Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 772 Good Teacher
When Zhu Er sent the two agricultural book authors he wanted to win over to the gate of Ge's mansion, he then asked about their residence (although he had already found out), and agreed on the time for the next visit. When he returned to the study in high spirits, he saw Ge Yong who was in a daze, and Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou who were exchanging glances.
If Zhang Shou knew what his second uncle was thinking, he would definitely slap him on the back of the head.
What kind of eye contact was that? He hoped that Zhu Ying could think of a way to bring back the teacher who was obviously daydreaming after hearing what he said. But Zhu Ying seemed not to understand and was still gently massaging Ge Yong's shoulders and back, as if she wanted him to stay in a daze for a while longer.
Therefore, when he saw Zhu Er coming in, he naturally coughed loudly. As a result, Teacher Ge, who had been in a daze like a clay sculpture or wooden statue, finally came back to his senses, and this time he waved his hand without hesitation.
"Well, go home now, so that I won't be accused of keeping you, a newlywed couple, and a guy who is about to get married!"
Seeing that Zhang Shou wanted to say something else, Ge Yong said impatiently: "Don't worry, I understand what you mean. Don't think that I, your teacher, don't even understand human nature. Also, don't think that those noble scholars who don't take the imperial examinations, don't seek fame, and don't seek a future are really free of desires. If they are free of desires, why would they teach students, write books, or say anything?"
"These people may seem calm and indifferent, but once they are pushed into a corner, just like Chen Baisha today, they can push you into a corner! Not satisfied with being a foil... Haha, what they want is to make some people dissatisfied. Emperor Taizu once told my ancestor that since the Han Dynasty, the exclusive promotion of Confucianism has made it easier to govern the world, but academic disputes are endless."
"The Confucians themselves are fighting among themselves! What they are fighting for is the right to speak in the court, the right to speak among the scholars! From the ancient text classics and modern text classics in the Han Dynasty, to the new and old learning in the Song Dynasty, and then to the later Neo-Confucianism...Emperor Taizu hoped that a hundred schools of thought would contend, but Emperor Taizong decided that Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism would be the official school."
"Emperor Taizong was certainly influenced by some people around him, but since the court was no longer under the control of the prestigious Emperor Taizu, the civil servants who used to be law-abiding had already split into factions. In the last years of Emperor Taizong's reign, he almost had his brains pinched out! Emperor Taizu's original intention was to select talents through schools, but since then it has been entirely based on the imperial examination, what is the topic? Isn't that the most important thing?"
After saying two extremely vulgar words, Ge Yong said expressionlessly: "I said before that Wu Kangzhai is the master of Confucianism. That is what I really think. Because even though I got the top seven in the imperial examination, it is only because of my family background and the protection of my ancestors. I also happen to have a little talent and fame. So if you want to say that I am a literary master or something like that, I don't think I am qualified. But..."
"I am the most qualified person to be the master of mathematics! But why have there been only a few talented people in mathematics for so many years? The imperial court's ban on astronomy and numerology is one thing, and the fact that the scholars looked down on astronomy and numerology, so there was no successor, is another matter. Why do you think I agreed to Lu Wan and Liu Zhiyuan after making such a fuss about your marriage?"
The old man glanced at Zhang Shou indifferently, and a deeper smile appeared on his face.
"Although the lectures at the public school seem to be to enhance your fame and prestige, anyone with a keen eye can see that it is a group of people who have been suppressed for too long going to fight against the old guys in the court who have been comfortable for too long! Moreover, Jiuzhang, do you know why I did not try to dissuade him when I saw the emperor giving you such a promotion and favor, making you the target of public criticism ?"
"I'm not afraid of forcing things to grow? I'm not afraid that the tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind? Of course I'm afraid! But if you set this benchmark, you can see how many people in the capital and even the world are staring at your Jiuzhang Hall!"
"As long as talented people come in droves, there's no need to worry about mathematics not flourishing! You need time, and mathematics also needs time. If you don't let others compete and highlight the public school as a center, how can you have a chance even if you are the prince's teacher? I am also the emperor's teacher, and I have old friends like Chu Ying and Qi Jingshan. Moreover, the emperor himself is also very interested in reviving Jiuzhangtang. What is the result?"
"It was only when you suddenly appeared that I found an opportunity! It was only then that Lu Sanlang turned over a new leaf and became a genius under your guidance. It was only then that I had the opportunity to show the world that mathematics can also lead to great success!"
