fake gentry

Gu He's gaze lingered on Xie Hong's face for a moment.

"While Xie Langjun's three questions convinced Master Zhu, there was also a hint of taking shortcuts."

The audience fell silent immediately.

Who is Gu He?

The Gu family of Wu County, Gu Rong's nephew, was the leading Confucian scholar among the Jiangnan gentry. In terms of Confucian scholarship, Xie Kun might not be able to match him.

Now he's going to personally confront a sixteen-year-old boy.

"Since Young Master Xie is called a member of the Xie family, and the Xie family has passed down Confucianism, he must be well-versed in the classics. I must ask him."

Xie Hong cupped his hands in greeting: "Please ask, Master Gu."

"That's good then." Gu He nodded. "Just now, Young Master Xie answered Magistrate Luo's question, saying that he had also read the Four Books and Five Classics, the Book of Changes, and Laozi and Zhuangzi. What are the Four Books and Five Classics?"

A low commotion suddenly arose from the audience.

The young scholars and prominent figures all looked at Xie Hong.

What is the meaning of the Four Books and Five Classics?

The Confucian classics have always consisted of only the Six Classics.

The Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Music, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals.

The Book of Music was destroyed during the Qin Dynasty's burning of books, so the Imperial Academy Doctors of this dynasty only taught the Five Classics: the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. Where did the Four Books come from?

Gu He's question, though seemingly simple, was clearly intended to nail Xie Hong to the pillar of shame in Confucianism.

Are you kidding me? You, Xie Hong, a mere sixteen-year-old boy, dare to arbitrarily define the meaning of Confucian classics?

Even though metaphysics is popular now, Confucianism is still the foundation for governing a country.

The powerful aristocratic families controlled the prestigious and high-ranking positions in the court, seemingly living carefree lives. But which of their appointed officials wasn't a Confucian scholar? The reason they could live such carefree lives was entirely due to their subordinates bearing the burdens of the court.

Xi Zhong and Ge Hong's expressions changed slightly.

Gu He's question seemed simple but was actually dangerous. If Xie Hong answered incorrectly, he would be humiliating himself in front of the Jiangzhou gentry.

Xie Kun also stared intently at Xie Hong, while Luo Shao and the others felt a surge of smugness.

Xie Hong stood in the center with a calm gaze.

The Five Classics are the *Book of Poetry*, the *Book of Documents*, the *Book of Rites*, the *Book of Changes*, and the *Spring and Autumn Annals*; the Four Books are the *Great Learning*, the *Doctrine of the Mean*, the *Analects*, and the *Mencius*.

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence on Huangshi Rock, and then a burst of laughter suddenly erupted.

The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean are just two chapters in the Book of Rites. Why single them out and put them on the same level as the Analects and Mencius?

absurd!

The Analects and Mencius are philosophical texts; when were they compiled into classics?

Xie Hong did not argue, but simply stood quietly in place with a calm smile on his face.

Gu He tucked the whisk into his arm and slowly asked, "Since Young Master Xie has placed these four chapters alongside the Five Classics, there must be a reason for it. Is there an explanation?"

Xie Hongchao bowed slightly to Gu He: "Is this your second question, Master Gu?"

Gu He was taken aback. He gave Xie Hong a deep look and said, "This is the second question."

Xie Hong remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly in the refined Luoyang accent, his voice clear and melodious like the clinking of gold and jade: "Before answering this question, may I ask you, Master Gu, what is the highest realm of Confucianism?"

Gu He was taken aback, then almost laughed in exasperation, and replied, "The highest wisdom lies in moderation."

Xie Hong couldn't help but smile. He then bowed to Gu He again, before turning to face everyone directly.

"I believe that Mr. Gu is wrong."

Everyone was in an uproar!

Madness!

This kid is far too arrogant.

How dare he criticize Master Gu?

This is openly making an enemy of the Gu family of Wu County.

To be an enemy of the Gu family is to be an enemy of the four powerful families of Wu County, an enemy of Jiangzuo, and to cut oneself off from the world.

Even with his good temper, Gu He couldn't help but have a gloomy expression.

Xie Hong didn't read the Four Books and Five Classics at all, but he stood on the shoulders of countless giants. The things that any random, unknown science blogger in modern times summarizes have a nuclear-level impact in this era.

If you don't read it, can't you at least copy it?

Out of interest, Xie Hong managed to remember most of it, though not all of it.

He couldn't say a single word about the specific chapter text, but he could spout off a whole bunch of grand principles that would leave everyone present speechless.

"Gentlemen, I am only sixteen years old, but I have been studying since childhood. From today onwards, I will no longer debate or discuss metaphysics with anyone."

The distinguished scholars present couldn't help but shake their heads in unison, while the young aristocratic men burst into laughter.

Who are you?

Xie Hong sneered inwardly.

Prepare for a brutal beating, you weaklings.

The performance has only just begun.

"When I read the Book of Changes, I learn that when things reach an extreme, they change; and when they change, they become accessible."

"When I read the Book of Documents, I learn about revering Heaven and protecting the people, and about understanding virtue and being cautious in punishment."

