The conference was held at Lake Reed in the Imperial City. A pergola was built by the lakeside, creating an area that could accommodate hundreds of people.
The late summer sun was still hot, but a cool breeze blew by the lakeside.
Originally, the conference was held by the Imperial College. Most of the participants were students from the college.
But after Pei Man stirred up such a commotion in the West Tower, the participants were immediately different. Students from the Imperial College could still participate, but they were on the periphery and couldn't enter the pergola.
The conference was held at noon. Because of this, the officials of the Imperial Court could use the two hours of rest time to participate openly.
As noon approached, the students of the Imperial College, dressed in scholarly robes and crowns, were blocked by the Imperial Army.
"This is a conference held by the Imperial College. Why can't we enter?"
"How can the host and guest be reversed?"
"Not only are the Imperial Army controlling the field, even the Celestial Commissioner's warlocks are here to prevent people with malicious intentions from sneaking into the conference. Could it be that His Majesty wants to participate in the conference?"
As they spoke, carriages arrived one after another and stopped at the plaza outside of Lake Reed. Nobles and generals alighted from the carriages.
They had nothing to do with the conference. They were all here to "seek advice on the art of war."
Not only did they come, but they also brought their wives and children.
"Look, the officials are here. The Six Ministries Minister, Assistant Minister, Grand Secretary of the Palace …"
"I guessed there would be important people, but I didn't think there would be so many. How can there be so many people at a conference? "
"Brother, you don't understand. It's naturally impossible to have a literary conference, but behind this literary conference, it's still a matter of negotiation. There are no small matters between the two countries. The officials are here to exert pressure. "
"A mere barbarian dares to come to the capital to discuss Dao. He doesn't know his place. Let's see how Great Scholar Zhang Shen teaches him a lesson. "
After the generals were the officials of the Imperial Court of the third rank and above, such as the Minister of Justice, the Minister of War, and the Grand Secretary of the Palace.
Some of the bigwigs in the imperial court had also brought their female family members, such as Wang Simu, who was quite famous in literature. She wore a light pink court lady's dress, and her makeup was exquisite. She looked dignified and elegant.
"The nobles from the Hanlin Academy are here too. Interesting. These scholars claim to be unparalleled in knowledge. They will definitely attack Pei Man later …" The eyes of the Imperial College students brightened.
A group of young officials in green robes entered the venue with their heads held high.
Hanlin Academy was a place where top scholars gathered. Although this group of nobles had no power in their hands and were young, they were definitely one of the most knowledgeable groups in Great Feng.
They were in the prime of their lives. Their memory, comprehension, and sharpness of thinking were all at the peak of their lives.
With their presence, the Imperial Academy, Imperial Academy, and Academy.
After the nobles of Hanlin Academy took their seats, they whispered to each other.
"I've read the 'Northern Temple Grand Ceremony'. It's of a certain standard, but it's a mess."
"For us, it's indeed not proficient, but for the students of the world, it's very profound."
"This man is really good. We can beat him in a single field. In terms of knowledge, we are no match for him."
"Speaking of the art of war, no one in the Hanlin Academy can surpass Ci Jiu."
In an instant, all eyes turned to look at the young man who was as handsome as a painting.
Sitting behind the desk, Xu Xinnian clearly sensed that not only his colleagues from the Hanlin Academy but also the nobles and officials not far away had heard the news and looked over.
"Of course, I majored in the art of war …" He was about to nod when he heard a sneer from the nobles, "Pei Man is learning from the Great Scholar Zhang Shen. The teacher can't be worse than the student, right?"
Xu Xinnian was a little annoyed and said loudly, "The Sage said that learning is not about seniority. Who said that the student must be better than the teacher?"
The nobles and generals laughed. They knew that he was Xu Qi 'an's cousin. Some of them laughed wildly with ridicule written on their faces.
Xu Xinnian was knowledgeable, but in addition to being good at swearing, he was not very outstanding in other fields in the Hanlin Academy.
It was ridiculous that he said that the student could beat the teacher.
"Hmm? Swearing? "
The nobles and generals came to their senses and their laughter suddenly stopped.
Xu Xinnian took a sip of tea and stood up in a reserved manner.
…
Xu Qi 'an, dressed in light armor with a standard saber on his waist, followed Huaiqing and Lin' an's carriage to the venue. The luxurious carriage slowly stopped by the roadside. Huaiqing, who was dressed in a simple palace dress and a fiery red dress, got off at the same time.
Then, they raised their hands together to block the fierce sunlight.
"The princess is afraid of the sun's hand blocking the sun …" This sentence jumped in the mind of a guard. Then, he saw the eunuch holding a canopy to block the sun for the two princesses.
