Although Zhao Hao had made up his mind not to accept an apprentice, Wang Wuyang was Wang Shizhen's nephew after all. He had been kneeling for a whole morning in the hot summer, and he was really getting hot. I was afraid that this would not end well.

After dinner, Zhao Hao brought a bowl of iced sour plum soup to the door, sat on the threshold and asked Wang Wuyang, "Are you hot? Are you thirsty?"

"Yeah." Wang Wuyang nodded vigorously and reached out to take the bowl of life-saving sour plum soup.

He was sweating all over, his mouth was dry, and he was dizzy. When had the spoiled son of the Taicang Wang family ever suffered such hardship?

Unexpectedly, Zhao Hao took his hand back, took a sip and said with relish: "Why don't you leave?"

“Uh…” Wang Wuyang lowered his hands dejectedly, but his face showed no sign of wavering. He said in a hoarse voice: “Even if I die of thirst, hunger, or kneeling here today, I must worship this master.”

"Then I'll tell you, even if you die of thirst, hunger, or die outside today, I will never accept you." Zhao Hao was so angry that he took a gulp of sour plum soup and was about to get up and go in. Then he remembered that he came to persuade him to leave, so he had to control his temper and persuade him: "Your uncle Wang Yanzhou is the most talented person in the Ming Dynasty. Even if he doesn't have time to teach you, as the leader of the literary world, there is no master that he can't hire for you. Why do you have to make things difficult for a little kid like me?"

"Every profession has its own specialization, and there is no order of learning!" Wang Wuyang shook his head and said, "My uncle and his friends in the literary world, who are known as the 'Later Seven Masters', always praise the past and despise the present. They always say 'prose must be from the Qin and Han dynasties, and poetry must be from the Tang Dynasty'. They say that modern people only need to 'polish words into words, and combine words into articles' and imitate the ancients to write. Although their words are highly praised by the world, I have always felt uncomfortable. If it is really as my uncle said, prose since the Western Han Dynasty and poetry since the Tang Dynasty are not worth reading. Why should modern people spend so much effort on writing and composing poems? They can just use the articles from the Han and Tang dynasties!"

"Uh..." Zhao Hao thought that this kid was crazy. He didn't expect that he was a scholar with independent opinions... Of course, it could also be that he was simply rebelling against the environment he grew up in.

"But I have little knowledge. Whenever I debate with my uncles, I get refuted completely..." Wang Wuyang sighed and said, "Over the years, I have dreamed of increasing my knowledge. I have read countless books by sages, but the more I read, the more confused I become. When I was about to despair..."

Wang Wuyang said, looking at Zhao Hao with admiration on his face, waving his hands excitedly, "I saw those six masterpieces of Master, and suddenly it was like a sudden enlightenment. It turns out that the path I pursue is right at Master's feet!"

"Uh..." Zhao Hao scratched his head, thinking, I just copied a few famous works, how can it be elevated to this level? He put down the bowl curiously and asked, "What did you see?"

"Master's first poem, 'Li Bai and Du Fu's poems have been passed down by thousands of people, and they are no longer fresh. Every generation has its own talented people, and each has led the way for hundreds of years!'" Wang Wuyang answered loudly, "It has effectively countered the arguments of my uncle and his people who are conservative and unchangeable!"

"The articles of the Han Dynasty and the poems of the Tang Dynasty have indeed been passed down from generation to generation! But after thousands of years, no matter how good the articles are, there is nothing new. China has produced many talented people from generation to generation. We don't need to imitate the ancients. If we write our own articles well, we can still lead the world for hundreds of years!"

"Uh..." Zhao Hao couldn't help but nodded slightly, thinking that after you explained it this way, it does seem to make sense.

"Master's second poem, 'Fallen petals are not heartless, they turn into spring mud to protect flowers', not only proves with strength that people today can still lead the world in poetry for a hundred years. It also implies that people today should take the articles of Han and Tang dynasties as nourishment to write even more outstanding articles!" Then Wang Wuyang said excitedly again.

