novelAbuy Chapter 30 We Are All Actors
Chapter 30 We Are All Actors
Among the essays by top scholars included in the analysis of perfect scores in the imperial examinations, the policy essay written by Zhang Heng, the top scholar in the second year of the Jiayou era of the Song Dynasty, is about the Grand Canal.
The question Emperor Renzong posed was: "In governing the people, managing the grain transport, and governing the country, considering both the past and present, how should one plan for the well-being of the nation?"
Therefore, using Zhang Heng's article to deal with Li Er's question was simply the standard answer.
In addition, the analysis of perfect scores in the imperial examination provides a systematic and detailed explanation of the articles, making it easy for even ordinary college students to use.
Of course, expressing the main idea of this article still requires some debating skills.
College students practice this skill when pursuing senior students in the debate club.
Yang Zhengdao looked at the court historian again and nodded, indicating that he was about to begin his performance.
After all, college students watch a lot of music talent shows, so they naturally put themselves in the shoes of the contestants performing on stage and want to show respect to the band members.
Yan Xiangshi, the official on duty today, was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but smile.
He was curious about what shocking statement this former prince was going to make, and whether he was afraid that he would miss it.
Seeing Yang Zhengdao's behavior, Li Er couldn't help but snort coldly.
When Yang Zhengdao saw Prime Minister Yan, he picked up his pen and then cleared his throat to begin his memorial.
"Zhengdao once read Mencius. Mencius once asked King Hui, 'Is there a difference between killing someone with a stick and killing someone with a blade?' The king replied, 'There is no difference.' Mencius then asked, 'Is there a difference between killing someone with a blade and killing someone with government?' The king also replied, 'There is no difference.'"
Li Er tapped his fingers on the imperial desk, showing little interest.
He felt that Yang Zhengdao's use of this passage from Mencius was to criticize the oppressive rule of Emperor Yang of Sui, which was not particularly original.
Yan Xiangshi also shook his head and wrote a few strokes on the paper: "The political way is to cite the story of Mencius telling King Hui of Liang about the stick and blade."
Yang Zhengdao bowed to Li Er with his hands clasped and continued.
"Therefore, I have pondered this matter and wish to ask Your Majesty: If a person wields a knife and kills someone, who is at fault—the killer or the knife?"
Li Er didn't want to answer, but hearing Yan Xiangshi scribbling away beside him, he could only say indifferently, "It's the fault of the murderer."
"If that's the case, when a person wields a blade to kill an enemy, is it the person's achievement, or not the blade's?"
Li Er said impatiently, "Indeed."
Not bad, not bad, Li Er has been tricked!
Yang Zhengdao raised an eyebrow and exclaimed with delight, "No! No!"
Yan Xiangshi's pupils contracted sharply. He seemed to have guessed Yang Zhengdao's intention, but at this moment, as the Imperial Diarist, he could only observe and record.
He thought to himself, "What a quick-witted junior! His composure in handling the situation shows he must be a man of great wisdom."
He wielded his brush and wrote: "The way of governance questions the emperor, comparing him to one who kills enemies; even the blade has its merits."
After Yang Zhengdao shouted, he became so engrossed in the role that he imagined Li Er rising to his feet and bowing like Liu Bei, and then saying, "Teach me, sir!"
But fantasies are just that—fantasies.
When he saw Li Er's fiery gaze, he immediately backed down.
"Your Majesty, Confucius said, 'A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first have the right tools. It is difficult to kill an enemy empty-handed; it is easy to kill an enemy armed with a weapon. Therefore, when a person wields a blade to kill an enemy, the blade is meritorious; when a person wields a blade to kill someone, the blade is without fault.'"
Before Li Er could react, Yang Zhengdao bowed again and gave his conclusion.
"The two canals are the blades wielded by the ruler. They can benefit the country, or they can exhaust the people. When they benefit the country, it is the merit of the two canals; when they exhaust the people, it is not the fault of the two canals. Since Emperor Yang has forged these blades, Your Majesty should use their benefits and be wary of their harms, rather than questioning the merits and demerits of the blades."
