Gu Kaizhi, Liu Shangwei, and Chen Shang were quite surprised when they heard Kong Wang say that they wanted to talk to Chen Caozhi alone, I don't know what this Kong Wang wants to talk about with Chen Caozhi, could it be that this Kong Wang still wants to marry 6 Wei Rui? Well, it is very likely, otherwise Kong Wang would not have entered Beijing at this time, this is obviously to compete with Chen Caozhi, it is really annoying - Chen Caozhi's expression did not move, and he said to Gu Kaizhi: "Annoying Changkang to find a quiet place for me and Brother Kong." ”

Gu Kaizhi said: "Zizhong and Brother Deze will meet in this study, I will go to the small garden with the third brother and Shang Zhi for a stroll for a while, at this time at the beginning of tomorrow, just chanting." ”

After Gu Kaizhi and the three left, there were only Chen Caozhi and Kong Wang in the study, Chen Caozhi's little servant Huang Xiaotong and the little scholar brought by Kong Wang also retreated to the door to wait, the study was silent for a while, the oil lamp was yellow, and the moonlight was separated from the window.

Chen Caozhi quietly looked at Kong Wang, who was sitting five feet opposite, to see what he had to say?

Kong Wang bowed slightly, and said bluntly: "I am here only to learn literature and art with Brother Chen——"

Chen Caozhi said lightly: "Dare to ask how to learn?" ”

Kong Wang said: "Only talk about metaphysics and scriptures, as for calligraphy, there is no need to learn." ”

Chen Caozhi smiled slightly, and said in his heart: "This Kong Wang is quite generous, just saw the book of "Ming Shenghu Treatise on Xuanji" copied by the clerk of the Qiantang County Bureau, as my handwriting, thinking that the words are inferior, and the victory is not martial, Kong Wang naturally thinks that his talent is much higher than mine, and asks to learn from me alone, which should be regarded as saving face for me, so as not to lose face in front of my friends." Said: "Calligraphy is one of the six arts of the gentleman, I am the most important calligraphy, this is a must be learned, the mystery is small, the calligraphy is real, the advantages and disadvantages are easy to distinguish." ”

Kong Wang raised his eyebrows and said in his heart: "Since you yourself asked for a calligraphy test, then what else do I have to say." He nodded and said, "Okay, let's learn from the three of Xuanxuan, scriptures, and calligraphy." ”

Chen Caozhi asked: "Are there any restrictions?" For example, after the art is decided—"

Kong Wang said: "There is no need to restrict anything, and it is not a gamble, everyone can do it in their hearts."

Chen Caozhi had a good impression of Kong Wang, who met for the first time, not arrogant or impatient, with a graceful bearing, Kong Wang did not say that whoever lost the art would quit Jiankang and other conditions, and he was very gentlemanly and convincing people with virtue.

Chen Caozhi said: "Okay, please ask Brother Kong to ask the question." ”

Kong Wang said: "Let's talk about the scriptures first, each side has a question, say its source, and try to discuss it-" is the question: ""Yi" can not take risks, where does this phrase come from? What is it? ”

Kong Wang knows that a student like Chen Caozhi who comes from a poor family should be very familiar with "Poems" and "Treatises", and it is not easy to be stumped, and some of the voluminous works such as the Spring and Autumn Three Legends have not been read at all, because the number of words is large, it is difficult to transcribe, and the general assessment does not require the Spring and Autumn Three Transmissions, so Kong Wang will test Chen Caozhi with the difficulties in "Zuo's Spring and Autumn", and this question also involves "Zhou Yi", which can be described as a double problem, Kong Wang wants to use this question to make Chen Caozhi difficult to retreat-

But I heard Chen Caozhi's response: "This sentence comes from the "Zuo's Spring and Autumn Period", in the twelfth year of Zhaogong, Nan Kuai will be sentenced, and he will get the "Kun" three of the "Than" three, saying: "Huangshang Yuanji", thinking that it is auspicious, and the son of Huibo said: 'I try to learn this, and the faithful thing can be, otherwise it will be defeated', the outside is strong and the inside is warm, and the loyalty is also; And with the rate of Zhen, the letter also, so it is called 'Huangshang Yuanji', and the husband "Yi" can not take risks, what will happen? ——”

