Suppliers from both worlds have dominated the world since Datang!

Chapter 393: Debate with the Scholars!!!

Kong Yingda?

The 32nd generation grandson of Confucius, one of the 18th great scholars in the early Tang Dynasty.

This was a famous educator during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Speaking of which, this person has quite a connection with Zhuang Zhou.

I remember when Taibai Restaurant first opened.

Zhuang Zhou then took Kong Yingda to drink a few glasses of wine.

He also asked Kong Yingda to write a couplet for him.

After that, Kong Yingda became a regular customer of the restaurant.

Zhuang Zhou also specifically instructed Zhao Facai to give Kong Yingda a discount every time.

I didn't expect that he would stand up today.

It seems that he also disagrees with my being the Prince's Junior Tutor.

Li Er's eyes were also slightly stern, but this man was a great scholar and a role model for literati and scholars.

Even though Li Ergui was the king of a country, he still treated this man with great respect.

"Mr. Kong, please speak!"

Kong Yingda held the tablet in his hand and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, I think it may be inappropriate to let Zhuang Zhou serve as the Prince's Junior Tutor."

As soon as these words were spoken, a whisper suddenly broke out in the court.

You know, Kong Yingda is only the prince's right son now.

Zhuang Zhou frowned slightly and looked at Kong Yingda, feeling a little confused.

As the Minister of Education of the Tang Dynasty, Kong Yingda has always admired Zhuang Zhou.

The two had had a lot of communication before, and Zhuang Zhou thought he supported him.

Even if you don’t support it, at least you won’t oppose it!

Unexpectedly.

Today he actually stood up to oppose his position as the Prince's Tutor.

Zhuang Zhou couldn't help but feel curious about what reasons Kong Yingda would give to oppose him.

"Mr. Kong, if you have anything to say, just say it!"

"it is good!"

Kong Yingda looked at Zhuang Zhou and said in a deep voice:

"May I ask the Earl of Zhuang County, what classics do you study on a daily basis?"

Zhuang Zhou was stunned for a moment and asked:

"What does Zhi He Jing mean?"

He really didn't understand.

At this time, Ural had already projected the information onto Zhuang Zhou's retina.

Only then did Zhuang Zhou understand that in ancient times, the measure of a great Confucian scholar was to see what unique insights he had in ancient classics.

Moreover, this classic must be one of the Han Confucian classics.

The teachings of Confucius and Mencius have always been the epitome of Confucian literature and are most respected by scholars of this era.

For example, Zheng Xuan was a great Confucian scholar who taught the classics, Han Yu was a great Confucian scholar who taught the truth, and Lu Zhi was a great Confucian scholar who practiced the truth. They relied on their governance achievements that were in line with Confucian ideals.

To put it bluntly, it means to put forward your own ideas based on the teachings of Confucius and Mencius.

A bit like the later researchers of the Dream of the Red Chamber.

This is really a bit too much to ask Zhuang Zhou.

He had no knowledge of Confucian literature.

But Zhuang Zhou's question now confused Kong Yingda.

"Zhuang County Lord Lian Zhi doesn't even know any classics, so how dare he agree to be the prince's tutor?

Isn't that too arrogant? "

Zhuang Zhou smiled faintly and said:

"Mr. Kong, it's not that I don't understand, but I don't bother to answer."

"what for?"

Kong Yingda couldn't help but sneer when he heard this.

"County Master Zhuang, do you know what it means to study the classics?

This is the foundation of our Confucian school. If you don’t even understand this, how can you be the Prince’s tutor and teach His Royal Highness?”

His words were righteous and many ministers in the court nodded in agreement.

In their view, although Zhuang Zhou had some talent, he was still young and not a student of a famous scholar. His understanding of Confucian classics might not be deep enough.

Zhuang Zhou smiled slightly, shook his head and said:

"Mr. Kong, you misunderstood me.

It’s not that I don’t know how to study the classics, but I think that the way to study the classics is not just to interpret ancient books, but also to understand and apply them to the real world.”

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the court.

Kong Yingda also frowned and said in a deep voice:

"Zhuang County Lord, what do you mean by this?

Are you trying to deny my Confucian classics?"

Zhuang Zhou waved his hand and said:

"Mr. Kong, you misunderstood me again.

I am not denying Confucian classics, but I believe that the reason why classics become classics is that they can transcend time and space and provide wisdom and enlightenment to future generations.

However, we cannot just stop at interpreting ancient books, which is what nerds do.

Instead, we should combine the ideological essence of ancient classics with the current real world to truly realize their value.

Isn’t this the true meaning of studying the classics? "

Upon hearing this, Kong Yingda couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

He had to admit that although Zhuang Zhou's words were a bit unorthodox, they were not without reason.

Classics do provide wisdom and enlightenment to future generations.

But if these classics are simply interpreted rigidly without being combined with the real world, then they will lose their due value.

This obviously had a great impact on Kong Yingda's thinking.

"Mr. Zhuang, although what you say makes sense, you are still young and your understanding of Confucian classics is not deep enough."

Kong Yingda said in a deep voice:

"I still insist that it is inappropriate for you to serve as the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor!"

Zhuang Zhou smiled slightly:

"Mr. Kong, I don't mean to argue with you.

But I think that there is no necessary connection between a person’s knowledge and age.

Although I am young, it does not mean that my understanding of Confucian classics is not profound enough.

Moreover, His Royal Highness is young and promising, with an open mind, and I think he would also like to hear some new and different voices.”

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of discussion arose again in the court.

Many ministers began to nod in agreement, thinking that what Zhuang Zhou said made sense.

His Majesty Li II also raised his eyebrows slightly, and there was a bit more appreciation in his eyes when he looked at Zhuang Zhou.

He knew in his heart that although Zhuang Zhou was young, he did have extraordinary talent and insight.

Moreover, he also needed someone who was brave enough to speak out and was not afraid of power to teach the prince.

And Zhuang Zhou is the right person.

"I think the Duke of Zhuang is just good at talking!"

At this time, another old man who looked like a Confucian scholar stood up.

Zhuang Zhou took a look and decided, well, he didn’t recognize him at all.

"What is this old gentleman's name?"

The old man was obviously stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that there was someone in the court who didn't recognize him.

Li Er then said:

"Zhuang Zhou, this is Mr. Yan Shigu, the Junior Secretary."

Yan Shigu?

The grandson of the famous Confucian scholar Yan Zhitui.

Born into a Confucian family, he studied Confucianism since childhood, read widely and became well-versed in knowledge.

He is very familiar with the history of Confucian classics since the Han Dynasty.

Ok!

He is also a master of Confucianism.

Zhuang Zhou thought it was interesting. Was he going to have a debate with the scholars today?

"It turns out to be Mr. Yan. I have heard of your name for a long time!"

After all, he was a scholar, so Zhuang Zhou still respected him and gave him the courtesy of a scholar.

Seeing this, Yan Zhitui returned the greeting and continued:

"I have also heard of the talent of the Earl of Zhuang County.

Especially the line 'I searched for him among the crowd for hundreds of times, and when I turned around, there he was, in the dim light'.

It is indeed a brilliant piece of writing, and I am not as good as it.

However, the position of the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor is of great importance.

This is not only an honor, but also a responsibility.

The crown prince is the heir apparent to the throne, and his education has a bearing on the future of the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, the selection of the Prince's Junior Tutor must be carefully considered.

Although Zhuangxianbo is quite talented and poetic, he is still young and full of energy, and has little experience. "

Then he turned to Li Er and bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty, I also think that the Earl of Zhuang County is not qualified for the important task of being the Prince's Junior Tutor."