Nanyang County, Wancheng.
The school has been open for three months, and the teaching has been on track. At the beginning, Zhang Xiu did not interact with the students at close range due to restrictions. Now he finally has free time. This morning, Zhang Xiu dressed lightly. Take Hu Che'er into the literary school.
The teacher in the school is teaching the Four Books and Five Classics.
The ancient teaching method is that the teacher reads and the students read along. There is no pinyin to learn, just like the students of later generations memorizing English words and learning by rote. Of course, learning Chinese and learning English cannot be confused with each other, but the metaphor can only end there.
When he stepped into the school gate, the sound of students reading aloud filled his ears. Zhang Xiu couldn't help but recall the early morning reading in school. The whole class recited the texts and English words required for the exam aloud, in a messy manner. The sound became a chaotic rhythm.
Hearing the boring sound of reading, Hu Cheer showed boredom.
His fingernails are bigger than those characters. He doesn't understand the use of learning those characters. He has never learned the characters and doesn't feel that he can't survive. On the contrary, when he was studying, he felt like he couldn't live anymore, as if someone was holding a knife to his neck. As soon as he sat on the bench under the table, he felt uncomfortable all over and itched under his buttocks, making him unable to sit still.
He also admired those whose buttocks didn't itch while sitting on a stool.
Today's professor is Xu Fu. Zhang Xiu guessed their true identities when they first met. After all, there are only so many famous hermits in Jingzhou. He can roughly guess it based on the records and surnames of later generations. Xu Fu is the famous Xu Shu.
Zhang Xiu entered the school and immediately caused a sensation among the students. The students in the school gathered around and wanted to see the Marquis. When Xu Shu learned of Zhang Xiu's arrival, he immediately came over to salute: "The Marquis!"
Zhang Xiu immediately stepped forward to support Xu Shu and glanced over calmly. The students in the school looked at him excitedly with their eyes shining, and at the same time there was some restraint in their excited eyes.
Zhang Xiu pointed to his ordinary clothes and said: "Today I don't have an armor pendant or an official robe. You don't need to be restrained; my current identity is just an ordinary student, and I am here to learn and debate with you."
A young man boldly asked: "Does the Marquis really mean what he says? If there are people who have different opinions, different views, or unique knowledge and knowledge, will the Marquis not be upset?"
Zhang Xiu burst out laughing: "Disciples don't have to be inferior to their teachers, and teachers don't have to be better than their disciples. There are priorities in learning the Tao, and there are specialties in the arts. How can I be annoyed? But it doesn't matter."
When everyone heard this, their eyes immediately lit up. They felt that Zhang Xiu's words were like palms and his words made sense, and they all admired him.
Xu Shu's eyes lit up after hearing this.
If when I first met Zhang Xiu, I heard his eloquent remarks or his insightful words, then what I am talking about now is that he is truly talented and learned, and my evaluation of him immediately increased a lot.
Among the crowd of students, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong looked at each other. Zhuge Liang was smiling, tall and elegant, and he stepped forward gracefully and saluted: "Master Marquis, I have a question for you, please clarify."
Seeing that this man had an extraordinary face and a dignified and elegant temperament, giving him a comfortable feeling when he met him, Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "I don't call you Lord Marquis, but I am a student here. If you have any questions, please tell me."
Zhuge Liang asked: "What is the meaning of the word loyalty?"
The word "loyalty" in feudal society specifically refers to doing one's best for the monarch. So here Zhuge Liang is asking Zhang Xiu about his attitude towards the Han Dynasty, whether he wants to support the troops and respect himself or help the Han Dynasty.
Zhang Xiu said with a smile: "Assisting the virtuous and virtuous means showing loyalty and good deeds. Loyalty comes from the heart rather than being able to change it. The so-called concentration of mind means having no distractions; following the heart, being in the middle of the voice, putting the heart in the middle, being impartial is loyalty." "
This answer was not what Zhuge Liang wanted, because he wanted to know Zhang Xiu's true thoughts, but Zhang Xiu cleverly changed his direction and interpreted the word loyalty in a serious way.
