Cao Rui understood that the so-called colloquial language during the Three Kingdoms period referred to the daily communication language of people from the end of the Han Dynasty and the three states of Wei, Shu, and Wu, which was different from the colloquial language of later generations.
However, regardless of the way, colloquial language is always much more understandable than classical Chinese.
The dissemination of culture follows certain patterns.
Firstly, in terms of carriers, the invention of the printing press and inexpensive paper are the two elements that serve as the driving force for the spread of books.
Secondly, in terms of content, the Wei kingdom now uses Confucianism and the five classics as its standard curriculum. Promoting the five classics is therefore the focus of current education and enlightenment.
The principles of printing and paper are not difficult to understand, let alone the fact that we now have the decent Zuo Bo paper. Once this southern campaign is over and our troops return, we can then order people to improve and manufacture them.
Even with paper and the printing technique, isn't what you print on the books more important?
Currently, the Five Classics and the interpretations of renowned scholars for hundreds of years have elevated the meaning of classics to a level where one cannot understand them without a master teacher. Cao Zhi is not idle, and he is certainly talented. Then let him just go ahead and do something truly beneficial for enlightenment.
Sun Zi bowed from his horse and asked, "Your Majesty's words, I roughly understand. Are you wishing for Marquis Yongqiu to explain the Five Classics in colloquial language and then compile them into books for the convenience of scholars and students to learn and read?"
Cao Rui nodded, "Exactly so. This is an important task for enlightenment and education. I cannot entrust it to others, so let Marquis Yongqiu do it himself step by step."
"By the way, enlightenment and education are crucial matters for the country. If Marquis Yongqiu can accomplish this task, it will undoubtedly be a great achievement. Marquis Yongqiu will receive double his original salary from the moment he begins translating books for me, to avoid any accusations that I have mistreated him."
"Each person should utilize their talents where they belong. He should be working at his desk, not some empty talk about joining me on a southern campaign!"
Sun Zi nodded in agreement, turned his horse's head towards the emperor's back, and prepared to contact the officials for investigation and drafting a decree for Cao Zhi.
The decision made by Cao Rui regarding the handling of Cao Zhi has already shown as much goodwill as possible.
According to the law, vassal kings are not allowed to leave their capitals, and the attendants of the state must not investigate news for them; any actions must be reported immediately.
Cao Zhi's actions this time are obvious attempts to gain information and participate in politics, which is something that Cao Rui absolutely does not allow.
Cao Zhi, in his thirties, is the legitimate son of Emperor Wu Cao Cao, and his mother, Gongtai Grand Empress Ping, still sits in the northern palace.
Under such circumstances, allowing Cao Zhi to use his talents to write books and compositions is truly a benevolent gesture.
The Five Classics are just the starting point, not the end. Once the Five Classics have been translated into colloquial language, other books from various schools of thought can also be translated into colloquial language. Whether Ban Gu's Hanshu needs colloquial notes or not, and whether a later Han book needs to be compiled and annotated, is a matter of debate.
Let Cao Zhi settle down in Yongqiu, focusing on his work at the desk!
...
At this time, Cao Rui is on his way to Qiao County, while Lu Xun is also sailing on the vast river surface at the same time.
Yesterday, Zhang Wen arrived in Xiling. Although Lu Xun drove Zhang Wen out of the city the same day, what Zhang Wen said made Lu Xun think for a long time.
Lu Xun can command thousands of troops and horses to win battles on the battlefield, but once the thoughts he has been pondering are clear in his mind, what more is there to hesitate about?
Lu Xun ordered his army to prepare for boats and ready them for embarkation the same night, starting early the next morning and embarking in an orderly manner, prepared to proceed downstream to Mao Wan for assembly.
This is the advantage of controlling the great river. Whether it's flowing down or upstream, water transport can save a lot of time and resources.
