Chapter 597: Reputation

Chen State, Shangying City.

At daybreak, an ordinary middle-aged man hurried to the west gate. His original temperament was servile and flattering, but as he walked, he held his head high and looked straight ahead, as if he was superior to others.

He was Tian Jian, the servant of Sikou Tian Heng. Now he received the order from his master to go to the bamboo forest in the west of the city to investigate something.

Although Shangying was not a famous city, it had tens of thousands of households. The city was divided into palaces, nobles, markets and civilians. Each district had several neighborhoods, each forming a group. Often, what happened in a neighborhood would not be heard just across the street, which showed the state of the big city. Although Tian Heng was Sikou who was in charge of criminal cases and catching thieves, he was not aware of ordinary trivial matters. As long as there was no big disturbance or someone reported him, he was happy to be idle.

More than a month ago, several people from Chu State came to give lectures in the bamboo forest in the west of the city. Tian Heng had never heard of it until he heard the servant mention it recently, and then he realized that the momentum seemed to be getting a little bigger.

Originally, he did not support the lectures, but he would not suppress them. After all, this was a popular trend in various countries in the past decade or so. There was no need to be serious about it and get a reputation for being stubborn. However, as the lectures in the bamboo forest became more and more popular, one thing after another finally reached his ears, which shocked him. He then sent a trusted servant to investigate.

Tian Jian walked briskly, and people who knew him on the street would stop and salute him, which gave him great satisfaction. However, after approaching the bamboo forest in the west of the city, this situation gradually disappeared. There were more people walking together and fewer people facing each other, and most of them walked hurriedly, fearing that they would miss something important.

"Are you all going to listen to the lectures in the bamboo forest?" Tian Jian was slightly startled, collected his mind, and hurried to catch up.

The bamboo forest in the west of the city is called a bamboo forest, but in fact it is only a sparse piece of bamboo, which has nothing to do with the forest. At this time, there is a half-person-high rammed earth in the center, and a woman is sitting on it. She is dressed in white, has a cold expression, noble temperament, and exquisite and beautiful appearance, like a fairy from the moon palace descending to the mortal world.

She looked a little immature, like she was only about twenty years old, but Tian Jian was so moved that he almost couldn't control himself. He couldn't help but sighed: "Bao Si in the past was probably no more than this..."

He was a servant of Sikou's family. He knew how to read and punctuate, and had read a lot.

Looking around, he found that many people sitting around were admiring and respectful, but not frivolous.

In front of the sitting woman was a seven-stringed zither. Suddenly, she gently stroked it, and the music was very clear and refreshing, which made people feel refreshed. Then Tian Jian found that everyone around him straightened their bodies and attitudes, and there was no whispering.

"Today, we will talk about the second chapter of "The Ink Book"..." The woman's voice was like the sound of a zither.

Tian Jian frowned. Only the second chapter? Or how many times has the second chapter been talked about?

He put on a proud and serious attitude, but as he listened, his expression gradually changed involuntarily, as if he had taken off his dull mask and revealed his vivid and wonderful true face.

"The Ink Book" turned out to be a secret manual of martial arts!

She actually taught the secret book to all the listeners in public?

And she taught the skills and taught people to read while teaching them!

Tian Jian felt that this was absurd, as if he was trapped in a funny dream. As a servant trusted by the master, he naturally had to learn the skills long ago. He was quite powerful and didn't care much about the martial arts in the "Ink Book", but how could he do this?

The difficulty of obtaining the skills and texts is the mark that distinguishes the nobles from the lowly. How could he teach them without any reward or assessment?

It was simply ridiculous!

He worked hard and worked like a cow and a horse. It was not easy for him to learn to read and practice martial arts. How could these lowly people deserve it?

Looking around blankly, he seemed to see some scholars and some ruined nobles.

What happened next made Tian Jian even more furious. In addition to teaching, she also gave instructions and even demonstrated in person. The people around him either listened with great interest, comparing what they had learned, or were so absorbed in it that they wished they had four pairs of ears and two hearts. Some even found tree bark and wooden boards and carved symbols that they only understood at key points from time to time so that they could recall them later.

As time passed, after a series of questions and answers about cultivation, in a state of shock and anger and confusion, the woman ended the teaching of the second chapter of "The Ink Book" and turned to talk about "The Meaning of Ink".

"The Meaning of Ink?" Tian Jian gathered his mind and forced himself to listen.

But just as he calmed down the previous waves, another wave of shock came, shocking and angering him and almost jumping up, blurting out curses.

"Love all? Heaven and earth are equal, and so are people. Although there are differences in closeness and distance, we should always be kind and compassionate? The noble should not despise the humble, and the rich should not humiliate the poor?" Tian Jian's expression suddenly became ferocious, and he resisted the urge to curse, "Ridiculous! The nobles are born noble, how can they be on the same level as the poor and humble, and love them all?"

"Don't start an unjust war? There is no unjust war in the world today!"

"Not fate? Merit is in line with the will of heaven, and there are ghosts and gods to reward, but fate is not predetermined? This, this seems to make some sense..."

Tian Jian sometimes glared, sometimes raised his eyebrows, and when he was ferocious, he wanted to tear the woman on the stage into pieces, and when he was happy, he wanted to worship her. He felt that she had touched his heart. It turned out that this was the real truth. As long as he worked hard, he would have the opportunity to continue to make progress!

"When the princes are fighting, there is often no one living in an area of ​​hundreds of miles, with bones filling the fields and no one to bury them. This is not an isolated case. I believe that many of you here have experienced this. Only by loving each other, benefiting each other, and not starting unjust wars can we avoid..." Ruan Yushu on the stage breathed a sigh of relief. It was her turn to give a lecture today, but she was not good at it. After finally finishing the lecture, she felt as relieved as if she had eaten ten pieces of dried dragon fish in one breath.

