Three Kingdoms

Late night.

People are not quiet.

Although it was just after midnight, excited people in Pingyang City still took to the streets and lit firecrackers to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

A sleepless night.

There are no peach blossoms on Peach Blossom Mountain. There are only two people in a hot pot surrounded by a curtain.

Fei Qian said "uh" and burped.

"Senior sister, do you know Xu Shuzhong?" Fei Qian put down his chopsticks and said after almost eating.

"But the Five Classics Unparalleled Xu Shuzhong?" Cai Yan asked Fei Qiandao almost without any pause.

Fei Qian nodded, "Senior sister is indeed Bo Wen Qiang Ji, this is the person."

Cai Yan fiddled with the food on the plate, subconsciously picked up a little and put it in his mouth. He slightly bit the tip of the chopsticks and furrowed his delicate eyebrows, obviously searching for relevant information about Xu Shen.

"Explain the words?" Cai Yan raised his eyebrows.

Fei Qian nodded slowly and said, "How is it? Is it difficult?"

Cai Yan put down the dishes and chopsticks in his hands and said with some hesitation: "This is an unprecedented book in ancient times. It was originally created by Xu Jun... How can such a big thing be done by a little girl like me..."

Explaining Chinese characters may not be a big deal in the eyes of later generations because there is a more useful Xinhua Dictionary. However, in the Han Dynasty when the dictionary system had not yet been established, this book was the first Chinese book to systematically explain Chinese characters. This dictionary analyzes the glyphs of Chinese characters and studies their etymology. It is also one of the earliest dictionaries in the world. (notes in this chapter)

According to Xu Shen's own words, when Cangjie began to create characters, he probably copied them according to the shapes of all things, so this picture-like symbol was called "wen". From then on, the symbols that combined shape and shape, shape and sound became It's called "word".

"Wen" means describing the original shape of things.

The meaning of "character" is the growth and reproduction of these original shapes.

We say wen because before the Qin Dynasty, writing was only called "wen" or "book", not "zi". The single character "文" with meaning is "文". Since the single character "文" cannot be decomposed, it needs to be explained, that is, "shuowen"; the combined "character" consists of two or three, or more different "characters". It is composed of "wen", so it needs to be dissected, that is, "interpretation of words".

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, publishing a book or a work is not easy. In ancient times, after many literary scholars created classics, most of them, like Xu Shen, chose to submit them to the court. In addition to obtaining the approval of the court, they did not have enough money to pay for the cost of publication. This was also a very big problem. factor.

Unfortunately, during the reign of Emperor An of the Han Dynasty, to whom Xu Shen presented the book, the Eastern Han Dynasty suffered from internal and external troubles, and everything was difficult. First, there was an urgent report from Hexi. Countries in the Western Regions were dissatisfied with the harsh government of Ren Shang, who served as the Protector of the Western Regions after Ban Chao left office, and rebelled against the Han one after another. Then came the Qiang uprising. This war lasted for eleven years and cost a lot of money, which greatly damaged the vitality of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Therefore, Xu Shen's explanatory text was originally placed in Dongguan Yuntai, and did not receive much attention. If Feiqian hadn't asked Li Ru for a batch of Dongguan books when Dong Zhuo moved the capital, he said If not, he followed the fire in Luoyang City and disappeared without a trace...

"In the name of re-editing "Shuowen Jiezi", I am revising this book and just add sentences to read between the lines... In this way, not only do I not have to confront these stubborn old doctors, but I can also attract some foreign aid. ..." Fei Qian explained, pointing in the direction of the main hall of the Academy, "The dispute between ancient and modern texts has not stopped yet... Xu Gong's biggest mistake may have been turning Shuowen Jiezi over to the court..."

Fei Qian's previous idea was to add commentaries to the Five Classics. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to those who relied on the Five Classics for a living. Naturally, these old guys were unwilling to do so, but how about explaining the text...

Who cares about the small private goods under the big sign?

In addition, it is the Han Dynasty where there is no so-called copyright at all.

In Xu Shen's time, the debate between the ancient classics and the modern classics was very fierce.

Because all the modern classics had a vested interest at that time, these people emphasized that the modern classics could not be doubted or changed. However, in fact, due to oral transmission, each school had different interpretations, so the meanings of the explanations in the classics were not the same. Serious and full of lies.

As mentioned before, during the period of Emperor An of the Han Dynasty when Xu Shen presented his book, there were serious internal and external worries, and he had no intention to organize the classics. Therefore, although Xu Shen's book was included in Dongguan Yuntai, Xu Shen was also old at the time and had no intention. Continuing to carry the banner of ancient classics, on the other hand, it was secretly suppressed by the vested interests of modern classics. In the end, Xu Shen's classic, which advocated rigor and eliminated evil theories, was not promoted.

