People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

"Alright, I'll assume you've traveled 108,000 li. Now tell me, what's that place 108,000 li away, and what's there?"

Cao Ze smiled faintly. He wasn't making things up, so why would he be stumped?

"There is a country called India, and within it is a religion called Buddhism, which was founded by a prince of the Shakya clan named Shakyamuni. Its status in India is equivalent to that of the three schools of thought today: Confucianism, Mohism, and Taoism."

Cao Ze slowly broadened the worldview of the people present: the Seven Kingdoms are vast, but not that vast; the world is wonderful.

As Cao Ze explained the facts, everyone held their breath.

While place names, personal names, and events can be fabricated at will, certain ideas, without rigorous refinement and deep reflection, cannot be uttered in the blink of an eye, unless... this is true.

Zhao Qian was completely confused. What was this about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path to its cessation? What was this about all sentient beings suffering?

What kind of garbage is this?!

Is life meant to be suffering?

Life should be lived to the fullest!

Just like how he disliked Cao Ze, he wanted to find ways to get rid of him!

The disciples present were all highly educated intellectuals of the time. Although they only had a superficial understanding of what Cao Ze was saying, it did not prevent them from knowing that this was a school of thought no less powerful than the Hundred Schools of Thought of the past.

Its founder, Shakyamuni, was definitely a figure like Lao Tzu of Taoism and Confucius of Confucianism.

The world is so big, and many people yearn to go out and see it.

But the thought of the vast distance made most people back down.

Customs differ every ten miles, accents differ every hundred miles, and so on... that is another world.

Zhao Qian shouted, "What's the use of saying all this? How can you prove you're a novelist?"

Bai, the Lesser Master of Fate of the Yin-Yang School, glared indignantly at Zhao Qian, seven or eight green leaves already appearing on her forearm.

Such an insult to Mr. Cao Ze would have been met with harsh punishment from her sisters, who were representing the Yin-Yang School in Handan. Given their temperaments, she would have already taught this brat a lesson.

Gongsun Long said, "Cao Ze has already told many unheard-of stories. With a few minor changes, it can already be considered a novel."

Novels of this era did not have many restrictions. Apart from folk tales and gossip, as long as they conformed to strange and anecdotal stories, even gossip, they were considered novels.

Zhao Qian looked at the lackey, who was already drenched in sweat. He gritted his teeth and muttered a few more words to Zhao Qian.

"Wait! Didn't he just say he wrote that 'Journey to the West: The Tale of Exorcising Calamities'? Let him recite a passage! Only then will I believe he's not just a fraud!"

Cao Ze pursed his lips. If this were online, he would definitely type "You're getting impatient, you're getting impatient" in the chat.

Gongsun Long and the other members of the Hundred Schools present were all curious about Cao Ze's "Journey to the West: The Tale of Exorcising Calamities".

"Cao Ze... young friend, if you may, please tell me about it?"

Gongsun Long believed that Cao Ze's teacher was at least a Grandmaster level figure.

I just don't know who this netizen is, or if they are well-known in the Central Plains. After all, there are too many reclusive masters who have changed their names.

Cao Ze cupped his hands in greeting to Gongsun Long, saying, "Then this junior will accept the offer without being impolite."

"Everyone, please listen to the first episode: The spiritual root nurtures and the source flows out; the mind and nature are cultivated and the Great Dao is born."

"...Overseas, there is a country called Aolai. The country is near the sea, and in the sea stands a famous mountain called Flower and Fruit Mountain..."

As a mythological novel from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Journey to the West is not obscure and could be easily understood by the various schools of thought during the Warring States period.

Not to mention that when Cao Ze was telling stories, he would try to express the parts in plain language if they were inappropriate.

Having had the experience of telling stories to Jingni, Cao Ze spoke with great ease and comfort, as if chatting with neighbors.

After more than half an hour, Cao Ze had finished telling the first chapter, which consisted of five or six thousand words.

All the disciples present were speechless.

Elder Mu Xuzi, the representative of the Taoist family, was utterly astonished.

For an elder like him, who was well-versed in Taoist classics, this was simply too shocking.

Jing Ke just felt so cool, and Cao Ze's brothers were awesome!

Bai, the young master of the Yin-Yang School, never closed her cherry-like lips.

Is this a novel? Are you sure it's not a documentary? It's as if I really saw it with my own eyes.

Military strategist Wei Liao, Confucian scholar Kong Chuan, and Pang Yuan, son of the strategist Pang Nuan, were all indifferent to these ideas.

The Legalist Li Si had already keenly noticed many loopholes in it, but when he thought that this was a novel, he could only laugh silently. This person was really imaginative, making him feel as if he were seeing his senior brother Han Fei.

Farmer Wu Kuang became quite interested in Cao Ze. There were several novelists in Dazeshan, but none of them could tell a story as well as Cao Ze.

The novel about the Corpse Sect, a descendant of the Miscellaneous Corpse Master, is quite interesting, as it seems to be full of contemplation.

As for Physician Li, he had some doubts. No wonder the Queen valued Cao Ze so much and even asked him to prescribe medicine to help him recover.

Gongsun Long clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The disciples below all cheered; no one disliked such an unheard-of story.

Cao Ze smiled and looked at Zhao Qian, "Your Highness, are you satisfied?"