Zhang Xiu couldn't answer Zhuge Liang's loyalty. He couldn't openly say that he wanted to overthrow the Han Dynasty and create a new dynasty! There is no way to be like Liu Bei, who goes everywhere under the guise of being a clan member of the Han clan and supporting the Han clan, because his surname is Zhang and not Liu.
Zhuge Liang didn't get the answer he wanted, so naturally he wouldn't let him go, and immediately asked: "Loyalty comes from the heart, and impartiality is loyalty. How about loyalty to the king?"
This is the Confucian thought advocated by the Han Dynasty, which is "the king entrusts his ministers with courtesy, and the ministers serve the king with loyalty." Or "eating the emperor's salary is a matter of loyalty to the emperor." Zhuge Liang naturally asked about the latter's eating the emperor's salary , it’s a matter of loyalty to the emperor.
Xu Shu felt that Zhuge Liang's question was a bit excessive. Nowadays, the world is in chaos, the emperor is moving westward and is controlled by Cao Cao, and all the heroes of the world are rising together. Everyone knows that the great Han is already terminally ill and there is no cure. It is a bit false to say that he is loyal to the emperor now, but there is no shortage of foolish and loyal people.
So he stopped and said: "Ministers should serve the king with the Tao, and stop if he can't do it; if the king is virtuous, he can be loyal to the people, and if he abandons the people, he should abandon it. It cannot be summed up in one sentence."
Zhang Xiu nodded: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The country is based on the people, and the country is also established for the people. As the saying goes: the people are the most precious, the country is second, and the king is the least. Loyalty to the people is better than loyalty to the king. I am loyal. People!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Zhuge Liang asked more clearly and openly: "What do you think... of the big man?"
The whole school fell silent.
Even Pang Tong behind him was shocked. He didn't expect Kong Ming to be so bold and thorough.
Xu Shu's expression changed.
All the students choked their necks and couldn't even hear their breathing.
No one, including Zhang Xiu, expected Zhuge Liang to put this issue on the table so clearly.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Xiu immediately had the answer in his heart. He pondered for a moment and said: "Being close to virtuous ministers and staying away from villains is why the ancient Han Dynasty prospered; being close to virtuous ministers and staying away from virtuous ministers is why the Han Dynasty is in chaos; now Cao Cao is a traitor." Taking advantage of the emperor and ordering the princes is a traitorous minister, and it is difficult for the king to be in power!"
When he said this, Zhang Xiu sneered in his heart, "You said this, how do you refute it? If you refute it, wouldn't you be shooting yourself in the foot and reaching out to slap yourself in the face?"
Zhuge Liang did not refute, but stood there and thought about it carefully.
He had predicted the situation of the Han Dynasty, and he was not a foolish and loyal person, otherwise he would not have helped Liu Bei separate the Shu Han Dynasty. After listening to Zhang Xiu's words, he knew his prediction more clearly: the Han Dynasty will perish.
Zhuge Liang bowed his waist and saluted: "Students are taught!"
Xu Shu breathed a sigh of relief and at the same time admired Zhang Xiu's profound knowledge even more. He believed that Zhang Xiu was a rare wise master. Although his reputation for benevolence and righteousness was not as good as that of Liu Bei, his far-reaching knowledge was unmatched by anyone.
"Are you the student representative Zhuge Liang or Zhuge Kongming?" On the ship back to Nanyang, Zhang Xiu received a letter from Jia Xu, telling him about the representatives of the Literary School and the Military Academy.
"Exactly." Zhuge Liang said.
"Where is there another Pang Tong?"
Pang Tong came out: "Student Pang Tong, pay your respects to the Marquis!"
"Yeah!" Zhang Xiu nodded, this is the famous "Wolong and Fengchu"! Wolong and Fengxia here are literal meanings, don’t misunderstand them.
"Do you know our army's next move?" Zhang Xiu asked.
The two shook their heads.
"You will be appointed as military counselor trainees. You will report to the Senate Corps tomorrow to discuss the next military action together." Zhang Xiu accepted his fate.
The two were overjoyed and worshiped.
Other students were envious.
