Chapter 20 Five, the art of flexion and extension

After entering the Abode, Sima Yi realized that Mr. Guan Ning was not alone in the room.A strange old man dressed in a green robe, with a thin face and an extraordinary appearance, was playing chess with Guan Ning on the square couch.Seeing him coming in, Guan Ning stopped playing chess, and introduced to the green-robed elder with a smile: "Brother Shui Jing, this Confucian scholar is Guan's new dog disciple—Sima Yi of Hanoi County." , he turned his head to Sima Yi and said, "This gentleman is Mr. Shui Jing, the master of Jingzhou and the owner of Qingyun Villa. You came here to pay respects."

Sima Yi has long heard that Mr. Shui Jing is a world-renowned expert—the Qingyun Villa he founded is also a gathering of talents.Seeing the master of this generation today, Sima Yi was overjoyed and hurried forward to bow respectfully to Mr. Shui Jing. Mr. Shui Jing put down the chess piece in his hand, stood up and hurriedly returned the gift, and at the same time looked Sima Yi up and down carefully, with a look of special concern in his eyes.After looking at it, he turned to Guan Ning and said slowly: "It turns out that this young master is Sima Yi from Hanoi County! Sure enough, he was born with a heroic appearance and a clear and bright personality! The old man was far away in Jingzhou, and he had heard that he was both wise and courageous. Being able to persuade more than 700 Xiliang rebels to surrender by himself is really a genius in the sky, and the next generation will be feared! Brother Guan has such a good student, and he will have no regrets in this life!"

"Where! Where! Brother Shui Jing is too famous." Although Guan Ning was secretly proud of himself, he tried his best to thank him, "Guan, a young disciple of Sima, was able to persuade 700 Xiliang rebels to surrender that day. It's just his luck! It's nothing compared to Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, disciples of brother Shui Jing. They have recently gained fame in the Central Plains, and are called "Crouching Dragon" and "Phoenix Young" by Confucian scholars. , I'm also happy for Brother Shui Jing." Mr. Shui Jing heard the words, but smiled lightly, and said leisurely: "Brother Guan bears the talent of a great sage, possesses the weapon of an emperor, hides the appearance of a real dragon, cultivates diligently, and does nothing public, how can ordinary people see it? Your junior brother Hua Xin is far inferior to you - blindly showing off your talents, just wanting to be seen and used in the world... But brother Guan, your cultivation is already "do not need to be chased by the world, but be chased by the world"!"

After hearing this, Guan Ning waved his hands hastily, and smiled: "Junior Brother Hua has his own way of standing and doing things. In today's situation, it should be the duty of a hermit to go out to help the world! It's just because Guan is weak and sick, and can't bear it." The common affairs are so complicated that they had no choice but to stay in Linglong Valley." "Brother Guan is right, but Brother Yu really despises Hua Xin's enthusiasm for official career. Forget it, let's not talk about him." Mr. Shui Jing turned his eyes and looked at Sima Yi again. Brother Guan, you and your disciples have already cultivated to the realm of 'magnanimity has no corners, elephants have no form', do not compete with popular customs, reality is better than name, quality is better than appearance, I admire you so much!"

Guan Ning stroked his beard, smiled slightly, and said for a while, "Guan heard that your disciple Zhuge Liang has always been extremely intelligent and often compares himself to Wen Ruo Guan Zhong and Wu Ruo Le Yi. Is this true? What's wrong with him? What is extraordinary and unconventional, how about you let my apprentice Sima learn from it?" "Well...the foolish Zhuge Liang does have something extraordinary, so I just narrate it to myself, Brother Guan, please comment on it with your disciples." Mr. Shui Jing pondered for a moment, and then said, "He What impresses me the most is his unique way of reading books."

"The way of reading books?" Sima Yi listened very seriously, he couldn't help raising his figure, and asked impolitely, "What's so unique about his way of reading books?" With this name, he felt an inexplicable curiosity and impulse in his heart.Perhaps it was Zhuge Liang's title of "Crouching Dragon" that faintly shocked him? ! "Well...it's like this, the other disciples of this old man, such as Xu Shu, Meng Gongwei, Cui Zhouping, etc., are all concentrating on studying and mastering it." Mr. Shui Jing glanced at Sima Yi, but he didn't think he was disobedient, and told him He said, "Only this Zhuge Liang only 'sees the outline' of the books. He often flips through a few pages in class and then puts down the books, but when he reviews those books, he is also clear and penetrating. "

After hearing this, Sima Yi first nodded thoughtfully, then frowned, and suddenly shook his head slightly. Mr. Shui Jing sat on the couch, saw his behavior and expression in his eyes, pondered for a while, and asked with a smile: "Mr. Sima, do you have any objections to Zhuge Liang's method of reading books? Please tell me." Listen to the old man." "This... Then please forgive Xiaosheng for taking the liberty. After listening to what you said just now, sir, Xiaosheng first feels that this brother Zhuge has a good memory, and he can never forget it when he is studying." Sima Yi made a slight resignation, and began to talk freely. "Secondly, he was able to "see the general outline" of the group of books and make a good comment. It can be seen that he is very good at simplifying complexity and picking gold from sand. However, according to Xiaosheng's opinion, his reading style The law is still not perfect!"

