Yu Lu was startled and said, "The Ministry of Rites has sent a notification from Shuntian Mansion."
Fang Xi also raised his head suddenly: "It's a good thing to be able to take the imperial examination again immediately. Some examinations have limited financial support. If you stay here for too long, you may have to go home without any money."
Su Ziji turned around and said, "How are you preparing?"
Fang Xi immediately said: "I have repeatedly previewed my daily homework and memorized the books, but I still feel a little confused about some of the current policies of the imperial court."
Su Ziji looked out the window thoughtfully, without saying a word. After a while, he said: "Then I will give you two a test question. You two answer it, and I will see your level."
It is quiet here and no one will come here unless there is nothing wrong. It is very suitable to take a test here, although it is a bit like the underworld.
Yu Lu and Fang Xi didn't have time to worry about whether it was appropriate or not at the moment. The grandson was busy, so he couldn't see him whenever he wanted.
If you are willing to give yourself a test at this moment, you are giving me some pointers.
Not to mention that Taisun was quite good in the imperial examination, much better than the two of them.
Now that he is at the center of politics, he will be at the top of the mountain, and he can see all the mountains and small mountains at a glance. His knowledge is definitely first-class, much better than that of all the officials.
Even if I could figure out the preferences of the new examiner, it would be inferior to a few words of advice from Taisun here.
Therefore, both of them agreed immediately.
Su Ziji said: "One person and two people, whether they are intentional or not."
This was a direct question, and it was the same as the original test question. Fang Xi and Yu Lu were both stunned. However, these two test questions had been studied over and over again due to leaks, but they still thought about it carefully.
Su Ziji stood up and waited.
After a while, Fang Xi had the answer and replied: "Your Highness, my answer is... If you do good with intention, you will not be rewarded even if you do good; if you do evil without intention, you will not be punished even if you do evil."
After hearing this, Su Ziji smiled faintly, but didn't say whether it was okay or not, and looked at Yu Lu again.
Yu Lu thought for a while before speaking clearly word for word: "Your Highness, my answer is... Good deeds will be rewarded if they are intentional, and evil will be punished if they are unintentional."
It can be said that the answers of the two people are completely opposite.
Regarding this topic, many people have always discussed and even argued about it. Judging from the looks on Fang Xi and Yu Lu's faces, it was obvious that they had argued more than once.
Su Ziji had no expression on his face when he talked about this. He commented on Fang Xi first and sighed: "Fang Xi, you may fail."
"Your Highness, I wonder why you say that?"
Fang Xi was a little surprised and a little dissatisfied. Although she didn't study well for a period of time in the past, she changed her mind later. She worked hard and thought she was no different from others. Why was it that she might have failed the exam before she took the exam?
Su Ziji saw his dissatisfaction and confusion, and did not argue. He said quietly: "Your thoughts are still limited to the perspective of ordinary scholars, not from the perspective of governing the country."
"Strictly speaking, even scholars are somewhat unqualified."
Su Ziji's tone was casual, but his words were serious: "What are you reading? The Four Books and Five Classics. What are you taking the test? It's the spring period. The country recruits scholars to serve as officials to govern the country."
"If you do good deeds with intention, you will not be rewarded, and if you do evil unintentionally, you will not be punished. It sounds nice, but people in the world are not saints. Who can do good without intention? If you have intention and do not reward, then everyone is not good."
"Why, if you don't reward me once you have the intention, who will do good deeds?"
"Not to mention that even though evil is not punished, only you know your heart, not others. Who can know whether you have good intentions or not. If you do something bad, you will naturally be punished."
"Otherwise, if someone kills someone or betrays the country, they call me unintentionally. Will you let them go?"
"Therefore, those who do good deeds intentionally but do not reward them; and those who do evil deeds unintentionally but do not punish them are actually bad words for the world and directly conflict with the imperial government and Confucius."
"You don't know the allusion about Zigong redeeming people and Zilu receiving oxen, right?"
As soon as these words came out, Fang Xi was dissatisfied and wanted to jump up to protest, but was suddenly startled. This is a famous allusion.
Zigong redeemed the people of Lu from the princes, and gave them away without taking their gold. Confucius said: "Give them what they have lost. From now on, the people of Lu will not redeem their people. If you take their gold, you will not harm your conduct, but if you do not take their gold, you will not be harmed." No more redeeming people.”
When Zilu saved someone from drowning, his people worshiped him with an ox. Zilu accepted it, and Confucius said, "The people of Lu must save someone from death."
Zigong redeemed people for no reward, but no one redeemed people. Zilu saved people and received oxen, and everyone did good deeds.
After thinking about it carefully, Fang Xi couldn't help but change her expression, and her dissatisfied expression gradually faded away, revealing deep contemplation.
This truth is actually very simple. It can be seen from two allusions. How can it be admitted if it conflicts with the political affairs?
Both of them are scholars who have passed the imperial examination. As long as they explain it clearly, they will naturally understand it.
"To put it bluntly, this is using ghosts and gods to suppress humanity and the king's law. And our examination is in the human world. It is natural for human examiners to demote you."
After Su Ziji finished speaking, he turned to Yu Lu and said, "What you said is that good deeds will be rewarded if you have the intention to do so, and evil will be punished if you don't have the intention to do so. Generally speaking, you are right."
"It's just, but it's not humane."
"Although internal law is external Confucianism, external Confucianism is still necessary. If there is no word benevolence, the judiciary will easily turn into a harsh legal system. If the examiner thinks you are mean and admits you lowly, you will have nothing to say. If There is a reason for being demoted."
"The crime should be judged based on the facts, and the seriousness should be judged based on intentionality or unintentionality."
"This is in line with the teachings of the saints and the laws of the country and people's hearts."