Huaiqing turned around and searched in the crowd. Her watery peach blossom eyes were full of confusion. She didn't know who the dog slave disguised himself as.
"The disguise is quite good …" Huaiqing was a little disappointed because she often saw the description of "people who like each other will have a tacit understanding" in the story books.
As soon as the two princesses entered the venue, they saw Xu Xinnian standing by the table, sighing with emotion and swearing at the nobles.
The nobles and generals were furious and attacked Xu Xinnian one after another. Xu Xinnian was not afraid and used classic sentences with sharp words.
Many generals had begun to roll up their sleeves.
The nobles drank tea and watched the show leisurely.
Huaiqing frowned and rebuked, "How dare you!"
Her appearance when she was enraged was filled with majesty and was actually very intimidating. Not only did Xu Xinnian stop cursing, but even the generals who were shouting in anger also stopped their banners and drums.
The nobles and dukes stood up and bowed. "Greetings to the two princesses."
Huaiqing snorted coldly and led Huaiqing and two guards to their seats.
Xu Xinnian took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. He then looked at Simu Wang, who was sitting on the upper left. Coincidentally, she was also looking at him.
Yesterday, Simu Wang had specially looked for him, hoping that he could show off his talent and knowledge at the conference to gain a good reputation and increase his prestige.
Miss Wang didn't expect Xu Erlang to make a name for himself and shock everyone at the conference.
This was because Zhang Shen was Xu Erlang's teacher. His presence was enough.
Xu Erlang smiled at her. Just like yesterday, after listening to her, he smiled in a light and breezy manner.
At this moment, the students and guards outside greeted respectfully, "Greetings to the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince …"
The people in the pergola looked over and saw the Crown Prince supporting a white-haired old man with a walking stick. They walked along the path surrounded by the imperial guards towards the pergola.
"Taifu?"
Huaiqing blurted out in surprise.
And Huaiqing subconsciously shrank her head. She had been hit on the palm by this stinky old man for many years since she was a child.
Taifu was not targeting Lin 'an. Taifu was targeting the poor students.
The Crown Prince supported Taifu into the pergola.
The dukes all stood up and bowed respectfully.
In terms of seniority, everyone present was Taifu's junior.
Xu Xinnian and his colleagues bowed in unison and looked at the old man supported by the Crown Prince. Although his hair was white, it was still thick. It was really enviable.
His face was full of wrinkles, his skin was seriously loose, and his eyes were slightly turbid. However, this old man's temperament was very unique.
He remembered that Dean Zhao Shou once said that Taifu was the only scholar in the current generation who had cultivated awe-inspiring righteousness.
The three dukes of the current dynasty were all first-class, but they had no real power. Taifu was originally expected to be in charge of the cabinet, but at that time, his father was cultivating and ignored the court affairs. Taifu wanted to beat his father with a bamboo stick, but was stopped. After that, he had no chance to become an official, so he concentrated on learning in the palace.
"I didn't expect that even Taifu is here …" Xu Xinnian thought.
Taifu snorted coldly and looked at the Grand Chancellor of the Imperial College. He said lightly, "I have lived in seclusion for many years, and I found that the Imperial College is getting worse with each generation."
The Grand Chancellor's face turned red.
The dukes who were also from the Imperial College were also a little embarrassed.
The face of the imperial court was their face.
A young man from the barbarian tribe shone brilliantly in the capital. If it was martial arts, it would be fine. The barbarians were originally rough Warrior. However, he was famous for his knowledge.
It should be known that the greatest pride of the human race was culture. Everything else was inferior, but reading was the best.
The Confucian school was the system of the human race in the Central Plains. It was a unique cultural treasure and the pride of countless people.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little stiff, Huaiqing got up and pushed the Crown Prince away from Taifu. She helped him to a seat and said coldly,
"Taifu, Pei Man Xilou has amazing talent. In terms of the Four Books and Five Classics, the Grand Chancellor is not inferior to him. It is very rare to see someone who has a wide range of knowledge and can be so profound. But don't worry, with Zhang Shen here, I think everything will be safe. "
Taifu patted the back of Huaiqing's hand and smiled.
"If Your Highness is a man, how can that barbarian have the chance to show off in the capital? This time, I came to join in the fun because I don't believe it. Our Daibun has many outstanding people, and there are countless rising stars. Is there really no one who can suppress a barbarian who has learned some superficial knowledge of the Sage? "
At this moment, light laughter came from outside the pergola, with a hint of leisure, and a rebuttal.
"The Sage said that there is no discrimination in education. Taifu keeps calling barbarians here and there. Does he remember the Sage's teachings? "
Outside the pergola, the white-haired Pei Man Xilou, the charming Huang Xianer, and the cold-looking young man with vertical pupils walked into the pergola.
