Chapter 21: Trouble Has Arrived (Part 1)

  "You refuse the imperial edict?" Little Yellow Gate was shocked.

  "Come in, eunuch," said Song Jiu, inviting him into the courtyard.

  Taijian was not arrogant, and had nothing to do with that piece of silver. A ten-liang heavy silver might not be a big deal for him, but the Emperor paid great attention to this little guy. The Second Prince also spoke well of him. If Zhao Xianggong hadn't stopped it twice, he would have been appointed as an official by the imperial court long ago, and he had that family background too...

  This kid still has a future, following Song Jiuxing in, his eyes are poisonous, and he guessed Yu Ping's identity at a glance. With a smile, he said: "Is the young lady the Jade Lady of Beiwa?"

  "I have seen your father, and I am his legitimate wife."

  "You've also been here for the festival."

  "Yes."

  The eunuch turned his head to look at Song Jiu again, thinking in his heart: You already have this beautiful and lovely little wife, why do you need to entice that family's daughter? He didn't say anything, but looked at the dishes on the table, which were very appetizing. In fact, Zhao Kuangyin lived a very frugal life, and the living conditions in the palace were far from what people outside thought they were. Song Jiu cleverly said: "Eunuch, it's just right that we're about to eat, you can join us too."

  "This doesn't sound right." Little Huangmen swallowed his saliva, he was still young, only in his early twenties, not mature enough, saying it wasn't good but couldn't bear to leave. Song Jiu said: "Imperial Guard, don't worry, I'm neither a powerful official nor a noble family's son, just an ordinary citizen, why should we avoid suspicion? If the Imperial Guard is willing to stay and have dinner, that's what they call being close to the people, even the Censor wouldn't dare say anything, who knows, maybe the officials would even praise you."

  "It's better to obey than to show respect." The eunuch sat down.

  "What is the honorable eunuch's surname?"

  "My surname is Cai."

  "Wait a bit, Cai Neishi," after the firecrackers were finished, they could have dinner. Song Jiu and Zhu San set off firecrackers, Yu Ping went into the house to find wine, she saw him and wanted to pursue boldly, Song Jiu boldly pursued the general's daughter, Yu Ping boldly pursued Song Jiu, it seemed that Song Jiu's difficulty was much higher than Yu Ping's, Yu Ping simply acted as the hostess. After the firecrackers were finished, Cai Gonggong asked: "Please ask Jiulang, why did you refuse the imperial edict?"

  "These are all river delicacies, hot and fresh to eat, cold and fishy to eat, eat while it's hot, chat while eating." Song Jiu wasn't a scholar, didn't care about not talking while eating. Cai Nei Sheng picked up a piece of eel, put it in her mouth and chewed, saying: "Ninth brother, you also like to eat this."

  "Yes, does Cai Neishi also like to eat?"

  "I am a Yangzhou native, I entered the palace a few years ago. The nobles in the palace didn't like to eat it, who would have thought that today I'd get to eat it again...". The little eunuch was on the verge of tears. A few years ago, Yangzhou was in chaos, with battles coming one after another, many common people were forced to leave their homes and abandon the rich land, but as a person, you will always miss your hometown.

  "Cai Nei Shi, then have some more," Song Jiu said to the eunuch without repulsion. They were all pitiful people, and besides, the eunuchs of the Song Dynasty were not as detestable as those of the Han, Tang, and Ming Dynasties.

  "Jiulang, this eel dish you made is absolutely delicious, where did you learn it from?"

  "Tsai Nei Shih, my elder sister opened a wine shop. Having seen it many times, I also learned how to do it. Living alone, what can you do?"

  Cai Gonggong glanced at Yu Ping, and since they were living a hard life, he might as well redeem this little beauty. Her price was not low, and although Song Jiu didn't have money, could the head of the line's private funds be lacking? However, this matter wasn't easy to bring up. They started eating with gusto, whether it was eel or turtle, they were all his favorites. Under his lead, several people's appetites expanded together. In the end, the peach juice snake block was the most popular. It couldn't be said that Song Jiu's culinary skills were unmatched in the world. The chefs of the dozens of famous restaurants in the capital were absolutely more skilled than Song Jiu. There was one thing, though - Beijing cuisine was the precursor to Henan cuisine in later generations. Not that Henan cuisine was bad, but among the eight major cuisines of later generations - Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Cantonese, Yangzhou, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Shandong - there was no Henan cuisine, which also proved that Henan cuisine gradually fell behind in development. At least in terms of novelty, it was rare for Beijing cuisine to be Song Jiu's match. Take this peach juice snake block, for example - it was the only one of its kind throughout the Song Dynasty. Cai Gonggong and Cuier were fighting over food, eating while asking what meat it was. Song Jiu pinched Zhu San's hand under the table, not letting him speak. Zhu San was also curious, seeing them eat with relish, and he mustered up the courage to take a bite. It was indeed delicious, but he had doubts in his heart and didn't dare take a second bite.

