The group dismounted at the entrance of the alley, the entourage stayed where they were, and Yang Feng led the tired marquis into the depths of the alley.

The alley was not wide, and the snow was densely covered with footprints, but there were no horseshoe prints and ruts, and in front of a dilapidated door, Yang Feng knocked on the knocker twice, and then retreated to the bottom of the steps, waiting silently, Han Ruzi stood beside him, feeling like he had come to visit a hermit.

After waiting for a while, the door was finally gently pushed open, and a teenage boy walked out and saluted the two of them separately, "Please come to the back house and wait." ”

Han Ruzi suddenly noticed an interesting thing, the people in the rivers and lakes looked more casual, their hands were almost next to their chins, and their elbows were lowered and attached to their sides, which seemed to be both humble and vigilant, and they could change from politeness to fists and kicks at any time. The etiquette of a scholar is much more complicated, and even if it is just a child, it is done in a good way: hands folded, almost half a foot away from the chest, arms stretched as far as they can, like the wings of a chick.

After posing, the Jianghu people move their hands and mouths without moving their heads, and their eyes should be kept to observe the other party's reactions, but the scholars are just the opposite, their hands do not move, their mouths do not move, and they only speak after their heads and waists are slightly bent and straightened.

The etiquette of the scholars may be a bit rigid, but it is these stiff gestures that show that they are not threatening and have absolutely no intention of using force.

Han Ruzi and Yang Feng were led to the backyard, there is really a house here, and after entering, there are seats but no tables and chairs, Han Ruzi remembered his experience of listening to classes in the palace, and thought that retro is really a very tiring thing.

There were a few small thin mattresses on the table, Han Ruzi knelt in the guest seat, Yang Feng was a little behind him, to show the difference between master and servant, the door was half open, and the cold wind poured in with the crisp sound of reading, as if from a group of children.

"This is a private school?"

"Hmm." Yang Feng responded.

Han Ruzi was not surprised that Guo Cong's friend was a teacher, but he didn't expect that this person was teaching a group of children.

In the following time, the two waited silently, and Han Ruzi was bored pondering the difference between Jianghu people and scholars, wondering which kind of person Yang Feng preferred.

The scholar came a few more times, and brought all kinds of tea utensils, such as stoves, charcoals, pots, water, tea, cups, spoons, etc., almost fifteen or sixteen kinds, but he did not make tea, but politely apologized, and asked the guests to wait a little longer.

When the cold wind made the inside and outside of the house as cold, Guo Cong came, and he was going to sit on the stool when he gave a lecture to the emperor, but at this time he honestly knelt on the opposite side, and after saying hello, he made tea by himself, his movements were a little slow, but the steps were not chaotic at all.

Yang Feng walked forward on his knees, slightly sideways, and assisted Guo Cong in making tea, the host and guest were distinct, but they cooperated seamlessly, as if they were making tea together every day.

This is a means of communication between scholars, such as the incision of Jianghu people, which Han Ruzi can't understand.

Yang Feng sent a cup of boiled tea to Ti Hou's hand, Han Ruzi took a sip, hummed a long time, and said with a smile: "I understand why the door is open, you have to be in the cold winter to taste the beauty of hot tea." ”

"Haha." Guo Cong laughed, here he no longer posed the image of the decaying Confucian, but a little bright, "The so-called cold year knows the pine and cypress, the poor and lowly have to make friends, and the tired Hou tastes tea, which has a different taste." ”

Han Ruzi smiled, holding the teacup in both hands, taking a sip of water, feeling slightly sweet, and couldn't say more.

Yang Feng only serves the tired marquis, and does not drink tea himself.

Guo Cong took a sip, as if he wanted to taste it, but after hesitating, he gave up and chatted with each other.

After about two quarters of an hour, the sound of reading outside died down, and it was not long before the owner finally appeared.

