Chapter 1323 Article
The Spring Examination of the Academy was quickly launched under the auspices of Linghu Shao and Sima Hui. Unlike later exams, there are no so-called fill-in-the-blank multiple-choice questions here, only a strategy.
??And there is no specific title for the policy paper. It just says in general, "The national affairs are difficult, everyone has to offer his own strategy." He draws up the title by himself, and then sets three hours. Regardless of whether he can finish it or not, he puts it away.
Luckily, the weather has been kind and it hasn’t rained in the past two days. Although sitting on the ground in the open space of the academy under the sun will expose you to some sun, but it’s better than being soaked in the rain, right? Fei Qian couldn''t be like the imperial examinations of later generations, and he couldn''t get out of the examination room. Moreover, this kind of examination also had supplementary examinations and supplementary examinations. It all depended on personal performance, so there was no need to use any anti-cheating methods.
The policy topic is simple, but it is not easy to write it within three hours. After all, many people know most of the words, but it is not necessarily possible for everyone to catch these words together in their minds and put them into writing. It seems like a simple thing.
After the strategic examination, some of the students were naturally happy and some were worried. Some restaurants and restaurants in Yangcheng on the left side of the academy were also filled with these students, discussing and arguing with each other, and competing with each other in a lively manner. It’s really not much different for Chinese New Year and holidays.
?But what happened next was Fei Qian, Linghu Shao, and Sima Hui''s turn to have a headache...
As the saying goes, cultural relics are first and martial arts are not second. After all, things about military force are easier to distinguish, and the outcome is relatively clear. However, when it comes to words, everyone has his own taste. Some like Xiaobai, and some like Japanese. If it is light, it is difficult to decide which one is higher.
In terms of vocabulary, some of these students were really good at writing. It was Linghu Shao''s favorite, so when he found an article with some gorgeous sentences, he couldn''t help but pick it up. He groaned and shook his head, feeling very comfortable.
"...The sun rises in the east and the moon sinks in the west. The stars shine two rays, and Yao is in charge of Beichen. We should support the body and the body, and use the correct etiquette to Kun. Chess divides the government office, and the bureau has Zhang Baiguan. The three princes are in charge, and the nine ministers are in charge. Yu Shi Weigang, the doctor The plain hall can handle the country''s court affairs and carry out the inspection of the court..."
Fei Qian was flipping through the scroll and listening to Linghu Shao''s reading. He couldn''t help but shook his head.
"Okay, but what''s wrong with this article?" Sima Hui saw Fei Qian''s movements and couldn''t help but ask.
Linghu Shao on the side also put down the scroll he had just read and looked at Fei Qian with some confusion.
Fortunately, I''m here to sit in charge, otherwise it might really have been messed up. Fei Qian smiled and said: "It''s not that this article is not good, but...Uncle Kong, do you know that all large and small inscriptions in Pingyang are limited to rulers?"
In the early days of Feiqian Pingyang''s rule, he was also surrounded by a large number of complicated and gorgeous words. Later, he couldn''t stand it anymore and ordered to emphasize the need to speak concisely. However, there is no reference standard for the so-called "succinctness". Some people think that it is ten A single character is concise, and some people think that a thousand characters can be considered concise, so in the end, they simply stipulated it physically. Any transfer of text should be limited to the size of a ruler. If there are more, they will be rejected. This is considered to be a containment. The trend of trivial talk.
?Such a move also promoted the gradual miniaturization of the original Han official script from another aspect, and some of it was deforming in the direction of regular script of later generations. I don’t know if this is another good thing.
Linghu Shao understood and said, "What do you mean by your Majesty, but this article... is too complicated?"
Fei Qian nodded and said: "If we are just selecting articles, we would naturally regard the rich and elegant literary talent as the beauty... But this competition is about discussing national affairs. If we talk about it in a general way, what benefit will it bring to the country?"
Linghu Shao and Sima Hui looked at each other and nodded.
Linghu Shao put down the scroll in his hand with some regret. Although Linghu Shao felt that the text arrangement of the volume in his hand was indeed good, but as General Fei Qian said, under a large series of colorful words, there are relatively ordinary things...
What is the connection between the sun and the stars, the three male and the nine Qing, and so on? Or what plan was proposed? What problem was solved?
Sima Hui looked through the pages and said with a smile: "In terms of national affairs, in this competition, the winner will be the winner..."
“That’s right, as the saying goes, it’s better to be deficient than to overdo it...” Fei Qian nodded and said.
It can be said that this spring exam competition is also to set a tone for the future. Otherwise, if you go astray the first time, it will probably take a lot of effort to get it back again.
