Yu Xi relied on his noble family status. When he saw that this poor student dared to question him in public, he was very angry. He stood up and said loudly: "Qian Tang, Chen Caozhi, I ordered you to go to the pavilion outside the hall immediately to wait for treatment. How can you still do it?"

How about disregarding your gentleness and asking someone to take you out?"

Yu Xi was stubborn and based on his preconceived prejudices, he was extremely disgusted with Chen Caozhi, who was handsome, free and easy in style, and neither humble nor arrogant in speech. Yu Xi didn't even bother to let Chen Liu confront Chen Caozhi. Wouldn't that become a lawsuit?

, Handling lawsuits is a matter for low-level officials. When Chen Caozhi went to Liting, he had his own officials to interrogate him. He was the internal history of Yangzhou and was a noble official, so how could he bother to do this!

Xu Zao was very anxious. If Chen Caozhi went out, he would probably be ruined for the rest of his life. Xu Zao had many people, but he was just a doctor of county studies, with a humble position. Yu Xi would definitely not listen to his dissuasion, so he immediately saw

He looked at Lu Na with a pleading look in his eyes.

Lu Na stood up and bowed and said: "Yu Zhong is calming down. According to previous assessment practices, today we are only assessing the Confucian skills of these scholars who are waiting for success. As for their virtues, they are always discussed tomorrow. I don't care about Chen Cao's virtues for the time being.

To avoid panic among the scholars present, how about letting Chen Caozhi take part in the examination of Confucian classics first?"

Yu Xi stared at Lu Na for a while and said slowly: "Since Governor Lu is helping Chen Cao, let him sit down."

The Yu family is a noble family from the north, Lu Na is one of the three Wu powerful men, and Yu Xi is now in Wu County. Naturally, he has to give Lu Na this face, and thought to himself: "I want to see how this Chen Caozhi passes my assessment!

"

Yu Xi did not expel Chen Caozhi. Xu Zao, Feng Mengxiong and others who cared about Chen Caozhi breathed a sigh of relief.

There are two parts to the assessment of Confucian classics, one is a written test and the other is a debate. The written test is mainly to see the calligraphy of scholars. If the calligraphy is poor, no one will read the article. The question Yu Xi asked in this written test is - "Gentleman"

"On the Service", all scholars are required to try to discuss "The Book of Songs. Wang Feng. The Gentleman on the Service", no matter how long it is, it must be meaningful, and it must be submitted within three seconds.

Chen Caozhi used his ink to calm down his inner anger, with a calm expression on his face. Two moments passed without him writing. Ding Chunqiu, who was sitting in front of him, and Liu Shangzhi, who was behind him, were both worried about him.

After a while, Chen Caozhi finally started writing. He held the pen with his left hand and finished it in one go:

"When a gentleman is in service, he is not at one end at the beginning. He beats drums and travels south. There is no rain in the west. Six bridles gallop and four horses gallop. The king is in charge of the prison, the servants are exhausted, the people are careless, and the road is slow. How can they all be able to do it?

Just like when Zegong goes out in the morning and returns at dusk, he does not move day and night, and he is not hungry or thirsty. There is no need to wait for the gentleman to stop eating."

At the end of the article, write the words "Qian Tang and Chen Caozhi".

The chime was struck, and at three o'clock, the county ministers of the twelve counties collected the answer sheets for the scholars in their counties and placed them respectfully in front of the case of Dazhong Zhengyu Xi.

Yu Xi looked at them one by one and took out a few of them with poor handwriting. He looked at the signatures at the end of the article. They were all descendants of the noble family, so he put them back. He also read Chen Caozhi's answer sheet, and found that the writing and writing were nothing.

To be picky, he, Yu Xi, would not confuse right and wrong and force Chen Caozhi to be kicked out because he failed the written examination. Lu Na and Xu Zao were sitting next to him. He would not be able to do such an immodest thing.

.

The following is a question-and-answer session. The counties and counties chanted their names, and the scholars came forward one by one to answer Yu Xi's questions. The question-asking question does not come from the four classics: "Poetry", "Lun", "Li" and "Biography".

, but Chen Caozhi clearly felt that Yu Xi favored the children of the noble family, and the questions he asked the children of the noble family were very simple. Anyone who had a thorough knowledge of these four books could answer them, but for the children of the common people from the poor family, Yu Xi's questions

It is much more difficult, but this cannot be regarded as Yu Xi deliberately making things difficult. The Zhongzheng officials have always been lenient to the children of the noble family but difficult to the children of the poor family. The children of the poor family can be promoted to the rank by Quanchang Shi, so in Chen

The eighteen poor scholars before Cao Zhi all successfully answered Yu Xi’s questions——

Everyone in the hall was looking forward to Yu Xi's question to Chen Caozhi. Everyone knew that Chen Caozhi would never be able to pass the test as easily as other scholars. Most of the disciples of the gentry were watching from the other side, gloating over the misfortune, hoping to see Chen Caozhi answer the question.

Who dares to call him "Jiangzuo Weijie" with his disgraced face and miserable appearance? Moreover, his recent reputation is so great that no one from the Wujun gentry can match it. The children from a poor family sincerely hope that Chen Caozhi can overcome this difficult hurdle and let Yu

Xi's deliberate attempt to make things difficult failed, and he felt proud for the poor family.

