Chapter 358

On the field ridge, after Jia Jing finished admonishing a few people, he fell silent for a moment, then asked again:

"You have been studying in the rectified clan school for nearly a year now; the literary side has a recommended scholar-official professor from a distinguished family, and the martial side has a military drill instructor giving guidance."

"But, do you know why you are studying?"

As for the clan school, Jia Jing has invested considerable resources; not to mention hiring several renowned teachers for guidance, just speaking of the various venues, food and lodging, horses, etc., the expense is not small.

This time, Jia Cong straightened his robes and, with a resonant voice, was the first to answer:

"Studying is to understand principle! Knowing what is right, what is wrong, what should be done, what should not be done!"

"Act according to the proper way, uphold the central correctness and righteousness."

"The phrase 'Act according to the proper way, uphold the central correctness and righteousness' is a concise summary by pre-Song Neo-Confucian scholars of the Confucian way of governance."

"It directly derives from the famous proposition of Song dynasty master Zhou Dunyi, and is also deeply influenced by the thought of contemporaries such as Qi Song and others."

"Its ideological roots lie deep in the core concepts of pre-Qin Confucianism."

"The general meaning of this saying is: whether governing the world or cultivating oneself, one must adhere to the unbiased 'central correctness' path, and based on that, practice the moral principles of benevolence and righteousness."

The Confucian scholar Zhen Dexiu further elaborated on this in the 'Record of Reading by Mr. Xishan, the True Lord of Literary Loyalty':

He held that 'central correctness is the completeness of the Great Ultimate, benevolence and righteousness are its divisions,' and pointed out that sages use this to educate the world, so that the people will 'solely follow central correctness and benevolence-righteousness.'

Today, the Da Han Empire's imperial examinations focus on the prominent learning centered on Neo-Confucianism.

During the Chengzu reign, the officially compiled 'Complete Collection of the Five Classics,' 'Complete Collection of the Four Books,' and 'Complete Collection of Nature and Principle' were disseminated throughout the realm, becoming the standard textbooks for all scholars' study and the examinations.

Therefore, Jia Cong's theory on why to study is likely learned from the clan school's recommended scholar-official Qin!

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"Not bad; central correctness is the foundation of the kingly way, the thread of benevolence-righteousness morality, and it is still quite useful in personal self-cultivation morality and practicing education!"

"And you? Lan'er!" Jia Jing looked at Jia Lan.

Jia Lan thought for a moment, fell silent, and then spoke softly with a lack of confidence:

"To set the heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish the livelihood for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, to open peace for myriad generations!"

The Four Sayings of Hengqu also existed in this era, widely circulated, and contemporary scholars regarded them as 'the highest standard for establishing oneself and conducting affairs.'

However, Jia Lan is still young and obviously cannot yet deeply grasp the 'inner sage, outer king' spiritual thought contained in these four sentences,

so he lacks confidence, perhaps feeling that what he said was overly boastful!

Nevertheless, Jia Jing also gave affirmation, nodding and saying:

"Although grandiose, it is nevertheless the foundation of establishing oneself for benevolent aspirants throughout the ages, and some ideas of the Guan school are still quite good."

The Guan school refers to the lineage of the Guanzhong school represented by Zhang Zai, who proposed the Four Sayings of Hengqu.

Zhang Zai's founded Guan school, together with Zhou Dunyi's Lian learning, the Two Chengs' Luo learning, and Zhu Xi's Min learning, are known as the four major schools of pre-Song Neo-Confucianism.

The Guan school's tradition of 'governing the world with practicality' that has been continuously extended and promoted in the Da Han dynasty is especially valuable against today's Neo-Confucian decline into empty talk about mind-nature.

This is somewhat similar to Jia Jing's own inclination 'not to esteem empty talk, but to value practical work,' so Jia Jing rarely gave a compliment.

"And you?" Jia Jing pointed at the ever-silent Jia Huan.

Jia Huan's eyes darted about, his heart a little fearful, yet he forced himself to speak:

"I don't like studying; I want to practice martial arts, and later become a great general who gallops the battlefield like Third Brother you, a mighty hero!"

Then perhaps I could learn from Third Brother to beat Baoyu, scold the madam, and question the ancestors,

even overturn the heavens, so that Third Sister also calls me 'Huan Third Uncle,' and I could cover the heavens with one hand within the mansion!

Of course, Jia Huan only dares to think that last sentence in his heart, not daring to say it aloud.

Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, then spoke gently:

"Books still need to be read; one may not seek deep understanding, nor aim to pass the examinations, but one should learn some useful knowledge!"

"If you want to be a great general, but don't read military books or study strategy, can you win battles on the battlefield later?"

"And even if you could win battles, if you don't read and lack a certain moral quality to restrain yourself, you may later find your virtue not matching your position and instead invite disaster!"

After Jia Jing finished speaking, he glanced at the slender Jia Cong with a calm gaze and the small-framed Jia Lan sitting up straight, thought a moment, and continued:

Regarding studying, you may now have different aspirations and different ideas.

But in my view, you youths have just entered school not long ago; you should currently be concerned with only one thing.

"To become an official and administer?" Jia Huan blurted out, a phrase he often heard from Jia Mu and Lady Wang.

Jia Cong's expression shifted slightly, and he hastily cupped his hands and said:

"Please, Third Brother, instruct us!"

A true transmission is a single sentence; a false transmission is ten thousand volumes.

To obtain such life experience from a living hero like Jia Jing, who gives personal instruction, is truly priceless for them.

Jia Jing also had no intention of withholding; bringing a few people out today was meant for instruction, and he slowly said:

"Just four simple words: cultivate learning and store ability. That is, learn various kinds of knowledge, and reserve the capabilities needed for practical affairs."

You may later pursue benefiting the people and establishing merit, or clarifying the Way and establishing virtue, but those are too distant and too broad.

As for the present, speaking plainly and down-to-earth, that is cultivate learning and store ability.

Cultivating learning and storing ability is the first lesson on your path of study and learning, and also the learning goal I, as your elder brother and uncle, set for you.

Confucius said, 'If substance outweighs refinement, one is boorish; if refinement outweighs substance, one is a mere historian; when substance and refinement are balanced, then one is a gentleman.'

This means that if a person only has strong ability to act but lacks moral cultivation, they will inevitably be unable to restrain themselves, and their own ability will easily become a savage destructive force that harms both themselves and others.

Conversely, if a person only focuses on scholarly learning from books but lacks practical ability to act.

they know only how to sit with folded hands and discuss moral principles empty-handedly, learning that cannot be applied in practice; then book knowledge becomes dead knowledge, and scholarship becomes false scholarship.

Such a person will inevitably be stiff and dull, of no use to the state or family. Therefore, I today give you these four characters, so that you will firmly remember them.

In your future studies, cultivating learning and storing ability must develop in balance; these are two indispensable aspects on your path of learning.

At the same time, this is also my intention in bringing you today to Liangxiang to observe 'the people's hardships'!

"Study and store energy..." Jia Cong's expression shifted slightly, as if lost in thought, murmuring to himself, then he asked:

"Nowadays, the teachers in the clan school read nothing but the Five Classics and the works of Confucius and Mencius, and lecture only on the learning of Lian, Guan, Luo, and Min."

"How then should we study all kinds of knowledge and store up all kinds of abilities?"