Luoyang's typhoon shelter teahouse is always the most lively after feeding every night. In particular, on the 15th, a new issue of the "Luoyang Times" was published, and many people and scholars in Luoyang would gather here to talk about the news in the newspaper and the current affairs of the country.

Many scholars from other places who came to Luoyang to participate in the imperial examination also came to the typhoon shelter to drink tea, chat, and play chess games. Liu Wei and Liu Xie's brothers went out of the palace in micro-suits, and if they wanted to see the demeanor of the scholars who entered the Beijing examination, the typhoon shelter was naturally the first choice.

The typhoon shelter is built next to the Luo River, adjacent to Mingtang and Biyong, and is divided into three floors, the first floor is the hall, and the second and third floors are private rooms, which are specially prepared for those who like to be quiet and do not want to be disturbed.

However, those who come to the typhoon shelter to drink tea and chat like to sit in the lobby on the first floor. There are many imperial students who are too academic, and they often sit in the hall after class, talking and showing their talents. In addition, those businessmen and officials, ordinary people, and people with opinions expressed their opinions, heated debates occurred from time to time, and there were also talented people who talked eloquently, attracting everyone's attention.

After Liu Xie followed Liu Wei to the typhoon shelter, he was immediately infected by the lively atmosphere in the hall, and he had to sit in the hall with Liu Wei.

Liu Wei doesn't like to sit in the hall and drink tea, there are too many acquaintances here, and it is easy to reveal his identity.

Xun Qu, the shopkeeper of the typhoon shelter not far in front of him, had met him when the typhoon shelter opened, and he had also spoken at the opening ceremony of Taixue in the Han Empire, so maybe some Taixue students would still recognize him. Mixed among the people, several officials who are also visiting Weifu are also familiar.

Although Liu Wei tried his best to go upstairs to drink tea in the private room, he still couldn't stand Liu Xie's hard pleading, so he found an inconspicuous place in the hall and sat down.

A young scribe at the table next to him was talking, attracting the attention of many people in the neighborhood, and Liu Xie was also interested, leaning sideways and listening carefully to what the young scribe was saying.

It is the hottest topic in the Han Empire today - the imperial examination.

"It is an unprecedented thing for the Son of Heaven to open the imperial examination to take scholars, and we and other poor children can enter the government to serve the country by virtue of their talents, and they no longer need to rely on others, which is really good governance!"

The young scribe was dressed in a cyan robe, without a crown and hat on his head, and he looked less than twenty years old, and Liu Wei speculated that he should be a student of Imperial Taixue.

A scribe in his mid-thirties next to him interjected and interrupted the student's impassioned speech.

"The national electors have always paid attention to virtue, if they are all based on their talents, how can they ensure the moral integrity of the officials?"

Compared with young people, who are more receptive to new things, older people tend to be more conservative, especially those with vested interests in the old system who have a tendency to become officials through expropriation and inspection, and still have reservations about the imperial examinations.

However, even those who oppose the imperial examination in their hearts do not dare to openly contradict the main theme of the imperial examination, which is the prosperity of the country and the long-awaited public. The words of the middle-aged scribe only talked about the disadvantages of the imperial examination.

Rao is like this, the face of the Tai student still shows dissatisfaction, and he asked coldly: "It seems that Your Excellency should have become an official through inspection or recruitment." ”

The middle-aged scribe's face turned red and replied, "I was dismissed by Situ Huangwan as Dong Cao Peng, but at this time he was just a tea guest. ”

Tai Xue showed an exaggerated expression, and said with a sneer: "I see! ”

Dong Cao Peng is actually just a petty official of more than 200 stones, and he is inconspicuous in Luoyang, the capital city where there are many powerful people, but at this moment, in the eyes of the Tai students, he has become a representative of the conservative forces that hinder the fair entry of scholars in the world.

Dong Cao Peng's face was purple with anger, he just put forward the disadvantages of the imperial examination on a case-by-case basis, and he had no intention of opposing the imperial examination, and the appearance of the Tai student seemed to be saying that he had entered the official through the conquest, so he became a dissident who blocked the imperial examination and became the enemy of the world's scholars!

