Chapter 203: Catching the Son-in-law (Part 2)

A good war horse cannot be used to pull things or cultivate land at will.

It is okay to pull it once a while, but if you bear a long-term load, the horses will become clumsy. Just like Zheng Lang, they have a gentle personality and lack speed and explosive power. If they lack speed and explosive power, how much role can they play when they go to the battlefield? If the Song Dynasty wants to get a good war horse, there is no other way. They either forcibly move the people out in Guanzhong and turn the arable land into pastures to raise war horses, or take back Hehuang and Hetao, and like the Tang Dynasty, they use the grasslands of Hehuang and Hetao to raise war horses.

It is not enough to go south. When you reach the south, the war horses will become very short if they last for a long time, such as Sichuan horses and Yunnan horses. They are good to fight in the south. They are hard-working and not afraid of heat, and can run on mountain roads. However, did the biggest enemy of the Song Dynasty come from the south?

Therefore, Wang Anshi's horse protection method was also strange. What did the farmers do to raise such horses? Is it a good idea to raise a number or use it to cultivate the land? If it is to mobilize a large number, it is OK. If it is planned to go to the battlefield, don't stop early. But no one pointed it out at that time.

Xiaoqing is like this. Horses are good horses, but after pulling a car for a long time, the horse's strongness will not be fast. However, it is only about a hundred miles from Beijing to Zhengzhou. If it is slower, two hours will be enough. However, what kind of riding skills can Song Bo do?

The road is very big, but there are many pedestrians. I was sweating all the way and rode to Zhengjiazhuang. It was almost evening. Uncle Song also stroked his chest and sighed: "It's better to ride a horse, it's so fast."...

When he arrived at the door, he turned over and dismounted, and shouted loudly: "A few empresses, you're here."

Hearing that he won, several empresses trotted out together, looking at Uncle Song and asked, "What did you win?"

“The provincial test is over.”

All the ladies were unable to stand steadily, and the old lady's eyes gradually moved from Song Bo to the distance. There were vast farmlands in the distance, with green onions dripping with green onions and cauliflowers as yellow as clouds. The old lady's heart floated, as if it was floating into the clouds, and tears flowed down.

"Auntie, it's a happy event." Song Bo said.

"It's... a happy event," the aunt wiped tears with the corner of her clothes, and she said to Song Bo again: "Come in and speak."

Several empresses woke up and entered the house together. Song Bo said, "Xiao Lang not only won, but also won the Provincial Yuan."

Fortunately, I was so anxious that I didn’t explain it clearly once, and I divided it into two times, otherwise none of the women could stand it. But the empresses still asked in a verbal question: “Bo Song, is it the Yuan Dynasty?”

"The first in the provincial examination?"

"Are you mistaken?"

"Yes, a great happy event." Song Bo nodded and replied.

It was a great joy. My son was able to win, and he was prepared in his heart. The probability of winning was very high. As for the yuan, no one dared to think about it. Zhengzhou people say that he would win three yuan in a row, but if you ask the rumor himself, do you really believe that he won three yuan in a row? Most of them would hesitate.

The aunt said again: "Uncle Song, buy a few sheep tomorrow."

Cui Xian stood beside her and suddenly said, "Auntie, no, the palace examination will be held soon. Although the provincial government will definitely win, it will be difficult for the wedding banquet to be held in advance, and it will be reported."

"Xian'er is right."

But this news brought a strong joy to the Zheng family. The family sat happily, almost knowing what to say. It was getting dark, and the spring breeze gently knocked on the curtain cage, Cui Xian said to Huan'er: "We are going to pack our luggage, too."

“Why?”

"Can you still stay?"

Huan'er woke up and couldn't stay there. If she stayed there any longer, she would be in the palace examination immediately and won the list. The Zheng family's little Lang was coming back, which also meant that he would host a marriage. Could it be that he would welcome his little wife in Zhengjiazhuang? What did that turn out?

It turned out that Cui Xian was going to return to Caizhou after returning from the capital. However, she thought that once her husband went to the local area and took office, she needed political achievements and learned some textile craftsmanship. If she did it well, it would be a help to the husband, so she stayed up again.

In the provincial high school entrance examination, he had to go back. However, this young husband actually won a provincial government official? He had to admit that he had some skills. Cui Xian held her cheeks and looked at the crescent moon in the sky and thought.

...

Zheng Lang was invited into Feng's mansion by Feng Yuan.

