Chapter 61

Wang Ju not only planned to "forcefully enter the Zhang residence" but also brought his younger brother and sister. Since Cheng Kan had mentioned him in his letter to Zhang Zai, he must have said something about him. However, at least Cheng Kan was not a "villain" and would not excessively distort the truth.

Wang Ju had managed to survive independently and raise his younger brother and sister to be healthy and plump, teaching them many characters. Considering his age, this was a significant achievement, aligning well with Confucian values of filial piety and fraternal love.

Moreover, Wang Ju had confidence for another reason. Zhang Zai did not reject military strategy and had a relatively pure heart, unlike those scholars who preached righteousness but were inwardly corrupt. This was why he could proclaim, "To establish the mind of heaven and earth, to secure the welfare of the people, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in a peaceful era for all generations."

However, before heading to the Zhang residence, Wang Ju wandered the streets and bought some gifts.

These were the traditional gifts for a teacher.

At the time, there was no concept of the "six gifts," and if following Confucius's prescribed teacher-gift, it would be ten pieces of dried meat. The purpose of the gift was to show respect to the teacher; how could one seek the Way without respecting the teacher?

However, ten pieces of dried meat were not mandatory. During the Spring and Autumn period, ten pieces of dried meat were a significant gift. If that were the case, how could poor students like Yan Hui, Zi Lu, Bu Shang, Ran Qiu, and Zhong Gong afford such a gift?

At that time, there were no strict regulations about the teacher-gift. Those with money could give more, and those without could give less.

Unfortunately, Zhu Xi later said that ten pieces of dried meat were the minimum, and one must add more gifts to become a disciple...

Wang Ju knew this but still followed the later tradition of the "six gifts": celery, symbolizing diligence and hard work; lotus seeds, symbolizing the teacher's efforts; red beans, symbolizing good fortune; jujubes, symbolizing early success; dried longan, symbolizing a perfect outcome; and dried lean meat strips to express the disciple's sincerity.

Yunyan was a small county with limited goods. Wang Ju wandered for a long time to find these six items, and he even used green vegetables instead of celery. For 100 strings of cash, it was impossible to find celery in Yunyan during the New Year!

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zai was not at home but at the county office, meeting with elders and gentry to celebrate the New Year.

"Let's go to the county office."

Wang Ju led Er Niu, San Niu, and Quan Erzhang, along with Da Huang, straight to the Yunyan county office.

The county office was simple, with a loose and relaxed bailiff standing guard, who questioned Quan Erzhang. Among the four, only Quan Erzhang was an adult, so he was mistaken for the main person.

Quan Erzhang, who had been a martial arts instructor for the Zhu family, replied, "Mr. Zhang has invited us."

He then lifted the gift basket, and the bailiff immediately let them in.

"Good job, Brother Erzhang," Wang Ju praised.

Inside, there were several dozen people, half of them elders, just as rumored.

The rest were dressed more formally, likely gentry from various parts of Yunyan County, and a few officials in black robes, who were probably the county clerks. These clerks were the arms of the officials in each state and county. If used well, with a bit of effort and without greed, they could achieve good governance. If used poorly, conflicts could arise, and they could even be sidelined. There was also a man in a green robe, who was likely the county secretary, and another lean middle-aged man in a green official robe sitting in the center.

Wang Ju walked forward, hands in his sleeves.

This was also a rule. In daily greetings, the lower the bow, the more respectful. There was no kneeling yet, but the most respectful gesture was to prostrate oneself on the ground, which was a grand gesture from commoners to officials. For a teacher, a slight bow was sufficient, and the hands were kept in the sleeves.

"Your humble student, Wang Ju from Baoan, pays respects to Mr. Zhang." Wang Ju bowed slightly, then stood up and gestured to Er Niu and San Niu.

Er Niu and San Niu recited in unison:

The Disciple's Rules, the teachings of the sages. First, filial piety and fraternal love, then caution and trustworthiness. Love all, and be close to the benevolent. If there is time, then study literature. When parents call, respond promptly...

This was the famous "Disciple's Rules."

In Wang Family Village, Wang Ju had tried to teach Er Niu and San Niu, but conditions were poor, and he occasionally taught them the "Analects." However, for their age, many parts were too profound.

