Chapter 315: Forty-four, One Word Becomes the Law for the World

Forty-four, One Word Becomes the Law for the World

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The process of the sacrifice was quite boring.

After the sacrificial rites to the Most Holy Teacher began, the crowd of provincial school scholars tacitly quieted down.

After all, the Most Holy Teacher had to be given face.

Ouyang Rong led them through a series of complex rituals.

The rites were completed.

Ouyang Rong turned his head and, following the draft he had stayed up all night to prepare, spoke to the public.

The general content was to first review his past experience of studying hard, then praise the model excellent students in the provincial school over the past few years, and finally encourage the scholars to make persistent efforts and pass the imperial examination in the coming year.

Well, reviewing the past, grasping the present, and looking forward to the future.

All elements were complete, and he could leave satisfied.

But the excited students who gathered today would not let him "leave satisfied" so easily.

During the speech, Ouyang Rong saw Yue Ziyang in the front of the crowd below out of the corner of his eye, the latter with a firm expression.

A boo came from the crowd below. Amidst the clamor, a scholar shouted: "Don't give us Tai Chi; as a local official of Jiangzhou, why do you help the tyrant!"

The sickly Commandant in the white fox fur cape looked straight ahead, his slow and gentle tone unchanged.

During this time, the scholars continued to boo.

Ouyang Rong finished speaking every word he should have said.

Then, after he finished speaking, he silently watched the excited crowd of scholars below.

Ouyang Rong was not wearing an official robe today, and his face was pale and weak, but his calm eyes seemed to carry a certain unfathomable majesty in people's hearts.

The noise of the crowd stopped rapidly.

But immediately, a scholar seemed dissatisfied with the lack of momentum and increased the booing, and the sporadic booing led the majority.

Ouyang Rong looked at the scholars looking up below and pursed his lips.

Suddenly, he moved and walked down from the "high and mighty" platform.

"Prefect, it's not safe below." Beside Yan Liulang stepped forward.

Ouyang Rong didn't speak and pushed away his arm that was blocking him.

Xie Lingjiang took the skirt sword that Big Brother had taken off and temporarily deposited, and followed his back with the sword in her arms.

Ouyang Rong, dressed in light clothing, walked to the bottom of the platform.

The crowded scholars were stunned, and the crowd retreated rapidly, making a small open space.

"This official has finished speaking; now I will listen to you. Don't worry, this official will not rudely interrupt you."

The sound wave in the crowd dropped by several beats immediately.

In the open space, Ouyang Rong stood tall, his calm gaze swept across them, and he casually pointed to a round-faced scholar who was shouting hard:

"You seem very dissatisfied and have a lot to say." He nodded, his face serious: "Why not tell everyone."

The round-faced scholar looked around at the first time, his face slightly panicked, as if he hadn't expected to be picked by Ouyang Rong to speak first.

He retreated a few steps and waved his hand to refuse, but under Ouyang Rong's straight gaze and the stern urging of Yue Ziyang and others around him, he had to stand out and say with a stiff scalp:

"I heard that the Jiangzhou government office and the Xunyang Wang Fu have accepted the imperial edict to build the Donglin Great Buddha. Is... is there such a thing?

"Others are fine, but, but as a local official of Jiangzhou, you are also a gentleman of integrity known to the world! I once regarded you as a model, but now why do you help the tyrant and echo the two Wei princes to build statues and hurt the people!"

This round-faced scholar who was pushed out stuttered at first, but later, he became more and more excited.

Ouyang Rong listened calmly, first nodded: "Accepting the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha, there is indeed such a thing."

Amidst the clamor that exploded in the whole field, he said calmly:

"But helping the tyrant is truly nonsense. The Jiangzhou government office is building statues for Her Majesty the Empress, not echoing the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Liang. The so-called helping the tyrant is a groundless talk.

"This is the first point."

Ouyang Rong was slow and methodical, facing the scholars:

"Secondly, this time the statue building, the Jiangzhou government office has long been fully prepared, trying its best to avoid wasting state wealth, and will not mobilize the masses."

The round-faced scholar looked suspicious: "Really?"

"A gentleman has no empty words."

A scholar in the crowd questioned:

"No, you are lying. Xunyang City is just such a small place. Where will the Donglin Great Buddha be located that it won't affect the people's livelihood?"

Ouyang Rong answered immediately: "It will be located at the Twin Peaks."

"Twin Peaks? Isn't that a mountain top? It's a wilderness."

"It is this place. The Jiangzhou government office will excavate a canal at the Twin Peaks, build grottoes on both banks, and seat the Great Buddha. This is also what this official has been running around for these days."

"What about the silver funds needed to build the Great Buddha? It can't appear out of thin air. Isn't it still wool coming from the sheep?"

"The silver funds for excavating the canal and building the grottoes have been fully raised. They will be advanced by 32 Jiang Nan merchants, and the subsequent operation will be a joint venture with the Jiangzhou government office...