"The so-called national affairs and world affairs are often discussed superficially, but no action is taken..." Fei Qian explained while looking at it, "Since talking about national affairs is difficult...if one can explain why it is difficult, it can be considered as middle. In addition, It can be said that what should be done is the best. If what is said and thought is reasonable and well-founded and can be acted upon, then it should be excellent..."
Sima Hui laughed loudly: "Okay, it should be like this, it should be like this! It is easy to discuss, but difficult to do... Officials and officials must have solid evidence to discuss things. People who are chasing after the wind and shadows are not the right way!"
Linghu Shao also nodded aside, stroking his beard and said: "What the general said is true. When I was in the Shangdang, there were often literary gatherings to discuss things, and there should be some words of guidance... But now When I was in charge, I realized that my previous remarks were mostly vague and useless...sigh..."
"The country''s affairs are difficult, and there must be reforms. As for reforms, there are only three things to enrich the people, strengthen the army, and recruit soldiers..." Fei Qian spread out an answer sheet and scanned it up and down, while saying, "However, it is easier to know than to do... so Taking enriching the people as an example, what is wealth, how to be rich, and how to be rich are all knowledge. If it can be described in detail, if it can be explained in detail, it can be regarded as a good work by correcting its roots, outlining the main points, and explaining one or two things..."
Sima Hui moved his eyes from the answer sheet on the desk to Fei Qian. He was slightly stunned, and then smiled: "Those who don''t know it are called knowing difficulties, and those who know it are called walking difficulties... I never thought that the general would be so knowledgeable about national affairs." , it should be a blessing to the great man..."
Linghu Shao didn''t pay much attention at first, and casually said from the side: "At the beginning of my dynasty, I also wanted to cultivate myself and make the country rich and powerful... hmm... hmm?" Linghu Shao only realized at this time that what he said just now was Enriching the "country" and strengthening the army, but what Fei Qian said before was enriching the "people" and strengthening the army!
Just one word, the meaning is completely different!
Although most of the time, the terms can be used interchangeably between countries and people, at some times, there are actually some contradictions. The saying that only small rivers and creeks have water when the big rivers are full is actually correct in reverse. If the small rivers and creeks are not full, how much water will there be in the big rivers?
Sima Hui put down the book in his hand, stroked his beard, and after thinking for a while, he nodded and said: "Rich country, rich people... If I say it right, it''s really simple... If I make the people rich, have sufficient supplies, and have no disease or suffering, There is no more chaos like the Yellow Turbans..."
Sima Hui paused for a moment and then said: "I put down the chaos of the pre-Qin Dynasty and governed the country with Huang Lao, which made the people rich and the country was able to continue... But now..." Sima Hui shook his head and did not continue.
After a while, Linghu Shao picked up a scroll and said: "Hmm... There is an article here... It''s interesting... It talks about the current politics of our dynasty. It is a symptom of strong branches and weak trunks. We can remove the branches and feed the trunks to warm the vitality. It can be healed naturally…”
Fei Qian listened and nodded with a smile: "Well, there is some truth to it. It''s really interesting... let those who have become powerful branches be like princes from all over the world, and like us... well, maybe there are some relatives of the emperor, all over the country The wealthy nobles take their money and provide it to the court..."
"Okay, it''s really interesting..." Sima Hui also smiled and said, "The atmosphere of the book is a bit unrealistic...Everything has its own law, how can it be arbitrarily cut off? It''s like a farmland, which is plowed in spring. What is the benefit of harvesting in autumn if it is not harvested at the right time? There are still weak stems and strong branches. If you want to cure the disadvantages, you must first have a method... Otherwise, it will be like the old story of the Seven Kingdoms..." The Seven Kingdoms are not easy to talk about. The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, but about the Seven Kingdoms of the Han Dynasty.
Fei Qian turned to look at Linghu Shao and said, "Uncle Kong, does this article contain any specific measures?"
Linghu Shao looked up and down, and finally shook his head and said: "The imperial edict is to eliminate the feudal lord...hehe..."
“Take it.” Fei Qian also shook his head. If the edict was really so effective, do you believe that Han Emperor Liu Xie could issue an edict for a hundred baggage vehicles in one day?
Sima Hui held a scroll, stroked his beard, and said: "There is another article here... It talks about the disadvantages of trade. The way of a saint is to focus on virtue. People who do business are selfish and greedy, destroying customs. It’s really a big harm…”
Sima Hui glanced at Fei Qian and continued: "...We should encourage farming and mulberry cultivation, educate the three elders, and make the people''s customs simple, so that the country can be peaceful and the people are safe..."
