"Brother Zhong Fang, do you have any opinions on my reforms?"
Wei Huai and Yang Huaisheng were sitting in a tea shop next to Huaiqing Bridge, setting up a chess game and they were halfway through the game.
"I believe that reform does not need to start with talking about the evils of the world, but must change people's hearts."
Yang Huaisheng gently lifted a piece of paper.
"Why do you say this?"
"People's hearts are no longer ancient!" Yang Huaisheng sighed, "Today's people don't know how to cultivate their moral character, and they don't understand rituals and music. As a result, all the ways of the sages have been destroyed, so education has not flourished. As for several generations, the country Zuo was short-lived because of this. .”
"So, in your opinion, what should it be?"
"We should reorganize rituals and music, repair ancient temples in various places, hold grand sacrificial events, and make all places respect ancient laws, and strive to re-implement the ritual and music system of the Zhou Dynasty." After he said this, he made another move.
"Brother Zhongfang, since the system of the Zhou Dynasty has been abolished for a thousand years, its laws have long been inappropriate. If the ritual and music system were to be preserved, wouldn't it be necessary to use the clan system, well fields, etc.? In my opinion, reform requires the abolition of the old Replace with new ones, don’t cling to the old ones!”
Yang Huaisheng smiled bitterly and shook his head without replying.
"Can I say something?"
As soon as Wei Huai got down, he heard someone talking behind him; when he looked back, he saw a person leaning on the side, smiling softly.
"You made the wrong move... It should be here..." he said, pointing to a spot on the chessboard, "Can't you break through here?"
"What do you do?" These words made Yang Huaisheng angry. He stood up and said, "The so-called 'true gentleman watching chess without speaking'. If you want to show off your chess skills, find someone to go down. Don't disturb the two of us. chess!"
"We are all scholars, why are you so angry?!" The man blushed and stared at Yang Huaisheng.
"What do you want to do?" Yang Huaisheng raised his fist and asked sharply.
"Okay, okay, brother Zhong Fang..." Wei Huai stood up quickly, held down his arm, and winked at him: calm down.
"They are not vulgar people, why should they be angry..." Wei Huai comforted the man, "Dare you ask me your name?"
"You're better off..." The man glanced at Yang Huaisheng disdainfully, then turned to Wei Huai and said, "My surname is Xia, my given name is Yuanlong, and my courtesy name is Renying."
"I have long admired your name! Are you a gentleman from the nearby academy?"
"You know me?" Xia Yuanlong was shocked.
"When I was in the Imperial College a few years ago, I knew that Xia Renying was diligent in teaching students and was invited by the academy. I didn't expect to meet you today!"
Xia Yuanlong's expression suddenly changed, and he asked in surprise: "Are you just..."
He laughed and said, "I am Wei Huai."
"Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!" Xia Yuanlong bowed deeply to Wei Huai.
Yang Huaisheng sneered.
He turned around and saw that Yang Huaisheng was still playing chess with his head down, never raising his head. "This brother..."
"His name is Yang Huaisheng, and his courtesy name is Zhongfang." Wei Huai looked back at him, frowned, and shouted: "Brother Zhongfang!..."
Yang Huaisheng still pretended not to hear.
Xia Yuanlong patted Wei Huai from the side and said, "I'll just go and apologize to him."
He held the table with one hand, slowly moved to Yang Huaisheng, and called softly: "Mr. Yang, Mr. Yang?"
"What's wrong?" Yang Huaisheng's face was still red, and his anger didn't seem to diminish.
"Oh, what a big deal... I'm here to apologize to Brother Zhong Fang. I hope Zhong Fang will be magnanimous and forgive me for being rude."
When Yang Huaisheng looked at Wei Huai, Wei Huai nodded vigorously in his direction, and then he said: "As long as you understand. We are all scholars and we should know these rules. Why should we do this? Just don't be so rude and rude in the future. .”
"yes……"
Yang Huaisheng just felt relieved. To show that he had no grudges, he threw three coins on the table and called to the tea doctor: "Give us another cup of tea on the table!"
Xia Yuanlong's tense expression suddenly relaxed: "Thank you, Brother Zhong Fang, for being so generous and tolerant..."
Wei Huai also laughed: "What's the point! Zhong Fang is just a man of upright nature and not very temperamental."
"What Ji Min said is right, come on," Yang Huaisheng pulled out the chair next to him, "I think your hands are itchy too, want to play a game with you?"
Xia Yuanlong smiled broadly: "Okay!"
Wei Huai then sat aside, sipping tea leisurely and watching the two of them play chess.
"Wei Jijiu, I heard that you are committed to reform, but I wonder if it will be effective?" Xia Yuanlong asked.
Wei Huai shook his head, "Currently, we are just talking about the New Deal for the people to listen to. Nothing has been put into practice. We are talking lofty words."
"There is no need to belittle oneself. I see that Jijiu really wants to do practical things and is not just a talker."
"It's good that you all feel this way, which shows that I am indeed not idle. Therefore, I am eager to find a scholar to promote reform with me."
"But now the three of us have become acquainted. I wonder if we can imitate the three brothers in Taoyuan?" Yang Huaisheng said jokingly.
"But I don't know where there is another Wuhou!" Xia Yuanlong said mockingly. He left for a while.
Yang Huaisheng lowered his head and frowned. It turns out that the few chess pieces in the corner have been copied by Xia Yuanlong's white pieces.
"It's really amazing." Yang Huaisheng whispered.
"According to Xia Xiandi's opinion, where should the reform start?" Wei Huai asked.
"This is not a good thing to say." Xia Yuanlong stared at the chess game that had already been won and was cleaning up the mess. "These words are insignificant even if they are said now. It is better to think about how to expand the power and shock the government first. Then we can make detailed plans. It’s okay.”
"I lost." Yang Huaisheng suddenly lay down on the back of the chair.
"It seems that when we play another day, I will have to give you a few more pieces." Xia Yuanlong said with a smile.
The three of them were like-minded, and they have been close friends since then. They usually walk together to go to and from the Huaiqing Bridge. People often bump into their figures under the bridge, either drinking tea, chatting, or playing chess. Play chess and compete in chess skills. The good people gathered around and watched, and saw that the man named Xia had given way to the six sons named Yang, but Yang Huaisheng was still no match for him.
After a few leisurely days, Xia Yuanlong approached Wei and Yang to discuss the establishment of the academy. Everyone agreed very much with this, and without saying a word, they competed to be the one who paid the most money. Wei Jijiu said that his family was rich, Xia Yuanlong said that he was well versed in business, and Yang Huaisheng said that he had received favors from others and could repay them. Therefore, there is no unanimous opinion and no decision.
Wei Huai then said, "How about we all pay the same amount of money, so that everyone can feel at ease?" The two of them thought it was right, so they both paid ten taels of silver, and Wei Huai also paid ten taels, taking a total of thirty taels. Two silver coins to build an academy. Wei Huai was afraid that he would be short of money and the two men would have to pay for him, so he secretly paid an additional twenty taels of silver just in case.
Therefore, the academy was successfully completed in only half a year.
Xia Yuanlong considered that both of them had public duties and could not spare time to take care of the academy, so he simply resigned and devoted himself to teaching in the academy. He named the academy and hung a plaque: Sihe Academy.