  With their hunger and thirst satisfied, Zhu San cleared the table, while Cui Er also went over to help. Yu Ping helped Song Jiu brew tea, serving it to Chancellor Cai. After taking a sip of the tea, Chancellor Cai patted his belly and said: "Thank you, Ninth Master. I'm full today. But you've made me miss your delicious dishes when I enter the palace in the future. What am I supposed to do?"

  This question is really embarrassing for people. He took another sip of tea and asked: "Why did Jiulang refuse the imperial edict?"

  "Cai Neishi, I also want to be an official. What's the point of taking the imperial examination again and again if not to become an official? Being a lecturer at the Imperial Academy is a prestigious position, it's still an official appointment by the court. If my sister knew, she would definitely scold me, but I refused the edict because I had no choice. The students in the Imperial Academy are all sons of powerful families, and I'm too young to command their respect. Also, because of those three math problems, I had some conflicts with Zhang Yan and two other doctors. My age is not enough to control the students, and my colleagues might also reject me. Going there every day with a gloomy face, it's better not to take this official position." Song Jiu replied very honestly. Having witnessed Emperor Taizong's wisdom, hiding or pretending to be noble would not be good.

  "Why is Jiulang not on good terms with the two doctors?"

  Song Jiuyi's stomach was burning with anger, and he said, "Cai Neishi, I think you also heard about the book house affair?"

  Cai Gong nodded, in fact, the number of students is the largest among the two classrooms in Songjiu, and there are not many students in Guozijian, the number of students is uncertain, but it has never exceeded 100 people, let alone other small private schools.

  "When I first established it, I only wanted to teach a few students who could do arithmetic, replace the laborers in managing accounts, and didn't expect many young men to come together, all of whom were neighbors. I couldn't bear to refuse them, so I expanded to sixty-three students, with the rest listening in on the side. Accounting can't use that many people, so I thought about teaching them a way to make a living, not through imperial examinations. Passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar is of course a great achievement, but throughout the Song Dynasty, only a few scholars were selected each year, most of whom did not pass. They are all sons of poor families, if they don't pass, will they drag down their families? Therefore, as soon as they enter the school, I say that I teach you some useful knowledge, but don't think about imperial examinations, those who want to take the imperial examination should not enter this school. Then I teach them the classics, not to make them thoroughly understand the Nine Classics, but just to let them be familiar with it, so there are four other subjects: mathematics, material science, accounting, and practical skills. Practical skills are to cultivate hands-on ability. As long as you study for a few years, in the future, you will become a first-rate manager, accountant, or master craftsman, and have a way to make a living. But eating two bowls of rice at one meal will be full, what about eating three or four bowls?"

  "That's going to be uncomfortable," said Cai Gonggong, rubbing his belly, this delicious meal also made him feel uncomfortable.

  "It's true, but after the two doctors arrived, they seriously taught the Nine Classics and the laws, and originally students were busy learning five subjects. Now, what's the point of learning these useless Nine Classics and laws? Moreover, Lord Cai, just like this eel, some people don't like to eat it and even detest it, while others enjoy eating it. Is it delicious or not? Learning is the same way. I let students ask questions voluntarily, lively education, that's how they develop interest. With interest, learning becomes active, and they won't dislike it, they will learn easily.

  However, when the two doctors came, they copied down quotes from the "Curial Etiquette" and said that Confucius was wrong. They are after all scholars from humble backgrounds, not like refined officials' sons who would be intimidated by them? And as for arithmetic, it's not that our ancestors were bad at it, I taught a shortcut method to make calculations faster.

