How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

What does it mean that Zhongba rescued Zhou Wenju?

This means that His Majesty's high regard for Zhou Wenju exceeded their expectations.

This means that they might not be able to stop the upcoming Aoyama literary gathering at all...

"When looking at a problem, you must see beyond the surface to the essence!" Bai Luoshui said, "If His Majesty had truly made a decision, why did he deliberately release information beforehand?"

"Mr. Bai, do you mean that the news that circulated in the capital earlier was deliberately released by His Majesty to test the literary world's reaction?" Li Zhongze asked.

"Exactly!" Bai Luoshui said, "The fact that the reaction was tested beforehand shows that His Majesty has not actually made this decision. As long as the mainstream literary world reaches a consensus that 'one should only talk about poetry when one has reached a high position in literature,' under the overwhelming trend, even the emperor will have to compromise."

"If this consensus is truly reached, then the remnants of the Zhou family can obviously be wiped out in one fell swoop!" He Fang said, "However, can this momentum really be formed based on just one debate? Professor He Wenxin's 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms' from that day was, after all, just temple rites, and its influence can't be considered very great..."

Bai Luoshui picked up the teacup in front of him and took a small sip: "You two may not know this, but Professor He has been enriching the 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms' in recent years, and the arguments he has formed are becoming more and more perfect. Today's discussion is not just about discussing the principles, but also about launching a new edition of the 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms'."

He Fang's eyes lit up: "The new edition of 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms'...can it reach the level of a classic work?"

Li Zhongze's eyes suddenly lit up...

There are three types of canons: temple canons, palace canons, and sacred canons.

The so-called temple records are those recognized by the Confucian Temple. The Confucian Temple believes that your book has certain reference value and has included it in the "Temple Records" for scholars of the Great Yu Kingdom to refer to.

The Palace Codex was even more extraordinary; it was recognized by the Temple and included in the Temple's archives, which all scholars in the world could cite.

The former is for reference only.

The latter is a quote.

The difference in weight is undoubtedly enormous.

The "canonical text" in the phrase "quoting classical texts" refers to the imperial canonical texts.

If He Wenxin were to revise and improve his original "Twelve Poetry Criticisms" in this discussion, bringing it to the level of a classic, his status in the literary world would soar to unprecedented heights.

His views are no longer open to discussion, but rather "ironclad rules" that can be directly quoted by writers.

He said, "One should only begin to talk about poetry when one has reached a high level of literary achievement," which is the ironclad rule of literature.

Even His Majesty cannot disobey.

At that time, what qualifications would Zhou Wenju, a so-called scholar who hadn't even participated in the imperial examinations and lacked any literary talent, have to speak about poetry? What qualifications would he have to participate in a grand event like the Qingshan Literary Gathering? He could be completely banned from the legal system.

Bai Luoshui gently shook his head: "To reach the level of a palace-level classic is truly idealistic... However, this perfected version of the 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms' will surely become a major classic of the Confucian Temple, increasing its weight once again. With the four top academies gathering and the literary and official circles of the capital simultaneously creating momentum, sending him to the Qingshan Literary Gathering will be a piece of cake."

Li Zhongze and He Fang exchanged a glance and both laughed. He Fang said, "Planning for events and strategizing for power are like a game of chess. Could this game today have been orchestrated by Mr. Bai himself?"

Bai Luoshui laughed and did not answer, but judging from the frequency of the gentle waving of the folding fan, it was clearly him!

A bell rang.

The air inside the Drunken Star Pavilion was filled with a gentle, lingering murmur...

This is Wen Zhong.

The bell tolls, and the discussion of the Way begins.

Inside the Drunken Star Pavilion, all the scholars stood up at the same time, and the entire room fell silent.

This is a sign of respect for literature and morality.

A person fell from the high platform.

This is a great Confucian scholar dressed in a purple robe.

He was thin and about fifty years old, a professor at Luoyang Academy.

He Wenxin landed on the high platform, bowed to the sky, and paid homage to the Heavenly Way.

Bow to the north, to the Confucian Temple.

Bowing to the east is a gesture of respect to imperial power.

Finally, he bowed deeply and said, "I am He Wenxin, and today I wish to discuss the Dao with you all. I am deeply honored that you, esteemed scholars and sages, have graced me with your presence. I am filled with shame and trepidation!"

Everyone below bowed in unison: "It is an honor to have heard Master He's discourse!"

The second chime of the bell signaled the official start of the discourse.

The people below took their seats.

He Wenxin began by saying: "Ten years ago, I wrote 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms,' which was fortunately included in the 'Temple Records' with the permission of the Confucian Temple. I have spent ten years refining it, and today I will begin to elaborate on it. The core argument remains 'Only when literary works reach a high level can one talk about poetry.' Why? Poets need four steps. The first is accumulation. What I mean by accumulation is to read the classics thoroughly and solidify one's literary foundation..."

