"Xiao Sheng has met Mr. Xie. Thank you for your health."
"Xiaosheng has met Miss Xie. Hello, Miss Xie."
After Yuan Chen heard Xie Yi's joyful voice, he couldn't help but feel happy because of Xie Yi's joy. Although he didn't know why Xie Yi was happy, so when he was instructed by Xie Haowen, he When the inquisitive servant was brought into the study, Yuan Chen saluted Xie Haowen and Xie Yiyi with a smile on his face.
Although Yuan Chen had a three-point smile on his face, this three-point smile seemed to be just right because of Yuan Chen's well-behaved movements and neither humble nor overbearing words.
Xie Haowen naturally took in the young man's every move. He was a little more amazed than he was before, and then he said:
"Well, Yuan Juren doesn't need to be polite."
"Yuan Juren, please sit down. Don't be restrained. I am not a prime minister today, I am just a scholar who knows a little more than you young people."
Yuan Chen was not pretentious. Since Xie Haowen asked him to sit down, he did not shirk. He sat down next to Xie Haowen and sat opposite Xie Haowen. After sitting upright, he asked Xie Haowen Haowen raised his hand and said:
"Mr. Xie is very knowledgeable and far beyond the reach of the younger generation. Today, I unexpectedly came to visit you. I also want to ask the Prime Minister for advice."
"Excuse me, you, a young man, think highly of me. You are from the Langya Yuan family. Although the Langya Yuan family is different from the Jiaodong Yuan family who are good at literature and advocating martial arts, after all, Langya is a good place where scholars from all over the world gather. You yourself Growing up in Langya, I must have made friends with many literati, including some of the great scholars of the time."
"I heard that you studied in three of the four major academies, Luotong Academy, Yunqi Academy, and Baihu Academy. Many gentlemen from the three academies were full of praise for your talent and learning. You studied in Baihu Academy While studying in the academy, he even gained the reputation of being the best scholar in Shannan. (The four major academies are divided into two areas, south of Shanshan and north with Yunxia Mountain as the boundary. Baihu Academy and Yunqi Academy are in Shannan, while Luotong Academy and Yunya Academy are in Shannan. then in the north of the mountain)"
"Your mentor at White Tiger Academy is Wu Yazi, the greatest scholar in the world. If you have any questions, you should ask your master for advice. Why do you come to ask me for advice?"
Xie Haowen told Yuan Chen's life experience, mentor, etc. like a treasure trove of treasures, and finally asked with a sharp smile.
Yuan Chen was not afraid when he heard Xie Haowen's tricky questions. He still cupped his hands and said with a normal expression:
"Although young students are not good at academics, they know one thing: read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles, and travel thousands of miles to meet thousands of people."
"Although Xiaosheng's mentor has the reputation of being the greatest Confucian in the world, Xiaosheng's mentor once told Xiaosheng that if you really want to do well in writing and learning, you should travel more, read more, ask more for advice, and learn from others' strengths.
Everyone has their own point of view on things. Although I have read many books, I have not yet reached the level of my mentor.
Therefore, I, the junior, came to visit Mr. Xie today just because I want to know Mr. Xie’s unique insights in knowledge, so that I can make the junior’s talent and learning further.
Sir Xie, don’t worry, this junior will definitely ask for advice humbly and study seriously. "
Although Yuan Chen's point of view is not so surprising and surprising, it is the answer that Xie Hao got from asking many students this question. It is the most reasonable and direct answer that he has ever heard. Therefore, Xie Haowen has a rare point. He nodded, appreciating Yuan Chen's attitude.
"Yuan Juren has quite the demeanor of his mentor. Scholars all over the world should be like what Yuan Juren just said, 'read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles, travel thousands of miles and meet thousands of people.' Since Yuan Juren is full of sincerity, then, If there is anything Yuan Juren wants to know or want to discuss with me, you can probably bring it up, and I will definitely tell you everything you know." Xie Haowen said.
Yuan Chen raised his hand again, thanked Xie Haowen for his kindness, and then sat upright and said:
"Student Yuan Chen has a question that he would like to ask Senior Xie."
"But it doesn't matter."
