Chapter 143

In the academy's library, Liang Qu picked and chose among the book spines.

He put his hand on them, pulled them out to flip through two pages, and put them back, unable to make a decision for a long time.

"Are you very interested in Buddhist classics?"

Liang Qu looked back: "Principal? When did you come?"

An old man with white hair stood behind him; it was Zhao Ji, the principal of the Shanghu Academy.

Thanks to the principal, Liang Qu's matter of pinyin could be reported so quickly. Otherwise, with the vast territory of Great Shun, it wouldn't necessarily have news even after half a year of coming and going slowly.

"I've been here for a while, watching you pick and choose without any idea." Zhao Ji took a step forward, stood side by side with Liang Qu, and picked out a classic to read, "Why did you suddenly think of reading Buddhist classics?"

Liang Qu cupped his hands: "To tell you the truth, student accidentally obtained a Buddhist technique that is quite suitable, but it is mixed with many terms and allusions, and student doesn't understand it very well, so I want to find two books to study."

Buddhism has a huge influence on the secular world, and there are many techniques circulating in the world, so it's not strange to accidentally obtain one to study.

"I see. Then you shouldn't come here."

Zhao Ji stuffed the Buddhist scripture back and walked out of the bookshelf. Liang Qu followed quickly, knowing that the principal wanted to teach him how to pick books.

Crossing five or six bookshelves, Zhao Ji turned and walked into another bookshelf aisle, scanned it once, pulled one out from the third layer, and picked two from the fifth layer, handing a total of three books to Liang Qu.

"Nong Qi's Interpretation of the True Meaning of Buddhist Law"

"Ouyi's Interpretation of the Four Books"

"Essentials of the Unity of the Three Teachings by the Bai Family"

"You have only learned classics, history, and humanities, and you know nothing about Buddhism. You won't understand it if you read Buddhist classics directly.

And I observe that your reading is mostly utilitarian, just to understand the technique, not starting from interest. If you force yourself to read it, you will only become more confused and anxious the more you read.

Nowadays, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism are integrated. As the saying goes, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism are connected; the three teachings have always had the same ancestral style, and many things tend to be consistent.

It is better to start from the perspective of Confucianism looking at Buddhism, and then use Buddhism to look at Confucianism to verify it. Once you have a foundation of understanding, finally go to read specialized Buddhist classics according to the parts you are confused about."

Liang Qu read it a few times and found it much easier to understand. He was overjoyed and bowed: "Many thanks, Principal, for choosing the books!"

It's good to have connections and resources. Without guidance, everything depends on one's own groping. How long would that take?

As for learning, Liang Qu is not afraid at all.

"Hmm." The principal accepted it calmly, "The new county magistrate is going to worship the gods; I estimate he will come over in another hour. Go back quickly."

Liang Qu nodded, found the book to register the borrowing information, and took all three books away.

In the afternoon, Liang Qu stayed indoors.

The noise outside the academy was incessant.

The county magistrate had arrived.

Everyone stood up to welcome him. Jian Zhongyi was full of spring breeze and, led by Principal Zhao Ji, visited the entire academy.

The students all followed behind the big shot, not even daring to whisper, only communicating with their eyes.

Who doesn't know that the newly arrived County Magistrate Jian is a great expert? He will hear even if you speak softly.

After looking around, Jian Zhongyi stood in the courtyard, his tone full of gratification: "Shanghu Academy lives up to its name; it is worthy of being the best academy in Pingyang County!"

"Magistrate Jian, you flatter me; I really don't deserve it."

" 'Simple as uncarved wood, vast as a valley,' Principal Zhao is too humble, but Shanghu Academy does have room for improvement."

"Magistrate Jian, please speak."

"It's too small!" Jian Zhongyi's tone was full of regret, "Such a good academy is a blessing for Pingyang County; it should be run bigger and better!"

While speaking, Jian Zhongyi took out a bank note from his sleeve: "This is a five-hundred-tael bank note, not from the public account, but my private investment to support Shanghu Academy."

"How can I let Magistrate Jian spend money? The commoner is terrified."

