My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 256 Lectures (2)

The more the three walked, the more companions they encountered, and soon the Dayong Palace came into view.

The Dayong Hall is surrounded by pools, with exquisite white marble railings carved with flying fish, beasts, birds, insects, flowers, and plants. Stone bridges span the pools in the east, west, south, and north, connecting the four gates of Dayong.

From a distance, the main hall was crowded with people, and those on the road carried Lin Ziping and his two companions into the hall.

The main hall is about 200 square meters in size. In the center is a high platform with a desk and chairs. At this moment, a person is sitting on the platform.

Although there were many people in the main hall, it was very quiet. Lin Ziping could still hear the voices of the people on the platform even when he was standing at the door.

Confucius said, “To govern a state of a thousand chariots, one must be respectful in one’s duties and trustworthy, frugal in expenditures and loving towards the people, and employ the people at the right times…”

Isn't this the Analects?

Lin Ziping felt agitated after only hearing the beginning, as if he had returned to the days when he read the Analects to the emperor every day in the palace, and he couldn't help but feel a splitting headache.

Seeing that Fang Zhili and Fang Qiaoling were listening attentively, he casually said something and hurriedly left.

Surrounded by what sounded like demonic chants, Lin Ziping quickened his pace and unknowingly arrived at the school building he had just visited.

After calming himself down, Lin Ziping felt relieved and his mood improved.

Seeing that Fang Zhili and the other person did not chase after them, they strolled around casually.

"If the ruler is less important than the people, then why do so many officials turn a blind eye to Fuchun's affairs, and why do they turn a blind eye to the locust plague in Shuzhou and the flood in Yuezhou?"

A voice came from inside the schoolhouse, catching Lin Ziping's attention. He followed the sound and found a group of students debating their ideas.

The two sides stood facing each other, the atmosphere tense and tense.

Isn't this the Da Zhou version of the debate competition? Lin Ziping leaned against the door, watching with great interest.

At this moment, the debater on the right said, "Fuchun?! That was insubordination. The fact that the court did not pursue their crimes is already a great favor. How can they have the face to ask the court for more favors? As for the locust plague in Shu Prefecture and the flood in Yue Prefecture that you mentioned, has any of you heard about them? The Great Zhou is a vast and resource-rich land. How can it possibly manage so many places?"

"So now, bandits are running rampant not far from the capital, why isn't the imperial court doing anything about it?" someone in the crowd asked.

There was a moment of silence in the schoolhouse, followed by a burst of laughter: "Liu Wanfu, don't think we can't hear you just because you're speaking in a high-pitched voice! How did we rob your house?!"

The man on the right gave him a disdainful look: "Liu Wanfu, you should worry about yourself. If you didn't have the headmaster's recommendation letter this year, you wouldn't even be able to participate in the imperial examination. Can your family afford to send you to the Imperial Academy for another year?"

The speaker glanced at the people opposite him: "And what are you talking about, the people being more important than the ruler, the locust plague in Shu Prefecture, the floods in Yue Prefecture? You should use that energy to worry about yourselves."

Lin Ziping frowned: Instead of properly presenting their viewpoints in a debate, they started making personal attacks and showing off their superiority after only a couple of sentences.

"Our ancestor was just a commoner. He learned the Way at the age of thirty and said that studying is to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to create peace for all generations. As the nephews and nieces of the Fang family, have you inherited the legacy of your ancestors? Do you know why you study?" The leader on the left said slowly.

What?

When did Zhang Zai's "Four Lines of Hengqu" become a saying attributed to our ancestor?!

Lin Ziping couldn't help but stumble.

"crunch-"

The noise was so loud that the door, instead of being properly secured, made a sound.

The students in the school all looked over.

Lin Ziping quickly stood up straight and waved his hand, saying, "I was just passing by, you can continue."

Someone on the right glared at Lin Ziping with displeasure, seemingly about to approach, but was pulled back by the person next to them.

At this moment, the person standing at the front on the right said, "We will carry on the legacy of the Fang family ancestors. Kong Sheng, you should worry about yourselves. Let's go."

After saying that, he turned and left.

He stopped in front of the forest floor, looked it over, and strode away.

Those who were with him also left upon seeing this, and Lin Ziping quickly made way for them as he approached the schoolhouse.

There were only seven people left in the dormitory, sitting next to Kong Sheng and Lin Ziping, looking at each other.

Lin Ziping waved awkwardly and said, "Hi."

Kong Sheng stood at the front of the crowd, cupped his hands in a salute to Lin Ziping, and asked, "May I ask how you are addressed, brother?"

Lin Ziping quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "I am Lin Ziping. I was just passing by when I heard you all debating, so I couldn't help but stop and linger. I hope you will forgive me."

"These are merely our shallow views," Kong Sheng said. "Just now I saw that you overreacted to the idea of ​​establishing a moral compass for heaven and earth, securing a destiny for the people, continuing the lost learning of the past sages, and creating peace for all generations. Do you have any insightful opinions?"

"Why do you say these four lines were spoken by the Fang family's ancestors?" Lin Ziping asked, then said, "Lin Ziping, courtesy name Shaoying, is from Qingyang, Huaizhou. If you don't mind, you can call me Shaoying."

Kong Sheng remained silent, but a man behind him said, "These four sentences spread throughout the academy yesterday. We were all greatly encouraged when we heard them. Who else but the Fang family ancestor could utter such profound words?"

Kong Sheng added, "We only heard it secondhand. We don't know who said it was said by the Fang family's ancestor. If it's not true, we are willing to apologize and ask for clarification from the person who uttered this profound saying."

So that's how it is. It's just hearsay. Lin Ziping lowered his eyes upon hearing this. Who spread this rumor?

Lin Ziping did not want to elaborate on this topic and said, "Brother Kong just mentioned the locust plague in Shu Prefecture and the floods in Yue Prefecture. When did these events happen? I have never heard of them."

Someone next to Kong Sheng said, "I come from Shu Prefecture."

Another person said, "My hometown is Yuezhou."

Lin Ziping nodded, then suddenly remembered that Tang Jiawei was also from Shuzhou. He decided to go back and ask him about his family situation.

“It is fate that we meet. It is a great destiny that we are gathered here. If you gentlemen do not mind, shall we find a place to have a long talk?” Lin Ziping suggested.

The group exchanged glances, and Kong Sheng said, "Let's go to Mengyuan Pavilion. There shouldn't be many people there right now."

Lin Ziping remained noncommittal and followed the seven people to Mengyuan Pavilion.

This is a pavilion built over the lake, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the lake from the window.

Upon seeing Lin Ziping enter, Kong Sheng curiously looked around and said, "Brother Lin doesn't seem to be from the Imperial Academy?"

Lin Ziping smiled wryly: "To be honest, I have long admired the Imperial Academy. Today I came here with some friends. They went to Dayong to listen to lectures. As a crude person, I am not worthy of such a refined place, so I just wandered around. Who knew that I would get to know you all?"

Kong Sheng clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said, "My name is Kong Sheng, courtesy name Ziyi."

The others also began to introduce themselves.

"Cai Jiang, courtesy name Jinde, was a native of Yuezhou."

Zhang Xiang, courtesy name Shida.

"Liu, Liu Wanfu."

"Xia Yu, named Yuchu."

"Chen Keqing".

"Su Xian, courtesy name Chenyun."

Lin Ziping greeted the group one by one and introduced himself again: "I am Lin Ziping, courtesy name Shaoying, a native of Qingyang, Huai Prefecture. In the twenty-fifth year of Shunhua, I passed the Huai Prefecture examination and became a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."

"Where is Brother Shaoying studying now?"