Chapter 179: Tens of thousands of scholars in Dayu are no match for Zhao Jun alone
Accompanied by the appearance of Shubunkan scholar.
To be more precise, it was Han Zhou's words and performance that were presented in front of this group of celebrities in Beijing.
The atmosphere, which had been somewhat chaotic due to the arrival of the scholars, seemed to be suddenly strangled and silenced.
"Master Zhao... Master Zhao? What did Han Banshan just say?"
A scholar stood there in a daze, muttering to himself.
"Hey, why did Han Banshan ignore Xu Hanlin and instead salute Zhao Duan?"
In the distance, a noble lady from an unknown official's family exclaimed in surprise.
At this moment, many people suspected that they had heard it wrong.
Well, perhaps, Han Zhou was just in awe of Zhao Ze’s status as a favorite minister, so he greeted him politely - this is the most reasonable explanation.
But what followed was a conversation between the two sides that ruthlessly shattered their fantasies.
"Haha, it's not hard to guess. You guys came a little later than I expected." Zhao Duan nodded slightly and asked:
"Where's the Grand Tutor?"
"At the back." Han Zhou replied.
At this time, the other scholars also came over.
Financial expert Guo Jieyuan always smiled at everyone he met, but at this moment his smile was particularly sincere and cheerful. He hurried forward, bowed, and said:
"Master Zhao, thanks to the arithmetic you taught me the other day, I was able to finish the work at hand early. I still have some doubts about that arithmetic method, and I would like to consult you later."
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded: "Okay, okay."
Then, the third scholar bowed and said, "Master Zhao."
Then there's fourth place.
Fifth place...
The eight young scholars of the first class of Xiuwenguan have been very popular in Beijing recently. Countless scholars have been trying their best to see them, but none of them have the chance to meet them.
A very cool group.
However, at this moment, the young scholars who were being flattered and fawned over by countless literati in the capital were lined up in a row.
The first thing they did after entering Zhaiyuan was to come over and say hello to Zhao Duan.
Even Wang You, the son of the Minister of Rites, who was the most arrogant and looked down on others, was silent for a moment after taking a look at the scene around him, and nodded to Zhao Duan.
It was like a ridiculous farce being performed.
No.
The protagonist of the farce was certainly not Zhao Duan, but the group of literati who had been planning for a long time and had just attacked him.
Xu Hanlin, who was so arrogant just now and was an expert at making accusations, stood there frozen.
He was still bowing, but no one present looked at him.
But Xu Hanlin was no longer in the mood to be angry. He was just stunned and didn't understand what was going on.
Some even suspected that this group of scholars were in disguise.
Otherwise, how could such an arrogant and proud man of talent be so polite to an unlearned and cruel official?
That wasn't just a general awe of power, but a kind of...
Respect.
Yes, respect.
Can……
How is that possible?
Next to him, Chen Zhengru, who was dressed like a corrupt scholar and was also a university scholar, had an expression that was not much better than that of the students.
Every salute from the bachelor was like a hammer, hammering hard into his heart.
Why?
Just because of power?
Is it just because the one with the surname Zhao is your Majesty's favorite?
Just make people like you bow down?
The corrupt scholar was so frightened that he even ignored the title "Mr. Zhao" and a fire rose in his chest.
He is jealous.
Jealous of Yu, Han Zhou and others only talked to Zhao Duan and ignored him.
"The Grand Master is here!"
Suddenly, someone shouted.
Chen Zhengru looked up and saw, as expected, an octogenarian, accompanied by several close followers, arriving late behind the other scholars.
Dong Xuan was still wearing the crimson bachelor's robe, with white hair and beard, and sharp eyes.
Although he is old, he walks with the aura of a tiger and a dragon.
He walked over, looked around, and frowned.
"Greetings, President." Chen Zhengru stepped forward and spoke. Dong Xuan was in charge of the Hanlin Academy, and the two of them were in a superior-subordinate relationship.
"Chen Zhengru? You're not in the inner courtyard, what are you doing here? What's going on?"
Grand Tutor Dong glanced at everyone, apparently having sensed something was wrong.
His eyes suddenly locked onto Dong Da, surprised:
"You're here too?"
"Grandson greets grandfather!" Dong Shusheng bowed and saluted, not daring to overstep the boundaries in the slightest.
After paying his respects, he remembered his third brother. He glanced over and saw the dandy figure sneaking out stealthily. He couldn't help but feel angry.
"Third brother! Where are you going? Why don't you come and see grandfather?"
Plop... Young Master Dong shuddered with fear...
Kneeled again.
"Dean, it's like this. Zhao Duan is so outrageous that he wants to draw his sword and kill the third young master..." Chen Zhengru took advantage of the opportunity to distort the facts.
Dong Da was now bold enough to interrupt immediately and said unhappily:
"Master Chen, don't believe the rumors."
Then he looked at his grandfather and described what had happened in neutral terms.
