The sky is full of moonlight and the stars are shining brightly. The small town standing on the yellow sand looks quite charming under the night sky.
Because the people in the town are located in a no-nonsense area, they are self-sufficient and comfortable on weekdays.
But now because of the arrival of the escorts from the two countries, they didn't dare to make any mistakes and closed the door early to rest.
In the inn rented by Jingguo.
Looking at Zhao Kang, who still had a bruised nose and swollen face, sitting on a chair next to Ye Hongxue.
Prince Wu Guanhai suppressed his smile and said: "Master, how are you doing now after a few months of separation?"
Zhao Kang said casually: "It's okay, why does His Highness the Crown Prince want to join in the fun? Did the people from the Zhou Kingdom also invite you?"
Ye Hongxue explained: "His Highness knew that you were going, so he decided to go to Zhou Kingdom together."
Zhao Kang was speechless. How charming is he?
You are not a woman!
Wu Guanhai said softly: "This time, the State of Zhou held the Four Kingdoms Cultural Conference on the occasion of the emperor's birthday, and specially invited the Imperial Master to go there. I'm afraid there are no good intentions. The Imperial Master of the Zhou State must be careful when arriving."
"I know this, but you are the only ones here from Jingguo? Didn't Xiang Chen and other learned men follow?" Zhao Kang asked.
Wu Tianhu yawned: "Why would Chen Kai and those old foxes come to do this kind of thing? There is no benefit to winning, and it will be embarrassing to lose. Only those literati who like false fame will be interested."
Ye Hongxue hummed: "This time, His Majesty just randomly selected five Hanlin students from the Hanlin Academy to go with us."
Zhao Kang understood in his heart that things like the Four Kingdoms Literary Society were a good thing for some scholars.
Especially those scholars who think they have some knowledge, this kind of event is a good opportunity to shine!
If you can leave a lasting mark, you might be noticed by some big boss, and you might even fly up a branch and become a phoenix.
But for someone like Chen Kai, who holds a high position as prime minister in his own country and has no shortage of fame and wealth, it is meaningless.
If you accidentally capsize in the gutter, your reputation may be ruined.
"Qian Guo only sent you? That Mr. Zhang Sheng didn't come?" Ye Hongxue asked.
Wu Guanhai also became interested. Zhang Shengna was originally Zhang Zi of the Zhou Dynasty, a well-educated scholar who was known as the best scholar in the world.
Although it was placed in Zhao Kang's hands more than a year ago, no one would question the old gentleman's knowledge.
He also knew that Zhang Sheng had stayed in Qian Country since his defeat to Zhao Kang, and it seemed that he had a close relationship with Zhao Kang now.
Zhao Kang leaned his head on the table and played with the tea cup in boredom, even with his current bad appearance.
It's like a plate of pork head placed on a banquet.
He said: "The envoys of the State of Zhou wanted to invite me by name, so I didn't ask Your Majesty to send anyone else. Mr. Zhang was originally from the State of Zhou. Although he is now rooted in our country of Qian, he will definitely not be able to do so on this occasion."
He will go, but he is not interested either."
"Now I am teaching and educating people in Yuanjiang County. But when I was chatting with the old man before, I heard him talk about an academy in Zhou State."
Zhao Kang stood up and looked at the three of them: "Do you know about this?"
Wu Guanhai suddenly showed a look of fascination: "Zhou Academy is a holy place that is cherished by scholars all over the world."
Zhao Kang was a little surprised. He didn't expect Wu Guanhai to give such a high evaluation, "This academy is amazing?"
"More than that."
Ye Hongxue said: "The Academy of the State of Zhou can be said to be the foundation of the literary world of the State of Zhou. All the people in the academy are well-educated people. Those who can serve in the academy can be regarded as the great Confucians of the time."
"The scholars of Zhou are proud to be able to study in academies."
Zhao Kang joked: "How can you, a female general of Jingguo, know so clearly?"
Ye Hongxue rolled her eyes and hummed: "The academy is not a secret, so what's the fuss about? Your intelligence on other countries is too lagging behind!"
Zhao Kang touched the tip of his nose in embarrassment. Ye Hongxue was right.
I really didn't pay much attention to the intelligence work of Qi and Zhou.
At least we have been to Qi State once or twice. We are really not familiar with Zhou State this time. It seems that we need to strengthen our work in this area.
Wu Guanhai explained to Zhao Kang: "Sixty-seven out of ten civil servants in the Zhou Dynasty came from academies. The reason why Mr. Zhang Sheng was regarded as the best scholar in the world in the past was that he once broke into the academy alone and surpassed even the president of the academy.
Six people included.”
"In the end, he was defeated at the hands of the seventh person from the academy, which shocked the entire Zhou Kingdom."
Zhao Kang was surprised: "The old gentleman has ever done such a feat?"
Wu Guanhai nodded: "It is said that it happened twenty years ago. The etiquette and law system of the Zhou Dynasty was extremely strict and the concept of hierarchy was serious."
"Mr. Zhang came from a poor family, and this status was the most unwelcome in the Zhou Kingdom. At that time, he wanted to enter the academy to read the classics of sages, but was rejected because of his low status."
"So in a fit of rage, he challenged the entire academy, one against ten, and finally defeated six of them in a row. Even twenty years later, this incident is still praised by people."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that's interesting." Zhao Kang thought in his mind.
Ye Hongxue gave an instruction: "The academy is the source of the entire Zhou Kingdom's confidence. Since ancient times, literati have always looked down upon each other. Wen and martial arts are not the best, and martial arts are not the second. Those who are better than Zhang Sheng's academy may have been hostile to you for a long time."
"Since the State of Zhou has invited you, the academy will definitely send people to fight you this time. You must not be careless."
Zhao Kang hummed and said, "I'd rather know what this article will compare to."
Of course he wouldn't be afraid of poetry and articles, as he would have many beautiful articles in his mind.
But if you play some music, chess, calligraphy and painting, it would be fun.
I don’t know how many times Qin Yufeng complained about his words.
Guqin music?
That is ignorant.
Playing chess?
If it were backgammon, Zhao Kang felt that he could still give it a try.
Not to mention painting.
Zhao Kang thought that he couldn't even draw a picture of a chicken pecking at rice.
Thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved. Niang Xipi's other golden fingers had traveled through some system or other, and each one was stronger than the other.
I don’t have any crap! Damn it x!
Wu Guanhai said: "Since ancient times, the battles between literati are nothing more than nineteen lines of couplets and poems. These are the most straightforward ways to win or lose."
"But Imperial Master, even I know the eternal absolutes you used to defeat Mr. Zhang Sheng, and the people in the academy will naturally know about them. So the possibility of fighting couplets with you is unlikely."
Wu Guanhai smiled and said: "It is more likely to be poetry and articles, which is the academy's strength."
Zhao Kang nodded slightly when he heard this: "If that's the case, tsk tsk tsk. Then why don't I also do a one-on-one attack? I'll imitate Old Man Zhang and sweep through the academy!"
"Just you? Humph!"
Perhaps because the anger in his heart had not been cleared away, Ye Hongxue snorted coldly with a bit of contempt in his tone when Zhao Kang became so proud.