They were obviously outsiders, guests, but they put on a relaxed posture, as if they were the masters of the conference.
He didn't care about the dukes, nobles, or generals at all, nor did he show any fear.
The students of the Imperial College, the nobles of Hanlin Academy, the dukes present, and the nobles and military generals all stared silently at Pei Man Xi Lou, the talented and knowledgeable Berserker.
No one responded, but they quietly straightened their backs and calmed their emotions, as if they were facing a great enemy.
"I am Pei Man Xilou, the eldest son of the Pei family of the White Head Division. Greetings, everyone!"
Pei Man Xilou used his own knowledge to create the image of a talented scholar. He had achieved his goal.
In this conference, he planned to push his reputation to the peak again and pave the way for the subsequent negotiations.
…
Xu Mansion.
Chu Yuanzhen sat at the stone table in the courtyard, holding a wine cup in his hand. Lina, Li Miaozhen, and Xu Lingyin sat beside him.
"Why can he enter the imperial city? What is he doing there? Is he not afraid that the Yuanjing Emperor will chop off his head? "Chu Yuanzhen said sourly.
He envied the conference. As a swordsman of scholarly origin and a former top scholar, this kind of summit confrontation was a fatal temptation to Chu Yuanzhen.
But he could not enter the imperial city, nor could he participate in the conference under the watchful eyes of the public. This was all because of Xu Qi 'an. If he had not helped him, he would not have been so miserable.
So he came to drink with him and complain.
He did not expect that the initiator of all this would enter himself.
Chu Yuanzhen's heart was sour like a lemon.
"I want to go too."
Xu Lingyin said crisply.
"The conference is just a group of scholars discussing boring things. You don't want to go. This kind of place has nothing to do with us master and disciple. Why don't we eat desserts and drink sweet wine at home? "
Lina took the opportunity to educate her disciple. She was very self-aware and hoped that her disciple would gradually become self-aware as well.
"Master, there is a lot of delicious food at the conference. Last time when Big Pot fought with the monk, I followed an uncle and ate a lot of delicious food."
Xu Lingyin gave a fatal blow.
"Right, why didn't I think that there would be good wine and delicious food at the conference?" Lina's eyes shone.
"What a tricky angle …" Chu Yuanzhen patted Xu Lingyin's head, thinking that this silly girl was quite cute. Then he remembered the nightmare course at Yunlu Academy that day.
He silently retracted his hand.
Li Miaozhen said, "That barbarian has been very arrogant recently. I don't like him and can't help but want to stab him with my sword."
Stab anyone you don't like? Are you really the Saintess of Tenzō … Chu Yuanzhen felt that Li Miaozhen was the one with the most problems in Heaven & Earth Society.
No. 1's identity was unknown, No. 3 Xu Quyi was a gentleman, No. 6 Hengy Yuan was compassionate, and No. 5 Lina was not smart and loved to eat, but she did not have any flaws that made people want to "spit it out".
No. 7 and No. 8 had been "missing" for many years.
No. 9 Jinlian Taoist priest was gentle and was a respectable elder. He cultivated virtue, had a good character, and had no bad habits.
Only Li Miaozhen made people feel helpless. She was the Tenzō Shōnin. She was supposed to be cold and indifferent, but after two years of experience in the mountains, she had become a righteous and righteous Flying Swallow Heroine.
"The scholars of the Imperial College are so unbearable. We have to rely on the scholars of Yunlu Academy to deal with him." Li Miaozhen said.
Chu Yuanzhen smiled and nodded. "Zhang Shen's Six Commentaries on the Art of War is exquisite. With him, that barbarian will not be arrogant for long. However, he was able to write the Northern Academy Grand Canon, which is enough to establish a school and become a famous scholar. "
Li Miaozhen frowned. She could tell that Chu Yuanzhen did not think highly of Zhang Shen. She said, "Is this barbarian that good?"
Chu Yuanzhen nodded.
"If it's poetry, I think Xu Ningyan is better." Li Miaozhen asked cautiously.
Chu Yuanzhen sneered.
Li Miaozhen frowned. "Is it possible?"
Chu Yuanzhen shook his head and laughed. "No, Xu Ningyan's poetry is unparalleled, but the literary conference is not a poetry conference. Moreover, Xu Ningyan will not be able to participate. "
…
In the marketplace.
Although the common people could not enter the Imperial City, they were very excited about the literary conference. They were very excited about the results.
Even the laborious peddlers and pawns, sitting at a small stall eating a bowl of noodles, could hear the discussions of the people at the next table at all times, talking about the state of affairs and writing impassioned words.