Kong Wang was quite surprised, and said in his heart: "This Chen Caozhi can be regarded as well-read and strong-remembered, and he is also a small talent, not a person who is completely famous." Question: "Please talk about it." ”

Chen Caozhi: "The sage wrote "Yi", showing people good luck and evil, saying 'good faith', not 'profit and not chastity'; "The Analects of Zilu" "does not accept its virtue, or inherits the shame", Zi said "do not occupy it", Zheng Kangcheng noted that "Yi" is so auspicious and vicious, and there is no permanent person, "Yi" does not occupy it" can be corroborated with Zifu Huibo language. ”

Kong Wang is now very surprised, it is not uncommon to have read "Zuo's Spring and Autumn", but he can quote classics and analyze them in detail, and Chen Caozhi still answers without thinking and answering in response.

Kong Wang immediately looked at Chen Caozhi with admiration, leaned forward slightly, and praised: "Brother Chen answered well, please ask Brother Chen to ask the question." ”

Chen Caozhi thought for a while, and said: "I haven't seen what I want, why is it not lustful?" - Where does the language come from? Let's try again. ”

Kong Wang frowned, trying to think, will Ji Kong's origin Qufu Kong's, family history, the collection of books is very rich, known as the first of the three Wu, Kong Wang is also extremely studious, the famous works of the past dynasties have been involved, at this time in the heart of the "I don't see what I want, why is it not lustful" silently recited twice, and said slowly: "The words of Sima Xiangru "Beauty Fu" - the ancient avoidance of color, the disciples of Confucius and Mencius, hearing the gift of Qi to the girl and passing away, looking at the song and returning to the car, such as waterproof fire, avoiding drowning in the corner of the mountain, this is not desired, why is it not lustful? ”

Chen Caozhi smiled and said, "Brother Confucius has seen and recited, admired. ”

Kong Wang pondered for a while, and said: "The meaning of this statement is, if you don't taste it yourself, you will have no true knowledge, discipline yourself and self-denial, empty words, the preciousness of the husband, the difficulty of fate, you don't see what you want, you don't know how to love, you don't know what you don't have, and you are still full of things?" ——This is Sima Xiangru's misinterpretation of the master's words, and I dare not agree with it. ”

Kong Wang visited Chen Caozhi at night, and wanted to make Chen Caozhi retreat in terms of knowledge, he himself is indeed very knowledgeable, compared to the 6 birds, He Zhu, far better, not to mention Chu Wenqian, Chu Wenbin and others can compare.

Chen Caozhi praised: "Brother Confucius has a good solution, please ask Brother Kong to come up with another question." ”

Kong Wang completely put away his contempt for Chen Caozhi at this time, thought about it, and said: "'Everyone in the world knows that beauty is beauty, and evil is self; We all know that what is good is good, and what is not good is not good to ourselves. Therefore, there is no mutual birth, difficulty and ease are compatible, long and short are comparative, high and low are inclined to each other, sound and sound are harmonious, and there is a front and back', please Brother Chen try to discuss it. ”

This is the simple positive and negative theory of "Lao Tzu", Chen Cao's way: "Knowing beauty is beauty, and it is not evil either; Knowing what is good is good, and not being good is not good. Words of goodness mean that there is evil in the connotation of words, and good words mean that there is not goodness in the connotation of words, joy and anger have the same root, right and wrong are the same, and they cannot be biased. ”

In a few words, the pros and cons of "Lao Tzu" were clearly and thoroughly explained, and the argument was irrefutable, Kong Wang sighed and said: "Brother Chen is talented, I can't do it." ”

Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "How dare you call yourself a great talent, I just happened to think about beauty and evil, good and badness." ”

Kong Wang also cited "Zhou Yi", "Zhuangzi", "Jiao's Yilin", "Erya" and the discussion of the ancestors Wenfu and Chen Caozhi, Chen Caozhi has to answer questions, respond to them like a sound, Kong Wang is the more he talks, the more happy he is, Jiang Zuo's younger generation he asked himself erudite not to be the second person to think, I didn't expect to meet Chen Caozhi tonight, erudite knowledge, quoting classics, let him be like a spring day on the mountain**, there is a sense of dizziness.

