Plan to cut off the nine states

"Shut up." Xu Chu claimed to have mastered the essence of Fan's school, but he just imitated Fan Bi's "Three Character Classic" answer.

Yu Zhan was only halfway through his words when he heard these three words. He was stunned, and then he became furious. He rolled up his right sleeve and shouted: "Do you rely on the fact that you were the King of Wu to humiliate scholars at will? Your King of Wu has an illegitimate origin and was not recognized by the world. The so-called abdication is just to flatter yourself. It is a last resort. You failed to be the king, so you came to the Siguo Valley to seize the orthodoxy of Fan's school. You are wrong. Although the disciples of Fanmen are stupid, there are dozens or hundreds of people who are smarter than you..."

Yu Zhan kept talking, and Xu Chu seemed to be speechless and kept silent. Feng Ju Niang glared at him. An Zhongqian glanced at the beauty for a while, surprised that she was even more beautiful when she was angry, and whispered to persuade his classmates. Yan Wei on the other side occasionally coughed and said nothing else.

Yu Zhan was furious, and no one could stop him. However, he was at a loss for words after talking for a long time, and the other party did not respond at all. He gradually felt bored, and said "this" and "that" more and more. In the end, he hummed more than he spoke seriously.

Xu Chu felt that it was almost done, raised his eyes, and smiled: "Are you comfortable?"

"You haven't admitted your mistake yet, how can I feel comfortable?" Yu Zhan's anger was burning again.

"So many of your words just now did not fully express your thoughts?"

"No! I still want to say... that... you can't take it away... you... that... is not the real king, hum, hum, not..." Yu Zhan couldn't find anything new to say.

Xu Chu waited for a while, "How long have you worshipped Mr. Fan as your teacher?"

"Two years and three months, I am considered a latecomer, but much earlier than you, no, no, you haven't even entered the door." Yu Zhan's anger subsided a little, and then rose again, but the momentum was weakened.

"Well, it's not too short. Even if I haven't entered the room, I should be promoted to the court."

Yu Zhan was slightly stunned and snorted a few times, "Master did say that I barely entered the court, and I'm still far from entering the room. So what? Yu is knowledgeable. I'm not the best disciple of Fanmen, but I have a passion to protect the master."

"Since you have been promoted to the court, Mr. Fan should teach you something. Didn't he tell you to talk less and think more?"

Yu Zhan was stunned again. He had a strong temper, but he valued the identity of "disciple of Fanmen" very much and would not lie to his face to humiliate the master. "Mr. Fan didn't say that. He said... he said..."

"What did you say?" Feng Ji Niang asked curiously, "You sounded very fluent, why are you hesitating now?"

"Master taught me to think twice before speaking and think twice before acting."

Feng Ji Niang smiled and said, "How many times did you think before you said those words just now?"

Yu Zhan's face was a little red, and the anger in his heart was about to burn. Another voice reminded him that once he got angry, he would inevitably fall into the trap again, "Different, different this time..."

"Shut up." Xu Chu said again.

Yu Zhan hated these three words so much that his anger soared several feet high.

Xu Chu did not give him the opportunity to talk at length this time, and immediately added: "This is what Mr. Fan would say to you after you entered the room. He didn't say it before he died because he was worried that you couldn't bear it."

"I...I..." Yu Zhan's anger rose quickly and fell quickly. He was confused and his eyes turned to Yan Wei, asking him for help.

But Yan Wei didn't look at him.

Xu Chu added: "Most of the knowledge of the Fan School is self-realization, 'teaching by words and deeds', and Mr. Fan attaches more importance to 'teaching by deeds'. You have been a disciple for more than two years, and you have not made any progress?"

Yu Zhan was more and more surprised, "You...how do you know? Mr. Fan left any writings?"

Xu Chu shook his head, "As a disciple of the Fan School, you should know that Mr. Fan burned all his articles, which is also in line with his style of 'teaching by deeds'."

"But how did you...someone taught you? It must be Song Quzhu. He is somewhat similar to you. Both are arrogant and think they can pacify the world. You killed countless people in Dongdu, and he also killed people in Yecheng. The wanted order is still posted on the city gate..."

