The four schools of studies taught the classics of Confucianism. They were similar in nature to the Imperial College and the Imperial College. However, most of the students taught were from poor families. This was also Li Shimin's way of balancing things out.
Logically speaking, the four schools of studies taught students from poor families should be ecstatic about the appearance of a fountain pen. However, the four schools of studies had always been on good terms with Liu Yinian. He was the most old-fashioned person. Among all the schools of studies, he was the one who disliked Meton the most.
Walking into the third classroom that was as warm as spring, the four professors did not have the slightest bit of joy. Instead, they frowned. He himself was the perfect example of someone who studied hard. His family was poor since he was young, and only after studying hard for ten years did he have the status he had today. In his opinion, the classroom that was as warm as spring was probably the hotbed that corroded the students' minds.
The four schools of studies looked coldly at Meton. He picked up the test paper and shouted, "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher. This is the principle of Heaven and Earth. A teacher for a day is a father for life. All of you studied at the Imperial College and were taught with great care by the teachers. Today, the four schools of studies will be tested with the question of Seeking Knowledge and Teacher."
The students could not help but lament in their hearts. Although the four schools of studies did not directly point it out, they could use the question of Seeking Knowledge and Teacher to let them describe the kindness of being a teacher. Wasn't this a counterattack to their previous collective opposition to the Ruler of Calligraphy?
"Seeking Knowledge and Teacher!"
Meton looked at the four schools of studies' unfriendly gazes and sighed in his heart. The four schools of studies mentioned Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teachers, and Seeking Knowledge and Teacher again. Wasn't it to restore the dignity of being a teacher?
Meton instantly lamented in his heart. These teachers were really brooding. The students were just fighting for some benefits for themselves. After refuting the teachers once, these teachers immediately banded together as if they were irreconcilable enemies.
The professor looked at Meton's frowning expression and snorted coldly in his heart. As long as Mo Jiazi was studying at the Imperial College, he could not deny the teachings of the Imperial College. The main reason he had set this exam question was to make things difficult for Mo Jiazi.
Meton racked his brains for an answer. Even after half of the Annual Examination had passed, he was still unable to start writing. Suddenly, Meton raised his head and looked at the four professors dressed in teacher's robes. His eyes lit up. Regarding the topic of seeking knowledge, there was an article in the future that might be able to solve the problem.
Meton took a deep breath, picked up the fountain pen, and wrote two words on the Xuan paper with a swish — "Teacher's Talk".
"Ancient scholars are bound to have teachers. As a teacher, he preaches the Dao and dispels doubts. People are not born with knowledge, how can they be free of doubts? … "
"Teacher's Talk" was an ancient text written by Han Yu, the head of the Eight Great Families of Tang and Song. The entire text had more than five hundred words. Meton wrote it fluently and in a little more than fifteen minutes, he was already nearing the end.
Meton couldn't help but pause at the end. In his previous life, "Teacher's Talk" was written by Han Yu for Li Pan, a descendant of the Li Family, to encourage him to seek knowledge. Of course, Meton couldn't copy it completely.
Meton pondered for a moment, then revealed a knowing smile. He picked up the brush and wrote, "Mo Jiazi, Di Dun, fifteen years old. Good at ancient writing. Well versed in all six arts. Not limited by time, learning from hundreds of schools. Specially written" Teacher's Talk "for my own sake."
Meton waved his brush and directly wrote that Han Yu gifted Li Pan as a gift from himself. This way, he could justify himself.
When the four professors saw Meton lowering his head and writing non-stop, they couldn't help but reveal a proud smile. In their eyes, Mo Jiazi had already fallen into their trap.
With the sound of the bell, the four annual examinations ended.
Qin Huaiyu and the other two surrounded Meton and asked about Meton's progress. Meton only shook his head and revealed a simple and honest smile.
"Oh!"
Qin Huaiyu and the other two suddenly understood.
In the prison.
As soon as the four professors returned, all the professors immediately surrounded them.
"Quick, take out Mo Jiazi's examination paper!" Imperial College Professor Ma Jiayun said impatiently.
The four professors were surprised and said, "Brother Ma, why are you in such a hurry? This time, Mo Jiazi only started writing after half the time. I don't think he can write any good prose."