This is a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a thin body and wide robes and large sleeves, which is exactly the same as the image of a scholar in the minds of ordinary people, but his complexion is darker, and his demeanor is slightly reduced.

Han Ruzi listened to Yang Feng's introduction, this person's surname is Qu, his name is clear, although he is not very old, he is a famous Confucian student, a Jinshi in the last years of Emperor Wu, and the current doctor of Guozijian.

What Yang Feng didn't say was that this Qu Zixi was more interested in teaching children than adults.

Qu Zixi bowed to the tired Hou at the door, apologized for his late arrival, and after humbling each other with Guo Cong, he sat down.

The scholar opened the doors and windows completely, and Han Ruzi noticed that there were two plum trees in the corner of the courtyard, with red heads, which were eye-catching, and there seemed to be a slight fragrance floating in his nose, and then he remembered that the taste of tea was indeed somewhat similar to the fragrance of plums.

The best time to praise the tea has passed, and Han Ruzi is not here for this, waiting for the other party to speak.

The politeness was over, Qu Zixi straightened up, held the cup in one hand, held the cup in the other, and gently took a sip of tea, as if it was a unique wine in the world, and then slowly put down the teacup, was silent for a moment, and began to "lecture".

He was indeed speaking in a lecture-like tone, as if he had just changed the classroom, and in front of him was still a group of students waiting for him to teach, although his expression was solemn, the words he said were not jerky.

"Do you believe that reading can make a person smarter?"

"Believe." Han Ruzi has benefited a lot from history books, but he only hates to read too late and too little.

"Do you believe that reading can make a person kinder and more benevolent?"

"This ...... Not necessarily. ”

"Well, there are many shameless and vicious people among those who read, so reading can make a person smarter, but it may not make a person kinder and more benevolent."

Han Ruzi didn't know what to say.

Qu Zixi didn't expect to answer, and said to himself: "There are these two people, both are vicious, one is stupid, the other is smart, which one does you think is more threatening?" ”

Han Ruzi already understood what this middle-aged scholar wanted to say, he had seen a similar statement in the history books, Emperor XX was "wise enough to refuse advice, and words were enough to disguise wrong", so he was even more evil than ordinary faint monarchs, and could be called a tyrant. In the eyes of Qu Zixi and other readers, the Tired Hou, the King of the East China Sea and the Champion Hou are not qualified emperors, in contrast, the less intelligent Champion Hou is the best choice.

Han Ruzi said with a smile: "There are two teaching gentlemen, both mediocre people, one is extremely strict, not requiring students to read according to their own methods, and the other is extremely wide, allowing students to read by themselves, which teacher does Mr. Qu think is more likely to teach students who are outstanding?" ”

Qu Zixi laughed a few times, his expression was not so solemn, and like Guo Cong, he was a little more energetic.

He also understood what the weary marquis meant. The scholar is the teacher who thinks he has seen through everything about the students, but in fact he is short-sighted, if he is more relaxed, there may be students who stand out, if he is too strict, it is difficult to have a high apprentice under the mediocre teacher. Qu Zixi, Guo Cong and others interfered in the election of the emperor, which is tantamount to a mediocre and strict teacher.

Han Ruzi will never admit that he will be a faint monarch and a tyrant.

Qu Zixi also did not admit that they were mediocre teachers, and said: "There are two fields, one is barren, but the location is safe, there will be output every year, and the other is fertile, but it is located in a shallow place, and it is often flooded, and there is a bumper harvest in one year, but there are no harvests in three years. ”

Feitian refers to Emperor Wu, this emperor is wise and martial, but he has also exhausted the people of Great Chu, and the scholar does not like to have another similar emperor so soon, preferring to have a mediocre king to recuperate.