Zhao Qian, who was listening intently, was suddenly dragged back to reality and angrily shouted, "Satisfied my ass! Keep going! I haven't had enough yet! What about next time! Has I, Sun Wukong, become immortal yet?!"

Cao Ze was speechless, not expecting this guy to be so engrossed in listening.

Just as Cao Ze was about to refuse.

Then Han Cang announced in a long voice, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Everyone immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhao Yan alighted from the carriage and said, "No need for formalities."

"I have come here today to listen to Master Gongsun's lecture. Let us all listen together."

Guo Kai had the throne moved to the Hundred Schools Forum.

He caught a glimpse of Zhao Qian and secretly broke out in a cold sweat. Was this kid going to cause trouble again?

Cao Ze and the representatives of the hundred schools returned to the table.

Gongsun Long cupped his hands to Zhao Yan and said, "Your Majesty, let's begin today's lecture with my theory of the White Horse."

Zhao Yan said, "Very well. Please, sir."

Chapter 90 has it, and it has serious problems.

As Cao Ze watched Gongsun Long expound on what he had learned, he pondered how to use Gongsun Long to make a name for himself in the seven kingdoms.

To achieve this goal, we need to convince Gongsun Long in his area of ​​expertise.

By the way, he asked Gongsun Long to give him the first generation of the Snow Treading Seed, to be his donkey brother's wife.

This is a bit difficult...

Let's hear the White Horse theory first.

For hundreds of years, a hundred schools of thought contended, but only twelve have survived to this day.

The reason these twelve schools have survived is not because their disciples were particularly powerful, but because they were inclusive, absorbed knowledge from different schools of thought, and tirelessly spread their knowledge.

Only in this way can we ensure that fresh blood is constantly added to this field of study, thus strengthening its vitality.

Therefore, when Gongsun Long talked about the White Horse theory, everyone, whether they were Taoists or Legalists who were related to it, or military strategists or diplomats who were not, listened attentively.

As for the theory of the white horse, it had already been circulating before Gongsun Long's lecture, but it was always in fragments and lacked structure, allowing people to get a glimpse of the whole picture.

"...There is a saying that 'a white horse cannot be said to be without a horse,' which refers to the separation of white from horse; if it is not separated, then having a white horse cannot be said to be having a horse. Therefore, the reason for having a horse is solely based on the fact that a horse is a horse, not on the fact that a white horse is a horse. Therefore, the meaning of having a horse cannot be described as 'horse-horse'..."

Gongsun Long truly lived up to his reputation as a grandmaster. Even at nearly a hundred years old, he was still full of energy and lectured for two and a half hours straight, from morning to afternoon, and remained in high spirits.

However, although Gongsun Long's lecture was brilliant, most of the students at the Hundred Schools Forum were completely confused.

Even Cao Ze, who considered himself to be somewhat intelligent, was a little dizzy.

It's not that I can't understand it, it's just that even though I know how to explain it clearly in simple language, I have to listen to an ancient person using classical Chinese, specifically the kind of classical Chinese from the pre-Qin period that likes to use concise and profound language, to explain to me why a white horse is not a horse.

The pain is like having to listen to a high school student explain a problem that could be easily solved using calculus, using high school knowledge over and over again.

Under the lecture hall of the Hundred Schools Forum, the disciples from various schools of thought discussed the matter animatedly.

"Brother Zihan, how exactly is this white horse not a horse? It's a different color, a different shape, but it's still a horse, isn't it?"

A disciple of the Mohist school sent a sincere inquiry.

Zihan from the Confucian Little Sage Village pondered for a moment and said, "Your mother and your child's mother are both mothers. Do you think you would let your child call your mother 'mother'?"

"He wouldn't dare! I'll break his legs!"

Zihan smiled and suddenly felt that Cao Ze's example of using his mother, wife, and children was very suitable for ending the conversation.

……

Zhao Yan, who had initially seemed quite energetic, had already been dozing off for a long time.

Guo Kai, inside the curtained tent, called softly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"Hmm..." Zhao Yan opened his sleepy eyes, and a gust of wind woke him up. "Is it over?"

Han Cang said in a soft, effeminate voice, "Your Majesty, Gongsun Long has finished expounding on the 'Discourse on the White Horse'."

Just as Zhao Yan was about to say some polite words and go back to the palace for a good night's sleep, he saw Gongsun Long, who had been facing away from him, turn around.

Gongsun Long bowed to the curtain and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished speaking. I wonder if Your Majesty understands?"

"Uh..." Zhao Yan, still a little drowsy, had almost forgotten why he had left the palace, so he had no idea what Gongsun Long was talking about.

It seems the Queen needs to take her medicine on time; otherwise, she won't feel well.

Seeing that Zhao Yan remained silent for a long time, Gongsun Long asked again, "Has Your Majesty listened to my lecture? Do you have any suggestions?"

Cao Ze suddenly understood why Gongsun Long had gone abroad to travel.

He figured that with Gongsun Long's intelligence, he should be able to guess that Zhao Yan probably hadn't listened at all.

He came out of the palace just to give face to Gongsun Longzi, the master of a famous school and a grandmaster.

He also heard that Gongsun Long once argued with King Xiaocheng, which made the king very depressed.

I just don't know if it's true or not.