"Brother Zhong Fang, do you have any opinions on my reforms?"
Wei Huai and Yang Huaisheng were sitting in a tea shop next to the Huaiqing Bridge, setting up a chess game and they were halfway through the game.
“I believe that reform does not have to start with talking about the ills of the world, but must change people’s hearts.”
Yang Huaisheng gently lifted a piece of paper.
"What can I say?"
"People's hearts are no longer ancient!" Yang Huaisheng sighed, "Today's people don't know how to cultivate their moral character, and they don't understand rituals and music. As a result, all the ways of the sages have been destroyed, so education has not flourished. As for several generations, the country Zuo was short-lived because of this.
.”
"So, in your opinion, what should it be?"
"We should reorganize rituals and music, repair ancient temples in various places, hold grand sacrificial events, and make all places respect ancient laws, and strive to re-implement the ritual and music system of the Zhou Dynasty." After saying this, he made another move.
"Brother Zhongfang, since the system of the Zhou Dynasty has been abolished for thousands of years, its laws have long been out of date. If the ritual and music system were to be preserved, wouldn't it be necessary to use the clan system, well fields, etc.? According to Huai's view, reform requires the abolition of the old
Replace with the new, don’t cling to the old!”
Yang Huaisheng smiled bitterly and shook his head, but did not reply.
"Can I say something?"
As soon as Wei Huai got off the bed, he heard someone talking behind him; when he looked back, he saw a person leaning on the side, smiling softly.
"You made the wrong move... It should be here..." he said, pointing to a place on the chessboard, "Can't you break through here?"
"What do you do?" These words made Yang Huaisheng angry. He stood up and said, "The so-called 'true gentleman watching chess without speaking'. If you want to show off your chess skills, find someone to go down. Don't disturb the two of us playing.
chess!"
"We are all scholars, why do you have such a bad temper?!" The man blushed and became thick-necked at the words, and stared at Yang Huaisheng with his eyes.
"What do you want to do?" Yang Huaisheng raised his fist and asked sharply.
"Okay, okay, brother Zhong Fang..." Wei Huai quickly stood up, held down his arm, and winked at him: calm down.
"You are not a vulgar person, why should you be angry..." Wei Huai comforted the man, "May I ask your name?"
"You're better off..." The man glanced at Yang Huaisheng with disdain, then turned to Wei Huai and said, "My surname is Xia, my given name is Yuanlong, my courtesy name is Renying."
"I've admired your name for a long time! Are you a gentleman from the nearby academy?"
"You know me?" Xia Yuanlong was shocked.
"When I was in the Imperial College a few years ago, I knew that Xia Renying was diligent in teaching students and was invited by the academy. I didn't expect to meet you today!"
Xia Yuanlong's expression suddenly changed, and he asked in surprise: "Are you just..."
He laughed and said, "I am Wei Huai."
"Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!" Xia Yuanlong bowed deeply to Wei Huai.
Yang Huaisheng sneered.
He turned around and saw that Yang Huaisheng was still playing chess with his head down, never raising his head. "This brother..."
"His name is Yang Huaisheng, and his courtesy name is Zhongfang." Wei Huai looked back at him, frowned, and shouted: "Brother Zhongfang!..."
Yang Huaisheng still just pretended not to hear.
Xia Yuanlong patted Wei Huai from the side and said, "I'll just go and apologize to him."
He held the table with one hand, slowly moved to Yang Huaisheng, and called softly: "Mr. Yang, Mr. Yang?"
"What's wrong?" Yang Huaisheng's face was still flushed, and his anger didn't seem to diminish.
"Oh, what a big deal...I'm here to apologize to Brother Zhongfang. I hope Zhongfang will be magnanimous and forgive me for being rude."
When Yang Huaisheng looked at Wei Huai, Wei Huai nodded vigorously in his direction, and then he said: "As long as you understand. We are all scholars. We all know these rules, so why bother? Just don't be so rude and rude in the future.
.”
"yes……"
Yang Huaisheng was relieved. To show that he had no grudges, he threw three copper coins on the table and called to Dr. Tea: "Give us another cup of tea on the table!"
Xia Yuanlong's tense expression suddenly relaxed: "Thank you, Brother Zhong Fang, for being so generous and tolerant..."
Wei Huai also laughed: "What's the point? Zhong Fang is just a man of upright nature and not very temperamental."
"What Ji Min said is right, come on," Yang Huaisheng pulled out the chair next to him, "I think your hands are itchy too, do you want to play a game with me?"
Xia Yuanlong smiled broadly: "Okay!"
Wei Huai then sat aside, sipping tea leisurely and watching the two of them play chess.
"Wei Jijiu, I heard that you are committed to reform, but I wonder if it will be effective?" Xia Yuanlong asked.
Wei Huai shook his head, "Currently, we are just talking about the New Deal for the people to listen to. Nothing has been implemented in practice. It is a high-pitched talk."
"There is no need to depreciate yourself when offering sacrifices to wine. I see that offering sacrifices to wine really wants to do practical things and is not just a talker."
"It's good that you all feel this way, which shows that I am indeed not idle. Therefore, I am eager to find a scholar to promote reform with me."
"But now the three of us have become acquainted. I wonder if we can imitate the three brothers in Taoyuan?" Yang Huaisheng said jokingly.
"But I don't know where there is another Wuhou!" Xia Yuanlong said mockingly. He walked away by the way.
Yang Huaisheng lowered his head and frowned. It turned out that the few chess pieces in the corners had been stolen by Xia Yuanlong's white pieces.
"It's really amazing." Yang Huaisheng whispered.
"According to Xia Xiandi's opinion, where should the reform start?" Wei Huai asked.
"That's not a good thing to say." Xia Yuanlong stared at the chess game that had already been won and was cleaning up the mess. "These words are insignificant even if I say them now. It's better to think about how to expand our power and shock the government first. Then we can make detailed plans.
No problem."
"I lost." Yang Huaisheng suddenly lay down on the back of the chair.
"It seems that when we play another day, I will have to give you a few more pieces." Xia Yuanlong said with a smile.
The three of them were like-minded, and they have been close friends since then. They usually walk together to go to and from the Huaiqing Bridge. People often bump into their figures under the bridge, either drinking tea, chatting or playing chess.
Playing chess and comparing their chess skills. The good guys gathered around and watched. They saw that the man named Xia had given up six pieces to the man named Yang, but Yang Huaisheng was still no match for him.
After leisurely leisurely for a few days, Xia Yuanlong approached Wei and Yang to discuss the establishment of an academy. Everyone agreed with this idea, and without saying a word, they competed to be the main contributor of the money. Wei Jijiu said that his family was rich.
Xia Yuanlong said that he was well versed in business, while Yang Huaisheng said that he had received favors from others and it was time to repay them. Therefore, they both had the same view and had not yet made a decision.
Wei Huai then said, "How about we all pay the same amount of money, so that everyone can feel at ease?" The two of them thought it was true, so they both paid ten taels of silver, and Wei Huai also paid ten taels, taking a total of thirty taels.
Wei Huai was afraid that he would be short of money and the two men would have to pay for him, so he secretly paid an additional twenty taels of silver just in case.
Therefore, the academy was successfully completed in only half a year.
Xia Yuanlong considered that both of them had public duties and could not spare time to manage the academy, so he simply resigned and devoted himself to teaching in the academy. He also named the academy and hung a plaque: Sihe Academy. This chapter has been completed!