The title of the second question comes from Mencius's "Wholeheartedly Chapter and Sentences": "It is better to believe in the book than to have no book." ”

The examinee who saw this test paper wrote: "Whoever reads the scriptures should be in my conscience and take them for the benefit of learning, then there are thousands of scriptures, upside down, and they are all for my use." When it comes to attachment, it is bound by it, although it may be beneficial to the development of special visions, not without it for a while, but the will to see, flow into the latent, cover the obstacle of conscience, and those who are not aware of it. ”

"yes, that's a good point." Shi Xiu couldn't help but praise again.

Isn't this passage in the same vein as Mencius's "It is better to believe in a book than to have no book"? Nowadays, some scholars are superstitious about the Confucian classics to the point of taking them as the norm, and they use the Confucian classics as the yardstick for their own behavior, and act in accordance with the classics. This is something that Shi Xiu and the others disapprove of, and they feel that this is the loss of "self", that is, their original heart.

The words of a saint are good, but how to understand them varies from person to person; How to use it also varies from person to person. The idea that "it's all for my use" mentioned in this article is exactly what they usually think. They feel that the "me" who reads is the most important thing; The "Confucian classics" are only foreign objects.

This statement is in the same vein as the previous theory, and it expounds in more depth the importance of the "original heart".

"Good article, good article." Lu Jiuyuan was also amazed.

"Take a look at the trial poem." Seeing that Lu Jiuyuan was excited and the test papers were all closed, Peng Shicheng suddenly became anxious, grabbed the test paper and opened it to see.

Several people are curious: how should the candidates who can write these two articles write the test poems?

"The rolling Yangtze River is passing away, and the waves are sweeping away the heroes. Success or failure turns empty. The green mountains are still there, and the sunset is red several times. On the white-haired fisherman river, accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. A pot of turbid wine is happy to meet. How many things in ancient and modern times are laughing and talking. ”

"Good, good, good." Lu Jiuyuan said six good words in a row, and then he felt that the breath he was holding in his heart was finally exhausted.

They are all in their fifties and sixties, and they have gone through most of their lives, and they have the most thorough understanding of fame and fortune. Isn't it just "success or failure turns empty", only to see "the green mountains are still there, how many degrees of sunset is red"? This poem is a complete portrayal of their state of mind. Even if there are no previous two articles, even for this test poem, they have to consider giving this test paper a good ranking.

Lu Jiuyuan really couldn't express his love for this test paper, and slapped the desk, "I want to take him as the first place." As he spoke, he picked up the pen and drew a circle on the test paper, writing the words "meritorious". These two words are written like dragons and phoenixes, just like his flying mood at the moment.

Shi Xiu was the most sane of the three. Seeing Lu Jiuyuan finish writing, his mind cleared up.

He asked Lu Jiuyuan, "Have you made up your mind?" You must know that this time there is also Qi Yuandao's grandson who participated in the hospital examination. If his article is also outstanding, it is not appropriate to take this person as the head of the case. ”

The scholar of Gui Province is Zhao Liang, and Zhao Liang is a disciple of Qi Yuandao. The reason why he was able to invite Lu Jiuyuan to be the marking officer was that he felt that Lu Jiuyuan could serve as the marking officer regardless of his knowledge and character, which was an affirmation of Lu Jiuyuan's personality and learning. The difference between an ordinary famous teacher and a great Confucian lies in whether he has been repeatedly invited to be the marker of the imperial examination. Lu Jiuyuan can be invited to be the marking officer, which can be regarded as stepping into the ranks of Confucianism.

Lu Jiuyuan is now not comparable to Qi Yuandao in terms of prestige, he can't ignore this invitation, he has to accept Zhao Liang's great affection. Therefore, if Lu Jiuyuan can't take Qi Yuandao's grandson as the head of the case, he will not be able to explain to Zhao Liang at all.

When Lu Jiuyuan heard this, he also had a trace of hesitation. But in a split second he made a decision: "Just take this." ”

They are scholars, they have faith in their hearts, and they are the least willing to be bound by worldly power. If he took Qi Yuandao's grandson as the head of the case in order to make Zhao Liang happy, and gave up this article, his theory, and the arrogance of the literati, he would despise himself and would never be happy for the rest of his life.

He is the head of the academy, and he is not an official, so there is no need to please the officials with a clear conscience. Moreover, although he admired Qi Yuandao's knowledge, he respected him as a great Confucian. But if Qi Yuandao suppressed him in the poetry and literature world because he didn't take his grandson as the head of the case, then Qi Yuandao's personality would also be ashamed of him. For such a person to violate his morality and conscience, he Lu Jiuyuan has not been humble to that point.

Moreover, now that he has this article, the fog that had been covering his eyes has dissipated, and the boulder that was blocking his heart has been removed, and he has a very strong urge to go back to writing the article. When he writes a few articles to expound his views and create a new school, his status may be comparable to or even surpass Qi Yuandao. Because Qi Yuandao was not the founder of the school, he was just a follower of Zhang Zai Daru and an advocate of his doctrine.

Of course, he was not alone in the founder of this school, and he would not erase the great credit of those who wrote these two articles. If that person has a perfect theory, then he, Shi Xiu, and Peng Shicheng are his supporters, and they will carry forward this theory together; If that person's theory is not very perfect, then the four of them will build this school together. But no matter what they do, the contributions of the three of them to the school are indelible.

Thinking of this, he was in a surging mood and couldn't help himself.

Peng Shicheng also considered the pros and cons clearly, and what he was worried about was not the problem that Shi Xiu said, but another: "This article must not be written by Qi Yuandao's grandson." ”

Lu Jiuyuan was stunned for a moment, looked at the test paper, and frowned.

But no, if this article was written by Qi Yuandao's grandson, then the dazzling light would not be theirs, but Qi Yuandao's. Although they are indifferent to fame and fortune, they have opened a sect in learning, and this kind of honor can no longer be taken away by Qi Yuandao.

Shi Xiu also turned the corner at this time, his face changed twice, and he finally shook his head and said, "Impossible." I've heard of Qi Yuandao's grandson, but he's just a hairy boy in his early twenties. Although he has a family history and is also smart, he is impetuous, likes to sell his reputation and reputation, and is determined to take a small three yuan. Originally, he was a child in the last session and could participate in the college examination, but Zhao Liang was not a scholar at that time, and the marking officer sent down had always been at odds with Qi Yuandao in terms of learning, and he once wrote an article to fight a scolding war, and Qi Xiaozi immediately pretended to be sick and withdrew from the exam. ”

It was he who knew this, so he reminded Lu Jiuyuan just now, for fear that his friend would offend people because he didn't know.

But now that his mind has turned, he can't wait to pray that this article was not written by Qi Yuandao's grandson. can be a great Confucian who can start a sect, who is afraid of the Qi family.