"This reminds me of the duel last year. It was so sensational. In the end, our Xu Yinluo stepped forward and turned the tide. "A peddler in a blue gown said loudly as he ate a mouthful of noodles.
"The literary conference is not a duel. It's a pity that Xu Yinluo is not a scholar and can't help," his companion said regretfully.
The owner of the noodle stall opened the lid of the hot pot and added in the noodles. He said indignantly, "The scholars of the Directorate are really useless. They actually lost to a barbarian. I feel embarrassed for them."
The diners at the other tables couldn't help but say, "It would be great if Xu Yinluo was a scholar."
In the eyes of the common people, Xu Yinluo was an omnipotent hero, a legend of Daibun, and a great person with a conscience.
So they worshipped him blindly and thought that Xu Yinluo was omnipotent. But reason told them that Xu Yinluo was not a scholar. His knowledge was definitely not as good as that barbarian's.
So they could only sigh with emotion, "It would be great if Xu Yinluo was a scholar."
The owner of the noodle stall handed the noodles to the customers and said with a smile, "But this barbarian dared to challenge the great scholar of Yunlu Academy. He really doesn't know his place."
The diners laughed.
…
In the Imperial Palace, inside the bedchamber.
The Yuanjing Emperor sat lazily on the couch and flipped through Daoist scriptures. The sound of footsteps could be heard. The old eunuch returned in small steps and said in a low voice,
"There's news from the literary conference. Pei Man Xi Lou and the officials of Hanlin Academy discussed the meaning of scriptures, policy, people's livelihood, agriculture, history … He was not at a disadvantage."
"If he was not at a disadvantage, it was already a loss of face for me, Daibun," the Yuanjing Emperor said expressionlessly.
The old eunuch saw the emperor's expression and knew that he was unhappy.
In the end, Pei Man Xi Lou was showing off, but the one who lost the most face was the ruler of a country.
"Did they discuss poetry?" the Yuanjing Emperor suddenly asked.
The old eunuch shook his head.
"He does know his place." The Yuanjing Emperor sneered. Just as he laughed, he suddenly put on a straight face and snorted.
After a pause, the Yuanjing Emperor said, "Zhang Shen is not here yet?"
The old eunuch lowered his head, "Mister Zhang is not here yet."
The Yuanjing Emperor nodded slowly, "There's no hurry. The literary conference hasn't entered the main topic yet. Although the scholars of Yunlu Academy are annoying, they have never disappointed me in learning. "
He looked quite relaxed.
…
What was the main topic of the literary conference?
It was a war, a war in the north.
Among the representatives of the Imperial College, a student stood up and said angrily,
"The barbarians have been harassing the border and killing the people of Daibun. Now that they are being crushed by the iron hooves of the Northeast Jingguo, they shamelessly come to Daibun to ask for help.
"The barbarians are the barbarians, shameless."
The students of the Imperial College echoed and angrily scolded the barbarians for being "shameless."
Huang Xianer smiled and twirled her hair with her fingers.
The teenager with vertical pupils was furious. He tried his best to suppress the brutal and bloodthirsty nature of snakes and glanced coldly at the student.
Pei Man Xilou's expression did not change. He even laughed and said,
"The Witchcraft Religion dominates the northeast of the Nine States. There are only three states adjacent to Daibun. With the population and military strength of Daibun, they can be blocked outside the three states by paying a certain price. "
He paused for a moment. Seeing the expressions of agreement on the faces of the officials and generals, he then continued,
"But if the territory in the north is also occupied by the Witchcraft Religion, the cavalry of the Jingguo Kingdom can go south and directly attack the capital. The Kang Kingdom and the Fire Country can attack from the east and coordinate with each other. Daibun will be in danger.
"As we all know, there are endless grasslands in the north. If the Jingguo Kingdom gets the northern territory, they can raise more cavalry. At that time, even if Daibun has cannons and crossbows, they will not be able to stop the invincible on the land.
"So, when Daibun sends troops, it is not to help the Protoss, but to help themselves. It is difficult for the Protoss to reproduce. Our population is low. Even if we sometimes cause trouble at the border, we do not have the military strength to go south. The threat to Daibun is limited. But the Witchcraft Religion is different. "
No one refuted.
The top student of the Hanlin Academy, the students of the Imperial College, and even the officials of the court all agreed with his words.
The northeast controlled by the Witchcraft Religion was rich in resources. It could be used for hunting and farming. The farming civilization had the most prosperous population.
The population of the Witchcraft Religion was far less than that of Daibun because of the limited territory.
If the northern territory fell into the hands of the Witchcraft Religion and a part of the population moved to the north, the population of the Witchcraft Religion would at most double in 20 years.
