Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 248: It’s getting fierce! Two children under ten years old are debating Confucian and Taoist classics?

The next morning, the already crowded West Market became even more lively.

The people of Chang'an City who came to watch the excitement came from all directions and headed towards the stage built by the newspaper. Soon, countless spectators gathered at the stage.

Liu Mu clenched his fists with excitement. So many people came today!

Once these little guys become famous, the entire Shannan Province will be honored!
Looking back at the little guys, Liu Mu showed the most gentle smile on his face, "Are you nervous?"

The children looked at Liu Mu suspiciously, as if they didn't quite understand what he meant.

Liu Mu pointed at the arena and said, "You will go up there and discuss academic matters with the students from Chang'an City. Are you afraid of so many people watching you?"

At this moment, a dozen or so children all showed timidity on their faces.

After all, he came from a small place and had never seen the big world. What's more, at a glance, there were no less than ten thousand spectators around the arena.

With so many pairs of eyes and faces staring at them, how could they not be nervous?
"School officer, I want to go home."

"..."

Liu Mu's mouth twitched.

Like a magician, he took out the sugar man he had prepared long ago from his sleeve and shook it in front of the students.

For an instant.

All these people's attention was drawn over there.

Liu Mu said cheerfully: "Do you want the candy man in my hand? Do you want to taste what it tastes like?"

"Hmm."

The little guys nodded their heads one by one.

Liu Mu continued, "When you go up, treat all these people as pumpkins. Don't pay any attention to them. As long as you treat every Chang'an student who comes up to the stage seriously, I can guarantee you that there will be a candy man for everyone!"

"Don't lie!"

"Hook!"

"If you lie, you'll turn into a puppy!"

"..."

I am a dignified scholar in Shannan Province, but I...

call.

Liu Mu took a deep breath, smiled gently and stretched out his little finger.

After getting the recognition from the little ones, Liu Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

Mother.

It’s more tiring than coaxing my son!

"uncle."

Xu Qizhuang walked over with a smile, "Everything is ready downstairs, we can go over."

Liu Mu looked over and said, "It seems that not many students are coming?"

Xu Qizhuang: “Yes, there will be.”

Liu Mu nodded. After all, this was an academic competition organized by Shannan Province to Chang'an City. If there was not even one student in Chang'an City who dared to take the initiative to come forward and communicate, wouldn't Chang'an City lose all its face?

Liu Mu, along with a dozen students, leisurely walked out of the restaurant and, under the protection of a group of guards, came to the arena.

Xu Qizhuang smiled and took a step back, giving the stage to Liu Mu.

Even though Liu Mu was knowledgeable and experienced, he couldn't help but feel excited when facing tens of thousands of eyes.

"I am Liu Mu, the academic official of Shannan Dao, nice to meet you all."

"Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince promoted the enlightenment plan, not only are Cui Junsu and the other two from Boling teaching students new knowledge, but we also have people in Shannan Road studying this."

"I heard that Cui Junsu and his two teachers brought 500 students to Chang'an City to verify their studies. I, a student from Shannan Road, couldn't wait any longer, so I came here to ask for advice."

"If my students from Shannan Road win by chance, it will be enough to prove that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's enlightenment plan is amazing. If my students from Shannan Road lose..."

"That makes sense."

Liu Mu said, "After all, Shannan Road is not like Chang'an City. There are many great scholars there, so their contribution to education is naturally incomparable."

"However, since they are interested in coming here to seek advice, I, Liu Mu, as a school official, naturally cannot sit idly by and dampen their enthusiasm for learning."

"I wonder if the students in Chang'an City are willing to discuss academic matters with our students in Shannan Road?"

The academic official of Shannan Road?

Is this the student who came to Chang'an City to make a name for himself with his enlightenment?
After listening to Liu Mu's story, many people looked at Liu Mu with a bit more hostility.

Cui Junsu and his men were ordered to come to Chang'an City. What about you? Are you here to join in the fun?
"No wonder I felt that this person looked familiar. It turns out that he is the school officer from Shannan Road."

Wei Zheng stroked his beard and smiled, "It's interesting. This man brought the enlightenment students from Shannan Road to Chang'an City to verify their studies. I'm afraid many people can't help but want to give it a try."

Gao Shilian: "The conditions offered by the newspaper are also very tempting."

Changsun Wuji: "Regardless of how the students behind him are doing in their studies, after this incident, the enlightenment and promotion of Shannan Road will surely be extremely smooth."

Fang Xuanling: "Liu Mu's name will spread throughout the Tang Dynasty."

"By the way, this person seems to be a member of the Liu clan?"

Gao Shilian nodded, "Yes, this person is indeed a member of the Liu family. However, the Liu family did not participate in this enlightenment plan."

"Now I am taking this opportunity to verify my studies with many students in Chang'an City. This can be regarded as indirectly helping the crown prince."

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "No matter what, the merit of this education will be snatched away by Shannan Dao."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Wei Zheng and others nodded repeatedly.

