Aspirations

Chapter 16 And its light, with its dust

"Miao, great. People who care about the common people may not all be in the imperial court... This sentence is simply too good to say, it won my heart, won my heart." Cao Shujun couldn't help but jump up, Haha laughed, "Xia Langjun, how disrespectful I was to you just now, it's because I have no eyes, I'm rude, please bear with me."

After speaking, he gave a long bow.

Xia Xiang returned the gift, and smiled lightly: "Cao Sanlang, you are being polite. What I said just now was not all for you, but for your feelings. You don't need to thank me. Besides, if you are obsessed with craftsmanship , If you want to be a craftsman or a craftsman, I naturally agree. If you just want to indulge in the mountains and rivers, and just want to be at ease, I don't think so."

Cao Shujun said curiously, "I only said that I am devoted to Taoism, and I didn't say that I like craftsmanship. Xia Langjun, where did you know that I am obsessed with craftsmanship? Could it be..." When he spoke, he looked suspiciously and narrowly. Throwing in Cao Shuli.

Seeing that Cao Shujun suspected that she was secretly revealing the news to Xia Xiang, Cao Shuli laughed and scolded angrily: "It's really stupid, Mr. Xia Lang probably discovered the difference in the fan in your hand long ago, so he offered to ask you to give it to him. He has the fan in his hand, and when he opens it, he can see your name on the handle..."

"Really?" Cao Shujun was half-believing, his eyes widened, and he looked directly at Xia Xiang, as if Xia Xiang could see through it at a glance if he lied.

Xia Xiang smiled calmly: "To be honest, at the beginning, I only thought that you were devoted to the Tao, and I had no other preferences. Later, when I saw that you couldn't leave your hand, I felt an unusual smell. If you You are really a carefree person, you don’t care so much about a fan, not to mention that the material and shape of the fan are not top-notch. In your capacity, even if it is a golden fan and a jade fan, you will not put it down unless the fan is meaningful to you It was extraordinary. I tried to ask for a fan, and you gave it away, and then I had the fan in my hand, and it was clear at a glance after I opened it."

In the beginning, Xia Xiang really only thought that Cao Shujun did not seek fame but was just free and easy. He had a heart of "I will seek immortals on my own and not be a human being in the world". After talking, I realized that it was not the case. It is true that he is devoted to the Tao. In addition to the Tao, he is still young at heart, playful, and likes delicate items. Whether it is the clothes, the jade on his body, or the jade in his hand, everything is meticulous.

Those who really follow the Tao, take off their clothes and gowns, look like immortals, and some even have their hair disheveled and their clothes disheveled. Isn't the so-called free and easy, just doing what you want without being restrained by all the worldly things?Cao Shujun's clothes are not only gorgeous and exquisite, but even the embroidery on the sleeves is also ingenious. It is not a common pattern, and Xia Xiang can tell that it is from his own hands.

However, Xia Xiang was not sure whether it was made by Cao Shujun, until he noticed that Cao Shujun's sleeves, neckline, and the pattern of the jade were all the same logo, and he understood a little bit. .

The pattern is not complicated, it is just the seal character "曺" which is a variant of "Cao". It is self-evident that the pattern comes from the hands of a person surnamed Cao.So besides Cao Shujun, who else could there be?
In the Tang Dynasty, the word "Cao" was often written as "曺", either to express one's own uniqueness or to show one's profoundness, no matter what the reason was, "Cao Hu" was common in Tang Dynasty.

After the Great Xia Dynasty, especially after Sima Zhu strongly advocated a plain style of writing, not only did literati no longer like uncommon characters when writing books, even the variant characters were rarely mentioned intentionally, and the character "曺" was completely replaced by the character "Cao". People don't even know the word "曺" anymore.

Xia Xiang guessed from the word "曺" that the embroidery on the clothes and the pattern on the jade were all from Cao Shujun's intention, but he did not dare to jump to conclusions.When he carefully observed that Cao Shuli and Cao Yongguo's clothes and jade did not have such patterns, he became more convinced of the fact that Cao Shujuan's patterns were intentional in order to express his maverick. Doubt, the pattern comes from his own hands.