"If there hadn''t been this competition, I wouldn''t have known that the students in the academy were so partial to the way of saints..." Fei Qian put down the book in his hand and sighed, "Sages value virtue, so saints don''t eat?" He is a Chinese, It is inevitable that there is some desire to be a teacher, otherwise there would not be so many forum trolls in the future, and Fei Qian is no exception, especially in such an environment, it is easier to spark some collisions of ideas.
"Sages advocate virtue and oppose selfish pursuit of profit. This is the right way and is understandable." Fei Qian said, "However, when the saints in ancient times lived, their clothes were only kudzu and hemp, and their food was only corn and wheat. If there was minced meat, they could sing. But nowadays, brocade robes are popular among people. Confucius also said that eating without being tired of food is certainly a courtesy, but it is also a desire.”
Sima Hui nodded, threw the scroll aside, and said, "So, the general wants to implement a mercantile strategy?"
"No..." Fei Qian also put down the book, shook his head and said, "From the Spring and Autumn Period to the present, under Tao Gong, there are those who bring harm to the country and the people, and there are also those who squander wealth and resources. From the beginning of the various schools of thought, there has been rule by virtue and rule by law. There are arguments for the difference, but the two are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. The same is true for agriculture and commerce. Without agriculture, commerce has no origin. Why does it suppress commerce? Because merchants are unstable and difficult to manage, and they are well-informed and keep private slaves. If they are not careful, they will cause trouble... Therefore, there cannot be no scholars and farmers, nor no workers and merchants..."
Why does Confucianism only suppress merchants? Is it because merchants eat Confucian rice? Or are Confucian people short-sighted and only care about the present?
Normally speaking, people who can join the imperial court and play well in politics basically have high IQs, and it is unlikely that for hundreds or thousands of years, no one will understand the importance of business, but the problem is like what Fei Qian said. As said, the main reason is that businessmen are not easy to manage.
Is it true that because money and food are the most important, agriculture and mulberry trees are the most important?
It is not.
Farmers are so good and so simple. From birth to death, a household registration can be as simple as one line. It saves worry and effort, and can collect taxes on time and in quantity. It is easy to scare and coax, but businessmen are completely different. Just like Tang Monk doesn''t eat meat, in addition to his personal willpower and Buddhist precepts, there is also a very important reason, which is that he has never eaten meat...
Businessmen have traveled all over the world and have seen a lot. Those who are flexible and inflexible will naturally not be able to be businessmen. In addition, they have a lot of money on hand. If the government comes to cut leeks at every turn, it is inevitable that some ideas will come out, and what will happen next will naturally happen. It gradually broke away from the control of the imperial government. If it was investigated and dealt with, it would be a waste of strength and bones. If it was not investigated, it would become increasingly rotten.
So the Confucian people, in the later stage, simply cut them all off with one knife. Even if it can''t be cut off or cleanly, the businessman will become a third-class cripple.
“Hmm…” Sima Hui nodded in agreement. After all, in the Han Dynasty, the status of Confucianism had not yet been elevated to the sacred altar, and the methods of governing the country were still being explored. Fei Qian''s remarks exclude his status as a general in the Western Conquest. It wouldn''t be unacceptable to an ordinary person.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" After a while, Linghu Shao suddenly slapped the table and shouted, "This volume must be the first! It must be the first!"
Before Fei Qian and Sima Hui could ask, Linghu Shao was already holding the paper and reading aloud:
"...The virtues of a saint are more beautiful than those of a virtuous person; the most precious thing about a virtuous person is that he knows the person. If you know the person, his talents will be in order, and the king''s career will flourish. Therefore, the sage''s line is like a gentleman and a villain, and the sage narrates Poetry is the career of elegant singing, the way of saints, and the meaning of the Five Classics and Six Arts..."
The beginning is quite formal.
But what happened next made Fei Qian a little surprised...
"...Zhongni regarded morality, literature and politics as the four branches of study, and also discussed talents in general, which can be divided into three branches. This is the case. Emphasis on the golden mean to highlight saintly virtues, advocating benevolent government to respect human ethics, and training the contemptible to guard against deviations. Thinking Only by using common materials can one find his place. There must be a reason for what one should do. If one is overwhelmed, there must be no repairs. How can you not live up to the principles of a saint? Only knowing a gentleman can bring out the best in each other..."
As Linghu Shao read, Fei Qian couldn''t help but widen his eyes. Hey, this is interesting...
(End of this chapter)