Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 110 On Reading

Everyone reads the same books. The reason why others are better than you is because they are better at reading than you.So Xue Lang asked Jiang Lindao: "What books have you read?"

Jiang Lindao: "I have read most of the Confucian classics that are currently in circulation, and I have also read several military books."

Xue Lang asked again: "How far have you read? Intensive reading, thorough reading, or rough reading? Maybe recite the whole book?"

Jiang Lin was stuck, unable to answer for a moment, thought for a while, and said embarrassingly: "All military books can be recited, and most of the Confucian classics can be recited. I read a few Daoist scriptures and Buddhist scriptures when I was keeping my filial piety."

"Have you ever read history books? Have you ever read codes?"

Jiang Lindao: "I have briefly read "Spring and Autumn", but I have never read the Codex."

Xue Lang said: "From tomorrow, I will be nearby. When you don't need guards, you can study at home. First read the Code, then "Book of Rites", and then start with "Spring and Autumn", "Historical Records", "Three Kingdoms", "Han Shu" must be read, but all history books that can be found must be read, not only through reading, but also intensive reading, and every time you read it, you must write reading notes and experience."

Jiang Lin touched his head and said, "Why history books and legal codes? I thought my elder brother would let me read more Confucian classics."

Xue Lang looked at him with a smile, and explained: "If you are 30 years old, then I will not let you read the law code, but only let you read the history books intensively. You are the age when your heart is higher than the sky and your fighting spirit is full of enthusiasm. Duan, vigor and spirit are enough, what is lacking is the understanding of the rules. In life, you are not alone, you have to communicate with others, you have to integrate into the society, and you have to learn the rules of the family if you want to walk in this world. As the saying goes , Rules are dead, but people are alive. Smart people can use the rules flexibly, and fools stick to the rules. Both of them generally don’t live too hard.”

Jiang Lin thought for a while, and said, "Brother, do you want me to obey the rules?"

Xue Lang shook his head with a smile, and said, "Yes, and no."

"Why?"

It was not Jiang Lin who asked this question, but a female voice.Xue Lang hurriedly looked out, but it was Princess Pingyang and Lady Liu standing outside the door.

The two brothers quickly got up and saluted: "I have seen Her Royal Highness!"

"Excuse me! Seeing that Youyang was teaching Ah Lin, what he said was witty and fascinating, so I didn't let anyone report it. I didn't expect to hear such a wonderful argument. Why did you ask Jiang Erlang to read the book of ceremonies first? Youyang quickly Speak."

Her Royal Highness the Princess came in enthusiastically, sat down at the first seat, and urged Xue Lang to continue talking quickly.Xue Lang cupped his hands at Lady Liu, and asked people to go out to prepare tea, and then said: "I just said, it is the age when your heart is higher than the sky, and you should read the code first to let you understand the heights of the sky and the depth of the earth, so that you understand where the boundaries of behavior are." .Reading the Book of Rites again is to let you understand the secular etiquette. If you are familiar with these two books, you can go to the world."

"Miao Miao Miao!"

Princess Pingyang clapped her hands and praised: "This statement is wonderful, and it is quite as clever as the situation in the world!"

Lady Liu couldn't help interjecting: "If you dare to ask Mr. Xue, it's good to know the law and keep the etiquette, but what if you meet someone who is lawless and doesn't understand etiquette?"

Xue Lang spread his hands: "You have already occupied a reasonable position. If you make good use of it, don't you feel free to advance and retreat? Laws and rituals are dead, but people are alive. Now that you have occupied a reasonable position, why are you afraid of him? There is a saying Words make people fearful; there is also a saying that makes people live with a face and a tree with a skin. When you meet someone who wants face, you will know the law and keep the etiquette."

Miss Liu asked: "What if you meet someone who is shameless?"

Xue Lang smiled, and said, "Take ten meetings with one force!"

They are all smart people, just stop there.Lady Liu glanced at Xue Lang with a smile, and said, "I thought Master Xue was a gentleman, but now it seems..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was very clear.Xue Lang was naturally dissatisfied, and asked instead: "How can I not be a gentleman? I am neither a person who speaks frivolously nor acts frivolously, but also has a heart of benevolence. Your Highness also said that I am as modest as a grain of salt. Such a person, how can I be wrong?" Duanfang gentleman?"

"..."

Liu Nvgan was speechless.Xue Lang laughed and said, "So, whether it's good manners, etiquette, or knowledge, it's all about how to use them with one heart. To be a benevolent gentleman is not to be a clumsy benevolent gentleman!"

"Papapa"——

Her Royal Highness applauded again: "Youyang's words won my heart, and I feel like a confidant."

Xue Lang smiled and cupped his hands in thanks: "Your Highness, thank you, thank you."

This princess is not a person who sticks to the rules. If Princess Pingyang is a person who sticks to the rules, she may have died in Chang'an long ago, instead of leading the army and guarding one side.

Princess Pingyang said: "Youyang just said why you need to read the Book of Rites and Code of Laws, but you haven't said how interesting it is to read history books?"

Xue Lang said: "It is wise to read history. History is one cycle after another. Looking at history, it is just the cycle of one dynasty after another. Those who go with the times prosper, and those who go against the times perish. Today is the reappearance of past history. Thinking, comparing ancient and modern times, there will always be gains. This kind of gain needs to be experienced slowly by oneself, which cannot be said.”

Princess Pingyang was startled: "Today is the reappearance of the past history... Today is the reappearance of the past history! Miaozai Siyan, thank you Youyang for teaching me!"

Xue Langhan, what he said was just the opinion of a certain modern historian. Xue Lang agreed with this view, so he said it.Therefore, the advantage of modern people over ancient people is that the accessible books and knowledge are too broad, and their knowledge is not comparable to that of ancient people who lacked the circulation of books in ancient times.

In fact, in ancient times, everyone who was able to read well had one thing in common.Because there are too few books in this era, the cost of printing books is too high, and the circulation of books depends mostly on the copying by the readers themselves. If you have a good memory, it is naturally easy to read.

Therefore, for a family with a rich collection of books, the deeper the accumulation, the greater the chance of producing talents.Take the famous six surnames in Kansai as an example, there may be no talents for one or two generations, but after a few generations, talents will appear again.Among the famous Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, several of them were born in the family of generations of gentry.

Xue Lang said: "Ah Lin is in the army. After reading the book on military affairs, it still needs to be verified on the battlefield. The combination of theory and practice is the way to success. No matter how much I teach other things, it is useless. We have different personalities and experiences. , the experience is also different. Therefore, you need to read more books and accumulate knowledge well, the so-called thick accumulation is nothing more than that.”

"Thank you big brother, my brother is also taught!"

Jiang Lin went to worship Xue Lang.Xue Lang accepted it frankly. If it wasn't for the sworn brothers who were close to each other, he would not have taught these words and experiences. It is precisely because Jiang Lin treats him like a family member that he is willing to spend all his energy to explain to Jiang Lin, wishing him to become a talent.

Xue Lang is actually a passive person emotionally, whether it is family affection or love, although he is cheerful and easy-going, he is not a passionate and proactive person.Because of his experience, he was quite on guard. Jiang Lin first treated him like his elder brother, and then he treated Jiang Lin as his younger brother.

(End of this chapter)