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

It could even be said that Zhang Yi, as Yin Tun's junior brother, was actually half a teacher.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yi died young; otherwise, he would surely have been a great Confucian scholar.

Zhang Yi was the one who organized and compiled the lifelong scholarship of the Cheng brothers, and he was the one who represented the orthodox Cheng school.

If Zhang Yi were still alive, Zhao Yuan would most likely have issued an order to recruit him.

Zhang Yi belonged to the absolute grassroots, not even a small landlord.

He didn't have the opportunity to study when he was young, so he went to the city (Luoyang) to work and support his family. He learned to read and write by absorbing knowledge from his surroundings.

When I worked as a bartender in a restaurant, I often heard scholars reciting poems, composing couplets, and playing drinking games.

So Zhang Yi himself also learned to write doggerel, which always conformed to the rules of tone and rhyme, and also contained reasoning.

A scholar named Xie Xiandao was very surprised when he saw the doggerel and asked Zhang Yi why he didn't go to study.

Zhang Yi said, "I am a lowly person, how dare I study?"

Xie Xiandao said, "Everyone can read books."

Zhang Yi asked, "What books should I read?"

Xie Xiandao said, "Let's read the Analects first."

Zhang Yi used his salary to buy a copy of the Analects. When he encountered words or phrases he didn't recognize or understand, he would ask the scholars for their guidance.

After reading the Analects, Zhang Yi asked, "What should we do next?"

Xie Xiandao said, "Go and ask to see Mr. Cheng."

Zhang Yi thus became Cheng Yi's last disciple, serving as his student, servant, and even more like a son.

He stayed by Cheng Yi's side, attending to his sickbed, handling his funeral arrangements, and even taking charge of organizing the Cheng brothers' lifelong scholarship.

After completing his scholarly work, Zhang Yi also died of illness.

Yin Tun asked, "Do you want to assist the government in surveying the land?"

Zhang Liangyou replied, "Investigating things to acquire knowledge is also a form of investigating things in doing things."

"When I assist the government in surveying land, I will encounter many people and things, as well as many difficulties and obstacles."

"By dealing with those people and those things, overcoming obstacles and solving difficulties, one can gain knowledge."

Yin Tun nodded approvingly: "I thought you were trying to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy."

"If it is for the purpose of investigating things and acquiring knowledge, then go ahead and do it."

"Do not be afraid of offending powerful clans. As long as you sincerely uphold righteousness, nothing can harm you."

"I will remember your teachings, Master!" Zhang Liangyou bowed.

Yin Dun sighed, "What a pity, I am a naturally stupid person."

"Your intelligence, talent, and virtue are not even one ten-thousandth of your father's."

“I started my studies when I was a few years old, and I became a disciple of the Cheng family even earlier than your father.”

“But after my mentor passed away, I need to ask your father for advice.”

"Your father never received a proper education; he learned to read entirely through exposure to the local food and beverage industry."

“He only became my apprentice when he was in his twenties, and his progress in one year was equivalent to my progress in ten years.”

"Your intelligence is like your father's; it would be a waste of your talents for you to study under me."

Chapter 3585 Reclusive Teaching

"My methods of learning and self-cultivation are clumsy and not suitable for you."

"That's why I brought you to Hualin Academy. It has renowned teachers from all over the country."

"Once you have assisted the government in surveying the land, you can return to Luoyang."

"That's the capital now, you can find all kinds of knowledge there, and you can meet all kinds of famous teachers."

"I am too old and frail to learn Your Majesty's new teachings."

"Back then, he even criticized His Majesty's scholarship, so he was too ashamed to seek an official position in the new dynasty and fled to Jiangxi to teach."

"When you return to Luoyang, do not mention my name, lest it affect your career."

Zhang Liangyou said, "Even if one is a teacher for a day, one should not be ashamed to mention one's teacher's name."

"Your Majesty embraces all schools of thought in academia and will certainly not persecute students because of their teachers."

"Go, go." Yin Tun waved his hand.

Zhang Liangyou bowed and took his leave, then excitedly ran to Wei Liangchen to register.

Yin Dun returned to his study, picked up a basic math textbook, and began practicing math problems earnestly.

He's too slow; he struggles to learn even traditional classics, and math and physics drive him to the brink of collapse.

But I'm still trying my best to learn.

Yin Tun thought of his junior brother Zhang Yi again. If his junior brother were still alive, he could probably master this math textbook in a month.

Cheng Yi's posthumous work on the Book of Changes completely baffled Yin Tun.

Zhang Yi was able to quickly organize the manuscripts, fill in any gaps, and then painstakingly pass them on to Yin Tun.

Of the four masters of the Cheng School, only Yin Tun is still alive today.

He gathered some followers of the Luoyang School in Jiangxi and planned to perfect the Luoyang School belonging to the Ming Dynasty.

