I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 319 Five Little Ones

Wang Can and the others were already very familiar with Taixue and easily found the place where Tong Zilang's assessment was conducted. They were already waiting when Cai Yong came over. After a long time, they saw several young men no more than eleven or twelve years old coming out of the room, but Wang Can did not notice Zhuge Liang's figure among them.

The waiting time was quite boring. Seeing that no boy came out anymore, and the Zhuge Liang mentioned by Wang Can had not yet appeared, Ma Chao asked Wang Can, "Is Zhong Xuan lying to us... or is Zhong Xuan deceived?"

Wang Can was also a little unsure. Although he had not examined Zhuge Liang's knowledge, he instinctively felt that Zhuge Liang's confidence was not fake.

He said: "It's not like Cai Gong and Zheng Gong have both come out. Please wait a moment."

The three of them went back to work, but they were clear in their hearts. Even if the exam was over, they still couldn't do anything like breaking into the examination room.

After waiting for a while, even Sun Ce began to become suspicious and asked for more details about the meeting between Wang Can and Zhuge Liang.

Then I discovered that the main reason why Wang Can judged Zhuge Liang to be a child prodigy was intuition...

So his judgment on the matter was the same as Ma Chao - "I'm afraid that Zhuge Liang is not even qualified to participate in the boy's examination!"

Seeing this, Wang Can, who was a little shaken, insisted firmly: "Maybe Cai Gong and Zheng Gong discovered Zhuge Liang's great talent and are keeping him!"

Sun Ce and Ma Chao looked at each other and did not continue to compete for the spot. Instead, they continued to wait with Wang Can outside the examination room.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce and Ma Chao quickly followed suit, followed Wang Can, and respectfully followed Wang Can in saluting Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan.

Sun Ce and Ma Chao were racking their brains to console themselves, but they heard Wang Can cheering: "Look who is behind Cai Gong and Zheng Gong?"

It’s actually true!

Wang Can also breathed a sigh of relief, with a look of pride on his face - "Follow me to visit Duke Cai and Duke Zheng!"

Cai Yong glanced at the three of them with a smile, and asked first: "Why are you here?"

Although the two were the eldest sons of Two Thousand Stones, without Wang Can's relationship, how would Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan know who they were!

Among the three, Sun Ce was the oldest and most mature, and was already thinking about how to comfort Wang Can later.

The two of them looked and saw that there was indeed a handsome young man following Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan.

As Wang Can guessed, the reason why Zhuge Liang came out now was because he and Zheng Xuan took a fancy to him and stayed to take another exam.

He looked at Wang Can and thought of Zhuge Liang who was following behind him - Wang Can seemed to be four years older than Zhuge Liang, but not much taller than Zhuge Liang. One of them was thin and ugly, and the other was very young. You can already see his heroic demeanor in the future.

The more they take the exam, the more satisfied they become.

Sun Ce consoled him: "Zhong Xuan, don't be sad. Recently, there has been a mixed bag in Taixue, and there are some people who talk nonsense..."

After that, he straightened his clothes and walked over first.

Not long after, officials began to come out of the examination room one after another, but Zhuge Liang was still nowhere to be seen. In the eyes of Sun Ce and Ma Chao, the truth was already obvious.

Cai Yong was not one to judge people by their appearance, otherwise he would not have praised Wang Can so much at the beginning, but when he thought about the future whereabouts of his collection of books at home, he became increasingly entangled in his heart.

At this time, Wang Can had no idea about Cai Yong's dilemma, nor did he know that his home might be stolen.

Faced with the inquiry, Wang Can frankly told him about his encounter with Zhuge Liang on the way, but only skipped over the incident of escaping from class. Cai Yong laughed. There was such a connection between the two young talents he valued. He couldn't help but be unhappy. He praised: "I knew Zhongxuan had extraordinary talents, but now I know that Zhongxuan has a good understanding of people."

Feeling Zhuge Liang's curious gaze, Wang Can held his head high, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a little shy.

"You are here just in time. Liang has become a young boy and will study at Taixue in the future. If you have nothing to do, you can take Liang to find his brother."

Wang Can hurriedly agreed, and Zilaishu went up and took Zhuge Liang's hand, saying, "Don't worry, Mr. Cai and Mr. Zheng, I will definitely take good care of A Liang."

Zhuge Liang, who was about to refuse, kept his words in his mouth.

Sun Ce and Ma Chao had question marks on their foreheads. Wang Can had never been so proactive when facing them!

After Cai Yong, Zheng Xuan and other minor officials left, before the three of them could ask, Zhuge Liang cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but my brother and I have agreed to meet at the front... At this time, my brother is probably waiting for me."

This was what Cai Yong had told him, and all the three people in front of him agreed. It was a short journey, and he didn't say anything like "just show up and go."

The four of them walked together, and Wang Can asked Zhuge Liang about the content of Tong Zilang's assessment.

These assessments were no problem for Wang Can, and he asked again: "Is it the Book of Songs that A Liang is studying?"

Zhuge Liang replied humbly: "I just dabbled a little."

Ma Chao couldn't help but rolled his eyes quietly. He still knew the standards of boy boy. "Slightly dabbled" refers to menstruation, right?

He only felt that Zhuge Liang's words seemed humble, but the arrogance hidden in them was another Wang Can. No wonder Wang Can was so attracted to him.

You must know that among the current imperial scholars, there are many who are unable to master the First Classic even at the age when they know the destiny of heaven. Ma Chao himself cannot reach the level of mastering the First Classic.

Wang Can learned a lot and remembered that at Zhuge Liang's age, he had already memorized the contents of the Five Classics by heart, and was not as surprised by Zhuge Liang's answer as Ma Chao was.

After all, for people like him and Zhuge Liang, the so-called Tongjing is just the starting point for the study of Confucian classics.

"Has Ah Liang dabbled in other classics?" Wang Can asked again.

"I usually read Shangshu and Zuo Shi Zhuan in the Spring and Autumn Period. As for Rites and Yi, I feel ashamed that I haven't dabbled in them yet."

Ma Chao couldn't help but ask: "What you mean by not having dabbled in it is that you haven't read it or you haven't reached the standard of reading the classics?"

Zhuge Liang said with an expression of "I don't understand what you are talking about" - "You have to understand the meaning of the scripture before you can read it thoroughly."

Ma Chao looked at Zhuge Liang, then looked down at himself. With this, he should be considered to have mastered "The Analects of Confucius"... Well, at least half of it, no, most of it!
Consoling himself in this way, Ma Chao felt better and completely forgot about Taixue's statement that he didn't understand the Analects of Confucius.

While talking, the four of them quickly found the agreed upon location. Zhuge Jin was already waiting. When he saw Zhuge Liang's figure, he hurriedly came over.

Compared with Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Jin, who is only one year older than Sun Ce, is undoubtedly a normal person. That's how Ma Chao feels anyway.

Although Zhuge Jin seems to have profound attainments in Confucian classics.

As for Wang Can, he finally met a child prodigy who suited his liking. Although he was better-looking - if Wang Can was frustrated by his appearance, he might be more sensitive, but now he has never worried about his future.

(End of this chapter)