Knowledge and Action Transmitted, Captivating Between the Lines

The tradition of lecturing in Great Rui dates back to ancient times and is an important part of education. Its founders can even be traced back to Sage in the medieval period.

At that time, the Central Lands Plains were filled with numerous states and Hundred Schools. In order to pass on their doctrines, various schools of thought needed to spread their influence in various ways. In addition to going to the upper echelons of the feudal lords, the most common way was to set up private schools.

At that time, the teaching philosophies of private schools were all unique and had their own strengths. In the years that followed, they influenced successive dynasties. Because the schools of thought and Sage who founded private schools were different, different habits and changes arose. Even the subconscious actions of those who lectured were given various meanings, and some even evolved into a kind of ritualistic rule.

The most representative of these is Supreme Sage, who proposed the idea of teaching without discrimination.

Being revered as a "teacher" by later generations speaks volumes about his contributions to education. The four stages of "learning, thinking, practicing, and doing" proposed by the Supreme Sage Confucius still have a profound influence on various schools of thought and academies today.

In addition, Sage such as the Second Sage and Sage Sun had their own views on teaching and educating people. Some emphasized enlightenment, some emphasized introspection, and others focused on training. All of these had a profound influence.

The method of lecturing is a part of "enlightenment," and it is also a tradition derived from the Middle Ages. There are many articles praising it and many anecdotes about it. Some of those who lectured were even deified.

Carrying the hopes and aspirations of the students, Qiu Yan walked slowly forward. With each step, he felt a sense of ascension. This was not an illusion, but rather the convergence of the students' Literary Thought, which, like the People's Prestige, lifted him up and elevated his status.

To become Grand Confucian, besides Thought-Convergent Order, People's Prestige is also essential, and sufficient People's Prestige can sometimes have an influence that is even more extensive than that of deities and sacrifices.

Qiu Yan had already realized this as he continued to explore the path of Humanistic Divine Path.

When the man reached the steps, Qiu An bowed and withdrew. Qiu Yan nodded to him, straightened his appearance, and sat down solemnly.

At the bottom of the steps, the students present took a deep breath, raised their arms as required, and bowed in greeting.

Great Rui established official schools in prefectures and counties, funded by officials and local gentry. These schools were government-run and privately assisted, and were quite formal. They gathered local students, taught etiquette and classics, and promoted respect for teachers. Even when lecturing, there were rules to follow, similar to visiting a teacher.

For decades, the world had been at peace, and many things had become established rules. In addition to official schools, many private schools also had to follow these rules. The students in the academy naturally knew the rules.

However, today's private schools are different from those in the Middle Ages. Back then, there were many states, and no unified government could gather the resources of the whole country to build an education system. Therefore, the rapid development of private schools was in line with the trend. In today's Great Rui, the official schools can be considered to be complete, while the private schools referred to are local schools that are not included in the system.

These private schools did not have a fixed curriculum or location; they were often set up as needed and adapted to local conditions. Many clan schools of the Aristocratic Clan families, as well as private schools opened by scholars, were part of this system.

It is worth mentioning that most of the academies that erected Sage Statue were private schools, but in terms of influence and lineage, they far exceeded the scope of official schools, and some were even more sought after by students than the Imperial Academy.

In terms of concept, personal lectures can also be considered a type of private school. Historically, many academy schools originated from this kind of lecture, which laid the foundation for their doctrines and revealed them to the world.

However, this approach also carries risks. If you encounter a clever person who can apply what they've learned to other situations and glean insights from the lecture, the latter may surpass the former, leaving the lecturer to have done all the work for someone else.

Throughout history, many have achieved success through lecturing, while many others have seen their teachings decline due to others usurping their positions.

This is why the Confucian scholars gathered here were worried that Qiu Yan was unwilling to use his true knowledge to teach them.

After the formalities were completed, everyone took their seats, each with their own thoughts and feelings, and turned their gazes toward Qiu Yan. Each gaze contained their own thoughts and emotions, which spread out with subtle fluctuations. Qiu Yan captured these emotions, analyzed them, and formed a general impression in his mind, thus grasping the psychology of many people.

Then, without any apparent gesture, he began, "All of you here must know something about me..." His voice wasn't loud, but it was strong and clear, making everyone present feel as if he were speaking right next to them.

"... Today, I have been invited by Master Meng to give a lecture here. However, considering that I am about the same age as many of you, and that some of you are far more familiar with classical texts and ancient books than I am, let's talk about something else. My learning focuses on the two words 'Knowledge and Action,' so let's start with action. As the saying goes, 'travel ten thousand miles and read ten thousand books,' so let's talk about some of my experiences on the Grasslands..."

Qiu Yan's words had a friendly and approachable quality that soothed the students present, easing the tension they had been holding in.

