This passage from Li Xiang comes from the "Analects 61 Zilu", saying that a man named Fan Chi went to ask Confucius how to farm the land, and Confucius said that he was inferior to the old farmer in this regard, and asked him how to grow vegetables, and Confucius said that he was not as good as a vegetable farmer. After Fan Chi left, Confucius said that Fan Chi was a villain.

The reason why Confucius had such an idea was because he felt that as long as the people in the higher positions attached importance to etiquette, the common people would not dare not be in awe; As long as those in the higher positions attach importance to righteousness, the common people will not dare to disobey; As long as the people in the upper positions value faith, the common people will not dare not treat you with sincerity. If this is done, people from all over the world will come to the country with their children on their backs, and where will they be able to grow their own crops?

This is exactly what Li Xiang wanted to ask Wang Tong, is this really the case?

Wang Tong, of course, memorized the Analects backwards, and studied it all his life, and as soon as Li Xiang said it, he said: "This is exactly what Sage Kong said." He didn't think of this just now, but now Li Xiang actually said it, which happened to be with him for a while.

"Duwei, even the Sage Kong said, ''Villain! Fan Xuye!', it can be seen that he is also not in favor of learning these things. Wang Tong smiled and stroked his beard and looked at Li Xiang.

Mr. Qu relieved himself, and suddenly stood up again and said, "You don't know how to grow crops, what do you eat?" ”

Li Xiang applauded: "That's good! He turned his head to look at Wang Daodao: "Old man, what Mr. Qu said just now really means the following." The reason why Kong Sheng said this was because he felt that as long as he learned poetry, books, etiquette and music, and understood benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom and faith, there would be no more people suffering, and people's lives would be better. ”

"But is that really the case?" Li Xiang's eyes skimmed over the faces of the three of them one by one and said: "For hundreds of years, no matter what dynasty, if the common people didn't know how to grow crops and vegetables, we would probably starve to death long ago, and where would we talk about it here." Is it really useless to learn to farm? ”

"You're misinterpreting the meaning of the saint!" The gentleman behind Wang Tong stood up, blushing and reprimanding: "What Sage Kong said is that scholars should not learn these things, they have learned benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom and faith, just to serve the court, how can they be confused with the untouchables!" ”

Li Xiang was originally smiling and talking, but when he heard the untouchables, his face changed awe-inspiringly, and his eyes stared at him fiercely for a long time. The gentleman opened his mouth, but the rest of the words did not come out.

Li Xiang snorted coldly and said, "What a pariah, let me ask sir, who is a pariah?" Could it be that the ancestor of the gentleman was born a high-ranking official, a scholar? Seeing that this person was a little nervous, he stopped looking at him, and said directly to Wang Dao: "How many of those officials and masters in the court inherited the official position of their fathers and ancestors, and how did their ancestors become officials in today's status, don't they need to eat or farm?" ”

Wang Tong and the others saw that Li Xiang was a little angry, and they also began to worry in their hearts. Originally, it was a debate, but who knew that a word of pariahs would make Li Xiang angry. Wang Tong coughed and wanted to speak, but Li Xiang stopped him directly and continued: "Sage Kong can say such things, it is because he was in the era and had not yet reached the level of cognition like now. Hundreds of years have passed, the court has changed, and the people's ideas have changed again, and they are no longer what they used to be. ”

"Just now, I want to ask a few gentlemen, is it true that the nongists and businessmen have no role except for the scholars?" Li Xiang glared at the one who spoke just now, and the other sat down directly, not daring to speak anymore.

Wang Tong continued: "Shinong industry and commerce, since ancient times, Shi is here to manage the country, of course, the status must be transcendent, otherwise how can the people below listen to them, the country will already be in chaos." ”

"Then I would like to ask Mr. Wang, you said that now you are also running the country, why is there such a boiling of public resentment, and there are rebels everywhere?" Li Xiang asked with a sneer.

