Shu Chen

Chapter 7
The most beautiful April day in the world.

On the green and charming fields, the calm breeze blows on the face, making people feel a kind of joyful tremor in the heart.

Zheng Pu and his party set out for Chengdu, with only five people and a cramped deer cart.

The reason why I only bring three guards during the long journey is because the law enforcement of "Shu Ke" is severe. Nowadays, it is a bit exaggerated to say that the road does not pick up things, but it is true that the thieves are extinct.

The deer car was specially prepared for Xiao Zhengyan.

If it wasn't for her being too young to walk, Zheng Pu even planned to go to Chengdu on foot.

It is not that he is simple and simple, but that since the Battle of Hanzhong, Cao Wei has curbed the trade route of Hequ horses flowing into Bashu, and the horses in Shu are extremely scarce.

The only established cavalry was the Xiliang iron cavalry that was brought into Shu by Hou Ma Chao in the village.

It's just that the war horses in the army have always been castrated. In the past, Ma Chao took thousands of horses to show off their power in the city of Chengdu, and the elite division of the city was shocked and Liu Zhang bowed his head. Now there are only more than a thousand old war horses.The tall and majestic Hequ horse has become a guard of honor that only the emperor and the ministers are qualified to use.

If you want to travel by car and don't want to tire your cattle, you can only choose Yunnan horses.

It is the Nanzhong short-legged horse commonly known as "Dianchi horse".

Since the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty has opened a trading route from Chengdu to Shendu, the "Tea Horse Ancient Road".

The Dian horse, which is short in body and climbs mountains and mountains like walking on the ground, is an indispensable drag and ride animal for the caravan.It also attracted the favor of many Bashu caravans, competing to introduce them from Nanzhong.

There were five or six Yunnan horses in the caravan of Zheng Pu's mother's family.

But that is after the end of the spring plowing, and the caravan travels to and from the rugged Wenshan County for profit, and should not be wasted on the journey.

In particular, with the help of deer and carts, Zheng Pu and his party traveled like a turtle.

Xiao Zhengyan's teeth are too young to eat and drink dew, and she can't stand the bumps of cars and horses.

Hey, who let him be deceived by his younger sister?

In desperation, Zheng Pu decided to take this trip to Chengdu as a real tour.

Along the way, they stopped when they encountered water, stopped when they encountered hills, and had a picnic with their entourage to enjoy the scenery.

He was having a good time, but Qin Mi was a little irritable waiting.

The reason is that I don't know who sent the news that Zheng Pu will visit the Qin Mansion, so some scholars in Chengdu came to the door repeatedly to inquire about the deadline.

Yes, the name Zheng Pu has suddenly risen in Chengdu these days.

Because of a compliment from the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang: "This son has not yet reached the weak crown, but he has such a keen mind. He is really a talented person in Bashu!"

The evaluation has to be said to be very high.

As for how Zhuge Liang came to know the name of Zheng Pu, it has to start with that weird scholar.

That scholar was a native of the Chongguo from Basi County, Qiao Zhou and Qiao Yunnan [Note 1].

Because of his study of the Six Classics, good writing and proficient in astronomy, he was promoted by the Prime Minister Zhuge Liangzheng to persuade him to study [Note 2].

It's just that before he resigned from his family and came to Chengdu to take up his post, he specially transferred to Guanghan County to visit the prefect, Yao Ni, a fellow county resident who had a good friendship.

He also learned from Yao Du that Zheng Pu, who was only [-] years old, actually made a new character book "Thousand Characters", and he could enlighten children in an entertaining way.

Qiao Zhou, who was originally a Confucian, was overjoyed when he saw the hunting heart, so he had been listening to Zheng Pu's lectures in the heap of children.

After listening to it, when he came back to narrate the conversation with Yao Ni, the prefect, relying on his familiarity, he jokingly said, "I see that Zheng Jiazi's lectures are integrated with the ancient and modern, and the allusions come out of his mouth. He is not a talent of the county! You don't know how to find out how to raise talent in the state capital, but rashly confiscated it, and now you are declined, won't it just increase the jokes?"

The words were sharp, and the run made Yao Yan anxious.

After a while of beard shaking, he shook his head and smiled bitterly.

He also had the ability to write a handwritten book in person, and asked Qiao Zhou to take it to Chengdu on behalf of the Chengzhou Shepherd's Mansion.

