Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing's expression became more serious, and his words more cautious.

In Wenqing’s humble opinion, the most important thing in teaching children, especially in the early stages of learning, is not to instill knowledge, but to “guide” them. Why should they learn? Why should they recognize these characters? The reasons behind this cannot be forced upon them; they must be patiently explained so that they can understand it clearly in their own hearts and truly feel that knowledge is closely related to themselves.

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three people in front of him, and continued:

"As the saying goes, you can't force a cow to drink water. Ultimately, you have to guide them to find things interesting and useful on their own, so that they will actively explore them. This kind of drive that comes from within is far more precious and more lasting than the obedience shown out of fear of punishment."

"If we try to force compliance with coercion just to save trouble, it will not only fail to win people's hearts, but may also breed resentment and resistance, making them more and more rebellious. If that's the case, then this book... is better left untaught, lest it mislead the students."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's gaze lingered on Zhou Wenqing's face, as if deep in thought.

Li Si couldn't help but nod repeatedly, clapping his hands in praise, "I never expected Brother Zicheng to have such profound insights into my teachings. These country children are truly fortunate to have Brother Zicheng as their teacher!"

Meng Wu stood to the side and quietly curled his lip, feeling somewhat unconvinced.

When it comes to reasoning with my two brats starting school? Ha!

Getting them to sit down and study is harder than getting warhorses to plow fields!

I've explained a whole bunch of道理 (principles/reasoning), but it's like my ears are stuffed with donkey hair—it goes in one ear and out the other, enough to make the teacher so angry his beard stands on end! In the end, it still comes down to… cough!

Thinking back to his childhood, wasn't he the same? His grandfather would chase him all over the yard with a stick, breaking several sticks in the process, but he's still doing fine. Who dares to say he's a good-for-nothing now?

However, he glanced at the King of Qin, who was listening intently, and Li Si, who was clearly persuaded, and then looked at Zhou Wenqing's serious expression.

Forget it, Young Master Zhou is a refined person, and he teaches refined methods, which are probably quite different from those of us who are tough and resilient.

Meng Wu then clasped his hands in a fist salute: "What you say, young master... is indeed reasonable. I had oversimplified things. Young master Zhou is truly a good teacher."

Zhou Wenqing stood up to return the greeting, saying "I dare not accept such praise," but in his heart he was overjoyed.

Especially when Ying Zheng's approving and thoughtful gaze fell on him, Zhou Wenqing was almost so happy that he wanted to give these two helpful wingmen a big red envelope!

He kept glancing in the direction of the King of Qin, his lips barely suppressing the urge to curl into a smile, silently screaming in his heart:

Your Majesty! Have you looked carefully and understood?

I, Zhou Wenqing, am a great teacher! Seriously, haven't you considered sending your son to a tutoring class too?

Zhou Wenqing was frantically trying to promote himself.

Seeing that Ying Zheng was still carefully examining the bamboo slips, his eyes showing appreciation but remaining silent, he changed his mind and decided to add fuel to the fire.

He slowly walked back to his desk, picked up the unfinished bamboo scroll, ran his fingertips over the varying depths of the engravings on the scroll, and put on a frustrated expression.

"I've said too much, and I'm afraid I've made you all laugh."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. He bowed apologetically, shook his head, sighed softly, and looked bitter.

"It's not that Wenqing is intentionally complaining, but he truly feels this way—when you think about it carefully, teaching children to be enlightened is probably much more difficult, and perhaps much more important, than figuring out strategies for farming tools and fertilizers."

"Oh?" Li Si raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Brother Zicheng, what makes you say that?"

"If the curved plow and the method of fertilizing the fields are successful, they will be practical tools for increasing grain production and consolidating the foundation of the nation, which is crucial to the current strength of the country. Although children's education is an important task, how can it be compared with these two major issues?"

"That's a perfect question!" Zhou Wenqing thought to himself, "Li Keqing, you're truly worthy of your title! You've offered the perfect opportunity."

Feeling pleased with himself, he remained outwardly calm, gently setting down the bamboo slip in his hand and turning to face the crowd with a serious expression.

"Brother Gu'an's words are probably somewhat biased."

"Food supplies and military equipment are indeed the foundation of the nation today, but have you ever considered who will be using these weapons and guarding these granaries ten or twenty years from now? And who will be governing the counties and enforcing the laws?"

He paused briefly, allowing the weight of his words to settle for a moment, before speaking, word by word:

"It is none other than these ignorant children of today—children who may still be playing in the fields, clumsily imitating their parents, or reciting classical Chinese phrases in the classroom."

