Chapter 80: The Hundred Schools of Thought

  And regardless of how Xiang Shaolong elevated Wudang to the sky in his heart and had a more vivid understanding of this cannibalistic era, at least when Yao Guang said he wanted to come and "talk about the various schools of thought", he really came to introduce them. These contents were extremely novel, impactful and attractive to Xiang Shaolong, because they were all long-lost secrets in time. In the 21st century, let alone those extinct schools of thought, even if there are still Confucianism and Taoism that have been passed down, are they still the same as today's Confucianism and Taoism?

  Is the answer yes?

  Xiang Shaolong's understanding of Taoism was basically limited to the descriptions in various books, such as cow-nosed Taoist priests and feathered immortals ascending to heaven. Most of them were not good people, stubborn and self-willed, often being used by the protagonist as a stepping stone to trample on. As soon as Yao Guang opened his mouth, he knew that things weren't quite like that after all.

  "The Daoist school is different from others. Unlike other schools of thought, such as Confucianism and medicine, which require a master-disciple relationship to learn, the Daoist path can be accessed through personal realization. The great Dao is omnipresent, and one can become enlightened at any moment, making them a fellow practitioner. Anyone who sincerely seeks the Dao can be considered a friend on the path, regardless of their background or previous affiliations.

  In today's world, the Daoist school is primarily associated with the lineage transmitted by Laozi through the Hangu Pass. The Hangu Daoist school is divided into two main branches: the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Human Sword Sect. The sacred sword, Snowy Expanse, is alternately worshipped between the two sects. Currently, it is said to be in the possession of Song Xiangzi of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

  The Heavenly Sword Sect has traditionally advocated for avoiding worldly affairs, whereas the Human Sword Sect holds a different view."

  Yao Guang stopped and thought for a moment, she knew that "Xiao Yao Zi" would probably become the leader of the sect many years later. The seven-country books hidden in Xianyang Palace wouldn't have much description about the internal affairs of the Taoist sect either. At this moment, she really couldn't figure it out, so she continued: "Xiang Xia Shi must remember, if a Taoist disciple is traveling outside, they must have achieved some success in their cultivation, and cannot be lazy. Even if you're not friends, don't make an enemy of them."

  The Yin and Yang family has the art of yin and yang, the Taoist family has the art of Taoism - she can't grasp whether the current Taoist family is holding many lost Taoist arts. The Taoist people are the ones who cannot "judge a person by their appearance", this point she herself knows better than anyone else.

  Xiang Shaolong nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that with such a vivid example in front of him, he was indeed getting impatient with his own life and looking for trouble. In Jin Lao's book, the martial arts were all about being stronger earlier on, and if the Wudang sect was already so powerful during the Ming dynasty, wouldn't the Daoist sects of the Warring States period be even more formidable?!

  "Thank you for the teachings of Qingxu Zhenren."

  Yao Guang didn't make any more polite conversation, smiled and nodded, continuing: "The affairs of the Mo family will be taught to you by the master of the Mo family himself, I'm just an outsider so I won't say much. Among the various schools of thought, the one with the most renowned reputation right now is the 'Confucian School' that Xiang Xiaoshi mentioned earlier."

  At this point, Yao Guang couldn't help but smile again.

  As soon as she mentions Confucianism, she thinks of the three heroes of Qi and Lu: Fu Nian, Yan Lu, and Zhang Liang. The temperament cultivated by Confucianism is also difficult to imitate, let alone Xiang Shaolong, who picks on this point, which is really too fake.

  Xiang Shaolong's face also turned red with embarrassment, and he smiled awkwardly, his heart suddenly stirred.

  Previously, the other party called themselves "Zhuang Shi", now they call themselves "Xia Shi", is it because of a closer relationship than before?

  Yao Guang smiled and said: "The founder of Confucianism should be pushed to Confucius, Confucius had three thousand disciples, seventy-two of whom were accomplished. His legacy spread throughout the seven countries, with Sang Hai's small saintly virtuous Zhuang as the orthodox. The master of this generation of Confucians should be Xunzi, and his students did not have three thousand but also had three hundred prime ministers. You should love me obediently. Confucian disciples imitate sages and virtuous people, are proficient in the six arts, and are both civil and martial. Among the six arts, the most famous is 'rites'. The Master said: If you do not know your fate, you cannot be a gentleman. If you do not know rites, you cannot establish yourself. If you do not know words, you cannot know people. It can be seen how much Confucians value 'rites'. Xiang Xiaoshi did not know the six arts before and dared to pretend to be a Confucian, which is indeed commendable for his courage. You remember that the six arts are rites, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and arithmetic."