He respectfully presented a big gift to Feng Yuan and Feng. Not only did he respect him in terms of his knowledge and character, but he also troubled others with his second child.

"Don't be polite, sit down."

Zheng Lang sat down, and Feng Yuan said again: "Congratulations to Shengyuan first."

Feng Yuan is inevitably vulgar. Is the Shengyuan so easy to take the exam? Moreover, this son's talent, morality, political vision, ambition... The key is the emperor's appreciation of his relatives. If one of them wins three yuan in a row, even Old Feng will eat some taste.

The two maids rushed to the living room to make tea, and then stared at Zheng Lang with their big watery eyes.

Feng Yuan said again: "Sheng Yuan, I asked Wang Sanlang and Sima Sanlang to invite you, but there was something to ask."

"Please give me advice."

Feng Yuan nodded with satisfaction and looked at how could this peaceful and humble look be disliked? Not only the little emperor, but he also attached importance to this. He said slowly: "I heard what you mentioned about the mean that Ouyang Yongshu mentioned, but I think it is a bit far-fetched. The Master did not interpret and support your point of view..."

The simplest example is that Zheng Lang reinterpreted benevolence and righteousness. From the Zhou Li to the Zhou Book, to the Confucius Book, and then to the Mencius and Xunxun, there are many chapters and sentences in it that support Zheng Lang’s benevolence and righteousness. Therefore, after Zheng Lang spoke it, everyone could not understand it. Confucius’ knowledge was not born. He learned from the knowledge of the Zhou ritual officials and Confucian scholars, and then reflected on this knowledge. In other words, Zheng Lang found arguments to support his views from the predecessors of the Master to the Master himself to the Master’s favorite students and descendants.

But what Zheng Lang said about mean goes a little far.

He had good intentions, but the arguments were insufficient, so Feng Yuan asked some questions.

"Shilarious Minister Feng, is the "Book of Changes" one of the six classics?"

"yes."

"Why are there any sixty-four hexagrams in Yi, and each hexagram has several lines of flips?"

"Yin and Yang are not fixed but still. Once Yang and Yin change, the number of hexagrams and lines will inevitably turn."

"Can you explain it more deeply in the late life? Because the sky is moving, there are four seasons of day and night, meteors, sun and moon, and the sky moves as soon as the earth moves, so spring soars, summer soaks, autumn and winter soaks. The earth moves and people move, so there is benevolence and righteousness."

"This statement is reasonable." Feng Yuandao, so that he can interpret the statement that the Book of Changes says that heaven has yin and yang, the earth has softness and hardness, and people have benevolence and righteousness.

"Therefore, Yi first splits the heaven and earth with Qiankun, which is the ultimate number. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty did not mean that this hexagram was not a royal family, and our dynasty also had taboos about these two hexagrams. Yin and Yang are divided into each other, and the heaven and earth are generated, and all things are born and shaken, so there is water, and the water flows above it. Therefore, it is said that, "Tun, hardness and softness begin to intersect and hardness, and it is difficult to generate. Move in danger, and the tycoon is loyal. Good, good, the beginning of heaven and earth."

"Great kindness, the words of the Lord."

It is strange to read the Book of Changes without studying. Most of them think it is used for divination, and it is also a misinterpretation by later generations. Zheng Lang said this sentence is very meaningful. Qiankun is the first of the Yi, which is determined to be yin and yang. Only when yin and yang are divided can all things be produced. Will all things shake? But what creatures do not need water? So yin and yang are divided and intersected, and water also exists. When flowing up, all things are born, and all things are shaken in the inside. The Tun hexagram comes out. Together, it is the extreme of yin and yang, and then the soft and hard intersecting of yin and yang, so the third hexagram is the Tun hexagram! Tun, nourishing, and it is the beginning!

Therefore, the Tao Ci says that symbolizing the birth of the firstborn, the two qi of yin and yang begin to intersect and create all things, which is quite difficult, but all things are created, and great luck will come.

Can you say it is wrong? How difficult it is to produce life on the earth!

So Feng Yuan said that Zheng Lang was also a great charity.

"It is the way of the tycoon in the end, so there is danger and hardness that lies in the inner core (the one at the bottom is the yang line). All things gradually arise, but hardness and difficulty. Difficulties turn from the outside to the inside, and only a thread of vitality hangs alone outside. Therefore, water inside is soft and dangerous, and a thread of vitality outside is from the mountains. Water outside is from the outside, and water inside is from the outside, which is good, King Wen."

