CHAPTER 207: CHAPTER 202 DEBATE

Zhao Hanzhang saw the boys lowering their heads like wilted eggplants, and raised her eyebrows, "It’s fine within Xiping County, just be careful outside the county."

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but turn his head and glare at her.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, "Uncle, they are still young. It’s better to have a heart for state affairs than to be obsessed with idle talk."

Everyone looked at her in surprise. Although they were astonished at her daring to rebut Zhao Ming, that didn’t mean they agreed with her words. Zhao Kuan said, "Third sister, why do you speak of idle talk so disdainfully?"

Zhao Cheng also frowned and looked at her.

Zhao Hanzhang blinked and resolutely said, "Brother must have misheard; I did not speak disdainfully of idle talk."

Zhao Kuan refused to let it go, pressing, "Did the third sister’s words not belittle idle talk, but instead exalt state affairs?"

Zhao Hanzhang was curious, "Are state affairs not worth exalting?"

"I didn’t say state affairs aren’t worth exalting, but the truths of the world must be discerned to be understood. State affairs are mundane matters, and in the face of human essence, they ought to retreat a measure."

Zhao Hanzhang looked to Zhao Cheng, "Uncle, do you think the same?"

Zhao Cheng said, "I have traveled and studied for many years, seeking a path that can save the world, pursuing the essence of humanity."

"Has uncle found it?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head, "Even someone like your grandfather couldn’t find it, let alone me."

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a while and then said, "I don’t know what essence of humanity you’re pursuing, nor what method can save the world. I can only save the people I see to the best of my ability. Since uncle hasn’t found it, why not stop for a while and help save those around you while thinking?"

Zhao Cheng frowned, "Help save those around me?"

"Yes," Zhao Hanzhang said solemnly, "Uncle, Xiping County has suffered a great calamity. Not only was the county town plundered, but the villages outside the city were also ravaged by chaotic troops. Though not entirely empty, the loss is still significant."

"The people are displaced, causing my heart great pain. Please, uncle, help me save them."

Zhao Cheng directly asked, "How much grain do you need?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied seriously, "Uncle, it’s not a matter of grain. Although Hanzhang isn’t wealthy, I do have some dowry and can manage to support them. Xiping’s people need you, uncle."

Zhao Cheng was puzzled, "Need me?"

What could he do?

Zhao Ming calmly drank wine beside him, lifted his eyelids to glance at this cousin, and said, "She wants you to be her advisor."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly, looking at Zhao Cheng with eyes full of stars.

Zhao Cheng frowned and didn’t answer; he had never considered taking office, let alone being someone’s advisor.

Seeing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately turned to invite Zhao Kuan and others, "The county town is currently lacking people everywhere. Instead of traveling to study, brothers might as well stay in Xiping to petition for the people and experience the mortal realm. You may gain a new understanding and resolve your inner doubts."

Zhao Kuan stubbornly asked, "Third sister hasn’t answered yet, which is weightier: state affairs or idle talk?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed with a worried expression, "I am a layperson, and not well-read. I don’t understand idle talk."

"I heard that to engage in idle talk with wise men, one must see what others haven’t seen and speak what others haven’t spoken. But I’m young and under-read, how could I have such profound speech?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "For an ordinary person like me, state affairs naturally outweigh idle talk."

Zhao Kuan immediately said, "If third sister wants to learn, I can teach you."

The young men behind him quickly added, "We can teach you too."

Seeing her look of helplessness, Fu Tinghan smiled, "I’ll teach her."

Everyone remembered and realized Fu Tinghan had spoken. Yes, Fu Tinghan is quite reputable; it’s said that he has his own insights on Huang Lao’s teachings and is well-regarded in Northern Land County. Husband teaching wife, it’s indeed convenient and appropriately justified for him to teach Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Kuan felt regretful, thinking Zhao Hanzhang was witty. If she learns idle talk, she might be taken to future idle talk gatherings, and they might be able to win.

While Zhao Kuan felt regret, the young men around him surrounded Fu Tinghan eagerly inviting him, "Brother Fu, shall we debate?"

"That’s good, but what topic shall we debate?"

"Since we’ve touched on state affairs and idle talk, how about debating these two: which is weightier?" One person said, "Third sister didn’t answer directly, but from her attitude, it’s evident she believes state affairs are weightier than idle talk."

Fu Tinghan: "I think so too."

They looked at Fu Tinghan in surprise, "Why do you think so? We’ve heard you’re accomplished in idle talk..."

Fu Tinghan: "So I’ve changed; I won’t engage in idle talk anymore, just focus on state affairs."

He directly declined any future invitations.

Even Zhao Kuan couldn’t help but look back, "You just said you’d teach third sister."

Fu Tinghan remained unmoved, "I’ll teach her, but I won’t debate metaphysics anymore. These two don’t contradict."

Everyone looked at him in surprise, quite puzzled, "Why?"

Nervously, they asked: "Did you lose to someone before and make some agreement?"

Imagination indeed ran wild; Fu Tinghan straightforwardly said, "I’m just not interested in idle talk anymore."

"Then what are you interested in now?"

"Mathematics."

"Is it astrology?" Zhao Kuan, recalling what he heard from his parents last night, frowned, "Brother Fu, after all, the Mo School is a lesser path. Since Qin’s demise, the Mo School has ceased to exist, leaving only some craftsman’s assorted studies. How could you be interested in this?"

"Who said mathematics belongs to the Mo School?" Fu Tinghan said, "Mathematics can be used in various fields: military, Legalist, even Confucianism can utilize it."

It is the language of the universe, the mother of all disciplines; here it could be transformed into, "It is the mother of all schools."

Everyone widened their eyes, even Zhao Ming couldn’t help choking slightly, "How could Tinghan think this way?"

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang waived her hand indifferently, "There’s nothing wrong with thinking that way. Aren’t you debating? This argument is fresh; you can use it."

A young man immediately went to pull Fu Tinghan, excited, "Let’s debate."

Fu Tinghan refused, "I’m not debating. This point is for you; have fun."

He had never participated in a debate, wasn’t familiar with idle talk, and most importantly, he knew his shortcomings. To say that mathematics is the mother of all schools, he could cite many arguments, but as for all schools...

Fu Tinghan, not very familiar with all schools, also doubted himself; military and Legalist schools would certainly use mathematics, and many things require mathematics as a foundation, especially the military.

As for the other schools, he wasn’t very sure.

"You proposed this, how can you not debate?"

Zhao Hanzhang, still wanting to persuade Zhao Cheng, hurried forward to rescue Fu Tinghan, "Brothers and sisters, once Mr. Fu has spoken, he said he won’t engage in idle talk; then it’s done. Why make him break his vow?"

She said, "To know if mathematics is the mother of all schools, there’s a simple way. Come to my county government and use all the knowledge you’ve learned from military, Legalist, Confucianism, Mo School, and other schools to work, and see if you can exist independently without mathematics."

"We’re exploring the essence, why do we need to do such mundane tasks?"

"Truth is born in practice; if none of you have practiced, how do you know it’s true?"

"That’s not right; many truths in the world don’t need to be practiced one by one; reasoning alone can yield true knowledge."

Seeing them arguing, Fu Tinghan honestly retreated to the side, watching their debate.