Yu Lu and Fang Xijiu read the scriptures and immediately realized that this is the original meaning of Zhongyong. Zhongyong does not mean mediocrity, but the harmony between law and human feelings, literature and martial arts, and the eagerness to slow down. It can be said that this principle of law will never be easy, and no dynasty will. Can leave it.
Seeing that both of them were deep in thought, Su Ziji smiled again as if he had some enlightenment: "Actually, even so, it's still a bit inferior. I can only win, but I can't get to the top of the exam."
Both Yu Lu and Fang Xi knew that Taisun was giving advice, and the opportunity was really rare, so they listened carefully, but they really didn't understand what he was saying.
"Your Highness, why?" Yu Lu also didn't understand. Is there a third answer to this question? Although his answer was not very precise and pertinent, after tempering it, it was perfect.
"If you are just scholars, this discussion is enough!" Su Ziji fiddled with the fan in his hand, slowly folded it up, and said, "But now, you are taking the tribute examination, jumping through the dragon gate, and begging for help." official."
"The next question is, what is the position of the people in relation to the officials?" Su Ziji looked at the confused expressions of the two people, smiled, and asked.
Fang Xi didn't understand why she skipped the topic, and was a little surprised. She thought for a moment: "People's livelihood is related to destiny. Even one person cannot be distracted. We must start from small things."
Yu Lu didn't say anything, but looking at his expression, it was obvious that he agreed with what Fang Xi said.
"It's still wrong." Su Ziji shook his head, and under the surprised gazes of the two men, said, "Your footing is wrong and you haven't understood it yet."
"That's the same thing. If you were just scholars, this argument would be enough. But now, you are taking the tribute examination, jumping through the dragon gate, and asking for an official position."
"If your family has hundreds of hectares of land and is too busy to manage it, and you want to recruit a few stewards, what is your first requirement?"
Yu Luruo had some realization but couldn't understand it, so he just replied: "Of course he is an honest and sincere person, not treacherous or slippery, and good at farming."
"What's the difference between honesty and cunning?"
"Of course you are sincerely working for my family..." After saying this, Yu Lu slowly opened his mouth.
"It seems you understand."
"If the boy's examination tests basic skills, the scholar's examination tests literary talent."
"The exam is to test the rules. The merits of the exam are not small. You can jump through the dragon gate and live in the countryside. Those who do not follow the rules and understand them will not be admitted."
"When you are promoted at different levels, when it comes to the tribute examination, what is asked is your sincerity and piety, and whether you stand from the perspective of the court and the emperor."
"Now do you know why it's wrong?"
"Yes, I understand. The tribute test is to jump through the dragon gate. You can become an official in one jump. What is an official? It is a servant of the country, just like a squire in charge of affairs."
"What is the position of the people over the officials? If the focus is on the people, it is not necessary to think about the king and the court. It is only advisable to put the king and the country first, and then consider the people's livelihood, rather than considering the people's livelihood first and then governing the country and loving the king. "
This is the thinking that an official should have. Even if the article is well-written, if the thinking is still limited to the scope of ordinary people, it will not be able to impress the examiner.
"But this... this is completely different from what we have always learned!" Yu Lu said with a frown, showing hesitation and struggle.
Even if I can understand this point of view, it is somewhat contrary to my past understanding, so it is difficult to accept it.
Fang Xiyi's face was ugly. It was obvious that it was more difficult for him to accept such a point of view, and he even had great resistance to such a point of view. Isn't this a treacherous minister?
Su Ziji sighed: "Yu Lu Fang Xi, if you really understand this, the position of Jinshi will be here."
If you don't understand, even if you pass the exam, you won't be ranked first, and you will probably be a fellow Jinshi. If you can take the imperial examination as a civil servant, who would want to be a fellow Jinshi?
Not to mention demoted, who wants to fail and waste his life?
"Talent and learning are the entrance, rules are the fame, and position is the official status. Although these three questions will definitely not be tested in this exam, the spirit is the same."
Su Ziji seemed to be smiling and closed the fan. At this point, there was nothing more to say. This is a secret that fathers may not tell every son.
"You two should think about these carefully in two days. If you can figure it out, you two may be able to be on the gold list. I wish you all the best to be on the gold list."
After saying that, he nodded towards the two of them and walked out.
When they arrived outside, they saw the wild Taoist. The wild Taoist was standing guard outside the door. He was only a few feet away from him. His expression was complicated, indicating that he had heard everything.
It was already dark now. Looking around the corridor, there were numerous lights. Not far away were the lights of thousands of houses. In this dark night, neither of them spoke for a moment.
"Lord." Later, after turning around the corridor, the wild Taoist smiled and said, "Do you know what I am thinking when I walk with you?"
"Well, do you think Gu is a bit indifferent to women's kindness?" Su Ziji also smiled: "You have so many things to worry about, but you spend your time on this?"
The wild Taoist was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "No, ruthlessness does not necessarily mean that you are a hero. How can you not be a husband if you pity your son? I just feel that you are a rare king in the world. Being with you and following you makes me feel at ease and very happy." Peace of mind.”
"Really?" Su Ziji thought thoughtfully, sighed and continued, "Actually, I'm just a living person. How can I not have seven emotions and six desires?"
"It's a simple thing to live alone, but looking at the history, how many emperors can do it?" After hearing this, the wild Taoist sighed: "For example, today, I'm afraid that there is no trace of humanity left in life. .”
"Yes, his life has lost all traces of humanity..." Su Ziji suddenly thought of the memory he had gained from the prince. It was very warm, but there was a chill in his body. He said after a long time: "Actually, he used to He was also a man who cared about his wife and children, but before he knew it, he changed."
"I just hope I don't have this day."
