Film and TV: Starting from the Night Watchman of Dafeng

Chapter 14: It's not luck, it's literary luck

Imperial Palace, a side hall

Unlike other palaces that are either majestic or exquisite, this place is quiet and simple.

"Your Majesty, Minister Huang has already left."

An old eunuch reported with his head lowered.

On the finest golden nanmu couch, a man in a Taoist robe slowly opened his eyes, paused for a moment, and nodded slightly.

The old eunuch kowtowed and took his leave.

After the old eunuch left, Yuan Jingcai suddenly opened his eyes, "Debate, Wei An."

...

Taiming Pond, Polo Field

"屮!"

"That bastard Dai Yuanzhang has his eyes and his head bulged! He's blocking me from entering, I'll kick him out!"

"He's lucky he wasn't kicked to death!"

"... "

The senior students in the academy swept away their past ills and spoke with a sweet fragrance as if their mouths were filled with poison.

The target was a dormitory head of the Imperial College who stopped people in front of the entrance to the polo field.

Xu Xinnian and Zhou Fu looked at each other and chuckled.

The two were lucky enough to see this happening when they arrived, and then they came in with their senior from the academy.

Xu Xinnian glanced at a few places casually, and they were all well-known figures.

"It's been a long time. When was the last time there was such a grand event?"

"It was a hundred years ago, how would I know?"

"... "

The seniors sighed.

Yunlu Academy hasn't been on the table for a long time.

The two newbies followed behind, listening attentively, with natural and generous manners, but their mentality was like quails.

"Xu Cijiu, you came in too."

A rather arrogant voice suddenly broke in.

He looked at her with a frown, without waiting for her to speak.

"roll."

The senior student in front tilted his head slightly and praised the man with a word indifferently and generously.

The latter's face changed and turned red in an instant. After his companions whispered nervously and anxiously in his ear, his anger subsided rapidly, and finally he bowed helplessly to the senior from Yunlu Academy.

Xu Xinnian frowned.

cool.

"Brother Wang, long time no see."

"This is Xu Cijiu, a disciple of Zhang Ru, who has inherited Zhang Ru's true teachings."

"Haha, I'll come to ask for advice some other day."

"... "

"Brother Qian!"

"... "

"How dare you, a lousy chess player like you, invite me to play chess?"

"Don't worry, we're family. Why would I talk down to you in front of outsiders? This is Zhang Ru's disciple, Xu Cijiu, and this is Li Ru's disciple, Zhou Fuyun."

"... "

Under the guidance of their senior, Xu Xinnian and Zhou Fuyun got to know many people whom they had only been able to admire from afar before.

There are sons of royal families and nobles, and descendants of scholars.

The only ones missing were children of officials.

"Qu Weian."

Just as Fang separated from a young man from a noble family, a voice came straight to Xu Xinnian and his group.

Qu Jin and Qu Weian were the seniors from the academy who had always taken him and Zhou Fuyun to see the world.

I saw a group of people coming from the side, pushing through the crowd.

Xu Xinnian immediately picked out the guy who was "arrogant at first but respectful later" from the group of people.

Qu Jin also saw it and couldn't help laughing, "How can you be so grown up and still cry to your elders?"

After saying that, he looked at Liu Song again, "How is it? Any advice?"

Liu Song frowned, "Qu Weian, don't think that just because a peasant from the countryside came up with a few heretical theories, your Yunlu Academy can turn things around."

Qu Jin was not affected at all and said calmly, "Liu Weizhong, you were among those who surrounded Master Wei yesterday, right? You behave like a mean person, so you will never be able to enter the rank."

The truth is the most heartbreaking!
The Imperial College does not cultivate the Confucian system. This is the result of a certain traitor's attempt to cut ties with Yunlu.

Liu Song's expression changed immediately. He restrained himself and said coldly, "You have the nerve to call yourself a master when you are a dozen years younger than me. Yunlu Academy is simply at the end of its rope!"