Not to mention anything else, the fact that Liu Mu brought these students to Chang'an City to verify their academic achievements would naturally be noticed by the prince.

Moreover, as the first person to support the prince, how could the prince not give him credit for his education?

"I heard that you asked for some reward when competing with the students from Shannan Road. Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"That's right, you're not going to take the reward from the newspaper, are you?"

"You all misunderstood."

Liu Mu smiled and waved his hand, "Of course there are rewards, and it's not just the 100 taels of silver from the newspaper. I'm also willing to give out some books, calligraphy and paintings as a prize for this competition."

Liu Mu turned his gaze to Xu Qizhuang, who smiled and nodded. He waved his hand, and a waiter came onto the stage carrying a tray full of silver, scrolls, and books.

Liu Mu: "Please look, everyone, this silver is prepared by the newspaper, and these calligraphy and paintings, books, etc., are prepared by me."

"Since it is to verify academic achievements, there are naturally requirements."

"As everyone knows, the enlightenment program has only been implemented for about half a year. Although these children in Shannan Road have good talents, the time is too short after all."

"So, there are three things that people who want to compete on stage are not allowed to do."

"First, no one from the Kong family is allowed to participate in this competition. Second, no students from the Cui family are allowed to participate. Third, no students over the age of ten are allowed to participate."

Good guy.

These three prohibitions are really strong.

Gao Shilian stroked his beard and smiled, "Let's see. I said that since they have come up with this trick, they will definitely not let the Kong family and the Cui family ruin the overall situation."

Wei Zheng and others smiled and nodded.

With these three conditions, those who have made careful preparations have been excluded.

"You, a student of Shannan Dao, are no good. You are not allowed to do this or that. What is the point of the competition?"

"That's right, just go home!"

"From what I see, you are afraid of losing, right?"

Liu Mu cupped his hands and said, "The students brought by the Kong family have already proven their abilities in the court, far surpassing the students taught by the Cui family."

"Although I have learned Pinyin and enlightened these students, they are still not as good as the students taught by the Cui family. What's the point of them coming up to compete?"

"Secondly, the students taught by the Cui family have studied for a longer time than the students of Shannan Road, so there is naturally no comparison."

"As for why it has to be under ten years old, that's obvious."

Liu Mu pointed at the students behind him and said, "Everyone can take a look. Among these students from Shannan Road, is there any one over ten years old?"

The dissenting voices in the crowd gradually died down after Liu Mu's clear and logical rebuttal.

However, they wanted to try again.

Lu Chengsi winked at one of his men, who shouted, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is going to fully promote the Enlightenment Program, which is enough to show how powerful the Enlightenment Program is. How dare you belittle yourselves like this? Could it be that the Enlightenment Program is not working?"

Liu Mu smiled slightly, "Do you want to come up and try it?"

"..."

"If you are deliberately making trouble, are you trying to sabotage the Crown Prince's enlightenment promotion plan? Or are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the people of the world?"

When this big hat was put on, Lu Chengsi's face turned black.

Kong Shaoxin whispered: "This Liu Mu is deliberately making things difficult for us!"

Lu Chengsi: "Once it succeeds, it will be their political achievement. Do you think he will give in?"

Kong Shaoxin looked at the students and asked, "Do you think they can do it?"

Lu Chengsi: "Don't you forget how we selected the students we brought here? How come there are so many child prodigies in Chang'an City?"

Kong Shaoxin sighed and shook his head silently.

Without a prodigy, it would be very difficult to defeat these students.

"Besides..." Lu Chengsi gritted his teeth and said, "Don't you think these students look familiar?"

Look familiar?

Kong Shaoxin frowned and looked over, his pupils suddenly shrank, "They seem to be..."

"Yes, those who were eliminated by us!"

"Into your mother!"

Kong Shaoxin couldn't help but curse, "How did they do that?"

Lu Chengsi: “I don’t know.”

Kong Shaoxin looked at Lu Chengsi suspiciously, "You have accepted a lot of gold, silver and jewelry from Su Chen before..."

"That's because he wants to marry my daughter, Lu!"

"hehe!"

Kong Shao's new appearance is smiling but his inner self is not.

……

"You're not comparing this or that, but you're only comparing us to the students in Chang'an City. This is nothing but looking down on the students in Chang'an City!"

"If I weren't so old, I would definitely go up and show you what it means to be crushed!"

"Are all the students in Chang'an City so incapable of taking on important tasks?"

"They have already reached our Chang'an City, but there is not a single student of the right age to fight?"

The scholars and the onlookers, under the influence of some people with ulterior motives, could not help but discuss in low voices.

For a time, pressure was put on many enlightenment students in Chang'an City.

These students were not very old to begin with, and were brought here by many teachers to join in the fun. Now, looking at the people around them, who were all looking at them expectantly, they felt a little scared.

It seemed as if they would throw themselves up in the next second.

At this time, a boy who was no more than ten years old walked onto the stage step by step and steadily.

Seeing someone walking up to the stage, the people watching couldn't help but burst into cheers.

"That boy... seems to be Shao Yiren's grandson?"

