novelAbuy 0038 [Using Heavy Nuclear Weapons in Encounter Battles]
0038 [Using Heavy Nuclear Weapons in Encounter Battles]
"Cultivate oneself to bring peace to the people."
Xu Lai stared at the question for a long time, but couldn't bring himself to write anything.
Because Yu Jing only extracted this one sentence, it allows for answers from many angles. One could emphasize self-cultivation, or focus on bringing peace to the people, or even elaborate further based on the context.
Xu Lai now tends to answer questions from two angles:
The first approach discusses the profound relationship between self-cultivation and bringing peace to the people.
The second interpretation extends to the Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Items.
If Xu Lai were to propose the Three Principles and Eight Items, it would be equivalent to a junior high school student taking the high school entrance exam and creating a world-class cutting-edge formula while answering the questions.
For example, in a small-scale skirmish, a heavy nuclear bomb was dropped directly.
Should we use nuclear weapons?
Use it!
Since the imperial examination for the highest degree doesn't test knowledge of the classics, if we don't use it now, we won't need it for the upcoming exams either.
After making the decision, Xu Lai quickly drafted a report.
Ignore word choice and sentence structure, disregard the writing style and momentum. Once the Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Principles are revealed, all other magnificent and beautiful writing will pale in comparison!
Xu Lai wrote very quickly.
But someone was even faster than him; they finished the exam half an hour after it started.
Liang Wensu was from Nanhai County. As early as the Southern Han Dynasty, his ancestors were already doing business in Guangzhou. They mainly bought and distributed seafood, while also buying inland goods to sell to maritime merchants, profiting from the price difference.
His situation was similar to Chen Yanhong's; he also wanted to enter the Imperial Academy through the prefectural school. However, he also planned to take the prefectural examination, just in case he passed it in Guangzhou and directly became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).
Liang Wensu finished writing these three questions in just 45 minutes.
Yes, he answered all three questions, and he answered one question in fifteen minutes!
Because what he wrote was not the rigid, formulaic essay; it was just a dry discussion of the classics, explaining the principles clearly and that was it.
The interpretation of the scriptures at this time is usually written like this.
Upon seeing the first scholar submit his paper, Yu Jing carefully read his essay and quickly nodded in approval, saying, "His writing is well-supported by classical texts and his arguments are solid. All three essays deserve an excellent grade."
There are three evaluation levels: Excellent, Average, and No.
Yu Jing asked, "Where did you study before?"
Liang Wensu answered in detail: "I initially studied at home with a private tutor. Later, I went to Bailudong Academy, but after studying there for just over two months, the academy was burned down. Then I transferred to Xujiang Academy, but after studying there for only two years, I returned home to observe mourning for my mother. Three years later, I went back to Xujiang Academy, and only returned to Guangzhou at the end of last winter."
"So you're Mr. Xujiang's grand-disciple." Yu Jing smiled kindly.
Mr. Xujiang is Li Gou.
Fan Zhongyan implemented the Qingli New Policies, extensively citing Li Gou's academic theories.
Later, Wang Anshi's Xining Reforms also drew their ideological origins from Li Gou.
Li Gou had several students who were key figures in Wang Anshi's reforms, one of whom was named Zeng Gong.
Yu Jing not only knew Li Gou well, but also recommended Li Gou to teach at the Imperial Academy.
Liang Wensu said with great regret, "Mr. Xujiang had been teaching in the capital for a long time, and he was already seriously ill when he returned to his hometown. I was only fortunate enough to see him once. It is a lifelong regret that I never had the chance to hear his teachings."
Yu Jing also sighed, "Alas, the old friends are gone, and the living are left behind. Let us go."
Liang Wensu answered one question, but he answered three and received excellent grades on all of them.
He definitely passed; he might even get first place.
Liang Wensu bowed and withdrew. Before he even left the examination room, he saw Chen Yanhong hand in his paper early.
The two passed each other and nodded to one another.
Why did Chen Yanhong, who was always aloof and self-admiring, take the initiative to nod and show goodwill? Because Liang Wensu handed in his paper before him, and judging from Yu Jing's reaction from afar, his paper must have been extremely well written.
