in the edge

Chapter 85 Gentleman Sword

The young Ruan Shantao did not kill anyone, but he did fight a lot.

This can also be seen from this strange sword. The number of cuts and scratches on the sword is almost innumerable, but if it is replaced by any ordinary sword, it will probably break on the spot—that is, This unusually thick "Founder's Sword" has experienced so many battles, but it is still safe and composed, and even becomes more courageous with each battle.

"So you are not a sword?"

After another day of sword fighting, finally a student who had been beaten couldn't help complaining.

"You are the iron mace, right?"

"This is the sword."

The young Ruan Shantao held up the sword of Fangzheng and argued hard.

"Do you have any dissatisfaction with my gentleman's sword?"

"Have"

Facing Ruan Shantao who was holding a heavy sword high, the student who was knocked down nodded.

Immediately afterwards, he raised his hand and patted the belt buckle on his waist.

Cang Langlang drew his sharp knife out of its sheath, and a cold light cut straight towards Ruan Shantao's wrist!
"Sneak attack!"

Ruan Shantao's pupils shrank suddenly, and the heavy sword in his hand slashed down.

"Despicable villain! Shameless!"

Zheng——

The thick blade smashed fiercely on that bit of cold light.

But this time, Fang Zheng's sword, which is omnipotent, failed to break the sword in front of him on the spot.

It turned out that this was a waist-wrapped soft sword.

Bailian Steel turned into soft fingers, and the soft blade bounced out of an arc under the ingenious force of the student, and touched Ruan Shantao's forearm.

His forearm was in pain, and he let go of the epee. This time, Ruan Shantao lost.

"Haha! I won this match... what are you going to do!"

The student who used the soft sword just got up from the ground, patted his clothes to show off his achievements, but he saw that Ruan Shantao had already clenched his fists and rushed towards him!

Punching heavily on the face, the student immediately became dizzy.

"Despicable villain! How dare you sneak attack with a hidden sword! Today I am going to teach you the principles of life!"

"Hey! You bitch! If you lose, you lose! Why can't you afford to lose!"

This Ruan Shantao is good at using the heavy sword, he already has the strength of two arms, the student can control the noodle-like soft sharp blade freely, but he also has a strange kung fu, the two of them fisted and kicked for a while, and the fight was evenly contested.

If the sword fight was just a momentary event, then the fight of fists and feet lasted the whole afternoon, until it was getting late and the moon was rising, and the two people with bruised noses and swollen faces lay on the ground.

One side is hurting people with the dark sword, and the other side is refusing to admit defeat. Both sides are somewhat at fault, so they won't mention this inexplicable fight anymore.

And young Ruan Shantao also made his first friend in the huge capital of Jiankang.

Although he always wanted to punch this friend in the face twice.

My friend's name is Xiang Rong, and like Ruan Shantao, he is a poor student studying in Taixue.Just like the word "Xiang Rong", although this friend is slender, he likes martial arts on weekdays, and Ruan Shantao, who has the figure of a general but has a lot of knowledge, almost They are two complete opposites.

But these two people, who are almost completely opposite to each other, have quite a rapport on many issues.

For example, about the newly developed Guozi studies in the Chen court.

Unlike Taixue, which caters to all students from all over the world, this Guozixue only recruits those noble children.Therefore, in order to see the quality of this Guozixue, Ruan Shantao and Xiang Rong also took the opportunity to communicate with the students of that Guozixue.

The way the students communicate is nothing more than debating scriptures. If the debate is not easy, they simply compete with swords.

But the result of the exchange made Ruan Shantao and Xiang Rong very disappointed.

"I thought that Guozixue was because those nobles were going to monopolize the classics, and cut off the undisciplined way of Taixue... Who would have thought that they would be even more unbearable than I thought."

After ten days of fighting with the students of Na Guozixue, Ruan Shantao finally sighed.

"They can't even compare to ordinary imperial students. This is just a way to get them some gold. After all, after all, this imperial scholar is no different from the imperial students. This..."

"What you think is actually true. After all, Guozixue is only just established now. Who knows if books and doctors from this Taixue will be transferred to Guozixue in the future?"

Xiang Rong, who had also been beaten for ten days, also shook his head.

"Okay, brother Ruan, don't think too much, I think this big Chen, I'm afraid it's coming to an end."

"No, not yet."

Ruan Shantao didn't agree with Xiang Rong's idea, but showed determination in his eyes.

"Even if something goes wrong with Da Chen, you and I are still here, and there are still many passionate students here. After reading the books of sages for so many years, how can we give up so easily!"

"You... Forget it, you are such a temper that you can't afford to lose."

Xiang Rong sighed.

"But I still want to say, brother Ruan, it is also said in the sage books that a gentleman cannot stand under a dangerous wall."

"It is also said in the books of sages that the three principles of a gentleman are: a benevolent man who does not worry, a knowledgeable man who does not confuse, and a brave man who does not fear."