  Xiang Shaolong dryly smiled a few times, "The teachings of Qingxu Zhenren, I naturally remember in my heart. The six arts are rites music archery charioteering writing and arithmetic —"

  At this point, Xiang Shaolong paused again. It seemed that he had also seen these six words before, but at the time, he didn't think deeply about them. Now thinking back, rites, music, archery, and literature were understandable, so why was mathematics included? In today's education, language and mathematics are two separate subjects, completely different, so why did Confucianism's Six Arts single out mathematics?

  This issue has been discussed by many people after the popularity of national studies, and Xiang Shaolong suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart. He secretly felt that those experts could only be like blind men touching an elephant, but now he can ask people of this era, and this feeling is too wonderful.

  Then Xiang Shaolong asked: "Please teach me, Qingxu True Man, why is there 'numbers' among the six arts?"

  Yao Guang heard this and was slightly stunned, then smiled and said: "Xiang Xiashi's question is very good. When I read books before, I also had this question, and my teacher answered that people can't know literature, but they can't not know numbers. I still felt puzzled, and my teacher said that all the various schools of thought learn about numbers, only with different emphases, and the depth of Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism. I wanted to ask again, but my teacher didn't want to answer again, telling me to think for myself. After all, I am a person from the Taoist school, now that I know why our school learns numbers, I don't dare to say that I fully understand why Confucianism and Mohism learn numbers. Now that the great master of Mohism is here, Xiang Xiashi might as well ask for guidance."

  Xie Shaolong was still digesting this half-classical, half-vulgar remark, and his heart felt a little puzzled - Zhang Sanfeng in "The Legend of the Condor Hero" was indeed a master of the martial arts world, but his literary level didn't seem to be particularly high, did it? How come he sounded like someone who had read extensively and was well-versed in all schools of thought, strange indeed.

  Yuan Zong was suddenly called out by Yao Guang, and couldn't help but laugh: "I was just listening with great interest, as if I were in the clouds, when the True Person suddenly pulled me back down to earth... Why must the True Person be so humble? The True Person is well-versed in all schools of thought, how could he not know about my Mohist teachings? The True Person speaks of Mohist numerology, even I myself am confused. Please, True Person, do not hesitate to enlighten me."

  Xiang Shaolong couldn't help but feel invigorated.

  Mozi's descendants don't know Mozi's learning of numbers, but Taoist Wudang people know? How is this possible?

  Yao Guang couldn't help but laugh and said: "Mohist mechanisms, wooden and stone roads - this is not the attack mechanism of mathematics, Mr. Yuan has studied it for many years, how could he not know? Fangtian, sumi, difference, shaoguang, shanggong, junshu, yingbuzu, fangcheng, goucheng - these numerical applications, can Mr. Yuan feel familiar?"

  Yuan Zong suddenly enlightened, his eyes shot out in surprise, and he couldn't help but admire Yao Guang, saying repeatedly: "The Taoist disciples are indeed extraordinary! I didn't know that the Mohists also studied numbers until today - no wonder my previous master said that among the various schools of thought, only the Taoist school is profound and immeasurable. Today I finally understand what it means to be a talented and outstanding person!"

  Yao Guang smiled but did not answer.

  Xie Shaolong first heard it vaguely, but when he heard the terms "Fang Cheng" and "Gou Gu", he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. After thinking for a moment, he blurted out: "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art?!"

  "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" was written at an uncertain time, summarized the mathematical achievements of the Qin and Han dynasties, is one of the most important kinds of arithmetic in ten books, later generations studied it extensively.

  Yao Guang smiled and said, "Many mathematical principles have long been incorporated into daily life, and those who grasp them may not even realize that what they possess is knowledge of 'numbers'. The Mohist school studies numbers to explore their applications and transform their logic. The Taoist school studies numbers to seek the Way. I'll say a sentence, and both of you are probably very familiar with it: 'The Taiji gives rise to the Two Principles, the Two Principles give rise to the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols give rise to the Eight Trigrams.' And there's another sentence: 'One gives rise to two, two gives rise to three, and three gives rise to all things.' In this, there is indeed the 'Way', but can it be without 'numbers'?"

  Yuan Zong nodded and said: "Although I don't study Taoist classics, listening carefully, it's indeed so."

  Xiang Shaolong's heart was even more turbulent with shock and astonishment.

