Chapter 15: The First Meeting with Long Kodo

  Yuan Zhenxin was saying this, and then realized that he had gone off topic a bit. Taking the opportunity to drink some water, he collected his thoughts before continuing: "I've said so much just to stir up your sense of crisis and urgency. Of course, you still need to read the classics - the teachings of Confucius and Mencius are about cultivating people, teaching them to establish virtues, cultivate themselves, and understand propriety and respect for order and institutions. They emphasize benevolence and humane governance, focusing on how to get along with others and govern society."

  Western learning emphasizes nature, emphasizes the investigation of things to gain knowledge, emphasizes learning for practical application, and emphasizes mathematics. Western learning is good at induction and summary, good at using one example to infer three.

  This is also the reason why I want these children to learn and master both skills. After they have learned, I hope they can devote themselves to the economy of people's livelihood and do something practical for the common people. No matter how good the poetry and articles are, the common people cannot eat them as food. Zhang Naihe is considered a great talent, but apart from sighing "Prosperity, the people suffer; decline, the people suffer", what has he done for the common people? It's just self-satisfaction.

  "Alright, I'm tired too, won't waste any more words with you all. I've never forced anyone to do anything, go or stay as you please."

  Yuan Zhen finished speaking, and ignored the few people, leisurely picking up his teacup to sip tea. He didn't think that after saying this, these Confucian scholars would immediately surrender and obey. Even if they did bow their heads, it was probably because of his identity as a prince's son.

  Yang Min, Ding Shan, Pan Xiang, Bai Ziyun, Wu Anbang, Song Shifan and others including Hai Feng were all in a state of extreme shock. They usually buried their heads in books, and even if they socialized, the people they met were ordinary scholars, how could they have the vision and insight of Yin Zhen?

  Today, Yun Zhen's remarks shocked them, and they were filled with emotions such as depression, despair, loss, dejection, and unwillingness. Their faces turned red with anxiety, unsure whether to stay or leave. Ding Shan, Pan Xiang, Bai Ziyun, Wu Anbang, and Song Shifan were all indecisive, sneaking glances at Yang Min.

  Yang Min was even more entangled than them, he was a native of Long'an Prefecture in Sichuan Province. He was exceptionally intelligent since childhood and passed the imperial examination at the age of 16, becoming a renowned scholar in Long'an Prefecture. However, fate was not on his side, and he failed to pass the examination for three consecutive sessions, which was a huge blow to him who had been treated with courtesy everywhere since childhood. Feeling ashamed to face his parents and fellow villagers, he stayed in the capital city, waiting for the next examination session.

  After learning that his master was the current 14th prince, Yang Min was so excited that he didn't sleep well for several days, thinking about how to seize this rare opportunity. Today, he finally met Yin Zhen and naturally took the chance to show off, but unexpectedly, his proud knowledge didn't even have a chance to be displayed before being scolded by Yin Zhen, leaving him feeling utterly defeated. Moreover, the profound knowledge that Yin Zhen inadvertently revealed made Yang Min feel even more ashamed.

  Let's go. He was reluctant to leave, but if he didn't go, it seemed that Yongzheng wasn't interested in them either. For a moment, he was hesitant and indecisive about what to do next.

  Yang Min's silence was making Bai Ziyun anxious, as he knew his own talent was not high. Someone like Yang Min, with such great talent, had failed the exam three times in a row, and he himself didn't know how many years it would take for him to pass. Moreover, he came from a poor family and had been familiar with farming since childhood. The 14th Master's book on agriculture was also widely circulated, and with his recommendation, he could enter the Agricultural Academy, and after graduation, he would have an official position.

  Seeing several gentlemen still not speaking, Bai Ziyun couldn't care about so much, after passing this village there won't be that store anymore. He "thudded" and knelt down, "The fly flies, only a few Wu; attached to the horse's tail, can reach thousands of miles. Fourteenth Master, the student is mediocre, if the Fourteenth Master doesn't abandon me, the student is willing to share worries with the Fourteenth Master."

