: Unparalleled Debating Skill!

Damn it, what a piece of junk! I even had some illusions about you! Humph!

Jiang Zhe arrived at the Cai residence in a huff. Standing at the gate and looking inside, he was immediately dumbfounded. The courtyard was packed with people, chatting and laughing.

Is this the Cai residence? Or have I gone to the wrong place? Jiang Zhe retreated to the gate, glanced at the plaque above it, and said, "Yes, it's the Cai residence... So what's going on here?"

"Huh? Shouyi, you're here too?" Someone patted Jiang Zhe on the shoulder, almost startling him.

Jiang Zhe turned around and said dejectedly, "Gongda, you're going to scare people to death like that..."

"Hehe, Shouyi is just joking with You..." Xun You chuckled and pointed at Jiang Zhe.

Who's joking with you? My heart is still pounding. No, why bother with such a trivial matter now!

"Gongda, do you know this..." Jiang Zhe pointed to the courtyard of the Cai residence.

"Oh!" Xun You glanced inside and said in surprise, "Master Cai is holding a poetry gathering for us, Shouyi is unaware of it?"

"This poetry gathering is..."

Xun You gave Jiang Zhe a strange look, and Jiang Zhe immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Most students who come here usually come to exchange knowledge. If they are valued by Master Cai and taken as students, that would be the best. If not, it would still show off their reputation..."

"Oh!" Jiang Zhe suddenly realized, then asked curiously, "What Gongda meant by 'usually' is..."

This time, Xun You was genuinely surprised. He stared blankly at Jiang Zhe for a long while. "The daughter of the Cai family is over fifteen, which should be the age of coming of age... Shouyi doesn't even know this?"

"..." Jiang Zhe was speechless for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, the courtyard suddenly became very quiet, followed by Cai Yong's voice, "Has Shouyi arrived? Come, come to Yong!"

The students in the academy immediately stared at the person at the door. The burning intensity in their eyes startled Xun You, and he took a few steps back.

Jiang Zhe cursed Xun You for being disloyal while walking up to Cai Yong, enduring all sorts of stares.

"Today, I'd like to introduce a remarkable person to you all!" Cai Yong said with a smile to Jiang Zhe. "This is the nephew-in-law of Minister Wang. He is a man of great talent. He once discovered the escape route of a eunuch and saved the emperor from dire straits. He is truly exceptional! Shouyi, please introduce him to all the students."

Jiang Zhe looked at the gazes opposite him—some filled with doubt, some with disdain, and some with hostility…

Jiang Zhe took a slight breath and used the trick his storyteller had taught him when he was a child...

"Xiao Zhe, this is your first time telling a story on the podium. I'll teach you a trick to keep you from getting stage fright. Listen carefully: don't look at the students below, just look at the tops of their heads. Imagine each head is a pumpkin, and there are forty-eight students in the class, so imagine them as forty-eight..."

pumpkin!

In the eyes of the students below, this person introduced by Master Cai was so arrogant that he wouldn't even make eye contact with them. Usually, they wouldn't bother with such a person, but this time was very different...

Everyone looked in one direction.

This person is utterly despicable! Most students were thinking this in their hearts, their eyes blazing with anger as they looked at Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe didn't care how many people across from him were cursing him in their hearts; all he could see now were those dozens of pumpkins. "My name is Jiang Zhe, courtesy name Shouyi!"

What is this? Not a single word of humility? The students below were even more hostile towards Jiang Zhe.

One of them, seemingly unable to bear it any longer, stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Wei Zhongdao from Hedong, greetings to Brother Shouyi."

"Hmm!" Jiang Zhe nodded. Wei Zhongdao? That name sounds familiar...right! Cai Yan's short-lived husband...

"So it's you!" Jiang Zhe looked at the pale-faced scholar in front of him with a strange expression. But what was strange was that when Jiang Zhe looked at Wei Zhongdao, he always felt that there was some dark aura on his face, and a faint aura that made him feel very uncomfortable.

"Brother Shouyi, you are so highly praised by Lord Cai, you must be very talented. I am dull-witted and have many questions about learning. Brother Shouyi, could you please enlighten me?"

Immediately, everyone watched the two with expectant eyes. Wei Zhongdao and the others had naturally heard of them; they were somewhat famous. But Jiang Zhe...

"Ask me?" Jiang Zhe glanced at the crowd, inwardly lamenting that he had only read one book, the Book of Han, so far. How could this self-taught monk compare to the native ancients?

On a sudden inspiration, Jiang Zhe said, "Don't you know that reading a book a hundred times will reveal its meaning? Even if I were to explain it to you, what you would understand wouldn't be the principles in the book, but rather the principles I gleaned from it. Do you understand?"

"Well said!" Cai Yong said with a smile, looking at Jiang Zhe. "I thought I had overestimated Shouyi, but I didn't expect I still underestimated him. No wonder he is highly regarded by the teacher who gave birth to him..."

