[Caption: This article is the second section of the fifth article of the author series "Former Qin Fengyun" "I want to read"]
【Introduction】
◇ The content of the previous section is reviewed: Pu Jian was playing outside the palace, and in the face of xu Tong's deliberate intimidation in the service, he argued according to reason, which made Xu Tong strange. Shi Hu stole the tomb of Zhao Jianzi. Pu Xiong introduced to his son the deeds of Zhao Jianzi and Zhao Xiangzi, a father and son, in "turning the family into a country".
◆ Introduction to the content of this section: After worshiping Xu Tong as a teacher, Wang Meng often came to borrow books. He was most interested in books that had been used through the ages. Because he refused his husband's kindness to arrange for joining the army, he felt uneasy in his heart.
★ The story takes place in March 345 AD. Location: Xu Tong's home in Zhao Shizhong after Yicheng.
Wang Meng came to see Xu Tong today to return and borrow books. Xu Tong brought Wang Meng back to his home, and he happened to have something to discuss with his forgotten friend.
Although Xu Tong lived in the official residence, he always kept his family in Gaoyang, and he spent time in Yicheng with an old family surnamed Song. Pu Hong and Yao Yizhong were very puzzled by this, and they had asked several times, and he laughed every time.
The "Four People's Moon Order" on the desk was returned by Wang Menggang after reading it. It is a monthly agricultural book, similar to the later "Farmer's Calendar". The author is Cui Yu, a person in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
As a great Confucian today, focusing on the inheritance of Confucianism, Xu Tong naturally hoped that Wang Meng would read more Confucian classics. However, this book can be used as an exception, not in its content, but in its author.
Cui Yi (崔寔), also known as Tai (台), was a native of Boling Anping (in present-day Anping County, Hebei). The Boling Cui clan and the Qinghe Cui clan went hand in hand, becoming a first-class family in the north, inseparable from Cui Yu and his father and ancestors. Cui Xiao's grandfather, Cui Xiao, although he never pursued fame and fortune in his life, was a literary and historical master with the same name as Ban Gu. Although his father Cui Yi had poor official fortunes in his life, he had the reputation of "a generation of Wenzong", and was a famous calligrapher, especially good at cursive calligraphy, and was a close friend of famous scholars such as Jia Kui, Ma Rong, and Zhang Heng. He himself served as a Huilang, Wuyuan (in present-day Northwest Baotou, Inner Mongolia), Taishou, and Shangshu, and was known as "Shuangfeng" along with Cai Yong because of his extensive history and talent, and also participated in the compilation of the Records of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Later Zhao served Xu Tong
Xu Tong not only admired Cui Yuan's learning, but also admired his official reputation, so he was happy to see Wang Meng read his books.
Cui Was known historically for his honesty and honesty. He famously said: "Horses are not literate, it is difficult to chase far; soldiers are not simple, it is difficult to be anxious." "Take this as the motto of the jujutsu. He became poorer and poorer as an official, so that after his death, "the family stood on all sides of the wall, and there was no way to be buried", relying on friends to prepare coffins for burial. Xu Tong was also famous for his self-improvement in hou Zhao Jie.
When Wang Meng read Cui Yuan's book, it was obvious that he also had the meaning of a former sage of the Teacher's Law. Like him, Cui Has Had a Career in Trafficking. After the death of his father Cui Yu, Cui Yu cut and sold the farmhouse, built a tsuka, erected a monument and carved praises, exhausted his assets, and the family became more and more poor, so he took the sale as his business and did not care about the ridicule of others. Wuyuan was too punctual, because the nomadic people often invaded, the land was barren, and the people had no clothes to wear in winter. On the one hand, Cui Yu straightened out the military brigade, trained soldiers, and solemnly burned the flames, while selling the official reserves for the purchase of textile tools, hiring weavers, teaching the people to weave, and stabilizing the situation in this border county, which was deeply loved by the local people. It was precisely because of his heart for the common people that this generation of Wenzong wrote a book dedicated to agricultural activities.
Prior to this, Xu Tong had taken the initiative to recommend another work by Cui Yu to Wang Meng, "Political Theory". This "Four People's Moon Order" was borrowed by him from Wei Wei, a servant. Just now Wang Meng told him that he hoped to read the Book of Victory.
"I know the Book of Victory, but I haven't seen it. I'll go back and see if Lord Wei Wei has any there. Xu Tong said to Wang Meng. This is another agricultural book, and it seems that Wang Meng has developed a strong interest in such books.