"Uh..." Zhao Hao felt a little embarrassed, thinking that this kid's reading comprehension was perfect, and he could even answer questions beyond the syllabus...

"Master's third poem is 'The vitality of the nine provinces depends on wind and thunder, but it is a pity that all the horses are silent. I advise the gods to shake themselves up and send down talents in all kinds of ways!' The first half of the poem is an accusation and admonition against the Seven Masters who blindly restored the past and ossified the literary world. The second half is Master's earnest hope for the Ming Dynasty literary world."

At this point, Wang Wuyang looked at Zhao Hao with eyes that were almost like he was looking up to a god. "I also secretly thought that what Master was referring to was not only the literary world, but also the vigilance and expectations of the entire Ming Dynasty. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, he has swept away the evil atmosphere of the previous dynasty..."

"Be careful with your words..." Zhao Hao was so frightened that he trembled and hurriedly stopped him from continuing. He glared at him fiercely and said, "How dare you, a mere Qing Jin, talk nonsense about state affairs?"

"My disciple was talking nonsense, but that's what Master meant!" Wang Wuyang insisted, "Because Master's fourth poem is 'I stand alone, leaning on the railing, facing the morning breeze, the spring water fills the brook, and the small bridge is east. Only then did I realize that I was in the Dream of the Red Mansion last night, and I was among the peach trees!' Master stood on the high building, watching the spring water flowing eastward and the peach trees in bloom. What a lively and prosperous scene it was! This is clearly a beautiful expectation for my literary world and my Ming Dynasty!"

"Is this possible?" Zhao Hao was speechless. Wang Wuyang's words really made it seem like this. He thought that scholars were really amazing. As long as they wanted to, they could interpret and make up anything for you.

"Let's look at the fifth poem, which is also the one most highly praised by students..." Wang Wuyang cleared his smoking throat and continued with a beaming smile: "'Immortals and Buddhas are both not yet achieved, I only know that I am alone and unhappy at night. The wind blows away all the sad songs, and the mud is stained with a name of ungratefulness'. This poem is the most realistic portrayal of teachers and students who seek the truth. Others only think that we are talented, but can they understand the pain of our sleepless nights? What we pursue is not false reputation, but the truth of the great way!"

"I didn't, I'm not..." Zhao Hao silently said in his heart: "I have been sleeping well recently. Although I don't want to be famous, I just want to get rich..."

"The second half of the poem is a wake-up call to my disciple. I have been learning since I was six years old, and I have read all the books of sages, but I still don't know anything. Being an official or a herdsman does not require poetry and prose, and doing business or farming does not require the writings of sages. Isn't it true that 'nine out of ten people are looked down upon, and scholars are useless'? Even a genius like me is like this, aren't the millions of scholars in the Ming Dynasty also useless idiots?"

"I didn't say anything about anyone else..." Zhao Hao defended himself in a low voice.

"In this case, there is no creation without destruction! Master has pointed out a clear path for us, 'Don't let the poems become a prophecy, the spring birds and autumn insects make their own sounds'! Don't be trapped in the scriptures, don't stick to the words of the saints, be bold to speak your own words and walk your own way!" Wang Wuyang bowed deeply to Zhao Hao again and said, "I am a foolish student. Although I have understood the truth, I still don't know where to go. Only by following the steps of the master and listening to the master's teachings can I see the truth of the great way one day. Master, please be extra kind and accept me as your disciple. I am willing to serve you day and night, regardless of the cold or heat, and run back and forth in front of you. I will never dare to slack off for the rest of my life..."

After saying this, he bowed again and again, and bowed four times before he started.

Now even Zhao Hao was a little moved. The four bows ceremony is performed to parents and teachers, and it is the most solemn etiquette among the people.

Wang Wuyang, a descendant of a noble family, could be so humble. It was obvious that he had made the utmost determination and would not give up until he succeeded in becoming a disciple.

ps. It’s a new day. Please recommend and collect it~~~~