Chapter 72 is also a teacher and a friend

The old master has no name

Like-minded and mentor-friend

After Hu Yushi's excerpt on the impeachment of Zhu Xi was reported, the number of people who seconded the criticism increased day by day, and the situation became more and more serious.

Although Zhu Xi was far away in Jianyang, Fujian, there were people in the court who reported the news. He had a hunch that if he didn't say anything about it, and it would get worse, he would probably be in big trouble, and more people would suffer.

So, he gave the emperor a table of apologies. claims that he is a sour and rotten literati among the people, a nerd with no knowledge, and is not worthy of such a teacher. He admitted that he had made mistakes such as privately accepting money and making Nani a maid, indicating that he should deeply reflect on his rights and wrongs over the years and strive to be a new person.

After the imperial court received it, Han Yanxuan, Wu Bogang, Hu Yingyuan and others smiled, and the other party raised his hand to surrender, and we won a big victory, and the next question is how to end.

The emperor naturally handed over the matter to Zhongshu to handle, and the deacons discussed together, Zhu Xi did not have any great rebellion, since he admitted his mistake, considering that he had been the emperor after all, he was nearly seventy years old, and the punishment should not be too heavy. Immediately issued an edict:

The removal of Zhu Xihuan Zhangge and the promotion of the official position of Nanjing Hongqing Palace made him think about it at home. The disciple Cai Jitong defended Zhu Xi because he did not distinguish between right and wrong, preached pseudo-learning, and sent him to Daozhou for management.

The imperial edict soon arrived in Jianning Mansion, and the prefect sent officials to Xishan to read it. After hearing this, Cai Jitong was calm and calm, and he didn't even return home, so he reported to the government office.

Cai Jitong is a native of Jianyang County, Jianning Prefecture. It is said that this person is well-read and very intelligent. At the age of eight, he was able to compose poems and memorize thousands of words a day. He has followed his father Cai Fa since he was a child, learned the study of righteousness, reason, and numbers, and has studied Cheng Yi Cheng Hao's "Quotations", Shao Yong's "Jingshi" and Zhang Zai's "Zhengmeng", and can accurately know the principles.

When he was nineteen years old, he followed his father's wishes and went to the top of Xishan Mountain, more than 20 miles away from home, to build a study. A few years later, he had a systematic study and grasp of astronomy, geography, military system, etiquette, degrees and other academics; Those so-called side branches and heresies, he can find the source, distinguish right from wrong, and judge the truth and falsehood; Many scholars find it difficult to break the sentences in the ancient books, but Cai Yuanding took a look at them, and he was soon able to sort them out clearly and analyze them accurately.

When he was twenty-five years old, Cai Jitong heard the name of Zhu Xi, and had the idea of apprenticeship, so he went to Kaoting from Xishan and asked Zhu Xi about Zhou Yizhong's related questions. Zhu Xi also knew some of his deeds, and deliberately used some difficult questions for him to answer, but he knew that he answered the truth, and when he saw that he talked extraordinary, he suddenly fell in love. Although Zhu Xi was only five years older than him, Cai Jitong decided to worship him as a teacher. In the following 40 years, Cai Yuanding has been following Zhu Xi, concentrating on the study of science, setting up altars to give lectures, writing books and sayings, becoming an important founder of Zhu Xi's science, and is known as the leader of Zhumen and the dry city of Fujian learning.

Regarding Cai Jitong, Zhu Xi always said that he was my old friend and should not be among the students' disciples. When students from other places come to Zhu Xi's academy to study, Zhu Xi always asks Cai Jitong to interview first, and only those who pass can enter the academy. Zhu Cai and the two are also teachers and friends, and they are very close. Zhu Xi admired Cai Jitong's knowledge very much, compared him with Zhang Jingfu, and wrote poems to praise:

Fengyueping business, the rivers and lakes are self-replaced.

The years are for migration, and the horizon is fresh.

Let's ask the rain in the western mountains, how is it like the spring of Xiangshui?

A leisurely long roar, wonderful and incoherent.

