On the afternoon of February 17th, Kong Wang came to Gu's Mansion to visit Chen Caozhi. Kong Wang was appointed as the prince of Donghai, and he would take office soon. Kong Wang, Chen Caozhi, and Gu Kaizhi talked for an entire afternoon, and it was not just about debates.
It was just empty talk, but an exchange of knowledge and mutual reflection. The three of them cherished each other and strengthened their friendship.
Gu Kaizhi stayed with Kong Wang for dinner. After dinner, he went to the study to sit down and discussed Confucianism and Xuanxuan again. The waiter came to report that Fan Ning from Nanyang was visiting.
Kong Wang smiled and said: "Fan Wuzi is here, so I have to say goodbye."
Chen Caozhi thought that there was a rift between Kong Wang and Fan Ning, but Kong Wang was not the kind of imprudent person, so he couldn't help but be a little confused.
Kong Wang explained: "Because my name violated the name taboo of Fan Wuzi's father, Fan Wuzi always avoided me when he saw me, and he never talked to me."
Gu Kaizhi smiled and said: "I see. No wonder Fan Wuzi turned around and left when he saw you the day before yesterday, haha."
Kong Wang said: "I admire Fan Wuzi's character and knowledge, but I didn't have the chance to talk to him. But today I have a long talk with Zizhong and Changkang, and I have benefited a lot. I have no regrets! I will give up my seat to Fan Wuzi."
."
Kong Wang left and Fan Wuzi came. Fan Wuzi still frowned slightly and had a serious expression. He knelt down and said to Chen Caozhi: "The day before yesterday, the Minister of the Mainland invited me to participate in the Situ Mansion's elegant talk meeting tomorrow. I will accept Dazhongzheng at my feet."
During the assessment, I argued with my subordinates. I, Fan Wuzi, hate talking about abstruse debates, but now I am being used as a tool for talking. It is really a great ridicule. I promised Lu Shangshu that I will go to the Situ Mansion, but I will not say a word, but listen
I want to argue with you, but tonight, I want to argue with you. No matter whether I win or lose in this debate, I will never talk about mysteries again."
Chen Caozhi said with a smile: "Thank you Brother Fan for your support. If Brother Fan, a well-educated scholar with both Confucianism and Metaphysics, challenges me in the Situ Mansion tomorrow's examination, I'm afraid I will have a difficult time in the examination."
Fan Wuzi said: "Why bother to say thank you? The beauty of a gentleman is that of a mature man. Why should I make things difficult for you? Besides, I am not a person seeking fame and reputation. I have already seen your eloquence at Xie Mansion's elegant gathering."
Chen Cao said: "Brother Fan is determined to promote Confucianism. I also believe that Confucianism is the knowledge of governing the world. The inner saint and the outer king, and the implementation of benevolent government are the right ways to create peace for all generations."
Fan Wuzi raised his eyebrows, his eyes were shining brightly, and he said: "If you say so, you have no choice but to argue?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and did not answer, but looked around and said, "I like to talk while walking. Brother Fan, would you like to accompany me?"
Fan Wuzi said: "I will accompany you."
Chen Caozhi, Fan Wuzi, and Gu Kaizhi came to the back garden of Gu Mansion, walked slowly along the flower and tree path, and talked about the way of inner saint and outer king——
The theory of "inner sage and outer king" was first seen in "Zhuangzi. Tianxia Chapter" - "The sage is born, the king is accomplished, and they all originate from one." "Therefore, the way of inner sage and outer king is dark but not clear, and depressed but not
"Fa, everyone in the world can do whatever they want, so how can they do their own thing?"——
Wang Bi, the founder of Zhengshi metaphysics, broke through the barriers of Confucianism and Metaphysics and used Lao Zhuang and Zhuang Zhuang to annotate the Analects of Confucius, saying: "The sage has the virtues of heaven, so he is called the one who followed the rules of Yao. Only Yao followed the way of heaven in his time."
Dangdang is also called invisible and nameless... Therefore, it is made by nature, and the Tao is the same as nature. He rules his ministers without selfishness. Those who are evil will be punished by themselves, and those who are good will be punished by themselves. Successful achievements will not establish their reputation, and punishments will not be added.
If he is allowed to be punished, and the people do not know why, how can he be named?" This combines Confucius's "cultivate oneself to respect others", "cultivate oneself to bring peace to others", "cultivate oneself to bring peace to the people" and Zhuangzi's
The "inner saint and outer king" are connected.