Of course, Han Ruzi refused to admit defeat, "There are these two boats, one boat is small and new, there is no problem, and the other boat is big and old, or there are loopholes, if it is a small wind and waves, it is natural to use a small boat, but if it is a monstrous flood, there is only one chance to escape to the highlands by boat, at this time, is it a small boat or a big boat?" ”

The small boat seems to be safe, but it is loaded with few people, and it is easy to capsize in the huge waves, the big boat is dilapidated, but it carries many people, and it may be able to withstand the huge waves, if there is only one chance, the big boat is of course a better choice.

Han Ruzi and Qu Zixi went toe-to-toe, Guo Cong and Yang Feng listened, added tea to the cup, and sent it to the two disputants, Guo Cong eased the atmosphere and said with a smile: "It's better to use the two boats together." ”

His words were out of place, Han Ruzi glanced at him coldly, Qu Zixi didn't have a good face, looked Guo Cong up and down, and seemed a little disappointed in him.

Among the four, Guo Cong was the oldest and had the highest prestige, but at this time, he blushed, a hundred times more embarrassed than Han Ruzi who had not tasted the beauty of tea before, pressed his hands to the table, and bowed his head to admit his mistake.

Qu Zixi asked: "Although the wind and rain have not been smooth in recent years, there have been no major disasters, and most of them are man-made, no big boats are needed, only small boats, and you can sail safely." ”

There are Xiongnu peeping outside the Great Chu, and there are homeless people making rebellion inside, but these are not unprecedented difficulties, the court has done nothing, which makes the situation more and more serious, and only needs a mediocre emperor who does not make trouble, does not fight or rob, can solve these problems and return everything to normal.

"The wind rises at the end of the apple, and when it is not in full bloom, how many people can know it?" Han Ruzi didn't want to use the metaphor anymore, and said directly: "The palace is chaotic, the queen mother plays with wisdom, introduces Jianghu warlocks to control the ministers, and the king wants to be a mediocre emperor, and in the end I am afraid that it will be a mud puppet, how can the human disaster be cut off?" ”

"We have our own way to get the Queen Mother to hand over power and let the warlocks return to the rivers and lakes." Qu Zixi said, but did not explain in detail, this is their secret.

"The Huns have been divided for a long time, and the Western Huns have been living in the wilderness, but they suddenly moved eastward and ambushed the Eastern Huns in a war, which is enough to show that their strength is not declining, and their soldiers are strong, but they are panicked like a lost dog, because there are more powerful enemies behind them. This strong enemy swore to fight with the Chu people, although the huge waves are far away, they will destroy the house and pull out the tree, can the monarchs have a way to deal with it? ”

Qu Zixi shook his head and smiled: "Although Da Chu is sick, he is not afraid of the northern barbarians, and he has a strong enemy out of nothing, which is the wisdom that we are afraid of." ”

Han Ruzi said: "How can people who read books forget history? More than 120 years after the Great Chu Dingding, it was only a matter of decades to defeat the Xiongnu, 30 years ago, the stalemate with the Xiongnu, and then 30 years ago, even had to ask the Xiongnu for peace and pay tribute, which period is the current Great Chu more like? ”

Today's Great Chu is definitely not as good as Emperor Wu's heyday, no one will deny this.

Qu Zixi was silent for a while, and then said, "There is no evidence. ”

Han Ruzi said: "A strong enemy from afar, the Western Regions will be aware, the host and guest of honor of the Ministry of Rites may have heard of it, within a few days, there will be Xiongnu envoys into Beijing, they know more." ”

Qu Zixi smiled slightly, picked up the teacup, and said that he was sending off the guests.

In the alley, Han Ruzi asked, "Can I handle it well?" ”

"Very good." Yang Feng said.

"But I don't think I convinced the two of them."

"There's no need, just let them know what kind of person the tired marquis is."

"But the last thing he wants is someone like me. Forget it, I just want you to tell me one thing: can these scholars really turn things around? ”

Yang Feng sold Guanzi again, "There is no profit in front of you, who is rushing to it?" Over the millennia, more and more people have read books, and not for nothing. With a little patience, he will soon be able to see the strength of the reader. (To be continued.) )