For example, a few years ago, Xu Sheng, who defeated Liu Bei at Yiling in the westernmost part of the Wu kingdom in August, was able to reach Guanding in the easternmost part of the Wu kingdom to confront the Cao army by September.
The benefits of water transportation are evident.
Lu Xun is not a purely military general, but a versatile talent capable of handling both military and civil affairs. Although he has been stationed at Xiling for many years without much thought, after being slightly reminded by Zhang Wen the day before, he quickly understood the true meaning behind it in his heart.
Although Lu Xun's current role is mainly that of a military general, and Sun Quan rarely calls him back to the capital, Lu Xun has a lot to say about court politics. Even for some major events happening in the court, he will actively take sides.
For example, the case of Jiyan several years ago.
Three years ago, it was Zhang Wen, who made a second visit to Shu Han the day before, who recommended Ji Yan to Sun Quan as the Director of Recruitment.
The "Selection of Officials" department is naturally responsible for the selection of officials.
Ji Yan, during his tenure as the Director of Recruitment, made significant reforms to the system of personnel selection in the Eastern Wu.
Among the three states, Eastern Wu is probably the most chaotic when it comes to politics.
Although Shu Han is small in territory and population, under the rule of Zhuge Liang, the political situation was clear and it actually showed signs of vitality.
Cao Wei has always been centralized, whether it's Cao Cao, Cao Pi, or Cao Rui's policy preferences, once decided on a major policy direction, it can always be pushed through. Without other considerations, Xun Yu's death in Jian'an year proves this. The power of the established families cannot surpass the Xun family. Did Xun Yu block Cao Cao from becoming the King of Wei by his power?
However, the politics in Eastern Wu are chaotic like a pot of porridge. It's not that Sun Quan doesn't want to be resolute in reforming, but rather, under the circumstances where no matter how he tries, he can't make changes, he has no choice but to 'balance' various parties to stabilize the domestic situation.
Although Ji Yan was recommended by Zhang Wen, without Sun Quan's approval, how could Ji Yan become the Director of Recruitment and head the personnel selection in Eastern Wu?
When Ji Yan took office, the situation he faced was bleak. The war between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu isolated the border, with no talents from the north of the Yangtze River like Zhuge Jing or Lu Su to move south anymore.
The various departments of the court were naturally filled with offspring of Eastern Wu's noble families and military households, and most of them were quite ordinary in terms of talent.
With Sun Quan's approval, Ji Yan began to rectify the three offices, starting from the most prestigious and with the most offspring of officials. The Three Offices refer to Gongwu Office, Zuozhushu Office, and Youzhushu Office, which are the places where 'provisional officials' wait before taking their official positions.
Since more than half of the people in the Three Offices are duds, let them all go back home!
Ji Yan conducted a test, and only a small number of officials who passed the test continued to serve in the Three Offices. Among those eliminated, if there were corrupt or self-interested people, Ji Yan would demote them to military officers.
In Eastern Wu, military officers were a position despised by scholars. Ji Yan's actions naturally caused great turmoil in Eastern Wu.
Sun Quan received countless accusations against Ji Yan, but he suppressed all of them.
However, gradually, Sun Quan found it hard to suppress the matter. Sun Quan entrusted Zhang Wen and Ji Yan to lead the personnel reform, but when they investigated further and further, they found that the first Prime Minister of Eastern Wu, Sun Shao, was involved.
Sun Shao had indeed done some favor-seeking in elections, and he was also straightforward. He presented a resignation to Sun Quan. However, in the court and the public of Eastern Wu, this was seen as an outright humiliation.
Zhang Wen and Ji Yan, two officials in their thirties, were able to use their power as selectors appointed by the king of Wu to force a sixty-year-old prime minister, Sun Shao, to resign?
Although Sun Shao and Sun Quan are not related by blood, Sun Shao also surnamed Sun!
This caused a great commotion.
However, Sun Quan still couldn't resist the pressure and charged Ji Yan. Ji Yan didn't want to die like Xiao Cuo, so he decided to commit suicide.