  Seeing that someone was willing to stay, Yongzheng was naturally delighted and smiled: "A person is valuable for their self-awareness, with mediocre talent and intelligence, what's there to fear? With more tempering, they can still stand out from the crowd."

  Upon hearing this sentence with a rich implication, the five people including Yang Min immediately felt relieved and knelt down together, "The students are not talented, willing to share the worries of the 14th master."

  Yin Zhen sighed, still the identity of the prince is good to use, slowly standing up, he said: "Well, since you are willing to share my worries, I will not miss your future, next time, you just go take the exam, those who fail, follow me, I will not let you follow in vain. However, I'll say the ugly words first, when I use people, I value virtue first, then talent."

  After leaving the Hope School, Yin Zhen instructed Hai Feng: "Think of a way to buy out the surrounding areas, the school still needs to be expanded, and we must ensure that so many children can enroll every year."

  Hai Feng was startled and hastily said: "Sir, with this scale, it will cost two thousand taels of silver every year, and still expanding..."

  "This silver must be spent." Yong Zheng said with a light smile, "Besides, the missionaries you invited can't be too comfortable either." As he spoke, he looked up at the sky full of late clouds, "I'm a bit hungry, let's find a place outside, do you know if there are any good wine houses around here?"

  Hai Feng ran for a while and then said, "There's a small tavern up ahead. Their explosive belly, bean paste, and beef flavors are all pretty good, it's just that the place is a bit small."

  Yuan Zhen turned his head and looked at the six guards following behind him, smiling: "Eight people, let's sit down."

  "No problem, there are four tables."

  "Go and try."

  Fengji Tavern was indeed small, but the business was not bad. When Yong Zheng and his party arrived, there was only one table left. The landlady was clever and knew that they were noble guests as soon as she saw what they were wearing. She hurriedly combined two tables of familiar customers into one, and managed to clear out two tables.

  Yongzheng pulled Hai Feng to one table, while Da Chun refused to sit with Yongzheng at the same table. The six bodyguards had to squeeze into another table. As soon as the landlady saw this situation, she knew that her judgment was correct and became even more attentive in her service.

  I don't know if it was because I was hungry or the boss's craftsmanship was good, but after eating, Yunzhen couldn't stop praising. The boss's wife saw that Yunzhen was happy and took the opportunity to promote wine and water again. Yunzhen was in a good mood and didn't decline, but Dachun at one table dared not be presumptuous.

  The sky had darkened imperceptibly, and Yong Zheng and the others left the wine shop. The sky was already pitch black, and as soon as they walked out of the alleyway, they saw a man in brocade clothes rush out from the gate of a mansion, with five or six servants in pursuit behind him.

  That man in the brocade robe probably wanted to escape from the alley, but he didn't run a few steps before being caught up. At that time, he performed a full martial arts performance in front of Yun Zhen. The man's movements were quite good, but unfortunately those several attendants were not easy to deal with either. After a few rounds, they knocked the man to the ground, and five or six attendants immediately surrounded him, punching and kicking.

  Rong Zhen didn't want to intervene, but that man was extremely arrogant. Even though he was being beaten, his mouth still shouted: "Great hit, it's so satisfying!"

  Upon hearing this voice, Yong Zheng was taken aback, "Long Kodo?"

  Longkodo was originally a first-class imperial guard of Kangxi, and also served as the commander of the Imperial Guard and deputy commander-in-chief of the Plain Blue Banner Mongolian Army. Although he was rebuked by Kangxi in the 44th year of his reign for not being diligent in his duties and stripped of his titles as deputy commander-in-chief and commander of the Imperial Guard, he still held the position of first-class imperial guard (without having to attend the emperor, but still with the status of a first-class imperial guard).

  Besides, although Longkodo was not favored by Kangxi, his father Tong Guowei was a prominent first-class duke, a minister of the imperial court, and a commander of the Imperial Guard. Moreover, Longkodo had a sister and a younger sister who were respectively Kangxi's empress and noble concubine, a true member of the royal family. Who would be so bold as to beat him up in public?