Feng Yuan stroked his hands and said, "Good Master."

If you don’t study it, you won’t know the mystery. Only after studying it can you know how difficult it is. When King Wen reorganized the Fuxi hexagram, how many brain cells would have been wasted? But it’s because of the arrangement. Without Confucius’ promotion, will future generations pay attention to it?

This explanation is that ordinary people, as long as they have read the Book of Changes, they can understand that the Tun hexagram is internal and external Kan, but the Yin and Yang lines of Zhen and Kan are not unmoving. They are still in the process of transformation following the operation of the Heavenly Way. Every time they change, a line will come out. Just as six changes, the number of six lines becomes Meng hexagram, and the six lines will be there.

"The Book of Changes divides the way of heaven and earth into sixty-four hexagrams, more than three hundred lines, revealing the secrets of the way of heaven, as well as the changes of the way of earth, and the corresponding actions of human beings. Therefore, the first line of the hexagram says Panhuan, which is good at zhen, and is good at Jianhou. The way of heaven is waiting for the opportunity, and the way of earth is righteous in a quiet place, while the way of human beings is beneficial to feudal sages and creation of achievements. However, the late generation said that Confucianism is done by doing things, which is not the Taoist silence and silence that responds to heaven and inaction."

"Good." Feng Yuan turned his forehead again.

Taoism talks about Yin and Yang in a special way, and the Book of Changes also talks about Yin and Yang. Many people do not understand the difference. However, once the Zheng family explained it and explained it easily, they suddenly explained the difference. Feng Yuan was very good at Dao. As a Confucian scholar, do you want to put the Tao on the top? If you want to press it, you have to tell a Tao.

"How to act? Following the operation of the way of heaven, that is inaction, and Taoist thoughts. Otherwise, there would not be so many corrections, precepts, and strategies in the Yi Dynasty. However, if you just go against the heavens, you will die. Therefore, "Xici" says that if you write about virtues and distinguish between right and wrong, you will not be in the line. Alas, you must also survive and die for good or bad, and you can know it. Also, the eight trigrams are arranged, the images are in it, so you will be heavy, the lines are in it, the lines are in it, the hard and soft are in it, and the changes are in it, and the movement is in it, and those who regret and sting are in it, those who regret and sting are born, those who are hard and soft are established, those who are flexible are in the time. Also, it is said that soft is the way, and those who are not good and far away are not blameless, and their use is soft and soft."

Doing things is against the will of heaven. Later, Taoism tried to live forever and never died, but it was not Lao Tzu's original intention. It is possible to go against heaven, but it cannot be too much. Therefore, it is not enough to tell the essence of the four middle lines, because the first line is the beginning, how it is converted from the previous hexagram, can be used as a reference for experience and lessons, and the last line is the end, explaining how this hexagram died. But just look at it as a hexagram and fortune telling. Each hexagram is a specific time, earth moves, and humanity. Can it be used as a way to tell fortunes?

You cannot simply divinate! For example, if the general environment of the Song Dynasty is in line with the movement of the heaven and earth, you can know how to do it by comparing a certain hexagram and a certain line.

Knowing all the changes and true meanings of hexagrams and lines, you can know the world when you sit at home. This sentence alone cannot prove Zheng Lang's theory, so there are two more sentences: the sixty-four hexagrams, the three hundred and eighty-four lines, and the hard and soft lines move each other, and the changes in heaven, earth and man are included. Hard and soft yin and yang are the fundamentals, and the changes will be connected, which is to adapt to the current situation. Seeing that, what methods of ancestors cannot be changed?

But how to change? The law of femininity is not conducive to staying away from the strong. It aims to seek no blame. It is used to keep the gentle and guard the middle. Carefully use the middle way to act. Therefore, this method is exactly what Zheng Lang said about the way to contain the middle and correct the Yin and Yang, soft, hard, benevolence and righteousness of heaven and earth and man.

There is an argument, and the doctrine of the mean unity of man and nature is accurately explained, rather than an abstract concept.

Feng Yuan pondered.

Zheng Lang's approach was very bold. In the past, the interpretation of Confucian classics was taken out of context, that is, analysis of chapters and sentences. Including Feng Yuan, it was mostly Confucianism that took out of context. On the contrary, Zheng Lang's horizontal and vertical analysis linked the six Confucian classics as a whole. There should be only the Five Classics left, and the Music Classics disappeared, and then a comprehensive analysis was analyzed.