Zhao Ji declined three times, and finally accepted the bank note under Jian Zhongyi's insistence.

Liang Qu bared his teeth while watching.

Damn it, he's really damn rich.

A county magistrate's normal salary for a year isn't five hundred taels. The rich guy took it out just like that.

Worthy of being a descendant of a noble family, rich as oil. The silver he has earned so far doesn't even add up to five hundred taels.

Liang Qu stood in the crowd and felt bored, just wanting Jian Zhongyi to set the questions quickly so he could finish the formality and end it.

Unexpectedly, after Jian Zhongyi chatted for a while, he actually brought the topic to him.

"I heard that your academy has a young hero who invented a phonetic spelling method far superior to the traditional character-splitting method, which can make one fully literate in just one year. I wonder if this young hero is on the scene."

Once these words were spoken, the students present turned their heads in unison to look at Liang Qu.

Liang Qu stepped out: "I am honored by your praise, Magistrate; I am ashamed."

Jian Zhongyi looked him up and down and said a few good words: "Youngest in the county, rare to have both talent and appearance! Such an achievement, and under my governance, should be rewarded."

After saying that, he took out a second bank note from his sleeve.

"I didn't bring many things with me when I went out, only some bank notes. I hope you don't mind."

Liang Qu glanced at it; the face value of the bank note was one hundred taels, so he couldn't help but look at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji nodded slightly: "What is given by an elder should not be refused."

Only then did Liang Qu accept it. His finances were indeed not very abundant, and there were some things at home that hadn't been purchased yet.

One hundred taels, his quality of life could step up another level.

Jian Zhongyi faced everyone: "I have taken the position of Pingyang County Magistrate. I will be diligent in government, so that the old have an end, the strong have use, the young have growth, the widowed, widowed, orphaned, lonely, and disabled are all cared for. Those with merit will be rewarded, and those with faults will be punished. Rewards and punishments will be clear!"

The students applauded and cheered.

Then, at Zhao Ji's invitation, Jian Zhongyi personally inscribed a stone tablet.

He really used his hand.

Jian Zhongyi only extended one index finger and carved a line of large characters on the blue gold stone that was as hard as refined steel.

"To seek knowledge without learning is like wanting fish without a net."

Next was the exam. It was simple: write an essay, only one topic.

"Vast and great, the people cannot name it; majestic, it has success; brilliant, it has literature."

Liang Qu spread out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, biting his brush a bit.

Even if it was a formality, the topic was a bit beyond the syllabus.

He had learned to read and read books, but he had never thought about taking the imperial examination, so naturally, he didn't know how to solve the topic, break the topic, or even the basic essay format.

If he had known, he would have asked for sick leave and not come.

That's not right either; if he didn't come, he wouldn't have gotten this one hundred taels. It's a large sum of money anyway.

After a long time, he started writing.

Jian Zhongyi walked through the courtyard in turn. When he reached Liang Qu's classroom, he seemed particularly interested in the creator of the pinyin method and came to his side to check.

Si Hengyi's heart jumped, but he couldn't stop it. Then he saw the new county magistrate's eyebrows furrowed tightly.

What level is Liang Qu's writing on such topics? Doesn't he, the teacher, know?

He has many strange ideas, but when it comes to writing topics, he is no different from an uninitiated child, or even worse.

It would be fine to just go through the motions in a pile of papers, but now...

An ordinary county magistrate would only be a third-tier graduate, but this one is a real second-place graduate, selected by the Emperor in the palace examination.

Jian Zhongyi looked at the pile of repetitive words on the paper and felt that his own essay level was being lowered.

This kid, what is he writing?

The topic he set was clearly standard, just praising the nurturing achievements of ancient sages, then praising the wisdom and martial prowess of the current monarch, by the way expressing loyalty, saying that he also wants to be determined to assist the current holy master to do a great cause for the people, etc.

As a result, this person didn't even understand the topic, pulling a bit here and a bit there, without rules or patterns.

Using this kid's skull to make a bowl for empowerment and turning to practice, won't he become stupid too?