The plum garden was quiet. The snow had stopped falling. The crescent moon of the fourth day hung high in the sky, emitting cold moonlight.
Hundreds of tables were placed in the garden, orderly in the chaos.
Occasionally, there would be the sound of branches breaking due to the heavy snow. Only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Almost no one thought that Ji Zhibai would make a move at this time. The Left Minister's party had already been defeated by Fang Yun. Even if they were on the verge of a comeback, their strength was still greatly damaged.
These days, the Left Minister had closed his doors and refused to receive guests. Everyone knew that Mount Liu would be in seclusion for many days, but Ji Zhibai suddenly jumped out. It was really unreasonable.
The people who opposed the Left Minister's party were unusually vigilant. If Ji Zhibai dared to suddenly appear at this time, he must have a certain degree of confidence.
Ji Zhibai swept his gaze over the crowd with a faint smile. Finally, his gaze landed on the Prime Minister Kang Ha-chuan. He said, "Prime Minister, I have something I don't understand. Today, the Demon Saint's Order was issued. Next winter, the grassland barbarians will invade. Our Jingguo is in imminent danger. My respected teacher, the Left Minister, is in the study room vomiting blood and is still sick. I originally thought that Prime Minister would be worried about national affairs, but at this critical moment, Prime Minister actually participated in the Snow Plum Literature Meeting. I am extremely surprised, so I would like to ask Prime Minister, is the danger of Jingguo's destruction not as important as the dispute of personal feelings at the Snow Plum Literature Meeting? "
Everyone was silent.
Ji Zhibai's words were like a sharp sword piercing into everyone's hearts. Many people wanted to defend Kang Ha-chuan, but when they opened their mouths, they realized that they had no strength to defend themselves. At this time, the slightest carelessness would make things worse.
Prime Minister Kang Ha-chuan sat upright in his chair, not saying a word. He didn't even look at Ji Zhibai.
Ji Zhibai smiled and stood up. He said, "I have finished asking my questions. Since Prime Minister can't give me an answer, I shouldn't force you. But tomorrow, before the palace, I must ask Prime Minister a question. To correct people's hearts! "
Kang Ha-chuan still didn't say anything.
The air in the Plum Garden seemed to have frozen. Some of the young scholars were trembling with fear.
Many people were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. This matter wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. If it was used by someone with ulterior motives, it would definitely become a stain on the Prime Minister's record.
Normal Confucian scholars could participate in the Snow Plum Literature Meeting at this time, but as one of the Four Ministers, Kang Ha-chuan, it was slightly inappropriate.
A victorious smile appeared on Ji Zhibai's face. He glanced at Fang Yun and turned around to leave. But the moment he turned around, he suddenly realized something. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fang Yun stand up. He immediately turned around and stared at Fang Yun like a hunting beast.
Fang Yun cupped his hands towards everyone present and said, "Everyone, I hope you can listen to a short story first."
"Hmph, I'm asking Prime Minister Wen, not you!" Ji Zhibai said coldly.
Fang Yun's gaze froze, and his official's prestige appeared. He stared at Ji Zhibai and said sternly, "Since you're asking about politics and Prime Minister Wen. Since you want to participate, you naturally have to be a seventh-rank Jingguo composer. This official is a third-rank Marquis, and I also have the title of Minister of the Inner Cabinet. Just based on your disrespectful words just now, this official can punish you for the crime of offending your superior! "
Ji Zhibai was stunned. He immediately gritted his teeth and bowed with his hands clasped in front of his chest. "This official was rude. Please forgive me, Marquis Fang. This official was only in a moment of desperation. It's hard to imagine that a Prime Minister of the country would still be flirting with flowers, snow, and moon in the face of imminent disaster. This is impolite. "
Fang Yun said slowly, "You're used to being impolite. This official can't be bothered to argue. But when this official is speaking, you can't interrupt. "
"Yes." Ji Zhibai was secretly angry. He had attacked the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister would not use his official position to suppress him. However, Fang Yun was younger than him, and his position was similar to his. However, his official position was higher, and it was perfect for him to criticize him.