"Not up to standard."

"Today's debate will make that peasant show his true colors!"

"Not up to standard."

"you…"

When Liu Song was about to give up, there was a sudden commotion among the crowd.

"I'm coming."

A group of people entered the flat and wide stands of the polo field. There were young people as well as old men with gray hair and beards. Their clothes were neither simple nor luxurious, and their arrogance could not be concealed in their brows and behavior.

"It would be fine if the Imperial College's chief academic officer came, but why is Minister Huang here too?"

"What do you know? Even a lion fighting a rabbit must use all its strength."

"Brother, you misunderstood. Mr. Huang is eighty-four years old now. I'm worried that he won't be able to bear the anger and collapse on the stage. That wouldn't be pretty."

"You...you are from the Cloud Deer family?"

"Ridiculous! When are the scholars in Dafeng either from the Imperial College or the Yunlu Academy? I am a student of the Dongchuan Academy!"

"... "

As the sun rose higher, the group from the Imperial College sat for a while.

Yunlu Academy is still not here yet.

"Could it be that he's running away because he's afraid of the fight? After all, this little kid..."

Before some of the people in the crowd could finish their words, figures appeared on one side of the stands: Zhao Shou, Zhang Shen, Chen Tai, Li Mubai, Xin Shan, two old gentlemen Yu Gong and Fu Hai, and Wei An was not at the end of the team, but beside the teacher.

"Your literary courage will be tempered through the debate today. It would be even better if you could comprehend some of the noble spirit." Chen Tai said with a relaxed expression.

Yesterday at the academy, Wei An told him that when he had an appointment with the Imperial College for a debate today, it was not like this.

Chen Tai was reluctant to say anything harsh to the student. He was so angry that he was speechless for a long time. Finally, he said, "It's too reckless."

After Wei An finished explaining the system of psychology in detail, he smiled happily.

"Youping, underestimating the enemy is a big taboo in military strategy." Zhang Shen said.

Chen Tai stroked his beard indifferently.

Wei An took the scolding for his teacher, "It's the students who saved it."

"Okay, once you're on the stage, just stay calm and don't worry about anything else. We'll take care of everything." Zhao Shou, who was walking in the front, stopped before going up to the stands and instructed Wei An.

The teachers and other teachers all looked at him.

Expectations, encouragement, support...

Wei An was silent for a moment, "Thank you, Dean, thank you, teachers, and gentlemen."

"Come on, you go on stage first."

Chen Tai patted his arm.

Wei An straightened his back, straightened his Yunlu Academy student uniform, and took three steps. With each step, his willpower rose.

"Finally we met."

"This can be considered a major event in Confucianism over the past century."

"Why not? It's a new theory. The last one was a hundred years ago."

"... "

The stands at the polo field were not high, even lower than half a person, but many people looked up with anticipation in their eyes.

Thoughts have been confined for too long!
"This is Mr. Qin Zheng, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College."

"Meet the chief priest."

"This is Mr. Huang."

"I've met Mr. Huang."

"Brother Wei, Zhang Yanzhi has long admired your name."

"Brother Wei, Zhang Hong."

"Brother Wei, I'm Zhang Qi."

"Three..."

"Three brothers from the same family." "..."

Greetings are an essential part of a relationship.

Xu Xinnian looked at Wei An who was exchanging greetings with Qin Jijiu, Huang Laoqu, San Zhang and others on the stage. He was happy before because Qu Jin introduced him to some great people and celebrities whom he would have difficulty in contacting normally.

At this moment, I feel complicated.

Compared to himself, this student who had only been enrolled for a month was so far ahead of him.

Still need to work hard, Xu Cijiu.

Wei An's greetings to the three Zhangs were relatively polite, while Zhao Shou and the others were just going through the motions with the old guys from the Imperial College, leaving no doubt that if these people made eye contact for even a moment, they would start fighting the next moment.

"Silence."