"You answered all three questions?" Yu Jing asked with a smile, glancing at the exam paper.
Chen Yanhong tried his best to suppress his arrogance, but still replied, "The questions weren't difficult, and there was plenty of time."
Yu Jing carefully read Chen Yanhong's article, commented on each point, and gave it three "excellent" ratings.
Then they asked about his resume.
Chen Yanhong recounted in detail his experience studying at Songyang Academy.
Before I could finish speaking, the third person to hand in their paper early arrived.
It wasn't Xu Lai.
The word count of one of Xu Lai's articles is equivalent to three articles by these people.
It wasn't until noon that Xu Lai began to eat his dry rations, revising and polishing his work as he ate. After quickly filling his stomach, he dusted off the crumbs on his hands and copied the draft onto the answer sheet.
Let's roll it up and go!
By this time, many scholars had handed in their papers, and Yu Jing was surrounded by more than a dozen people.
They refused to leave after handing in their papers, wanting to receive Yu Jing's feedback in person. Even if the evaluation wasn't high, they could at least become acquainted with him, and future encounters could be considered a reunion.
"Excuse me, could you please move aside?" Xu said.
No one was willing to give up their spot.
One of the scholars turned around and said, "Give me your exam paper, and I'll hand it in for you."
Xu Lai had no choice but to hand in his answer sheet.
He peeked over and saw that the other person had placed the answer sheet on the table. After confirming that the paper had been handed in properly, he turned back to organize his stationery.
As more students handed in their papers, the stack of papers kept piling up, and Xu Lai's paper was buried at the bottom.
Carrying a bamboo basket, Xu Lai strolled leisurely away from the examination hall, admiring the street scenes of Guangzhou along the way. Back at the inn, he lay down for a while, then got up to continue reading "The Righteous Meaning of the Zuo Zhuan in the Spring and Autumn Annals".
After some time, Wang Zongdao returned: "Xu Sanlang, which question did you choose?"
"I've only read the Analects, and I've just started learning the Spring and Autumn Annals," Xu said.
Wang Zongdao joked, "I also chose the Analects as my topic. Since the practice of copying classics and interpreting their meanings has fallen out of importance, who still seriously studies the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Rites? There are too many characters; even if you study them, you'll forget them."
This is a typical comment from a poor student.
How could a scholar who truly aspires to pass the imperial examinations not diligently study the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Rites?
Wang Zongdao said, "My article discusses the fundamentals and the secondary. Self-cultivation is the fundamental, while bringing peace to the people is the secondary. When the fundamental is established, the secondary will naturally follow."
"Why not the essence and the application? Self-cultivation is the essence, and bringing peace to the people is the application. If you talk about the essentials and the trivial, Minister Yu will certainly not be pleased," Xu Lai reminded him.
Wang Zongdao was astonished upon hearing this.
After a long while, he slapped his thigh and said with deep regret, "Yes, I should have said 'theory and practice,' how could I be so stupid! Two words make all the difference, I'm definitely not going to pass this time."
Wang Zongdao stopped chatting and just sighed, which annoyed Xu Lai.
Sun Zhixue and Fang Yuan didn't return until evening. They were the last to hand in their papers, and most of them did worse than Wang Zongdao.
……
After the exam, Yu Jing took the exam paper home.
He still had twenty or thirty answer sheets to grade, and he planned to finish grading them at home tonight.
"Father, you're finally back!"
The youngest daughter ran out to greet him and took Yu Jing's arm as they walked inside.
His wife, Lin, also got up and responded, instructing the maid to bring the food.
The family of three was having dinner and chatting when Mrs. Lin mentioned that her children and grandchildren had sent letters that day. Her youngest son and second grandson had both entered the Imperial Academy this spring.
Given Yu Jing's rank, his descendants should have been admitted to the Imperial Academy.
But the Imperial Academy was in a state of disrepair, with an extremely poor academic atmosphere. The sons of nobles and high-ranking officials were so lazy that they rarely went to class, and the school was practically deserted.
On the contrary, the Imperial Academy, which was affiliated with the Imperial College, had become increasingly academically rigorous because it allowed the enrollment of commoners' children, and its academic atmosphere was hundreds of times better than that of the Imperial College.