Therefore, Xia Xiang had the intention to ask for Cao Shujun's fan.On the handle of the fan, there is an identical pattern, and the material and shape of the fan are very different from common fans, which makes him firmer his inference. Extraordinary tricks - the fan is made by himself.In addition, Cao Yongguo also inadvertently mentioned a sentence, which made his judgment even more firm.

Cao Shujun smiled and said with sincerity, "Jun Xia's eyes are like torches, and I admire him. I don't know what else Xia Lang-Jun saw?"

Xia Xiang smiled and said nothing, he naturally saw some things, but it's not time to figure it out yet.

Cao Yongguo also looked surprised, he stood up and asked in disbelief: "What happened just now, is it true?"

"It's true, Daddy." Cao Shuli knew that Daddy was suspicious of Cao Shujun and Xia Xiang's acting, and came forward to testify. Although she also suspected that Xia Xiang was so young and really had such nuanced insight, she also knew that Xia Xiang and Cao Shujun were indeed the first time They met, and the two did not communicate privately, "Xia Langjun just met Saburo an hour ago."

Cao Yongguo was secretly admiring that it is indeed rare for the younger generation to have such a heart, especially those who read books, but even so, it is impossible to convince him to change his mind in a few words, he smiled slightly: "Fan makers are everywhere. , is not surprising. Although Daxia does not suppress commerce, nor does he despise craftsmen, but everything is inferior, only high school reading. Only high school jinshi can seek a background and serve as an official to benefit one party. "

"Cao Gong, is the picture of Yuanming's return to hermit a gift from a friend?" Xia Xiang didn't take Cao Yongguo's words directly, but took advantage of the situation. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the picture of Yuanming's return to hermit, with mixed feelings in his heart.

In the past three years, Li Dingshan has taught him everything he has learned in his life. He not only read poetry and books, but also learned the way of life, the hundred schools of thought, the three teachings and the nine streams, and astronomy and geography, which were impossible to learn from other gentlemen.Li Dingshan is not an old-fashioned old master, he knows how to work around it, and he does not exclude the theories of miscellaneous scholars other than the Book of Sages.It is because of his openness and tolerance that Xia Xiang was able to learn many things that were deviant or dismissive in the eyes of orthodox scholars.

Cao Yongguo was startled, and could not help but look at Xia Xiang. Seeing that Xia Xiang was calm, he thought that maybe he was thinking too much. Xia Xiang is just a student who went to Beijing to take the exam, how could he have something to do with Li Dingshan, calmly Said: "Yes, it was a gift from Song Chaodu, the servant of the Ministry of Industry."

"Song Chaodu?" Xia Xiang came to Beijing not long ago, so he didn't have time to find out where Li Dingshan came from, and he didn't know what position Li Dingshan had held. He originally thought that the inscription of Yuanming's Return to Hermitage was Li Dingshan's inscription, and it would be a gift to Cao Yongguo for Li Dingshan. "Isn't Minister Song the Minister of the Ministry of Officials? Why did he become the Minister of the Ministry of Industry again?"

The six ministries are the Ministry of Household, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Work. If they are ranked according to their responsibilities and powers, the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Personnel are in charge of the granaries and official hats of the world, and undoubtedly come first.The second is the Ministry of Punishment, which is in charge of the criminal affairs of the world, and the Ministry of War, which is in charge of the army and horses.Compared with the other five departments, the Ministry of Works is in charge of construction projects and the decree of Baigong Mountain, Zegou, and Tune.Such as digging rivers and fields to open up wasteland, and so on.

The transfer from the Minister of Personnel to the Minister of Works is not considered a relegation, but a transfer, but a transfer at the same level, and the powers and powers are greatly reduced.

Xia Xiang had heard the name of Song Chaodu. Because Song Chaodu was an upright man, he once wrote a letter to the emperor. The emperor didn't want to listen to his impassioned words, so he turned around and left. Every time the emperor took a step, he knelt down and bowed, shouting for the emperor to stay. .The emperor took five steps, and he hit the ground with his head until his head was bleeding. The emperor had no choice but to stay patient and listen to him.Afterwards, every time the emperor mentioned Song Chaodu, he always thought of what he forcibly left behind. For this reason, although the emperor recognized Song Chaodu's talent and character, he had a headache for his honesty.

If Su is really tough and honest, Song Chaodu is honest and straight forward.

