Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

The headmaster of Yangzhou Academy is Min Wenwei, who is over sixty years old this year.

His elder brother Min Wenshu was a fourth-rank official. His academics tended to be Luo studies, mixed with some Shu studies. Although he was not labeled as a Yuanyou party member, he still resigned from office and returned home to die in depression.

"Above the temple, treacherous ministers are in power; far away in the world, evil theories are spreading," Min Wenwei shook his head and sighed, "The world and the path of saints are already in danger. What can we do about it?"

Chen Yuan said: "Cai Jing has lost the hearts of the people. In time, everyone will betray his relatives and leave."

Min Wenwei asked: "With your talent, why didn't you take the imperial examination for twenty years?"

Chen Yuan replied: "Officials are mediocre, so what can I do if I take the imperial examination? It is better to concentrate on studying, spread the teachings of saints, and cultivate more talented people. When the time comes, I will be able to sweep away the evil atmosphere!"

"Alas," Min Wenwei sighed, "Both Luo School and Shu School were banned by the imperial court. Many academic officials in the world have heretical theories, so how can they educate the local area? Last summer, I debated with Lu Tixue in Lizhou. This person He is full of nonsense and still insists that he is the right way."

Chen Yuan said with a smile: "I have met Lu Tixue before. He is a serious figure. He and Cai Jing are not in the same group."

Min Wenwei said: "This man is deceiving the public with his monstrous words. He is definitely not a serious Confucian scholar!"

Chen Yuan didn't answer this sentence. He communicated with Min Wenwei for several days and found that the mountain leader was a dead-headed person who had already gone to the extreme in his studies.

The two chatted all the way and went to the cafeteria to eat. From time to time, students came over to greet them.

"The student has met the mountain leader!"

At the entrance of the cafeteria, Bai Chongyan came forward to greet him.

Min Wenwei smiled and nodded, then glanced at Zheng Hong and others, with a look of disgust on his face again.

He was more optimistic about Bai Chongyan and did not want Bai Chongyan to hang out with Zheng Hong, fearing that top students would be led astray by poor students.

Min Wenwei did not save face for the students at all, and scolded sternly: "You guys usually don't like students to learn, but can you live up to your parents? If you fail to pass the quarterly exam again this year, you will all get thrown off the mountain!"

"yes."

Zheng Hong quickly lowered his head to accept the instruction and was used to it.

The other three poor students also stood obediently and listened to the instruction.

This situation reminded Ju Ming of his high school dean.

Min Wenwei also warned Bai Chongyan: "You have made great progress in your knowledge in the past six months, so you should work harder and not associate with those stubborn people!"

"Students please follow the teachings of the mountain leader." Bai Chongyan replied respectfully.

Zheng Hong buried his head in his chest and muttered silently, most likely greeting the principal's relatives and friends.

Min Wenwei turned to Chen Yuan and said: "The students in the academy are all good and bad, and they are not as good as the gathering of talents in Jiangnan, which makes Mr. Mutang laugh."

Chen Yuan complimented: "I have heard for a long time that the academic style of Yangzhou Academy is serious. When I saw it today, it is indeed the case. No wonder there are so many Jinshi."

Min Wenwei was quite proud of this and said: "If a jade is not polished, it will not become a useful tool. Students must be well disciplined."

"It should be like this." Chen Yuan cupped his hands.

Ju Ming is now staying in the academy, so he should pay a visit to the principal out of love and etiquette. He waited for the principal to finish training the students, then stepped forward to greet him: "Junior Zhu Ming has met the principal."

There were less than 300 students in the academy, and Min Wenwei basically had some impression.

Seeing Zhu Ming's face, he couldn't help but ask: "Are you a new student?"

Bai Chongyan quickly introduced: "Mountain Chief, this is Zhu Chenggong, the Eighth Route Army Scholar."

"Um?"

Last summer, when Lu Rong, the academic envoy, returned to Yangzhou, Min Wenwei invited him to give lectures at the academy.

While talking, Min Wenwei walked away and had another debate in private. He was so angry that he almost started a fight with Lu Tixue. He highly praised Luo Xue, but Lu Tixue always belittled Luo Xue. It would be strange if there was no conflict when exchanging knowledge.

Because Lu Rong was full of praise for Ju Ming, Min Wenwei had a bad impression of Ju Ming.

This is all retribution. Zhu Ming deliberately catered to Lu Tixue, but today he will definitely be disliked by Min Wenwei.

It’s impossible to please both sides!