Ruan Shantao still insisted on his own ideas.

"If you can't even practice your own benevolence, how can you be a gentleman?"

After a debate, neither Ruan Shantao nor Xiang Rong could convince the other. After all, this was not only a difference in knowledge, but also a difference in philosophy.

So, after finishing his studies, Xiang Rong had no good impression of Da Chen Chaotang, so he hung his seal and resigned, and wandered away.But this Ruan Shantao, adhering to his own philosophy, chose to become an official. He started as the governor of a state, and successively served as a servant, minister of the Ministry of officials, Prince Shaofu, Zuo Pushe, etc., and was even promoted to Situ all the way. During the period, Ruan Shantao also continued to recommend talents to the Great Chen court, and also gave more enthusiastic students the opportunity to display their ambitions.

Under Ruan Shantao's unremitting efforts, this Da Chen actually seemed to be showing signs of revival.

However, the good times did not last long.

Seeing that there are signs of gradual development in all parts of Dachen, there are voices in the court to reduce the military equipment of the states. As for the reason, of course, it is Haiqing and Yanping who should turn swords into plows and recuperate—but Ruan Shantao can Can't listen to this, he has always been concerned about the affairs of his family and country, but he still knows, whether it is the prairie people in the north, the barbarians in the south, the barbarians in the west, or the pirates in the east... even in the territory of Dachen, there are all kinds of bandits. happens sometimes.

There is no such thing as security in Da Chen right now, so how can we talk about reducing armaments and turning swords into plowshares?
But just when Ruan Shantao wrote letters one after another, preparing to refute this statement, a secret envoy sent by the emperor came to his mansion.

"Ruan Situ, His Majesty has something to ask you."

The eunuch came to Ruan Shantao's study and imitated the emperor's accent.

"Ruan Qing, I already understand what you said. But, Ruan Qing, I also want to ask you a question."

At this point, the eunuch's voice paused.

"Are you going to speak for the border states over there, or for the court?"

As soon as this remark came out, Ruan Shantao couldn't help being dumbfounded.

After many years of ups and downs in the officialdom, he was already old and mature. At this moment, he had already spoken so clearly, how could he not understand the meaning of the emperor.

Obviously, His Majesty the Emperor has never been at ease with the frontier states.

Thinking about it, although theoretically speaking, the strongest army in Dachen at the moment must be the emperor's army stationed in the capital of Jiankang, but if we really want to talk about elite soldiers who have fought many battles, it is really possible for the frontier states that have been fighting for a long time to train. come out.When the time comes, if anyone has an objection and wants to sit on the dragon chair... How can His Majesty the Emperor sleep peacefully?

Therefore, in the final analysis, weakening the armaments of the states is actually a necessity.

Even if it's just for His Majesty the Emperor to have a good night's sleep.

"This……"

After the eunuch left, Ruan Shantao was still speechless for a long time.

Although he had already had some premonition before that, but until the arrival of the eunuch, he was unwilling to believe that the biggest resistance came from the emperor.

In the final analysis, His Majesty the Emperor is not like the Emperor Taizu Gao who had the bravery far beyond ordinary people and could even be called crushing all living beings. It is reasonable to make such a move now.

So let's go.

Since he is no longer needed in the court, what is he still doing here?

So, he packed up his little luggage and called his family, who added up to only a handful, Ruan Shantao resigned from office, returned to his hometown in the mountains of Yanzhou, and lived in seclusion.

She lives in seclusion, but after all, Ruan Shantao has a restless temperament, so he simply set up an academy to enlighten those young students, or teach those older people who don't know how to read and write. Reading and literacy.

It's like a big tree, rooted and sprouting in Ziyang Mountain.

As long as more people can read and write, they will naturally understand the principle of benevolence, and these seeds will bear fruit one day.

As the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

As long as he doesn't give up, as long as more and more people choose not to give up, then this big Chen and all the people in this world will get better.

"So this Yanzhou, it's better to be peaceful."

Saying this, Ruan Shantao, who was already very old, took up a pen and wrote the word "benevolence" in the deepest part of Yanzhou's arsenal.

Immediately afterwards, he hung the Fangzheng sword that had accompanied him for an unknown number of years under the words.

It was just one word, but it condensed all of Ruan Shantao's will.It's just a sword that has never killed anyone, but it is the portrayal of Ruan Shantao's life.

With one word and one sword, the evil spirit of swords and soldiers in the entire Yanzhou arsenal was suppressed here, and there was no further fluctuation.

"Just to thank you, old friend."

The old Ruan Shantao patted the scabbard, saying goodbye.

This sword will work with him to maintain the peace of Yanzhou.

After all, things like studying still require a peaceful environment.

Even if it's just relatively peaceful.

　The first update was delivered, and the second update was delivered as much as possible before two o'clock.

　　Also: Thank you for your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I will continue to code.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)