Cai Jitong studied hard because he built a house in Xishan, and was known as Mr. Xishan, and Zhang Jingfu was a native of Huxiang, and his knowledge was called Huxiang School. The juxtaposition of Cai and Zhang shows their high status in Zhu's mind.

Zhu Xi suffered a grievance, drove out of the capital, and returned to Kaoting with a heavy heart, Cai Jitong saw it in his eyes and felt pain in his heart, silently assisted Zhu Xi, and jointly did a good job in the teaching and study of classics in the academy, and did as much as possible to not let him worry about it.

Hu Yingyuan impeached Zhu Xi and listed ten crimes. As the person who knew him best, he couldn't help but be indignant: making up nonsense, exaggerating crimes, such behaviors were also committed by scholars, which was simply a great shame for Taoist disciples.

What's even more infuriating is that there are thousands of civil and military people in the Manchu Dynasty and the world, and no one defends the master, there is no distinction between right and wrong, and black and white are reversed, isn't it even more sorrowful?

When I talked about this with my juniors and disciples, my resentment was palpable. A junior brother explained, no one argues, it doesn't mean that everyone agrees, what is the dare to be angry and dare not speak, this is the case, now there is the emperor's support, Han Yanxuan covers the sky with one hand, whoever opposes and who confesses, who will make trouble, this is called the prosperity of those who follow me and those who oppose me die. In this case, who will still go against the wind?

Cai Jitong had to admit that what his junior brother said was reasonable, but as a disciple, he didn't speak for his teacher, and he was uneasy, and some things had to be done for the sake of justice and conscience, even if they might be hit.

Therefore, when the imperial court received Zhu Xi's confession form, it also received Cai Jitong's confession. Today's ending, he had expected it a long time ago. It's always coming, and it's useless to hide.

The day after reporting to the government office, Cai Jitong, accompanied by his third son Cai Shen and student Qiu Chong, began his exile journey. Walking to the bridge head of Yingzhou in Kaoting, Zhu Xi and dozens of disciples were here to feed him.

At this time, the sky was dark, snowflakes were floating in the air, and the wind was biting. Two old men in their sixties hugged each other tightly, and couldn't help but burst into tears, and the scene of knowing each other for 40 years came to mind:

In the sixth year of the main road (1169), Cai Jitong went up to the West Mountain again, repaired the study, named it the Difficult Hall, and continued to study hard, and this Shandong Yungu has a thatched cottage, which is Zhu Xi's study. The two study rooms are one east and one west, corresponding to each other. Zhu Cai and the two agreed to hang a lantern outside the study, and if they needed to discuss and study with each other when they encountered difficulties, they would put out the lights and come over the next day to solve the problem. The two mountains hang lights, flickering bright and dark, becoming a unique scenery. Every time Ji Tong went to Zhu Xi's place, Zhu Xi would definitely keep him for a few days, and the two discussed and often stayed up all night.

Compared with Zhu Xi, Cai Jitong also has a commendable advantage. He is a pure scholar, and he is really enthusiastic about education and devoted himself to learning. For decades, he never asked about fame and fortune, and in terms of his knowledge, it is rare in contemporary times that if he participated in the imperial examination, the Jinshi and the first should be like exploring the bag to get things, but when he reached the age of forty, he still did not mention the matter of the imperial examination, and many friends persuaded him, and he shook his head. Yang Wanli, You Bao and other ministers recommended to the imperial court, Emperor Xiaozong issued an edict, announcing his entry into Beijing, he still shook his head, on the grounds that he was sick, he was still dressed in white at the age of sixty, but he still talked and laughed, and he was not ashamed among many scholars.

Zhu Xi looked at his old friend who shared hardships with him, and was about to go away, he couldn't help but burst into tears, took his hand and said: Ji Tong is going here, Guanshan is thousands of miles, I don't know when we can see each other again? Take care of everything.

Cai Jitong is calm, the clouds come and the rain comes, his heart is like a mirror, he does not welcome or refuse, and the two do not hinder each other. An impromptu poem:

Holding hands and smiling goodbye, don't be sad for your children,

Light and mellow strong color, swaying clothes,

Although Guanshan is thousands of miles, the infatuation will never change,

Never live up to what you have learned, this heart can be known.