Landlord of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 319 Are there sheep in the grassland?
When the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty heard Xu Qing's question, they also pricked up their ears to listen carefully.Xu Qing is the number one talented scholar in Chang'an, even the number one talented person in the world, the patriarch of the literary world in the Tang Dynasty, what good issues will arise in the dispute between the two countries now?The generals are interested. Xu Qing wrote about the swollen body of the white dog before, so it is inevitable that he will come up with such interesting questions this time.

Li Yuan also began to ponder at this time. He knew the question, but Xu Qing had a pass on the answer. At this time, he thought for a long time, but could not answer.Of course, if he could think of it, Xu Qing would definitely not let it be used to test others.

I saw Xu Qing pondering for a while and said: "At that time there was a broken log, the two ends were the same size, and the middle was straight. Now I want to know where the head and tail are. Dare to ask the Turkic envoy if there is a magic method?"

Everyone present was stunned, why, Wen Zong Xu Qing did not test the pair, but took the test of this piece of wood, why?In any case, all civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty pondered over Xu Qing's question, and even the eunuchs beside the emperor showed deep thought.This question is attractive enough at first sight.The root of the tree is the head, and the branches are the tail. The root is big and the branches are small. Usually, it can be seen at a glance, but at this time, it turned out to be a broken log of the same size as the two ends. How can the head and the tail be seen?

The Turkic envoy frowned tightly, biting his lip, and was also confused for a moment, unable to speak a word.At this time, Cheng Yaojin laughed loudly: "Haha, this question is very interesting for Mr. Xu, and the Turkic people can't answer it! Later, you tell my brother that I am alone, and I will teach those civil servants a lesson. I was taken aback!"

The civil servants collectively ignored Cheng Yaojin and were still thinking about it. At this time, the Turkic envoy shouted: "Oh, I see!"

Xu Qing turned his head to look over, but saw the Turkic envoy saying: "This wood has no head or tail at all, or both ends have tails, and both ends also have heads! This is the way of yin and yang mutual generation and change!"

Those civil servants were startled, it turned out to be like this, it's over, this Turkic is not simple.Xu Qing smiled and said: "This tree has a head and a tail. The head and the tail are strong names, not Yin and Yang. Trees thrive when they grow upside down, and wither when they are turned upside down. How can they change?"

Oh, fortunately not, the ministers are all relieved.The Turkic envoy was slightly disappointed, and thought again: "Could it be that you don't know the answer yourself, so you intentionally did such nonsense to make things difficult for the envoy?"

Xu Qing smiled: "I am a big country, so I don't need that kind of hypocrisy. I asked this question, and naturally there is an answer. You might as well think again."

The Turkic envoy thought about it again, but, like all the ministers, he thought that Xu Qing would produce some classics and cultural knowledge, but he didn't expect Xu Qing to use a piece of wood to talk about it.When the opportunity changed, the Turkic envoy thought about it but didn't think about it, so he lied to Xu Qing and said, "Then tell me, how do you look at the head and tail of this wood?"

How could Xu Qing say it so easily? He asked, "The envoy meant to admit defeat?"

The Turkic envoy said shamelessly: "No, no, you are fabricating the facts, this question is not counted."

Xu Qing asked: "Then what if I tell you the answer?"

Seeing that Xu Qing refused to budge, the Turkic envoy also said, "Don't you have two more questions? If you can tell the answer, then the envoy will admit defeat on this question!"

Xu Qing smiled and said: "To be honest, the first question is the easiest. If you can't answer it, you can't answer the next two questions. It's better to admit defeat."

The Turkic envoy said impatiently: "Don't talk nonsense, just give me the answer!"

Xu Qing said a good word, and then slowly said: "Listen well, when a tree grows, its roots are on the bottom and the paper is on the top, and the head is on the bottom and the tail is on the top. Everyone knows that the roots of trees are dense and the branches are sparse. Turkic messengers, do you know Know?"

This is a small reminder, the ministers listened to it, and quickly thought about it.However, everyone's eyes were still blank, and they didn't understand what Xu Qing meant.The Turkic envoy also nodded and said, "So what?"

Xu Qing continued: "The roots are dense and the branches are sparse, and both ends are the same size, so the head must be heavy and the tail is light. Put it in still water, the one that sinks more will be the head, and the one that sinks less will be the tail. Put it in running water and let it grow. Flow, the heaviest flows first, it is the head!"

Swish, after Xu Qing finished speaking, there was a complete silence in the Tai Chi Hall, and a needle could be heard falling.The topic that stumped the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty just now is so simple, if you want to judge the beginning and the end, you only need to judge its severity!At this time, an official asked: "Master Xu, if you divide this wood into two and weigh each, can you also judge its head and tail?"

Xu Qing nodded, at this time, another official came out and said: "Master Xu, can the one who is below be the leader among the rope and the broken log?"

Xu Qing nodded again with a smile. At this time, Cheng Yaojin also shouted: "According to my old Cheng, it is better to chop with an axe. The deep one is the tail, and the shallow one is the head."

The method Cheng Yaojin said is also feasible, but if he chops with an axe, there is no depth to speak of, it will all be broken.But Xu Qing still smiled and said: "Mr. Cheng is so wise." Seeing Xu Qing nodding, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help laughing. Today was the first time he went to court without dozing off.

Xu Qing looked at the Turkic envoy, and said in his eyes, you see, our country is full of talents, and you want to make money from us by analogy?Xu Qing said: "Why, Master Messenger, my question is not a lie to you, is it?"

The Turkic envoy boasted just now, no matter how thick-skinned he was, he didn't dare to play tricks at this time, he just said: "OK, OK, this round, you have won. But I lost, not because of you, Instead, I lost in the question itself!"

"Oh? How do you say that?" Xu Qing looked at Horqin with interest and asked.

"Everyone knows that there are no trees or big rivers in my grassland. Therefore, it is human nature not to know the weight of the wood..." The Turkic envoy said politely: "If you can use something on the grassland to make a question, Then if I can't answer it again, I will really be convinced!"

All the people present secretly scolded the Turkic people for being shameless. Although there are no trees on the grassland, there is a big jungle to the north of Mobei. Besides, it is ridiculous to say that you have never seen a tree.The Turkic envoy didn't know the people around him glared at him, and smiled at Xu Qing, meaning, do you dare?

Xu Qing sighed: "Okay, the Turkic envoys came from afar. As the host, I naturally have to make way for some guests. Let's do it. I won't come up with the questions I thought about before, so I will use the things from the grassland to come up with the questions." Question."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, all the officials persuaded one after another:

"Master Xu, think twice..."

"Master Xu, how can you speak so lightly about the important affairs of the country..."

"Master Xu, don't be arrogant, be careful."

The Turkic envoy snorted: "It was you who made the question or Mr. Xu, aren't you a nation of etiquette?"

The ministers looked at the Turkic envoy and became more and more angry.But Xu Qing stopped him and said: "Don't be surprised, gentlemen, Turkic has lost a question, so it doesn't hurt to let him take a step."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he said to Horqin, "Okay, may I ask the messenger, are there any sheep on the grassland?"

(End of this chapter)