The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 180: The Unrivaled Debater! A white horse is not a horse!

Kong Chuan, the sixth-generation grandson of Confucius, was named Zigao.

Among Confucius' sixth-generation descendants, there are two people who can represent the Kong family when they travel outside.

One is Kong Bin.

Another one is hole penetration.

The driver's voice was loud and could be heard throughout the three thousand seats.

The rest were in an uproar.

Mr. Jixia and his students were all shocked.

No one would have thought that the famous Kong Chuanzi would be dressed as a groom.

Compared to this incident, it was not so surprising that he debated with Gongsun Long on behalf of Prince Chengjiao.

Only the great Mohist of Chu, Deng Lingxue, and the great Mohist of Qi, Xiang Fuxi, were more surprised by the debate between Kong Chuan and Prince Chengjiao than Kong Chuan himself.

Among all the schools of thought, only those who followed Mohism wore cloth clothes in their daily life.

Ying Chengjiao was also shocked. This matter was completely out of plan.

The driver was Kong Chuan, who was not aware of this matter in advance.

He walked down the steps quickly and sat on the mat beside Kong Bin. After greeting the people around him, he asked in a low and urgent voice:

"Sir, is this...really Kong Chuanzi?"

Kong Bin smiled bitterly.

He told his brother many times not to dress like that.

The people of the Kong family, even if they don’t have to dress gorgeously, at least they should be different from ordinary people, right?
But it was no use, his brother didn't listen to him.

Kong Chuan, who has a great reputation outside, is a synonym for eccentricity within the Kong family and often does unconventional things.

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, sir." Kong Bin sighed, "My brother's appearance is really... Alas!"

This sentence undoubtedly acknowledged Kong Chuan's identity.

Ying Chengjiao was shocked, and even though his emotions changed drastically, he did not forget to say:
"Sir, the current issue is not about Kong Chuanzi's clothes, but about Kong Chuanzi standing on my behalf to go up the stairs and debate with Gongsun Long!
"Did you discuss this with your elder brother? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"

Kong Bin was suspicious that Master Cheng Jiao was not interested in his clothes.

But he hoped that people would not pay attention to this matter, so he did not continue to inquire, and once again smiled bitterly and said:

"Don't say you don't know, even I don't know.

"Brother said nothing and rushed forward.

"...Brother probably wants you to watch the battle from the sidelines so that you can get to know the real Gongsun Longzi better."

After a little thought, Ying Chengjiao agreed with what Kong Bin said.

The Gongsun Longzi in the books and the Gongsun Longzi mentioned by others are not the real Gongsun Longzi.

Being able to watch Gongsun Long's arguments before the debate is undoubtedly a great benefit to Ying Chengjiao, as he can target Gongsun Long's speaking habits.

He bowed to Kong Bin and thanked him sincerely.

Kong Bin said "no problem" but he felt bitter in his heart.

Kong Chuan represents not only himself, but also the Kong family.

If Kong Chuan lost to Gongsun Long, the reputation of the Kong family would inevitably be affected.

But how could anyone win in a debate with Gongsun Long?
"Zigao, it's not too late to go down now." Gongsun Long said in a voice that was even smaller than a mosquito or a fly: "Even if you don't consider yourself, you should consider your family."

Gongsun Long placed a finger lightly on the table in front of him:
"Sitting here, you are not only betting on yourself, but also the Kong family.

"Is it worth it for a boy?"

Seeing Kong Chuan opening his mouth to speak, Gongsun Long raised his palm to stop him and reminded him with a smile:

"Speak softly, in the quietest voice possible.

“This platform is exquisitely built and has the ability to amplify and transmit sound.

"When speaking on this platform, ordinary sounds can be heard by all three thousand people."

Kong Chuan, who still had stains on his body, slightly widened his eyes, touched the ground in front of the table, and exclaimed slightly:

"I just wanted to know why the sound was so loud just now. It turned out that it was because of the sound amplification and transmission of the high platform.

"How is this thing so ingenious?"

The sound came down from high up and landed at a low place. All the philosophers and students of Jixia Academy sitting in the square heard it clearly.

The great master of Qi Mo smiled and stroked his beard, and responded loudly:

"Zigao first asked clearly whether the white horse was a horse.

"After the debate, Zigao and I discussed how the platform was built!"

Although it was the first time he met Kong Chuan, Xiang Fuxi had a good impression of him.

