After the incident with the 100,000 taels of silver, Lu Chen understood a truth: these scholars nowadays are all cheapskates, and you cannot communicate with them in a friendly manner.
I'm going to give you 100,000 taels of real gold and silver, and you don't want it, right? Fine, then I'll torture you to death!
Come on, don’t you all think you are quite cultured? Then just match these eternal absolutes for me.
As for the claim that one can freely enter and leave the Chinese Academy of Sciences if one can match all three couplets, that is just a gimmick to attract traffic.
Once these talented scholars who have come up with three couplets arrive at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lu Chen will take out the remaining couplets.
If you really want to enter the Chinese Academy of Sciences and freely visit the immortals' magic weapons, you have to figure out the rest.
What? You can't get it right? No way, you're all talented people preparing to take the imperial examinations, you're all proud disciples of Confucianism. You can't even handle such a small thing, right? No way, no way?
What? You're saying we're not keeping our word, that the version we heard at Nuanxiang Pavilion only required us to match three couplets?
It is obvious that Nuanxiang Pavilion did not convey its meaning clearly, and the final right of interpretation of this event belongs to us.
Besides, they are just a few pairs. They won’t really stump you, right?
As long as these people arrive at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, they will understand what it means to be in a difficult situation.
If there is someone who can match all the pairs, even if not all, but at least 70% or 80%, Lu Chen would be happy to let them visit the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The fact that they can come up with so many pairs shows that there is no problem with the IQ of these people.
You should know that to write couplets one not only needs a solid literary foundation, but also a flexible mind. Such a person is really suitable for studying natural sciences.
When they have seen rainbows appear out of thin air, telescopes, and even lightning being controlled by mortals, and some even able to fly, do you think they will still feel the fragrance of the sages' books in their hands?
Of course, Lu Chen would not tell Ke Fuji about these plans. After all, he was a disciple of Confucianism. If he knew that the couplets he wrote were used by Lu Chen to do such a thing, Lao Ke would probably fight him to the death.
Back then in the court, because of the issue of Xixia's annual tribute, Lao Ke dared to fight with Cui Shanzhan with his fists. This old guy can be said to have a strong martial spirit.
After the couplet was written, the food and wine were served, and Lu Chen warmly invited Ke Fuji to take a seat.
Ke Fuji sat down, a wine glass in hand, but a wry smile on his face as he said, "Master, if I had known you'd ask me to write this kind of couplet, I wouldn't have come to dinner today. Even if there's no one around to drink wine now, I'm completely lost for it. My mind is full of those couplets."
Seeing Ke Fuji say this, Lu Chen was completely relieved.
It seems that these days, the attraction of "Qiangu Juezai" to scholars is no less than that of some world-class mathematical problems to mathematicians. It tortures them to death and makes them unable to stop.
Lu Chen was a common man who didn't understand such refined hobbies. He smiled and clinked his glass with Ke Fuji, saying, "Master Ke is indeed a scholar. I admire you very much. But as you said, with beautiful women and fine wine in front of us, we should not focus on couplets."
"Zi Yan, please play a song for us to change Lord Ke's mind."
Zi Yan nodded and began to pluck the strings of her zither. Lu Chen poured another glass of wine for Ke Fuji and said, "The imperial examination will be held again next year. As the Minister of Rites, you will have a hard time in the coming period."
"It's not about whether it's hard or not. We eat the emperor's salary and share his worries. Isn't the dream of scholars like me to serve the emperor and govern the people? Besides, your majesty is kind and has always been good to us. We must repay this kindness."
Look, otherwise how could he reach the position of Minister of Rites? His level of speaking is different.
This is what it's like to be an official. No matter whether your immediate superior is present or not, you should try your best to praise him. Who knows, one day one of your words may reach the ears of your leader, and then he will give you extra points.
"Master Ke, please try this plate of mutton. This is top-quality lamb, not only tender but also delicious." Lu Chen added a serving of food to Ke Fuji with his serving chopsticks and said, "The Ministry of Rites has always been a prestigious government office, and the imperial examinations are indeed a time for you to show off. By the way, I heard that Xixia has sent some more envoys?"
Ke Fuji smiled and took a bite of the dish. While chewing the mutton, he was also thinking about the meaning of Lu Chen's words.
Compared with the other six ministries, the Ministry of Rites is indeed the most noble government office. In the past, their main responsibility was to receive foreign envoys and prepare various sacrificial activities.
Why is it called noble? Because the profits to be made from it are relatively less, and the work looks quite high-end.
In the past, when the Ministry of Rites was preparing for sacrificial activities, they could still make some money. But after Li Zhuo came to power, the national treasury was always in a tight situation, so they had to save as much as possible on sacrificial activities.
As for receiving foreign envoys, they could actually receive some benefits, but how good could the gifts from the surrounding barbarians be? As officials of the Celestial Empire, they would certainly look down on them.
As for the imperial examination, there is even less profit to be made. Even if there is, they dare not take it.
Now that Lu Chen has spoken out something that everyone knows, what is his purpose? He certainly doesn't just want to praise the Ministry of Rites, right?
If you want to understand what Lu Chen means, it seems that you must consider the context.
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