Confucian

In the small pavilion, Xia Shang was still adapting to the new environment. He was a little confused when facing the unfamiliar faces around him, and he didn't know what was going on.

Liu Ruyan, Ouyang Changhao and Liu Qin were surprised to see Xia Shang.

Who would have thought that he would be the one who could give the same answer as Su Heng, the first talent in Yangzhou?

Although everyone was full of doubts, they didn't say much.

Although this small pavilion has a unique shape and many decorations inside, there is an invisible oppression filled in it, giving people a strange feeling.

Xia Shang also noticed it, so he honestly chose to wait and see. He glanced at the unfamiliar faces around him, and the old man in the middle gave people a different feeling.

I can't say why, I always feel that this old man is unfathomable, at least from the outside, I can't tell what his identity is.

Being able to sit in the center of the small pavilion, it must be an extraordinary identity, right? It should be a senior official from the capital, otherwise the prefect would not be so respectful.

Five people in the pavilion stood shoulder to shoulder.

Xia Shang stood aside, and beside him was Liu Ruyan.

Xia Shang didn't pay much attention, but the other party couldn't help but look at the handsome boy next to him, wondering how this boy was born so fair and so good-looking? I don't know his name?

In the hall, the old man in the middle suddenly said: "Okay, everyone is here, let's talk about your views in detail. Who will go first?"

Ouyang Changhao couldn't help it. It was a rare opportunity to compete with his rival on the same stage today. It was a godsend opportunity. He must trample Xia Shang under his feet and make him unable to raise his head in front of Huairou in the future.

"I'll go first."

Ouyang Changhao took a step forward, turned the paper in front of him, and said loudly: "A Confucian scholar is a talented person. He is good at poetry and books, cultivates moral conduct, respects Confucius and Mencius, and practices swordsmanship. He takes integrity as the foundation, the way of the middle way, has strategies in his mind, and has scriptures in his belly. He is not surprised by changes, behaves well in the world, has a sense of tension and relaxation, and advances and retreats in a coordinated manner. Therefore, he takes it as his responsibility to build a country and protect the country, and his wish is to benefit the world. He is not extravagant, not cunning, not lying, and not impetuous. A Confucian scholar is a person with great talent in his mind, who can do both literature and martial arts. He is not limited to blue shirts, folding fans, square scarves, and belts. Anyone with talent can be called a Confucian scholar. Women can be called Confucian scholars, villains can be called Confucian scholars, generals can be called Confucian scholars, and kings and princes can also be called Confucian scholars. Therefore, everyone in the world can be called a Confucian scholar."

After speaking, everyone in the room nodded.

There was an old man beside the old man, with three white beards, kind but majestic, and at this moment he was stroking his long beard and praising: "It's great that everyone in the world can be called a Confucian scholar. Wonderful! Mr. Ouyang not only explained in detail the aspirations of Confucian scholars, but also was able to innovate and break the old to create a new chapter. It is rare and precious. He is worthy of being the eldest grandson of Brother Ouyang. I admire him. I admire him."

The old man stood up and bowed to another old man with gray hair on the side. Although he looked sixty or seventy years old, he looked much younger than the white-haired man.

This person is Ouyang Teng, the current head of the Ouyang family. He is also a contemporary Confucian and Taoist master, a model of folk Confucian scholars, and a benchmark of humanistic spirit. His disciples are all over the world. He is currently a respected senior.

Ouyang Teng was so happy that he could not hide his joy. He stood up and bowed to the other party in return: "Changhao is also a rare young man in the Ouyang family who is both virtuous and talented. It is reasonable for you to have such an opinion. Please forgive me."

"What you said before is correct." The old man in the field spoke, "But it lacks some practical things, which makes the concept floating and unable to land on the ground. It is really a flaw in the ointment."

After speaking, Ouyang Teng was so excited that he burst into tears: "I can get the guidance of the old man. The boy of my Ouyang family will benefit from it for a lifetime!"

"Okay, let's hear what the next person has to say."

Who should be the next one?

For a while, no one recommended themselves.

The old man frowned and directly named: "Liu family girl, you speak."

Liu Ruyan seemed to be unprepared and seemed a little nervous. She took two steps forward in a panic, and her hands holding the manuscript were shaking.

The old man smiled: "Girl, don't be impatient, talk slowly."

After listening, Liu Ruyan slowly let out a sigh of relief, and then read carefully: "Confucian scholars are a kind of demeanor, a kind of mood, a kind of attitude, different from the secular world, different from the palace, walking between heaven and earth, not arrogant, not humble, behave properly, modesty and pride are appropriate..."

Although Liu Ruyan's voice was low, she spoke slowly and coherently, and she spoke for a long time without interruption, which surprised everyone.

How could a little girl have so many words? How could she describe Confucian scholars so specifically?

"A true Confucian scholar should be comfortable to look at and happy to think about. If you savor it carefully, you seem to see a humble and courteous talent, facing the sea, handsome and elegant. Because he has gotten rid of his reckless nature and is full of practical knowledge, he has the cultivation of a scholar all over his body. His face is naturally not aggressive, not arrogant and arbitrary, but gentle and casual. If you don't have weight in your heart, you can't be elegant no matter how great your ability is..."

Liu Ruyan's words were powerful, and the more she said, the more shocking it was. Even Xia Shang couldn't help but look at her with admiration. Is this a statement that a girl can make?

When everyone was puzzled, Liu Ruyan didn't stop talking.

"Some people have a cold appearance, full of stubbornness, coldness and aloofness, while people with elegance in their hearts, even if they are dull by nature and look like pigs, have a clear and bright heart. The gentleness in their belly is like the wind, and the affection is tender. When they walk, they are graceful. It's like the fragrance of flowers floating in the sharp wind, with a fragrance that everyone wants to bend down to pick up. Confucian scholars know that it is good to be humble and know how to exchange love for love. A good man does not fight with a woman, and it doesn't matter if he gives you three feet. The Confucian scholar seems to have lost, but he actually won, winning in his state of mind."

I don't know how many thousands of words have been said in the long speech. Everyone in the audience listened attentively. Today is an eye-opener. I didn't expect that a girl who hides in the boudoir and is unknown would have such a shocking insight.

Why is it called shocking?

Because Confucian scholars from ancient times to the present live in their own world, and they all evaluate their own Confucianism, but never heard of a young girl's fantasy about Confucian scholars.

What Liu Ruyan said was an ordinary girl's fantasy and longing for Confucian scholars. It can be said that this is the first time in the world that the most perfect image of Confucian scholars in a girl's mind is described in the most detailed way. After hearing it, it makes people feel ashamed. I wonder if there is any man in the world who claims to be a Confucian scholar who has done so many things described by the girl?

After Liu Ruyan finished speaking, there was no need for others to comment on her. After a moment of silence, the old man spoke again: "Next one."

Xia Shang, Su Heng, and Liu Qin were left.

The answers of these three people are a bit interesting.

At first, Xia Shang and Su Heng answered the same question, and Liu Qin was surprisingly similar. What was written on the paper was only one word different.

One is: Confucian scholars are what people need.

The second is: Confucian scholars are what people lack.

It turned out that the three people's answers were almost the same. Who should speak first?

Liu Qin and Xia Shang had some grudges, and it was clear from Liu Qin's eyes.

Su Heng was a man who was good at observing people's colors. Seeing that there was a story between the two, he smiled in his heart and stepped forward: "Let Su speak first."