Chapter 233: The Name of Master and Disciple
Driven by this idea, when Pang Tong received Qiao Yan's invitation for a private meeting after the onlookers dispersed, and heard from her whether he was willing to study at Leping Academy, he agreed without thinking any longer.
But Pang Tong was not an ordinary boy after all.
He had considered his plans for further study and career in government, so after accepting the invitation to study, he asked Qiao Yan about the time for studying at Leping Academy.
"If you want to live up to the name of Phoenix Cub within five years, you still have a lot to learn," Qiao Yan looked at him seriously and replied, "But... if you want to know the possibilities of the future, I also need to know your position."
The more clearly these young people are labeled as her own, the less likely they are to be used by others.
However, as the personnel composition of Leping becomes more complex, this place cannot be considered as a talent training base that belongs exclusively to her. It can only be said that it is very likely to be inclined towards her.
Just like when Zheng Xuan was teaching his disciples, at most he would only recommend those who were willing to work under Qiao Yan to her, instead of packing them all up and forcing them to stay here.
In the late Han Dynasty, when people were free to study and could even become apprentices across regions, at most there were some mutual recommendations due to the relationship between master and apprentice and between fellow students, but it did not yet determine a person's future.
If Qiao Yan really recruited talents by restricting their stay or departure, the attractiveness of Zheng Xuan, Cai Yong and others to top talents would be greatly reduced.
Therefore, the question that Pang Tong specifically asked was actually a test of the candidate's stance.
According to his lunar age, he is fourteen years old this year, which is the age when Qiao Yan has become the governor of Bingzhou. He wants to clarify the age limit for employing Qiao Yan.
Seeing Pang Tong hesitate, Qiao Yan said, "I will give you two years. Or rather, these two years are not only for you, but also for Zhuge Liang. If you feel that you have learned something in Leping Academy during these two years, and Bingzhou is consistent with your ambitions, you can come to Chang'an."
At the age of sixteen, he was old enough to do things for her.
"But there are some things in Leping Academy that you cannot access with your current identity. If you have a conclusion within the next two years, you can let me know in advance."
This restriction does not only apply to Pang Tong, but is an unspoken rule within the academy.
Because Cai Yong was not very politically savvy, Qiao Yan did not dare to entrust this identification task to him, but instead gave it to Cai Zhenji. When Zhaoji sometimes needed to go out to collect folk songs for the content of Leping Monthly, Zhenji still strictly guarded this checkpoint.
Upon hearing this, Pang Tong said to her, "If it is as you said, then I know what is going on."
Her laying the matter out in the open actually made Pang Tong feel more at ease. Besides, Qiao Yan did not say that he could not leave Bingzhou after gaining something. After all, there were still strict boundaries for him, and only if he crossed the line would she force him to stay.
What Pang Tong probably didn't know was that since Qiao Yan was confident that he could stay, he also had some other plans for him.
The appearance of Pang Tong represented that a special force had come under her command.
Huang Yueying alone is not enough.
In today's social context, the fact that Pang Tong served under her represented the emergence of scholars from Jingzhou under her command.
Of course, according to a more standard name, they should be called Nanzhou scholars.
This south does not include Yingchuan, but the area of Jingxiang and Jianghuai.
Under Qiao Yan's command, the northern scholars have formed an increasingly obvious numerical advantage, and the Yingchuan scholars are jumping into the trap one after another. She must make certain checks and balances on this.
Nanzhoushi is a very good choice.
It may not just be a check and balance, but also a potential succession.
After Pang Tong left, Qiao Yan asked Cheng Yu, "What do you think if we let Zhuge Liang continue to study with Wen Ruo in two years, and let Pang Tong follow Gong Da, so that they can improve through handling practical affairs?"
Cheng Yu smiled and said, "Your Excellency, do you want to replace the old with the new as soon as possible?"
Qiao Yan coughed, trying to look innocent, indicating that he had no such intention yet.
Succession, or the competition between the previous and next generations, is just one way of saying it.
As she is really in need of help now, there is no way she will iterate so quickly.
Besides, she also expected Cheng Yu to work for her until he was over 80 years old, just like the age he lived to in history.
If we have to count it, Xu Shu was also taught by Cheng Yu and became a master, but he was unable to replace Cheng Yu's position.
"Just healthy competition," she replied.
It's hard to say. Was it because after Li Ru and Jia Xu reported their decision of each taking one disciple to her, she couldn't help but make associations.
In addition, Pang Tong seems silent and inconspicuous at first glance, but shows a sharp aura when talking about his own ideas. He is also good at marching strategies. He is really similar to Xun You.