Prose was a style of writing that used words and sentences to form a text. Because it was commonly used in four-character and six-character sentences, it was also called "Four Six Essays" or "Parallel Four Li Six". It mainly focused on the neatness of the couplets and the sonorous rhythm. It began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and was especially popular in the Tang dynasty.
Ma Jiayun smiled and said, "If it was someone else, the Old Man wouldn't take it to heart. But Mo Jiazi is different. Ever since he entered the Imperial College, his poems and essays have always been outstanding. Maybe he can find a new way to write."
"What is the topic of this examination paper?" Imperial College Professor Ma Jiayun asked.
The four professors revealed a triumphant smile and said, "Seeking knowledge from a teacher."
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but brighten. This question could be said to be normal, but everyone instantly understood the purpose of the four professors. They couldn't help but secretly praise him.
Ma Jiayun frowned slightly. This question was too standard. It would be difficult to write a good essay.
Soon, Meton's unique essay was found and placed in front of the professors.
"On a Teacher"!
Ma Jiayun's heart trembled. He instantly thought of Meton's other essay, "On a Horse". That was destined to be a masterpiece. If Meton's "On a Teacher" was of the same standard as "On a Horse", then they would be very lucky today.
"The ancient scholar must have a teacher …"
"Man is not born with knowledge. Who can be without doubts …"
The opening essay made everyone frown. It wasn't that Meton's writing was bad, but that Meton didn't write a parallel essay. Instead, he used ancient Chinese.
In the literary world of the Tang Dynasty, where parallel essays were popular, there were very few people who used ancient Chinese. Meton's use of ancient Chinese to write could be said to be very unlucky.
"Unconventional!" The four professors couldn't help but snort coldly. In their hearts, they thought that Mo Jiazi was asking for it. If they gave him a low score, then the others wouldn't have anything to say.
However, the other professors only frowned. The more they read, the more serious their expressions became.
"Therefore, there is neither high nor low. There is neither long nor short. Where the Dao exists, the teacher exists."
When Ma Jiayun read this sentence, he couldn't help but applaud. His guess was right. This "On a Teacher" was indeed comparable to "On a Horse".
The other professors also nodded their heads. They were intoxicated by the uniqueness of the essay. Only the four professors had a gloomy expression. He set the theme of the annual examination as "Seeking Knowledge and Teachers". On the surface, he was a teacher and Mo Jiazi was a student of the Imperial College. He wanted to show the grace and dignity of a teacher.
However, Mo Jiazi had actually started to write sentences that were neither long nor short. Didn't that mean that he had to ask Mo Jiazi for advice?
"Doctors of Mo, musicians of a hundred craftsmen, are not ashamed of being a physiognomist. The scholar-bureaucrat race … is ashamed of being a lowly official, is flattered by being an official …"
The more the four professors read, the more frightened they became. With their knowledge, they could naturally tell that this essay was brilliant and was destined to be passed down to future generations. However, what made them angry was that they had played a dishonorable role in it. Wasn't the "Doctors of Mo" implying that Mo Jiazi was not ashamed to ask for advice and was keen to learn? On the other hand, he had become the "scholar-bureaucrat race" who was ashamed to ask for advice.
The other professors couldn't help but feel helpless. How could they not have some of the bad habits of the scholar-bureaucrats in "On a Teacher"? Ever since they became officials, they had never asked for advice from others.
"Therefore, the disciple does not need to be inferior to the teacher, and the teacher does not need to be superior to the disciple. Everyone has their own specialization. That's all." The four professors finished reading in one breath and almost couldn't recite it.
The disciple does not need to be inferior to the teacher, and the teacher does not need to be superior to the disciple. In Han Yu's previous life, when he wrote this sentence, it could be said that he was encouraging the future generations. However, when it was written by Meton, it was probably extremely arrogant.
Because in terms of literary talent, Mo Jiazi's poems were all famous. In terms of knowledge, Meton was a student of many schools. He might not be inferior to the four professors, and the four professors might not be superior to Meton.
The difference between the two of them was probably that they had their own specialization. The four professors were slightly older and had studied for a few more years.
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