Wei Zhongdao's face froze for a moment. Seeing the many amused looks around him, he gritted his teeth and said, "I have studied diligently and read many books, but I still have some questions. I wonder if Brother Shouyi could enlighten me?"

"Damn it, why are you targeting me?" Jiang Zhe thought to himself, speechless. He casually asked, "What kind of books do you read? Tell me..."

Wei Zhongdao immediately said with pride, "I have studied all the books of the ancient sages, including the Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Book of Poetry, Book of Documents, Book of Rites, and Book of Changes. I have a little knowledge of each of them..."

Upon hearing his words, the surrounding students gasped in amazement, while Wei Zhongdao became even more smug, glancing at Jiang Zhe.

"Look at me? I'll show you!" Jiang Zhe was annoyed by this guy's rudeness and immediately asked, "Are you proficient?"

"..." Wei Zhongdao was taken aback. With Lord Cai present, how could he claim to be an expert? After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "I have never been an expert..."

Jiang Zhe chuckled inwardly, then sighed and said, "I understand why you have so many doubts... As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise. Someone like you, who knows a little about this and a little about that, thinks he's good enough just because he has a superficial understanding, how can that be considered true learning?"

The wisdom of the ancient sages is beyond my reach; I can only rely on diligence and focused study. If I don't understand something the first time, I'll read it a hundred times! The principles in the books will naturally become clear. As for me, I've only read one book, the *Book of Han*! Alas! I can't even say I fully understand the *Book of Han*, so how can I have the face to read other books by sages? Even if I did study them, my mind would be filled with doubts and distracting thoughts. What would be the point? Learning requires a calm and patient mind. This is just my personal opinion; you should ponder it carefully…”

Like the students below, Cai Yong took Jiang Zhe's statement that he only read the Book of Han as a humble remark. He stroked his long beard, smiled at Jiang Zhe, and repeatedly said, "Good, good, good!"

Wei Zhongdao's face turned pale and uncertain. He was too ashamed to continue speaking and sat down dejectedly.

"Brother Shouyi's words are truly insightful. May I ask where they come from?" A young man smiled and stood up to ask. "My name is Zhong Liang, courtesy name Xuezheng. Greetings, Brother Shouyi!"

"Sure, sure!" Jiang Zhe wondered to himself, what's going on? Why does everyone seem to be targeting me?

"This is my opinion; what's wrong with it?"

"I doubt the ancient sages ever said such a thing..."

"Oh?" Jiang Zhe feigned surprise. "Does Your Excellency mean that we should all constantly quote Confucius and the words of ancient sages? If that's the case, what is the point of our scholarship?"

"Our pursuit is naturally to learn the wisdom of the sages of the past... Why does Brother Shouyi ask such a question?"

"Sigh!" Jiang Zhe shook his head and sighed, "Have you never thought about surpassing the sages?"

Upon hearing this, many students' expressions changed, and even Cai Yong frowned and glanced at Jiang Zhe.

Seeing that Cai Yong also found this arrogant man's words inappropriate, Zhong Liang chuckled inwardly and shouted, "Your words are quite inappropriate. How can we possibly surpass the sages and saints of the past?"

Jiang Zhe sighed again and said, "Let me ask you, where did you get your knowledge from?"

Zhong Liang, puzzled, immediately replied, "I learned it from the sages..."

"Where did the knowledge of sages and saints come from?"

"..." Zhong Liang's expression froze, and after hesitating for a long time, he said in a low voice, "From...could it be that he learned it from the sage teacher?"

"Hmph!" Jiang Zhe chuckled inwardly and said, "Then let me ask you again, where did the sage teacher's knowledge come from?"

"..." This time, even Cai Yong was asked, not to mention Zhong Liang.

"Let me tell you, the knowledge of sages and worthies was all acquired through their own learning, from heaven and earth, and then they wrote immortal works. How precious is this spirit! We should not only learn from the books left by sages and worthies, but also from this spirit!"

"If we lack the precious spirit of scholarship embodied by sages, why should we diligently study their books, merely quoting and using their words as an excuse?"

Cai Yong pondered for a long time before finally nodding with a smile. When he looked at Jiang Zhe again, he thought even more highly of him, considering him a once-in-a-century talent...

Zhong Liang was speechless and sat down dejectedly.

"Brother Shouyi is indeed a man of great talent; we are all convinced..." one person stood up and said, "May I ask what Brother Shouyi's views are on matters of state?"

"Is this person asking so directly?" Jiang Zhe glanced at the man, noticing his cold gaze, and then said, "May I ask who you are...?"

"My name is Zhang Feng!" the man said in a strong and clear voice, then added with a self-deprecating laugh, "My father was a martial artist, hence this name. However, when I was young, my uncle from afar saw that I possessed exceptional sharpness and resilience, so he gave me the courtesy name 'Fan'! It was meant to be a word of advice, but due to my personality, please forgive any rudeness in my words!"