Zhao Shouming was just speaking normally, but his voice could be heard throughout the polo field.

The dean's gaze fell on the front. Even though the whole room was silent, he paused deliberately. He glanced at Qin Zheng and Mr. Huang and said, "Now that everyone is here, let's begin."

No dragging, straight to the point.

Zhang Qi, one of the three Zhangs, stood up first, walked to the middle of the two groups, bowed to Wei An, and said in a clear voice, "The ancient sages believed that 'the principles of heaven are the great principles of the people's customs. They are manifested in the Three Bonds and enshrined in the Five Constant Virtues.' What do you think, Brother Wei?"

Use the ultimate move right from the start!

Let’s talk about the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues!
I'm afraid you have a lot of bad intentions waiting for you.

Under everyone's gaze, Wei An stood up, slowly walked between the two parties, and uttered two words, "Approved."

Zhang Qi was obviously stunned.

It's not that he didn't have any expectations, but he didn't expect Wei An to "kneel" so quickly.

"In that case, Brother Wei, how can you say that human desires are the laws of nature?" Zhang Qi asked with a smile.

"Brother Nian, what do you think is human desire?" Wei An did not answer, but asked instead.

"The ancient sages said it clearly, 'The human heart is human desire; the heart of Tao is the principle of heaven.'" Zhang Qi said loudly, and glanced at Wei An with an expression that said, "You don't even know this."

Wei An chuckled.

Many people in the audience smiled knowingly.

What made many people believe in Wei An's two sentences was not the sentences themselves, but the process of Wei An proving that "the mind is the reason". It was wonderful to defeat Cheng Hui with Cheng Hui's words.

"Brother Nian, please tell me, are people's eating, drinking, defecating, and urinating human desires, or are they natural laws? Are they human nature, or are they the heart of Tao?"

Zhang Qi was speechless.

He also reacted quickly, "Why not Brother Wei answer my question first."

Many people in the audience shook their heads.

It's really ugly!

The little trick in his mind was already laid out on the table.

The Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues...

Wei An tutted his words, "I thought Brother Nian had put a lot of effort into what I said to Mian Yangting, but I didn't expect him to ask me to answer again. I've made it clear that people have only one heart and no two hearts. The laws of nature are the same as human desires."

He seemed to be giving some traitor some dignity, but in fact he was pulling that traitor out and giving him a good beating.

"So, money, sex, fame, food and sleep are all natural laws?" Zhang Qi asked with a sneer.

"Why not? How can people not eat? If ordinary people don't make money, how can they survive?" Wei An also asked in return.

"In your eyes, Brother Wei, crimes like rape and looting are also the law of nature?" Zhang Qi asked again.

"How can that be? This is selfish desire."

"Then Brother Wei said that the laws of nature are human desires?"

“Private desires are not human desires, but desires that go beyond human desires.”

"you…"

Zhang Qi was speechless, the battle failed!
"In that case, people have all kinds of selfish desires in their hearts. Why do you, Brother Wei, say that the human heart is the heart of Tao?" Zhang Yanzhi stood up and took over the battle.

Wei An smiled and said, "This is simple. Let me give you an example."

"There was an old woman in the countryside. She was old and sick, and had been bedridden for a long time. Her second son worked in the fields, but he didn't earn much. He waited by her bedside every day, serving her tea and water, boiling medicine and washing clothes. The eldest son was sociable, loved to eat and drink lavishly, and was fond of gambling. He only cared about his own happiness and never served his mother."

"One day, the old woman fell seriously ill and needed a large sum of money to hire a doctor for treatment. The second son did not have enough money, so the eldest son took out his savings in time to save his mother."

"The eldest son's love of gambling and extravagant eating and drinking is selfish. Using his savings to save his mother is filial piety and the law of nature."

"Selfish desires can obscure the human heart. When the human heart is free of these selfish desires, it becomes the heart of Tao. Therefore, it is said that the heart is the principle."