Pei Man Xilou said in a low voice, "At that time, the Protoss today will be the future of Daibun."
Xu Xinnian watched silently from the side.
This group of idiots had unknowingly let the other party control the initiative. Shouldn't they be discussing the bargaining chips? Why were they discussing the necessity of sending troops? There was no doubt that they would send troops … Well, it seemed that discussing bargaining chips was something to be done at the negotiating table. It was the business of the officials, so it was not appropriate to talk about it at this time.
The core of this conference was actually Daibun's side. They wanted to destroy Pei Man Xilou's image and his dignity.
But the situation was not very optimistic. This guy was eloquent and eloquent. Plus, he had the "righteousness" of sending troops.
Xu Xinnian looked around and found that many generals were eager to speak. They seemed to want to say something, but in the end, they frowned and remained silent.
At least they knew their place. This group of generals was careless in scolding people. Debate? Even if they had rich experience in leading troops, they could not win against Pei Man Xilou, bah, vulgar Warrior …
"Wasn't Zhu Gongping sharp-tongued in the imperial court? Wasn't Taifu eloquent when he hit my palm? Why didn't he say anything?" Pan Fan said anxiously.
"How can Taifu participate? He is a highly respected senior. Even if he wins, it will not be honorable. People will only say that I, Daibun, bullied the weak. You all have the same idea. Moreover, if you all participate, I can guarantee that Pei Man Xilou will take the initiative to compete with them … "
It was rare for Huaiqing to say a lot of words to explain to her stupid sister.
"Except for a few Grand Scholars, the rest of you have already wasted your knowledge."
Pan Fan opened his eyes wide and murmured, "Then what should we do? This is so infuriating. "
The Imperial Academy students looked solemn. The top students of Hanlin Academy also looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Wang Shoufu sighed, "Pei Man Xilou's talent is amazing. It's really surprising."
The young official of Hanlin Academy was full of confidence when he entered, but now he was silent and serious.
Simu Wang frequently looked at Xu Erlang, expecting him to stand up and perform.
Wang Shoufu noticed his daughter's eyes and said, "Why is Erlang so silent today?"
Simu Wang frowned.
Light flashed above Lu Lake when everyone was speechless and thinking hard about countermeasures. Zhang Shen appeared out of thin air, wearing a Confucian robe and a Confucian crown.
Then he fell toward the lake.
Light flashed again and Zhang Shen appeared under the pergola. There was still some lingering fear in his expression.
His bragging must be: I am not at Yunlu Academy, but at Lu Lake. So I almost fell into the lake … Xu Qi 'an madly complained in his heart.
"Great Scholar Zhang is here."
"Mister Zhang is finally here. I knew Mister Zhang wouldn't be absent."
The students outside cheered as if they were relieved of a heavy burden.
The dukes all laughed. Those who were friends with Zhang Shen all spoke up, "Brother Jinyan, you've finally arrived."
Zhang Shen nodded indifferently. When he saw Taifu, he hurriedly bowed, "Student Zhang Shen greets Taifu."
The Grand Tutor grunted in acknowledgement. A smile finally appeared on his stiff face. "Zhang Jinyan, this young man from the White Head Division wants to consult you on the art of war. Please give him some pointers."
The atmosphere in the pergola immediately rose.
Zhang Shen looked around and looked at Pei Man Xilou, whose hair was as white as snow. He said, "You are the Pei Man Xilou who wrote the Northern Temple Grand Ceremony?"
Pei Man Xilou stood up for the first time and bowed. "This student greets Mister Zhang."
Zhang Shen waved his hand. "No need to be polite. Do you want to compete with me in the art of war?"
The pergola was silent. Everyone was looking forward to it.
Huang Xianer straightened her body and squinted at the scholars from Yunlu Academy.
The youth with vertical pupils restrained his arrogance. This fourth-rank master of the Confucian school was Pei Man Xilou's' enemy '. Although he looked down on scholars, he did not despise the scholars from Yunlu Academy.
Even though the Confucian school had declined for many years, its prestige was still there.
"This student has little talent and knowledge. I would like to ask for advice." Pei Man Xilou smiled warmly and confidently.
Zhang Shen rolled his eyes.
"Aren't you being a hooligan? I haven't led troops for more than twenty years. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to sleep on a pillow. I'm still the same as I was twenty years ago. Why are you discussing the art of war with me?
"Why don't you discuss the art of war with Wei Yuan? That old man is in charge of the court and has spies all over the world. He hasn't stopped planning for twenty years. He's just waiting for the day to come."
Pei Man Xilou smiled and said, "Aren't you being a hooligan?"