"Students remember that seven years ago, Mr. Xie, as the examiner of our Dayong Imperial Examination, once asked the students on the subject of the Yongji River where flood disasters were common at that time, if a massive flood in the Yongji River was about to happen. Come and ask the students, if they were the chief officials governing the Yongji River at that time, what measures would they take to avoid or manage this disaster."
"Back then, the students who participated in the scientific examination all used the method they thought was the most correct in answering the passages. But why, at that time, after the imperial examination, Mr. Xie reported to His Majesty that no one could be the top scholar in this imperial examination? "
"Yuan Juren's question is quite tricky, and... it seems to have nothing to do with the book knowledge content that Yuan Juren just mentioned." Xie Haowen did not directly answer Yuan Chen's question, but instead smiled at him Yuan Chen said.
"The student has little talent and little knowledge, and has no special interest. He just has a special liking for managing rivers. Although the student was young, as soon as he heard about the topic proposed by Mr. Xie, he read through all the related books. Later, when I got a little older, I also went to Yongji River to inspect...
But other than sparing or blocking, no better solution has been found. This problem has troubled students for many years. Therefore, the students specifically wanted to ask Mr. Xie what kind of solution he thinks is the best solution. "Yuan Chen said very sincerely.
When Xie Haowen heard this, he understood. Then he glanced at Xie Haowen, who was sitting next to him and had already begun to draw a tortoise on the rice paper. Then he coughed and said:
"At that time, floods were raging in the Yongji River, and everyone in the imperial court had been worried about the issue of the Yongji River for a long time. It coincided with the imperial examination. This question was asked to know whether the young people at that time had any special insights."
"To be honest, from the day this topic was determined, I trapped myself in this study every day. With the map of Yongji River in my hand, I began to explore whether there was any faster way than blocking and dredging. , can help people avoid this disaster.”
"I was thinking hard day after day, but could not get the answer. But finally, on the last day before the imperial examination began, I got the answer to this question."
Yuan Chen was immediately very curious, leaned forward, and asked respectfully:
"Can you please thank me for answering your questions?"
Xie Haowen was not a hidden master, so he pointed at Xie and said:
"Speaking of which, I would also like to thank my insignificant little daughter for this problem."
Xie Yiyi saw that his father suddenly clicked on him, and quickly put down the brush he was using to draw the tortoise, pointed at himself, and said doubtfully;
"Me?! Father, are you kidding me... My daughter, although I also want to be a great hero who has made great achievements... but my daughter still knows about the abilities in her belly..."
Xie Haowen looked at his daughter, then at Yuan Chen, who was also full of doubts, and then explained:
"I am telling the truth about this matter. My daughter has indeed made an outstanding contribution to solving this matter for me..."
After saying that, Xie Haowen, under the gaze of Xie Yiyi and Yuan Chen, picked up the teacup in his hand, took a sip of tea, and began to say as if recalling:
"I remember that at that time, I stayed in the study for a long time. It must have been several months. Everyone in the family was worried about me. But at that time, my father, mother, and several brothers and sisters went home to worship their ancestors. , was not at home, so no one at home dared to break into my study and drag me out..."
"I remember what it meant at the time. She was only a five- or six-year-old child, but this little girl was as big as a brat. When no one in the family was paying attention, she sneaked into my study alone, hugged my thigh, and You insist on me getting out.”
"I was still thinking about it with the geographical map of Yongji River. When I saw Yongji come in, on a whim, I held this little girl on my knees and asked her: 'It's so little...what do you think? The water here is blocked or reduced, preventing it from flowing into Yuzhou, which has a population of tens of millions~'"
"I thought this little girl wouldn't give me any answer, but I didn't expect that this little girl actually looked at the map very carefully for a long time. Finally, she pointed at the several dams built on the map and said: 'There are too many. Too many, don’t, don’t, don’t.’ I looked at the places I meant... and suddenly... I had a sudden enlightenment... It actually made me think of a way to quickly prevent this disaster from happening..."
When Xie Haowen said this, he immediately straightened his back even more. Then, with Xie Yiyi and Yuan Chen saying in unison, "What is the solution?", he said decisively:
"We sacrificed our little family for everyone, blew up the dams, diverted the water of the Yongji River into Yongxian, Jixian and the three surrounding mountains, dispersed the water flow, and made the water of the Yongji River weaker when it reached Yuzhou. It cannot cause a catastrophe and protect the safety of tens of millions of people in Yuzhou."