And another very important point is that the classical scholars before Xu Shen wrote annotations for the classics, and they all interpreted them along with the texts. The meanings of the words they commented were basically the meanings of the words in the previous and following sentences of the scriptures. specific meaning. In "Shuowen Jiezi", Xu Shen firmly grasps the original meaning of the word and only explains the original meaning. Perhaps there are errors in the interpretation of individual words due to the limited scope of knowledge, but such behavior is undoubtedly tantamount to grasping the core issue of word meaning. .

Because all extended meanings, metaphorical meanings, etc. are based on the original meaning. Once you master the original meaning, you can use simplicity to control complexity, infer extended meanings, and solve a series of problems related to word meanings. In addition, when Xu Shen explains the original meaning, he often adds descriptive and narrative language, so that the general audience can deepen their understanding of the original meaning, expand the audience's knowledge, and enrich the connotation and extension of the original meaning.

Cai Yan said tentatively: "Could it be that the foreign aid you mentioned is Mr. Shui Jing?"

Fei Qian smiled and nodded. Mr. Shui Jing, Sima Hui, was very dissatisfied with the casual annotations of the Modern Classics. After coming to the Academy, he repeatedly dragged out some fallacies in the Modern Classics in the main hall and whipped them. Almost everyone in the academy knew this. .

Because the examples given by Sima Hui are indeed some obvious errors in Jinwen Classics, even those who are willing to argue are unable to resist. They can only lie down and let Sima Hui show his power, and then hold their breath and prepare to catch some of Sima Hui's little ones. The pigtails are back with a vengeance.

Cultural relics are the first and martial arts are second. It is not just a casual talk.

Therefore, in this matter, Sima Hui is a natural ally. Fei Qian suggested that Cai Yan use Sima Hui as a tree to bloom on both sides, on the one hand to promote line reading, and on the other hand...

Cai Yan obviously figured it out. He couldn't help but rolled his eyes at Fei Qian and said, "Mr. Shui Jing is so old, and he still wants to be treated like this by you...if he knows..."

"So I can't tell him directly... I'm going to tell Mr. Shui Jing that he must be on guard..." Fei Qian laughed a few times and said without any shame, "Senior sister, there is no problem if you go. Anyway, I said before To organize and compile scriptures, is there any bigger project than compiling Xu Gong's "Shuowen Jiezi"? Haha, as long as the senior sister reveals some reasons such as lack of manpower, slow progress, etc., naturally It will reach the ears of caring people..."

Cai Yan was helpless and simply didn't know what to say.

"Senior sister, this matter... you have to look at it this way..." Fei Qian also has a very strong level of observation of words and expressions. He glanced at Cai Yan's expression and immediately said, "Senior sister's thousand-character essay before is no less useful for enlightenment. "Erya", but whether it is Erya, Thousand-Character Classic, or others, in fact, they are not very friendly to beginners..."

"According to... ahem, my observations for many years..." Fei Qian continued without shame, "If a person wants to read, he can only read one out of ten; but if he can read, he can probably remember the cross. Two or three; if you add the teacher's explanation, you can remember four or five; if you know its meaning, you can get seven or eight; finally, if you know how to use it, you can basically remember it... So if it is "Shuowenjie" "Zi" can see the light of day again. For the big Confucian... ahem, big Confucians, it is no less than a gluttonous feast. It can make you famous all over the world and can educate people. Wouldn't they flock to it like a duck?"

"And it is true that we are the only ones who have this condition at the moment..." Fei Qian raised his head, looked at the bare peach branches, and said, "If master hadn't revised the Xiping Stone Scripture, the Cai Mansion wouldn't have such a large collection of books. If it weren't for the opening of the school, Palace, will not ask for the book of Dongguan Yuntai, so there will be no such fragments of Xu Gong's "Shuowen Jiezi"... Maybe this is God's will..."

"God's will..."

Cai Yan also looked up and remained silent.

The night is almost over.

Chen Lan Weiwei.

The hustle and bustle of Pingyang City gradually returned to tranquility, and many people began to walk home, preparing to [ . ] prepare to worship their ancestors after a short rest. This is a major event on the first day of the new year and the beginning of the year for every Han Dynasty person.

Fei Qian is no exception, especially after a new life was born this year. Although Fei Qian personally believes that this is just a kind of spiritual comfort, just like the role of many religions, the ancestral spirits are illusory, like gods, they are too high to pay attention to the ant-like lives at the bottom level, but the whole society is like this. , if everyone is drunk and I am sober, I will often be beaten to death or regarded as a madman.

"It's getting late... I should go back..." Fei Qian yawned, stood up and said, "I will leave for Taiyuan in a few days... I won't come to say goodbye to you then... "

Cai Yan was stunned: "Are you leaving again?"

