Do you know that my grandfather was entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple?

Chapter 41 Advantages and Disadvantages

Wang You, caught off guard, couldn't understand Hai Wenqing's purpose either, so he feigned confusion and asked, "Why does Scholar Hai say that?"

"I also asked my father, and he said that those in positions of power should fulfill their responsibilities. Getting involved in these things too early is not a good thing for you," Haining said.

After a moment's thought, Wang You understood the meaning behind Hai Wenqing's words.

Those in positions of authority should fulfill their responsibilities; conversely, those not in positions of authority should not fulfill their responsibilities.

This saying comes from the Analects of Confucius, Book 12, "Taibo". It means that if you are not in a certain position, you should not interfere in the affairs of that position, emphasizing the boundaries of responsibility and adhering to one's duty.

The meaning of this statement is actually controversial.

For example, if it's something unrelated to your job, and you know someone else made a mistake, or you have a better solution, shouldn't you get involved?

From the perspective of adhering to one's duty, there's nothing wrong with doing this.

But what if someone is great and acts out of public interest?

But on a larger scale, wasn't the imbalance between civil and military affairs in the Song Dynasty also a result of those who were not in charge of the affairs of state making decisions?

However, Hai Wenqing's decision to allow him to hold his position and govern was unrelated to these two meanings.

The meaning is quite clear when combined with what follows.

It means telling him that if he wants to govern, he must at least have a position that matches his status.

To put it bluntly, whether or not to implement reforms, and how to implement them, are not things he can participate in.

To comment on something and express one's attitude when one is not qualified to participate in it.

They will likely face suppression and exclusion from opponents.

This is very detrimental to his future.

If you have ambitions and want to showcase them, you must wait until you are qualified to participate before you can make your voice heard.

Wang You agreed with this viewpoint, and the reason he dared to answer the question that way was because he had carefully considered it.

Hai Ning said that Hai Wenqing said it was okay to answer the questions, but you couldn't participate later.

Hai Wenqing said this because most people wouldn't take the biases of the imperial examination essays seriously.

On the one hand, during the imperial examinations, most people would deliberately try to cater to the thoughts of the examiners and the emperor.

On the other hand, a person's thoughts before and after entering officialdom are also different.

To give a simple example, most people have a resentment towards the rich, but in reality, they don't resent the rich themselves, but rather why they are not rich.

When you one day become part of that class, you will naturally turn around and defend that class.

The proverb "He who slays the dragon will become the dragon" illustrates this point.

Most officials in the court had experienced this shift in thinking, so the conservatives did not target Wang You because of his inclination when answering questions.

This is also why most scholars in the common people supported the reform, and even after the failure of the Qingli Reforms, the voices of those who supported the reform were still equal in strength to the voices of those who opposed it, while the court officials remained indifferent.

However, if he continues to advocate and support this viewpoint after entering officialdom, things will be different.

After all, he was already an official at that time, and what he said could influence not only some members of the bureaucratic class, but could even reach the ears of the officials.

Therefore, Wang You was not worried that his answers would be targeted by some officials.

He understood what Hai Wenqing meant, but he still didn't understand what Hai Wenqing's purpose was.

But he couldn't ask directly. After all, the other person was kindly reminding him, and if he asked what their purpose was, wouldn't he be ungrateful for their kindness?

Therefore, Wang You could only follow Hai Ning's lead, feigning gratitude, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Scholar Hai. I will pay attention. After I enter the palace and receive my title, I will definitely visit you to express my gratitude!"

Haining smiled and said, "Ziqian, there's no need to be so polite. My father thinks highly of you and doesn't want you to go astray, which is why he sent me to remind you."

Upon hearing this, Wang You's heart stirred; he seemed to understand Hai Wenqing's purpose.

Could it be that Hai Wenqing wants to take him as his apprentice?

It's no wonder Wang You thought that way.

The saying "A great teacher produces great students" actually contains a paradox.

This statement is based on the premise that one can become a top student.

A renowned teacher determines a person's lower limit, but only when a talented student is guided by a renowned teacher can a person's upper limit be determined.

Otherwise, why would there be sayings like "rotten wood cannot be carved" and "the master leads you to the door, but the cultivation is up to you"?

Although the powerful clans have disappeared, the upper class all hope that their families can continue to prosper and hold official positions for generations.

The reason why powerful and influential families were so glorious was that they monopolized the officialdom, and family members could serve as officials for generations.

With the help of his family's influence and the support of his elders, his career progressed smoothly, and he quickly rose to a high position.

With the imperial examination system still in place, it is still possible to become a prominent family even with the hereditary system in place.

But it's still far from being a prestigious family like the others.

Moreover, officials who are granted hereditary titles have a slow promotion rate, and even with the help of elders, their own abilities are still very important.

Otherwise, what good is it to forcibly elevate one's descendants to high positions? If they lack the ability, they will ultimately decline.

Therefore, after the decline of aristocratic families, the teacher-student relationship was given great importance.

It's not that teacher-student relationships weren't valued before the Song Dynasty, but rather that people were generally protective of their knowledge and few were willing to take on students.

During the Song Dynasty, the decline of aristocratic families made it easier for many people to take on students.

They used relationships such as teachers and students, and in-laws to ensure the prosperity of their family.

Wang You's grandfather didn't have any students in the true sense; his so-called disciples were just people like Ouyang Xiu who had given him a few pointers.

They can't really be considered teacher and student.

If Grand Tutor Wang had a few students who now hold high positions, the Wang family wouldn't have fallen to its current state.

Wang You knows his own situation best, and he knows exactly what's going on with his so-called prodigy reputation.

But he didn't know that. With the addition of the four lines from Zhang Zai, it was quite normal for Hai Wenqing to want to take him as a student.

Sending his son to remind him, and saying that he admired him, was practically a direct hint.

If Wang You is interested, he can bring his tuition fee and visit the master to become his disciple.

Even if you guess wrong, it doesn't matter. After all, we are scholars, and we shouldn't be ashamed to ask questions.

If you want to find a famous teacher but are rejected, no one will laugh at you.

Wang You was considering whether or not to become Hai Wenqing's apprentice.

The benefits are obvious, but the drawbacks are also numerous.

A common problem among noble families is that they are overly concerned with rules and etiquette.

Wang You remembered that when Zhao Zongquan ascended the throne, Hai Wenqing strongly opposed posthumously honoring his biological father as the Imperial Father, and was ultimately sidelined.

There is an idiom called "如丧考妣", which means feeling as if one's parents have died.

"Kao" is the term for a deceased father, while "Bi" is the term for a deceased mother.

Zhao Zongquan was adopted by the emperor and then inherited the throne, so he could only honor the emperor as his father.

Honoring one's biological father as the Emperor is a violation of etiquette.

This is also why so many people opposed it at the time.

Zhao Zongquan wasn't stupid; he did that simply to vie for power with the Empress Dowager and force her to relinquish control of the regency.

Therefore, some clear-headed officials also supported it.

Can't Hai Wenqing see through this?

Wang You didn't think so, but the Hai family's noble reputation meant that even if he knew and approved of Zhao Zongquan's actions, he would still stand up and oppose them.

Unless he can disregard the Hai family's long-standing reputation for nobility.

If Wang You were to become an apprentice, this status would become a hindrance when the master and disciple disagree in the future.