After Teacher Ge clearly admitted some of his thoughts, he ordered him to leave again.
"Alright, alright, hurry back, so you two don't get in the way and irritate an old man like me who has lost his wife. Zhu Erlang, you too, don't look at me like that, because you are Jiuzhang's brother-in-law and Yingying's second brother!"
Could it be that my origin has become a sin? Zhu Er felt that he was extremely unlucky. He was also affected by this. You know, he didn't really understand what Ge Yong said!
However, after being dragged out by Zhu Ying, he saw Zhang Shou turning his head back to look at the study from time to time. He then remembered what Ge Yong had just said, and asked anxiously, "Brother-in-law, what Master Ge said just now..."
"It's all rotten in my stomach." Before Zhang Shou could say anything, Zhu Ying interrupted Zhu Er and added, "Don't even tell your parents, elder brother, and grandmother."
Zhu Er was immediately certain. He had the same secret as his sister and brother-in-law. What did this mean? It meant that Zhu Er was indeed like what Ge Yong had said before. He was no longer the frivolous and frivolous boy marginalized by his family. So, he nodded with a beaming smile, saying that he was going to plan a visit to Jin and Guo, and he left very quickly.
When she went out with Zhang Shou, she saw her husband getting on the carriage with a dazed look on his face. Zhu Ying was a little worried and couldn't help but said, "Ah Shou, don't think that Grandpa Ge used to roast you on the fire. He actually..."
As soon as Zhu Ying opened her mouth, Zhang Shou finally woke up from his trance. He listened to Zhu Ying quietly, but before she finished speaking , he took her into his arms, patted her on the back, and then smiled calmly.
"You're thinking the wrong thing. If I feel resentful just because of what the teacher said, wouldn't that be too cruel?"
"To become outstanding and dazzling in just over a year, there is only that seemingly lucky path to take. And to have a position that allows me to marry you in a short period of time, there is also only that path to take. I have said before that it is impossible to become the top scholar in this life, but I may have hope in the next life. It is probably not possible to be conferred a title in the next life. Am I going to marry you as a commoner?"
"The teacher said that he was using me to attract people to study mathematics, but for me, wasn't it also using his fame to attract students to study this 'Ge's Mathematical Manual'?"
"So, I just reminded the teacher that I hope he and Old Master Liu and Lu Jijiu won't play too much, otherwise they will get themselves into trouble. But since the teacher has already made plans, that's fine. As for the teacher's heartfelt words, we just need to remember them in our hearts. I just hope that during the teacher's lifetime, he can see the glorious scene of having successors."
Although they were already husband and wife and had enjoyed some sex these days, Zhu Ying still felt her cheeks slightly hot when Zhang Shou hugged her like this. However, when she heard Zhang Shou say those words, she knew that Zhang Shou didn't need tenderness at the moment, but a good listener. Therefore, she quietly put her head on his shoulder and listened to him finish his words.
"It's not just me, nor Lu Sanlang, nor the less than 100 people in the two classes of Jiuzhang Hall. It's hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people... Our great China has never lacked soil for talents, but many people have never had this opportunity, so they are buried in the mud and wither before they bloom. Mathematics is a new thing, and it is even more so."
Until the end, when she heard Zhang Shou say that many people would be lost in the world without opportunities, Zhu Ying could not help but be moved. Not to mention people like her who were born into a wealthy family, how many people in the world really need an opportunity to have a chance to leap forward?
If her second brother had insisted on marrying her to Lu Sanlang, and she had not gone to the countryside as arranged by her grandmother, and had not met Zhang Shou, then wouldn't the harmonious scene between the two of them now be impossible? And would Zhang Shou be trapped in that quiet little village without any changes, and become mediocre and unknown?
If Zhang Shou was such a talent, what about other people in the world? Even a Confucian scholar like Chen Baisha failed in the imperial examination, let alone those who were not good at the Four Books and Five Classics but had extraordinary talents in other areas?
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying shook her head gently, then left Zhang Shou's arms, combed her hair and smiled: "Since you have made up your mind, then if you need me to do anything, just tell me. Women in the folks know that if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog. Naturally, I will be your wife and follow your path."
Seeing Zhang Shou standing there in a daze, as if he couldn't believe that she would say such a thing, Zhu Ying couldn't help but ask angrily, "Why? Do you think I'm too vulgar to say such things? Or do you not want to walk the same road with me?"