The four steps of a poet's journey begin with accumulation, which requires extensive reading of classics and laying a solid foundation in literature. This is why the path of poetry ultimately needs the support of the sacred path...

The second step is to achieve official rank and fame. These are comprehensive tests of one's literary foundation. Those who cannot even pass the imperial examinations have an unstable foundation, and those with an unstable foundation are not worthy of discussing poetry. The saying goes, "Poetry is not jade lying in the river, but a flower on a branch." What does this mean? Poetry is not jade lying in the river, waiting for you to occasionally pick it up; poetry is a flower that naturally blooms after sufficient accumulation…

As he unfolded his discourse, words flowed from his lips, radiating brilliance...

"After half an hour, the aroma lingers on the lips and teeth! The Dao has reached its peak!" exclaimed a scholar in blue robes below.

A voice from a scholar in yellow robes standing beside him quietly slipped into the man's ears: "Brother Ding, did you detect anything unusual in your voice?"

"What do you mean, Brother Wang?" Brother Ding also quietly transmitted his thoughts.

"Professor He's argument may seem untargeted, but every point he makes is aimed at two other popular candidates for poetry. Zhou Wenju has no official rank and has not studied diligently for ten years, and the renowned scholar Xiang Yuezhou is also among them. If his view that 'one should only talk about poetry when one has reached a high position in literature' becomes the mainstream in the literary world, these two popular candidates will be automatically excluded."

Brother Ding's eyes widened suddenly: "Brother Wang, do you mean... that this master's discourse today aims to clear away obstacles, and his intention is to hold the Qingshan Literary Gathering?"

"Otherwise what? Why do you think he would jump out and stage such a debate at this crucial juncture in selecting members for the Aoyama Literary Society?"

"Brother Wang's words are thought-provoking!" Brother Ding pondered, "But can his viewpoint become mainstream?"

"Brother Ding, why don't you take a look at who's here today...?"

Brother Ding looked around, and his expression changed slightly.

Scholars may be pedantic, but they are not truly fools.

Some things become clear as soon as they are mentioned.

Looking around, one could see high-ranking officials from the four major academies, renowned scholars from the capital, some officials in plain clothes, members of the Hanlin Academy, and even representatives from the Wenyuan Pavilion…

In the capital, the four pillars of literature and art have been reduced to three.

What are the four pillars?

The Confucian Temple, the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Hanlin Academy, the four top academies...

We visited everything except the Confucian Temple.

Moreover, the people who came were all extraordinary figures: the Left Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, and the Councilors of the Four Great Academies. Although they were not the heads of their respective institutions, they were still important figures who held prominent positions in their institutions.

The only one that was absent, the "Confucian Temple," could not really be considered absent, because the Confucian Temple had never participated in any literary gatherings. The Confucian Temple's night watchmen never showed up except for the imperial examinations held once every three years.

Strictly speaking, the Confucian Temple cannot be considered absent.

The fact that the Confucian Temple included He Wenxin's book in the "Temple Records" itself demonstrates a high regard for He Wenxin...

A debate on philosophy, attended by the four pillars of literature and scholarship in the capital—if that's not a major event, then it is a major event nonetheless…

As He Wenxin's "Twelve Poetry Criticisms" progresses, with its witty remarks and profound insights, the flow of literature and philosophy beneath his feet is ever-changing and dynamic...

Some of the people below were completely absorbed, lost in the unique atmosphere of the discussion.

Some people stared wide-eyed at He Wenxin's feet.

"Will there be a 'Great Dao Blossom'?" Brother Ding's voice drifted towards Brother Wang...

If the great path blossoms, He Wenxin's "Twelve Poetry Criticisms" may indeed "enter the palace from the ruins"! From "temple rites" to "palace rites," at that time, his arguments will no longer be open to discussion, but will become the laws of literature.

Therefore, there is no doubt that He Wenxin will become a participant in the Qingshan Literary Society.

What seemed like an ordinary discussion became incredibly sensitive because of the inclusion of the "Aoyama Literary Society" element; anyone who noticed this would become tense.

Time slipped by outside the window.

Those who are so engrossed in the profound realm of philosophical discourse that they lose all sense of the passage of time.

Only Zhou Wenju listened quietly for two hours, his heart calm and undisturbed.

My gaze swept across the window; the lights outside were already on.

The floats must have already started moving, right?

I'm really impatient listening to this old geezer spouting all that classical Chinese stuff.

If it weren't for the special circumstances, he really wanted to leave early and go outside to see the lanterns and floats.

However, it must be said that the literati of this era are vastly different from their students of that time. They truly have an attitude of "If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening," not even looking at women, and listening to the old master's lectures with their heads bobbing and swaying. I'm speechless...

The third bell tolls!

It's finally over.

The patch of ground that everyone stared at ultimately failed to bloom the flower of literature and the Way.

The second level of the Dao: the blossoming of the Great Dao, is still a step short.

As the bell rang to an end, Chunghachi let out a long sigh of relief. Only then did he feel a chill on his back.

fine……

No flowers bloom on the main road!