"Yes, his name seems to be Shao Lin."

Gao Shilian nodded, "Shao Yiren resigned yesterday, and the prince agreed. Today, he came to join in the fun of the competition."

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "If that's the case, there's a chance that Lu Hui and the others are hiding in the dark with their children and watching."

"Probably."

"Let's see. After all, Shao Lin has been with Shao Yiren since he was a child. His academic performance is naturally good. I wonder if he can compare with these students."

"Let's make a bet?"

"No gambling."

Wei Zheng simply shook his head and rejected Fang Xuanling's proposal.

Fang Xuanling shook his head and laughed, "You're afraid that I'll win all your private money, right?"

Wei Zheng squinted his eyes and said, "I went to see the prince yesterday and won a thousand taels of silver. Are you envious?"

Fang Xuanling: “???”

"How could you, an old man, not take me with you..."

"here we go."

Gao Shilian coughed, interrupting their argument.

In the arena.

Shao Lin introduced himself, "My name is Shao Lin. I have studied hard since I was young. I have memorized 300,000 books on enlightenment, and I have also read some Confucian classics."

"I wonder how the academic officer plans to test you?"

Liu Mu waved his hand, "It's not me who's testing you, it's up to you to verify it yourself."

After saying that, Liu Mu stepped aside.

A dozen students looked at each other, and finally a dark-skinned and short student came out and said, "My name is Lin Changqing, nice to meet you, brother."

"Grandpa always said, respect the old and love the young. I see you are younger than me, so you can set the questions."

"Thank you, brother."

Lin Changqing cupped his hands and said thoughtfully, "Why don't I say something and you reply?"

"it is good!"

"Recipe, Shining."

"When a son marries, he should be a good match for his family."

"When a son marries, give him a hundred taels of silver."

"...?"

Shao Lin frowned. He actually said the next sentence first. After thinking for a moment, Shao Lin gave the answer: "The magpie has a nest, and the dove lives in it."

"When fishing nets are set up, wild geese will fly away from them."

"Yan Wan's request was rewarded with this favor."

Shao Lin finished his next sentence and said, "I've given you three moves. It's my turn."

incredible.

Whose child is this?
Liu Mu looked at Shao Lin in surprise. He was able to match Lin Changqing's excerpt from the Book of Songs exactly. He was definitely not an ordinary person!

Shao Yiren had a smile on his face, and Lu Hui and the other person beside him also spoke with a smile.

"Congratulations, Lord Shao, on having such a virtuous grandson."

"Where are we now?"

Shao Yiren waved his hand and said with some pride: "It has just begun. It depends on whether the boy can handle Shao Lin's questions."

Lu Hui: “I don’t think it’s possible.”

"They are just beginning their education. How can they compare to Shao Lin, who has studied hard since childhood?"

"That's it."

……

"Shao Yiren has a good grandson."

"It's really good."

"The boy surnamed Lin picked out a short sentence from the Book of Songs, and he completed it word for word, which shows how familiar they are with the Book of Songs."

Wei Zheng pulled his beard and said, "Are these two young men really just enlightenment students? I always feel something is weird!"

Gao Shilian nodded, "Compared to the students brought by the Kong family, they are no worse."

"Let's see, I wonder if Shao Lin's question can stump Lin Changqing."

……

"Brother, please give me some questions."

"The Master said: If a man is not benevolent, what is the use of propriety? If a man is not benevolent, what is the use of music?"

"If a person does not have a benevolent heart, what is the use of observing etiquette? If a person does not have a benevolent heart, what is the use of playing music?"

"Mencius said: Those who speak near but point to far are good speakers; those who keep promises and give generously are good at the Way; the words of a gentleman do not go below the belt and the Way exists; a gentleman's principles are to cultivate himself and the world will be at peace; people are sick and give up their fields to cultivate other people's fields; what you ask of others is important, but what you take on yourself is not important."

"Words that advance in meaning are good words, and conduct that is simple but has great effects is good Tao. The words of a gentleman talk about simple things at any time, but the Tao is in them. The conduct of a gentleman starts with self-cultivation and can eventually bring peace to the world. The most frightening thing for a person is to give up his own fields and work for others. It is very heavy to ask others, but the burden on oneself is very light!"

"..."

The onlookers around the ring looked in amazement at the two little guys who were talking on the stage.

Some were incredulous, others looked bewildered.

Some people kept scratching their hair, but I couldn't understand a word they said.

"It's getting fiercer, it's getting fiercer."

"I actually saw two enlightenment children under the age of ten, testing each other on the Analects and Mencius?"

"Are they really just getting enlightened?!"

"If they are just enlightened, what are we?"

"Brother, please don't take me with you."

"..."

……

"One more question."

Shao Lin's face was serious. It was hard to imagine that the young man in front of him, who looked ordinary, actually had such knowledge.

Even among the many young men in Chang'an City, he is rare!
"If you answer correctly, we're tied this time."

"it is good."

"Heng! A gentleman has an end!"

(End of this chapter)