She did not preside over a meeting to tell the story of suffering, nor did she talk about the gods, Buddhas, immortals, saints, princes, and generals. She only had some meaning in her words, so as not to intensify the conflict with the nobles before the matter was completed. And it cannot be said that the intention of annihilating all the countries, unifying the world, and restoring peace to the people cannot be said. Chen Guo is a small country and has no ambition in this regard. If it is said, it will only be counterproductive, and a simple "non-attack" is enough.

For more than a month, they have not directly asked to see King Chen. After all, he is not a "courteous and virtuous corporal" Bole Lord. As an unknown person, the possibility of being dismissed directly is very high. Therefore, they spend time, concentrate on teaching, expand their momentum, and build their reputation. It can enhance one's own strength, and can also induce King Chen to take the initiative to summon him.

And the effect is surprisingly good. With the publicity and efforts of Zhao Bai and others, the lectures have gone from being ignored at first to now not only common people come to learn, but also many knowledgeable officials and scholars will listen, praise and admire him. .

As a result, the reputation of Meng Qi and others spread wider and wider, and nobles gradually came, even from nearby cities. The titles "Five Sages" and Mr. Su became popular in the streets and alleys.

Seeing Ruan Yushu finishing his lecture, each of the listeners stood up hurriedly, cupped their hands and sent each other off with admiration in their eyes and a very respectful attitude.

Tian Jian's heart was filled with waves, and he was frightened, angry and confused. He didn't know how to leave the bamboo forest and return to Sikotian Mansion.

"Teaching writing, teaching skills, no compensation, and letting everyone watch?" Tian Heng, who had a black beard, glared angrily just after hearing the previous paragraph of Tian Jian's report.

Tian Jian buried his head deeply: "Yes."

"Bold, arrogant, and rebellious!" Tian Heng was so angry that he paced back and forth and said sadly, "The etiquette is ruined and the music is ruined. The rituals are ruined and the music is ruined. It's true that the rituals are ruined and the music is ruined!"

According to Zhou rites, how can one teach skills and writing at will? This is a privilege only enjoyed by the children of princes and nobles!

Seeing the chaos in the world, many countries began to disobey etiquette and have no scruples in order to become stronger. Tian Heng had already sighed similarly, but when such a huge impact happened under his nose, he was still furious. I feel more and more that the rituals are broken and the music is broken, and the world is dark.

He took a few steps and suppressed his emotions: "Continue talking."

Tian Jian looked at his master's face and started talking about non-aggression and unjust warfare, and then moved on to universal love, honoring the virtuous, heaven's will, bright ghosts, and economical use.

Tian Heng's face became more and more livid, but he did not burst into anger again, but endured to listen to the end.

"Using talented people regardless of their status... Huh, this is digging up the tombs of our ancestors..." Tian Heng said a sentence from between his teeth.

Tian Jian hurriedly said: "My lord, do you want to expel them?"

"Expelling them for lecturing? Will it give Tang an excuse? Wait, they are from Chu?" As a vassal of Chu, Chen was often hostile to Tang, and Siko Tian Heng did not dare to act blindly.

"Yes, he is indeed from Chu." Tian Jian didn't hide it.

Tian Heng took a few steps and said in a deep voice: "Anyway, it's just a lecture, not a lobbying. I'll send someone to the Chu State to inquire first, and then expel them after getting the exact information."

"Yes." Tian Jian turned around and left.

At this time, Tian Heng's youngest son Tian Kuo happened to pass by and murmured to himself: "Heaven and earth are unkind...there is no difference between love...the virtuous and the equal...love all but not attack...what a great talent..."

"Niezi, what did you say?" Tian Heng suddenly became furious and slapped him in the face.

Tian Kuo had good strength and was close to the location, but due to etiquette, he did not dare to dodge, so he was slapped hard, causing blood to flow from the corner of his mouth.

"Shangxian? Does the real Shangxian still have a chance for a fool like you?" Tian Heng cursed angrily.

Tian Kuo frowned and looked at Tian Heng stubbornly: "Father, the power of the world has changed a long time ago. Even if a person without strength and talent seizes a high position, he will not be able to hold it for long! You cannot rely on etiquette to restrain others from coveting!"

“Today’s way is only for the ‘virtuous’!”

"Mr. Su said that the general trend of the world is like a surging river. Those who go with it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish. We can't block the carriage with the arms of a mantis! We must not only follow the direct descendants, but only the talents. This is the way to survive and grow. !”

Tian Heng looked at his son who no longer dared to recognize him, and pursed his lips: "Evil son, evil son..."

…………

A few days later, Tian Heng, who had not yet received a reply from the Chu State, heard shocking news. King Chen summoned the Zhulin Lecturer!

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty actually summoned them..." Tian Heng's legs went weak and he fell down on the straw mat.

Inside the palace of Chen State.

Meng Qi and others had just paid a visit to King Chen, and after sitting at the table, they heard King Chen say: "You are all great talents, I have heard about it, but the Chen country is happy and the nobles and people are in harmony, so I am afraid that your knowledge will not be of use. "

He has the iconic long beard with five veins and is full of energy. He is a master.

This is exactly the small country that Meng Qi and others carefully selected, a small country where the king is stronger than the nobles!

After King Chen finished speaking, Meng Qi smiled slightly, his face became serious, and he said in a deep voice:

"The state of Chen is in dire straits. Disaster is just around the corner. How can there be peace and happiness?"