Then he obtained the "Thousand Character Classic" from the Zhu family. The "Thousand Character Classic" was beautifully written and rhymed, but its content was too abstract, and the teaching effect was not good.

But there were also启蒙 articles like the "Hundred Family Surnames," the "Three-Character Classic," and the "Disciple's Rules." The latter two were better than the "Thousand Character Classic," but Wang Ju could not remember most of the "Three-Character Classic," and he had forgotten much of the "Disciple's Rules." However, the "Disciple's Rules" focused on Confucian values of filial piety, fraternal love, caution, trustworthiness, benevolence, and diligence, so Wang Ju pieced together nearly a thousand words, with about a third of it being his own creation.

He then taught it to Er Niu and San Niu, his cousins, and a few other children in the village, and left a copy in the village. However, Wang Family Village was too remote, and it did not spread.

Zhang Zai was initially angry. Damn, you brat, do you know manners?

He was about to drive the four of them out, but after Er Niu and San Niu recited a few lines, he could not do so. He had been a teacher for a long time. Later generations might exaggerate and beautify his teaching in Guanzhong, but in reality, it was for a living. His education caused a sensation because he had knowledge, and many famous scholars came to study with him. However, he was still teaching, not promoting Confucianism. Even now, his Confucian theory had not formed...

He married late, not until he was in his thirties after passing the imperial examination.

Then, Wen Yanbo authorized him to lecture on the "I Ching" at the Xiangguo Temple, and he met the Cheng brothers, which brought him fame and made him a top Confucian scholar. From then on, he began to truly reflect on Confucianism.

Wen Yanbo was Cheng Kan's father-in-law, and since Zhang Zai was under Cheng Kan's jurisdiction, they must have interacted or corresponded.

Therefore, his longest career was as a teacher.

How could he not understand the significance?

After Er Niu and San Niu finished reciting the Wang Family version of the "Disciple's Rules," Wang Ju stepped forward again and bowed, the second bow: "Your humble student, Wang Ju from Baoan, pays respects to Mr. Zhang."

He then raised his head and said, "Xunzi said, 'A gentleman has three kinds of forgiveness: if he has a ruler but does not serve him, and has a minister but demands his service, this is not forgiveness. If he has parents but does not repay them, and has children but demands their filial piety, this is not forgiveness. If he has an elder brother but does not respect him, and has a younger brother but demands his obedience, this is not forgiveness. If a scholar understands these three kinds of forgiveness, he can be upright. However, the Master also said, 'Be sincere and diligent in learning, hold fast to the good way, do not enter a dangerous state, do not dwell in a chaotic state. When the Way prevails in the world, show yourself; when it does not, withdraw. It is shameful to be poor and lowly in a state where the Way prevails, and shameful to be rich and honored in a state where the Way does not prevail. Why is there such a difference? Your humble student believes that loyalty, filial piety, and fraternal love are only one aspect of the relationship. Just as in this world, there is no yang without yin, and no light without darkness. Therefore, loyalty, filial piety, and fraternal love have another side, which is the ruler's benevolence and the minister's loyalty, the parents' kindness and the children's filial piety, the elder brother's friendliness and the younger brother's respect. For example, Bi Gan served King Zhou, and no matter how loyal he was, he could not avoid being executed. As for Du Xiangong's elder brother, no matter how respectful he was, he could not survive and had to flee. If only loyalty is emphasized, the ruler may become arrogant; if only filial piety is emphasized, the parents may become cruel and biased; if only fraternal love is emphasized, the elder brother may not know how to be friendly to his younger siblings. Therefore, the Master said, 'When the Way does not prevail, withdraw,' which is also a wise approach. Is this correct, please instruct me, Mr. Zhang."

In fact, it was the philosophy of opposition and unity.

Laozi and the "I Ching" also wrote about it, but not clearly. Wang Ju was the first to openly propose it.

Zhang Zai was taken aback but, with his greater knowledge, quickly recovered: "The ruler is in front, the minister is behind; the parents are in front, the children are behind; the elder brother is in front, the younger brother is behind. If the order is unclear, how can one govern the state and manage the family?"

This was another perspective.

It implied that if everyone acted like you, the state would be in chaos.

However, Wang Ju was delighted. Was this a small step or a big step toward resolving the confusion?

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