Chapter 7 7. In order to get the best talents in the world and teach them, Wang Kaiyun went to Shitangpu to give advice

Shitangpu is only more than 20 miles away from Yunhu Bridge. Wang Kaiyun got up early in the morning and ordered the bearer to prepare the sedan chair. He did not bring his son or servant and went alone in the sedan chair.It is the late spring season, along the way, there are gurgling springs and streams, and birdsong can be heard among the new branches and leaves.Rhododendrons are red and white, blooming beautifully all over the mountains and plains.The baby swallow murmured, the seedlings were green, and the farmer was busy with the spring plowing as he hoeed and carried the plow to and fro on the field path.The gentry in the capital city are all talking about the failure of the naval battle last year and the cession of land for compensation, but this place seems to be a paradise, a simple wilderness, and the toss of the outside world does not seem to have any impact on it. And lived in poverty.After inquiring about Yang Du's residence, Wang Kaiyun ordered the bearers to stop by a small stone bridge half a mile away from Yang Du's house.

This is a larger house in the local area.There are seven or eight houses, big and small, all of which are green bricks and black tiles. There are four or five thatched huts on one side of the Heping. Individuals are practicing martial arts.One was only fifteen or sixteen years old, squatting on the ground with a sword pointing from his back to the sky, like a young swordsman on Mount Emei on the stage.The other was in his twenties, and while talking, he also squatted down and made a demonstration with his bare hands, seeing that the posture was correcting the boy's movements.Wang Kaiyun knew from Xia Shoutian that Yang Du had a younger brother who was six years younger than him. It seemed that these two were undoubtedly the brothers of the Yang family.

"Excuse me, does Mr. Yang Xizi live here?" Wang Kaiyun walked under the ancient willow and asked the older youth. "He is my elder brother Yang Xizi." Before the young man could speak, the young man answered first. Yang Du replied: "I am Yang Du, what's the matter, sir?" Yang Du saw that the old man in front of him was nearly sixty years old, with a ruddy complexion, a strong body, ordinary clothes, but extraordinary appearance, and a suave and heroic look revealed between his eyebrows and eyes. He thought to himself: Where did this come from an unexpected visitor? seen?

"Ah, you are Mr. Yang Xizi! My surname is Wang, and I am also from Xiangtan. I want to go to the city to do some business. I happened to pass by your house. I heard that Mr. Xizi just came back from the Beijing Normal University Examination. I will write the letter on the bus." Wang Kaiyun looked at Yang Du while talking, and he seemed to think that Yang Du was the young man in his dream who wanted to worship Song Lian as his teacher. "Oh, it's Mr. Wang, I'm sorry for being late." Yang Du thought, this person is so concerned about state affairs, he must be not an ordinary person.With respect in his heart, he hurriedly said, "Sir, please come into the humble house and sit down."

After Yang Du brought Wang Kaiyun into the study, he was busy making tea.The four walls of the study room are painted with plaster, which looks spacious and bright. There is a big desk next to the window. There are several books on the desk, both wired and western-style. There is an antique inkstone, a pen holder, and an Western imported desk clock.A garden map hangs on the powder wall above the desk.Wang Kaiyun walked by and took a closer look, and there was a line of small characters at the bottom of the picture: Picture of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing in its prime.On both sides of the picture is a couplet: smoke rises from the corner of the sea, mourning the weak and the people without a paradise;The left side of the second couplet reads: Stay with Zhongzi and my younger brother to encourage each other, Yang Dubingshen's late spring.After Wang Kaiyun looked at it, he nodded repeatedly.Looking at the other walls, there are all large and small book boxes.

"Mr. Wang, please sit down and drink tea." Yang Du was carrying a small copper pot and a wooden tea tray, on which were two small porcelain cups and four dishes of farm products: peanuts, melon seeds, broad beans , fried sweet potato chips.Yang Du sifted the tea, set the dishes, sat opposite Wang Kaiyun, and said with a smile, "The old man is here, and the late student didn't prepare anything, so just drink some tea and have dinner later." Wang Kaiyun was very satisfied when he saw that Yang Du had been away from home for five or six years, and had lived in the capital for nearly a year. Why do you need to be so polite! I will only sit for a while, and I have to go on my way later. Mr. Xizi, you wrote a letter on the bus you took in the capital last year. Luckily!"

"If you say you are lucky, you are lucky. However, this is actually an unfortunate thing!" "Why?" Wang Kaiyun pretended to be puzzled. "Old man, the letter on the bus is a helpless thing that was done when the country suffered great shame and humiliation. This is very sad, not to mention it has no effect." Yang Du said with a heavy heart. "Mr. Xizi, you're right. However, the fact that the bus has written the letter, needless to say, the officials and gentry, even the scholars, farmers, businessmen and commerce of the whole country have been greatly shaken. It seems that it will have a profound impact on the country in the future. Wang Kaiyun casually picked up a broad bean and put it in his mouth. With a bang, the broad bean bit open.Yang Du was secretly surprised: This old man's teeth are really good!

