What Zuo Ci first felt about He Yan's statement was not novelty, but anger.
Using the "Confucianism and Dharma" of the past as a benchmark against the current situation of Taoism, doesn't this mean to look down on Taoism?
You know, until the end of the "Confucian skin and legal bones" work, all the Legalist orthodoxy has been chewed into the stomach by Confucianism. Now He Yan uses the Legalist of the past to compare the current Taoist, and the meaning contained in the words is no longer the same.
It goes without saying!
"Marquis Shen is so confident that he actually thinks that a new learning that has just been born a few years ago can swallow up the essence of my Taoism?"
"Isn't such an appetite a little too big for both Xinxue and Marquis Shen?"
He Yan shook his head and said: "It's not that big."
"Then is it possible that Marquis Shen wants to take away my Taoist lineage by force?"
Zuo Ci was already a little sad and angry when he spoke.
He Yan said before that after Taoism experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion caused by the "Taiping Religion", rulers and princes in every place are now very hostile to the existence of Taoism, even to the point of "exterminating it upon discovery".
Now that the two sides are on the verge of collapse, Zuo Ci is not surprised that He Yan wants to take action forcefully.
"Master Zuo is worrying too much."
Seeing Zuo Ci getting angry whenever he disagreed with her, He Yan didn't blame him too much.
In today's cruel Taoist living environment, Zuo Ci must have suffered a lot along the way, and it is normal to have some overreactions.
"But layman Zuo, think about it for yourself. In the current environment, can you really preach to the world? If you can't, why are you still so rigid?"
"Secondly, if Layman Zuo is willing to stay in Xinxue, he definitely doesn't have to worry about Xinxue embezzling Taoism."
"New Learning is not Confucianism. It does need to absorb some knowledge to grow, but it certainly will not eat up other forces like Confucianism."
"Xinxue is always aimed at the enemies of Xinxue, and will not be vicious to everyone."
"Even if, as Master Zuo worries, Taoism is submerged and absorbed by the new learning, it can only be that Master Zuo admires the new learning and takes the initiative to change his clothes. There can be no such thing as force!"
He Yan has incredible confidence in the power of Xinxue.
Because compared to other learning, there is no doubt that new learning is truly on the fast lane that everyone yearns for.
Even if there will be setbacks and backlash along the way, as long as he is on the right track, no one will be able to stop him!
Zuo Ci looked at He Yan suspiciously: "Marquis Shen is really so confident in his new learning?"
"Why do you need to ask me, Master Zuo? Today's paper books are extremely cheap. You can buy a new volume of classics for a few five baht. If Master Zuo is really curious, wouldn't you know better if you buy one yourself and look through it?
"
Zuo Ci didn't realize that He Yan had already dug a big hole for him to lead to a new study. After several hesitations, Zuo Ci finally had some intention to stay.
"I wonder what Lord Shen... who is so condescending to you, wants Pindao to do?"
He Yan rubbed his palms together excitedly: "Master Zuo, you must have gone through many furnaces in alchemy for so many years, right?"
"How about you show me how to set up a frying pan first?"
Zuo Ci:???
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"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
For several days, terrifying noises were heard from the Chemistry College next to Hewu. If Hewu had not had officials, He Yan would have been accused of disturbing his neighbors' sleep.
But no official can control He Yan, Cao Cao can always control him.
Anyway, after someone snitched on him, He Yan was summoned to Sikong Mansion by Cao Cao and obediently accepted the lesson.
"Yulang, why are you becoming less and less engaged in serious business these days?"
When Cao Cao saw He Yan, he cursed him fiercely.
"These days, have you practiced martial arts? Have you ever read books? Do you know that what people fear most is pride and complacency. If you continue like this, you will be wasted!"
Cao Cao, who summoned He Yan, looked much rosier than when he came back from Cangting. He was sitting in the pavilion of Sikong Mansion, roasting some cold apricots in a brazier.
"My child realizes his mistake!"
He Yan didn't even listen to Cao Cao's complete words. He only picked up the conversation as soon as he finished speaking, and his attitude of admitting his mistake was very good.
"Tell me, what's wrong?"
Cao Cao slyly squinted his eyes and asked He Yan, which made He Yan feel a little bit nervous: "The mistake is... I didn't practice martial arts? I didn't read the books either!"
"besides!"
"Gone!"
He Yan and Cao Cao stared at each other, trying not to let Cao Cao tell what he said.
Cao Cao was slightly angry at this moment: "No more?"
He Yan blinked when he saw Cao Cao's appearance: "How about you remind me?"