Cao Yongguo caressed his long beard lightly, shook his head and smiled: "Promotion, relegation, and transfer are commonplace in the court, so don't make a fuss about it. Just like me, although I am still jokingly called the Sleeping Queen, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, in fact, I am already out of work at home. The removal of officials is only a matter of time."

It turned out that Cao Yongguo was the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple in the fifth grade. Xia Xiang first entered the capital and had some understanding of official positions, but he was not very clear about who and what positions.Among the officials in the capital, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple was not only of low rank, but was only a minor official of the fifth rank, and had no real power, so he was nothing.It can be said that Cao Yongguo has absolutely no place in the capital of high officials.

Xia Xiang would not be disrespectful because of Cao Yongguo's low status and power, so he continued the topic just now: "Yuanming's return map is signed by Li Dingshan, but Li Dingshan's handwriting?"

"Exactly." Cao Yongguo glanced at Xia Xiang secretly, seeing Xia Xiang's expression as usual, his heart was a little at ease, Li Dingshan is now a scourge that everyone can't avoid, and the three princes want to get rid of them quickly, almost no one in Beijing knows about it , he was afraid that Xia Xiang had hidden evil intentions, "Could it be that Xia Langjun knows Duke Li?"

"I don't know." Xia Xiang didn't dare to reveal his relationship with Li Dingshan rashly. He wanted to take the opportunity to ask Li Dingshan's origin, and said, "Who is Duke Li?"

"Yuanming's Return to Hermitage was a gift from Li Gong three years ago..." Cao Yongguo did not answer Xia Xiang's question directly. He stood in front of Yuanming's Return to Hermitage with his hands behind his back and sighed softly, "Mr. In your opinion, Tao Yuanming's retiring to the countryside is the result of being intoxicated after retiring from officialdom, or is he complaining about indifference?"

Tao Yuanming's poems had a great influence on the literati of Tang and Daxia. Lianche, who is known as the first genius of Daxia, praised Tao Yuanming as "like a great craftsman who transports catties, but does not see the marks of axe", and wrote dozens of poems and pottery. This shows the high status of Tao Yuanming in his mind.

Cao Shujun was anxious. Dad and Xia Xiang didn't talk about his important affairs, but they chatted about Tao Yuanming.

Cao Shuli waved her hand to Cao Shujun in secret, signaling him to stay calm.Compared to Cao Shujun's eagerness, she was much calmer.And she can also see that Xia Xiang and his father seem to be chatting without boundaries, but in fact they are still making a big fuss about the entry of Confucianism into the WTO and the birth of Taoism.

It can also be said that Xia Xiang is using Yuanming's repatriation picture to sit and discuss with his father.

Cao Shuli thinks that she has seen a lot of young talents, whether it is the prince of the prince's son or the son of the prince's son, there is no difference to her. Whether it is the arrogance of the prince or the conceit of the son, it will not make her stunned. heartbeat.Even if the other party really has superhuman talents and learning, and is full of knowledge and eloquence, in her eyes, there is always a sense of frivolity and showing off.

Xia Xiang is different. Although he is not as luxurious as the prince and son, he is as calm as the wind and as calm as the pine.The so-called gentleman is more virtuous than Yuyan, gentle and lustrous, and benevolent...Xia Xiangzhou has a gentle aura from top to bottom, and the self-confidence and free and easy expression on his face from time to time, quite a combination of Confucianism and Taoism. the golden mean.

I heard from my father that only after experiencing ups and downs and vicissitudes can a person be confident and free and easy.Cao Shuli secretly looked at Xia Xiang Fangzheng's yet moist face, and suddenly his cheeks were slightly hot, and his heart beat faster.
How could Xia Xiang know the thoughts of Cao Shuli's sensitive and affectionate daughter?

After thinking about it for a moment, Xia Xiang thought about it in his heart: "Mr. Cao, in my humble opinion, Tao Yuanming's retreat to the countryside is neither the pleasure and intoxication after he quits the officialdom, nor the grumbling when he is in distress..."

"How do you say this?" Cao Yongguo was astonished. He asked more than ten people about this question. Everyone had different opinions, but everyone would choose one of them to make inferences. Xia Xiang denied them all. , is rare.