"The Jiangzhou government office will not impose any additional statue-building taxes. Even the large number of labor positions needed for excavating the canal and building the grottoes will all be fed back to the people of Xunyang. Recruitment will be opened at Xunyang Ferry in a few days. You can supervise and wait and see.

"And the grotto scenic spot after completion can also attract tourists from all over the world, promote Xunyang trade, and achieve the goal of hiding wealth among the people."

Every time the scholars asked a question, Ouyang Rong answered immediately.

After a round of questions and answers, Ouyang Rong performed quickly and decisively, without any pause in the middle.

It seemed that there was a plan long ago, and the posture was clear in his chest.

The excited crowd of scholars suddenly quieted down and looked at each other, as if digesting the amount of information in the words of this sickly Commandant.

Ouyang Rong faced the silent crowd, his tone calm and firm:

"Most of you are from Jiangzhou. This official understands your original intention and ambition to love your hometown and care for the world. This official can guarantee to you that the new Donglin Great Buddha will never be located in Xunyang City and become a burden to the scholars and people.

"After being built according to this blueprint, they will become a scene of Xunyang, a wonder of Jiang Nan and even the world, and the foundation for Jiangzhou's prosperity."

The crowd was silent, and the scholars looked sideways.

"Can it really be like this? Why didn't the Commandant and the Jiangzhou government office explain early that they wouldn't forcibly build and waste wealth..."

Ouyang Rong looked at the scholar who spoke with a strange face and asked a question:

"Maintaining the people's foundation, isn't it the duty of every local official who reads the sage books? What is there to show off? If this also needs to be rewarded, this official really doesn't know what to say."

A group of scholars was choked.

Yes, it seems to be the duty of officials who read sage books, but isn't there someone who says "Sage books are for people to read, and they are useless for doing things"? Good fellow, you really use them to do things?

And before, everyone naturally suspected and distrusted Ouyang Rong and the Jiangzhou government office.

The originally excited scholars calmed down a bit, but there were still many problems.

After the round-faced scholar sat down honestly, another batch of scholars stood up and asked sharp questions one after another.

Ouyang Rong answered them one by one. When encountering disputes and difficulties before his Commandant authority, he asked Xie Lingjiang to take paper and pen, and he recorded them one by one.

After a round of exchanges, from beginning to end, Ouyang Rong's words were sincere and gentle like jade.

As if infected by his attitude, the boiling crowd of scholars who were booing gradually calmed down.

However, this was obviously not the answer and scene required by the few extreme protesting leading scholars.

"Heh, in the end, Commandant Ouyang is still sitting on the side of the imperial court. After all, the official position is rewarded by the imperial court, but is what the imperial court does right?"

Yue Ziyang stood out and said impassionedly:

"Now there are treacherous villains in the palace bewitching the holy hearing, and there are two Wei princes in the court stealing power. The imperial court is dominated by villains."

His saliva flew in his mouth, and he stared with his head high:

"Commandant Ouyang, I ask you, even if your Donglin Great Buddha is handled properly, can you guarantee that the other four provinces where the statues are built are handled properly, the plan is complete, and it doesn't waste wealth?

"Commandant Ouyang handles his own acre of land well, but he doesn't know whether he is deaf or deliberately covering his ears, turning a blind eye to things outside, cherishing his life and fearing death, and protecting himself.

"I am ashamed to be with you!"

Yue Ziyang sneered, then looked around and said loudly:

"Brothers, do you also want to stay out of it and turn a blind eye to the great righteousness of the world outside Jiangzhou?

"Is the so-called Great Zhou Praise-Virtue Hub built by the imperial court and the forced collection of Praise-Virtue Copper from all provinces in the world fake? Is the persecution suffered by Master Ji, Inspector Li, and others when they wrote to speak the truth right? Do you also want to learn from someone to turn a blind eye?

"Then the blood of the righteous people of the world and the scholars who sacrificed in Liuzhou, isn't it splashed in vain?"

Ouyang Rong turned his head, somewhat surprised by the wording of this person's extremely inflammatory words. Facts proved that it was not unreasonable for those who could do this kind of protest movement to be opinion leaders.

Sure enough, after these words were finished, the whole field suddenly erupted with supportive voices, and the familiar clamor and hot blood returned.

Yue Ziyang took the lead in glaring at Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong was not angry at all. He knew that Yue Ziyang might not be doing it on purpose, deliberately finding fault with him; it might be that he felt he was right from beginning to end, so he was naturally impassioned and fearless, and even moved himself.

Other scholars were more or less like this, so this tide of protest and opposition would have such infectious power and sweep through the provincial schools of all provinces in the world.

So Ouyang Rong showed unexpected patience, not arguing or debating. He looked serious and asked Yue Ziyang directly:

"So, Yue Ziyang, what do you want to do."

Yue Ziyang's face flushed:

"The imperial court takes back its order, not allowing the construction of any Hub and Buddha statues in the four directions, and at the same time welcomes back the Master, Master Ji, and others.

"Commandant Ouyang and the Jiangzhou government office must understand the great righteousness, take the lead in writing to refuse to build the Donglin Great Buddha, and set an example for all provinces in the world. This is what a gentleman should do, this is the true great righteousness of the world!"