The youth with vertical pupils could not help but interrupt. He snorted and said, "Why don't you let Pei Man Xilou fight with the Supervisor?"
This time, Pei Man Xilou did not reprimand the youth.
He smiled and asked, "Then I won't ask for advice on the art of war. In fact, I've admired your military books for a long time. I've heard that you're proficient in the art of war. Your 'Six Commentaries on the Art of War' is widely circulated and praised by everyone.
"I'm not talented, but I've also written a book on the art of war. This book took several years. Not only did it integrate the art of war of the Central Plains, but also the art of war of the barbarian cavalry. Please enlighten me, sir. "
As he spoke, he looked at the youth with vertical pupils beside him.
Xuan Yin opened the small wooden box at his feet and took out a thick book: 'Northern Temple Military Manual'.
On Daibun's side, everyone looked at each other. They did not expect that this person was not only proficient in the art of war, but also wrote a book on the art of war.
Scholars paid attention to writing books and biographies. Even those with profound knowledge were very cautious about writing books. A book would be revised and revised for many years before it would be announced to the world.
As for some essays and notes, they could not be considered 'books' at this time.
For example, the book 'Doubts of Da Zhou' that Xu Qi'an read in the Yunlu Academy was a notebook, not a book.
Therefore, everyone was skeptical of Pei Man Xilou's words.
Taifu's face darkened.
Wang Shoufu and the other old officials also looked solemn. They had a bad premonition.
Out of respect for the book, Zhang Shen received it with both hands solemnly. A breeze blew over the lake, and the pages rustled as he quickly flipped through them.
Zhang Shen's changing expression was seen by everyone present. They were first shocked, then appreciative, and finally excited.
Pei Man Xilou asked, "Sir, what do you think of this book?"
Zhang Shen did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment and sighed, "Wonderful."
"The book is divided into three volumes. The first volume is about the art of war. It discusses the art of war and war. Even those who don't know much about war will know what war is. It outlines the main points.
"The second volume discusses tactics. Soldiers are unpredictable, water is unpredictable. It is well described. Twelve different strategies to attack, it really made people slap the table in admiration.
"The third volume is even rarer. It delves into tactics and formations. It provides many types of formations for martial artists and ordinary soldiers to work together. It maximizes the usefulness of ordinary soldiers."
Pei Man Xilou was indeed a brilliant scholar. In the art of war, he, Zhang Shen, had lost. The Confucian school was particular about understanding one's thoughts. A dead duck's mouth was not something he could do.
Moreover, if he lost the conference, it would be the Yuanjing Emperor and the court who would lose the most face. Yunlu Academy had long been banished from the court. There was no need for him to go against his conscience for the sake of those useless people from the Imperial Academy.
Zhang Shen sighed, "My 'Six Commentaries on the Art of War' is not as good as your 'North Temple's Art of War'. I concede defeat."
"It is said that the scholars of Yunlu Academy have noble characters. They live up to their reputation."
Pei Man Xilou laughed. He laughed heartily.
Why did he choose Zhang Shen as a stepping stone? There were three reasons. Zhang Shen was famous. Zhang Shen had lived in seclusion for more than 20 years. Zhang Shen was a scholar of Yunlu Academy. He spoke his mind and had a good character. As long as his book could convince the other party, he would not suppress him.
A gentleman could be deceived. This was the principle.
There was silence in the pergola. Everyone had lost their expressions.
Xuan Yin, the young man with vertical pupils, laughed hoarsely, "It is said that Daibun is prosperous and full of scholars. It seems that you are not as good as my Big Brother Pei Man. Brother, when you return to the north, you will be our Protoss' Xu Yinluo. "
He was referring to being loved like Xu Qi 'an.
Hearing this, the scholars of the Imperial College outside the pavilion were ashamed and angry. They wanted to refute and scold, but they were too ashamed to speak. Scolding would only make them more embarrassed. They gritted their teeth.
The top scholars of Hanlin Academy were embarrassed.
They could discuss and argue about other fields of learning. But in the field of war, they had never been to a battlefield. They had no right to speak. Talking on paper would only make people laugh.
Huang Xianer laughed. No one knew whether she was happy or mocking them.
"This conference is not interesting at all. If I had known, I wouldn't have come." A woman complained.
They came with expectation and enthusiasm. They wanted to see the barbarians suffer, not Yang Wu or Yang Wei defeating the scholars of Daibun.
Huaiqing sighed. She was a woman. It was not good for her to participate in such an occasion. Otherwise, it would be a slap to the scholars' faces. Moreover, she had only read a few books on the art of war.
Pei Manxilou was the young master of the White Head Division. He was experienced in wars. His level was definitely much higher than hers.
