roccoschili Chapter 221 Old Confucian Encounters a Ghost
Chapter 221 Old Confucian Encounters a Ghost
In the past, Jiaohe (the ancient city of Jiaohe, located in what is now Turpan City, Xinjiang) was an important town on the Silk Road. However, Painting Tigers into Cats believes that the Jiaohe here should refer to Jiaohe County under Xianzhou, Hejian Prefecture. Also It is an independent town under the current Cangzhou City, Hebei Province.) There was a man named Ji Ruai in the county, and there was a man named Zhang Wenfu in Qingxian County (belonging to Hejian Prefecture, which is now a county under the Cangzhou City, Hebei Province). , these two people were both old Confucian scholars and good friends. They taught students together in a school in Xianxian County (now a county under Cangzhou City, Hebei Province).
One day, after the two people had dinner, they saw the bright moonlight outside and had nothing to do. They suddenly became interested in taking a walk under the moonlight.
The two of them were strolling around, between Nancun and Beicun on the outskirts of Xianxian County, admiring the moon while walking.
Unknowingly, I gradually walked farther and farther away from the school. There were no other houses in the wilderness, and the surrounding area was quiet and desolate, with overgrown vegetation.
Zhang Wenfu had always been timid, so he couldn't help but feel a little scared, and he had the idea of going back.
Ji Ruai was still unfinished, and said to Zhang Wenfu: "The moonlight is so beautiful, and there is nothing to do when we go back. Do you really want to live up to this beautiful scenery?"
Zhang Wenfu said fearfully: "There seems to be a mass grave ahead. There must be ghosts in those graves. I feel it is eerie and very scary. It is better not to stay too long and go back as soon as possible!"
Ji Ruai was not afraid at all, and said with a smile: "I didn't expect Brother Zhang to be afraid of ghosts! The two of us have never done anything bad, so there is no need to be afraid."
While they were talking, an old man came to the two of them on crutches. After bowing to them and saluting them, he pulled them to sit down on a stone by the roadside and said with a smile: "There are no ghosts in this world. Haven't you heard of Ruan Zhan (zi Qianli), an official in the Western Jin Dynasty, a native of Chenliuwei, now a native of Henan. His father is Ruan Xian, one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove". He is humble and uncompromising in his dealings with others. Adhere to the 'non-ghost theory'.)'s 'no-ghost theory'? I think both of you are scholars, how can you believe the nonsense of Sakyamuni's Buddhism?"
Ji Ruai and Zhang Wenfu immediately expressed their willingness to listen to the old gentleman’s teachings!
So, the old man began to explain the theory of the Cheng-Zhu School of Song Dynasty on the decline and growth of the two qi of yin and yang.
The old man cited scriptures and made his explanations easy to understand. His arguments were clear and organized, and his diction was very fluent.
Two old gentlemen, Ru'ai and Zhang Wenfu, felt as if they were enlightened after hearing this. They couldn't help but nod their heads in praise, lamenting that the old man had such profound insights into the great Confucians of the Song Dynasty.
On a whim, the two started talking about Neo-Confucianism with the old man. They had a great time asking and answering each other's questions, and they forgot about the passage of time and forgot to ask the old man's name.
At this time, several large carts came slowly in the distance, and the bells hung on the necks of the cattle pulling the carts made a clanging sound.
The old man stood up in a hurry, patted his butt, shook his clothes, and said with a smile: "Actually, I am a person who lives in the underworld. I am very lonely here. I haven't seen anyone coming for a long, long time.
I am very happy that you two have arrived today. However, if I hadn't said "no ghost theory", I guess you two would have left long ago, and it would be impossible for me to retain you two and stay with me for a long chat all night.
Now I am about to say goodbye to you two. I will tell you the truth. I hope you will not be surprised or think that I am deliberately teasing you! "
After saying that, he bowed to the two of them and saluted. Just as he bent down and raised his head, the old man quietly disappeared.
Ji Ruai and Zhang Wenfu suddenly felt frightened.
The two discussed with each other. There were very few scribes in this area. How could there be someone with such profound knowledge?
Zhang Wenfu suddenly remembered something. It seemed that the grave of Mr. Dong Kongru (a scholar in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and a good friend of Mr. Ji Xiaolan's father's generation) was not far ahead. The old man just now might be Mr. Dong's soul.