Thousands of miles of yellow clouds, the daylight is dim. The sky is full of wind, bringing a bone-chilling chill.
In the early morning of Laba this morning, the weather seemed unfriendly, and the clouds that had been gloomy for several days seemed to be brewing something.
In front of the martial arts arena in Shangqing, there is a huge porridge bucket, steaming out. Next to the porridge bucket is a high table with dozens of wooden bowls stacked on it.
Zhu Jieran cooperated tacitly with several juniors and was bringing bowls of Laba porridge and pairs of wooden chopsticks to Gongsun Zhenren, the mentor (teacher) master and other juniors.
Yang Chaoxi, Huang Shuo, Zhuo Songtao and more than a dozen disciples ate quite a lot. When one bowl was not enough, they held the bowl and chopsticks in their chests. After refilling the bowl, they started eating again.
After eating Laba porridge, another important event of the day - the quarterly examination set as early as September 15th, also officially kicked off in this gloomy sky.
Gongsun Zhenren, Wu Tianshi, and the masters in Guanzhong sat down on the wooden chairs arranged outside the martial arts arena one after another. The high table holding the porridge bowls was also placed at the back, and the boiled tea soup was poured out.
, presented to them in turn.
Zhang Hezong, Mingxuzi of the Guanzhong Prison, took out a scroll from the sleeve of his robe, twisted his hands, spread it out, and read aloud:
"If Guanmen wants to revitalize, the first priority is the civil and military arts. Since the master of Guanzhong reorganized all matters in Guanzhong in September, the masters who teach in Guanzhong have worked hard, and all the disciples have shown their talents, either gradually in Taoism or in the meaning of scriptures.
As the day progresses, I may have a rough understanding of the properties of medicine, or my martial arts skills may have improved. It is almost the first day of the year, and I say farewell to the old and welcome the new. Starting today, I will call a group of disciples here to test the various arts of civil and martial arts. I will distinguish between superior and inferior.
Keep!"
When Zhang Hezong said, "I have decided to stay or go," the disciples in the temple were in an uproar. Especially the disciples who were usually mediocre in talent and lazy were even more vain and uneasy, and couldn't help but whisper.
Zhang Hezong paused briefly, coughed, and then the martial arts field returned to silence: "Since it is a test, it must be divided into ranks. Together with the other masters, I will rank them according to the four grades A, B, C, and D.
All disciples will be evaluated; when testing their arts, scriptures and martial arts will be conducted separately. If they are rated as 'Double A', there will be rewards in the temple; if they are rated as 'Double D', they must leave the Taoist temple or return to the clan.
Or make a living on your own."
After listening to this, the disciples' moods that had been erratic just now gradually calmed down. When they raised their heads again, their eyes showed a little more seriousness and courage.
Even if you have a well-off family, if you really get the evaluation of "Double Ding", even if you return to the clan and have enough food and clothing, you may not be able to avoid a reprimand from the clan leader.
Examination of arts, first in literature and then in martial arts. Zhu Jieran took a few more brothers and carried five or six high cases over, and lined them up in front of the four masters. At this time, some disciples in the audience brought a few
Stacks of yellow paper were placed in front of the masters one by one, held down with stones, and covered with regular Chinese characters.
A curious disciple came up and took a look. They were all "account books" of brothers and sisters who had gone to the scripture collection room to borrow scriptures and listened to the meaning of the scriptures in various sanctuaries in the past three months.
One line of regular script reads "On October 22nd, Chong Lingzi Yang Chaoxi borrowed six volumes of "Baopuzi" and has not returned them." Another line of regular script reads "On September 26th, Yulingzi Huang Shuo controlled Xuzi Peng Shikun.
Department, listen to "Shen Nong's Materia Medica"...
Every day and every hour, every piece of information is copied, just like a merchant keeping accounts. And the questions that everyone will be tested on will never be separated from the scriptures he is studying.
Wu Xuzi Hao Jinhan also held such an "account book" in his hand. He looked through it briefly and then began to call people in order: "Qinglingzi Zhu Jieran! Come to the master to take the test."
"Qing Lingzi takes the order!" Zhu Jieran had just finished his chores and was talking quietly with other juniors. Unexpectedly, he was the first to come forward to test. So without hesitation, he stepped out in a row and stood in a row.
Stand firm before the plan.
Chengxuzi Han Fengqiao said calmly: "Qinglingzi, for the past few months, you have often come to the Jingshi to listen to me explain the "Seven Techniques of Yin Fu" in this classic, so I will use this sutra to test you. The 'seven techniques' mentioned in the sutra
What do they mean?"
Zhu Jieran cupped his hands and replied: "The seven arts refer to the five dragons of Shen Sheng, the tortoise of nourishing the will, the snake of the real intention, the subduing of the bear by dividing the power, the bird of prey of the dispersing power, the beast of turning in a circle, and the spirit of destroying.
