ruzi had benefited a lot from the history books, but he only hated that he read too late and too little.
"Does Tien Hou believe that reading can make a person kinder and kinder?"
"This... not necessarily."
"Well, there are many shameless and vicious people among readers, so reading can make a person smarter, but it may not make a person kinder and kinder."
Han Ruzi didn't know what to say.
Qu Zixi didn't expect an answer, and said to himself, "There are two people who are both vicious, one is stupid and the other is smart, which one does Hou Juan think is more threatening?"
Han Ruzi already understood what the middle-aged scholar was trying to say. He had seen similar sayings in historical books that the emperor was "wise enough to refuse remonstrance, and his words were enough to cover up wrongs", so he was more evil than ordinary dazed rulers. for tyrants. In the view of Qu Zixi and other scholars, Juan Hou, Donghai King and Champion Hou are not qualified emperors. In contrast, the less intelligent Champion Hou is the best choice.
Han Ruzi smiled and said: "There are two teachers who are both mediocre. One is very strict and does not require students to study in their own way, and the other is very lenient, allowing students to study by themselves. Mr. Qu thinks which one taught them. Students are more likely to excel?"
Qu Zixi laughed several times, and his expression was not so solemn. Like Guo Cong, he was a little more energetic.
He also understood what Huanhou's answer meant. A scholar is a teacher who thinks he can see through everything about his students. In fact, he is short-sighted. If he is more relaxed, some students may stand out. Qu Zixi, Guo Cong and others interfering in the election of the emperor are tantamount to mediocre and strict teachers.
Han Ruzi will never admit that he will be a foolish ruler or a tyrant.
Qu Zixi also did not admit that they were mediocre teachers. But there are no grains for three years, which one does Hou Juan think is better?"
Feitian was referring to Emperor Wu. This emperor was wise and powerful, but he also exhausted the people of Great Chu. Scholars didn't like a similar emperor so soon, and would rather have a mediocre monarch to recuperate.
Of course Han Ruzi refused to admit defeat, "There are two boats, one is small and new, and there is absolutely no problem, the other is large and old, or there may be loopholes. If you have the opportunity to escape to the highlands by boat, is it a small boat or a big boat?"
Small boats seem to be safe, but there are few people in them, and they are easy to capsize in huge waves. The big boats are worn out, but they carry many people and may be able to withstand the huge waves. If there is only one chance, the big boat is of course a better choice.
Han Ruzi and Qu Zixi confronted each other, Guo Cong and Yang Feng listened in, added tea to the cup, and brought it to the two contenders. Guo Cong, in order to ease the atmosphere, smiled and said, "It's better to use the same boat."
His words were out of place, Han Ruzi gave him a cold look, and Qu Zixi didn't look good either, looked Guo Cong up and down, and seemed a little disappointed in him.
Among the four, Guo Cong was the oldest and the most prestigious, but at this time, his face was blushing. He was a hundred times more embarrassed than Han Ruzi had not tasted the tea before.
Qu Zixi asked: "Although the weather has not been smooth in recent years, there have been no major disasters, and most of them are man-made. You don't need a big boat, just a small boat, you can sail safely."
There are Xiongnu peeping outside the Great Chu, and there are refugees in the chaos, but these are not unprecedented catastrophes. The court's inaction only made the situation more and more serious. It only needs a mediocre emperor who does not make trouble or fight. It can be solved. These issues bring everything back to normal.
"The wind started at the end of the green apple, and when it was not in full bloom, how many people would know it?" Han Ruzi didn't want to use the metaphor any more, and said directly: "The palace is chaotic, the queen mother is playing tricks and bringing in warlocks to control it. The ministers, the monarchs, etc. want mediocre emperors, but in the end they will only get clay puppets, so how can man-made disasters be cut off?”
"We have our own way to get the Queen Mother to hand over power and let the Jianghu Warlock return to Jianghu." Qu Zixi said, but did not explain in detail, this is their secret.
"The Huns have been divided for a long time. The West Huns, who had already settled in a barren land, suddenly moved eastward and subdued the East Huns in the first battle, which is enough to show that their power has not declined, their troops are strong, but they are panicked like a lost dog. A more powerful enemy. This powerful enemy has vowed to fight against the people of Chu. Although the waves are far away, they will destroy houses and trees. Do you have a way to deal with them?”
Qu Zixi shook his head and smiled and said, "Although Da Chu is ill, he is not afraid of the barbarians in the north. Marquis Tien has a strong enemy out of nothing. It is the wisdom that we are afraid of."
Han Ruzi said sternly: "Why do people who study forget the history? The Great Chu has set the Dingding for more than 120 years, and it took only a few decades to defeat the Xiongnu. In the past 30 years, the stalemate with the Xiongnu has been stalemate, and then 30 years ahead. In 2000, even had to ask the Xiongnu for peace and tribute, which period is the current Great Chu more like?"
Today's Great Chu is definitely not as good as the heyday of Emperor Wu, no one will deny this.
Qu Zixi was silent for a while, then said, "There is no basis for empty words."
Han Ruzi said, "For a strong enemy in the distance, the Western Regions must be aware of it, and the honorary minister of the Ministry of Rites may have heard of it. In a few days, there will be envoys from the Huns who will enter the capital. They know more."
Qu Zixi smiled slightly and held up the teacup to show off the guest.
In the alley, Han Ruzi asked, "Am I coping well?"
"Very good." Yang Feng said.
"But I don't think the two of them were persuaded."
"No need, just let them know what kind of person Juan Hou is."
"But the last thing he wants is someone like me. Forget it, I just want you to tell me one thing: Can these scholars really turn things around?"
Yang Feng sold Guanzi again, "There is no profit in sight, who is rushing to it? Over the past thousand years, there have been more and more scholars, not for no reason. If Juan Hou is more patient, you will soon be able to see the strength of scholars."