Being able to please the academic advisor is definitely more useful than trying to please a principal.

Min Wenwei asked: "Are you the Zhu Chenggong that Lu Xueguan said?"

"This junior is Ju Ming." Ju Ming cupped his hands and said.

Min Wenwei asked again: "I heard that you and Lu Tixue sangxia discussed Taoism, and their thoughts were in perfect agreement? Do you agree with his way of studying and cultivating himself?"

what's going on?

The tone sounded unkind, and it was obviously questioning.

Ju Ming answered ambiguously: "I am young and don't know how to study and cultivate myself."

This answer made Min Wenwei eliminate some of his disgust, and he immediately warned: "I have also heard about the eight poems you wrote and your understanding of the meaning of the scriptures. You are talented and intelligent, and you know the meaning of the scriptures at a young age. Don’t be complacent because of this, you still need to learn more about the right way, and don’t be fooled by the evil remarks.”

He was taught a lesson the first time they met, and he was involved in some evil ways.

Ju Ming was very unhappy, but he still said sincerely: "Junior, please remember this."

Min Wenwei probably served as the mountain chief for a long time and lived in this small and closed place in Yangzhou. Both the gentry and students respected him. Therefore, this guy is a little forgetful and wants to educate everyone he sees: "Lu Tixue's theory of life has become an evil way. A gentleman should cultivate his moral character and abandon evil and pursue good. If there are evil thoughts in his heart, he should always reflect on himself and blame himself. . If you have evil in your heart, you will not be pure even if you do good deeds. Sooner or later, you will be invaded by those evil thoughts. You should be aware of this and do not be deceived by others!"

This does not save Lu Tixue any face, and is suspected of speaking ill of people behind their backs.

Of course, Min Wenwei said this out of good intentions. He felt that Ju Ming was a promising talent and was afraid that Ju Ming would be misled by Lu Tixue.

Zhu Ming bowed again and said, "Junior, please remember this."

However, Min Wenwei was still good at being a teacher, and he said endlessly: "When you come to the academy to study, you should be modest and cautious. No matter how good the poems are written, no matter how wonderful the interpretation of the scriptures, you must not be arrogant." Talented people have emerged, and each has led the way for hundreds of years.' This is the spirit that a young man should have. But 'Li and Du's poems have been passed down by thousands of mouths, and they are no longer new', but it is too conceited. We must guard against arrogance and impetuosity. Otherwise, you will make the same mistake that hurt Zhongyong. Do you remember this?"

What is this mess?

Ju Ming could hardly bear it anymore.

Zheng Hong and his three roommates all lowered their heads and suppressed laughter at this moment.

They were scolded every now and then, and they couldn't help but gloat when they saw others being scolded as well.

In fact, Min Wenwei didn't have any bad intentions. He mistakenly thought that Ju Ming was here to study, and he gave him a scolding. He also deliberately misinterpreted the poem and found fault with the eggs. On the one hand, it could suppress Ju Ming's spirit, and on the other hand, he also showed his majesty.

His educational philosophy is that teachers should have supreme authority and students should not be complacent.

Seeing that Zhu Ming stopped talking, Min Wenwei shouted sternly: "But you are not convinced in your heart and feel that I speak too harshly? Or do you still agree with Lu Tixue's remarks? If you don't obey the discipline, you will immediately roll down the mountain. Yangzhou Academy will not control its thoughts and evil Disciple!"

Chen Yuan couldn't help but frown. He didn't like this kind of education. Students should be patiently guided. How could they scold them as soon as they started?

Moreover, if I don’t listen to you, I will be a treacherous person? So majestic!

Chen Yuan was completely disappointed in officialdom because of what happened to his father and uncle. Determined to spread Luo Xue, he traveled north from Nanjianzhou, made a circle in the north, and then went to Sichuan via Hanzhong. I gave lectures along the way, which not only earned me travel expenses, but also spread my ideas.

Invited by Yangzhou Academy, he planned to give lectures in March.

However, after communicating with Min Wenwei for many days, I found that this person was a dull man and was unable to have in-depth communication at all.

Moreover, some are self-righteous and always live in their own world.

Ju Ming felt the same way and decided to go down the mountain tomorrow.

If Ju Ming wanted something from Min Wenwei, he would definitely find ways to resolve it and make this bad old man happy. But he has nothing to ask for, so why should he stay and suffer the consequences?