Chen Caozhi and Fan Wuzi were naturally talking about the Confucian concept of "inner sage and outer king". Fan Wuzi said to Chen Caozhi that "the absence of good and evil is the body of the heart; the presence of good and evil is the movement of the will; knowing good and knowing evil
I was greatly impressed by the saying that "in order to have a conscience, to do good and to avoid evil, one must examine things", I thought this was something that the Confucian scholars had not said before, so they discussed it in detail with Chen Caozhi, unaware that it was late at night.
Hearing the third watch of the drums, Fan Wuzi thought it was time to leave.
Gu Kaizhi, who followed Fan Wuzi and Chen Caozhi around the garden path for half the night, widened his eyes and said, "Brother Fan, why don't you argue with Zi Zhong?"
Fan Wuzi said: "No more arguments. Fan Wuzi will never argue with anyone again."
Gu Kaizhi said: "Didn't you say that after arguing with Zi again, you would never talk about mystery again?"
Fan Wuzi said: "Today I have just met Qian Tang and Chen Zizhong. They are not talkative people. They should be regarded as Confucians of the generation. I am not as good as me, so how can I argue?"
Gu Kaizhi shouted: "What a pain. If I had known this, I might as well have been painting, but my feet are sore from walking here."
Fan Wuzi gave a rare smile and said: "Brother Changkang will go to Situ's Mansion tomorrow to see Brother Zizhong's wonderful argument."
…
At noon on February 18th, King Sima Yu of Kuaiji sent his chief minister Hao Ji to invite Chen Caozhi to go to Situ Mansion to take part in the assessment, and Gu Kaizhi also went with him.
Hao Ji led Chen Shang, Chen Caozhi, and Gu Kaizhi into the Situ Mansion, and walked through the side alley to the small courtyard full of small musical instruments, silk and bamboo trees. This small courtyard had been visited by Chen Cao before, and was called
Yayan Teahouse, a square room with a wide hall, can accommodate dozens of people. It seems that this is where the great Situ Sima Yu usually gathers guests to discuss mysteries.
Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, personally stood under the verandah to greet him. Wang Tanzhi, one of the ministers of Situ's mansion, introduced Chen Cao to everyone in the hall. Wang Biao, the minister's servant, also led the Xuzhou Dazhongzheng. Lu Na, the minister of Zuomin, also led the Yangzhou Dazhong.
Zhongzheng, Wang Ningzhi, the internal historian of Jiangzhou, also led the Dazhongzheng of Jiangzhou, Yuan Dan, the governor of the Situ Prefecture, also led the Dazhongzheng of Chongzhou, Yin Han Kangbo of Danyang also led the Dazhongzheng of Yuzhou, Sanqi Changshi led the author Lang Sunchuo and was the overseas Chinese Dazhongzheng of Bingzhou.
, the guard general Jiang Sixuan also led the Dazhongzheng of Jiaozhou, the governor of Guangzhou Yu Yun also led the Dazhongzheng of Guangzhou, and Wang Shu, the governor of Yangzhou, Xie Wan, the regular servant of the scattered cavalry, Huan Mi, the leader of the army, Lu Shi, the minister of the five soldiers, Zhang Ping, the imperial minister.
Gu Yuezhi, Shi Zhongcheng, Xi Chao, who joined the army in the Xifu, Shi Jia Bizhi, the commander of genealogy, and Wang Yun, the minister of official affairs. This Wang Yun was the son of Wang Meng and the brother of Queen Wang——
Also present were Zhang Mo, Zhang Andao, Fan Ning and Fan Wuzi, as well as Wang Huizhi, Yuan Tong, Zhuge Zeng, Wen Lin, and Cai Xin. What was even more strange was that there were two old monks, one from Waguan Temple.
Elder Zhu Fatai, and the other one is the eminent monk Zhu Daoqian of Shanshan Mountain. Zhu Daoqian is over seventy years old, and his beard and hair are all white——
Following Wang Tanzhi's introduction, Chen Caozhi bowed and saluted everyone one by one. When he walked to Lu Shi, Lu Na returned the courtesy, but Lu Shi was arrogant and rude. Chen Caozhi's face remained as usual and he was still polite.
, those present secretly praised Chen Caozhi and disapproved of Lu Shi's arrogance.
When Chen Caozhi and Xie Wan met, they saw a person sitting behind Xie Wan, wearing a towel and applying powder. It was Xie Daoyun.
It evoked a smile, how could she miss such a wonderful debate event!