  From one to two, two to four, four to eight, this is multiplication. Eight times eight is sixty-four, which is a square calculation.

  From one to two, two to three, three to infinity - can be seen as infinite addition operation, but also can be seen as more complex mathematical operations finally seek the limit of the result. High hand is very low-key.

  It turns out that in such an early ancient times, the ancients had already begun to study mathematics, and even discussed it to a point where this modern person is also amazed. Before, he thought that the ancients must be stupid and didn't understand anything. Where did this wrong impression come from?

  Who is it that doesn't understand anything at all?

  When he returned to modern times, he had to find someone to have a good talk with about life!

  Yao Guang smiled and said, "The Taoist school studies the I Ching, the Confucian school also studies the I Ching. Both schools have gained insight into divination and calculation. The four symbols and eight trigrams are so complex that if there is a slight difference in their calculations, it would be impossible to achieve success in divination. The Taoist school's study of numbers is roughly like this, while the Confucian school's study of numbers also has some practical applications for governing the country and bringing peace to the world. If you are interested in exploring these matters further, Xiang Xiashi, you can get to know one or two Confucian friends and ask them in detail."

  Xiang Shaolong nodded blankly, feeling that today was truly an eye-opener.

  After Confucianism, Taoism and Mohism, other various schools of thought were briefly mentioned, yet Item Xiǎo Lóng listened with rapt attention, feeling that his efforts had not been in vain. What was even more remarkable was that Xiǎo Guāng not only spoke about the various schools of thought but also interwove discussions on the current situation, the overall trend of the world, and the heroes from all sides. Although he only said a few words, they were incisive and to the point, with beautiful language and clever phrases that made the listener afraid to miss a single sentence, let alone become distracted or absent-minded.

  Xiang Shaolong couldn't help but think, if the teachers from his cultural classes back then had even half the talent of this girl in front of him, how could he have forgotten so much? What a joke that "duck filling education" was compared to this lecture! If this were a modern-day lecture, selling tickets for 2,000 yuan each wouldn't be expensive at all!

  This conversation continued until sunset and had to disperse reluctantly.

  Xiang Shaolong listened with great interest and couldn't help but ask: "Can we still listen to the true man's explanation tomorrow?"

  Yao Guang smiled slightly and said, "I've already told you most of the basic common sense needed to travel through the seven countries. Tomorrow, it will be your turn to learn from Master Mo what our school has to teach."

  Yuan Zong immediately smiled encouragingly at Xiang Shaolong and said, "Brother, you are naturally talented and will surely grasp what our Mohist school has to offer."

  Xiang Shaolong listened for half a day, and his views on the various schools of thought, especially Mohism, had greatly changed. He no longer rejected them as he had before. Moreover, he discovered that the current world seemed to be different from historical records, and in his heart, a desire to "change history" arose. Furthermore, he clearly understood that Mozi's master Yuan Zong had changed his ideology, hoping to find an emperor for the world, which was in line with his own goals. The other party treated him sincerely, allowing him to transform from a naive and ignorant young man when he first entered Jianghu, so emotionally and rationally, he really had no reason to refuse again.

  Xiang Shaolong smiled and replied: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Giant!"

  Yu Zong smiled with satisfaction and thanked Yao Guang in a low voice before turning back into the house to prepare dinner.

  The next day, Xiang Shaolong waited spiritedly for Yuan Zong to come and give him a lesson. As soon as he appeared, he threw over a sword.

  Xiang Shaolong held the heavy sword in confusion.

  Yuan Zong said in a loud voice: "You have great strength and agility, but you don't know swordsmanship. Traveling to various countries is very dangerous. I'll first teach you the Mozi Sword Technique. Once you've made some progress, I'll teach you the Mohist Non-Offensive Mechanism Technique. In my free time, I'll tell you about Mohist philosophy. Watch my movements and swing your sword 200 times first."

  Xiang Shao Long thought of that day when he had exhausted himself after using the 72 Swords and suddenly felt that the phrase "200 times" was truly a heavy burden.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, Xiang Shaolong struggled to wield his sword 200 times before collapsing to the ground, refusing to get up again.

  In a daze, Xiang Shaolong only felt that a sentence floated down from the rooftop: "Too weak".

  Xiang Shaolong: "......"

  Although this may be true, can't you just not say it?

  The author has something to say: Xiang Shao Long is too sweet, thinking that Yao Guang will give him a little lesson every day. 23333

  This chapter is Chapter 80 of the Hundred Schools of Thought. If you think this chapter is not bad, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends on QQ group and Weibo!