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked softly: "What if it can't be achieved?"

"Can't be achieved?"

Yue Ziyang said excitedly: "Commandant Ouyang, don't forget that you have become a high official. I can remind you a little here.

"Do you still remember what Emperor Taizong Wen said back then? Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Emperor Taizong Wen always felt fearful and governed the country cautiously, just like an imperial decree. But now, heh."

"I haven't forgotten this sentence, and it's impossible to forget."

Ouyang Rong laughed lightly. This unexpected expression made the crowd quiet for a while. He asked with a smile:

"Then I also ask you a question. Where did this sentence originally come from? Can anyone present recite it?"

All the scholars, including Yue Ziyang, were stunned. Ouyang Rong looked around, shook his head with a somewhat disappointed expression, and without waiting for them to argue and answer, he turned his head and looked at the clay statue of the hunchbacked old man with a kind face on the high platform, and said softly:

"Duke Ai of Lu asked Ziyue: I was born in the deep palace and grew up in the hands of women. I have never known sorrow, never known worry, never known labor, never known fear, never known danger.

"Ziyue: What the monarch asks is the question of a holy monarch..."

The square of the Temple of the Most Holy Teacher gradually quieted down, and finally only the fluent chanting of one person remained.

Yue Ziyang and all the scholars in the audience looked at his calm face in astonishment.

Xie Lingjiang, Beside Yan Liulang, and other followers behind him also looked at his back fixedly.

There were also many other people who came to watch the excitement in the city, and eyes were cast on him.

All eyes were on him.

Ouyang Rong's tone was ups and downs, and the tone of his recitation was well grasped:

"... Ziyue: The monarch goes out of the four gates of Lu to look at the four suburbs of Lu. If the ruins of the fallen country must have several covers, if the monarch thinks of fear because of this, then where will fear not reach?

"And I heard it, the monarch is the boat; the common people are the water. Water carries the boat, water capsizes the boat. If the monarch thinks of danger because of this, then where will danger not reach?"

Some knowledgeable scholars in the crowd suddenly remembered that this obscure and difficult ancient language seemed to come from a certain chapter in "Xunzi", which was a conversation between the Most Holy Teacher and Duke Ai of Lu, which was very unpopular and remote.

The current imperial examination didn't test it, so naturally no one cared, but the remarks and deeds of Taizong were broadcast more widely, and under the influence of ears and eyes, everyone knew it, thinking it was the source.

The whole article was very long, and Ouyang Rong read it word for word, without any pause in the middle.

He read it as if no one was around, read the last word, turned his face to the whole field, and asked sincerely:

"Do you understand the deeper meaning of the Most Holy Teacher? You only know its surface meaning, but do you know the background when this sentence was said?

"Compared with the current Holy Zhou, how is the Spring and Autumn Lu State at the time of Duke Ai? If you use the standards of Yue and you today, the 'boat' at the time of Duke Ai would have long ceased to exist. But was the Most Holy Teacher overturning this boat at that time?"

The whole field was silent. Ouyang Rong pointed to the mud sculpture of the sage statue with his hand and asked with a smile: "What is he running around for all his life? Do you know?

"Now that you only have a half-understanding, you hold this sentence high, trying to threaten... I am thinking, if the Most Holy Teacher knew that you used it like this, how disappointed he would be.

"You batch of provincial school scholars clearly have the channels and hope that the Most Holy Teacher envied at that time, but you don't know how to cherish it, and you have to sacrifice your lives and burn with jade and stone..."

He paused, and tirelessly compared Zhou and Lu, and asked aggressively:

"Water carries the boat, water capsizes the boat. Is this well said? It is well said, but if a person only has a superficial understanding, then he will never know how heavy this sentence actually is.

"May I ask, if the boat under your feet capsizes, can you replace it with a better boat? If you can, please tell me, and if you can't, why do you stubbornly destroy this boat?

"And don't forget, the boat under your feet, in a sense, was built by Emperor Taizong Wen, whom you miss, through wind and rain, and maintained with painstaking efforts. How long has it been since then? Before that, the three hundred years of tripod fighting like boiling water carried this new boat.

"It is easy to destroy the boat, difficult to build the boat, and even more difficult to repair the boat.

"Yue Ziyang, is this your truth? Just for a moment of happiness, a moment of magnificence, a moment of great righteousness, you ignore the lives of everyone. If you only know how to distinguish right from wrong, and beat your chest and stomp your feet.

"Then you are nothing more than that."

"I..." Yue Ziyang was suddenly short of breath, his face green and purple, and he was speechless.

Ouyang Rong shook his head, stopped looking at this person, and seeing that the silent crowd seemed to have no questions to ask, he turned and prepared to leave.

The whole field was quiet.

The scholars looked at the slender back of the young man in the white fox fur cape walking away slowly...

Good brothers, be restrained in your comments, don't send Little Rong in...

(End of chapter)

, ===== CHAPTER 316 =====