It was nearly two and a half years later that Chen Caozhi met Xie Daoyun again. The day before yesterday, he only heard his voice but not his person in Xie's mansion. But now he saw the familiar Zhu Yingtai, and he couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
, his eyes turned to Xie Daoyun's face, and he felt that Brother Yingtai's appearance had become a little thinner, and his chin was pointed -
Zhu Fatai, the elder of Waguan Temple, saw Chen Caozhi and said with a smile: "Chen Tanyue, the old monk hopes to see the mural of the Eight Heavenly Dragons as soon as possible."
Chen Cao said: "We must form a good relationship."
Zhu Daoqian said to Chen Cao: "Senior Brother Zhimindu often told the old monk that Chen Tanyue possesses wisdom and can understand Buddhism wonderfully. Today, the old monk can ask Chen Tanyue face to face for advice on the wonderful truth of truth."
Chen Cao said: "How dare you, how dare you, the master has defeated the young man."
Xi Chao smiled and said: "Today, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are all asking Chen Zizhong questions. If Zizhong does not fully demonstrate what he has learned in his life, I am afraid he will be in danger."
King Sima Yu of Kuaiji laughed loudly after hearing this.
The eight governors were all talented debaters with both Confucianism and Metaphysics. Among them, Han Kangbo and Sun Chuo were the most famous. There were also rising stars Fan Wuzi, Wang Huizhi, and two Samana wise men. Such a grand gathering was not a surprise even for the Situ Mansion.
Rare to see.
Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, obviously liked such a scene and atmosphere very much. He sat on the Hu bed, waved his tail and said: "Today, it can be said that all the virtuous people have gathered, and the young and old leaders have gathered together -" He said to Sun Chuo from a distance: "Xing Gong, in those days Lanting
An elegant gathering cannot be as grand as this."
Sun Chuo was nearly fifty years old, and he was still very handsome. He said loudly: "If you are prosperous, you will be prosperous, but there are still regrets."
Sima Yu asked: "What regrets do you have?"
Sun Chuo said: "If Lord Zhi and Wang Youjun are here, there will be no regrets."
People in the audience said yes one after another, Zhi Gongxuanbian was the first, and Wang Youjun was charming and charming. Without these two people, it would be difficult to call the event a grand event.
Sima Yu also sighed and said: "Young Master Yi has gone to Jingkou. I sent someone to invite you the day before yesterday, but the waiter Yun Zhigong is studying Buddhism and can't come."
Lu Shi couldn't stand this kind of leisure and leisure, and said bluntly: "King Kuaiji, today is to test whether Chen Caozhi has real talent and practical knowledge, not just a gathering of elegant talks. If Chen Caozhi is a person who is just trying to gain fame, he should be expelled from his scholar status.
This assessment should have a solemn and solemn atmosphere."
Sima Yu smiled and said: "I am well aware of Chen Cao's talent. This assessment is just for you to have a look at it. It has nothing to do with the Chen family's scholar status. The Chen family in Qiantang came from Yingchuan and returned to the scholar class two years ago."
membership."
Lu Shidao: "I dare to ask the King of Kuaiji. Since there are assessments, there are promotions and demotions. What if Chen Caozhi fails to pass the assessment?"
Sima Yu obviously didn't think that Chen Cao would fail the examination. Since Lu Shi asked this question, he had to deal with it and said, "According to Lu Shangshu's opinion, what should I do?"
Lu Shidao: "If Chen Caozhi fails to pass the examination, he will be ordered to return to his hometown immediately and will not be able to serve in office for the rest of his life."
Sima Yu said displeasedly: "Isn't that too much?"
Yu Yun, the governor of Guangzhou and the Dazhongzheng of the state, said: "In the initial examination for the six surnames to become a scholar, Chen Caozhi was unable to attend because of his mother's death. King Kuaiji was particularly gracious and allowed him to go to Beijing for the examination after the mourning period expired. King Kuaiji also said
Chen Caozhi said that if he failed to pass the examination, he would be expelled from the official status. Since the king of Kuaiji was benevolent and did not want to raise the matter of official status, then what Lu Shangshu said was not unfair. Otherwise, wouldn't this evaluation be a game? Chen Caozhi
How can I fully display my talents and learning when I have no worries?"
Yu Yun is Yu Xi's younger brother. Three years ago, Yu Xi was so angry with Chen Cao that he fell ill and his reputation was damaged. How long will it take if Yu Yun doesn't take this opportunity to suppress Chen Cao Zhi?