This means that the argument that "one should only speak of poetry when one has reached a high position in literature" has not been recognized by the will of Heaven.

Then there's still room for discussion!

On the high platform, He Wenxin bowed respectfully.

The crowd below shouted in unison, "Thank you, Master He!"

Amidst the praise, a student-looking man stepped forward: "Today, I have the great honor of hearing Master He expound the Dao. I have a question; may I ask it?"

"Discussions on the Way are originally an exploration of the Way of Literature; however, one may ask questions as long as one has something on their mind," He Wenxin replied with a smile.

The student bowed again: "At the end of September last year, a poetic prodigy named Zhou Wenju founded the Ci poetry school in Nanyang. I wonder what the master of Ci poetry is, and how he evaluates him? And how he evaluates Zhou Wenju himself?"

These words immediately ignited the atmosphere throughout the building.

Ci Dao is currently the most popular collection of ci (a type of Chinese lexicon) in the capital.

Zhou Wenju, the founder of the Ci poetry school, is rumored to be a candidate for the Qingshan Literary Society, which adds a unique veil to today's discussion.

Now, this student has brought up this extremely sensitive topic face to face...

Everyone stared at He Wenxin, waiting for his answer...

A person is hidden in the void.

Lin Nongyue was terrified...

She was not a scholar, and she didn't actually understand classical Chinese discussions, but suddenly she heard a familiar name.

Zhou Wenju!

The student asked a question: There was a poetic genius named Zhou Wenju who pioneered the art of ci poetry.

Just that one sentence was enough to throw her into a state of utter chaos, almost breaking her invisibility spell...

My goodness, a poetic prodigy? Is that him?

To pioneer the way of words?

What is that thing again?

He Wenxin smiled slightly: "The art of ci poetry originated from courtesan songs and folk ballads. Although it can be considered a form of literature, it is ultimately unworthy of being considered high art. Zhou Wenju, without ten years of hard study or the training of the imperial examinations, was able to draw inspiration from songs and by chance develop the art of ci poetry. It is a stroke of luck! If he comes to the capital and begs to become my disciple, I might be able to make an exception and accept him. As long as he can concentrate on his studies, he may achieve something in ten or twenty years!"

Everyone looked at each other.

He Wenxin's words contained three parts reason and seven parts generosity.

What is the rationale behind this?

The new literary genre of lyrics is indeed very compatible with singing. This is a conclusion drawn by everyone after the emergence of lyrics. They are already being sung everywhere in brothels.

He Wenxin's claim that it originated from courtesan songs and folk ballads is very convincing.

Wherein lies the generosity?

He extended an olive branch directly to Zhou Wenju, offering to take him as a disciple. For a grandmaster like him, this was undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill.

However, Chung-hachi's face was very gloomy.

Because he was one of the few people who truly saw through He Wenxin's sinister intentions.

He Wenxin's words, though containing three parts reason and seven parts leniency, were not what he perceived at all...

The lyrics are easy to sing, which is an advantage of the song. However, his positioning of the lyrics as "derived from brothel ditties and folk songs" has inadvertently lowered their "class".

The purpose of these words of suppression is ultimately to suppress Zhou Wenju as a person!

Because Zhou Wenju pioneered the way of ci poetry, which is witnessed by Heaven and by millions of people, it cannot be erased or changed. The only way to lower the status of ci poetry is to reduce the prestige of ci poetry and its position.

The old man used this technique with ease, and his choice of angle was extremely precise. At the very least, he captured the "fit" between the lyrics and the melody.

As for the generosity shown in accepting him as a disciple, it was actually a malicious act.

Faced with this "goodwill" and "generosity," what can Zhou Wenju do?

It's simply a matter of acceptance or rejection!

I accept it. Zhou Wenju is his disciple. How can a disciple dare to compete with his master for a qualification to participate in the Qingshan Literary Gathering? That's called betraying one's master and ancestors!

You won't accept it?

In the world of literature and morality, that would be called ungrateful! It would be called disrespectful to teachers and elders! It would be called a violation of etiquette and law…

With just one question and one answer, the debate instantly transformed into a verdict on Zhou Wenju, and one that was both reasonable and magnanimous…

Chung-hachi stared at the disciple who had raised the sensitive question, and suddenly had a different perspective. This person was probably not there to make things difficult for the debater, but rather a "plant" deliberately arranged by the debater... or someone behind the debater!

The disciple bowed and said, "Master He's kindness towards an unknown junior with no lineage truly shows his deep appreciation for talent; it's admirable!"

"Yes, yes, if Young Master Zhou knew, he would be eternally grateful!"

"It's not just Young Master Zhou; the entire Zhou family is grateful..."

In an instant, praises arose from all sides.

Everyone praised He Wenxin for valuing and cherishing talent, and for upholding the right path.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, clear and bright: "Since there is still a question-and-answer session after the discussion, may I humbly ask a question?"

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