’, which is also the purpose of this sutra.”
Han Fengqiao added: "There is also a saying in the scriptures: 'Heaven and earth are infinite, people and things are infinite, and each one is divided into its own categories.' How do you explain it?"
Zhu Jieran thought for a moment and then replied: "The way of heaven and earth has no beginning and no end, and the changes in human affairs are endless. However, heaven, earth, and people all use their own 'way' to take their own shapes, and thus belong to their respective states."
Category.”
Chengxuzi asked two questions and then asked no more questions. After nodding to Wei Lingfu, Tongxuzi beside him, he took a piece of cut yellow paper, copied Zhu Jieran's questions and answers on it, and put it at the cash withdrawal desk.
Approved with the word "A".
Wei Lingfu received the signal, cleared his throat, and began to ask his two questions one after another, and listened carefully to Zhu Jieran's answers... After half a stick of incense, Zhu Jieran faced the four teaching masters, and the eight questions continued.
He was calm and steady, answered questions fluently, and finally got four "A"s.
After Zhu Jieran finished answering, he did not leave. Instead, he put away the yellow evaluation papers written by the four tutors one by one and presented them to Gongsun Zhenren. Gongsun Zhenren scanned them again and finally marked a huge "A" with a red pen.
.
At this time, Hao Jinhan started to call the next disciple, but it was Min Lingzi Zhuo Songtao. After the four tutors took turns to test eight questions, he finally missed the mark and got three "A" and "B"
. was reluctantly approved by Gongsun Zhenren with the word "A".
After that, several people came one after another, but they never performed as outstandingly as before. Some brothers could not even remember the names of the scriptures, but fortunately they were able to answer the questions 7788 times, and finally got one "B" and three "C".
Gongsun Zhenren unceremoniously gave the letter a "C" mark.
It wasn't until Hao Jinhan called out "Chong Lingzi" twice in succession that Yang Chaoxi came out of her boredom, waving her sleeves, ran to the four mentors and bowed respectfully.
Han Fengqiao was not in a hurry to ask questions. He turned his head and glanced at the three people on the right. After the three people understood, he slowly said: "Chong Lingzi, in the past few months, you have rarely listened to a few of us giving lectures.
On the contrary, I mostly practice by myself. I will use your record of borrowing scriptures in the scripture library to ask some questions. If you have no objection, we will start the examination."
Yang Chaoxi pretended to think about it for a moment, then nodded: "Master Chengxuzi, please test the disciples."
Han Fengqiao raised his head and said seriously: "In the volume of "Baopuzi Dengshe", the 'Liujia Secret Blessing' is mentioned. Please tell me the content of this secret blessing."
Yang Zhaoxi has recently been obsessed with alchemy, drawing talismans, and various magic tricks and spells. Naturally, he will not be stopped by this simple question, so he easily answers: "The so-called 'Liujia Secret Blessing' has nine characters in total, 'Lin, Bing,
Those who fight are all in a formation, in a row, in front, and in a row."
Han Fengqiao then asked: "It is said in "Baopuzi·Guangji" that, 'Those who are determined are the masters of merit and fame; those who are not lazy are the teachers of all good deeds'. What is the explanation for this sentence?"
Yang Chaoxi was stunned after hearing this. The book "Baopuzi·Guangru" is still under the pillow, but he has never seen such a sentence. However, at this time, he must not show his cowardice, so he took the text seriously and believed it.
He said nonsensically: "This verse means... it means that only with unswerving ambition can one possess civil and military skills; and only with diligence and perseverance is the most worthy of praise among many good deeds."
After Han Fengqiao listened, he copied it down calmly and lightly marked the word "A" on the yellow paper. When he raised his head, Tongxuzi Wei Lingfu beside him had already spoken: "Master Xuanwei once said, 'As for the way of the sword,
"There are only three swords in the world," please elaborate on which three swords they are?"
Yang Chaoxi secretly rejoiced: This is a good question! I hit the tip of the spear. I happened to be a guest at Linji Temple and read several volumes of "Guiguzi". I was practicing various sword techniques at that time, and I saw that this paragraph of discussion is quite interesting.
It was interesting, so I jotted it down. Later, because of this, I went to listen to "Guiguzi" taught by Master Tongxuzi once, but it was quite boring, and I never went there again.
Yang Chaoxi changed his mind several times, but his face remained calm: "The three swords are the 'holy sword, the wise sword, and the common sword'.
The Holy Sword, also known as the Sword of Heaven, uses Dao as its back, virtue as its front, yin and yang as its energy, and its handle as the five elements. It can cut off the light of heaven at the top, and protect the earth from the bottom.
