Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

I heard that next year will be the first imperial examination of the new dynasty.

The scholars of Jiangxi immediately went wild.

They rushed off without even asking about the specifics.

Zhejiang and Fujian

The situation is similar.

All of them were provinces known for their success in the imperial examinations.

Officials, both old and new, in the three provinces were unable to suppress public opinion.

They had no choice but to send an urgent message to the imperial court by fast ship.

After thinking it over, Zhao Yuan

The decision was made to allow candidates from the three provinces to participate.

However, due to the different selection methods compared to other provinces...

Next year, candidates from the three provinces will be grouped into one list.

The number of successful candidates in the imperial examinations was limited to those who died in the three provinces.

To avoid being unfair to candidates from other provinces.

On the ship in front of us,

There is also a special person,

He was not a test taker.

Instead, they were talented individuals jointly recommended by a large group of Jiangxi officials.

This person's name is Xiao Chu.

He is already sixty-three years old.

He is still unmarried.

He failed the imperial examination when he was young.

There will be no more exams after that.

He has been studying at home all this time.

Divination, medicine, physiognomy, astronomy, geography, calligraphy, painting, music, local history, swordsmanship...

He is knowledgeable in all fields and has integrated the wisdom of all schools of thought.

Emperor Huizong of Song also once summoned him to serve.

But Xiao Chu believed that treacherous officials were in power.

Being an official is utterly useless.

He refused the imperial court's offer of service three times.

Now, the new Ming Dynasty has just been established.

Surprisingly, Xiao Chu readily accepted the offer.

The scholars on their way to the imperial examinations learned that Xiao Chu was on the boat.

They take turns coming to ask me questions every day.

At this moment, Xiao Chu sat cross-legged in the cabin, his voice low and slow.

"People in the world value the transmission of the classics over the actual texts when compiling the Spring and Autumn Annals,"

"But I value the classics more than their transmission."

"You are all participating in the scientific expedition,"

"We should study all the classics and historical texts."

"But the imperial examination is the imperial examination, and scholarship is scholarship."

"The imperial examination system lasts only a short time, but true learning endures for eternity..."

"When you truly engage in scholarship,"

"Do not search for specific passages or phrases, but rather go straight to the fundamental meaning of the scriptures."

"To study the Spring and Autumn Annals, one should begin with its calligraphy (writing style)..."

"The Spring and Autumn Annals is based on the history of Lu, and also incorporates records from other states,"

"It should be a history book,"

"Why is it a Buddhist scripture?"

"Jing means constant!"

"Upholding the Great Way is an eternal principle."

“The commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals are merely apocryphal texts.”

"The apocryphal texts were suitable for their time, but some of their contents are no longer appropriate."

"Only the original text of the Spring and Autumn Annals will never change its fundamental principles."

"Just as people need to eat, this has been true throughout history."

"This is the scripture."

"And what did people eat in the pre-Qin period, and what do they eat now?"

"But it is changing, that is, the apocryphal texts."

"The same principle applies to governing a country."

"We should uphold the unchanging principles of the Way,"

"Their governance methods, however, can be ever-changing!"

Wherein lies the fundamental truth and profound meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals?

"It's nothing more than the four words 'Imperial Supreme Ruler'..."

In terms of overall perspective, Xiao Chu's understanding of the Spring and Autumn Annals...

He is more skillful than Juan Guo.

Hu Anguo likes to quote phrases out of context and make far-fetched connections.

It's still at the technical level for now.

Xiao Chu, however, had already pointed directly to the great path of the Spring and Autumn Period.

This gentleman also belongs to the "Follow the King" faction.

Advocating for strengthening the emperor's centralized power,

To assist the wise ruler in spreading the Way of the King throughout the world.

Therefore, they encountered a foolish ruler.

He resolutely refused to accept the conscription.

His talents were completely wasted.

If it were actually implemented, it would actually harm the people.

The official ship sailed from Jiangxi all the way to Tokyo.

The candidates on the ship listened with rapt attention.

They were able to pass the imperial examinations in Jiangxi and become scholars.

Their basic skills are naturally very solid.

Now, listening to Xiao Chu speak of the Great Dao again...

Everyone benefited greatly.

I have also come to a thorough understanding of the scriptures I learned before.

"Sir, gentlemen, we have arrived in Tokyo!"

The officer on the official ship reminded him.

Xiao Chu slowly stood up.

He tied a precious sword to his waist.

His personal disciple, Hu Quan, helped him carry the zither.

Who is this Hu Quan?

The first palace examination after Zhao Gou became emperor

Hu Quan's policy essay was over ten thousand words long.

This satirizes Zhao Gou for setting questions that only concern Heaven and not the people.

When Hu Quan was an eighth-rank official,

Because of their opposition to negotiating peace with the Jin Dynasty,

He submitted a memorial vehemently criticizing Zhao Gou for being unworthy to betray the country.

He vehemently denounced Zhao Gou as being worse than a three-foot-tall child.

Wen Tianxiang regarded Hu Quan as his idol throughout his life!

"I haven't been to Tokyo for thirty years, and I wonder if the scenery is still the same."

Xiao Chu disembarked and went ashore.

To those scholars taking the imperial examinations,

"Go find your own places to stay."

Chapter 1833 The Great Confucian Scholar

The candidates bowed and bid farewell on the shore.

They all treated each other with the respect due to disciples.

Only Hu Quan remained by his side.

Xiao Chu smiled indulgently.

"Come with me to Taiping Xingguo Temple,"

"Let me visit a friend first."

Xiao Chu never married.

Having no children

He already regarded his disciple Hu Quan as his own son.

The north wind howled, and Hu Quan feared that his teacher would fall ill.

They hurriedly went to rent a donkey cart.

"No need,"

Xiao Chu waved his hand and said,

“You’re wearing enough clothes,”

“I am not a weak and frail person,”

"You can enjoy the scenery of Bianliang while walking along the way."

Xiao Chu had also practiced martial arts.

He once traveled across half of the Song Dynasty with his sword.

Moreover, they are quick to hate evil and often stand up for the weak.

The master and apprentice first strolled around outside the city. Hu Quan asked,