Xia Xiang opened the folding fan, turned his back behind him, and smiled slightly: "Just now I ate a bowl of wontons at the night market outside. The wonton sellers are a couple. In the eyes of outsiders, they are busy every day, barely full, and their lives Difficult and difficult. But in my opinion, the two love each other and become a husband and wife. They have no doubts about their love and get along day and night. Compared with a couple who have been separated for a long time, I don’t know how much more happiness they have together.”

Cao Shujun finally couldn't help jumping out, and snorted coldly: "It's obviously Tao Yuanming, why did you mention the old man and old woman who sells wontons? Mr. Xia Lang, don't talk too much, okay?"

"Don't worry, listen to me speak slowly." Xia Xiang shook the folding fan a few times in his hand, he laughed, "Li Taibai and Du Zimei have been busy all their lives, but they have nowhere to serve the country, and they have left poems handed down for future generations. Tao Gong resigned from office and went into seclusion. , wrote the famous line "seeing Nanshan leisurely". Li Shangyin spent his whole life in the party struggle, with a bumpy official career and depression, leaving a lot of untitled poems. After all, whether it is an official or a citizen, Or focusing on the mountains and rivers and returning to the mountains and forests is nothing more than a lifestyle choice. As long as you feel at ease, what is the difference between being far away from the rivers and lakes or at the height of the temple?"

Cao Shujun had an indignant look on his face, but when Xia Xiang finished speaking, his face slowly relaxed and he nodded and smiled.Cao Shuli nodded slightly, showing a knowing smile.Cao Yongguo stroked his long beard with his hands, silent and indifferent.

"That's why Tao Gong returned to the countryside because he wanted to put his love on the mountains and rivers and indulge in the fields, and live a peaceful life." Xia Xiang smiled lightly. So far, he has concluded that the painting of Yuanming's retreat must be the work of Li Dingshan. Li Dingshan left Beijing three years ago. At that time, he gave this picture to Song Chaodu as a gift, which shows that Li Dingshan had the intention of retiring at that time, but Song Chaodu gave this picture to Cao Yongguo. I don't know why.

"Having said that, I think Mr. Tao's resignation is really a helpless move. If the government is harmonious and the officialdom is clean, why should Mr. Tao resign?" Cao Yongguo shook his head slightly, feeling sorry for him.

"Haha..." Xia Xiang suddenly burst out laughing, and the laughter was quite mocking and mocking.

Cao Yongguo suddenly changed color and took a step back.Cao Shuli raised her eyebrows tightly, showing her displeasure.

"What are you laughing at?" Cao Shujun was also irritated by Xia Xiang's wanton laughter, and grabbed Xia Xiang's sleeve, "Mr. Xia Lang, what you have learned from Confucius and Mencius is moral articles. How can you be in front of the elders of other people's families?" Dare to be so presumptuous?"

"That's right." Xia Xiang took a step back, broke free from Cao Shujun's hand, used his eyes to stop Xiao Wu's move, and bowed his hands solemnly, "If you can't even stand the ridicule of others, why not? Can you achieve great things? If you resign from office and go into seclusion when you encounter difficulties, it is not a free and easy way to avoid the world or escape! The world is turbid and I am pure and pure. The whole world is drunk and I am sober and sober. , what's the use of asking me to wait? A man should do something or refrain from doing something, and serve the court. No matter whether it is fortune or life or death, how can you have the heart to seek benefits and avoid harm? With its dust, it is the road."

After saying a word, no one answered, and the room was extremely quiet for a while.Cao Yongguo looked solemn, bowed his head and said nothing.Cao Shuli was thoughtful, her eyes flashing.Cao Shujun walked back and forth with his hands on his back.

Xia Xiang continued to say aloud: "So if my generation of students is dedicated to serving the country, it doesn't matter whether he is politically compatible or not, just stand up and move forward, even if it is a cliff and a sea of ​​flames, even if you die, you will have no regrets. An idler in the mountains and rivers, reciting poetry and painting, is happy and happy. What he is most afraid of is not only wanting to serve the country, but also fearing the difficulties and dangers ahead, wanting to retreat to the countryside and waiting for the call of the court at any time. Such a dilemma makes him suffer and ruin a major event. Ma ran away from home and wanted to do it. He is a real man. Mr. Cao, I have a word, right or wrong, let's just listen to it. Since Saburo has no desire to get a title, he has the will to ask questions, and he likes tricks and tricks. , it is better to let him go, as long as he is at ease, it is also a good thing."

(End of this chapter)