Fang Yun looked around the plum garden and said, "Hundreds of years ago, there was a class of Jinshi in a certain country's academy. They studied the classics of Confucianism diligently, and practiced poetry and war of words diligently. They used all means to improve their strength, hoping to defeat the barbarians in the spring hunt and Mitani Lien Chan, and win glory for the human race. However, the Jinshi found that there was a mediocre Jinshi who seemed to have given up on the Divine Path. He gave up on practicing poetry and war of words, and actually focused on the less useful Dao of Mathematics. "
"As everyone knows, Dao of Mathematics is the last of the Six Arts of Gentlemen. It's also known as Arithmetic and Calculation. Hundreds of years ago, it wasn't valued. His fellow Jinshi saw that he couldn't distinguish between priority and priority, and hated him for taking the wrong path. They criticized him, but he ignored them and continued to focus on Dao of Mathematics. After the war broke out, his fellow Jinshi volunteered and rushed to the border. He was the only one who was still obsessed with Dao of Mathematics. He didn't want to join the army to protect the country. His fellow Jinshi and good friends all cut ties with him before they left. "
"Time flew by, and that person's literary status didn't improve. When he was about forty years old, he was still an ordinary Jinshi. He held an idle position in the Ministry of Works. He didn't have any literary skills, nor did he have any military achievements. He was unknown and seemed to be waiting for death. However, his fellow Jinshi either became generals of Hanlin Academy because of their military achievements, or were in charge of a region, or had some reputation in Confucianism. That year, his fellow Jinshi reunited with his old friends. They let go of their grievances and tried to persuade him again. They told him that although Dao of Mathematics was useful, it was better to spend the same amount of energy on poetry and war to protect the country. It was even better to study the classics of Sages to improve his literary status. "
"However, he didn't care and continued to study Dao of Mathematics. Afterwards, those schoolmates completely lost all hope for him, because he was nearly forty years old and had not written a single book, had not established a single word, had not gained an inch of merit, wasted the Jinshi title in vain, wasted the talent and the gift bestowed upon him by the Sacred Institute, and some even called him a useless Jinshi. "
Fang Yun paused for a moment and looked at everyone again. "However, three years later, in March, the Nine-Chapter Arithmetical Commentary was published and he became Hanlin Academy. In June, the Island Arithmetical Classic was completed and he became a Grand Scholar. Ten years later, he became a Great Confucian. Twenty years later, Liu Hui became a Saint! Under the influence of his Dao of Mathematics, the skills of Gongzi improved by leaps and bounds. The power of mechanisms increased by fifty percent in just a few decades, and the power of siege and defense equipment doubled. During the Battle of Two Worlds Mountain, he was already a Saint. However, under the control of his Half-saint literary treasure 'Heaven Measuring Ruler', the mechanisms and defense equipment killed hundreds of millions of barbarians! And just a few days ago, it was his descendant who used the Island Arithmetical Classic to calculate the location of the Spear of Deity's Retribution. Together with the armillary sphere, he guided half of the Spear of Deity's Retribution straight into the grassland barbarians. He assisted the two Barbarian Saints and slaughtered tens of millions of barbarians! "
Fang Yun's voice grew louder and louder. Everyone was overwhelmed with emotions and almost couldn't help but cheer.
Because what Fang Yun said was the true history of the Saint Origin World.
Fang Yun took a deep breath and looked at Ji Zhibai. He asked loudly, "If the Half-saint Liu Hui had given up on Dao of Mathematics, or chose the most promising study of scripture, or the most practical war poem, who would give the human race a Half-saint! Who would give the human race the Island Arithmetical Classic! Who would give the human race the Heaven Measuring Ruler! "
"Good!" Everyone praised, especially the young scholars. Their blood was boiling.
Ji Zhibai was speechless. He already understood Fang Yun's intentions.
