Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 624: Sell Well, General
Zhang Shou originally thought that the fact that everyone from little boys to teenagers to adults flocked to his door to ask to be his disciples was just a temporary trend after the Fourth Prince's affair was exposed. However, he never expected that four or five days later, on October 14, the day before the crown prince was appointed, his house, from the main door to the side door, to the back door, and even outside the wall, was filled with people guarding it.
Therefore, he, who had loved riding horses since he learned horse riding, had to take a carriage every time he went out. Even when he was sitting in the carriage, he could hear the voices outside calling for the teacher affectionately - by the way, many of them were even more than twice his age.
Zhang Shou was very puzzled. Didn't anyone suspect that he was just putting on a show to appease the Fourth Prince? Moreover, he treated the Fourth Prince like this because he was present when the Fourth Prince was talking nonsense. He was wrong for not stopping him. So before disciplining the Fourth Prince, he also needed to give an explanation to the Queen Mother and the Emperor. But it didn't mean that he would do this to all his students.
If every teacher is implicated for every student's mistake, haha, then teaching is the most dangerous profession in the world, no doubt about it.
Therefore, Zhang Shou couldn't understand where the trend came from.
When he appeared in Wenhua Hall again that day, separated from the team of Imperial College officials and stood among a group of Hanlin scholars, feeling somewhat out of place - this was also the second time he was summoned by the emperor to attend the imperial lecture in Wenhua Hall after the incident that day - he finally realized why the enthusiasm of the people in the capital could last so long.
Because a Hanlin scholar beside him, who was of the same rank as him but old enough to be his grandfather, smiled at him very kindly, then squinted his eyes and said, "Master Zhang, do you know that on the day of the incident, Grand Tutor Ge was invited to host a literary gathering. When he was reviewing articles, someone mentioned the incident involving the Fourth Prince, and he said something to them in person."
"He said, outsiders all say that he is a top-ranked scholar, unprecedented in history, and some kind of elder in the literary world and a master of mathematics, but Mr. Zhang has accepted more students in this year than he has in his entire life, and many of them are what people call stubborn stones, but they have become unpolished jades in your hands. It is said that there are many good horses, but there are few good horse trainers, and there are even fewer good horse trainers like you who are good at identifying good horses."
"One day, you will surpass your teacher and become his disciple. You will be remembered in history even more than this so-called master of mathematics."
Although Zhang Shou, with hundreds of years of experience, did look down on the academic officials in the Imperial College who were so-called well-read in the books of sages but were actually busy with intrigue, and he felt that the tradition of Confucianism that had lasted for thousands of years was about to become outdated today, he did not think that he could change all this alone, so he decided to take the lower route at the same time as taking the upper route.
However, before he could achieve much, his teacher Ge was always bragging about him!
At this moment, seeing other colleagues whom he didn't know at all looking at him, with various expressions on their faces because of what the old Hanlin said just now, even though Zhang Shou felt a little helpless about Ge Yong's high evaluation of him outside, he certainly knew that he couldn't be humble in an occasion like the Imperial Lecture, where scholars were most likely to look down on each other.
He smiled and said casually, "So the teacher has such high hopes for me, his last disciple. No wonder my house has been blocked by people every day these days, and even my family members have difficulty going out."
"Oh, it's just hearsay from some foolish men and women..." A rather loud muttering voice stopped abruptly after saying half of the sentence, probably because he thought that the word "hearsay" was not appropriate to use here. After all, the person who took the initiative to promote Zhang Shou's reputation was the current Grand Tutor, the highest level among all court officials.
So, after a pause, the person who spoke immediately made amends: "Although Master Zhang is a disciple of a famous family, he is still young and has his shortcomings. Otherwise, how could such an incident with the Fourth Prince have happened?"
This last sentence was an extremely blatant attack. Zhang Shou glanced and found that it was a strange official in his thirties. He was about to retort, but he didn't expect to hear the voice of Yue Shanzhang of Zhaoming Academy next to the Hanlin Academy: "It's just a small matter, is it worth it for you to bring it up like this?"
"Although the Fourth Prince is younger than His Majesty, he is still a member of the royal family. Shouldn't Your Excellency be respectful of him? Or is it that Your Excellency has learned etiquette from his teachers since he was young, but has not even learned this?"
At this point, Shanzhang Yue said calmly: "People today are far from being saints, yet they are ashamed to learn from their teachers. The Fourth Prince, as a prince, knows how to respect his teachers and correct his mistakes. Isn't this worthy of praise? Should he be used to attack his teacher in such an occasion because of this momentary mistake?"