"This is because the court did not listen to the opinions of the scholars, and the people suffered, as long as Your Majesty can pay attention to the advice of the scholars and implement benevolent government, the world will definitely be peaceful." Wang Tong himself said a little sadly.

Li Xiang was a little relieved at this time, he estimated that Wang Tong wanted to say that it was the people's problem, but they also said that it was the country's problem, and they did not push these responsibilities to the people, but Li Xiang's opinion of him changed a little. It's just that Wang Tong avoided the important and gave the responsibility to the emperor again, which made Li Xiang laugh a little in his heart. These old masters really have the courage to talk about the emperor.

Li Xiang didn't make an evaluation and said: "Just like Mr. said, since the taxi is here to manage the country, what do the farmers and industrialists do?" ”

Wang Tong was about to speak, and Li Xiang continued: "No farming, no stability, no work, no wealth, no business, no life." Without their hard work, the court would still be scattered, what does Mr. think? ”

Another old man stood up, first gave Li Xiang a salute, peeked at Li Xiang's expression, and saw that he was not very angry now, so he said: "Although what the commander said is true, the premise is that there must be management by the soldiers, and without management, they will not be able to do it." ”

Mr. Qu stood up again and argued: "According to what Mr. said so, in the ancient flood era, the Three Emperors and Five Emperors did not have such a scholar to manage as now, why did there be agriculture and industry since then?" ”

Li Xiang really likes Mr. Qu more and more, this person is really interesting, every time he stands up and speaks out at a critical time, making the three old pedants feel uncomfortable like a fish in his throat. He smiled at Mr. Qu and turned to look at the old man who was talking.

The old man was choked all of a sudden, a little wooden, Wang Tong wanted to open his mouth, but he couldn't find good evidence to refute for a while, and finally had to shut up and get angry there.

Li Xiangcai said: "Mr. Qu said well, stable prosperity is the role of agriculture and industry to the country and the imperial court. ”

He walked to the window, pointed to the green mountains and green waters outside, and said with emotion: "What a good piece of the country this is, our ancestors used their tenacious will and unyielding spirit to leave this rich land for our descendants, and we should protect them well." ”

"Stability shows the indispensable position of farmers. All dynasties have attached importance to introducing or popularizing new varieties of crops, improving agricultural tools, building water conservancy, and compiling agricultural books. Only when the majority of the peasants are well off can the imperial court achieve the goal of long-term peace and stability. ”

Li Xiang began to express his opinion: "Rich, it means that the people who work are also an important group of people, and they have made indelible contributions to the imperial court. From the seats and benches, the pavilions and pavilions of the avenues, to the clothing, food, housing, transportation, and the repair of bridges and roads, where there are no achievements from them, don't these still show their importance? ”

"Speaking of businessmen, everyone says that businessmen are profitable, and it is true that the businessmen themselves are like this, but what does this mean? There are no merchants, let alone the imperial court, can the people who make it have food and clothing? Without trading through them, will we have food and clothing? Without them, would the imperial court have a lot of money to build places and conquer foreigners? Don't you feel how much life and vitality they add to our lives with their minds in various industries? ”

Li Xianghui turned to look at a few people, and said with interest: "I don't know what the kid said, do the old gentlemen agree?" If you agree, then don't separate the Shinong, industrial, and commercial students, they have always been a whole, people of the same status. ”

After listening to what Li Xiang said, Wuwu's eyes sparkled, she had already known Li Xiang's ability, but she was still moved by his words, what an amazing person this is, how many novel things are in his mind. In this era of learning and excellence, he was able to make such a sonorous and powerful voice, and he felt free to admire him.

The eldest grandson Wuji and Wei Zheng were also shocked by Li Xiang, and Li Xiang, who had repeatedly created miracles, changed their cognition again. It's not that no one knows such a truth, it's just that no one dares to stand up and say these things. In their eyes, the current Li Xiang is like a hero who has been admired by tens of millions of people, fearless.

