Chapter 2340 - 2074: The Rhetoric Faction_2

If Zhuge Liang hadn’t been later abducted by Li Youu and Lul Xun hadn’t been frequently taken by Jia Xu, Chen Xi would have been misleading the younger generation.

"..." Chen Xi was speechless, "At least my disciples have awakened their Spiritual Talent."

"That’s not because you educated well, but because Boyan has good aptitude. Your way of teaching, without a certain degree of aptitude, would only lead the children astray." Liu Bei waved his hand to signal Chen Xi to step aside, as he wanted to personally assess Ma Su’s qualities. He was quite adept at recognizing people’s potential.

"Doesn’t that just prove I am tailoring education to the material? Precisely because they have such good material, I educate them this way." Chen Xi argued without hesitation, how could he be misleading the younger generation.

Liu Bei shrugged, unwilling to argue with Chen Xi over such things, and moved Chen Xi aside as he entered the room. Inside, a boy was rolling up his sleeves, seemingly ready to fight someone.

"Pan Jun, come out if you dare. I’ll let you have one hand, don’t think I won’t beat you just because you’re my cousin." At this moment, Liu Minn had already thrown his outer coat and was ready to punch Pan Jun.

Ma Su, Ma Liang, and others were all watching. Only Fei Yi was in the corner, as if nothing had happened, continuing to read, completely indifferent to the classroom turmoil.

Having lost several years, Fei Yi suddenly found that his classmates, who he had left far behind, were now catching up one by one. New outstanding students like Ma Liang had even surpassed him in some areas, which made Fei Yi contemplate what he had been doing these past years.

"Is this about to turn into a fight?" Chen Xi said with a smile as he entered, seeing the chaos in the classroom. Still young, still lively indeed.

"Uh, greetings, teacher!" Seeing Huang Chengyan also enter, the most enthusiastic boy immediately stood still and saluted first.

"Alright, everyone sit down. We have esteemed guests here, and yet you act like this." Huang Chengyan scolded with a smile, without explicitly stating the identities of Chen Xi and Liu Bei.

Over twenty boys all returned to their seats, some sitting upright, some curious, some looking around. Varied and diverse, only Fei Yi continued to study Classic Books as if he hadn’t seen Liu Bei and Chen Xi.

"Isn’t this dull? How about I pose a question, solve it, and I’ll give a reward." Chen Xi asked Huang Chengyan, seeing a group of elementary students pretending to sit properly. Chen Xi suddenly had the urge to "educate" the elementary students. It was time for them to understand what real skill was.

"If you pose questions of the previous standard, I’m afraid you’ll be the only one who can answer them." Huang Chengyan waved his hand, indicating for Chen Xi to hold back, "If you plan based on Political Strategy and Imperial Stratagem, I’m afraid few will grasp it."

Huang Chengyan decisively rejected Chen Xi’s proposal. Going up to beat elementary students is just unscrupulous. Playing like this might cast psychological shadows on half of the twenty students in the class. Bullying isn’t supposed to be like this; at least wait until they’re mentally mature.

As soon as Huang Chengyan spoke, several boys’ eyes lit up and their expressions showed even more differences, obviously some had already guessed.

"Kid, you seem pretty excited, is there something exciting?" Chen Xi jokingly pointed at the eight-or-nine-year-old Ma Su to ask, just appropriately met Ma Su today, Chen Xi deeply believed Ma Su was worth researching.

With this idea in mind and Liu Bei not yet speaking up, Chen Xi asked himself. The young Ma Su might be quite interesting.

"Why can’t I be excited about seeing my future self just a decade early? Who else in life gets this?" Ma Su replied loudly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei raised an eyebrow, visibly showing surprise. Today’s visit was completely unexpected, and under such surprise, having someone among these youths who could recognize them was amazing enough.

In these circumstances, for Ma Su to respond with such a classic reply, even Liu Bei had to admire it. Goals, ideals, aspirations, and double-meaning respect were fully expressed in a single breath.

[Zichuan’s sharp insight is consistent, among this group, besides the boy called Fei Yi who continues his own thing, few could match this kid. Just the quick wit is unlike ordinary people.] Liu Bei secretly marveled, not mentioning anything else, just this answer was enough to showcase his quick intelligence.

"I never thought I was so mischievous when I was young." Chen Xi laughed, then his face turned solemn, [This reply, haha, at ten I definitely couldn’t come up with this.]

"Youngsters should do young things, gentlemen follow gentleman’s rules." Ma Su also said sternly.

"That’s sophistry, entirely plagiarizing Confucius’s idea of ’Each performs its own duty, the world remains harmonious.’ Chen Xi looked at Ma Su with deep meaning.

Compared to the easily ruffled Fa Zheng back then and the ever-calm Zhuge Liang, Ma Su seems more outspoken in character and agile in thinking.

[Hmm, currently, this performance is quite excellent. Intellectually and in terms of agility, he has already far exceeded an ordinary person. He indeed belongs to those with great intelligence and strategy but poor practical skills.] Chen Xi silently thought.

Speaking of which, history did have cases where intellect and academia were overwhelming, while execution capability was disastrously poor.

The fourth volume of Hann Fei’s original text extensively describes Imperial Stratagems and deeply analyzes the principles, necessity, and concrete implementation of imperial power, showcasing the author’s profound contemplation and response to Imperial Stratagems, perfectly demonstrating his wisdom.

After reading it, it feels like this person was definitely a master in this aspect. Yet the reason he died...

Simply put, some people belong to the category where my strategy intellect is so high, my wisdom is so profound, my exhibited wisdom is so formidable, then theoretically speaking, my practical ability would be terrible.

Was Hann Fei foolish? Probably since ancient times, those wiser than him are few. Even the Imperial Stratagems learned by later rulers originated from here. Yet the reason he died feels like he "died from doing..."

"Learning from predecessors, using it for today’s people, if it weren’t useful, how would it be passed down." Ma Su seemed to be replying, yet also questioning.

Chen Xi nodded in satisfaction, "You’re not bad," he turned to Liu Bei, "How about it?"

"Indeed not bad." Liu Bei nodded, even he had to admit that a child under ten handling things so wonderfully was beyond expectation.

Chen Xi smiled faintly to himself. If Ma Su becomes significant someday, today’s incident will surely enter the annals of history, likely circulating like Zhong Hui’s statement to Cao Pi, "With trembling fear, sweat dare not pour," passing down through the ages.

"Study well, someday you might be like me. Although many watch me, your current level is still quite far off," Chen Xi said with a smile. Ma Su’s response indeed astonishingly exceeded expectations, needing to boast about it to Lu Xun.

With Lu Xun’s current mindset, as long as Chen Xi tells him, Lu Xun will definitely come to challenge Ma Su. But considering Lu Xun is now fifteen or sixteen, bullying a sub-ten-year-old Ma Su seems somewhat inappropriate. After thinking, Chen Xi decided still to brag to Lu Xun.

As a member of the mouth-cannon party, at the very least you should have self-awareness, should at least know your weaknesses, dying at Jieting obviously shows poor practical skills. Hence, it’s necessary to let Lu Xun educate Ma Su on how to develop when practical ability is terribly lacking.

Liu Bei and Chen Xi didn’t stay long; they soon left. After the two left, Ma Su finally took a breath, feeling entirely drained.