Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

121 Chapter 3.28

Volume Three

3.28 I really want to fight to the death with the Liu family

On February [-], the dragon raises its head and smokes the bed, which is said to be smoked with insects; it eats shepherd's purse and goes for an outing.

In fact, in the capital at this time, the cold winter atmosphere has not yet gone away. In addition, there has been a tradition of "short necks in spring" since ancient times. Naturally, there is not much spring. However, with the spring return of the earth and the light greenery, it is time to meet again. On a rare sunny day, under the repeated instigation of a certain maid, Zhou Yang decided to go out for a walk, just in time to relieve the fatigue from intensive training these days.

Because there was an extra follower, Zhou Yang naturally couldn't gallop directly. He simply hitched a carriage, tied the sweaty horse to the back of the carriage and followed him. He drove the carriage out himself. Even the Li brothers, as bodyguards, only followed from a distance. , so as not to disturb the mood.

"Master, look, there are a lot of people over there!" Probably because the day was good, there were not many people going out for an outing in the south area of ​​the city, but in the direction where Qingwen shouted, a group of young people were gathering together. Judging from their clothes, they were all scholars. , and judging from their posture, what they should be doing is the legendary "reciting poems and making pairs".

"Okay, people are just playing with themselves, why do you worry about it?" Zhou Yang gently knocked on the wall of the carriage. Anyway, he definitely couldn't rely on such activities, "Let's go, I've been holding back all winter, let's finally meet It’s green, but it’s a pity that it’s too early and there are no flowers, otherwise it would be much more beautiful.”

"Hee hee, are you still afraid, young master?" Qingwen did not forget to fan the flames.

"What is fear? This is self-knowledge." Zhou Yang did not forget to quarrel with the girl while driving the carriage, "As the saying goes, 'there are specialties in the arts', I am a scholar, and it is my duty to recite poems and compose correctly. If I am not good at it, it is a problem; As a martial artist, if I can do this well, it would be really weird."

"Liaoluuluo——" A certain maid obviously forgot her duty and dared to laugh at her own young master.

"I didn't expect that you, a martial artist, still have some self-knowledge. If you know you can't do it, you run away with your tail between your legs." Unexpectedly, someone took their bickering seriously, and the voice full of sarcasm came to the ears. The source was the group of scholars .

"That's natural. As the saying goes, 'Knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, it's knowing'. We warriors have always been like this. After all, on the battlefield, if you don't pretend to understand, you may become the next Zhao Kuo." Zhou Yang heard this. With the words "Martial artist", he knew something was coming. At this time, he was wearing the uniform of a martial artist, so naturally he would not be polite, "This is the duty of a martial artist.

It's not like studying. No matter how many words you know, you only need a set of robes, and you dare to claim to be a scholar. But you don't know how much you know about the history of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties. You see, everyone is famous. I wonder how much you know now?Oh, they are all scholars, not even a candidate. Come on, come on, let’s bow first! "

"伱——" The young scholar who spoke was so suppressed that his face turned red, but the group of people behind him all took a step back at a loss. There was no way, a martial arts scholar is also a scholar, a literary scholar is still a scholar, and a scholar salutes to a scholar. Of course, but since they are provoking trouble, if they just salute like this, isn't that a slap in the face?

"As the saying goes, 'The punishment is not as good as that of a doctor, and the courtesy is not as good as that of a common man.' Although you are a martial artist with a martial arts reputation, how is your literary talent different from that of a common man? We are all well-educated people, so naturally we don't need to salute like you." The scholar actually came up with some absurd reasoning and shouted out triumphantly.

This made Zhou Yang frown, and he slowly got off the carriage with a cold expression, and strode forward to meet him. Since there was no way to retreat, it also made him put away his original game mentality and turn all his energy to "challenge".

Regardless of whether it is wrong or right, since the scholar has shouted it out, he cannot take it back, and it will be widely spread. If he gives in, it will be equivalent to admitting that the scholar does not need to salute to the martial arts examiner, and it is also equivalent to admitting that the martial arts examiner Not as good as the imperial examination!

"I wonder who the young master is?" Zhou Yang said coldly.

"My son, Liu Bin, my father is the Minister of Rites, how about it?" Liu Bin said proudly, and the group of scholars behind him also became proud, and they raised their chests and raised their heads, as if the Minister of Rites was also their biological father.

"It turns out that Mr. Liu is in front of you." Zhou Yang bowed and bowed, which was an abnormal standard in every aspect, and his tone became extremely respectful, "I didn't expect that Mr. Liu could ignore the court's laws and abolish his martial arts fame with just one word. As expected of the son of the Minister of Rites, he is impeccable in keeping etiquette, and I will be defeated next week!" With one sentence, all the scholars were silenced again.

In fact, both of them deliberately "talked to themselves" and did not pick up on each other's topics. Liu Bin mocked the "lack of literary talent", while Zhou Yang emphasized "high and low status" and "courtesy from above and below". Liu Bin once again compared "courtesy" with Linked to "culture", Zhou Yang in turn emphasized that the source of "status" is "imperial law".