Hearing that Zhu Ming had been being scolded, Tian Biao was already furious even though he didn't understand the meaning of humiliating a subject to death. However, he was clumsy in his mouth and didn't know how to help scold him back, so he just glared at him fiercely.

Bai Sheng, however, was sharp-tongued, pointing at Min Wenwei and yelling: "You are such an ignorant old scholar, what kind of person am I, Brother Zhu? If I come to this Bird Academy, I think highly of you! Even Lu Tixue said that my brother is Talented man, are you as big as Lu Tixueguan? My eldest brother can lead troops to suppress thieves. You can kill ten of them with one hand! You don’t even need Brother Zhu to do anything, but you come to quarrel with me. Who is it today? Whoever loses is the grandson!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was speechless and a little... wanted to laugh.

When a scholar encounters a soldier, he cannot explain why he is right. It is impossible for a dignified commander to quarrel with a rogue.

Min Wenwei was a little confused by the scolding. He had never experienced such an insult. And he didn't realize that he was at fault, which is how he should discipline his students. Then he shouted angrily: "Get out!"

Ju Ming was still calm and courteous. He bent down and bowed: "Although I know a little about the vocabulary, my understanding of the meaning of the classics is still shallow. When I read the Analects these days, I don't know the meaning of two sentences. I encountered them today. The mountain chief wants to ask for advice in person."

Min Wenwei suppressed his anger: "If you have any doubts, just ask."

Zhu Ming said: "I would like to ask the chief of the mountain, 'It is not a gentleman if one does not know something but is not surprised', and 'If one does not worry about others, one does not know oneself, but when one does not know others when one is worried', what is the meaning of these two sentences?"

"These two sentences come from "The Analects of Confucius·Xue Er", that is..." Min Wenwei was originally going to explain the meaning of the scriptures, but suddenly realized and sneered, "Are you using Confucius' words to teach me? Are you saying that I don't understand you? , but you scolded me as soon as we met? Saying that I don’t know how to recognize others, and at the same time, I don’t know how to know myself? You still compare yourself to a gentleman, and insinuate that I am a villain!"

"I don't dare. I just want to ask for advice." Zhu Ming bowed his hands and acted very politely.

Chen Yuan stood by and smiled silently. He thought Ju Ming was very interesting. He could quote scriptures at a young age and taught Min Wenwei a lesson.

Judging from his words and deeds just now, the sixty-year-old Academy Headmaster has been outshone by this teenage boy.

Not to mention the depth of knowledge, the main issue is the cultivation of temperament. Min Wenwei is aloof and moody, but Zhu Ming behaves humbly, politely and politely.

Zhu Ming continued to pursue and fight: "I would like to ask the mountain leader again, 'Don't vent your anger, don't make mistakes twice', how should I interpret this sentence? I learned the Analects of Confucius when I was six years old, and now I am sixteen and I can't understand it. My qualifications are really stupid, please give me some advice. The mountain chief clarified the confusion. I don’t know what the quarrel between the mountain chief and Lu Tixue is, but Lu Tixue is Lu Tixue, and the junior is the junior. It seems that it is not the behavior of a gentleman to vent his anger on others."

"good very good!"

Min Wenwei was so angry that he laughed. For most of his life, he was taught repeated lessons from "The Analects of Confucius".

Ju Ming was calling him a villain, and he didn't even use any curse words!

Zhu Ming raised his hand to Bai Chongyan again and said: "Brother Juncai, I heard that Yangzhou Academy is a place of cultural excellence, so I wanted to come here to experience it. Now I have learned that Yangzhou Academy is nothing but mediocre. The mountain chief of the academy, He is even more narrow-minded. Farewell!"

"stop!"

Min Wenwei said angrily: "Come when you want, leave when you want, what do you think this is?"

Ju Ming turned around and asked, "What else can the mountain chief teach me?"

Min Wenwei was asked by this sentence, yes, what else can he teach me?

Could it be that at such a young age, I still have to argue with young people in person? If you lose the argument, you will be disgraced; if you win the argument, there will be no benefit.

Ju Ming repeated: "May I ask if the mountain chief has any other advice?"

Chen Yuan stood up and changed the subject: "I will be giving a lecture in the academy in two days. My dear friends, would you like to listen?"

"I am a country folk. I am afraid that if I stay here for too long, I will stain the dignity of the academy." Zhu Ming said in a strange tone.

Min Wenwei said nothing. He now relied on his status and did not want to argue with a junior.

Chen Yuan smiled and said: "Haha, being knowledgeable means being noble. My little friend, you can stay and listen to a few words."