Fang Yun continued, "As everyone knows, the Snow Plum Competition looks like a game, but it actually encourages the human race to write poems and lyrics. Every time the human race writes a poem, their talent increases a little. Every time there is a literary gathering, their talent will also increase! Although the Snow Plum Literary Gathering here is small, it is directly connected to the Notre-Dame's literary rankings. It is a great way of education! The Minister of Culture is the leader of the National Academy of Literature and the Academy. His first duty is to educate the human race. Isn't he here to fulfill his duty? Isn't his purpose in coming to the literary gathering to appease the people? There is the military to defend against the demons and barbarians. There is the Minister of the Left and the civil officials to make political decisions. If you don't let the Minister of Culture participate in the literary gathering, are you going to let him hold the Seal of the Minister of the Left? "
Ji Zhibai's face was pale. In the past, he only knew that Fang Yun was good at poetry and was also good at political theory. However, he didn't expect Fang Yun to be so eloquent. He hit the nail on the head. Compared to Fang Yun, his words of questioning the Minister of Culture were like the nonsense of an ignorant child.
Everyone present nodded.
"What Fang Wenhou said is extremely true. Back then, Liu Hui Half-saint's classmates were all humans. Liu Hui Half-saint also studied mathematics for the sake of the human race. Today, the other ministers are thinking of strategies to resist the barbarians for the sake of the human race. The Minister of Culture is also raising the talent of the human race for the sake of the human race! We shouldn't question the Minister of Culture because of this! "
"Right now, the Imperial Conference hasn't ended. Chen Sheng hasn't issued an imperial edict. The Jingguo Imperial Conference hasn't started. Instead of sitting at home and pretending to think, why don't you do something useful?"
"The more it's like this, the more we need the Minister of Culture to stand up and appease the people!"
"Fang Xusheng is right!"
"Fang Zhenguo's words have awakened us from our dreams! It turns out that those seemingly extravagant and wasteful actions are actually beneficial to the human race! Thinking back to the time when the School of Mo spent a large amount of money on researching the Monocular, some people accused them of wasting money on small tricks. However, when the Monocular was popularized in the army, we found out that the millions of taels of silver saved the lives of at least hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions of civilians. Moreover, the craftsmanship discovered in the Monocular has been used in various areas of the human race. Not only did it not waste money, it actually strengthened the human race! "
"Xusheng deserves to be called the Progenitor of Poetry. His insight into problems really surpasses ours! We've been too conservative. "
Everyone discussed animatedly. The more they spoke, the clearer the reasoning became.
The Minister of Culture, Kang Ha-chuan, didn't say anything.
Ji Zhibai stood there in a daze for a long time, unable to say a word. He became the target of everyone's ridicule.
A few people originally wanted to rely on the Left Minister's party again. However, after looking at Ji Zhibai and Fang Yun, they silently distanced themselves from Ji Zhibai.
In the end, Fang Yun slowly said, "Ji Zhibai, you're short-sighted. You can't accomplish anything, but you're good at spoiling things!"
Ji Zhibai suddenly raised his head and angrily stared at Fang Yun.
Fang Yun's eyes were like the calm sea, but Ji Zhibai's eyes were like the rolling dark clouds in the sky.
This year's Prime Minister attacked this year's Zhuangyuan in front of everyone!
Ji Zhibai let out a long sigh. His expression gradually calmed down and he said, "Fang Zhenguo is indeed extraordinary. I can't compare to his glib tongue. However, I don't believe that this literary conference is as important as you say. "
Fang Yundao said, "If you don't accumulate small steps, you won't be able to travel a thousand miles. If you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be able to form a vast sea. I'm sure you understand the principles in Xun Zi. Moreover, perhaps someone will be influenced by this Snow Plum Literature Conference and create a legendary war poem that will be passed down for generations to come! "
"Then I'll wait. Ji Zhibai, goodbye! "Ji Zhibai angrily left.
Kang Ha-chuan picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea. It was as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
Zhao Hongzhuang looked at Fang Yun and muttered to herself, "This is the real battle of words!"
The dragon and the fox nodded vigorously. Floating astronomy.
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