"Oh? What is Mr. Sima's opinion?" Mr. Shui Jing asked with a smile. "From Xiaosheng's point of view, it's not advisable to be like Xu Shu and Meng Gongwei who don't distinguish between good and bad, and are "proficient" in all classics; It is not advisable to know the general situation of all the classics." Sima Yi did not evade, "Xiaosheng thinks that the most appropriate way to read books should be books that should be 'for mastery', and must be 'for mastery' ;The book that should be "observed in its outline" must be "observed in its outline". Don't be paranoid."

While he was talking, Guan Ning looked at Mr. Shui Jing, his face sank slightly, and he immediately shouted at him: "You boy! ——Mr. Shui Jing's disciple, Zhuge Jun who is known as the 'Crouching Dragon' What kind of young talent is he? How can you be so simple, blunt and stubborn? How much Mr. Shui Jing respects you is the amount of his superiority; but now you are so complacent that you are talking nonsense and talking about Mr. Zhuge and his colleagues in Qingyun Villa What is the proper way? What should be the crime?" When Sima Yi heard it, he knew that he was too blunt, so he hurriedly kowtowed to Mr. Shui Jing to apologize.

"Brother Guan, it's embarrassing for you to lecture Sima Jun like this! Sima Jun said bluntly, what's wrong? You don't have to be harsh on him." Mr. Shui Jing hurriedly helped Sima Yi back to the table and sat down gently. Glancing at him, he said with a smile, "Sima Jun, I still want to listen to your great opinions. Let's talk about which books should be 'mastered'? Which books should be 'scrutinized'? As you said, being paranoid about one end is absolutely unacceptable—however, I am afraid that being ambiguous and wandering between the two ends may not necessarily be the correct way to read books!"

After hearing this, Sima Yi fell down on the table and thanked him humbly, not daring to do so.Mr. Shui Jing had no choice but to smile at Guan Ning: "Brother Guan, your training has wiped out Sima Jun's aggression—are you teaching him to hide his clumsiness from his foolish brother?" Only then did Guan Ning relax his face, and waved his hand at Sima Yi: "The elder asked you a question, you should answer it or you have to answer it." Sima Yi nodded slightly, and replied ponderingly: "Since this is the case, Xiaosheng will show his shame again. In fact, which books should be 'mastered' and which books should be 'viewed in general' are related to each person's aspirations. Everyone has their own balance in their minds, and they cannot be generalized. Take Xiaosheng's own reading experience as an example: Xiaosheng Yi, "The Taigong Art of War", "Mencius", "Xunzi", "Guanzi", "Sun Tzu's Art of War", " The eleven classics of "Historical Records" and "Hanshu" are the great source of life and practice, so they never get tired of reading them, and regard them as the standard; but for all the classics other than these eleven books, Xiaosheng just observes their roughness and chooses them. Essence only!" "Oh? You are so young, you actually read it?" Mr. Shui Jing was stunned, and then said with emotion, "Let me tell you—I have studied it for decades, and I can only read thirty-two characters from it." Tactics: You can bend and stretch, you can stretch and you can bend; when you bend, you bend, and when you stretch, you stretch; during bending, there is stretching, and during stretching, there is bending; there is always more than enough to prepare for unexpected events. I’m afraid I will make you laugh at me, Brother Guan!” Guan Ning's heart moved secretly: Mr. Shui Jing is clearly pointing Sima Yi quietly!Unexpectedly, Mr. Shui Jing, as the owner of Qingyun Villa, would be able to have no views of the family. He is really admirable! "Sir, the 32-character 'jue of bending and stretching' is really ingenious, Xiaosheng has been taught!" Sima Yi listened to it and nodded repeatedly. "Brother Guan, you disciple is too modest. The thirty-two characters of this old man are as pale as white water, and there is nothing subtle or not. However, Sima Jun, I would like to remind you: you read Ah, ah, these books with words are certainly good..." Mr. Shui Jing's expression was smiling, but the words in his mouth were unambiguous, "But the most mysterious and profound books in the world are often There is no word or form, let’s be blunt, insight into world affairs and human emotions is the highest knowledge, and this is also a 'good book' that we Confucians must read!" "Mr. Xiaosheng will always remember these wonderful words in his heart." When Sima Yi heard this, he hurriedly bowed his body and thanked him. "Hehehe...Brother Shui Jing, you are a wonderful living book without words and pictures!" Guan Ning stroked his silver beard, smiled, and said to him sincerely, "Since you have traveled to my Ziyuan Xueyuan, why not stay for a few more days and teach Sima and the others, how about it?" "Of course." Mr. Shui Jing was unexpectedly forthright and generous, and said without hesitation, "I am lucky enough to meet a 'talent in the rough' like Sima Jun, how can I let it go easily? Without some discussions, After a bit of thinking, how can he let his brilliance be contained inside and shine outside?"