"When I read the Book of Poetry, I read it with emotion, but within the bounds of propriety."

"When I read the Book of Rites, I learn about the Great Way and the principle of 'the world belongs to all'."

"When I read the Spring and Autumn Annals, I was reading about the unification of the empire."

Everyone on Huangshiyan froze.

Xie Kun could barely control his grip on the bamboo cane, while Gu He's whisk had already fallen to the ground.

The gentry are called gentry because who among them is not a cultured person?

But have we read the books? Are those things that guy was talking about really in the Five Classics? Why haven't I read what he was talking about?

Xie Honglang's clear voice continued.

"What I read in Mencius is benevolent governance and the way of the king."

"When I read the Analects, I am reading about the highest ideals and standards of morality."

"What I read in 'The Doctrine of the Mean' is sincerity, self-discipline, harmony between humanity and nature, and adaptability to changing circumstances."

"When I read 'The Great Learning,' I was reading about inner sagehood and outer kingship."

"Therefore, I am not talented enough to propose the Five Classics and Four Books. It is only in my heart that, whether it is a chapter, a chapter, or a classic, the book is only good if it can be used for practical purposes."

He paused for a moment, looked around at the audience, and then said, word by word, "I have listed the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean separately not to go against the established doctrines. The Doctrine of the Mean is the essence, and the Great Learning is the application. When essence and application are in harmony, that is the learning of the Confucian sages."

The terrace was so quiet that only the sound of the pine trees and waterfall could be heard.

Those young scholars who were just laughing and joking now looked as if they had been choked.

They had studied the Five Classics, but many of them couldn't even understand one of them.

One who is proficient in one classic text can be called a Doctor.

One who is proficient in the Five Classics is a Doctor of the Five Classics.

During the Han Dynasty, the highest academic official was the Doctor of the Five Classics, who enjoyed high political and economic benefits and could participate in political discussions and undertake related government affairs such as diplomatic missions. This was an important symbol of the official establishment of the orthodox status of Confucianism.

Not to mention them, even scholars of the Five Classics don't read the Five Classics from Xie Hong's perspective.

This child, through reading, actually managed to develop a complete system of interpretations of the classics on his own?

And it's so reasonable, so irrefutable.

Everyone present who had read a book realized this.

That's terrifying.

Is Xie Hong misinterpreting the scriptures and making things up?

You can tell just by looking at the faces of Gu He, Zhai Tang, Zhu Faqian, and Xie Kun.

Gu He was a scholar of the Five Classics; what kind of grand occasion hadn't he seen?

But after studying the Five Classics for half his life, he never discovered that the Great Learning could reveal Zhuangzi's concept of inner sagehood and outer kingship.

A sixteen-year-old boy laid out this system clearly in front of him.

Before becoming a renowned scholar of metaphysics, Xie Kun was originally a master of Confucianism.

He could even know the Five Classics by heart, but he could understand and comprehend every single word Xie Hong said, and even gain a sudden enlightenment.

But they couldn't figure it out themselves.

A trembling voice rang out:

"Absurd! Absurd! Gentlemen, this boy misinterprets the classics. The concept of 'inner sage and outer king' comes from Zhuangzi. How can he possibly understand the Great Learning? This is utter nonsense, complete and utter nonsense!"

The person who spoke was Luo Shao.

He had already witnessed the tragic demise of the Luo family.

That's terrifying.

At that moment, Luo Shao felt like dying.

If you had told me you were this awesome, why would I have bothered to scheme against you?

Gu He also came to his senses and asked in a deep voice, "Young Master Xie, please enlighten this old man."

Xie Hong turned to look at Gu He: "Mr. Gu, is this your third question?"

Gu He sighed, then stood up and bowed deeply to Xie Hong: "Only today have I realized that there are mountains beyond mountains. This is my third question."

Xie Hong quickly returned the greeting, saying, "You wouldn't dare."

Everyone could hear every word he uttered clearly.

"The inner sage investigates things, extends knowledge, makes his will sincere, and rectifyes his mind."

"The true king cultivates himself, regulates his family, governs the state, and brings peace to the world."

Silence reigned.

Zhai Tang slowly rose from his seat, trembling. He stood there for a long while, his lips moving, before pointing at Xie Hong and sighing, "There are indeed people in the world who are born with knowledge. I fear there will never be peace in Jiangzuo again. I must also avoid him."

The faces of Xie Kun, Gu He, Zhu Faqian and other famous scholars were frozen as stone.

Of course they understood.

The young scholars, on the other hand, had fallen completely silent.

In the crowd, Lu Na trembled with excitement: "Brother, if you stop me from associating with the young master Xie, I will not acknowledge you as my brother."

Lu Shi...

"Could Zu Yan... take me with him? I want to... apologize to him."

Liu Chong stood to one side, holding a Han sword, as proud as a rooster, his face flushed with excitement.

This is my older brother!

Xi Xuan gripped Xi Yin's hand tightly, her eyes fixed on Xie Hong beneath her veil, never leaving him for a moment.

"Sister, you're pinching me too hard."