"It is difficult for the state affairs to improve! The people in the capital heard that the land was ceded and compensated, and everyone was filled with righteous indignation. The banquets of any emperors and queens recorded in the book are not as extravagant as it is. And this celebration was held just when the frontline battle was defeated. Soldiers were killed in battle, the iron ship sank into the sea, and the people in the capital hated it because they wanted to hold a big birthday wine As he spoke, Yang Du became angry, took a sip from his teacup, looked at Wang Kaiyun and said, "Old man, you don't know, the root cause of the navy's defeat lies in the queen mother. It was she who spent the navy's military expenditure Eight million taels of silver were transferred to build the Summer Palace, Prince Gong and others strongly opposed it, but she ignored it. Old man, the power of the country is in the hands of such an empress dowager, is there any hope for the country's affairs?"

Compared with when he went on a trip to Xishan in autumn, Yang Du seems to have lost all hope in state affairs. Wang Kaiyun stared at the young man in front of him, approving in his heart.From Yang Du, he saw the heroic spirit of his youth: he talked about state affairs generously, and discussed government affairs with grief and indignation. Forty years have passed, and the country has not only failed to rejuvenate, but has become weaker than before.Alas, the Qing Dynasty, why are you so depressed and in decline! "Mr. Xizi, I see that you hang a picture of the Old Summer Palace in its full glory. It seems that you are always encouraging yourself not to forget the national humiliation."

Yang Du nodded. Wang Kaiyun suddenly asked: "Have you read Mr. Wang Renqiu's "Old Summer Palace Ci"?" "Lansheng was fortunate to have read it. Mr. Renqiu's long poem is really a great talent, with a magnificent structure and profound artistic conception. Some people compare it to Yuan Weizhi's "Lianchang Palace Ci". According to Wansheng, "Lianchang Palace Ci" "Can't hold a candle to it." Wang Kaiyun was very happy.Although this long poem was widely circulated in the capital more than 20 years ago, Luoyang paper is expensive, and even the great scholar Zhou Zupei and the servant Pan Zuyin highly appreciated it, but everyone's evaluation only stays on the scale of today's "Lianchang Palace Ci", and does not put on it.At present, this young man who has never met before praises this poem so much, and he came here specially for this person, how unhappy is he in his heart!