After dinner, Yu Jing returned to his study.
His daughter, Pianpian, helped him grind the ink.
After reading the letters from his children and grandchildren, Yu Jing wrote back with words of encouragement before picking up the papers he hadn't finished grading.
When only a few copies remained to be approved, Yu Jing suddenly froze.
He put down his vermilion pen, picked up the exam paper, and began to read it carefully.
This commentary on scripture is different from all the articles published today.
First, there's a difference in writing style. Other articles simply explain the principles. While this article also explains principles, it goes into more detail, discusses them more broadly, and extends the discussion further.
To put it simply, it's about the differences in the writing of classical texts in different eras.
Although Xu Lai hadn't studied the eight-legged essay in detail, he basically knew its structure. It's very similar to the civil service exam essay!
At that time, even Su Shi wrote dry and uninteresting classical texts, let alone ordinary scholars who had not yet entered the state school.
Those who cultivate themselves do their utmost internally; those who bring peace to the people extend their benefits externally. When one cultivates oneself internally, external benefits will naturally follow—it's that simple. Those who desire to bring peace to the people without cultivating themselves are like seeking a stream without a source…
What truly shocked Yu Jing began in the third paragraph.
The discussion started with an explanation of this passage from the Analects, but then shifted to the Great Learning section of the Book of Rites. The transition was remarkably smooth, demonstrating how the Book of Rites can be used to deconstruct the Analects.
Xu Lai had not studied the Book of Rites, but he had read the Great Learning carefully.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, "The Great Learning" was just one chapter of "The Book of Rites" and had not yet become one of the Four Books.
[To manifest one's bright virtue, to love the people, and to attain the highest good. These three are the fundamental principles.]
[Investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, rectifying one's mind, cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world. These eight are the details.]
In short, it boils down to the Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Principles.
Then, returning to the main topic, the text explains that investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, rectifying one's mind, and cultivating oneself are all about self-cultivation, while regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world are all about bringing peace to the people. This immediately connects the Great Learning with today's exam question.
He then elaborated on the Three Cardinal Guides, closely adhering to the context of the topic. He pointed out that the problem with Yao and Shun was not their inability to achieve the same ideals, but rather their reluctance to claim perfect virtue.
Therefore, the learning of a gentleman begins with the investigation of things and ends with bringing peace to the world. Self-cultivation and the well-being of the people are both included within this. To speak of bringing peace to the people while neglecting self-cultivation will inevitably lead to limited achievements; to focus solely on self-cultivation without considering the well-being of the people will inevitably result in a narrow understanding. Both are indispensable and neither should be neglected.
[...If scholars can truly investigate the nature of things to begin their studies, cultivate sincerity and rectify their conduct to establish their foundation, and strive to cultivate themselves, regulate their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the world to achieve their ultimate goals, then what Confucius meant by cultivating oneself to bring peace to the people can perhaps be attained. Even Yao and Shun had their shortcomings; how much more so should scholars? However, those with ambition can still strive to achieve this.]
"Father, what's wrong?" Pianpian asked curiously.
Yu Jing gently put down the test paper and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief: "It's nothing, I just saw a good article."
Before he had even finished reading the article, his hair stood on end, as if he were feeling warm all over after drinking meat soup on the winter solstice.
In a seemingly trivial state college entrance exam, he unexpectedly discovered a masterpiece.
A magnificent piece of writing that would shock even the greatest Confucian scholar!
Pianpian leaned closer: "What kind of good article could make Father speechless?"
Yu Jing flipped back to the beginning of the paper to examine the candidates' family backgrounds.
"Xu Lai from Qingyuan County? Haha, so he's the one who wants to hear about the new thunder!" Yu Jing clapped his hands and laughed.
Pianpian laughed along, "I remember that poem; Father brought it home and read it. Is he going to study at the state school?"
Yu Jing nodded: "The one who ranks first in the examination will naturally be admitted to the state school. If this essay were to reach Kaifeng and Luoyang, it would surely cause a sensation among the scholars of both capitals."