As soon as Yang Zhengdao finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Only the candlelight flickered, and even Yan Xiangshi forgot to put down his pen.
Li Er had never expected Yang Zhengdao to utter such powerful words.
At this moment, he felt a sense of disorientation. The young man in the hall was no longer the frivolous fellow who coveted Azhi, but the outspoken Wei Xuancheng and the eloquent Tang Maoyue.
This man not only affirmed the benefits of the Tongji and Yongji canals, but also pointed out the harm of exhausting the people by constructing river works. His words were indeed a theory for the prosperity of the country and invaluable.
At the same time, this man skillfully used rhetoric to avoid directly criticizing Emperor Yang, and even used the phrase "forging a blade" to embellish Emperor Yang's image, thus concealing the faults of his relatives.
Such a response is so perfect that no one can find fault with it.
After a moment of shock, Yan Xiangshi finally came to his senses.
It is truly rare for someone so young to possess such a broad perspective.
As a descendant of the previous dynasty, his sincere character is all the more admirable.
He steadied his hand holding the pen before continuing to record Yang Zhengdao's last line of dialogue.
This time, however, he spared no effort in writing, leaving out every single word.
Seeing that Li Er did not react, Yang Zhengdao began to feel uneasy.
The reason was simple: Zhang Zhuangyuan had memorized the entire essay for the palace examination.
Otherwise, with just the limited debating skills of college students, it would be impossible to make their reasoning sound so profound and sophisticated.
College students only know how to say, "Zhang San stabbed Li Si to death with a knife. Is it Zhang San's fault or the knife's fault?"
Anyway, I've said everything that needed to be said.
Yang Zhengdao bowed again: "This is my humble opinion, and I humbly request Your Majesty's wise decision."
Li Er sighed inwardly, but had to admit, "Excellent."
Perhaps it was because of Yang Zhengdao's insightful and well-reasoned performance that Li Er suddenly felt that this scoundrel wasn't so bad after all.
Therefore, Li Er conceived the idea of further testing.
"Now that this question has been answered, another question has arisen for me."
What?! Not again!!
Yang Zhengdao even suspected that Li Er might be planning to kill him today.
He thought of Tun Qiaoqiao; if she were to die like this, it would be such a waste of those two big watermelons!
As for Ah Wu and Ah Liu, they are still too young!
Although he was supposed to adapt to local customs when he came to the Tang Dynasty, Yang Zhengdao was still too old to accept it.
After all, we are legitimate college students.
Li Er was naturally unaware of the chaotic thoughts swirling in Yang Zhengdao's mind; otherwise, the slight goodwill he had just developed would have vanished instantly.
He looked at the trembling Yang Zhengdao, coughed awkwardly, and continued, "Since you say that the two canals are exhausting the people, if you were Emperor Yang, what would you do?"
Damn it!? This is really going to kill me!
In a flash, Yang Zhengdao remembered a story told by Li Er.
The Zizhi Tongjian records: The emperor then summoned Shimin and stroked him, saying, "Recently, I have almost been confused by the idea of throwing the shuttle into the water." Shimin knelt down and suckled at the emperor's breast, wailing for a long time.
The scene here is just like the scene there was then.
I'm kneeling! I'm kneeling! My life is at stake!
At this point, one must learn from Li Er to feign pitifulness, weakness, and grievance, especially since the court attendant is present.
Yang Zhengdao thought of Tun Qiaoqiao again, of the big watermelon, and of how he hadn't enjoyed a single day of it since his transmigration, and a deep sadness welled up inside him.
He knelt down immediately, and although he didn't manage to shed a tear, his voice was filled with sorrow.
"Uncle, you're going to kill your nephew!"
Li Er was stunned! Yan Xiangshi was stunned too!
Uncle!?
Oh... Consort Yang!
Although Consort Yang was not Li Er's legal wife, it was still reasonable for Yang Zhengdao to call her uncle.
Li Er never expected that this audacious scoundrel who dared to covet A-Zhi would be so frightened by his test.
He subconsciously looked at Yan Xiangshi.
When he saw that Prime Minister Yan had started writing again, Li Er dared not delay. He immediately went around the imperial desk and rushed down the steps.