Fei Qian nodded and said: "The war in Jizhou Youzhou has been decided. I'm afraid Taiyuan Shangdang will become the next target of those people... If you don't go, you can't..."

Cai Yan's heart was spinning a thousand times, and he looked at Fei Qian blankly, not knowing what to say.

"Okay, I'm leaving... Don't worry, it's not far away anyway. When the Taiyuan Shangdang has made arrangements, I will be back..." Fei Qian said, and then pointed to the hot pot, "This is I asked the craftsmen to make it specially and leave it to you... At the end of winter and early spring, the weather is still cold. With this, you can always eat hot food, which is also better for your body..."

Cai Yan still didn't speak.

"...Then..." Fei Qian paused for a moment, "Take care of your health, well...well, that's it..."

Fei Qian bowed to Cai Yan, then turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Cai Yan, "You... you arranged all these things... What about me, how do you arrange for me..."

Fei Qian turned around so hard that he almost twisted his neck, but saw Cai Yan with his head lowered and Xiafei's cheeks swaying, as if he couldn't even stand still...

"Alas... Zhao Ji, actually I don't know how to arrange for you..." Fei Qian stood next to Cai Yan, sighed longly, and said softly, "... I remember the first time I saw you. , you carried a few volumes of books and entered the hall with sunshine all over your body, like a fairy walking down from the sky..."

"... After so many years, changing from a fairy to a woman, is this a good thing or a bad thing..." Fei Qian shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I don't know..."

Cai Yan raised his head, his red lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say.

"Whatever a person gains, he must lose..." Fei Qian turned his head and looked at Cai Yan, "Like me, after embarking on this road, I have no choice... If I fail, not only will Me, Yueying, my family, children, and everyone around me are all in danger... To cut off the grass, we must get rid of the roots. I believe you also know this truth... Compassion This kind of thing will not happen to losers..."

"...You won't fail..." Cai Yan looked at Fei Qian and seemed to have mustered up the courage to say, "And I...I'm not afraid either..."

"Uh... thank you..." Fei Qian was a little moved, but he knew in his heart that whether he would fail or not could not be determined by one person's words. It would still require more people and more efforts.

Fei Qian turned to look at Pingyang City and continued: "...not just you, but also Yueying... When Yueying first got married, she was just a yellow-haired girl and had never done any housework... But now, not only must she enter She cooks in the kitchen and is also busy dealing with various affairs at home. Even her favorite appliances are placed in the west wing, which are covered with dust... Not only that, she also has to deal with the intrigues in the inner house. There are singers and dancers sent from Hedong, Guanzhong, and Taiyuan to manage the inner and outer courtyards, to be in charge of welcoming and sending people, and to deal with the world... Not to mention other things, now that I have finished the hot pot here, Yueying must be still busy. Prepare the sacrificial objects so that I can worship my ancestors when I return..."

"Yueying, and the many people who are following me, have no choice..." Fei Qian looked back at Cai Yan and said sincerely, "...but you still have a choice...are you really willing?" Abandon these books you like, abandon your pure little courtyard, and participate in the dispute over the back house... Don't deny it in a hurry. Even if you don't know how to do it now, if you have children, you will definitely be a mother. I will fight for a better future for my children... Just like Master treats you, this is human nature... And Zhaoji, are you really ready? Are you ready to participate in this bloody battle? If I fail, The body and soul will disappear together, and if I succeed... there will probably be only one person who inherits the title..."

"Yes... I like you too..." Fei Qian said in a low voice, "But those who are only for the reproduction of the race are cattle, and those who only know how to cover your eyes with love are liars... I don't want to be a beast, and I don't want to do anything. A liar, everyone has the right to choose. I also promised Master that I will take care of you...but you really have to think about it, otherwise it may not only hurt me, but also you, and maybe even you in the future. my child……"

Cai Yan was at a loss. She had never thought so deeply. Could she really only choose one between Fei Qian and Shu Juan?

"Well..." Fei Qian smiled gently, reflecting the morning light on the horizon, and said, "It's okay... We are not in a hurry to choose now... and it's not the right time to choose now, right? Anyway, I There must be a part of you in my heart..."

"Okay, I'm leaving..." Fei Qian waved his hand, "I want to go back to pay homage to my ancestors, and you also need to pay homage to my master... Take care of yourself. If you have any questions, wait until I come back from Taiyuan to discuss..."

Fei Qian smiled, facing the morning light, and walked down Taoshan with his attendants.

On the side of the peach forest on the mountainside, Cai Yan stood blankly.

Chen Lan picked up the clothes of the two of them and blew their hair, seeming to be telling something, but no one could understand...