Among the twelve counties of Wu County, Qian Tang ranked seventh. At three o'clock, it was the turn of ten waiting scholars from Qiantang County to come forward to answer questions. Because of Quan Li and Chen Caozhi, Yu Xi also had feelings for Qian Tang.

Feeling ill at ease, his questions to the eight descendants of the Qiantang gentry, Quan, Zhu, Gu, Fan, Du, Dai, Ding, and Chu, were obviously more difficult than before, especially Quan Bing and Yu Xi, Sanqi's nephew who often served Quanli.

Quan Bing was stumped. Quan Bing stammered in his answer, was confused, his face turned red, and he was extremely embarrassed.

According to convention, Yu Xi's questions cannot go beyond the four classics of "Poems", "Lun", "Li", and "Zhuan". However, "Heaven does not share the same worries as people" comes from "Zhouyi. Xici Zhuan", and Yu Xi should not have

It is difficult to ask questions from the "Book of Changes", but as the Dazhongzheng who presides over this final product, Yu Xi is the authoritative authority, so who can have any objection to what he wants to ask!

Yu Xi's face was solemn and majestic, but he was sneering in his heart. He asked such a difficult question not because he wanted to stop Quan Bing from finalizing the product. The participation of the nobles' children in the final product was just a formality. Although Yu Xi often interacted with Sanqi

The etiquette of Shi Quan was not harmonious, but he did not dare to stop Quan Bing from fixing the product, because this would break the rules. No one would ruin the future of other children of the noble family without deep hatred, because no one is alone, and the children of the Yu family also want to

Those who participated in the commissioning, and because of the intertwined marriage relationships between the noble clans, shared weal and woe, so Yu Xi did not dare to take the risk of stopping Quan Bing from joining the commission. He just wanted to humiliate the Quan family's children in a small way. Tomorrow

During the public discussion, he would still let Quan Bing decide the rank, but for the poor families, he would be unselfish. It would be difficult to enter the ninth rank without true talent and learning——

Another consideration when Yu Xi used the Book of Changes to question Quan Bing was to make things difficult for Chen Caozhi later. Since questioning Quan Bing can go beyond the Poetry, Theoretical Theory, the Rites, and the Biography,

Why can't it be done to Chen Caozhi?

After Ding Chunqiu and Chu Wenbin answered Yu Xi's questions respectively, it was Chen Caozhi's turn. Chen Caozhi stood up from the desk. The whole hall was silent. The scholars simply held their breath and watched Chen Caozhi walking slowly.

Stepping forward, all the officials in the court bowed and stood calmly, waiting for Yu Xi to ask the question.

Yu Xi raised his eyes and looked at Chen Caozhi, and asked the same question as Quan Bing - "When it comes to heaven, we don't share our worries with others." Yu Xi had his own motives for doing this.

Chen Caozhi replied: "Heaven is Tao, and the function of Tao is to inspire all things and transform them. Tao has no intention and no trace, while the sage has no intention and has traces. Although there is no intention internally, there are traces of management externally.

Then there is worry, so it is said that Heaven does not share the same worries as humans."

Lu Na and Xu Zao both nodded slightly. Chen Cao's argument was concise and concise, and clearly explained the meaning of "Heaven does not share the same worries as human beings". It cannot be said without painstaking study and deep thinking and simple explanations.

Everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Chen Cao's Confucian skills should have passed. Unexpectedly, Yu Xi rolled his eyes and asked: "Seeing is called an image, and shape is called a weapon. Isn't it true that the Tao has traces?"

How can we say that the way of heaven is traceless and worry-free?"

Everyone's spirits were lifted, and those who cared about Chen Caozhi were secretly worried, because Yu Xi was no longer asking a question, but was arguing with both sides.

Yu Xi's "Book of Changes" is a family tradition. The Yu family has studied the "Book of Changes" deeply. Yu Xi is also famous for his mastery of "Book of Changes". Now Yu Xi wants to impress him with his mastery of "Book of Changes"

Chen Caozhi.

Chen Caozhi thought for a while and replied: "The universe is simple and constant. There is no preference for procreation and nourishment. There is no choice for people. We cannot be wronged and share the same worries with the saints."

Yu Xi seized on the loophole that Chen Caozhi did not answer "The way of heaven is traceless" and asked: "All things are born and carved into various forms. How can it be called traceless? How can it be called worry-free?"

Chen Caozhi responded: "Heaven has nothing to do here, and its carvings are correct in seeing that it is not carving."

Xu Zao secretly praised in his heart: "Wonderful, with this statement, the topic of 'Heaven does not share the same worries as human beings' has been fully explained and said to death. Yu Xi can no longer argue on this topic, so he passed the test."

But I heard Yu Xi say: "That's a good answer, but I have asked Quan Bing this question before, so you are ready. I have another question for you -"

Liu Shangzhi couldn't help but "boo", he was really angry. If he had to answer the question "God does not share the same worries as others", he could barely answer it, but Liu Shangzhi would definitely fall for Yu Xi's argument.