Cao Cao snorted coldly: "What happened to the Taoist priest you recruited a few days ago?"
Taoist priest?
Only then did He Yan realize the real reason why Cao Cao called him to Sikong Mansion.
Cao Cao, who experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was extremely hostile to Taoism.
If Liu Bei could still detect from the actions of the Taiping followers that Taoism had good intentions but was on the wrong path, then Cao Cao almost completely rejected Taoism.
Even Cao Cao could tolerate new learning, he could tolerate the old scripture family, and he could tolerate the fruits of all kinds of messy seeds...Only for Taoism, Cao Cao could never tolerate it!
Now He Yan secretly summoned Zuo Ci, a Taoist priest with great reputation, into Xuchang. No wonder Cao Cao got angry and summoned He Yan to reprimand him.
"Dad, don't worry!"
He Yan immediately swore to Cao Cao: "Haier's recruitment of Zuo Ci has nothing to do with Taoism, but mainly for the memories he has in his hands!"
"What kind of skill? Is it the skill of sitting in a house every day refining elixirs and blasting furnaces?"
Cao Cao thought He Yan was quibbling, and his brows furrowed even deeper! Apparently he felt that the child was getting older and his skin was starting to itch!
"Dad! You believe me!"
He Yan secretly complained, and could only lament that Boss Cao was getting more and more suspicious!
"This time I recruited Zuo Ci for some vital skills! As long as my father is willing to wait until the middle of tomorrow, he will definitely be able to get something done!"
He Yan thought that such rhetoric would finally make Cao Cao let him go, but he didn't expect that the suspicion in Cao Cao's eyes was even stronger——
"Yulang, are you asking Zuo Ci to make some immortality elixir to please your father?"
"If so, give up this idea as soon as possible!"
He Yan shook his head again: "Absolutely not!"
But Cao Cao's suspicion was obviously beyond He Yan's imagination. Cao Cao frowned: "Since it's not the elixir of life, what could it be? Is it possible that you, Yulang... have to use that kind of elixir at such a young age?
The medicine doesn’t work?”
After being stunned for a while, He Yan finally understood what the elixir that Boss Cao was talking about was.
He Yan once again summoned his strength and shook his head. This time, it wasn't until He Yan shook out the afterimage that Boss Cao finally believed He Yan.
Using a wooden branch to gently pick out the roasted apricots on the brazier, Cao Cao asked He Yan to sit next to him: "Eat while they're hot!"
The flesh of the roasted apricots is very soft, and the juice inside is less sour after being heated. He Yan, the boss of Cao, ate each one by himself and quickly swallowed all the roasted apricots.
In the belly.
"Well, I have a pretty good appetite!"
When Cao Cao saw that He Yan had finished eating, he asked Xu Chu beside him to bring some more cold apricots.
The flames gradually began to dance, and Cao Cao spread a new batch of cold apricots on the brazier and slowly roasted them over charcoal.
"Yulang, after returning from Liyang, I went to see Yunchang."
oh?
He Yan wiped his mouth and was a little curious about the conversation between the two: "What did father say to General Guan?"
"Just chatting about some common things."
But Cao Cao obviously didn't tell the truth. After a pause, he heard Cao Cao say: "I went to tell him the news that Ben Chu has passed away."
Yuan Shao and Guan Yu are not as close as Yuan Shao and Liu Bei.
When Cao Cao went to tell Guan Yu that he was dead, he obviously did not drag Guan Yu to mourn with him, but wanted to let Guan Yu know that there was one less acquaintance in this world.
"Yun Chang was obviously shocked when he heard the news. He also said that he couldn't imagine that someone like Yuan Shao could die so early."
Cao Cao put his hand on his chin and imitated Guan Yu stroking his beautiful beard: "Although Yun Chang didn't say it at that time, I could still tell that some of his obsessions had been let go."
"Everyone knows that once Benchu dies, no one in the world can stop me!"
"At this time, Yun Chang's persistence has actually become meaningless."
He Yan asked in surprise: "Is it possible that General Guan is willing to serve as an official?"
"Not yet."
After experiencing the death of Yuan Shao in the past few days, Cao Cao seemed to have figured out a lot of things: "If Yunchang is still unwilling to serve as an official after I pacify Hebei, then I will let him go back to his hometown in Hedong and let him return home in glory."
Cao Cao, who had committed many crimes in troubled times, actually left such a way out for Guan Yu. I have to say that Boss Cao was so kind to the second master that it made people jealous!
