Cui Yan once worked under Yuan Shao's account, was deeply valued by Yuan Shao, and was made a cavalry captain. But when Yuan Shao insisted on becoming the emperor, this Jizhou celebrity not only insisted on claiming to be Hanchen and refused to accept the appointment of the puppet emperor, but also simply hung up the seal and returned to his hometown, and lived a life of entertaining himself with piano and books in his hometown of Qinghe. From this point of view, Yuan Shao still has some strength in politics, at least he can tolerate loyal ministers like Cui Yan to leave on their own. On the other hand, Cao Cao in history gave Cui Yan to death because of Cui Yan's criticism of his crowning of King Wei. Even Chen Shou sighed in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Taizu is jealous, and those who are unbearable, Lu Guokong, Nanyang, Xu You, and Lou Gui are all punished for their old and ungodly views." And Yan is the most deplorable in the world, and he has been wronged so far. "Now that Qinghe County is under the control of the Qi army, Cai Ji will not let the tragedy happen again.

The delicate sun of midsummer did not hesitate to sprinkle the heat on the heads of a team of horses marching on the plains of Luxi. There were only seven members of the horse team, namely Qihou Caiji, Guannei Hou Cao Pi, general Zhao Yun, and the accompanying four guards. Due to the hot weather, none of the seven wore armor, and Cai Ji, who was fine and linen, wore a hat to protect himself from the scorching sun. saw her riding a horse while turning back to Cao Pi for confirmation, "Does Zihuan have anything to do with Han Shi?" ”

Since Cao Cao pushed Cao Pi to himself on the white horse on the day he beat him, Cai Ji knew that Cao Pi's "proton" was decided. So they began to directly refer to it as a word. "Zihuan, prepare a horse for Lonely." "Zihuan, grind ink for Lone." "Zihuan, sencha." It's better than calling Cao Gongzi and Pi Gongzi.

Cao Pi is also very conscious of serving as a hostage. For every order given by Cai Ji, he completed it with a careful and meticulous attitude without the slightest complaint. Especially when he saw that his mount was brushed and washed by Cao Pi every day. Cai Ji also had to sigh in his heart, he really deserved to be Cao Zihuan, who was famous for his hypocrisy.

Cao Pi didn't know. His obedience has become a hypocritical self-decoration in Cai Ji's eyes. In fact, even if he knew, Cao Pi couldn't change anything. As a proton, he doesn't hide his true feelings and whitewash himself, is he still wantonly trying to make his master unhappy? Although Cao Pi was only thirteen years old, he also knew that his father's promise to Baima was not reliable. At present, Cai Ji is chaining him to his side every day, and there is no way to escape. On the contrary, if Cao Cai turns his back, as long as Qi Hou says a word, he Cao Pi will immediately fall to the ground. As for things like getting married and having children. He didn't even dare to think about it.

In the shadow of death, the young Cao Pi had no choice but to go along with it to curry favor with Cai Ji. In anticipation of the day when Cai Ji can serve during this time. And let him live. Therefore, in the face of Cai Ji's inquiry at this time, Cao Pi immediately replied modestly, "Back to the Marquis of Qi, Pi has a little involvement in Han Shi. ”

"Good. Lonely has only read some Mao's poems. If Mr. Ji Qi talked about Han poems, he also asked Zihuan to answer one or two for Gu. Cai Ji nodded reassuringly.

"Mao's poems are not inferior to the three poems." Cao Pi flattered.

Cai Ji waved his hand and said, "Mao Shi is not an official student, and he has no intention of competing with Mr. Ji Jue." Zihuan should be asked for teaching. ”

"Honor." Cao Pi bowed respectfully.

And just as Cao Pi and Cai Ji were answering, Zhao Yun suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two. But I saw him pointing to a yellow-colored city in the distance and said. "Lord, ahead is Tobu Castle."

Tobu is Cui Yan's retreat in Qinghe, and the world-famous Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal will pass through it 500 years later. Now it's just a small town on the Luxi Plain. Cai Ji and his entourage were dressed in extraordinary temperament, and they attracted the attention of many people as soon as they entered the city. However, although Dongwu is small, the atmosphere is quite positive, and Zhao Yun and others are strong in martial arts at a glance, so most of the eyes cast around them are filled with curiosity and awe.

After questioning the local people, Cai Ji and the others quickly found the location of Cui's mansion. The concierge of Cui's Mansion had obviously seen the big market, and after learning that the person who came was Qi Hou, he did not show his flattery. Instead, he respectfully asked Cai Ji and the others to wait for a while, and at the same time walked into the house with Cai Ji's greeting post and quickly walked into the house to report.