Anyway, there are still two years for him and Zhuge Liang to further accumulate knowledge. If Qiao Yan makes any temporary changes to his decision, it will not be too late to adjust then.
But no matter how she thought about it, she felt that if Xun Yu led Zhuge Liang and Xun You led Pang Tong, it would be a very interesting scene if the two sides fought against each other.
And when she started to win over the scholars of Jingxiang with Pang Tong as the starting point, it would probably lead to a partial reshuffle of the forces under her command.
However, she was well aware of the serious consequences that would result from Yuan Shao's indulgence of scholars from all sides in fighting each other, so she would definitely pay attention to this situation in advance.
Moreover, in the current situation, her own decision on the grand strategy has been proven correct with victory after victory; these scholars have many things to do besides strategy; and she is young enough that there is no need to worry about the succession situation.
Gaining the right to speak for one of the forces is actually a secondary matter.
What is more important is to defeat their opponents and gain military merit for themselves.
Cheng Yu agreed with Qiao Yan's idea of healthy competition.
The potential talents within the company compete with each other and enhance their strength, and only when they unite to face the outside world can they become the opponent's nightmare.
only--
"In this case, is Pang Tong one generation behind Zhuge Liang?"
After all, Xun You is Xun Yu's nephew.
Qiao Yan waved his hand, "If that's what you mean, then give them all a class on the Book of Songs under Mr. Ciming."
Xun Shuang is still in Chang'an, but because his title of Jinzi Guanglu Dafu is a nominal position assigned to him, he will set off for Leping soon.
Since Xun Shuang himself didn't want to be idle, Qiao Yan agreed with him to open a course in Leping.
With Xun Shuang's achievements in Confucian classics, he could offer many courses, but the learning threshold of some of them was still a little high for the students in Leping Academy.
And it is best not to overlap with Zheng Xuan and Cai Yong's courses, which can effectively reduce the teaching time and workload of these three people.
After negotiations between her and Xun Shuang, the course was finally decided to be the Book of Songs.
Before being forcibly recruited into the Sili Army by Dong Zhuo, Xun Shuang wrote a book called "Shi Zhuan" when he was still hiding in Hanbin, which is Xun Shuang's version of the annotations to the Book of Songs.
If we have to say, Xun Shuang's achievements in the Book of Changes are particularly outstanding. He even quoted some theories of Yin-Yang School in the Book of Changes to construct a new framework. But after all, there was also Zheng Xuan who was also a master of Yixue.
It is better to leave the in-depth research of such issues to their respective disciples, and not force the students in the academy to listen to Fei's Yi today and Zheng's Yi tomorrow.
Qiao Yan is also in a difficult situation.
She was afraid that the next time she went to inspect Leping Academy, the two old gentlemen would start fighting, and she would not even be able to take sides.
This kind of analysis of the Book of Songs is much safer.
If Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang had to listen to Xun Shuang's lessons, they would still have a half-master-disciple relationship. If one really had to learn from Xun You and the other from Xun Yu, they would all have their own opinions.
After hearing what Qiao Yan said, Cheng Yu had nothing more to remind him of.
He reported to Qiao Yan the recent statistics of farmers before the spring plowing, the demarcation of acreage of land and the teaching of farm tools, and then he was ready to leave.
But just as he was about to get up, he heard Qiao Yan asking his followers to call "Yuan Feng" over.
Cheng Yu also knew Yuan Feng's true identity.
He knew very well that Qiao Yan had no intention of directly exposing Tian Feng's identity at the moment, so summoning him was obviously not to expose his disguise.
Thinking about it this way, one can't help but shed a tear of sympathy for Tian Feng.
Even though he thought so, he still sat back down.
After meeting Qiao Yan's playful gaze, Cheng Yu calmly replied, "Let me see if this Mr. Tian Yuanhao has the potential to become my colleague."
Qiao Yan felt that he might have to run away due to too much pressure before becoming a colleague, but he also acquiesced to Cheng Yu's choice to stay and wait and see.
Fortunately, Tian Feng had experienced many big events in Hebei. After he estimated that his identity had not been exposed, he entered Qiao Yan's office and heard her praise his recording efficiency. He only replied: "Your Excellency is too kind. I just write down what I hear. If you ask me to speak and write, I will probably be dumb."
Qiao Yan replied: "You are being too self-deprecating. To be able to record information at such a speed without any mistakes or omissions requires not only the speed of writing, but also the speed of reaction to be no slower than the person who is speaking."