He Yan did not comment on Cao Cao's decision. He just kept staring at the apricots in the brazier and let his saliva fill his mouth.
"What have you been busy with these days? Is it true that you haven't eaten for several days?"
Cao Cao pulled out a few more apricots and placed them in front of He Yan: "The body is the most important thing. Look at Yuan Gongli and Yuan Benchu. Their fate is not enough to make you wary?"
"knew!"
In fact, He Yan wasn't very hungry, but once he became addicted to the sour water from apricots, he really couldn't stop eating, and he had to eat half full before he would give up.
"In the past few days, you and Zuo Ci should not be busy making messy things there. I have one more thing for you to do as a father."
"Father, please speak!"
As soon as he heard Cao Cao talk about business, He Yan immediately sat upright. This reaction undoubtedly made Cao Cao very satisfied.
When talking, you can't be too casual, otherwise, what is the difference between it and those Taoist priests who seek immortality every day? From He Yan's reaction, Cao Cao finally confirmed that He Yan was not really interested in Taoism.
"Don't be so nervous. What you are asked to handle, Yulang, is not a state matter, but a family matter."
Housework?
"Um."
What shocked He Yan was that when Cao Cao talked about this "family matter", the eternal hero actually had a look of embarrassment on his face?
"I need you to go to Chenliu with some gifts to help my father pay homage to his old friend."
He Yan became even more curious: "Who is this old friend? Why doesn't father go visit him in person?"
Cao Cao became hesitant again.
After a long while, as a flame in the stove jumped up with a "sizzle", Cao Cao finally made up his mind and said the person's name expressionlessly: "She is your Aunt Ding!"
He Yan:???
Mrs. Ding?
That Boss Cao’s first wife?
That Cao Cao's eldest son is also Cao Ang's adoptive mother?
That fierce man who dared to divorce Cao Cao just because Cao Ang died in battle?
He Yan, who was fearless, suddenly felt his hands and feet go cold: "Well... I'm afraid it's not appropriate for the child to go, right? After all, the child is not familiar with Aunt Ding, how embarrassing would it be if he said the wrong thing? Otherwise, dad, why don't you send someone else to go? I don't think Cao Pi is doing this
It will be quite free for a few days, why don't you let him go?"
Cao Cao glanced at He Yan lightly: "You've eaten all the apricots, what's wrong? Do you want to default on your debt?"
He Yan quickly bent his fingers to give his throat a blow, but under the pressure of Cao Cao's sharp eyes, He Yan still did not dare to do it.
Seeing that He Yan accepted his fate, Cao Cao picked up two more apricots and gave them to He Yan, but this time the ones He Yan ate were not particularly sweet.
"If you want to go, there is really no one left!"
"Your Aunt Ding actually has a bad temper. When she was at home, she was not friendly to your other aunts. If you let their heirs go to see your Aunt Ding, it will definitely be counterproductive."
"Plus you have a sweet mouth. If you go over and say a few words, your Aunt Ding might change her mind!"
"Chenliu's place is too close to the battlefield. If you are not afraid of ten thousand, you are afraid of the worst, so this time you try your best to persuade your Aunt Ding and their clan to move to Xuchang! Now I understand!"
"I understand~"
He Yan weakly responded to Cao Cao, and then his mind was filled with Mrs. Ding's fierceness and difficulty.
Cao Cao must have been stimulated by Yuan Shao's death, and then fell into nostalgia for his old friend.
This nostalgia brings back many people and things from the past.
In particular, Cao Ang, Dian Wei, Cao Anmin, and Mrs. Ding who left him because of this matter, are the people Cao Cao misses the most.
Now, Boss Cao misses his old lover, but he doesn't want to go there and find quarrels with her, so he can only hand over this glorious and arduous task to himself who has been doing weird things recently when he has nothing to do!
"Dad? When will we set off?"
"ASAP!"
It can be seen that Cao Cao is really in a hurry.
"The main reason is that Yuan Tan is stationed in Liyang. I really can't let go!"
"According to what he and I observed during the confrontation in Liyang this time, my father discovered that Yuan Tan likes to make dangerous moves! If it weren't for the insufficient number of his soldiers, he would even have the idea of attacking our army halfway across the border!"
Cao Cao made the situation so serious, and it was definitely impossible for He Yan to say anything in front of Cao Cao: "Okay! Yuan Tan will go back and fight Yuan Shang soon! You really don't have to worry so much..."
Finally, He Yan swallowed the last piece of pulp in his mouth and replied with some bitterness: "My child obeys!"