It's not the right person to rely on. Fine, I admit it. At most, I will give you the life of the king of Wu.
But since Ji Yan is dead while Zhang Wen, who recommended Ji Yan for the position, is still alive, this has aroused Sun Quan's resentment, and Zhang Wen was confined to his home under house arrest.
Yesterday, Zhang Wen passed by Xiling and didn't mention Ji Yan at all, but his words seemed to be mentioning Ji Yan as if he were.
At that time, Lu Xun was one of the people who spoke out against Ji Yan's reform.
Ji Yan served the king of Wu, but the king could not withstand the pressure from both the court and the public, forcing Ji Yan to commit suicide.
Lu Xun, you didn't even realize that your role is actually similar to Ji Yan's? The king uses you to command the army, but have you ever guessed how long he has been suspicious of you in his heart? If you hadn't won the battle, perhaps you would have been executed as a sacrifice!
The fleet was moving downstream.
Lu Xun has been stationed at Xiling for several years, which was originally named Yiling. It was renamed Xiling after Sun Quan's victory in the Battle of Yiling.
Xiling is not famous in later times because of the battles between Eastern Wu and Shu Han here, but rather because of the Three Gorges.
At this time, the Three Gorges were Guangxi Gorge, Wufeng Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. And Xiling or Yiling was located at the eastern mouth of Xiling Gorge.
Guangxi Gorge, Wufeng Gorge, and Xiling Gorge extend for hundreds of miles from west to east, with mountains and ridges lining the riverbank. The narrow riverbed is constrained by them, and the rushing waters are filled with dangerous rapids. The roads on both sides are also rugged and difficult to travel.
However, as the river flows out of Xiling, the river widens from narrowness to vastness. The boat flowing down from Xiling along the current gives a feeling of 'wide and flat across the two banks'.
Standing at the bow of the barge, Lu Xun felt the cold winter wind blowing over the vast river. His robe was fluttering wildly in the wind.
From Xiling along the river, ahead is Le Xiang, where General Zhu Ran is stationed, and also Gong'an, where Zhuge Jing has his troops.
Since Zhang Wen left, Lu Xun's eyes seem to have a different perspective when looking at the river and the mountains.
Lu Xun's defense area, Xiling, is located at the westernmost part of Eastern Wu. If one were to travel from west to east, the first place to pass through would be General Zhu Ran's defense area, followed by Zhuge Jing's defense area.
Zhu Ran had studied together with Sun Quan in his youth, and their relationship was quite intimate.
Zhuge Jing is self-evident. During the time when Liu Bei attacked Wu, Zhuge Jing was in Nan Commandery. Someone spread false rumors accusing him of communicating with Liu Bei, and the rumors were very strong.
Lu Xun also submitted a petition to protect Zhuge Jing at that time. Sun Quan replied to Lu Xun, "I have been with Zhuge Jian for many years, and we have made vows of life and death. I have a 'spiritual friendship' with Zhuge Jian, which is not something that others can separate us."
Both Zhu Ran and Zhuge Jing have such close personal relationships with the king of Wu, Sun Quan.
While I have been in the military for a long time and have only a professional relationship with the king, it seems that he has always suspected me. Perhaps he has been preparing to defend himself against me since the days of Zhu Ran and Zhuge Jian.
The river wind blew over Lu Xun's face, and he snorted and shook his head.
I have nothing to be ashamed of, so why should I fear the king's vigilance?
Having been a servant of Eastern Wu, if the king orders me to command an army, I will do so. If the king orders me to return to the capital and govern the country, I am willing to take off my armor.
By adhering to loyalty and knowing when to advance or retreat, I face the king with such an attitude, how could I possibly incur disaster?
Thinking about this, Lu Xun turned his gaze back to his fleet. His entire force of 5,000 troops had been moved from Xiling to prepare for the battle in Wujiang.
It's just that I have done nothing wrong.
(End of this chapter)
