On the afternoon of February 27, Kong Wang came to Gu's house to visit Chen Caozhi, Kong Wang was dismissed as a person who was given up by Erhai (these words are not clear), and he will go to his post soon, Kong Wang and Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi had an afternoon, not just arguing about empty talk, but exchanging knowledge and reflecting each other, and the three of them cherished each other and increased friendship.

Gu Kaizhi stayed in Kong Wang for dinner, sat in the study after dinner, and then talked about Confucianism, the waiter came to report, and Nanyang Fanning came to visit.

Kong Wang smiled: "Fan Wuzi is here, then I will have to leave." ”

Chen Caozhi thought that there was a gap between Kong Wang and Fan Ning, but Kong Wang was not the kind of person who was not elegant, so he couldn't help but have some doubts.

Kong Wang explained: "Because I violated Fan Wuzi's sentence, Fan Wuzi saw me, and he all avoided it, and he never made friends with me. ”

Gu Kaizhi smiled: "I see, no wonder Fan Wuzi saw you the day before yesterday, turned around and left, haha." ”

Kong Wang said: "I admire Fan Wuzi's character and knowledge, but I didn't have the opportunity to talk to him, but today I had a long talk with Zizhong and Changkang, and I benefited a lot, so what are the regrets!" I'll make way for Fan Wuzi. ”

Kong Wang went and Fan Wuzi came, Fan Wuzi still frowned, his expression was serious, and he knelt upright.

Said to Chen Caozhi: "The day before yesterday, the big 6 Shangshu invited me to participate in tomorrow's Situ Mansion Qing Tan Yaji, and debated with the foot when I accepted the Dazhong Zheng assessment, I Fan Wuzi hated the Qing Tan Xuan Debate, but now it is used as a Qing Tan weapon, it is really a great mockery, I promised that 6 Shang Shu will go to Situ Mansion, but I will not say a word, but listen to the foot of the tongue, but tonight, I want to argue with the foot, whether this debate wins or loses, I will no longer talk about Xuan. ”

Chen Caozhi said with a smile: "Thank you Brother Fan for your success, Brother Fan is such a well-educated scholar with both Confucianism and Xuantong, if you argue with me in the assessment of Situ Mansion tomorrow, I am afraid that I will be sad to pass the assessment." ”

Fan Wuzi said: "Why bother to say thank you, the beauty of the gentleman's **, why should I make it difficult for me, and the foot is not a person who sells fame and reputation, Xie Fu Yaji I have seen the argument of the step." ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Brother Fan is interested in promoting Confucianism, and I also think that Confucianism is the knowledge of governing the world, and the internal and external kings and traveling benevolent government are the right way to open up peace for all generations." ”

Fan Wuzi raised his eyebrows, his eyes were shining, and he said, "So, is it a last resort?" ”

Chen Caozhi smiled and didn't answer, and said about it left and right: "I like to talk while walking, Brother Fan is willing to accompany him?" ”

Fan Wuzi said: "I should accompany you." ”

Chen Caozhi, Fan Wuzi, and Gu Kaizhi came to the back garden of Gu's mansion, walked slowly along the path of flowers and trees, and talked about the way of the inner saint and the outer king:

The saying of "the inner sage and the outer king" can be found in the "Zhuangzi Tianxia Chapter", "the saint is born, the king is successful, and they are all originally in one", "it is the way of the inner sage and the outer king, dark and unknown, depressed but not, and the people of the world are each for their own desires". Wang Bi, the founder of Zhengshi metaphysics, broke through the barriers of Confucianism and Xuan, and used Lao Zhuang to annotate the "Analects", Yun: "The sage has the virtue of heaven, so he is called the one who is the only Yao, and the only Yao is the way of the heavens." Swinging, invisible and nameless...... Therefore, it is natural, the Tao asks nature, does not selfish its son and its ministers, the murderer punishes himself, the good self-appear, the success does not establish its reputation, the punishment is added but not allowed to be punished, the people use it every day without knowing why it is, and the husband can be named! This is to link Confucius's 'self-cultivation to respect', 'self-cultivation to appease others', and 'self-cultivation to appease the people' with Zhuangzi's 'inner sage and outer king'. ‘

Chen Caozhi and Fan Wuzi talked about the "inner sage and outer king" of Confucianism, Fan Wuzi said that Chen Caozhi said "no good and no evil is the body of the heart, there is good and evil is the movement of the will, knowing good and knowing evil is a conscience, and doing evil for good should be in the object" said that he was greatly admired, thinking that this was unsaid by the Confucians, so he discussed it carefully with Chen Caozhi, and did not feel that it was late at night.