At last he said with shame:
"My third brother made a mistake. As his elder brother, I failed to fulfill my responsibility to discipline him. I beg grandfather to punish him."
After hearing what happened, Grand Tutor Dong narrowed his eyes slowly on his calm face, as if he understood something.
Xu Hanlin's face changed slightly, and he suddenly said loudly:
"Grand Master, even if this incident was indeed caused by the Third Young Master, Zhao Duan actually wanted to use violence and even called out your name with no respect. It's really..."
Zhao Duan was too lazy to listen, and looked directly at Dong Xuan and said calmly:
"Grand Master, it seems your guess yesterday was correct. There has been a surge of public opinion lately, and someone is indeed stirring up trouble."
Master Dong sighed.
Suddenly looking at Eugene Hua and her daughter, this important official and literary giant suddenly bowed and said apologetically:
"My Dong family has failed to educate their son well, and I feel truly ashamed for causing the Zhao family's mistress and your beloved to be frightened. I will apologize on his behalf and will have someone send a small gift to your house later as a token of my apology."
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan were completely stunned.
The whole experience was like a roller coaster for them.
I thought disaster was about to happen, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better.
When the renowned Han Banshan treated his own son Dalang so politely and respectfully, both mother and daughter were stunned.
And at this moment, the Grand Master of the dynasty actually condescended to apologize to these two common women...
This was something the mother and daughter would never have dared to dream of.
"Grand Master, you're too polite..."
Eugene stammered, at a loss, and looked at her stepson for help.
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Since the Grand Master has said so, let's forget about this matter."
Master Dong looked at him gratefully.
Then he turned his head and looked indifferently at the completely dumbfounded Third Young Master who was kneeling on the ground, and scolded:
"Why don't you go back? Are you going to continue to embarrass me here?"
"Ah... yes..." The Third Young Master nodded timidly, where was the slightest trace of arrogance in his expression?
"Grandfather...are you acquainted with Brother Zhao? Just now, Scholar Han called him...what's going on?"
After his brother ran away in a panic, Dong Da slowly came to his senses and asked the question that everyone wanted most.
Why exactly?
Isn't it said that Grand Tutor Dong hates this cruel official the most? Why... is that so?
When Grand Tutor Dong saw him, his expression softened slightly. He slowly turned around and swept his eyes over all the scholars present.
The sharp gaze swept across, and no one dared to look at it, and everyone lowered their heads timidly.
Including Chen Zhengru, his mind was blank and he was speechless.
"Oh," Master Dong sneered softly, and said with mixed emotions:
“What a big scene.
I have heard many rumors recently and did not want to pay any attention to them. However, I never thought that you would become more and more aggressive, carrying my banner and resorting to tricks in an occasion like today.
They are even plotting against the descendants of my Dong family. Very good, very good."
His tone was calm, but his words made all the scholars who had just participated in the attack break out in a cold sweat.
He realized that after today, he and others would no longer have a place in Shilin.
Thinking of this, some scholars raised their heads like a broken jar and said:
"Why is the Grand Master so respectful of an unlearned and cruel official?"
They don’t understand!
What's even more indignant is that many people here joined in the condemnation because of the rumor that Grand Tutor Dong disliked Zhao Duan.
Now, I suddenly felt a sense of frustration as if I had been stabbed in the back.
Master Dong laughed in anger:
"What a good question, today I will tell you why!
This is the so-called ignorant and cruel official in your mouth. As an extra-curricular scholar, he participated in the formulation of the new policies of the court throughout the process and built the skeleton of the new policies. The other scholars only did it to fill in the flesh and blood!
It can even be said that the contribution he alone made exceeds that of the entire Xiuwenguan!
Aren't you curious about why Han Zhou and others admire him? This is the reason!
This is what you call unlearned and unskillful, this is the military officer you despise with shame!
Scholars kill without using a knife, they criticize with words and pens. Now you want to criticize Zhao Xueshi from the Xiuwen Academy. What do you think my attitude should be?
After a pause, the octogenarian Grand Tutor suddenly uttered a "Pooh" and shook his head in disappointment:
"A bunch of flatterers."
He turned his head again, looked at Chen Zhengru and Xu Hanlin, and snorted:
"A bunch of scumbags."
silence.
It seemed that there was no sound in this outer garden except the voice of the old master.
Even in the distance, the monks in Shenlong Temple who were responsible for receiving guests looked at each other and put their hands together.
Among all the Dharma assemblies held in Zhaiyuan over the years, this one is probably the most dramatic one in the past hundred years.
And all of this originated from the young man standing calmly in the pavilion with his hands behind his back.
A monk murmured in admiration:
"From today onwards, Zhao Duan's name will probably be known like thunder among the Confucian scholars of Dayu."
There are tens of millions of Confucian scholars in Dayu, but today, they are no match for Zhao Jun alone.
(End of this chapter)
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