After settling the little incident between Tao Dazhi and Chen Jun, Wei Chen turned to look at Wang Yaochen and asked: "On the day of the society gathering, how many people will probably come?"
Wang Yaochen hesitated for a moment and said with some uncertainty: "During today's banquet, there are dozens of people who intend to participate in the society gathering. If the news spreads for a few more days, on the day of the society gathering, at least two or three hundred people will come. Of course, there will be Probably more."
Wei Chen nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this.
Three Gangs of Men.
In the current Jingxi Club, there are Sheng Changbai, who will join the cabinet twice in the future, and Wang Yaochen, whose talents are not inferior to Sheng Changbai's. These two people will be Wei Chen's powerful assistants in the future.
In addition, Tao Dazhi, Chen Jun, Weng Dingfan, and Tang Henian are also outstanding in talent and learning, and they are likely to pass the Jinshi examination in the coming year.
With these few people here, the backbone of Jingxi Club has been formed. As long as some new members are recruited to replenish the branches and leaves, it will soon have a small climate.
Wei Chen set up Jingxi Club because he wanted to set up a cram school for the imperial examination. He would use his name as Jieyuan to attract scholars who were interested in the imperial examination, and then select talents from them, recruit talents, and expand his small group to prepare for the imperial examination in the future. Make preparations.
Perhaps Jingxi Club will not be able to become a giant that controls the court in the future, but as a township party, it is not a big problem for members to support each other.
Wei Chen was very concerned about the community gathering, and continued to discuss it with several friends after returning.
When everyone was discussing the rules of the society, Wang Yaochen looked at Wei Chen and asked, "Xingyun, I have always had a question in my mind, why are the rules of Jingxi Society so strict?"
The reason why Wang Yaochen asked this question was because at the beginning of the establishment of the society, Wei Chen had set a rule that members were not allowed to criticize current affairs, and later added a series of rules and regulations.
For example, new members who join the society must have the title of scholar or above, must be jointly recommended by two old members, and must be approved by the head and vice president of the society.
Such complicated and strict social rules are unprecedented in ordinary literary and poetry societies, so the other people also felt the same as Wang Yaochen: "Yes, Xingyun, other poetry and literary societies in Jiangning Prefecture only need members You can join the club by being recommended. Our Jingxi Club’s rules are so complicated and strict, will no one be willing to join the club?”
"If you want, you will come; if you don't, you will leave. There are scholars everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River, and there is no shortage of a few."
Wei Chen solemnly said: "We founded Jingxi Society because we hope that like-minded people can get together to sharpen their character and discuss articles. When they become successful and famous, they can support each other and do something for the common people.
Therefore, those who join the society must be carefully screened, especially at the beginning of the establishment of the society, when people's hearts are still uncertain. If a few young people get in and ruin the atmosphere of the society, then the Jingxi Society will not be able to last long. "
"What Xingyun said makes sense."
Sheng Changbai was the first to nod in agreement and said: "I heard that literary societies in southern Jiangsu and other places often gather scholars to discuss political affairs, often gather people to attack the government, and intimidate local officials. How is this behavior different from treason? Jingxi Society must not repeat the same mistakes. .”
Wang Yaochen smiled and said: "I'm obsessed with it. I only want to make Jingxi Club bigger and stronger and forget the original intention of founding the club. In this case, let's follow the rules proposed by Xingyun."
The head of the club and the two vice-presidents both nodded, and a consensus was quickly reached among the Jingxi Club regarding the rules of the club.
…
The ninth day of September, the Double Ninth Festival, is also the day when Jingxi Society gathers.
On this day, the seven sons of Jiangning climbed Qixia Mountain outside Jiangning City together and came to the Qixia Ancient Temple at the west foot.
Tao Dazhi had already known that he had met with the abbot of the temple and arranged the venue for the community meeting, which was on a shady hillside among the peaks.
In addition to the seven elders of Jingxi Society, there are also many scholars who came here because of their fame and were waiting here early. Many of them were holding a copy of "Collected Works of Xingyun" in their hands.
This anthology was produced by Qi Heng for Wei Chen before he came to Jiangning to take the exam. It contains not only Wei Chen's previous poems and articles, but also hundreds of carefully selected contemporary and ancient articles written in the following two years. .
After the results of the rural examination were released, the scholars in Jiangning City learned about the name of Xie Yuanlang, and rushed to the bookstore to buy the newly published "Collected Works of Xingyun".
Within half a day, nearly a thousand books in various bookstores were sold out, and many scholars who had not yet bought them were beating their chests and hating themselves for coming too late.
Riding on the success of Wei Chen High School's Jieyuan, the sales price of this "Collected Works of Xingyun" has also risen accordingly. Suddenly, paper was expensive in Luoyang.
Most of the scholars who can come to the society meeting today are Wei Chen's supporters. Everyone borrows it if they can, and copies it to each other if they can't. Basically everyone has a copy of "Collected Works of Xingyun".
As soon as Wei Chen and his seven friends arrived, they were warmly welcomed by the scholars. After a brief exchange of greetings, several leading scholars invited Wei Chen to climb onto the temporary wooden platform and speak to everyone.
Wei Chen climbed up to the high platform and looked down, only to see that the hillside was crowded with people attending the lecture. Some brought their own futons, and some simply sat on the floor. A conservative estimate was that there must be five or six hundred people.
Wei Chen was excited, but also felt a little sad. He didn't know how many of the audience would be left in the end.
Wei Chen bowed to everyone, and then said a few welcoming words: "Today is the first meeting of Jingxi Club. Thank you for your taking the time to come. Wei Chen is very grateful. However, some words are... I have to say it first.”
Wei Chen glanced at everyone and said sternly: "First of all, our Jingxi Club is specially designed to discuss scriptures and articles. We don't talk about mysteries or Zen. Anyone who violates this will be removed."
After hearing this, everyone in the audience started talking quietly. There was not much commotion, but a dozen or so people left here and there.
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Wei Chen continued: "Secondly, our Jingxi Society's elegant gathering does not discuss current affairs, regardless of the government situation, and we are not allowed to gather members to disturb the government. Anyone who violates will be removed."
The people below suddenly became commotion, and some scholars shouted loudly: "We are here just to listen to Xie Yuanlang's lectures. If there are so many rules, it is really not our original intention to come here!"
Wei Chen said calmly: "Today is the meeting of the Jingxi Society. We only select people who share the same goals. What I said before are all the rules of the Jingxi Society. Stay if you want. If you don't want to, don't force it."
There was a chatter below, and after a while, half of the five or six hundred scholars left. Among the remaining half, there were also many who simply left unwillingly and were ready to listen to it again.
"Everyone who stayed behind must have agreed with the rules of our Jingxi Club?"
Wei Chen looked at the people below and said in a deep voice: "In that case, as the head of the society, ten social supervisors will be selected later to inspect the place on their behalf. If there is anyone who violates the rules of the society, they will be removed. "
"I won't listen anymore, I won't listen anymore!"
"A shabby club is putting on such a big show!"
"It's useless for me to stay in Jiangning for two more days."
"Better go home!"
There was a commotion below, and the audience was shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye, but Wei Chen didn't hold back at all, just quietly watching them leave cursing, and silently counting the number of people left behind.
"Seventy-eight more people."