"There is no distinction in teaching. Mr. Fan did not expel Song Quzhu for this reason. Instead, he kept him by his side and appointed him to handle the aftermath. Mr. Fan knows people, and Song Quzhu really lived up to his trust and did not disobey Mr. Fan's last words."

"What's the difficulty? We can all do it." Yu Zhan did not like Song Quzhu and was always worried about the fact that he could stay with his master.

"Have you erected a monument? Added soil?"

"Engrave a monument to record Mr. Fan's deeds, add soil to the grave to show the filial piety of the disciple."

"But it is not in line with Mr. Fan's will. If it were Song Quzhu, he would not do this. Burn what should be burned, bury what should be buried, nothing more, nothing less."

"Mr. Fan's will is to keep everything simple, which shows his modesty..."

Xu Chu showed a proud smile on his face, and Yu Zhan was about to get angry again. He forced it down, "What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?"

"Engrave a monument to record Mr. Fan's deeds, add soil to show filial piety, it is better to follow his example and make People around him admired and thought about it. Mr. Fan's body is still warm, and you have misinterpreted his teacher's instructions. Mr. Fan has been seeking truth all his life, so why should he boast? Why should he be modest? Every word he said needs to be understood truthfully, without adding or subtracting. If he said to keep it simple, it means to keep it simple. If he said you should think twice before speaking and act, you should think twice and think three times. One more thought or one less thought is a mistake. "

Yu Zhan was speechless, and after a while he said: "If everything is neither added nor subtracted, isn't it just being too rigid in learning? Mr. Fan is most opposed to this approach. "

"So he wants to burn the articles and bury them simply, so that people in the world can have nothing to be rigid about. "

"Mr.'s articles are spread all over the world, and no one knows about them. The articles that remain in the valley are only one in ten thousand, and those who should be rigid will still be rigid."

"Mr. Fan preached in words in the first half of his life and taught by example in the second half of his life. He burned his articles, not for the sake of the world, but for his disciples and just for you."

"Me? I don't have this honor. Sir, he treats me..."

"I have only met Mr. Fan twice, and I already feel that he is everywhere and at all times. Every word and every move touches my heart. Your Excellency has been teaching for more than two years, and you still feel that you are just one of many disciples? No wonder Fan The teacher said you went to the palace but didn't enter the room."

Yu Zhan was speechless again. He looked at An Chongqian and then at Yan Wei. Then he lowered his head and thought for a while. He seemed to have found some words to refute. He opened his mouth and spit out a weak air. This time he I followed the teacher's instructions, thought about it again, and turned around and walked away without saying a word.

Feng Juniang was confused and asked An Zhongqian: "What's wrong with him?"

An Chongqian's face turned red all of a sudden, and he muttered for a long time without giving a complete answer.

Feng Juniang was impatient to wait for him and said to Yan Wei: "This Young Master Yan has been silent and has the air of a master. One of your companions has left and the other one can't speak clearly. It's your turn to take action."

Yan Wei cupped his hand and said, "Yan is willing to be defeated."

He admitted defeat as soon as he opened his mouth. Feng Juniang was surprised and An Chongqian was surprised, "Junior Brother Yan, you are the only one among us..."

Yan Wei put down his hand and continued: "Yan is willing to be inferior, but he does not admit that Mr. Xu said that he has 'obtained the essence'. The twenty-two of us are all unworthy disciples of the Fan family. It is an unexpected joy to be promoted to the hall. There are no more intruders. But there are hundreds of Fan disciples, and there are those who have learned about Mr. Xu’s passing. They will come to pay homage and then discuss the authenticity with Mr. Xu.”

"It's my wish to welcome you and discuss knowledge with my fellow disciples. Until then, I will always live in the valley and wait for Mr. Fan's true disciples."

Yan Wei said goodbye and left.

An Chongqian naturally didn't want to stay alone. He wanted to ignore the beauty deliberately, but he couldn't help but bowed his hand to her and said goodbye vaguely. When Feng Juniang asked "What", he immediately blushed and hurriedly left the room.