"Brother Wei is truly an eloquent man." Zhang Yanzhi sighed in mock deception, then said, "According to what Brother Wei said, it is only natural for evil thieves who kill and rob people to use their earnings to support their parents."

Wei An was stunned and said nothing.

This is too abrupt.

Seeing him silent, Zhang Yanzhi thought he was making things difficult for Wei An and was about to press on when Wei An opened his mouth and said, "Brother Nian, can't you tell the difference between good and evil?"

Without giving him a chance to respond, Wei An continued, "There is no good or evil in the body, but there are good and evil intentions in the actions. Knowing good and evil is conscience, and doing good and eliminating evil is the study of things."

This is not a way to define good and evil.

but…

The people in the audience repeated it silently.

Qin Zheng and others on the stage were also secretly savoring it.

Zhao Shou, Chen Tai and others who knew about it earlier were all smiling at this moment.

"Since truth is in our hearts, why do we need to read books? All truths can be found in our hearts!"

Zhang Yanzhi kept asking questions.

Your mind works really fast.

Fortunately, he was well prepared.

Wei An shook his head. "That's not right. For example, many people know that they should be filial to their fathers and respectful to their brothers, but their selfish desires cloud their understanding and they don't know how to act."

He stepped forward and raised his voice. "Knowledge and action: knowledge is the beginning of action, action is the completion of knowledge. Knowing without action is simply not knowing. The true and solid knowledge is action, the clear and discerning action is knowledge. The way of the sage is that my nature is self-sufficient, seeking nothing from outside. With this bright mind, what else is there to seek?"

The way of a sage is that my nature is self-sufficient and I do not need to seek help from outside!

With a bright heart, what else can I ask for?
Some people in the audience had just broken away from the previous four sentences and started to listen to the next two sentences.

The sound of metal and stone is deafening!
After a while, tears flashed in the eyes of those people as they looked up.

"Master Wei!"

"Master Wei! Please accept me as your disciple!"

"I have no regrets in my life because I have learned from Master Wei."

"... "

When the first person shouted, the cars behind him could no longer stop.

The result of this debate is self-evident.

Some people who graduated from the Imperial College still want to struggle.

Suddenly a clear light fell from the sky!

It formed a column of clear light and poured directly onto Wei An!
"Is this...luck?" Chen Tai was stunned.

He was confused because he felt that the meaning of this clear light was not right.

"It's not luck, it's literary luck!" Zhao Shou was obviously more knowledgeable. He stood up and told Chen Tai and the others, "You guys keep an eye on him. I'll be back soon."

Before leaving, he glanced at Qin Zheng and Mr. Huang.

"Let's go."

Qin Zheng stood up, helped Mr. Huang who was standing beside him, and said to Zhang Yanzhi.

"Teacher, I'm not defeated yet!"

Zhang Yanzhi gritted his teeth.

He looked at Wei An, who was bathed in literary fortune, and jealousy and resentment grew in his heart.

"Just lose, but don't lose your composure." Mr. Huang said calmly, his old face showing no emotion.

Zhang Yanzhi was helpless, and the others left unwillingly.

...

now
Yunlu Academy, Houshan Confucian Temple

Zhao Shou's figure emerged.

Coincidentally, I just saw the last ray of light floating out from the trembling Confucian Temple and flying into the distance.

...

Guozijian

"Don't be discouraged. From now on, you should study his theories carefully. He has studied Chengxue for ten years, and you are still not as good as him?"

Qin Zheng said something comforting and walked a long way with Mr. Huang until they arrived in front of a statue.

The two looked at the statue.

After a long while, Qin Zheng lowered his head. When he looked up again, tears filled his face. "It's gone, it's gone. The decades of achievements of our ancestors have been thrown away by our unfilial descendants."

Mr. Huang also had tears in his eyes, but he said nothing.

...

Imperial Palace, Side Hall

Emperor Yuan Jing, who was meditating, felt something and suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)