It is possible to have a meaning. After all, Confucius’s writing of books is not a matter of one year or two. The thoughts at each stage are different, and it can better explain Confucianism. Otherwise, what would have happened before? A blind man touched the elephant and saw through the leopard! We caught a sentence, this is Confucianism. Take it seriously!

In fact, Confucius himself did not explain some of his thoughts clearly. He had to be an official, teach, and wander. He had to spend much time creating a vast knowledge. But Zheng Lang dared not say this, at least he could tell now that he was a saint, and he knew everything from birth. What are you, a little furry child!

After seeing it was dark outside, Feng Yuan said, "You go."

If you play like Zheng’s son, Feng Yuan Lao can’t play. How many books does Confucianism have? They sort them out horizontally and vertically, and how big the work is? He originally wanted to say that Confucianism was based on benevolence, but he thought that Zheng Lang was foolish and soft-hearted. Besides, it might have an impact on his future career as an official, but he didn’t say it. Or he thought in his heart that only such a young man was qualified to practice Confucianism. He had a bad mind and poor cultivation, and he still didn’t know what Confucianism would look like!

"Here." Zheng Lang bowed respectfully and left the mansion.

...

On the other side, he sharpened his knife and prepared to catch his son-in-law.

Catching a son-in-law on the list is a great wonder in the history of the Song Dynasty. When a daughter is old, she wants to find a good son-in-law. Not only will the daughter be happy, but the whole family can benefit from it. For example, Zheng Lang has not yet married the daughter of the Cui family, and his two elder brother-in-law have benefited from it. Is Zheng Lang wrong? Yes, even the straight ministers like Cai Qi and Song Shou did not think that Zheng Lang was wrong. This is what a son-in-law should do.

However, how to find this son-in-law? It is best to be a scholar, but what is the use of not being admitted to the palace examination? Then on the day the palace examination was released, from prime ministers and scholars to wealthy gentry, from all over the place, not in the capital, many rich landlords and merchants came to Beijing together, and then competed for the scholars on the list, which was called catching a son-in-law. The most bizarre thing is that the notes of the Song people record a story. Han Nan won the top scorer and wanted to parade on the streets with a horse and flowers. Suddenly, more than a dozen servants rushed up, pulled him off the horse, and ran away. The yamen runner was stunned and shouted: "Hey, what are you doing? This is the new top scorer." The servant said, "I'm the new top scorer."

Han Nan was very confused at the moment, and was so scared that he was no one looked so scared that all the servants carried him into a mansion. One of them came over. When he saw that it was Prime Minister Wang Dan. Han Nan said, "What order does the Prime Minister have? Send someone to give me the order. I will obey my orders."

You can't play like this, Wang Xianggong.

Wang Dan asked with a smile: "Han Zhuangyuan is the disciple of the emperor and the new top scholar. He is not worth mentioning in the future. He cannot have a wife or a parents to stay with him?"

Han Nansheng honestly said: "Both parents died, because they studied hard in sages, and their family and country were poor, and their wife had left me."

"Then I have several girls, how about giving one to marry you?"

Han Nansheng agreed happily. When the young lady of the Wang family heard that she married the top scholar, her five daughters fought for each other, and finally chose the third daughter. Wang Dan was afraid of good things and dreaming too much, so he immediately presided over the wedding. The top scholar was kidnapped. Emperor Zhenzong of Song was angry and received a request for advice, saying that he was Wang Dan's son-in-law. Emperor Zhenzong of Song was ridiculous and wrote the wedding with eight big words "The Design of Fish Net, Yan Wan's Request" and sent someone to the Prime Minister's Mansion to beat gongs and gongs.

At night, the three-year-old lady opened her head cover and saw her husband, she was dizzy. An old man, with white hair, was frightened in the middle of the night, and his face looked like a mortal. He asked, "Who are you?"

"I am your official, and Han Zhuangsheng is also."

"You are the top scholar, how old are you?"

"After reading a hundred chunks of documents, I only need a blue shirt when I am old. But the beauty asked me about my age, forty years ago, thirty-three."

The third wife calculated her fingers and said that she was seventy-three years old and disagreed and wanted to regret the marriage. Wang Dan advised: "I only have the top scholar in my eyes, so where can I see him!"
To be continued...