Seeing the young man walking out from the crowd, the old man of the Qi Kingdom finally showed a hint of emotion on his calm face.
With furrowed brows, he lifted his head to look at Jing Emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, are you sure that you want this person to represent the Jing Kingdom and debate the scriptures with me?"
The ambassadors of the Qi Kingdom also showed dissatisfaction on their faces. Old Master Meng had an honorable status. In the Qi Kingdom, even the Emperor had to treat him with great respect. In their eyes, even the great scholars of the Jing Kingdom were far inferior to Old Master Meng. The Jing Kingdom had sent out such a young man for such an important contest. Wasn't this a disgrace to Old Master Meng's status?
"An emperor never goes back on his words. Since I have said that I will let Li Xianzi fight, I won't go back on my word." Jing Emperor waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, Old Master. Our Jing Kingdom will accept the outcome of this contest."
Upon hearing this, the ambassador of the Qi Kingdom spat in his mind, "Win or lose … Do you have any chance of winning?"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, you can't do this …"
"Li Xianzi is still too young. Let Grand Scholar Zhou fight."
The officials all tried to dissuade Jing Emperor, ignoring the fact that the ambassador of the Qi Kingdom was still present. Even though Li Xianzi had defeated the genius of the Qi Kingdom in poetry the day before, the contest today was about the scriptures. It was a contest of real talent and knowledge, so they couldn't play any tricks!
"Don't say anything more, my officials. I have made up my mind." Jing Emperor broke all the officials' illusions.
Leaning against the pillars lazily, the old generals couldn't help but twitch their lips when they saw the anxious officials. His Majesty had never disappointed the officials. Since he thought Li Xianzi could win, why couldn't he win?
Li Mingze, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, didn't show any expression on his face. He didn't know how capable his nephew was from the beginning to the end …
On the other hand, Prime Minister Qin did not say a word. He looked at Li Yi with a meaningful look in his eyes. No one knew better than him how terrifying the old man of the Qi Kingdom was. Why did His Majesty think that Li Yi could win?
The envoy of the Qi Kingdom was still in the hall. The competition had already begun. Even if the envoy was extremely unwilling, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
They looked at the two people in the hall with despair in their eyes. One was in his twenties and was extremely handsome. The other had a face like a withered pine tree and was old. Wouldn't it be great if they could compare who was more handsome today?
Forget it, at least he won one round in the theory examination, so it wasn't too shameful. If he won the combat examination beautifully, he could still get back the face he had lost.
After Emperor Jing spoke, the old man surnamed Meng did not say anything more. He turned to look at Li Yi and asked, "Conquering the wise and virtuous, one who is related to the nine clans. The nine clans were harmonious, and the people were peaceful. The people are bright, and the nations are united … What do you mean? "
The envoy's face began to turn solemn. From now on, the competition had officially begun.
This great scholar did not make things difficult for Li Xianzi at first. He asked about a famous sentence in the first chapter of the 《Book of History》, the 《Classic of Yao》. Anyone who had read some books would know this sentence.
If Li Xianzi could not even answer this sentence, there was no need for the competition to continue.
"From the 《Book of History》, the Classic of Yao》." Li Yi thought that this old man was quite kind. He liked this kind of question the most. He just had to read it according to the 《Commentary on the Thirteen Classics》.
"Conquering the wise and virtuous, and the nine clans were related to the nine clans. The wise and virtuous men were employed, and the people were united. The nine clans were harmonious, and the people were peaceful. Already, already. The people, the officials. The nine clans were peaceful, and Zhang Ming was bright. The people were bright, and the nations were united. The people were bright, and the nations were united. The people were bright. The people were bright. The people were bright. The people were bright. The people were bright. He said that all the people in the world have changed, and thus the customs are harmonious. "
No one was surprised by Li Yi's answer, but his choice of words made the scholars' eyes light up, because it was almost a standard answer. It was not strange for a well-read scholar to give such an answer, but it had a different meaning when it came from the mouth of a young man.
At least they knew that Li Xianzi's attainment in the classics was much better than they had imagined.
The old man surnamed Meng nodded with a trace of appreciation on his face, but he did not speak again.
The answer of the young man in front of him was really impeccable. Whether it was the interpretation or the choice of words, he could not find any fault.
Li Yi was naturally familiar with the rules of the competition. If the old man did not ask, it was his turn. Since the old man had been so kind to him, he naturally would not make things difficult for him, so he asked, "The Marquis of Qi is happy, and the wife of the Jiang family is happy …"
"The Biography of Gong Yang, in the ninth month of the third year of Duke Huan," the old man surnamed Meng interrupted nonchalantly before Li Yi could finish.
Most of the officials in the imperial court were still trying to figure out where this sentence came from. Hearing this, they lifted their heads and looked at the old man of Qi Kingdom in surprise, feeling quite surprised.
How familiar was this Great Master of Literature with the Thirteen Scripts?
The Grand Scholar Zhou shook his head. The Thirteen Scripts were very important scriptures, and this Great Master of Literature of Qi Kingdom must have memorized every sentence in them, so it was not difficult for him to understand them.