"How can the laws of the imperial court be controlled by a small official like you?" Liu Bin's expression suddenly changed, but he still insisted on being stubborn, "The place of etiquette was established by the ancestors and has always been the foundation of civilization."

"That's it!" Zhou Yang interrupted him unceremoniously, raising his voice. If someone's voice was louder, even the bunch of sour scholars in front of him couldn't suppress him, a martial arts scholar. "If you put it this way, the etiquette must be The head of Wenhua, the Minister of Rites, has the final say. When he says you should salute, you should salute when; he says how you should salute, how you should salute. No problem, right?

Oh, that's really a great experience. I, a 'little' scholar, must salute to you, a 'big' scholar, right?Yes, you must not only salute, but also pay homage with great ceremony. If you are accused of being "ignorant of etiquette" by the Minister, wouldn't it make the magnanimous laugh - come on, come on, the scholar is receiving the courtesy! "

Zhou Yang did what he said. He turned around and stood in front of the scholars in an extremely serious manner. Without hesitation, he bowed and bowed, and once was not enough. He stood up three times and saluted three times, frightening the group of sour scholars. They all jumped away, but it was Liu Bin, whose face was now covered in bruises and whites. He knew he couldn't accept the gift, but he could only stand there.

Zhou Yangding's hat just now was too big, because the imperial etiquette system was basically set at the founding of the dynasty. If he wanted to adjust it in the middle, he would have to argue repeatedly, and even become bloody. Let alone the Minister of Rites, it was the emperor who spoke. If there is no reason that can be explained, it is just like farting. For example, the Ming Dynasty lasted for the entire Jiajing Dynasty's "big gift" dispute.

"Young master, you just want to salute Xiucai Gong. It's just a bow and a bow, so why should it be so grand and formal?" Qingwen's cleverness showed off again. At this time, she didn't forget to open the curtains to assist, "If it hadn't been for master's continuous Standing still, I thought you were going to perform the three-kneel-and-nine-kowtow ceremony."

"It's not necessary. The reason why I am so serious is to give face to the dead." Zhou Yang completely made clear the cruelty of the "ritual system" in one sentence, "And I salute in advance. After all, whether it is a mass grave or a vegetable market, that place is It’s not convenient to go there, but it’s hard to say that this scholar doesn’t need to go. It’s just a trivial matter. Maybe the Minister of Rites can decide it with just one word?”

This is not only a heart-breaking statement, but also puts the entire Liu family of the Minister of Rites on fire!So as soon as he finished speaking, no one in the large crowd of melon-eating people around him dared to discuss in a low voice, let alone the group of sour scholars, who all turned paler than the last!
It's no wonder that Liu Bin's performance can no longer be described by "pulling the crotch". Naturally, there are no real talents who can hang out with him. If you expect them to be unyielding or "mighty and unyielding", it is better to wash your hands. It is a pleasure to wash and sleep.

And don't forget that the Zhou Dynasty was not a modern society. There were no ordinary people who could go out for an "outing". There might be family members of court officials sitting in any carriage. Once the news got out, there was no need to organize it. Just Liu Lun's political opponents can all jump out together and tear the entire Liu family into pieces. The reasons are all ready-made. "The eldest son of the Minister of Rites is ignorant of etiquette" is enough!

"I've seen it. I've seen it, Mr. Zhou!" No matter how angry he was, it could only be incompetent rage. Liu Bin suppressed his face until his face turned red and he wanted to vomit blood, but he could only suppress his mood and bowed, "The student just didn't do anything. I am offended, please return the favor.”

"Why, the scholar has forgotten about the court etiquette?" Zhou Yang showed no intention of continuing, but went straight to the core, "Didn't the scholar, the Minister of Rites, teach you what etiquette should be done when seeing a scholar? ?”

"You——" This time Liu Bin's face was deformed with anger, "Zhou Yang, you, a small official, really want to fight to the death with the Liu family? You wouldn't think"

"It's okay, you can do whatever you want." Zhou Yang still stood there indifferently, not even interested in refuting, "Anyway, the etiquette system is just a matter of a word from the Minister of Rites."

"I've seen it." Liu Bin's expression kept changing, and it took him a long while before he knelt on the ground with a look of humiliation. "The student has seen Mr. Zhou, and the student just now was in a state of incompetence."

The kneeling ceremony of subordinates when meeting their superiors is not an original creation of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but something that has been passed down from the Ming Dynasty. It was only "strengthened" during the Manchu and Qing Dynasty. It was not completely inherited by the Zhou Dynasty. When a scholar meets a scholar, it is usually nothing more than Bowing to show respect, but if you insist on emphasizing "etiquette", there is no problem - at least no one dares to say that this is wrong!

"You're welcome, Mr. Xiucai!" Zhou Yang smiled coldly, but didn't say anything like "get up". He just stood there and looked at Liu Bin and the group of sour scholars behind him who were kneeling down in unison. , remained silent for a long time!
(End of this chapter)