The process of laying the foundation is quite boring.

After the ritual of the Holy Ancestor began, the crowd of state scholars silently quieted down.

After all, the face of the Holy Master has to be given.

Ouyang Rong led them through a series of complicated rituals.

After the ceremony.

Ouyang Rong turned his head and spoke in public according to the draft he had prepared last night.

The general content is to first review the experience of studying hard in the cold window according to their own experience, and then praise the exemplary and outstanding students in the state school in the next few years, and finally encourage the corporals to make persistent efforts to enter the high school in the coming year.

Well, look to the past, grasp the present, and look to the future.

The elements are complete, and you can leave satisfied.

But the excited students gathered today will not let him "leave satisfied" so easily.

In the process of speaking, Ouyang Rong looked at Yue Ziang in front of the crowd below, who had a determined expression on his face.

There was a burst of boos from the audience, and in the midst of the uproar, a scholar shouted: "Don't give us tai chi, as a parent official in Jiangzhou, why do you want to help the abuse!" ”

The sick fox Bai Qiu Changshi did not squint, and his slow and gentle tone remained unchanged,

During this time, the scholars continued to boo.

Ouyang Rong finished speaking word for word, what should be said.

Then, after he finished speaking, he silently looked at the excited crowd of scholars below.

Ouyang Rong did not wear an official robe today, and his face was pale and weak, but his calm eyes seemed to have some kind of unpredictable majesty in people's hearts.

The clamor of the crowd quickly stopped.

It's just that some scholars seem to be dissatisfied with the leakage, and increase the boos, and the sporadic boos bring up the majority.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the scholars who were looking up in the audience and pursed his mouth.

Suddenly moved and walked down the "condescending" high platform.

"Mingfu, it's not safe down there." Yan Rokuro stepped forward.

Ouyang Rong was silent and pushed away the arm he had stopped.

Xie Lingjiang took the skirt knife that the senior brother took off and temporarily deposited, and followed his back with the sword.

Ouyang Rong was dressed lightly and walked to the stage.

The crowded soldiers froze, and the crowd quickly came back, giving way to a small open space.

"I'm done with the official, now listen to you, rest assured, the official won't interrupt you rudely."

The voices of the crowd suddenly dropped a few beats.

In the open space, Ouyang Rong stood tall, his calm eyes swept around them, and he casually pointed to a round-faced scholar who was shouting hard:

"Your Excellency seems to be very dissatisfied, and has a lot to say." He nodded, his face serious: "Why don't you talk to everyone." ”

The round-faced gentleman who was pointed out looked around for the first time, his face was slightly panicked, as if he didn't expect to be the first to be picked by Ouyang Rong.

He took a few steps back and waved his hand to refuse, but under Ouyang Rong's straight gaze and the stern urging of Yue Ziang and others around him, he had no choice but to stand up and say stubbornly:

"I heard that the Jiangzhou Hall and the Xunyang Palace received the edict of building the Donglin Giant Buddha, there are ...... Is there such a thing?

"Forget about the others, but, as the official of Jiangzhou's parents, Lord Changshi is also a well-known upright gentleman in the world! At the beginning, he regarded Ling as a model, but now why do he want to help the two kings of the Wei family to be abusive, and make statues to hurt the people! ”

The round-faced gentleman who was pushed out stammered at first, but when he got to the back, the more he talked, the more excited he became.

Ouyang Rong listened calmly, and first nodded: "Undertaking the construction of the Donglin Giant Buddha is indeed a matter of course." ”

In the hustle and bustle of the audience, he said with a calm face:

Jiangzhou Hall is a statue of Her Majesty the Empress, not attached to the King of Wei and King Liang, the so-called help is abuse, nonsense.

"That's one of them."

Ouyang Rong slowly reasoned and faced the scholars:

"Second, the Jiangzhou lobby has already been well prepared for this statue, trying its best to avoid wasting state money, and it will not work hard to mobilize the public."

The round-faced scholar looked skeptical: "Really? ”

"The gentleman has no jokes."

A scholar in the crowd questioned:

"No, you lied to people, Xunyang City is such a place, where the Donglin Giant Buddha falls will not affect the people's livelihood?"

Ouyang Rong immediately replied: "It will fall on the tip of the twin peaks." ”

"Twin peaks? Isn't it a mountain, a wilderness? ”

"This is the place where the Jiangzhou Hall will dig a canal at the tip of the twin peaks, build grottoes on both banks, and sit on the Big Buddha, which is also what the official has been running around during these days."

"What about the money needed to build the Buddha? It can't appear out of thin air, it's not the wool that comes out of the sheep. ”

"The silver funds for digging the canal and building the grottoes have been raised, and 32 Jiangnan businessmen will pay the advance payment, and then operate in a joint venture with the Jiangzhou Lobby......