"The Marquis of Qi is happy, and the wife of the Jiang family is happy …" From which page, paragraph, and line of the Biography of Gong Yang? "
Looking at the old man surnamed Meng, Li Yi thought to himself, "How dare you show off!"
The expression on the face of the old man surnamed Meng froze. He had already thought of what he would ask next, but now the words were stuck in his throat.
The Grand Scholar Zhou opened his mouth wide, and the officials opened their eyes wide. They couldn't believe their ears.
Could the Book Debate be asked in such a way?
The Jing Emperor shrank his body a little behind the dragon chair. He reached out his hand and rubbed the center of his eyebrows, covering his face in the process.
Before the incredulous expression of the Third Prince of Qi Kingdom faded away, a representative of the Qi Kingdom had come back to his senses. He stepped forward and exclaimed, "It's outrageous. What kind of question is this?"
"Can't I?" Li Yi didn't pay attention to the representative of the Qi Kingdom. He turned his head to the eunuch who had announced the rules, asking, "Is there a rule that says I can't ask this question?"
The eunuch was taken aback for a moment, and then shook his head, saying, "No … no. As long as the question is included in the meaning of the script, it's fine. "
The officials eyed each other in bewilderment. Of course, there was no such rule; but they were all scholars, and they cared about their dignity. Who would ask such a question?
It was meaningless to ask such a question!
Yet, according to the rules of the Book Debate, it seemed that Li Xianzi's question was not impossible.
After all, his question did not go beyond the scope of the meaning of the script. If he really had a deep understanding of the Thirteen Scriptures, he might be able to answer this question.
However, looking at the appearance of the Great Scholar of the Qi Kingdom, it seemed that he … was not that familiar with the script.
The face of the envoy of the Qi Kingdom turned red. After the old man surnamed Meng waved his hand, he glared at Li Yi fiercely and retreated helplessly.
The old man surnamed Meng looked at Li Yi and said, "I really don't know your question. However, can you answer this question?"
The officials had a strange expression on their faces. The Great Scholar might have been confused by Li Xianzi's question. Since Li Xianzi could ask such a question, how could he be unprepared?
It seemed that His Majesty had sent Li Xianzi up this time because he had expected such a scene. It was difficult to win directly, so he resorted to a strange tactic. His Majesty was indeed His Majesty!
"Old sir, is this the second question?" Li Yi looked at the old man surnamed Meng and asked.
The old man said nonchalantly, "If you can't even answer your question, then according to the rules, I won't lose."
Li Yi nodded and said, "The Marquis of Qi is in Huan, and the wife of Jiang is in Qi … From the eighth page, the sixth paragraph, the third line of the 'Biography of Gong Yangzhuan'."
In the era of printing, it was undoubtedly extremely difficult to write a biography. Some great Confucian scholars couldn't even write a book in their lifetime. Although these Confucian classics had been passed down for hundreds or thousands of years, they didn't have dozens or hundreds of editions like the later generations. The people of the Jing Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom actually read the same Biography of Gong Yangzhuan. Therefore, there was only one answer to Li Yi's question.
A eunuch had already brought the Biography of Gong Yangzhuan, and the Grand Scholar Zhou confirmed that Li Xianzi's answer was correct.
The old man had thought that since Li Yi could ask such a question, he would be able to answer it as well. He felt a bit angry that a great scholar was humiliated by a junior. He asked Li Yi, "In that case, tell this old man: the relationship between father and son on the inside, and the relationship between the king and his subject on the outside; it's the most important thing for human beings. The kindness of father and son, the respect of the king and his subject … Which book, which page, and which line? "
The officials sighed in their minds. Though Li Xianzi's tactic was ingenious, he could only use it once. If his opponent asked the same question, he wouldn't be able to answer it.
The envoy of the Qi Kingdom showed a contented expression. So what if Li Xianzi resorted to a strange tactic? It was no different than shooting himself in the foot …
After some thought, Li Yi said with a smile, "The Biography of Gongsun Chou, page twelve, paragraph five, line thirteen."
The old man surnamed Meng was expressionless, but the officials sighed in their minds. Even if Li Xianzi could come up with a random answer, he would be denied later, and it would be of no use.
Fortunately, the Hongwen House was not far from the Political Hall. Soon, a eunuch brought the book of Meng and handed it to the Grand Scholar Zhou.
Shaking his head, the Grand Scholar Zhou said after turning a few pages, "The Biography of Gongsun Chou, page twelve, paragraph five, line thirteen, line twelve, line five, line thirteen, is … the relationship between father and son, the king and his subject on the outside; it's the most important thing for human beings. The kindness of father and son, the king and his subject, the king and his subject … "
The Grand Scholar Zhou had finally realized something. He raised his head abruptly and stared at Li Yi, breathing rapidly. He didn't even notice that the book of Meng in his hand had fallen to the ground.
"How can it be possible?" The old man surnamed Meng had finally raised his head, showing a hint of disbelief in his old, murky eyes. He strode over and picked up the book of Meng, flipping through it quickly.
A moment later, he closed the book slowly and took a deep breath. As he looked at Li Yi again, the expression on his face was completely different.
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