The virtuous sword, also called the emperor's sword, has all the people as its back and virtuous ministers as its front. It conforms to the way of heaven above, follows the geography below, and neutralizes the will of the people.
The vulgar sword, also called the human sword, uses fine steel as the edge, alloy as the back, and coldness as the Qi. It can behead the head at the top, chop the feet with the bottom, and break the internal organs with the middle."
Wei Lingfu's eyes lit up, and then he asked: "The Yellow Emperor's Yin Fu Sutra says, 'When the sky sends out murderous intentions, the stars move and change places; when the earth sends out murderous intentions, dragons and snakes rise from the ground; when people send out murderous intentions, the heaven and earth turn upside down'. What does this sentence mean?
explain?"
After Yang Chaoxi heard this, he suddenly became speechless: Although he had borrowed this "Yellow Emperor's Yin Fu Jing", he mistakenly thought it was a book about the art of drawing talismans. When he opened it, he found that the whole text was about the great powers of heaven, earth and man.
It makes sense, so I didn’t take a closer look. I could only cup my hands and say, “Disciple, I don’t know.”
Wei Lingfu was also stunned. Unexpectedly, Yang Chaoxi was so single and gave up answering directly. Originally, he wanted to test this question, so he asked it a little out of the way, but unexpectedly he hit the "Achilles' heel" directly, which made him feel a little embarrassed for a while.
However, since the question had been asked, there was no way to change it. Wei Lingfu had no choice but to wave his hand and let the next instructor continue to take the test. He copied the question on the yellow paper in front of him and wrote the word "B" repeatedly on the signature line.
.
Next, the questions raised by Ming Xuzi Zhang Hezong and Yu Xuzi Peng Shikun were much simpler. Yang Chaoxi answered them calmly without thinking. Wei Lingfu, who was sitting next to him, actually had the illusion of "pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger" towards him.
.
But when Yang Zhaoxi came to Gongsun Zhenren with three pieces of yellow paper, one "A" and one "B", Zhenren Gongsun smiled and shook his head, waved his ink pen, and wrote down a striking "B".
The examination is still going on, and the faces of the disciples on the field are all different. Some are really happy and some are sad.
Guan Hu'er and Sun Hu Nian have always been clever and resourceful. Although they can't always remember the rote memorization skills, they can easily remember nine out of ten of the meanings of the scriptures they have heard.
Niu Pang'er was the only one holding two pieces of yellow paper, two "C" and two "D", and walked dejectedly to Gongsun Zhenren. After many dangerous situations, he got the word "C".
This test lasted for a whole day. It was not until the second quarter of the hour when the sky was dark that the last disciple was finished.
Zhang Hezong, Mingxuzi of the Guanzhong Prison, held up a piece of yellow paper, on which was densely written the Taoist number, name and rank of each disciple. He cleared his throat, then compared the scriptures for that day, and obtained "
"A, B, C, D" the disciples of the four levels read out in turn.
Zhu Jieran, Zhuo Songtao, Huang Shuo and other few students received the "A" grade, Yang Zhaoxi, Guan Huer, Sun Hunian and other half of the disciples received the "B" grade, Niu Pang'er and most of the disciples obtained the "C" grade
Waiting. There are still Jiang Feng and five or six other disciples who have only been awarded "D". At this moment, they all have their heads lowered and are standing at the back of the queue without saying a word, wishing they could find a hole in the ground to crawl in.
Huang Shuo knew something about the inside story and whispered to Yang Chaoxi: "Senior Brother Jiang Feng is obviously absent-minded during the test this time. This is because he has a message from the Jiang clan, asking him to go back after the beginning of spring. It is said that a marriage contract has been made for him.
We will get married when the weather gets warmer."
Yang Chaoxi nodded in understanding and said with a smile: "That is a great thing, why is Senior Brother Jiang Feng still unhappy?"
Huang Shuo was about to say something more when he heard Zhang Hezong of the Prison Court loudly said: "Today's scripture test is over. Please watch, brothers and all disciples, go to the Zhaiyuan to have an early rest after the evening fast. Tomorrow
At the beginning of Mao hour, we still meet here and start testing our martial arts."
Yang Zhaoxi and other disciples responded in unison. After Gongsun Zhenren, Wu Tianshi, and the teaching masters entered the Zhaiyuan first, they also went to the Zhaiyuan in small groups.
The sky is like black ink, with no stars or moon visible, pressing on the roof ridges and courtyard walls around Shangqing Temple.
The cold wind blew slowly and slowly, making a faint sound among the branches of the bamboo trees in the courtyard.
The disciples who had finished the evening fast walked out of the east studio one after another. It seemed as if cold snow fell on their necks, causing them to raise their heads and look up at the sky——