"Jiangzhou Hall will not levy any additional statue tax, and even a large number of wages and jobs required to dig canals and build grottoes will all feed back to the people of Xunyang.

"After the completion of the grotto scenic spots, it can also attract tourists from all over the world, promote Xunyang commerce and trade, and achieve wealth for the people."

Every time the scholars asked, Ouyang Rong immediately answered.

After some questions and answers, Ouyang Rong behaved quickly and decisively, without pausing halfway.

It seems that he has a plan, and his posture is clear.

The excited crowd of scholars suddenly fell silent, looking at each other, as if digesting the amount of information in the words of this sick and devastated historian.

Ouyang Rong faced the silent crowd, and his tone was calm and firm:

"Most of the monarchs are Jiangzhou people, the official understands that the monarchs love the countryside and have the original ambition of the common people, and the official can assure the monarchs that the new Donglin Giant Buddha will never fall in Xunyang City and become a burden to the people.

"After the completion of this blueprint, they will become a scene in Xunyang, a wonder in the south of the Yangtze River and even in the world, and the foundation of Jiangzhou's prosperity."

The crowd was silent, and the scholars looked sideways.

"Really? Why didn't Lord Changshi and Jiangzhou Hall explain early that they would not be forcibly built, and the people and money would be lost......

Ouyang Rong looked at the scholar who was speaking with a strange expression, and asked rhetorically:

"Isn't it the official duty of every parent who reads the books of the sages to uphold the people's foundation? What is there to show off and promote, if this is also to ask for rewards and invitations, the official really doesn't know what to say. ”

The scholars choked suddenly.

Yes, it seems that it is indeed the duty of officials to read the books of the sages, but it is not that someone said that "the books of the sages are used for people to read, and it is useless to use them for things", good guys, you really used them to do things?

And before, everyone was naturally suspicious and distrustful of Ouyang Rong and Jiangzhou Hall.

The originally excited soldiers calmed down a little, but there were still a lot of questions.

After the round-faced scholar sat down honestly, another group of scholars stood up and asked pointed questions one after another.

Ouyang Rong answered them one by one, and when he encountered the dispute problems before his long history authority, he asked Xie Lingjiang to take a pen and paper, and he wrote them down one by one.

After some exchanges, from beginning to end, Ouyang Rong's words were sincere and as gentle as jade.

seemed to be infected by his attitude, and the boiling crowd of scholars who were originally booing gradually calmed down.

However, this is clearly not the answer and scene demanded by a few leaders of extreme protests.

"Heh, in the end, Lord Ouyang still sits on the side of the court, after all, the official positions are rewarded by the court, but is what the court is doing right?"

Yue Ziang stood up and said impassionedly:

"Now there are treacherous villains in the palace who bewitch the saints, and there are two kings of the Wei family in the court who steal power, and the court is dominated by villains."

He spat in his mouth and stared, and his eyes were raised:

"Lord Ouyang, let me ask you, even if your Donglin Giant Buddha is properly handled, can you ensure that the other statues in the four continents are properly handled and the plan is complete, and it will not cost the people and money?

"Lord Ouyang handled it very well, but he didn't know whether he was deaf, or deliberately covered his ears, turned a blind eye to things outside, spared his life and feared death, and saved his life.

"I'm ashamed to be with you!"

Yue Ziang sneered, immediately looked around, and said loudly:

"Brothers, do you also have to be alone and turn a blind eye to the righteousness of the world outside Jiangzhou?

"Is it false that the so-called Great Zhou Wanguo Songde Center built by the imperial court forcibly expropriated Songde copper from all states in the world, is it right, Lord Ji and Li Tingshi are right to say bluntly that they have encountered persecution, do you also have to learn from someone to turn a blind eye?

"Then isn't the blood of the righteous men in the world and the sacrificial soldiers in Liuzhou splashed in vain?"

Ouyang Rong turned his head, a little surprised by the extremely incendiary wording of this person, and it turned out that it was not unreasonable to be an opinion leader of this kind of protest movement.

Sure enough, after saying this, the audience suddenly erupted in support, and the familiar hustle and bustle returned.

Yue Ziang took the lead and glared at Ouyang Rong angrily.

Ouyang Rong was not angry at all, he knew that Yue Ziang might not have done it on purpose, he deliberately found fault with him, he probably felt that he was right from beginning to end, naturally passionate and fearless, and even moved by himself.

Other scholars are more or less like this, so this tide of protest and opposition will be so contagious and sweep the state schools in every state in the world.

Therefore, Ouyang Rong showed surprisingly patience, not to argue and argue, his face was serious, and he asked directly towards Yue Ziang:

"So, Yue Ziang, what do you want to do."

Yue Zi's face flushed:

"The imperial court withdrew its order, and it was not allowed to build any central and Sifang Buddha statues, and at the same time welcomed back the master and Lord Ji.