Kong Wang leaned forward, unconsciously moved closer and closer, and talked with Chen Caozhi on his knees-

Gu Kaizhi walked with Chen Shang and Liu Shangzhi in the small garden, reciting the new poem "Spring water is full of Size, summer clouds are full of strange peaks, the autumn moon is bright and bright, and Dongling is beautiful and cold pine", although Chen Shang and Liu Shangzhi praised him, but he felt that he was not happy, or Chen Caozhi's "wonderful" can increase his poetic interest, and he sighed under the moon for a while, and said: "I don't know what Kong Deze and Zizhong talked about, it should be finished, let's go back." ”

When the three of them returned to the small courtyard of the study, they heard Kong Wang and Chen Caozhi talking happily in the study, and at this time they were discussing the topic of the emperor's fugue, Gu Kaizhi was very interested, and immediately joined the discussion, Chen Shang and Liu Shangzhi occasionally interjected a few words, and the five of them were concentrating, and the more they argued, the more enthusiastic they became, and before they knew it, there were three watches in the night.

Xiaochan and Gillian both came to wait outside the study, Gillian knocked on the door to remind Liu Shangwei, and when she saw that no one was paying attention, she raised her voice again: "Ah, it's all three watches-" The voice dragged on.

Kong Wang heard it and exclaimed, "Is it the third watch!" ”

Gu Kaizhi was getting more and more energetic as the night deepened, and at this time he was talking enthusiastically, and said: "It's okay, why not talk all night long." ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Changkang, there is something to do tomorrow, and it is not appropriate to talk all night." ”

Kong Wang got up and said, "Then I'm going to say goodbye." Come over and hold Chen Caozhi's hand, and said sincerely: "Brother Zizhong's talent, I really can't do it, I misheard the words of others, thinking that Brother Zizhong is a person who suddenly has his own appearance and sells his reputation and reputation. ”

Chen Caozhi held his hand and said with a smile: "I want to do what I want." ”

Kong Wang was very happy, and was about to say goodbye and leave, when he suddenly picked up the volume of "Ming Shenghu Treatise on Xuanji" on the bookcase, and asked: "Who wrote the words on this?" ”

Chen Caozhi replied: "Last year, Xie Youdu asked for this book, but I couldn't copy it, so I asked the county clerk to copy it on my behalf." ”

Kong Wang smiled unconsciously, and said: "Dare to ask Brother Zizhong to take a look at his calligraphy." ”

Chen Caozhi took a few newly written "A Volume of Ice and Snow Literature" and read it with Kong Wang, Kong Wang shook his head while reading, and sighed: "Brother Zizhong's calligraphy is clear and free, unique, and the book is also above me, I mistakenly believe the words of others, and I think what I see is true, and I almost put myself in an embarrassing place. ”

Kong Wang's implication is that if Chen Caozhi takes advantage of his credulous and contemptuous mentality and intends to compete with him in public, then he will be very bad.

Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Brother Deze said this, Brother Deze is knowledgeable and pleasant, I have benefited a lot from talking tonight, and I will ask Brother Deze for advice in the future." ”

Gu Kaizhi was also very happy to see that Kong Wang and Chen Caozhi had become friends after talking, and after talking for a while, he and Chen Cao sent Kong Wang out of the house, and they often exchanged appointments.

The moon is in the heart of the sky, the spring night is cold, and when he got into the car, Kong Wang whispered to Chen Caozhi: "I sincerely wish Brother Zizhong a good couple soon." ”

When Gu Kaizhi heard this, he was smiling, happier than Chen Caozhi.