After hearing the drumming of the three watches, Fan Wuzi thought that it was time to leave.

Gu Kaizhi, who followed the live target Wuzi and Chen Caozhi around the Fan Path of Xiaoyuan in the middle of the night, widened his eyes and said, "Brother Fan is not difficult to argue with Zizhong?" ”

Fan Wuzi said: "Don't argue, Fan Wuzi will no longer argue with anyone." ”

Gu Kaizhi said: "Didn't you say that you would never talk about the mystery after arguing with your son?" ”

Fan Wuzi said: "Today, I know Qian Tang and Chen Zizhong are not boastful, when it is a generation of Confucianism, I might as well be it, how can I argue." ”

Gu Kaizhi shouted: "Bitter, I knew this was the case, I might as well paint, but my feet are sore here." ”

Fan Wuzi smiled rarely, and said: "Brother Changkang, when I go to Situ Mansion tomorrow, I can see the wonderful debate of Brother Zhizi. "In the early afternoon of February 18, Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, sent Hao Ji, the secretary of the canon, to invite Chen Caozhi to Situ Mansion to participate in the assessment, and Gu Kaizhi also followed.

Hao Ji led Chen Shang, Chen Caozhi, and Gu Kaizhi into Situ's mansion, and came to the small courtyard full of small pianos and bamboos through the side alleys.

Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, personally stood under the corridor to greet him, and Wang Tanzhi of Situ Mansion was one of Chen Cao's introductions to the people in the hall, Shangshu and Wang Biaozhi led Xuzhou Dazhongzheng, Zuo Min Shangshu 6 Na also led Yangzhou Dazhongzheng, Jiangzhou Neishi Wuningzhi concurrently led Jiangzhou Dazhongzheng, Danyang Yin Han Kangbo concurrently led Yuzhou Dazhongzheng, Sanqi Chang led the work Xun Sun Xuan and Qiao and Zhou Dazhongzheng, the general of the army Jiang Sixuan also led Jiaozhou Dazhongzheng, Guangzhou Thorn Shi Yuyun led Guangzhou Dazhongzheng, and Yangzhou Thorn Shi Wang Shu

Xie Wan, a regular attendant of the loose cavalry, Huan Mi of the leading army, 6 Shi of the Five Soldiers, Zhang Ping of the Shizhong, Gu Yuezhi in the Imperial History, Xi of the Xifu Army, and Lang Wuyun of the Shangshu Department, this Wang Yun is the son of Wang Meng and the brother of the queen.

There are also Zhang Mo, Zhang Andao and Fan Ning Fan Wuzi, in addition to Wang Huizhi, Ling Tong, Zhuge Zeng, Wen Lin, Cai Xin are all there, and what is even more strange is that there are two old monks, one is Zhu Fatai, the elder of Waguan Temple, and the other is Zhu Daoqian, a senior monk of Yanshan, Zhu Daoqian is over seventy years old, and he is all white.

Chen Caozhi followed Wang Tanzhi's introduction, one by one to everyone to make a salute, when he walked to the 6 beginning, 6 Na returned the salute, 6 the beginning was arrogant and not polite, Chen Caozhi's face was as usual, still polite, the people present secretly praised Chen Caozhi, and disagreed with the arrogance of the 6 beginning.

When Chen Caozhi and Xie Wan saw the ceremony, they saw that Xie Wan was behind him, and he was wearing powder with a scarf, and it was Xie Daoyun. Xie Daoyun lowered her eyebrows, knowing that Chen Caozhi was coming, she didn't raise her eyelashes, but the corners of her mouth slightly hooked up a smile, how could she miss such a wonderful debate event!