Qiao Zhou walked quickly. When he arrived in Chengdu, he was personally received by the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. After the process of awarding and rewarding him, he presented the handwriting of the prefect Yao Du and the transcribed "Thousand Characters".

He then bowed his hands and bowed in salute, with a sincere tone, "People from the mountains and fields of Zhou have few talents and little learning, and they won't give up on being prime ministers. In Guanghan, I heard that Zheng Jiazi from Shifang was teaching a new calligraphy book. I was curious and went to pay attention to it. After listening to the lecture for a few days, what Zhou Gui learned was not as good. Ear!"

As soon as these words fell, the servants on the left and right in the state and shepherd's mansion all looked at each other.

Even the prime minister, Zhuge Liang, was greatly surprised when he heard it, and his interest greatly increased.

Without him, because Qiao Zhou's fathers and ancestors were all great Confucians in Shu, with a profound family knowledge; he was diligent and eager to learn since he was a child, and he was full of classics, and now he is recognized as a Confucian.

Only in terms of talent and learning, no one dares to specialize in beauty in the weak crown of Shu.

However, such a person actually throws out the remarks that someone is more suitable than himself to be a persuader and does not dare to accept an official position.

Moreover, looking at his strict remarks, he does not seem to be modest and hypocritical.

Can not help but surprised.

Zhuge Liang, who was sitting in front of the desk, lowered his eyebrows for a moment of thought, then raised his hand to comfort him, "Don't make any speeches, Yunan, and sit down first. After I read Yao Zixu's letters and new calligraphy, I will discuss it."

Then, he took over the letter presented by the clerk and read it.

The first thing I read was Yao Yan's letter.

The letter is not long, only a few words are used to praise Zheng Pu's talent and learning, and more brush and ink are used to explain Zheng Pu's background, character and the origin of Zheng's family.

Seeing that Zheng Pu was only nineteen years old, Zhuge Liang's gaze narrowed slightly.

And when he saw that Zheng Pu's biological father was Zheng Du, Zhuge Liang's long eyebrows slightly twitched.

After unfolding "Thousand Characters" in front of the case, after a brief reading, and then savoring it carefully, he fell into silence.

With his talent and learning, he can understand the allusions involved in the calligraphy book at a glance without the need for others to explain.

That's what made him even more surprised.

It is not easy to compile a thousand different characters into a book with neat counterpoints, smooth writing and gorgeous words!
But this "Thousand-Character Text" is actually divided into four parts: the development of the world, the conduct of life, the dynasties of the past dynasties, and the pastoral life. All of them incorporate ancient and modern allusions, and their talents can be imagined! 【Note 3】

In particular, the person who wrote the book is not as old as the crown.

Is this son the one born to know?

Or, this calligraphy book was written by his father before he was alive, and he died before it was published to the world. Is this why the Zheng family son is able to invite his name?
Zhuge Liang said to himself, and couldn't help but feel suspicious.

When he slowly rolled up the bamboo slips inscribed with the calligraphy book, he looked up at Qiao Zhou, who was in the lower seat, and asked slowly, "Yunnan only said that he had listened to Zheng Jiazi's lectures for a few days and was greatly impressed. I wonder how he taught it? "

"promise!"

Qiao Zhou got up when he heard the sound, and told Zheng Pu one by one about Zheng Pu's teaching and entertainment.

He also asked Zhuge Liang to dispel the idea that the calligraphy was made by Zheng Duyi, and he also praised Zheng Pu's talent.

To be praised by the prime minister who "acts like a father" from the emperor will naturally arouse countless people's curiosity and compete to complain.

Therefore, although Zheng Pu did not arrive in Chengdu, his reputation rose for a while.
-
[Note 1: "Three Kingdoms" describes Qiao Zhou as eight feet long and simple in appearance.An excerpt from the "Shu Ji" said: At the beginning of the week, when the light was seen, both sides laughed.After it came out, a secretary asked the person who laughed, and Liang said: "I can't bear it, so the situation is about to change!"]

[Note 2: Under the Han Dynasty system, under the Sili Xiaowei and the state governor, there are several people who are engaged in history, and they are divided into state affairs.Shu set up a persuasion school in Yizhou, and was the official of the state, and his status was slightly inferior to that of classics. 】

[Note 3: "Thousand Characters" was compiled by Zhou Xingsi of the Southern Dynasty, and it was written overnight, with white hair and beard. 】

(End of this chapter)