Before Zhang Shou could counterattack, he was unexpectedly met with sharp sarcasm from Director Yue Shan. The young official who had just spoken couldn't help but turn pale and blue in the face, especially when he was pointed out that he was using the Fourth Prince to attack Zhang Shou. He wished he could swallow back all the words he had just said out of jealousy.
However, he stopped, but Hong Shanzhang of Yuzhang Academy could not help it. As one of the four Shanzhang summoned by the emperor to the capital, he had been to the palace, taught, and his daughter had been praised by the empress dowager. Now he was still enjoying the treatment of a fifth-rank princess friend, teaching the third prince, the future crown prince, to paint in the palace. But these days, he, as a father, was living a miserable life.
Because since the Imperial Lecture, Zhang Shou, Yue Shanchang and others have already lectured, but he has not!
Even though Zhang Shou did not attend the imperial lectures every day, but had missed many of them, no one thought that the emperor did not value him. Because Zhang Shou was busy teaching students in Jiuzhang Hall. And he, who occasionally attended the imperial lectures, was scheduled to give lectures on October 18th in the published imperial lecture schedule... The crown prince had already been canonized, so what was the point of him giving lectures!
So at this moment, seeing that Shanzhang Yue had suddenly stood on Zhang Shou's side, he could not help but instinctively feel that someone was taking the opportunity to curry favor with Zhang Shou, and he immediately snorted in annoyance: "Shanzhang Yue is really good at covering up for others! Since ancient times, teachers are the most respected and honorable, and their knowledge and morality are even more precious. Only disciples are blamed on behalf of their teachers. How could there be such a weird thing as teachers being blamed on behalf of their disciples!"
"If this isn't a way to attract attention, then it's just a way to gain fame!"
He said this last sentence with such force that anyone could hear the undisguised contempt in it. However, just as he finished speaking, a chilling voice suddenly rang out.
"Anyone who slanders my teacher will be my lifelong enemy!"
Following this sound, everyone realized that the Fourth Prince had quietly entered the palace. In the past, he always came in with the Third Prince, but today he suddenly appeared, and no one came to inform him at the door, let alone to warn him. I don't know how many people were surprised and secretly happy at the same time.
You know, Zhang Shou's fame suddenly skyrocketed, and many people who couldn't stand it wanted to scold him like Chief Hong, accusing him of being a publicity stunt and seeking fame. It was only because the first person who jumped out was thwarted by Chief Yue, and the second person was beaten to the punch by Chief Hong!
At this moment, Chief Hong also recognized the Fourth Prince, but when he heard the Fourth Prince's words that sounded like a declaration of war, his scholarly temper came up, and instead of stopping, he raised his voice even more.
"Just listening to the Fourth Prince's words, I know that he has not truly reflected on his mistakes! Teachers should be respected, but when teachers make mistakes, students should also point them out respectfully instead of blindly following them..."
Zhang Shou had long realized that Hong Shanchang was a stubborn Taoist, so when he saw someone jumping out to curse and provoke him, he was not angry at all - firstly, Hong Shanchang's character would definitely not be kept in the capital by the emperor, and secondly, there were also a bunch of his students who came to listen to the lecture today, so he didn't need to go into battle in person. But the fourth prince suddenly came alone, which surprised him a little.
At this moment, seeing that the Fourth Prince ignored the passionate Hong Shanchang and walked straight to him, he had not been to the palace for several days because of the emperor's consolation. This was the first time he saw the Fourth Prince after the incident, so he couldn't help but look at him carefully. However, in just three or four days, the Fourth Prince looked much more stable, and his brows were no longer childish.
"Teacher." Without even looking at Master Hong, the Fourth Prince bowed to Zhang Shou and said in a deep voice, "I have been copying the "Book of Filial Piety" in Fengxian Hall these days, and I have copied the "On Teachers" ten times. I was careless with my words before and caused trouble. Now I have caused you to be ridiculed . It is really a sin."
"From now on, students should study hard and be careful with their words and actions. However, if someone slanders the teacher, the student will never keep silent! As a student, how can I sit and watch someone insult my teacher?"
Chief Hong was furious at the Fourth Prince's declaration that he wouldn't even look at him. However, just when he was about to go for it regardless, he heard a loud shout from outside.
Starting from the area closest to the palace door, the crowd that was originally still talking hurriedly stood up and gradually stood in silence. For a moment, even the sound of sleeves rubbing against each other could not be heard in the hall, and only the sound of people trying to restrain their breathing could be heard. As the footsteps approached, the people who were originally standing in an orderly manner all bowed deeply in salute, just like a forest of trees bending their waists in unison.