This is after nearly two and a half years, Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun met again, the day before yesterday, he only heard his voice in Xie Mansion and did not see him, and now he saw the familiar appearance of Zhu Yingtai, he couldn't help but feel hot, his eyes turned on Xie Daoyun's face, and he felt that Brother Yingtai's face was a little lighter, and his chin was pointed.

Zhu Fatai, the elder of Waguan Temple, saw Chen Caozhi and said with a smile: "Chen Tanyue, the old monk is looking forward to seeing the murals of the eight heavenly dragons as soon as possible. ”

Chen Caozhi said: "This good fate must be formed." ”

Zhu Daoqian said to Chen Cao: "Senior Brother Zhi (can't see clearly) often tells the old monk that Chen Tanyue has wisdom and a wonderful understanding of Buddhism, and today the old monk can ask Chen Tanyue in person for advice. ”

Chen Caozhi said: "How dare you dare, Shen Gong has tormented the boy." ”

Xi Qi said with a smile: "Today, the three families of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are all facing Chen Zizhong, and if Zizhong does not show what he has learned in his life, he is only afraid of danger." ”

Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, heard this and laughed.

Bazhou Dazhongzheng are all talented debaters of Confucianism and Xuantong, especially Han Kangbo and Sun Sui are the most famous, and there are rising stars Fan Wuzi, Wang Huizhi, and two Shamen wise men, such a grand event, even if it is Situ Mansion, it is rare to see. Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, obviously liked this scene and atmosphere very much, sitting on the Hu bed, holding his hands (I can't see clearly, it should be something like dust) and said: "Today can be described as a group of virtuous people, a young man and a salty gathering-" Yao said to Sun Sui: "Xinggong, back then, Lanting Yaji, there was no such prosperity." ”

Sun Suinian is nearly five years old, and he is still very rich, and he said loudly: "If it is prosperous, it is still regrettable." ”

Sima Yu asked, "What's the regret?" ”

Sun Sui said: "If the branch prince and Wang Youjun are here, there will be no regrets. ”

The people in the audience repeatedly said yes, the first in the debate of the prince, and the right army of the king was romantic, without these two people, it would be difficult to call it a grand event.

Sima Yu also sighed: "Yi Shao went to Jingkou, I sent someone to invite Zhigong the day before yesterday, but the waiter Yun Zhigong is studying Buddhism and can't come." ”

6 I couldn't get used to this kind of relaxation and leisure, and said bluntly: "King Huiji, today is to assess whether Chen Caozhi has real talent and learning, not a clean talk and elegant collection, if Chen Caozhi is a person who sells his reputation and reputation, he should be removed from his scholarly status, and this assessment should have a solemn and solemn atmosphere." ”

Sima Yu said with a smile: "I already know that Chen Caozhi's talent is just for you to see, and it has nothing to do with Chen Caozhi's nationality. ”

6 Shi Dao: "Dare to ask the king of Huiji, both cloud assessment, there is promotion and deposition, if Chen Caozhi can't pass the assessment, what should he do?" ”

Sima Yu obviously didn't think that Chen Caozhi would fail the assessment, since 6 Shi asked like this, he always had to deal with it, and said: "According to the opinion of 6 Shangshu, what should I do?" ”

6 Shi Dao: "If Chen Caozhi fails to pass the assessment, he will be ordered to return to his hometown and will not be allowed to serve for life." ”

Sima Yu said unhappily: "Is it too much? "Guangzhou Thorn History and Benzhou Dazhong Zheng Yu Yun said: "At the beginning of the assessment of the six surnames into the scholarhood, Chen Caozhi was unable to participate in the mourning of his mother, it was the special grace of the king of Huiji, allowing him to enter Beijing after the expiration of the mourning period, and the king of Huiji also said that if Chen Caozhi could not pass the assessment, he would be expelled from the scholar's name, since the king of Huiji was benevolent and did not want to mention the matter of the scholar's nationality, then what the 6 Shangshu said was not unfair, otherwise the assessment would not have become a game? Chen Caozhi is worry-free, how can he make the most of his talents? ”

Yu Yun is Yu Xi's younger brother, three years ago Yu Xi was so angry with Chen Cao that he fell ill and his reputation was damaged, when would Yu Yun not take this opportunity to suppress Chen Caozhi?