Pointing to the couplet next to the picture, he said: "I heard that Mr. Xizi is the grandson of the commander Yang who died in the battle of Sanhe. I saw this couplet and knew that you brothers should be descendants worthy of the heroic grandfather. I admire it very much." The ancients said that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of a country. Mr. Xizi, as a person, sets an example for the whole town. Please forgive me for taking the liberty. When the country is in danger, can you tell me your plan?" "The old man asked me what I plan to be a late student." Yang Du looked at Wang Kaiyun with piercing eyes and said, "When I first came home, I planned to stay for a few months and then go to Hengzhou Mansion to join Mr. Wang Renqiu. Later, my mother fell ill, and I wanted to Serving soup and medicine, I couldn’t leave, so I stayed at home for two or three months. A few days ago, I received a letter from my friend Hu Yujie, saying that Mr. Kang Youwei had returned to Nanhai to reopen the Wanmu Thatched Cottage, and he was about to go south and invite me to go with him. Lianyu was written by me when I made up my mind to vote for Wanmu Cottage." Oh, so that's the case, no wonder he has been coming to Dongzhou.This is a rare talent, if you cultivate it carefully, you will surely become a great talent in the future.He is from Xiangtan, so it would be a pity to become Kang Youwei's student if he didn't follow me!Watching the Maxima running away from under the nose, can it be regarded as the real Bole?Wang Kaiyun thought of this, and said with a smile: "Kang Youwei was the leader who submitted the letter to the bus last year. I respect him and want to join him. It is understandable. However, if my step really makes it, I will feel sorry for my step." "Why?" Yang Du looked at this well-spoken strange old man suspiciously, feeling that he seemed to care about him very much. "If you want to make a name for yourself, as long as you rely on Kang Youwei, you will become famous very quickly, because Kang Youwei is engaged in a big show, and it is easy to be his disciple. It is better not to go to the South China Sea for the great cause of practical effect.” "The old man is saying that Kang Youwei has no real talent and learning?" Yang Du suddenly remembered the enmity between Weng and Li that Zeng Guangjun mentioned in Biyun Temple, and asked, "Or is it that Kang Youwei's career has no roots?" Wang Kaiyun moved the small teacup a step forward, and said unhurriedly: "Kang Youwei is very smart and well-read. It cannot be said that he has no real talent and learning. It's just that his theories are perverted. He is borrowing from Confucius." This Zhong Kui came to fight ghosts, although he can make a sensation for a while, but he is not walking the right path, and he cannot last long." Yang Du thought to himself: Kang Youwei's theory shocked the world, and many educated scholars admired it, and he also admired it.However, what the old man said was also reasonable. Some of Kang Youwei’s statements were indeed too much, and he had not studied the knowledge of Confucius deeply. Keep silent and listen silently. "Kang Youwei is a commoner, and he wants to persuade the queen mother and the emperor to change the ancestral law overnight and carry out the Western New Deal. Where will the thousands of people who benefit from following the old ways go?" Wang Kaiyun recalled more than 30 years ago, Sushun, Zaiyuan, Duanhua and the others are noble ministers of the royal family, and they can't do it if they want to use a knife and ax to cut up the sores, let alone a bus in the ends of the world!He said categorically, "If you want to do such an extraordinary thing without real power in your hands, it's not just rootless nonsense. From the perspective of this old man, I'm afraid there will be no place to die in the future!" Yang Du was taken aback, and thought to himself that he was too young after all, and there were not many things to change in the world. The old man made sense. There are endless books about such things. Isn't Chao Cuo in the early Han Dynasty a typical example?He couldn't help admiring the old man in front of him: "Mr., what you said just now is a big inspiration. According to what you said, then Kang Youwei can't accomplish anything?" "Success or failure in the world is unpredictable." Wang Kaiyun said solemnly, "However, according to the old man's experience, it may be difficult to succeed and easy to fail." "Old man, Kang Youwei is really a patriotic and passionate man!" Yang Du stood up uncontrollably, as if Kang Youwei had really failed, and he regretted it. Wang Kaiyun sneered and said, "Since ancient times, have there been few passionate patriotic patriots who have held grudges all their lives and been wronged by Huangquan? Besides, it is hard to say whether Kang Youwei is a true patriot. He is too impetuous to compete!" "Is there any basis for the old man?" Yang Du was a little dissatisfied with the old man's contempt for Kang Youwei. "Tell me the truth!" Wang Kaiyun said contemptuously, "This Kang Youwei is actually the reincarnated disciple of Mr. Wang Renqiu you mentioned earlier, a student of a student." "Really?" Yang Du was surprised. "In the second year of Guangxu, Mr. Wang Renqiu was invited by Sichuan governor Ding Baozhen to preside over the Zunjing Academy in Chengdu. Talented people in Sichuan gathered for a while. Yang Rui, Zhang Xianglin, Song Yuren, etc. were all famous, among which Liao Ping achieved the most. Liao Ping wrote Shifeng, "Zhou Ri Kao" and "Analects of Confucius" are all true biography of his teacher, but his "Gongyang Lun" is far from Naishi's "Gongyang Jian". He also wrote "An Examination of Modern and Ancient Studies", and determined that the modern study is based on "King Zhi" Confucius, and the ancient study is based on "Zhou Li" Zhou Gong. However, he changed his theory soon, saying that the six classics are all new classics, not old history, and those who respect the scriptures wrote them. "Knowledge of the Sage", "Pi Liu Pian" written by those who evaded the ancients. Liao Ping was teaching at Guangya Academy in Guangzhou at that time. He met Zhu Yixin, the head of the mountain, and his professor Kang Youwei. Zhu Yixin was originally the imperial historian. , Zhang Zhidong is the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Yanzhu is the head of Guangya Academy. Zhu has extensive knowledge and noble manners, and is admired by people at home and abroad. Liao Ping talked with him about "Zhisheng Pian" and "Pi Liu Pian". Weird. After Kang Youwei got it, he regarded it as a treasure, so he followed Liao Ping to learn. Kang Youwei carried forward Liao's "Bi Liu Pian" to write "Xinxue Apocrypha" and "Zhi Sheng Pian" to write "Confucius Reform". Liao Ping It is common to say that although the original theory is what I said, it is not easy to promote it vigorously. However, the old man Renqiu denounced it, saying that the fallacy is spreading, and the situation is getting worse. Kang Youwei called Confucius and Shen Gongyang, and proposed the so-called Tongzi. The third generation, Zhang Santong, are actually all fabricated and falsified by him, which is neither the study of Confucius nor the distorted theory of Hexiu." After hearing the old man's words, Yang Du felt suddenly enlightened.I have long heard Zeng Guangjun and Xia Shoutian praise Wang Kaiyun for his extraordinary knowledge. After the old man pointed it out this time, I realized that Kang Youwei's knowledge is indeed shallow.Zeng and Xia also said many times that Kang Youwei's work may not be successful.That being the case, it is better to go to Chuanshan Academy to meet Mr. Wang first. "I am young and have a great future. It is time to lay a solid foundation and not to seek fame and fortune. You should worship a teacher who is truly knowledgeable, and you must do things that can be truly successful. I advise you not to go to the South China Sea, but to go first." How about meeting Kang Youwei's Tai teacher in Hengzhou Prefecture?" Yang Du stood up happily, bowed to the old man, and said: "Mr. Xie pointed out the maze. Now that there are towering trees right around the corner, how can the late students seek far away instead of close?" Wang Kaiyun laughed and said, "Okay, I'll go and tell Mr. Renqiu that I'll go to Chuanshan Academy in two days or so!"