"Lord Ouyang and the Jiangzhou Hall must understand the righteousness, take the lead in refusing to build the Donglin Giant Buddha, and set an example for all states in the world, this is what a righteous man and a gentleman should do, this is the real righteousness of the world!"

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked softly, "What if it can't be achieved?" ”

"Can't get it?"

Yue Ziang said excitedly: "Lord Ouyang, don't be a big official, forget it, I can remind you a little here."

"Do you still remember, what Emperor Taizongwen said back then? Water can carry a boat, but also can capsize a boat, Emperor Taizongwen has always felt deeply fearful, and the country is trembling, as holy as the decree. But now, hehe. ”

"I haven't forgotten this sentence, and I can't forget it."

Ouyang Rong chuckled, this unexpected expression made the group quiet for a while, and he asked with a smile:

"Then I will also ask you a question, where did this sentence originally come from, and can any of the gentlemen present recite it?"

All the scholars, including Yue Ziang, were stunned when they heard this, Ouyang Rong looked around, shook his head a little disappointed, and without waiting for them to justify his answer, he turned his head, his eyes were fixed on the clay statue of the arched old man on the high platform, and whispered:

Lu Aigong asked his son and said: The widow is born in the deep palace, long in the hands of a woman, the widow has not tasted mourning, has not tasted worry, has not tasted labor, has not tasted fear, has not tasted, knows danger.

"Zi said: What the king asks, the question of the holy monarch is also ......"

The square of the Temple of the Holy Prophet gradually fell silent, and at last only the smooth chanting of one person remained.

Yue Ziang and the other scholars in the audience looked at his indifferent face with a stunned expression.

Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang and other people who accompanied him in the rear also looked at his back with fixed eyes.

There were many other onlookers in the city who heard the news, and their eyes were on him.

All eyes on you.

Ouyang Rong's tone was subdued, and the tone of the recitation was well grasped:

“…… Zi said: Jun out of the four gates of Lu, in order to look at the suburbs of Lu, the void of the country will have a number of covers, the king is afraid of this, then he is afraid of the will not come?

"And hear it, gentleman, boat also; Those who are familiar with the people, the water is also. The water will carry the boat, and the water will overturn the boat. ”

There were knowledgeable scholars in the crowd who suddenly remembered that this obscure ancient saying seemed to come from a certain article in "Xunzi", which was about a certain conversation between the Holy Master and Lu Aigong, which was very unpopular and remote.

The current imperial examination is not examined, so naturally no one cares, but Taizong's remarks and deeds are broadcast more widely, and everyone knows about it, thinking that it is the source.

The whole article is very long, and Ouyang Rong read it word for word, without pausing at all.

As if no one was around, he finished reading the last word, turned his face to the audience, and asked sincerely:

Do you know the deep meaning of the Holy Master, you only know what he meant at the surface, but do you know the context in which he said it?

"How does the Spring and Autumn Lu Kingdom at the time of mourning compare with the current Holy Week? If we had used today's standards, Brother Yue, the 'boat' of the time of mourning would have disappeared long ago, but was the Holy Master overthrowing this boat at that time? ”

The audience was silent, Ouyang Rong casually pointed to the clay statue that stretched out his hand, and asked with a smile: "What has he been running around all his life, do you know?"

"Now you, who know nothing about it, are raising up these words in vain to threaten you...... I wonder how disappointed the Holy Master would have been if he had known that you were using it in this way.

"You state scholars, obviously have the channel and hope that the holy ancestors envied at that time, but you don't know how to cherish it, and you have to burn your life and ...... jade."

He paused, and took the trouble to compare Zhou and Lu, and asked first:

"The water carries the boat, and the water capsits the boat. This is a good thing to say, it is well said, but if a person only has a superficial understanding, then he will never know how heavy this sentence is.

"If the boat under your feet is destroyed, will you be able to replace it with a better one? If it works, please tell me, and if it doesn't, why do you want to destroy this boat paranoidly?

"And don't forget, gentlemen, this boat under your feet, in a sense, is exactly what your nostalgic Emperor Taizongwen built by the wind and rain, and how much time has passed since now. Previously, the boiling water-like three-hundred-year competition carried this new boat.

"It's easy to destroy a boat, it's hard to build a boat, and it's even harder to repair a boat.

"Yue Ziang, is this your truth, just for a moment of happiness, a moment of grandeur, a moment of righteousness, just ignore the lives of all monarchs, if you can only distinguish between right and wrong, beat your chest and stomp your feet.

"Then your Excellency is nothing more than that."

"I ......" Yue Ziang suddenly became short of breath, his face was blue and purple, and he was speechless.

Ouyang Rong shook his head, no longer looked at this person, and saw that the silent crowd seemed to ask no questions, he turned around and prepared to leave.

The audience was silent.

The scholars stared blankly at the slender back of the young man in the fox and white fur who slowly left......

Good brothers, speak with restraint, don't send Xiao Rong in......

(End of chapter)