The Mohists are generally happy with those who are close to the people.

Kong Chuan on the stage didn't know who was answering, and he didn't care who it was, and shouted loudly:
"That `s a deal!"

After saying this, Kong Chuan no longer cared about the reactions of his subordinates. He bowed solemnly for the second time, facing Gongsun Long, and said in a slightly heavier voice:

"Please ask Gongsun Longzi, a white horse is not a horse!"

It was as if he had not heard Gongsun Long's previous admonition at all.

A cold light flashed in Gongsun Long's eyes.

Since Kong Chuan insisted on being humiliated and insisted on using the Kong family's reputation to pave the way for that boy, then he would be satisfied!

He stopped trying to lower his voice and said in a deep voice:

"Long and Master Chengjiao are discussing this. Who are you to Master Chengjiao? Why do you want to replace him?"

Kong Chuan pointed at the clothes on his body:
"Driver, I am the driver of Master Cheng Jiao, and I am honored to be your retainer."

Gongsun Long said "Oh":
"The sixth-generation grandson of Confucius, the one respected by the world, Kong Chuanzi, wants to be a driver for a childish boy?"

Kong Chuan looked nonchalant:

“There is no order of precedence in learning; the most accomplished are the teachers.

"Our ancestor Confucius once asked Xiang Tuo for advice. At that time, Xiang Tuo was also a young child."

Gongsun Long sneered and did not continue talking about this topic.

In his opinion, it was shameful enough for a member of the Kong family to travel outside and be a retainer or driver of a childish child.

He looked down, his eyes fixed on Ying Chengjiao who was sitting on the mat:

"You want to observe my speech and then target it?
"With such a scheming mind, you dare to call yourself a gentleman?

"If you tell me in person, I'll think highly of you. Why not let me take a look?

"But you resorted to such despicable means and asked Zi Gao to do such a thing of persecution! Aren't you ashamed?

"Sit down there, watch carefully, listen carefully, learn carefully, and think carefully.

"When you sit on this high platform, how can you judge me?"

Gongsun Long's words were both offensive and defensive, belittling Master Chengjiao and praising himself, with the intention of instilling in the other scholars the impression that Master Chengjiao was not a gentleman and acted immorally before the debate.

Ying Chengjiao frowned slightly.

Although it was not his order to have Kong penetrated, he was unable to clarify it now.

If he said no, not only would he have to go up and debate directly with Gongsun Long, but he would also let down Kong Chuan's kindness.

Ying Chengjiao guessed what Gongsun Long was going to say then.

It was nothing more than saying that he was exposed, so he was forced to come up, which was definitely to confirm his image of being a coward and pulling people. And this kind of debate is mostly fruitless, and the crowd watching the fight will naturally tend to favor the person they are familiar with.

Gongsun Long was a scholar of Jixia Academy.

Compared with Prince Ying Chengjiao of Qin, the various philosophers and students of Jixia Academy were obviously more familiar with Gongsun Long.

Ying Chengjiao was very unwilling to accept this loss, but he had no better solution for the time being.

Before the formal debate even started, just a brief encounter, Ying Chengjiao witnessed the style of the greatest debater of ancient and modern times.

"Is Zibing afraid of fighting?" Kong Chuan asked leisurely, "Do you want me to ask you for the third time?"

Gongsun Long retracted his gaze, looked in front of him, and stretched out a hand:
"No, please speak."

Kong Chuan clapped his hands and said "good", opening the debate and asking:
“Is a white horse a horse?”

Gongsun Long did not hesitate. He had answered this question many times with many people:

"no.

“Horse, the name is the form.

“White, it’s a name for the color, not the shape.

"So, a white horse is not a horse."

Kong Chuan smiled and said:
"The state wants to requisition horses, and I have a white horse. Can I tell the officer who is requisitioning horses that I don't have a horse? Obviously not.

"Since that's not possible, then prove that the white horse is a horse."

Gongsun Long said in a deep voice:

"If the country wants to requisition horses, you can hand in yellow horses, black horses, or red horses, right?"

Kong Chuan nodded:

"Of course."

Gongsun Long continued to ask questions based on the hypothesis proposed by Kong Chuan:

"If the country wants to requisition white horses, can you hand over yellow horses, black horses, or red horses?"

"...No." Kong Chuan paused slightly.