Dong Cao Peng said angrily: "Although I have become an official, I am not opposed to the imperial examination. It's just that the Han Dynasty has always been virtuous and honest, and values a person's filial piety and honesty, if the country only blindly pays attention to talent and learning, it will only be corrupt officials and corrupt officials! ”

Not to be outdone, Tai Xue said-for-tat: "Those who enter the imperial examination are those who are highly talented, and those who can become famous are well-educated people who are familiar with the books of sages, how can they become corrupt officials!" ”

Dong Cao Peng sneered and said, "A learned person does not mean that he is virtuous. Qin Prime Minister Li Si was a senior disciple of the Confucian Xunzi, expelled guests, made Qin laws, unified weights and measures, and helped Qin Shi Huang sweep away the six countries. Outstanding meritorious service, extraordinary talent. However, he was virtuous and despicable, not only jealous and killed his classmate Han Fei, but also suggested that Qin Shi Huang burn books and pit Confucianism, and even after the death of the first emperor, he overthrew the country and finally beheaded him in the city. ”

Dong Cao Peng gave the example of Li Si, leaving the Tai student speechless. At this time, a scribe in Tsing Yi who was sitting next to Liu Wei and the others said casually: "The usurper Wang Mang is not humble and gentle, and the world praises him. ”

The words of the scribe in Tsing Yi were not loud, but the people around him could hear them clearly. Dong Cao Peng was speechless for a while, but the students came to their senses like an empowerment, and shouted happily: "Indeed, indeed!" Before Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, how could his virtue not be praised, if the court won people with virtue, I am afraid that there would be countless usurper thieves! ”

Tai Xue's words were exaggerated, but it also made Dong Cao Peng speechless. The Tsing Yi scribe reversed the situation with a word, and couldn't help but let Liu Wei and the others at the next table look at him a few more times.

The green-clothed scribe looked like a weak crown year, his face was like a crown of jade, his eyebrows were very shallow, his chin was beardless, he was wearing a set of cyan robes, lined with a blue-gray straight robe, his eyes were blazing, and his face was heroic.

Looking at the appearance, you can see that it is not an ordinary person, Liu Wei was looking for an opportunity to get to know the Tsing Yi scribe, and a person at the table next to the Tsing Yi scribe suddenly said: "The saint educates the Quartet with virtue, and the Han Dynasty has respected the words of the saint in all dynasties, and won the scholar with virtue." Although Wang Mang and his ilk usurped the Han and established themselves on the way, how could they abandon food because of choking and deviate from the way of the sage. ”

moved out of the Confucian sage, and bluntly pointed out that the imperial examination of the imperial court based on talent is against the way of the sage. This person spoke boldly and couldn't help but attract the attention of everyone in the teahouse.

Liu Bian's eyes looked over, and found that the person who spoke seemed to be around thirty years old, wearing a crown and hat, wearing a yellow robe, a square face, a long beard and hanging down his chest, and there was a gray-clothed scribe sitting next to him, with a gray scarf on his head, a thin face, and the yellow-clothed scribe sitting together as if he was his friend, but he seemed to be deaf to the yellow-clothed scribe's astonishing words, bowing his head and tasting the fragrance of tea, with a detached appearance floating in the world.

The words of the yellow-clothed scribe were entirely aimed at the Tsing Yi scribe. When the green-clothed scribe heard this, he couldn't help but put down his teacup and glanced at them. Then he smiled slightly, and said softly: "Time has changed, the master teaches the Quartet with virtue, and the court is not as good as virtue in the peaceful and prosperous world." However, at this time, the world is in turmoil, a group of thieves are swarming, and what is the use of talking about virtue under the collapse of etiquette. ”

The yellow-clothed scribe shook his head again and again, and said: "The country has been eroded so far, and it is precisely because of the immorality of the superiors and the rampant corruption of officials and cruel officials that the national disasters have continued. The imperial court will no longer appoint virtuous people, clear politics, and the day of the death of the country will not be long in coming! ”

The Tsing Yi scribe retorted: "Your Excellency's argument is really alarmist. Chen Ping's stealing of his sister-in-law is contrary to human morality, but Gaozu doesn't care about it, and still uses his talents to calm the world. Virtue should not be the only criterion for the imperial court, you should first choose their talents to learn, and then look at their virtues. ”

"If this is the case, how can we ensure that the officials elected by the imperial court will not be corrupt and pervert the law, and prey on the people?" The yellow-robed scribe asked.

The Tsing Yi scribe replied, "Law." ”

Then he further said: "The laws of the country are perfect, the punishment is clear, and the traitors will not dare to act rashly, and the court can use their talents and restrain their actions." ”

The law restricts the behavior of others, but does not rely on personal moral consciousness. The idea of the scribe in Tsing Yi was very much in line with Liu Wei's idea of governing the country, and he couldn't help but nod his head again and again after hearing it.

After Liu Xie heard this, he muttered on the side: "The rule of law is afraid of betraying the way of the sage." ”

Liu Wei couldn't help frowning when he heard this.