The emperor walked slowly, holding the hand of the Fourth Prince, but when he passed by Zhang Shou, he caught a glimpse of the Fourth Prince also standing aside and bowing deeply. He reached out his hand, but saw that the Fourth Prince did not respond, but directly avoided behind him. He withdrew his hand and walked forward again, until he sat down on the throne in the middle. He saw the Third Prince standing beside him and the Fourth Prince standing at the bottom of the steps. Then he smiled indifferently.
"Tomorrow's ceremony for enthroning the crown prince has been prepared, but the East Palace has only appointed Zhang Jiuzhang, the Imperial Academy lecturer, as the lecturer, which is not enough. Now that the lecture has been held for nearly half a month, I have carefully examined the words and deeds of the lecturers and have gained a lot."
"Before the lecture today, I intend to have the lecture in the East Palace first. Do you have any candidates to recommend?" After announcing such a big news that was enough to shock the entire audience, the emperor did not give anyone a chance to react, but looked directly at Lord Wu and Zhang Yu.
Under the emperor's gaze, Wu Gelao, who was always praised as the emperor's yes-man, stepped out first and said word by word: "I think that Yue Shanzhang of Zhaoming Academy has outstanding character, extraordinary talent and learning, and has a good teaching method. He is qualified to be a lecturer in the East Palace."
Yue Shanzhang, who had just helped Zhang Shou to fight back, was stunned. Although he went to the Jiuzhang Hall of the Imperial College to watch the performance on the day he arrived in Beijing, he lost some points because of Fang Qing's outspokenness, but he knew very well that based on his and many other students' achievements in agronomy, the emperor should keep him.
But that was a matter of course, not a necessity. If he was really recommended by someone, and was recommended by Wu Ge Lao, who was known for being the best at reading the emperor's mood, how could he not feel that it was a sure thing? But then again, if he wasn't chosen, could he choose Hong Shan Chang, who was conservative and unchangeable?
He was about to bow his head to show his humility, but the next moment he heard another voice coming from the side: "I recommend Principal Xiao of Taihu Academy! Principal Xiao was well-known in Jiangnan, and his lectures were praised by everyone."
Director Hong had never expected that the candidate for the lecture in the East Palace would be decided within a matter of minutes. He looked around unprepared, but found that no one was looking at him - even those Jiangxi officials whom he had met before avoided . His heart skipped a beat.
When he first met the emperor, he expressed his unwillingness to be an official and hoped to return home as soon as possible. However, when the East Palace, which had been vacant for many years, suddenly had an owner, his original wish was no longer important - or in other words, he hoped to teach the prince to become the gentleman he wanted, gentle, polite, calm and generous, and become a sage ruler who would go down in history in the future.
That was why he found it so difficult to accept that the first lecturer in the Eastern Palace appointed by the emperor was Zhang Shou!
But seeing that those important ministers were nominating a candidate one after another, among whom Xu Shanzhang of Huating Academy was also nominated, Shanzhang Hong was tormented and couldn't help but look at the Third Prince, but he saw that the Third Prince's eyes were lingering on the Fourth Prince who was at the steps, and then he looked up at him.
Just when he thought the Third Prince was looking at him, he saw the Third Prince suddenly smile, then retracted his gaze and calmly saluted the emperor.
"Father, Madam Hong has been teaching me painting with all her heart and soul. Now I heard that the women's school generously funded by the Queen Mother and other ladies will be opened, and she will go to the school to serve as a female historian, but I can't bear to part with such a famous teacher. The Queen Mother also appreciates Madam Hong's virtue and talent, and I beg Father to give Madam Hong a title so that she can continue to teach me painting in her spare time outside of the women's school."
The Third Prince's words were so smooth and beautiful that no one could find fault with them. The Emperor's reaction was even quicker. He nodded with a smile and said, "The daughter of the Hong family is indeed quite talented and virtuous. What's more valuable is that she is humble and studious. She often reads books in the palace. What she wants is that all women in the world can learn and know. When her father, Hong Qing, the headmaster of Yuzhang Academy, first met me, he said frankly that he was not seeking an official position. After giving lectures, he would go back to preside over the academy. The father and daughter have quite an ancient style. I will do everything you and your daughter want."
Chief Hong, who was caught off guard by the emperor, was immediately shocked. Just as he was about to protest, the emperor had already made his decision: "Give Hong Qing a hundred gold coins and send him back to Jiangxi by express after the imperial lecture. Give Hong's daughter the seal of the female historian of encouraging learning and she can enter the palace to meet the empress dowager at any time."