He tried his best to align himself with the emperor, but still rejected Wang Anshi's scholarship.

They introduced Buddhism into Confucianism, yet they constantly shouted to refute Buddhism, wishing they could tear down all the temples in the world.

There were also officials in the imperial court who maintained long-term contact with them.

For example, Xie Liangzuo, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was the spokesperson for the Luoyang School in the imperial court.

Xie Liangzuo's critique of Buddhism is that it only has higher learning (metaphysics) but no lower learning (metaphysical learning).

Then, Xie Liangzuo criticized Buddhism and frantically praised the emperor's new learning, thereby reforming the Luoyang School.

The Luoyang School of the Ming Dynasty regarded subjects such as mathematics and physics as "lower learning" and the only way to "reach higher levels".

Just as Yin Tun was working on his math problems, another student came in: "Master, should I go and assist with the surveying of the fields?"

Yin Dun pointed to his heart: "My knowledge boils down to one word: respect."

"Don't ask me about this kind of thing; you should ask your own heart."

What are your reasons for wanting to go? And what are your reasons for not daring to go?

The student fell into deep thought, stood for a long time, and then bowed, saying, "This disciple understands."

After saying goodbye, he ran to register with Wei Liangchen.

...

Not all large clans are the same.

The Chen family of Jiangzhou controlled everything within the clan.

Although clan members had to hand over their income, they could retain a portion of it, with the remaining money distributed among the clan.

No need to worry about birth, aging, illness, or death; no need to fret about food, shelter, marriage, or other necessities.

One could choose to study and become an official, engage in trade and commerce, or take on various positions within the clan.

When faced with disasters or illnesses, the family immediately comes to help.

The Hu family of Hualin was more loosely managed, encouraging its members to expand their clans and those who became officials often moved to other places.

It is also permissible for families to split up within the clan.

However, each household was still under the control of the family.

They also have clan property and relief funds, and they help their clansmen through difficult times.

Both of these companies belong to the "Righteous Sect".

The third stop was Jianchang.

The Hong family of Leitang, which followed, did not adopt the "righteous family" management model.

They have some family property, but not much.

There is relief money, but it is insufficient and the scope of assistance is limited.

A large family has been divided into several branches, each with its own patriarch.

They are connected, but also have conflicts, and occasionally land disputes occur.

Each branch is further divided into many smaller households.

Some who fared poorly even became tenant farmers, forced to cultivate the land of wealthy members of their clan.

……

The location of the Hong family in Leitang is sandwiched between the Chen and Hu families.

Furthermore, the Hong family and the Chen family had a conflict.

Jianchang County was the stronghold of the Hong family, but the Chen family had been expanding and acquiring territory in Jianchang.

Zhang Liangyou and many scholars followed the governor in a grand procession to fight.

Of the three or four thousand scholars, about two thousand signed up.

They were extremely excited at this moment, as if they had been cultivating in the deep mountains for ten years and suddenly came down the mountain with swords to slay demons and monsters.

The fleet had just arrived in Pingting Town and had not yet reached Jianchang County when the clan leaders of several branches of the Hong family were already waiting outside the town.

Wei Liangchen passed through here on his way to deal with the Hu family.

Several days later, news of the Chen family's ordeal in Jiangzhou had spread.

"This old man, xxx, pays his respects to the Governor!" Several clan leaders bowed in unison.

Wei Liangchen asked, "Who is the head of the Hong clan?"

An old man stepped forward half a step: "I am Hongxu."

Wei Liangchen asked, "Do you know anything about the Chen family of Jiangzhou?"

Hongxu replied, "I've heard a little about it."

Chapter 3586 Lack of Manpower

Wei Liangchen asked, "What are your thoughts, Hong family?"

Hong Xu said, "The Hong family will definitely cooperate with the government's land survey."

“If the governor is short of manpower, Mr. Hong is willing to provide one hundred literate young men to accompany him.”

Are you giving in now?

Wei Liangchen felt it was all so boring.

He had only just begun to exert his strength, having dealt with two companies, when the third company was actually frightened.

Actually, it would be abnormal not to be scared.

The rise of the Hong family of Leitang was relatively late, far less significant than that of the Chen and Hu families of Yimen.

Moreover, sandwiched between these two righteous sects, it has little room for further mergers and expansions.

The two larger companies on either side have backed down, so why does the smaller one in the middle still dare to jump?

Wei Liangchen's mood brightened, and he began to talk about personal matters: "I heard about him when I was young. I heard that there was a scholar in Leitang named Hong Shimin."

"He had five sons, one of whom died young, and four of whom became Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and were known as the Four Heroes."

Hong Xu replied, "That was my uncle, who passed away many years ago."

"The four heroes are all my cousins. Last year, the last hero also passed away from illness."

"What a pity," Wei Liangchen sighed.