"Help me back!"
The Grand Tutor gripped his walking stick and slammed it down three times as he growled.
The old man was disappointed.
…
In the bedroom.
The old eunuch ran in quickly with a nervous look on his face.
The curtain was lowered. On the couch, the Yuanjing Emperor glanced at him but did not speak.
The old eunuch whispered, "Zhang Shen, I admit defeat …"
"Pa!"
The Yuanjing Emperor threw the book on the old eunuch's face.
…
In the pavilion by Lake Reed.
Pei Man Xi Lou bowed in all directions, his smile was warm and gentle, "Thank you everyone for your guidance. Da Feng is indeed a place where the Dao of Literature thrives. It makes one yearn for it."
In the ears of the crowd, these words sounded like mockery. No, it was mockery.
Taifu's face was gloomy. He quickened his pace.
The officials got up and silently left the table, planning to leave.
"Thud!"
The sound of the wine cup on the table was heavy. It attracted the attention of the people around.
Xu Erlang stood up and said loudly, "My elder brother has a poem: Bear to see your son become a new noble. Fight when you are angry."
His voice spread.
The Grand Tutor stopped in his tracks and turned around.
The dukes and noble generals looked over.
The students of the Imperial Academy looked over.
Pei Manxilou looked at the young official of the Hanlin Academy who had provoked him.
Xu Xinnian looked at the white-haired barbarian and said lightly, "I will discuss the art of war with you."
There was an uproar when he said this.
"Cijiu!"
The colleagues of the Hanlin Academy signaled him with their eyes, telling him not to be impulsive.
Xu Cijiu had a good reputation in the officialdom. It was all because of the massacre in Chuzhou. He blocked the Meridian Gate and scolded Duke Huai.
This reputation was not easy to come by. It would be a pity if it was destroyed because of a moment of anger and impulsiveness.
"Mister Zhang is his teacher. Even he lost. Does Xu Cijiu think he can win?"
"Why bother to embarrass himself? Pei Manxilou's book on the art of war is even praised by Great Scholar Zhang."
"We are also indignant. It's just that Xu Cijiu is too impulsive."
The students of the Imperial Academy discussed.
Pei Manxilou thought he had heard wrong. He stared at Xu Xinnian for a moment and suddenly remembered that he was Zhang Shen's disciple.
Just that... the teacher had already lost, and the student still wanted to turn the tables around?
The young man with vertical pupils, Xuan Yin, sneered. Huang Xianer, who was playing with her wine cup, said lightly, "Boring."
Simu Wang's eyes widened in shock. She didn't expect that Xu Xinnian had been holding back for so long just for this moment.
Acting on impulse! Grand Secretary Wang was infuriated.
"Your excellency Xu, have you trained before?" Pei Manxilou asked with a smile.
Xu Xinnian shook his head.
"Have you been to the battlefield?" Pei Manxilou asked again.
Xu Xinnian still shook his head.
The scholar who was born in the Barbarian Tribe shook his head slightly, "Although you major in the art of war, you are only an armchair strategist. How can you discuss the art of war with me?"
The young man with vertical pupils, Xuan Yin, mocked, "Don't tell me you also have a book on the art of war and want to compete with my big brother?"
Seeing Xu Xinnian being laughed at by the Barbarians, everyone felt embarrassed.
Zhang Shen looked at his proud disciple in surprise. He thought to himself, "Is this kid crazy? Even I am ashamed of my inferiority, so what is he jumping out for? To avenge me? "
However, it was good for him to suffer a setback. Xu Xinnian's life had been too smooth. Whether it was in terms of family, schooling, or officialdom, he had never suffered too many setbacks.
Xu Xinnian raised his chin and said proudly, "That's right, I do have a book on the art of war here. Brother Pei Manxilou, please give me a pointer or two."
“！！！”
Everyone, including Zhang Shen, looked at Xu Xinnian in a daze. Their eyes were extremely blank. Like Pei Manxilou, they suspected that there was something wrong with their ears.
Xu Xinnian ignored everyone and took out a light brown thread-bound book from his pocket.
Pei Manxilou saw four words written on the cover: Sun Tzu's Art of War.
He, who was well-read, had no impression of this name. It was not a book on the art of war that was circulating in the world, nor was it one of those old books on the art of war that the imperial court had just revised and given to him.
However, he was a person who loved books. He would not look down on any book because of its title. He raised his hand to take it and flipped through it with a smile.
"The art of war is a matter of great importance to a country. It is the land of life and death, the path of survival. It cannot be ignored …"
The opening was not bad. It simply stated the importance of war and hit the nail on the head.
