"If you have anything to do with my dear son-in-law, just tell me."
When Cai Yong heard that Yuan Shu had important matters to discuss, he couldn't help but sit upright.
"Taishan, you are a great Confucian and a master of Confucian classics. I want to establish a university in Jizhou to recruit school-age young people from all over the country. At the same time, I also want to promote compulsory education in Youji and Hebei. The government will open schools to teach school-age children to read and write for free. So
I would like to ask you to step forward and take up this position of the university’s sacrificial minister.”
The university sacrificial wine mentioned by Yuan Shu is not only responsible for teaching the young people recruited by the university, but also coordinating the construction and management of schools in various places. To put it bluntly, he is equivalent to the Minister of Education under Yuan Shu.
"My dear son-in-law, you can promote compulsory education and teach school-age children for free. I thank you for this on behalf of the people of the two states."
After hearing this, Cai Yong said nothing else and bowed directly to Yuan Shu. He did this not for himself, but for the countless people in Youji and Hebei Provinces.
"It doesn't have to be this way."
Yuan Shu quickly reached out to help Cai Yong, preventing him from bowing.
"Then Taishan is willing to give me a helping hand?"
"Wonderful son-in-law, I'm old and I'm afraid I can't take on this important responsibility. You'd better find someone else."
I originally thought that Cai Yong would be happy to agree, but he shook his head slightly and chose to refuse.
"Taishan, first Lian Po went into battle in his seventies and wore armor, and then General Fubo, who was sixty and eighty years old, wrapped his body in horse leather. Now you are only fifty or eighty, and you actually say that you are old?"
However, Yuan Shu directly listed the cases of two famous Lao Ji Fufeng, hoping to provoke Cai Yong.
"Cai Yong is just a mere mortal. How can he compare with the ancient sages? When you are old, you are old. You have to accept it."
Unexpectedly, Cai Yong was not moved at all and continued to shake his head.
"Taishan, the sages are just sages, but we are living in the present. Do you think that people today must be worse than the sages? In my eyes, your ability is more than enough to even serve as a wine offering for the Imperial Academy. I am a mere university offering wine for you."
It’s just a piece of cake for me, so please don’t refuse for the sake of the students from Youji and Hebei.”
Since the method of provoking generals does not work, then there is a method of inviting generals.
"Hey, dear son-in-law, it stands to reason that you want to benefit the people and set up a school to teach school-age children for free. This is a great move for a long time. I should strongly support it.
But now I really have more than I can do. If you only ask me to teach university students and explain the scriptures to them, it’s okay. But you also want me to governor the two states schools. I really can’t do it. If it’s delayed, it will be
Turning a good thing into a bad thing.”
As soon as Cai Yong said this, Yuan Shu immediately understood what he meant.
Cai Yong rejected him for two reasons.
Firstly, he is indeed too old. Fifty-eight years old is almost the age to retire now, let alone the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The second is that the governor-general's construction of schools in the two states is a big project. If such a project is completed, it will be sent to all people. If it is messed up, it will be infamy for thousands of years.
He, Cai Yong, is already so old, and the only thing he pursues is fame, so now he would rather do nothing than do anything risky.
"It doesn't matter. Since I said that you will be the host of the university, all educational matters in Youji and Hebei Provinces will be taken care of by you, so you can call your colleagues and disciples to come here to help you take care of it.
All positions are subject to you, and I will absolutely support it unconditionally."
Yuan Shu has spent a lot of money this time. He has now put a blank check for Cai Yong to fill in. As long as it is an official position in the education system, he will let Cai Yong control it. This is such a trust.
"Xian son-in-law, please let me think about it and give you an answer."
Facing Yuan Shu's trust, Cai Yong was a little moved. After all, he had handed over the education of the two states into his own hands without any intention of retaining it.
"It's okay, I'll wait for your reply."
After Yuan Shu finished speaking, he stopped talking and closed his eyes to rest and wait for Cai Yong's answer.
Cai Yong was the same. He closed his eyes and rested his mind, and began to think about the pros and cons and whether there was a suitable person who could help him.
After drinking some tea, a smile suddenly appeared on Cai Yong's lips, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
"Taishan, do you have the answer?"
Yuan Shu also happened to open his eyes, and when he saw Cai Yong's face, he knew that it was done.
"I can accept this university offering, but there is a prerequisite."
Cai Yong nodded to Yuan Shu, indicating that he agreed to serve as an official, but there were conditions.
"What premise?"
Yuan Shu also nodded, no matter what the premise is, as long as it can be put forward, there will be a solution.
"I have long heard that a good son-in-law can bring peace to the country by taking a horse, and he can rule the country by writing a pen. The Magpie Bridge Immortal he wrote at the time of the wedding has been sung by the world. If I were to make this university sacrificial wine, I would want a poem to encourage students to study hard."
Cai Yong lightly stroked his beard, looked at Yuan Shu and smiled slightly.
"Encouragement to learn poetry?"
When he heard Cai Yong's words of encouragement to learn poetry, the first thing that came to Yuan Shu's mind were two sentences.
The book has its own beauty like jade, and the book has its own golden house!
Then the origin of this poem also appeared in his mind.
The author of this poem to encourage students to study is Zhao Heng, the Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty. This poem written by him contains too much flavor of fame and inducement.
Although in ancient times it was important to learn civil and martial arts and sell them to the emperor's family,
Cai Yong was a great Confucian of the time and a great scholar of Confucian classics. He had already paid little attention to fame and wealth. If he heard this poem of his, he would be angry to death.
This poem written by Zhao Heng is considered extremely well-known and high-end in the field of persuading students to learn. There are not many that can compare with him. If this poem cannot be used, which one should I choose?
It is true that when the book is used, it will be less regretful, and things will not be difficult until they have happened.
Yuan Shu now only regrets that he didn't memorize three hundred Tang poems and Song lyrics when he was in school, otherwise he wouldn't be in the current situation.
After searching for a while, I suddenly saw Cai Yong with silver hair, and an ancient poem couldn't help but come to mind.
"I have long heard that Master Taishan's Feibai style is unique in the world. I have admired it for a long time but have never seen it. Since you want me to write a poem, I will also boldly ask you to give me the words."
Yuan Shu looked at Cai Yong, with a hint of pride in his eyes.
"Okay, Yan'er, I'll take care of you with pen and ink."
When Cai Yong heard that Yuan Shu wanted to give him the calligraphy, he couldn't help but be stunned.
I asked you to write a poem and you still wanted me to write it for you, so he immediately called Cai Wenji in the inner room to prepare pen and ink for himself.
In a short time, all the four treasures in the study were ready. In front of Cai Yong was a large piece of white paper. This was made by Cai Lun's disciple Kong Dan after his death. It was very precious and Cai Yong would only take it out for important events.
While Cai Wenji was grinding, she tilted her little head to one side of Yuan Shu. When she saw Yuan Shu noticing her, she immediately turned her head back, in the full posture of a little girl.
"Lord Taishan, you've made a fool of yourself."
Seeing that everything was ready, Yuan Shu no longer hesitated and directly opened his mouth to prostitute the classic created by future generations.