She held the recording paper in her hand and said something that was like a bolt from the blue to Tian Feng, "You are a genius!"
Tian Feng tried very hard to keep his face expressionless.
However, as his mind was full of thoughts of "Have I been discovered?", he only heard Qiao Yan ask: "You have such talent, it's a pity to be just a recorder. If I hadn't come to see the debate between those two people, I would have almost missed you. It's okay for you to say that you are not capable enough. If there is a chance for you to study systematically, are you interested?"
While Tian Feng was so nervous that his heart almost jumped out of his chest, Qiao Yan looked him up and down and said, "They say that old age is not as bad as strong. You are not old yet. At least you are much younger than Mr. Yuan Fang. After all, you are both in Hongwen Academy now. How about he teach you a little while he is selecting talents?"
"Mr. Yuan Fang is over 60 years old, and I want to find him a subordinate. You also work in the Hongwen Academy, so you can learn more from him and help him. What do you think?"
“……”Tian Feng felt mixed emotions.
Who still remembers that he originally just wanted to sneak into a farm tool manufacturing place and work as a handyman?
Why must every step he takes be so legendary?
Because of a simple calculation, he was chosen by Zhang Niujiao, who had little education but good luck, to be his future confidant.
Because he happened to catch the emperor's ascension to the throne, he followed Lingtai Cheng to Chang'an.
Because Hongwenguan was newly built, he was transferred here.
Now, because of the fight between Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, he made a proper record in front of Qiao Yan and was actually going to be Chen Ji's assistant!
He was a little worried that if he continued to follow this trend, before Yuan Shao discovered his whereabouts and sent someone to pick him up, he might be able to become the head of Hongwen Hall...
However, thinking that he was only capable of recording and reading, it was impossible for him to replace Chen Ji, so Tian Feng dispelled this speculation.
Forget it, now is not the time to think about future developments. I should think about how to answer Qiao Yan’s question “What do you think?”
Tian Feng really wanted to refuse.
But think about it, Chen Ji held the position of Grand Herald among the Nine Ministers in the Chang'an court, and the Grand Herald's subordinate was Qi Zhou, a close confidant of Liu Yu.
Anyone would have to say that this is the most suitable position for someone of Chen Ji's age and experience, and it also fully reflects the attitude of everyone from Liu Yu to Qiao Yan who attaches great importance to him.
If Tian Feng was any slower in agreeing, it would be disrespectful to Chen Ji.
Becoming Chen Ji's assistant would allow him to keep a low profile. If he refused the offer, his background and resume would probably be dug up by others.
He tried hard to force a smile and replied, "It is my great fortune to be valued by you. But if the Grand Herald is busy, I will not disturb him and will just be a clerk."
Qiao Yan did not force it, and said, "Then just follow him and learn more."
Tian Feng retreated with a sense of relief.
However, as he turned back towards Hongwenguan, he couldn't help but consider the possibility of escaping directly.
According to his current location, it seems feasible for him to quickly blend into the Chang'an market.
But just as he had this idea, he saw Xun Yu walking out of a nearby official residence. After seeing him, he immediately called him down and asked him to help deliver several ancient books to the reading area of Hongwenguan.
As the first person to recognize Tian Feng's identity and inform Yu Qiaoyan of the existence of this matter, Xun Yu guessed what Tian Feng was thinking as soon as he saw his performance and immediately found an excuse to trip him up.
He even arranged for another person to accompany him back to Hongwenguan on the grounds that there were too many books.
Tian Feng: “…”
He looked at Xun Yu's elegant and calm face, but failed to see the hidden meaning behind it. He wondered whether he should suspect that the other party had ulterior motives in his actions.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
When he returned to the gate of Hongwenguan with the books, he saw that someone had cleared out an area on both sides of the gate to hang the door couplets. He thought that once the twelve words written by Qiao Yan were taken out and framed, they would be hung here.
Thinking of the twelve words written by Qiao Yan, "the great scholars talking and laughing are like singing phoenixes, and the handsome men coming and going are like swimming dragons", Tian Feng could not help but sigh again.
My Lord... They both have an emperor in their hands, so why is the situation in Chang'an so different from that in Yecheng?
But before he could finish his sigh, Chen Ji found him.
In Tian Feng's opinion, this old gentleman was not the one that Qiao Yan described as needing the most assistants because of his age.
Hearing that Qiao Yan asked Tian Feng to learn from him, Chen Ji immediately said: "This is a good thing. Look at those who have been stationed in Hongwenguan recently. Many of them are not as good as those two children today. Wait until I teach you, and then you can come and learn..."