  We should respect the wisdom of our predecessors, inherit it, and also dare to surpass it. Confucius said, "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can be my teacher." Confucius kept learning and progressing, why can't later generations keep progressing? Only by constantly progressing, using knowledge to make the country strong, not being bullied by foreign enemies, making the people rich, and living in peace and happiness, is that the true intention of Confucius.

  But when they came, they overturned everything I taught. Using outdated methods to replace advanced ones, adhering to old rules, are they here to teach students or harm them?"

  "I will report it to His Majesty."

  "Aren't there few doctors in the Imperial Academy?"

  "There are nine people."

  "There were only nine people, why did the imperial court send two people to teach?"

  "I'm not quite clear, but it seems that the imperial court will use some scholars, so they sent two real doctors to teach." Cai Gonggong didn't dare say much, and there were also some rumors in the palace, saying that this young man was arrogant and had repeatedly extorted money from the two princes, so he didn't mention it beforehand, lest this young man come again to extort money and make a laughing stock of the people.

  "The imperial court let them come, is it to make these scholars become artisans?"

  "Do you know?"

  "The pulley will eventually be promoted nationwide, who will assemble and guide? At first, I didn't know, later on, can't think of it? Although the craftsmen's treatment is not high, these students learned some knowledge, recognized many characters, even if they became craftsmen, most are writers, or at least a craftsman (official craftsmen are divided into three levels: master craftsmen, craftsmen, and miscellaneous workers). I'm still here asking carpenters and masons to teach them some practical skills, why doesn't the court say anything? In the past, when I asked the court for money, that was my wisdom, but what kind of money can be asked for, what kind of money cannot be asked for, I can still distinguish. This is a benefit to the people and the court, would I still ask the court for money?"

  "Jiulang said it was too good, it seems that Lord Zhao misunderstood you."

  "Director Zhao?" Song Jiu was taken aback, what he feared most was being caught between Zhao Kuangyi and Zhao Pu. It's still okay for now, but a few years later, if unfortunately stuck in the middle of them, he would be crushed to dust.

  "He said it was a clever trick."

  "What a clever trick? Brother Zhu, come here." Song Jiu said, taking out a bamboo pole and inserting it into the courtyard, asking: "Master Cai, how tall is this locust tree in my house?"

  "How does one know this?"

  "Right away, I'll let you know," said Zhu San, measuring the length of the bamboo pole's shadow. At this time, the sun was gradually moving towards noon, and it was summer, so the shadow was short. The shadow of the pagoda tree just reached the corner of the house. Song Jiu measured the shadow of the pagoda tree with a soft ruler, then went into the classroom, did some quick calculations with chalk, put down the chalk, and walked out saying: "It's 91 feet 2 inches high, and the error won't exceed 1 foot. With this method, we can measure the height of Mount Tai."

  "How did Jiulang find out?"

  "This is the power of mathematics, as in this formula, add the width above and below, divide by two, multiply by length and height. If it's a big city wall like the capital city, just calculate according to this formula, send out a dozen officials with soft rulers to measure, absolutely cannot use feet to measure, that error will be too large. So, in just one day, you can figure out how much material is needed to build the four walls of the capital city. Can it be said to be clever and cunning?

  For example, in our dynasty, our greatest enemy is not the southern countries, which are all weak, nor is it the Northern Han, which only has a few tens of thousands of households and will eventually be recovered by our dynasty. The true strong enemy in the future is the Khitan. Our dynasty also lacks horses, so we will inevitably fall behind in battle. However, if the Tang Dynasty's saber were still around? Unfortunately, after the Anshi Rebellion, craftsmen dispersed, and the saber-making technique was lost, and there was no longer a powerful tool for infantry to break through cavalry.

  Can it be said to be clever and cunning?

  For example, when cooking, ingredients are important, but can you do without oil, salt, and seasonings? Can you do without pots? Can you do without firewood? Running a country is also like cooking a dish. The Confucianism of the husband is most important, other areas of learning, as long as they are not deceiving the king into indulging in pleasure, extravagance, and excess, but rather benefiting the country and the people, cannot be taken lightly. Only then can this dish be done well."

  "Jiulang is right, where did you learn this knowledge from?"

  Song Jiuxiao was speechless, this is the biggest trouble. Can't answer me that it's from falling from the sky or Sun Wukong jumping out of a stone, but it is!