"A good plow can cultivate hundreds of acres; a good fertilizer can fertilize thousands of miles of land. These are indeed the tools for strengthening the country and benefiting the people."

He changed the subject, looking intently at Li Si.

"But these are ultimately just 'tools.' However, no matter how exquisite a 'tool' is, if no one understands its principles, inherits its methods, carries on its aspirations, uses it well, or improves it, then even if it is a divine weapon today, after several generations, it may gather dust and become no different from ordinary rotten wood."

"Therefore, what is it that we rely on to avoid our painstakingly studied curved plows, fertilization methods, and even all laws, systems of governance, and strategies for governing the country becoming nothing more than fleeting, rotten wood?"

He asked himself the question and answered it himself; the answer was self-evident:

"It depends on people."

"There are generations of people who have been carefully taught, who can understand the wisdom of their predecessors, who can stand firm in the present, and who can create the future."

He gently tapped the bamboo scroll of enlightenment with his finger again: "That's why Wenqing said that this matter of early childhood education, though seemingly trivial, is actually of paramount importance. It concerns not only whether a few children can read and understand principles, but also the foundation upon which everything we create and value today can truly be passed down and carried forward."

"This is the true fundamental plan for extending the nation's reign and consolidating its foundation."

"color!"

Li Si was the first to clap his hands, his face showing an excited expression of sudden enlightenment.

"Excellent! Absolutely brilliant! Brother Zicheng's argument hits the nail on the head! Truly brilliant!"

He suddenly turned around, quickly grabbed the teapot from the table, personally filled two cups, and solemnly toasted Zhou Wenqing.

"Today, I have heard Brother Zicheng's insightful discourse on 'Elementary Education Based on Human Nature,' and have benefited greatly from it. I now realize how shallow my previous understanding was. I will offer this tea instead of wine to express my respect for Brother Zicheng's profound insights!"

Zhou Wenqing quickly picked up his teacup and said repeatedly, "Brother Gu'an, you flatter me. I was merely expressing my thoughts, some very basic ideas. How could I possibly accept such high praise?"

"Zicheng, there's no need to be so modest."

Ying Zheng also raised his cup, his movements unhurried, his gaze showing excitement and approval as he looked at Zhou Wenqing.

"Zicheng's vision transcends the immediate benefits of any single tool or object. Cultivating talent and strengthening the foundation are the basis for long-term stability and security. This ambition and aspiration cannot be summed up by the word 'superficial.' Tea is acceptable, and praise is well-deserved!"

After saying this, he drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

Zhou Wenqing and Li Si were both taken aback.

Li Si's gaze swept quickly back and forth between Ying Zheng and Zhou Wenqing, a fleeting, complex glint in his eyes.

He reacted extremely quickly, almost the instant Ying Zheng finished speaking, he had already suppressed his strange expression, remained calm, slightly raised his cup to Zhou Wenqing as a gesture, and calmly drank it all, his movements smooth and elegant.

The atmosphere here is just right, but someone nearby is about to break out in a sweat from anxiety.

It's all my fault for being tongue-tied. Meng Wu's thick eyebrows were almost knotted with worry. He hadn't figured out how to praise her, and he was a step behind Li Si. That's fine, though.

He couldn't outwit this guy with words, and was racking his brains for the words to express his approval.

The words of us martial artists are not like those of those refined scholars.

Before he could figure it out, he caught a glimpse of the King of Qin making a move to lift the teapot. Without thinking, he rushed forward and hurriedly poured the tea for him.

Before he could even pour his own tea, he discovered that the two others had already finished theirs.

Oh no! We'll be late if we don't hurry!

He hurriedly picked up his cup of tea, not caring about anything else, and quickly handed it to Zhou Wenqing, afraid that it would be left behind.

"Young master! Me too! I also think you're right! Absolutely right! This tea... I'll toast you with this tea too!" After saying that, as if afraid of missing out, he tilted his head back and gulped it down in one go.

He drank too quickly, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. When he put down the cup, he couldn't help but cough softly, and a blush immediately rose on his bronze face.

Zhou Wenqing was warmed by his honest, almost blunt, reaction. The slight ripples that had arisen from Ying Zheng's solemn affirmation turned into a genuine smile in his eyes.

Raising his glass to Meng Wu, he said sincerely, "Guard Meng has treated me with such sincerity, for which I am deeply grateful. Thank you for your kind words!"

Meng Wu watched Zhou Wenqing drink the tea, and then, as if he had completed some important ritual, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand to wipe away non-existent sweat, and felt at ease—at least he hadn't fallen behind!