As soon as Xie Hao asked this question, Yuan Chen and Xie Yi immediately took a breath of air, and Xie Yi immediately asked:
"Father, this method can save the people of Yuzhou, but in this way... doesn't it mean sacrificing the innocent people of Yong County and Ji County and the local economy..."
"This is the only way to save the people of Yuzhou on the eve of the upcoming disaster. There are at most one hundred thousand people in Yong County and Ji County. If we send officers and soldiers to evacuate the people before blowing up the dikes, If it is led to a nearby county, then the casualties of the people will be no more than 10% to 20%, and after the loss of money, the court can quickly provide disaster relief...
However, if we do not do this, there are millions of people in Yuzhou. Even if they are evacuated in advance, it will not be possible to transfer everyone to other states. Coupled with the dense population, evacuation will be even more difficult. Once the Yongji River floods When it breaks out in Yuzhou, no matter whether it is sparse or blocked, it will definitely be ineffective. The number of casualties will definitely exceed 80%... The property losses are even more incalculable... That is the real sacrifice, that is the real destruction of life and starvation... "
"But...Father..." Although Xie Yiyi already understood in his heart that this might be the only way, he still felt a little sorry for the people of Ji County and Yong County. Then he frowned and wanted to speak, but unexpectedly, at this moment, He was interrupted by Yuan Chen, and Yuan Chen said:
"There is no way to have both ends of the world... If Mr. Xie had a choice, he would definitely want to protect everyone's lives and safety...
But... compared to Yuzhou... Yong County and Ji County are indeed insignificant... What's more... as long as the people of Yong County and Ji County hide elsewhere with the help of officers and soldiers, then rebuilding their homes will be just around the corner... But if they are planted Yuzhou, where 40% of our crops are harvested in Dayong, suffered...then...it is the people of the world who suffer..."
"That's right... If I had a choice, I would naturally want to protect everyone, but in such a situation, no matter whether it is sparse or blocked, it cannot solve Yuzhou's urgent needs... Dayong has limited financial resources... to rebuild the two County...compared with rebuilding a state...which is more important...it's obvious..." Xie Haowen said with deep feeling...
"Xie Xiangye is decisive in killing and thoughtful... I admire you!" Yuan Chen said immediately and sincerely.
"Don't admire me... This is a last resort. At that time, there were heavy rains in the Yongji River for days... This situation was almost inevitable... Fortunately, after the imperial examination started, the heavy rains in the Yongji River miraculously decreased. ...Finally stopped...The method I asked to submit was ultimately useless..."
"However, even though some of the methods used by those candidates at that time were quite amazing and effective, they still could not pursue the big goal at the expense of others, nor could they sympathize with the people of Yuzhou, so...that imperial examination... I think...there is really no one worthy of being the number one scholar..."
"However, after the imperial examination, the Ministry of Industry proposed a method to build a new embankment, and the Yongji Canal was completed within three years. So, when you go to inspect the Yongji River, you will see It should also be the case that the Yongji River has been regulated, so naturally we can only think of dredging or blocking it..." Xie Haowen said in a normal tone.
"Yes... when I went to inspect the Yongji River in person, I saw that it was indeed the Yongji River that had been managed... But, in the end, it was because I had little talent and was immature that I failed to think of such a good idea..." Yuan Chen lowered his head and admitted his shortcomings.
"You are still young. As long as you study humbly... sooner or later, you will be able to make a difference... Just like my daughter, when she was a child, she was asked to learn horse riding with my sixth brother, and she always cried. Now... it can be said that she will be able to make a difference soon. A good hand..." Xie Haowen looked at Xie Yi and said with a smile.
"Dad~ That's because my daughter is still young. Why are you exposing my shortcomings in front of outsiders..." Xie Yi said coquettishly.
Xie Haowen was about to speak to comfort his daughter, but he heard Yuan Chen say with a smile:
"Miss Xie is proficient in riding skills and has a heroic appearance... Compared to the sisters I know who grew up on horses, they don't have much to offer..."
Xie Yiyi nodded happily and praised Yuan Chen for being very discerning, but Xie Haowen suddenly glanced at Yuan Chen meaningfully, thought for a long time, and then said:
"It's getting late today... Mr. Yuan, just stay at my house and have a light meal..."
"..."
"..."