After a while, a young man with sparse eyebrows walked out of Cui's mansion. As soon as the man saw Cai Ji, he stepped forward, bowed down and saluted, "Dongwu Cui Lin has seen Qi Hou. The clan brother is teaching in the study and cannot come out, so please forgive Qi Hou. ”

"It doesn't matter." Cai Ji returned the salute, and then said, "I wonder if you can listen to the class together?" ”

The second half of Cai Ji's sentence was obviously unexpected by Cui Lin. But seeing that he was stunned for a moment, he immediately raised his hand respectfully to ask, "Qi Hou, please." ”

Under Cui Lin's lead, Cai Ji and the others soon came to the outside of Cui's study. But seeing that there are knives, guns and sticks in the courtyard, it seems to be a martial arts school field. But in the study room opposite, there was the sound of reading aloud. Thinking of Cui Yan's lack of fencing and martial arts, it is not surprising that such a scene is not surprising.

Cai Ji raised his hand to stop Cui Lin, who was going to enter the house to report to Cui Yan, and took Cao Pi quietly into the study, found a corner and sat down. Cui Yan studied under Zheng Xuan, a master of Eastern Han Dynasty scriptures, so there were often scholars who came to study in his house. At this moment, there were three young scholars sitting in the room, and one of them was reading the Analects aloud. The sentence in Tabor, "The Son said: The people can make it, but they can't know it." ”

Cui Yan, who was sitting in the hall, closed his eyes and listened, and didn't seem to notice Cai Ji and Cao Pi who were uninvited. However, just after the scholar finished the sentence, Cui Yan suddenly opened his eyes, looked at Cai Ji in the corner and opened his mouth to ask, "Is it Qi Hou?" ”

Cui Yan's voice was high, and he suddenly asked, which made the attention of everyone present focus on Cai Ji. Facing the surprised and curious eyes around him, Cai Ji respectfully bowed to Cui Yan and said, "Junior Cai Ji has seen Mr. Ji Jue. ”

Cui Yan looked Cai Ji up and down, and then stroked his four-foot long beard and asked, "I have heard that Qi Hou was born in a scholarly family, I don't know what I think of the previous teacher's words?" ”

Cai Ji didn't expect Cui Yan to not even say hello as soon as he came up, and he was going to test his own knowledge directly, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart - this sentence has multiple meanings in later generations. But since the other party has been brought out of her family, Cai Ji, who is a "scholarly lady", must take it personally, not under the pretense of Cao Pi's hand. So after sorting out the wording a little, Cai Ji decided to interpret the sentence according to the strategy she was currently implementing, but when she saw her, she cleared her throat and said slowly, "This sentence is from the Analects? Taber. There was another sentence before, Zi said: Xing in poetry. Standing in courtesy, becoming fun. Therefore, Gu thought that this sentence should be read as: the people can, let it, can't, make it know. ”

Cai Ji's unique way of breaking sentences made a group of young scholars, including Cao Pi and Cui Lin, look surprised. Obviously, they have never encountered such a recitation in the Analects. The scholar who studied before widened his eyes, if it weren't for the identity of Cai Jiqihou, I am afraid that he would have jumped up and reasoned with this little woman. However, Cui Yan still quietly bowed to Cai Ji, "I want to hear about it." ”

Cai Ji continued to explain along his own lines, "The last sentence is edifying. The next sentence is administrative. That is, the people know the reason, and they can make it. If the people do not know reason, they need to educate them with poetry, etiquette, and music. In this way, the meaning of the ancestor is 'teaching without class'. ”

Faced with Cai Ji's analysis of the context, the scholars who were shocked before all fell into deep thought. Originally, the interpretation of the phrase "the people can do what they want, but not what they know" is that the state rules the people, and it only needs to instruct them to drive them to do things, and not let them understand what they are doing. It belongs to the art of herdsmen. It can be read according to Cai Ji. "Minke. Let it be, let it be, let it be known". The meaning of this sentence is that if the people are doing the right thing, then we should support their actions; If the people's actions are wrong, then we should let them know what they have done. It belongs to the category of education. Neither can be miscalculated, as there was no punctuation in the time of Confucius. It is impossible for everyone present to travel back in time and listen to what Confucius said.

Just as everyone was thinking hard about which kind of thinking was the correct solution, Cui Yan in the hall interrupted everyone's thoughts with a hearty laugh, "It's okay for a good people, let it be, don't, make it known!" When Qi Hou established the martial arts hall, he also had the heart of teaching without class? ”

Cai Ji heard Cui Yan's question, and knew that he had passed the test. In addition, the topic has shifted from the "Analects" to education, Cai Ji naturally responded smoothly, "When Lone built a martial arts hall, he really wanted to cultivate orphans into talents. ”

"Is there a talent in the martial arts hall?" Cui Yan asked with interest.

"The pipe said: Ten years of trees, a hundred years of people. After only ten years, how can you get the talent of the world. Cai Ji shook his head without hesitation.

"Qi Hou said this. The old man heard that Qi Hou was a scholar in Donglai, and the students of the martial arts hall had achieved outstanding results. As soon as Cui Yan mentioned the opening of the department, Cui Lin and the others on the side immediately showed envy. In this era of relying on the recommendation of talents, if a person wants to get ahead, he must have a good family, a good family, and a good teacher at the worst. Otherwise, even if you have the ability to reach the heavens, it will be difficult to enter the eyes of the princes. In this context, Cai Ji's implementation of the opening of the branch is like a ray of sunshine for many scholars who have no way out. Although there were many rumors about this from the outside world, the young scholars present still heard the statement of the founder of the imperial examination himself.