Recently, because of Qiao Yan's promise to have someone copy several copies of his masterpiece "Chen Zi" on mulberry paper, Chen Ji felt that he had become a lot younger, and seemed to be in a state of walking with the wind.
Although he couldn't understand why Qiao Yan wanted to find him a disciple who was over 40 years old, he still made a bold statement after taking a look at the "crooked melons and cracked jujubes" left in Hongwenguan.
"Let's have a debate!"
Tian Feng decided that starting from today, he would exercise with these officials in Chang'an City so that he could find an opportunity to escape!
As both are scholars working in other people's territory, Li Ru feels much more comfortable than Tian Feng.
In Yizhou, he first taught Qiao Ting how to piece together the situation through fragmentary information, and then taught him how to quietly reveal the news to those who needed to know.
After finishing his work, he got up early in the morning and practiced the Five Animal Exercises in the courtyard.
When Qi Zhou got up, he saw Li Ru coming back from finishing his training. He looked very calm and composed.
After spending so many days together, Qi Zhou had gotten used to Li Ru's behavior. However, when he passed by him, he couldn't help but remind him, "Tomorrow is the time to announce the decree. Be a little more serious and don't let the people of Yizhou laugh at you."
Li Ru replied slowly, "You can rest assured. I gave myself a courtesy name with the word 'Ming' in it to remind myself that I should not be confused when it's time to be clear and bright. Don't you agree?"
Besides, how could he be the one being laughed at?
Of course, there are other people who are to be laughed at.
The man that Li Ru guided Qiao Ting to identify as a useful person, Zhao Wei, the representative of the Yizhou scholars, received an unexpected news from his own people at the post house yesterday.
The fact that Liu Yan was able to be granted the title of general was not just a one-way gesture of goodwill from the Chang'an court, but a two-way choice.
He planned to send his young son to Chang'an as a hostage in an attempt to achieve an alliance with the court in Chang'an.
Chang'an accepted his kindness and returned the favor.
The reason why he was allowed to send only his youngest son was because, compared with Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, Liu Yan's performance was already very good.
At most, it was just that Zhang Lu who caused some trouble to Liangzhou.
After all, Liu Yan had no intention of usurping power, did not support the Yecheng court, and was a relative of the Han Dynasty.
Considering that there will still be a lot of transactions between the two places in the future, there is no need to impose such strict restrictions.
When Zhao Wei received the news, his expression changed immediately.
Send the youngest son to Chang'an as a hostage?
This might not be a difficult request for Liu Yan, but it was definitely not for Zhao Wei!
During these few years, Liu Yan's favoritism towards the Dongzhou scholars has become increasingly obvious.
But wasn't it true that the people of Yizhou had put little thought into his peaceful sitting in Chengdu?
If Dong Fu had not told Liu Yan that Yizhou had great potential, Liu Yan would probably have become the governor of Jiaozhou by now.
And if it were not for the support of these Yizhou men, he would have been devoured by the southern barbarians, rebels and powerful people in Yizhou before he gathered the Dongzhou soldiers.
There is no such thing as killing the donkey after it has done its job in this world!
If it weren't for the fact that the doctor bribed by Zhao Wei told Liu Yan that the wound would worsen in the next two or three years, and if Zhao Wei hadn't had a son who got along well with the scholars in Yizhou, Zhao Wei would have wanted to give Liu Yan a warning a long time ago.
But now... now he actually wants to send Liu Zhang to Chang'an?
After learning that the envoy who came to Yizhou to announce the imperial decree had also visited Liu Yan's sons, and that Li Ru had frequently visited Shu embroidery shops and taverns in recent days, inquiring about the rice yield per mu in Shu, and that he seemed to be doing business, Zhao Wei became more and more convinced of the news.
The current situation is really not good.
Once Liu Yan's eldest son Liu Fan took over the throne, he would certainly follow Liu Yan's overall wishes.
The size of the Dongzhou troops gradually expanded and they controlled the key points of Yizhou.
However, some of the Yizhou people who had been separated had not yet reacted to Liu Yan's intentions, and instead gathered around Liu Yan, becoming an obstacle to their own people.
In this case, his only chance lies with Liu Zhang.
But when he thought that the envoy might take Liu Zhang away shortly after the imperial edict was announced tomorrow, making all the results of his contact with Liu Zhang over the past six months go to waste, he felt extremely anxious.
No, we can't let this happen!
He must find a way to turn the situation around!
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