He continued to read:
"Therefore, it is based on five things. The first is the way, the second is the heaven, the third is the earth, the fourth is the general, and the fifth is the law."
Pei Manxilou nodded slightly. He put away the slight contempt and scrutinizing attitude in his heart. To be able to write this sentence, the author really had some ability.
When he saw "The art of war is deceitful", he was finally moved. His pupils contracted slightly. "Wonderful, wonderful! This is a wonderful saying. "
Pei Manxilou read on hungrily. He was gradually immersed in the sea of knowledge. He enjoyed it so much that he forgot about everything around him.
There were twelve chapters in this book. The content was broad and profound. It not only described the theory and experience of war, but it also summarized the rules of war.
This book had already surpassed the scope of stratagems. What was described in the book was not limited to simple stratagems and the art of war. It was a more macro and higher level of things.
For example, the book said that politics was an important factor in determining the outcome of a war. Pei Man Xilou had a feeling of being enlightened. His level had suddenly increased.
The barbarians fought for plunder. Pei Manxilou also thought that war was war. Although the factors outside of the battlefield were important, the outcome of a war was ultimately determined by the difference in the combat power of both sides.
There were not many words in the book. Compared to his thick book, it seemed very simple. But every word was a gem. Every sentence was worth pondering for a long time.
On the other hand, he copied the various battles and tried his best to analyze the details with words. Summarizing the various camps and emphasizing the importance of the soldiers … It was a joke.
Of course, this book had its flaws. For example, it did not mention the role of the Warrior or how to use the Warrior.
After a long time, Pei Manxilou finally broke free from the immersion and sighed with satisfaction. "I have learned a lot. I have learned a lot …"
Then, he realized that the surrounding Daibun people were staring at him.
Everyone was stunned.
The series of changes in Pei Manxilou's expression showed them words such as "ecstatic", "amazed", "hungry" and so on.
It made them very curious. What was written in the book that made such a talented person have such a reaction?
Pei Manxilou looked at Xu Xinnian, then looked at Sun Tzu's Art of War in his hand. He hesitated and struggled. Finally, he sighed and bowed deeply.
"Your excellency Xu, I have lost.
"I have no other request. I just want to ask your excellency Xu to let me copy this book. I am willing to pay respects as a disciple and call you Mister."
This book was indeed far better than his Art of War. There was no point in being stubborn.
The young man with vertical pupils stared with his eyes wide open. "Big brother, you, you …"
At this moment, the charming and enchanting Huang Xianer's pretty face finally lost its lazy confidence. Her beautiful face changed slightly.
There was an uproar.
Pei Manxilou admitted defeat and felt ashamed.
Moreover, in order to copy Xu Cijiu's book, he did not hesitate to call himself a student.
The nobles and generals stared at the book in Pei Manxilou's hand as if it was the most tempting thing in the world.
Wang Shoufu looked deeply at Xu Erlang, his eyes and expression frozen.
Wang Simu's heart thumped wildly as she looked at Xu Erlang, who was standing proudly in the middle of the field, infatuated.
Taifu took two steps forward with his walking stick. He squinted his eyes and looked up and down. Then, he slammed his walking stick twice and laughed.
"This is what a scholar of Da Feng should be like. This is a true rising star of the younger generation."
The third and fourth princesses looked at Xu Cijiu, their eyes shining.
"The Xu family really has two talents. Xu Qi'an is already dazzling, but this Xu Cijiu is not inferior at all." Someone exclaimed.
Zhang Shen took the book from Pei Manxilou's hand and looked at it with deep confusion.
His expression changed. It was the same as Pei Manxilou's.
When he finished reading, he was dumbstruck.
"No, that's not right. Who wrote this military book? Cijiu, who wrote it? "Zhang Shen asked excitedly.
How could he not know the standard of his disciple? Xu Cijiu was outstanding in the art of war, but it was impossible for him to write such a world-shaking book.
The author of this book was someone else.
Zhang Shen could not wait to know who the original author was. He did not expect there to be such a person in Daibun.
Xu Xinnian nodded slowly. "This book was not written by me."
The uproar in the hall came to a standstill. Everyone looked at him in confusion and then at Zhang Shen.
Gradually, they realized that this book that Pei Manxilou admired was written by someone else?
"It's Wei Yuan. Is it Wei Yuan?" Zhang Shen asked again.
Everyone's eyes fell on Xu Erlang.
"Wei Yuan …" Pei Manxilou mumbled to himself.
"Wei Yuan!" Everyone suddenly realized.
"What does this have to do with Duke Wei?"
Xu Erlang frowned. He was a little displeased. He looked at everyone and raised his voice. "This is the book written by my brother."
In an instant, inside and outside the pergola, the banks of Lake Reed were so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