"..." You've said everything, what else can I say?

After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhe asked calmly, "Discussing court affairs in private is a serious crime!"

Zhang Feng sneered, "During the Zhou Dynasty, suppressing the people's voices was more effective than preventing a river from overflowing... We are all acting in the best interests of the Han Dynasty, so what crime have we committed?"

Cai Yong initially frowned, wanting to stop Zhang Feng, but then he glanced at Jiang Zhe, also wanting to hear what this once-in-a-century genius had to say.

What a mess! Jiang Zhe was tricked by that old man Wang Yun a while ago and blurted out his true feelings, which almost got him thrown into jail. Now he dares to talk nonsense again?

"I see the Han Dynasty as a boat sailing on water, and the water can carry the boat..." Jiang Zhe dared not say the last part out loud, otherwise there would be a good show to watch.

"The water that Brother Shouyi mentioned refers to..."

"Of course, it's the common people!"

Zhang Feng laughed and said, "I thought it was a prestigious family! If so, where does Brother Shouyi place the prestigious family?"

Good heavens! Jiang Zhe gave Zhang Feng a strange look, feigning doubt, and asked, "Could a few aristocratic families really support a great man like him?"

"Of course!" Zhang Feng's words were firm and resolute. "Whether it's governing or eliminating bandits, it's all thanks to the powerful families! I don't see what ability the common people have to support the Han Dynasty!"

"According to you, if there were more powerful families in the Han Dynasty, the situation would be even more stable?" Jiang Zhe chuckled inwardly. Saying that means you've lost!

Cai Yong glanced at Zhang Feng, frowning as he awaited Zhang Feng's answer. Cai Yong naturally understood the power of the people, and he vaguely felt that Jiang Zhe's statement about water carrying a boat seemed to have a follow-up...

He simply didn't say it out of consideration. Cai Yong nodded to himself, thinking, "This young man is truly talented!"

Zhang Feng sensed the amusement in Jiang Zhe's words, hesitated for a moment, and did not reply.

Jiang Zhe took a deep breath and said, "Don't look down on the common people. What you eat, what you wear, and what you live in all come from the hands of the common people. How dare you say that the common people are useless?!"

Zhang Feng blushed, but still stubbornly argued, "The Yellow Turban Rebellion is also caused by the people!"

Cai Yong's expression changed, and he said in a low voice, "This is an exchange of knowledge, not a forum for you to discuss politics!"

Seeing that Zhang Feng was still unconvinced, Jiang Zhe nodded to Cai Yong and then said, "Actually, the people ask for very little; just enough to eat so they don't starve... Now the Han Dynasty is beset by natural disasters and calamities... The people are forced into this situation; all they ask for is survival! If you still can't see that... I won't say anything more. Please sit down!"

Zhang Feng's face flushed red and then paled. He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Cai Yong's expression, and sat down dejectedly, saying nothing more.

Seeing that the three were making things difficult for him, the other students retreated one after another. Looking at Cai Yong's expression, they dared not speak again.

"Hahaha! Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Xun You said with a smile, standing at the door. "Shouyi's eloquence is truly remarkable! His debating skills and knowledge are impressive! I admire him! Unparalleled eloquence! Haha!" He then looked at Cai Yong and said, "Congratulations, Lord Cai!"

"Hehe!" Cai Yong stroked his beard and looked at Jiang Zhe, laughing heartily.

"Huh?" Jiang Zhe cursed Xun You inwardly for being disloyal and making him break out in a cold sweat, while also being somewhat confused about the current situation. What was going on? He then glanced at Cai Yong.

Unexpectedly, Cai Yong misunderstood, chuckled, and said, "A quick learner," before calling out into the house, "Zhaoji, you've been in there too long, come out quickly!"

Cai Yan stepped out with light, quick steps, glanced at Jiang Zhe, then lowered her head again. "Shouyi is a man of great talent. I heard everything from inside... and I admire him greatly..."

Jiang Zhe glanced at the complex expressions on the students' faces, then at Xun You's sly smile, then at Cai Yong's smile, and finally...

"No...it can't be..." Jiang Zhe stared in disbelief, thinking to himself, "Why didn't anyone tell me this was the case?! I was only concerned with not losing face...and now..."

"Hello, Miss Cai..."

"Shouyi may call me Zhaoji, that's what all my family and friends call me..."

Jiang Zhe: "..."

P.S.: The characters Zhong Liang and Zhang Feng in the book were kindly provided by a fellow reader (Xiao Yunyun) in the group. Thank you again!

Speaking of which, I think I've caught a cold these past couple of days. I accidentally posted chapter 74 instead of 76 earlier. Speechless. I'm going to sleep now... As for updates, dear readers, I usually have a job, so posting three, four, or five chapters a day is really too much for me...

Finally, please support me! Clicking, recommending, and adding to your favorites is always welcome. This is my first time playing GG, so I'm a little nervous…

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