After Yu Zhan went out, he refused to say anything. He pushed his way through the crowd and ran out of the valley alone, causing everyone to panic.

Yan Wei didn't want to say more. When An Zhong came out, he said, "It's hard to explain in words. Please tell me, senior brother."

The blush on An Chongqian's face was still there, and everyone thought he was ashamed because he failed in the argument, so there was no doubt about it.

"This... the matter is getting more and more complicated. Let's go back to Yecheng to discuss it first. It seems we have to invite a few senior brothers to come over."

Everyone became more and more surprised and asked endless questions, especially the other Fan sect disciples, who were extremely unconvinced, but no one really dared to go in and challenge them. An and Yu just returned home in defeat. Even Yan Wei said, "It's hard to explain in one word." Others even more so. No confidence.

The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving those who needed to go and worshiping those who needed to worship.

Chang Yan took a long breath, stretched out his hands, and his palms were full of beads of sweat, "I thought I was really going to use the knife. In power... How can Master Xu tell lies so well?"

The old servant smiled and said: "Lies are never good. You have to tell the truth."

"But……"

"But what? The young master went into the valley alone to pay homage to and bury Mr. Fan. Did you see what happened?"

"No, none of us saw it."

"So, how do you know that the young master has not inherited the mantle from Fan Mingshi? You just said it casually, but you are actually hitting the truth."

"Really? Am I that powerful?"

"A blind cat kills a mouse. This will only happen to you once. Don't be complacent."

"I'm not proud. Oh, it turns out Mr. Xu has really won the mantle. That's great. I can say this with confidence in the future."

The old servant nodded with satisfaction, "Just go ahead and do what you have to do. Find two people tomorrow and follow me to the city to buy some food. There are many of us, and the rice tank will be exhausted after only one day."

"No, that's why I didn't even stay for dinner."

The valley gradually returned to normal. In the evening, there were fewer mourners and it became quieter.

In the room, Xu Chu continued to sit and think, while Feng Juniang unfolded the screen, unwilling to write and unwilling to leave. She put away the tea sets and wiped the screen, taking the opportunity to secretly look at Xu Chu's face.

After several times, Xu Chu finally looked over and asked, "Do you have anything to ask?"

"I know the young master is smart, but how did you guess what Mr. Fan said?"

"Did I guess that?"

"Young Master Zi himself admitted that..."

Xu Chu smiled and said: "This is the key, he admits it himself."

If Feng Juniang had some realization, "But after all, the young master's words 'shut up' are almost the same as Mr. Fan's 'think before you act'."

"'Shut up' may have a hundred interpretations. You and Yu Zhan take Mr. Fan's words as the only choice and it has nothing to do with me."

Feng Juniang opened her eyes wide and said with a smile: "That's it, Young Master... Can I say that Young Master is really cunning?"

"Cunning? The essence of Fanmen's studies is self-study, self-questioning, and self-enlightenment. My words make Yu Zhan ask himself. If he can persevere, he may be able to realize himself."

Feng Juniang smiled and shook her head, "Fan sect knowledge is too difficult, I can't even teach myself. Where is the young master? Have you already enlightened yourself?"

"I'm asking myself."

"I've been asking myself this all day, but I still haven't figured it out yet?"

"One day is not enough. It takes a whole year."

"Is it so difficult? I'd better learn to write obediently. I won't disturb the young master here, right?"

"do not bother."

"That's good. Haha, scholars are interesting. They are forced to be speechless and unwilling to take action. Can they invite a 'true disciple'?"

"Yes, maybe one will come later."

"Huh? From what they said, the 'true disciple' is not nearby."

"Those who receive the true teachings may not be registered disciples."

Feng Ji Niang heard that there were many explanations hidden in this answer, and she was about to fall into the trap again, so she smiled and said nothing. At this time, the old servant knocked on the door and came in, "Sir, there is a man from the Yecheng government office who calls himself Sun Yalu. Do you want to see him?"

"Please let him in."

Feng Ji Niang found it more and more interesting. Even if she was chased away, she refused to leave.