However, Mr. Qu was as excited as ever, and after listening to what Li Xiang said, he applauded vigorously, forgetting that he was still a sick child, and coughed violently without saying a word.

The three old gentlemen were a little angry, but they couldn't open their mouths, and in the end they could only watch Li Xiang's smug smile. Wang Tong had no choice but to sigh and say: "Du Wei's words are sharp, and the old man admires it." But I don't know what this has to do with what we're going to debate today. ”

When the other two heard this, they seemed to have found confidence immediately, and they also followed: "Yes, what we are going to talk about today is about what books are taught in the academy, and they all talk about him left and right." ”

Li Xiang smiled and said, "It's related, it's a big deal." He strode to the sofa and said, "Since the scholars and farmers and merchants are all pillars of the imperial court, why can the academy of the imperial court only teach things about scholars, but ignore the content of agriculture and industry?" ”

Li Xiang picked up a set of textbooks prepared by Wei Zheng from the table, and pointed: "The kid has the courage to compile this textbook, because he sees the shortcomings in this aspect of the academy at present, so he asks the students to learn these agricultural and industrial things, and after they are successful in learning, they can make more contributions to the imperial court." ”

The three old men were even more speechless, it turned out that Li Xiang had said so much and was waiting for them here. How did they know that Li Xiang had studied the debate very thoroughly in that era, what arguments and arguments, how to organize language, how to lure the other party to follow him, it was a whole set of processes, and Li Xiang was more than enough to deal with them.

Originally, Li Xiang was worried that these three people would quote scriptures and say something to him, but he was really afraid that he would not be able to understand the meaning clearly, who knew that people were not like that at all, so he would simply attack the city directly.

"Is this really useful?" Wang Tong is a great Confucian in the end, and after thinking for a while, he stood up and looked at Li Xiang and asked, "After learning this, is it really good for the court and the people?" ”

Li Xiang nodded heavily and said, "Yes, it must be useful." It's just that the kid is young and ignorant, and he doesn't know how useful it will be, so someone needs to constantly improve and supplement it. Li Xiang knew that he had won this time, so he lowered his posture and became a good student again.

Wang Tongtong took the textbook in his hand, touched it gently, closed his eyes and thought about it again for a long time, then sighed and said: "That's it, you have convinced the old man, then follow what the captain said!" ”

Li Xiang was overjoyed in his heart, but his face was still very calm: "Thank you for the old gentlemen's approval, the kid will definitely build the academy well and live up to the gentlemen's ardent expectations." ”

Wang Tong nodded, and said with some hesitation: "The old man still has a reluctant request, and I hope that Du Wei can agree." ”

Li Xiang frowned slightly inadvertently, and then asked, "Sir, please speak." ”

Wang Tong said for a long time: "The old man also knows that the new things that Du Wei said are useful, but the old man still begs Du Wei not to give up teaching the six arts, those are also useful!" The old man is here to thank the captain for those students. ”

Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, it turned out that Wang Tong was worried that after this debate, Li Xiang would ask the academy to no longer teach the six arts of Confucianism. He hurriedly stretched out his hand to help Wang Tong up, and said sincerely: "Sir, you are a great Confucian in the world, how can the kid withstand your gift." Sir, please rest assured, Li Xiang will definitely not give up teaching the six arts. However, the boy also asked Mr. for something, and hoped that Mr. would agree. ”

Wang Tong was also stunned, looking at Li Xiang and waiting for the following.

Li Xiangle said hehehe: "Since the three old gentlemen are already teaching students in the academy, then Li Xiang wants to officially hire the three gentlemen to come to the academy as the seniors who teach the six arts, and please ask the three of them to agree!" Li Xiangye also gave a formal salute to the three of them.

Wang Tong and the three of them, and even the others stood there stunned.

After a long time, Wang Tongcai said: "I don't dare to ask for it!" ”