It should be understood that not just anyone can give a lecture. At the very least, one must be focused and Literary Heart. For Grandmaster like Qiu Yan, whose reading Thought-Convergent Order, to give a lecture, there cannot be the slightest mistake in terms of etiquette. Naturally, one must be on high alert and read with trepidation.

In contrast, the Grand Confucian Grandmaster gave lectures also sat upright and solemnly. Even if they did not always refer to the High Antiquity, their words were always serious and solemn, starting with the classics and their meanings.

Such a rare occurrence as Qiu Yan slightly eased the pressure on the listeners. However, in everyone's eyes, his talk of what he had seen and heard was undoubtedly unrelated to scholarship and knowledge, and many couldn't help but show disappointment, feeling that Qiu Yan was just trying to get by for two days and wouldn't produce any real substance.

"That sounds nice, but he's just unwilling to share his best skills with us. It seems Qiu Yan is not as impressive as he sounds, and he's afraid that others will learn his tricks and steal his thunder."

Hu Ye, who had previously made such boastful remarks, secretly curled his lip, looking unconvinced, and muttered to himself.

Across several tables, Zhang Shun, who had just been arguing with him, frowned, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes, but then quickly rallied his spirits and focused his mind.

"Since we're already here, we can't just ignore everything, and leaving early would be impolite. Why not listen to Qiu Xiuzhuan's experiences? He has such a record on the Grasslands; perhaps we can learn some military strategy from him."

With this in mind, he calmed himself down again and began to look forward to it once more.

Books on military strategy are extremely rare on the market, so if one can gain something from Qiu Yan's few words, the trip will not have been in vain.

However, people who think like him are in the minority. Most students are quite different, mostly from wealthy families. They pride themselves on being knowledgeable and well-informed, having been taught by renowned teachers since childhood. What don't they know? Why should they listen to Qiu Yan?

In contrast, the scholars from humble backgrounds were more composed. Those who could come here were all diligent and eager to learn. Because resources were scarce, they did not let any opportunity slip by, but they were not always successful. They had long been used to this. Because they often did useless work, their efficiency was much lower than that of the scholars from wealthy families, and their chances of success were relatively small.

Besides them, there was another person who remained expressionless throughout, watching and listening intently. It was the servant boy, whose expression was also noticed by those who were paying attention.

"Fourth brother, Hua She really did come. I knew it. You're not the only studious person in this manor," Meng Ting said to Meng Wei in a corner of the courtyard.

Meng Wei laughed and said, "Second Brother is joking. I know Hua She's situation very well. He was forced to enter the manor to give his sister a place to stay. I heard that his family used to be a scholarly family, but they suffered a disaster and fled from Hebei Circuit. He is still studious, so he goes to the Book-Printing Hall every day to help out and take the opportunity to read and memorize. He is very diligent."

The two men clearly knew a great deal about the servant, but as they talked, Meng Wei changed the subject. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. We can discuss such things anytime, but we might not be able to come across a chance to study and lecture. The study and lecture should begin soon; it's a rare opportunity, we can't miss it."

"Oh? You're in such a hurry?" Meng Ting looked puzzled. "It's just about what we saw and heard on the Grasslands. Didn't we see plenty of that when we traveled north with the caravan? Even if Mr. Qiu were to give a lecture, it's not a classic text. What we could learn was about customs and traditions, not necessarily academic knowledge."

"You're too prejudiced," Meng Wei shook his head. "I consulted the compiler many times on the way. Do you think the compiler only gave me guidance on scriptures and classics?"

"Could it be..." Meng Ting was slightly taken aback, then his heart skipped a beat, as Qiu Yan began to speak. His words carried on the wind, describing the scene when they passed through the border from the Central Plains and arrived at the Grasslands.

Qiu Yan's straightforward descriptions possessed a captivating power, causing Meng Ting and Meng Wei, who were in the middle of a conversation, to unconsciously stop talking and be drawn in by Qiu Yan's descriptions.

Of course, it wasn't just the two of them; the many students sitting in the courtyard were immediately immersed in it as well. With Qiu Yan's words, they transcended the distance of time and space, experiencing the bloodshed and chaos on the Grasslands. A scene of chaos was brewing in their hearts.

The fertile Central Plains and vast Grasslands were separated by border fortresses, one side Order while the other allowed only the fittest to survive.

While describing the events, Qiu Yan would occasionally make comparisons and cite supporting evidence, immediately highlighting the core of the matter.

"... The customs of the Grasslands people have some profound meanings. Living by following the water and grass is not a simple matter. Every migration will bring a series of problems. Just like walking, you only recognize a part after walking a certain distance. When you reach a crossroads, you will be in distress. At this time, you must make a choice."

Time passed quickly, and the morning was spent listening to Qiu Yan's descriptions. The students, each with their own thoughts, were completely absorbed in it and didn't think about anything else. However, deep down, they all held a glimmer of hope that Qiu Yan could come up with something truly unique.

Those who achieve Grand Confucian must possess insights that differ from those of others, right?

ps:

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