Zhang Shou had not expected Zhu Ying to be so angry at once. After a moment of shock, he burst into laughter. If they were not in the carriage, he would have wanted to pick up his wife and spin her around to vent his joy.
While the young couple was enjoying themselves, several groups of people who had left Ge Yong's mansion spread today's events to all parts of the city at the fastest speed.
Among them, those famous scholars and wise men obviously did not care about such a trivial matter as the old scholar being provoked by the new scholar, otherwise they would not have left before Zhang Shou returned.
What they were concerned about was that a disciple of the Chongren School, such as Chen Xianzhang, had actually come to the capital, and that someone from the third generation of the Chongren School had passed the imperial examination and was about to enter the imperial examination. Therefore, almost as soon as they returned to their temporary residence, they immediately sent their sons, nephews, and students to spread the news, with a kind of worry as if they were about to cry wolf.
The wealthy merchants in Suzhou Guild Hall, including Hua Huishou, helped Zhu Er to exaggerate the heroic act. In their description, Jin Wanquan and Guo Sheng's words and deeds of scolding people for trampling the young crops were infinitely exaggerated, so Zhu Er's slap in anger and hatred became justified.
As for Zhang Shou... Huizhu Hua knew very well that there was no need for Zhang Shou to appear in this whole matter, so when he gave instructions to those people in his own guild, he deliberately reminded them to mention Zhang Shou less, or even not mention Zhang Shou at all, trying his best to weaken his presence.
So, in the evening, the emperor in the Qianqing Palace and the third prince, the crown prince, all learned about this. Of course, the emperor, who had personally taken the third prince to Zhang Garden, knew about the gathering of the wise men at Zhang Shou's wedding banquet. However, he did not disguise himself and go around the wedding banquet at that time, because he was not very interested in meeting those wise men in private.
He had been the emperor for many years and would go out of the palace in disguise when he had nothing to do. He had met all kinds of people. He was no longer the young man who would go to visit some wise man just because he heard about his fame.
But Ge Yong had already invited the second group of people to his house, and a pair of teachers and students who sounded interesting appeared in the middle, so the emperor naturally felt quite interested. You know, he was not as strong as Emperor Taizong. If Emperor Taizong wanted you to be an official but you didn't respond, then the whole family would be imprisoned, and from children and nephews to students, they would not have to serve as officials. However, he always had a very casual attitude.
If someone was recommended by his subordinates as having a good reputation, he would issue an imperial edict to summon him to the capital. However, if the person refused after issuing the imperial edict twice, he would forget it and would never issue the imperial edict for the third time. When it comes to being an official, if you are suitable, you can come, if you are not suitable, you can leave. There are plenty of talented people in the world, so why should he force them?
So he summoned Chen Xianzhang's teacher twice, but the teacher refused. So he forgot about this person. Even though he had heard about the great reputation of the Chongren School in the world over the years and some officials had written to recommend it, he just ignored it.
At this moment, facing the crown prince whom he had supported, the emperor could not help but instill his own ideas into him. However, the third prince listened quietly, and at the end he suddenly asked: "Father, Chen Baisha obviously does not intend to take the exam with the students this year, and he was recommended by Zhou Jijiu's predecessor and also came to the capital, so do you intend to let him be an official?"
"If he becomes an official, what position does Father intend for him to hold?"
This was a very practical and direct question, but since the Third Prince asked it frankly, the Emperor said openly: "He is a juren, and he is not even forty years old yet, and he has not made any contributions to the court. If we use the standards for employing great scholars and appoint him as a Hanlin, even if it is just a review, I am afraid he will be attacked countless times."
The Third Prince was now able to follow the Emperor's train of thought. He was slightly startled and then nodded. He then whispered, "Then, let him go to the Imperial Academy to be educated, just like his teacher did before. This should be the right path for him... No, since Zhou Jijiu stopped his lectures because he went to attend the teacher's wedding banquet, it is obvious that he is very disgusted with him. Does the Emperor intend to let him go to the public school?"
"Haha, no one knows a father better than his son. You got the answer right, but it's a pity there's no reward." The emperor smiled and touched his son's round head. He felt that it was very good, except for the hair crown. As if he saw the third prince's confusion, he smiled and said, "The public school already has two officials, Liu Zhiyuan and Zhang Shou, so why can't there be one more? And do you want another teacher?"