Facing the eager eyes of the surroundings, Cai Ji just smiled wryly and waved his hand, "In the last imperial examination in Donglai, the children of the family dominated the top three in the Ming Scripture, and the martial arts hall only had mediocre results. ”

Regarding Cai Ji's statement, the cadres and others present did not show surprise. Cui Lin said bluntly, "The family has a collection of thousands of books, and it is understandable that you are better than the poor family in the exam." It is really rare for Qi Hou to be able to show his talents to the world's poor families. ”

As soon as Cui Lin's words fell, the other three scholars also nodded their heads one after another. As for Cao Pi, he stared at Cai Ji for a long time, thinking that he would go to participate in the scientific examination by himself, and he didn't know if he could enter the top three. But after thinking about it again, his life is at stake, and it is unknown whether he can survive the double ten. What if you enter the top three?

Compared with the good or bad grades, Cui Yan was more interested in Cai Ji's arrangement for those who failed on the list, but he followed and asked, "The old man heard that more than 300 people went to Donglai to take the exam last year, I don't know how Qi Hou will settle those who have fallen off the list?" ”

"Those who fail to make the list can also enter the martial arts hall to study, and then take the imperial examination after three years." Cai Ji replied.

When Cui Lin and the others heard that Cai Ji would open a department in three years, they couldn't help but show their excitement again. But Cai Ji knew that the situation of this imperial examination was far less successful than what the outside world saw. It is said that she built the martial arts hall on the one hand to train her subordinates, and on the other hand, to prepare for the implementation of the imperial examination in the future. But as he said, so far, except for professionals such as gunners, bookkeepers, and mechanics, the lecture has not produced commendable talents. In the first imperial examination in Donglai, the last people to enter the top three of the Ming Jing were all children of the family, and in addition to the two students of the martial arts hall, one of the top three in the Ming Dynasty was also from the family. But in Cai Ji's opinion, the advantage of martial arts students in Ming Arithme could not be maintained for too long. The children of the wealthy families who understand the scope of the imperial examination will definitely work hard in arithmetic when they go back. In response to Wang Rong's words, "If there is a family who is afraid of opening a branch to take a scholar, then these people should not let the king!" ”

The strong performance of the children of the family can be said to have greatly surprised Cai Ji. And the children of the poor families who had high hopes were mediocre in the scientific examination. Originally, scripture was the strength of the children of the poor family, but Cai Jijia's arithmetic made many people brush it up. So much so that the children of the poor did not achieve good results in the two subjects of Ming Jing and Ming Arithmetic. After the release of the list, many scholars criticized Cai Ji for being too tricky, and it was clear that he was releasing water for the sons of the family and the students of the martial arts. It was only at this time that Cai Ji realized why the imperial examination developed to the point where Baguwen would appear later.

To put it bluntly, the eight-strand essay appeared to ensure the fairness of the exam. It is said that although the family background of the children of the poor family is also thick, after all, there is a lack of cultural accumulation, more precisely, the lack of books at home. It is already a great thing for many people to have a set of Analects at home. More people need to follow the master and copy and endorse books to gain more knowledge. On the other hand, the children of the family not only have no worries about food and clothing, but also have collected a large number of books over the years, and there are elders who are officials and scholars by their side to guide them. Their vision and knowledge are not comparable to those of the poor. The children of the family have completed Confucianism, metaphysics, metaphysics, and arithmetic. As long as they are interested, they can learn whatever they want to learn, such as piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, knives, guns and sticks, and alchemy. In this case, the wider the knowledge of the test, the more disadvantageous it will be for the poor. Therefore, it is necessary to delineate the scope of the examination, so that more Confucian scholars who are dedicated to learning will have a bright future.

But the drawbacks of the Baguwen are also fatal, as it will greatly weaken the standards of the elected officials and bring out a bunch of pedantic people who only know rote memorization. It even made the late Han Dynasty Shilin, which was originally full of flowers, enter the utilitarian eight-strand era in advance. So Cai Ji didn't plan to brush down the family by narrowing the scope of the exam. Instead, they decided to use papermaking and printing to spread the knowledge. Let the children of the poor also have access to those rare books.

Thinking of this, Cai Ji added to Cui Yan, "Compared with the martial arts hall, Gu is actually more optimistic about the Zun Jing Pavilion. ”

Small Theatre Hours:

Courier: Lord, the Temporal Authority has been fined.

Xiao Cai: Shrimp? (⊙_⊙)

Time and Space Administration: For employing children under the age of 16 and abusing minors, a fine of 5,000~~~

Xiao Cai: (>_<) Wronged~~~ Even in the cultivation of a good man in the 21st century~~~ (to be continued)