Young Wang Meng (character Jingluo, imaginary image)
At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, He shengzhi was a native of Shuishui (a tributary of the ancient Jishui River, in the northern part of present-day Cao County, Shandong), and unlike the son of the family, Cui Yu, he was born into a farming family. Emperor Cheng of Han was a huilang at the time, and because he was familiar with agricultural affairs, the imperial court appointed him as a messenger of light vehicles and supervised the cultivation of wheat, which greatly benefited the people of Guanzhong. He wrote the first agricultural monograph in ancient China, which was later called the Book of Victory.
In the early years, Xu Tong often gave Wang Meng some suggestions on which classics he should read, and even the order of reading. Wang Meng would also take advantage of the opportunity to borrow and return books to ask him for advice, and sometimes presented articles he had written for approval. Now he basically didn't ask for anything, and Wang Meng lent it to whatever he wanted. If you don't have one, find someone else to borrow it. However, Wang Meng's recent enthusiasm for searching for agricultural books has made him feel a little dissatisfied: reading is not to be a farmer after all.
"Trouble again for sir!" Does sir think that students are reading too complicated? Wang Meng seemed to see Xu Tong's heart and said with some embarrassment.
"No, it won't." Xu Tong replied. Despite his doubts, he did not say this insincerely.
A few days ago, he chatted with Pu Xiong and Yao Fu Quanyi about reading, and he had warned them that they should apply what they had learned, and not to read dead books like him. Since the young man in front of him loves to read such books, he naturally has his own ideas. He stroked his hair and groaned for a moment, then said, "Let's talk about reading today." JingLuo, I would like to recommend you to do a gongcao to engage, what do you mean? "That's what he wants to discuss with Wang Meng." JingLuo, Wang Mengzi.
"Four People's Moon Order" (by Cui Yu of the Eastern Han Dynasty)
Wang Meng did not make a sound after listening to it.
Xu Tong continued: "I am old, I have little energy, and I need a helper. As for you, your livelihood has settled, and you just need to read more books. ”
"Can't sir find a more suitable person?"
"Oh? What do you have to say, just say it straight! ”
"Sir," Wang Meng paused, "the student doesn't want to join the army at the moment..."
"In fact, this is not called an official, it is nothing more than asking you to help me." Of course, since you pay attention to the world's affairs, you will eventually enter the career in the future, otherwise wouldn't you have wasted what you have learned in your daily life? Even so, then you may as well let the old man make some preparations for you first, so that you can go through the experience. Xu Tong finished speaking, looking at Wang Meng.
"Wouldn't the students know this beautiful intention of the gentleman?" It's just that so far, students really haven't thought about things on their careers. Wang Meng explicitly refused Xu Tong's proposal.
"I ask you, do you have a Huhan gap in your heart?" Xu Tong asked with concern.
The Book of Victory (by the Western Han Dynasty)
"Not really." Wang shook his head.
After a moment of silence, Xu Tong said, "Jing Luo, you and I have known each other for seven or eight years. When I learned that you were from Beihai that day, guess who I had in mind at the time? ”
Wang Meng stared at Xu Tong and had no intention of answering.
"I think of The Plains of the same county as you. He was a native of Zhuxu County, Beihai (in present-day southeastern Linqu County, Shandong), from a poor and lonely family, and was recommended by Xiang Rong of Beihai to embark on a career path, making Cao Cao's Dongge sacrifice wine, and then died in the army with Cao Cao's conquest of Eastern Wu. His experience in school is quite similar to yours. When he was young, he once shed tears outside the bookstore, and the master asked him why. He replied, 'The lonely are vulnerable, and the poor are susceptible.' Whoever reads will have his relatives. When I came to see that others were not alone, I envied them for learning, and my heart was sad, so I wept. Upon hearing this, the master felt pity and invited him to enroll in school. He said there was no money. Seeing that his boy had ambitions, the master let him go to school for free. One winter, he was able to recite the Filial Piety Sutra and the Analects..."
"Sir," Wang Meng suddenly stood up, with an uneasy expression on his face, "did the student just offend?" ”
Xu Tong shook his head and said, "At first, I thought I had also done something to help me learn later. In the past few years, you have not only learned more and more, but also often inspired the old man's thoughts. Now, the old man has regarded you as a good teacher and friend! He said very emotionally, staring at Wang Meng with deep eyes.
Wang looked at Xu Tong fiercely and showed a guilty expression. His feeling, behind this heartfelt remark of the gentleman, seemed to be hiding his disappointment.
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Next section: Wang Meng tells Xu Tong that he will not choose to live in seclusion