Gongsun Long said loudly:
“If a white horse is a horse, then requisitioning a horse is equivalent to requisitioning a white horse.

“But why can you hand in yellow horses, black horses, and red horses when you requisition horses?

“But when we requisition white horses, we can’t hand in yellow horses, black horses, or red horses?
“Does this mean that there is a difference between the two?

“So we can see that the assumption that a white horse is a horse is not valid; a white horse and a horse are different.

"So a white horse is not a horse. This is a very simple truth."

Below the high platform, the students of Jixia Academy began to discuss among themselves.

It turns out that “a white horse is not a horse” can be explained in this way.

The scholars either lowered their heads in deep thought or frowned in contemplation.

Imagine how you would respond if you were sitting opposite Gongsun Long.

They all knew that the white horse was a horse, and Gongsun Long was just making a sophistry.

But they had to admit that Gongsun Long's words made sense...

The theory that a white horse is not a horse was proposed by Er Shuo, a famous scholar in the early days of Jixia Academy.

This argument even made Lian Er say that he could not win every debate, but Gongsun Long became famous for this and never lost.

Kong Chuan looked thoughtful and said with some difficulty:

"According to you, a horse is no longer a horse if it has color.

"But where in the world are there horses without colors?

"Horses have colors. How can you say a colored horse is not a horse?"

Gongsun Long is in a relaxed mood:
“Just as horses have colors, there are white horses.

“A white horse is a white horse, not a yellow, black or red horse.

"From the moment you mentioned the word 'white horse', it has become a kind of horse, so a white horse is not a horse."

Kong Chuan quickly replied:
“Horses are not restricted by color; yellow horses, black horses, red horses, and white horses are all horses.

“Bai is not restricted by the word ‘horse’ either.

“Clouds can be white, clothes can be white, white is just a type of color.

"Putting 'white' and 'horse' together creates a new category? That's not right.

"A horse of any color is a horse, even a white horse is a horse."

Gongsun Long asked back:
“Are horses not restricted by color?
"According to what Zigao said, if you have a white horse, can you say you have a yellow horse?"

Kong Chuan shook his head:

"Of course you can't say that."

Gongsun Long asked again:
"Then you have a white horse, can you say you have a horse?"

Kong Chuan nodded and said with a smile:
"Yes, that's right, a white horse is a horse."

Gongsun Long asked three questions:
“I asked you before if you could say you had a yellow horse since you had a white horse, and you said no.

“I asked again if you could say you had a white horse, and you said yes.

"I don't agree with your point of view, but I will continue to speak according to your logic.

“A white horse cannot be called a yellow horse, but it can be called a horse. Does this prove that a yellow horse is not a horse either?

“You yourself say that a yellow horse is not a horse, but you insist that a white horse is a horse.

“It’s like asking a bird to sink into the water and swim.

“Is it ridiculous to have the coffin and the outer coffin, which should have been buried together, buried one in the east and the other in the west?

"Your reasoning is self-contradictory. I don't think there's any need to continue this debate, right?"

The Adam's apple moves slightly when the hole is pierced, and there is a swallowing action.

He opened his mouth, and the people sitting in the audience seemed to be able to hear the difficulty in his voice:
"Zi Bing... a white horse is a horse. This is a truth that everyone knows."

Gongsun Long looked calm and relaxed:
“More than ten years ago, you came to visit me in Handan and said that you admired my knowledge but disagreed with my theory that a white horse is not a horse.

"You said that if I could abandon the theory that a white horse is not a horse, you would be willing to be my disciple and take me as your master.

“I said you’re wrong.

“The theory that a white horse is not a horse is my best knowledge. If I abandon this theory, I will have nothing to teach you.

“I have no knowledge to teach you, yet you want to take me as your teacher. This is ridiculous.

"You kept saying that you wanted to be my disciple, so you must have thought that you were not as knowledgeable as me, right?

“I have never heard of a person with high academic attainments taking a person with low academic attainments as his teacher.

“But before you became my disciple, you asked me to abandon the theory that a white horse is not a horse. This is already an act of teaching.

"You want to take me as your master, but you want to teach me first, isn't that contradictory?
"After so many years, I thought you had changed, but I didn't expect you to be the same as before.

“If you want me to agree that a white horse is a horse, then explain your reasoning instead of forcing me.

"Forcing is the behavior of a thief."

Kong Chuan remained silent, lowering his head.

(End of this chapter)