At this time, the gray-clothed scribe who had been silent suddenly spoke: "Qin's laws are numerous and strict, and the people's every move is restricted, and finally they can bear the pain and rise up. Qin died here. In the past, Gaozu learned the lessons of the death of Qin, treated the people leniently, and made three chapters of the law, and finally won the hearts of the people, so as to settle the pass. If the country is governed by what Your Excellency says, won't it be the disaster of the destruction of the Qin Dynasty and the destruction of the country? ”

The scribe in Tsing Yi looked at the gray-clothed scribe's words, shook his head and denied: "Your Excellency only saw Qin Yijun's law destroy the country, but you can know that the reason why Qin was able to sweep away the six kingdoms was because Qin changed the law from Shang Yang to become stronger, and gathered internal forces to subdue the Quartet and unify the world." Now that it is a troubled time, the imperial court naturally has to follow the Qin government in order to bring peace to the world. Therefore, in troubled times, we should use heavy classics, and we should use talents to employ people. ”

"Good!" The words of the scribe in Tsing Yi completely reached Liu Wei's heart, and he couldn't help but high-five.

Fortunately, the people around him also agreed with the views of the Tsing Yi scribes and applauded, and no one noticed them, so their identities were not revealed.

The gray-clothed scribe was not persuaded, but continued to argue: "Qin won the world with deceit, but it did not last. Although it prospers with the law, it also dies because of the law. In the past, when Baili Xi was in phase, he did not sit and ride, there was no cover in the summer, there was no guard when he traveled, and the people of the country heard his death, and no one did not mourn. And Shang Yang is the phase, and the travel car armor is full of soldiers, so he does not dare to go out. The reason for this is that because of Baili Xi's moral administration, the people of the country love him, and Shang Ying's execution, although the people are resentful. Don't you see that Shang Ying, Han Fei, Wu Qi and other people who practice the way of Legalism can finally get a good death? Those who hold virtue prosper, and those who hold strength die. Although Qin is strong with the law, it also planted the cause of the country's demise. ”

The yellow-clothed scribe also interjected at this time and said: "The master advocates ruling the world with virtue, so that people can cultivate themselves with virtue, so as to govern with benevolence, this is the realm of the inner saint and the outer king that the master talked about!" ”

The scribe in Tsing Yi replied next: "The world is in turmoil, the country is in danger, at this time, it should be treated with fierce medicine, how can it be empty to talk about cultivating virtue......

The three of them came and went, fighting with each other, and the topic extended from the imperial examination to govern the country and level the world, and Liu Wei gradually heard the difference in the ideological views held by the three people. The yellow-clothed scribes were upright and advocated the Confucian ideology of the inner sage and the outer king. Although the scribes in Tsing Yi strongly supported the rule of law, Liu Wei heard that he was more inclined to the Mohists with a pragmatic spirit, and when to do something, the rule of law would be used in troubled times, and Confucianism would rule the world in prosperous times. When the common people are hungry, they should find a way to feed them, instead of talking about benevolence. This practical spirit for the country and the people is very much appreciated by Liu Bian.

The gray-clothed scribes, on the other hand, focused on the poor in words, and were not as good as the Taoist ideology of keeping the center. In today's turmoil, the status of traditional Confucianism has been greatly challenged. Many people began to consider other ways to save the country, and various trends of thought were rampant in society, coupled with Liu Bian's deliberate attempt to break the ideological dominance of Confucianism and encourage a hundred schools of thought to contend, this debate in the teahouse is a microcosm of the collision of various ideas in society.

The three people discussed the wonderful, and the people in the teahouse were gradually attracted to them, and even the Tai student and Dong Cao Peng, who initially caused the debate, stared intently at the debate of the three, and when it came to the highlights, some people couldn't help but applaud.

In the end, the yellow-clothed scribe was slightly less talented than the other two, and the number of times he spoke was less, and only the Tsing Yi scribe and the gray-clothed scribe were still fighting each other.

When the two of them met each other in chess, they spoke dryly, and they poured tea one after another regardless of their image, and it was difficult to tell the winner even if the two of them debated for three days and three nights. The scribe in Tsing Yi suddenly smiled and said loudly: "The two sages are quick in thinking and have extraordinary knowledge, and they are beyond the reach of the dust. It is a blessing of life to be taught high theories today! ”

The scribe in Tsing Yi took the initiative to admit his defeat, and the scribe in gray was stunned at first, and then said with a smile: "Your Excellency is far more talented than us, and it is my two brothers who have been taught." ”

The yellow-clothed scribe also bowed humbly to the Tsing Yi scribe, and the two sides shook hands and made peace, and the Tsing Yi scribe asked: "Today, I dare to ask what the names of the two high sages are?" ”

The yellow-clothed scribe replied, "Shi Tao in Xiayingchuan." ”

The gray-clothed scribe smiled silently, and the green-clothed scribe looked at him, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly smiled strangely, and said: "Gao Xian doesn't say it, but I also know who Gao Xian is?" ”

The gray-clothed scribe was startled, and the yellow-clothed scribe looked at each other in amazement, and the yellow-clothed scribe asked cautiously, "Your Excellency is ......?"

The scribe in Tsing Yi replied: "In Xiayingchuan, Guo Fengxiao." To be continued, stay tuned for the next chapter.