Unable to stand it, asking questions turned into arguments. This was already making things difficult. Zizhong resolved them one by one and gave excellent answers. It can be said that he had the upper hand over Yu Xi. However, Yu Dazhongzheng used the excuse that this question had already been asked before.

, to continue to make things difficult for Zi Zhong, without even the slightest bit of noble demeanor, it is simply shameless!

As soon as Liu Shangzhi roared, several similarly dissatisfied disciples from poor families spoke out to make peace, and the solemn atmosphere in the hall disappeared for a moment.

Prime Minister Chu Jian patted the tables in front of him and shouted: "Quiet!"

The hall fell silent, and everyone watched how Yu Xi made things difficult for Chen Caozhi.

Yu Xi also felt that he was a little less graceful, but now he was riding a tiger and it was difficult to get off. He had to stump Chen Caozhi, otherwise word would spread that he, a high-ranking member of the Yu family and the "Yi" sect in the north, could not convince a poor boy.

What a shame.

Yu Xi said: "Let's talk about 'Gen can't be found on his back; he can't be seen in his court'." This is the hexagram of "Gen" in "The Book of Changes", and Yu Xi has studied this hexagram the most.

Chen Caozhi replied: "Everything that is opposite but not connected is the way to go. There is no trouble in the eyes. It is okay as long as they do not meet each other. The application stops on the back, without any separation of material desires. It can reach the point where it stops. There is no need for those who back.

If something is seen, it will naturally remain still if it is not seen.”

This explanation was quite satisfactory, but Yu Xi obviously didn't just ask a question, he wanted to argue it. He waved his hand and asked: "Is Lao Tzu's saying, 'Not seeing what you want keeps your mind calm' consistent with this meaning? Try it.

Discuss it."

Chen Caozhi replied: "That's right, if the application is applied to an invisible place, it will not be separated from material desires and will be stopped. If the application is applied to the face without being connected and the emotions are forcibly stopped, evil and evil will flourish."

Liu Shangzhi scolded in his heart: "It's too much. This requires the combination of "Lao" and "Yi" and a question that can be answered by both Xuanxu and Confucianism. I would like to ask which of the scholars in the hall can answer it except Zi Zhong?"

Yu Xi asked again: "There are two meanings of wanting to separate things, which two meanings?"

Regarding the debate about "desire for separate things", Chen Caozhi had a debate with Zhu Yingtai and Zhu Yingting brothers just half a month ago. They immediately replied: "One cannot see the desired thing. If there is a desired thing in front of me, I am afraid that it will mess up my mind."

Instead of looking straight at each other, turn your back to them; if you see something undesirable and something desirable depends on its face, if you see something undesirable or even disgusting and terrifying, then you are unlikely to be deceived by the face."

Yu Xi was still waiting to ask again, but Lu Na, who was sitting in danger, couldn't bear it anymore and said: "If Yu Zhongzheng wants to argue with Chen Cao, how about another day? There are still scholars from five counties waiting for Yu Zhongzheng.

It’s an assessment.”

Yu Xi blushed and waved his hand, signaling Chen Cao to come down.

Chen Caoyi bowed, turned around, walked back to his desk and sat down, his expression as usual.

Now it was Liu Shangzhi's turn to step forward to answer the question. Yu Xi was very embarrassed by Lu Na's mocking words. He felt that he had lost face and had no intention of asking more questions. Forty scholars since Chen Caozhi were all

It was a perfunctory matter, and all ninety-six scholars passed the Confucian examination.

Yu Xi ordered the county ministers of each county to take the county's scholars out of the official hall, but said: "Qiantang County Prime Minister Feng Mengxiong, I hope that the worthy scholar Chen Caozhi will stay."

Chen Caozhi knew that it would not be so easy to pass the test. The next step should be to discuss how his conduct was poor. Chen Liu must be on the stage, which is good, but he was afraid that if he kept delaying it, rumors would spread.

Chu Jian felt bad. Such a face-to-face confrontation might be detrimental to Chen Liu, but Yu Xi had already spoken. He couldn't stop Yu Xi from interrogating Chen Caozhi at this time. He also thought that Chen Liu was indeed the instigator of Chen Caozhi.

Chen Caozhi was injured by a servant. If you grasp this point, Chen Caozhi will not be able to escape. Moreover, Yu Xi is now very angry with Chen Caozhi. As long as Chen Caozhi has the slightest stain, he will not even think about fixing the crime and immediately watch with cold eyes.

Yu Xi said to Lu Na: "Prefect Lu, Chen Cao's talent and learning are indeed not bad, but he has talent but no practice. Once he becomes an official, he will do great harm. How can we be careless in selecting talents for the imperial court?"

Lu Na said: "Yu Zhongzheng's words are reasonable, but what exactly is Chen Caozhi's bad conduct? Yu Zhongzheng told me that Chen Caozhi is the ruler of our county and the people, so we can't be vague and say that he has bad conduct to prevent him from entering the ranks."

Yu Xi sneered and said something to the attendant beside him. The attendant hurried away and soon led a man with a low left shoulder and a high right shoulder to the main hall of the Yamen.
To be continued...