Qin Dynasty: Starting with clinging to Zhao Ji's thigh

Chapter 149 Deer

Ying Jing's expression remained unchanged throughout.

He wasn't prepared to continue arguing with Gongsun Long about this matter.

Don't use your hobby to challenge someone else's livelihood.

In the realm of debate, Gongsun Long, a leading figure among renowned scholars, is undoubtedly a professional!

Ying Jing might be able to bully King An of Han, but if he were to get entangled in a serious debate with Gongsun Long, he would only end up losing miserably.

Ying Jing wouldn't make that mistake.

“In the past, the senior Gongsun Long was a retainer of Lord Pingyuan. He became famous for his essay ‘A white horse is not a horse’ in his book ‘Gongsun Longzi’. Even Kong Chuan, the sixth-generation descendant of Confucius, wanted to seek out the senior to become his student.”

Gongsun Long grinned, revealing his large, yellow teeth: "That's true."

The fact that Confucius's sixth-generation descendants wanted to become his students after hearing about his reputation is something to be proud of.

Even someone like Gongsun Long, who was practically halfway to the grave, was still proud of this.

Looking at Gongsun Long's smile, Ying Jing simply said, "But I've also heard that Kong Chuan did not agree with Senior Gongsun Long's 'white horse is not a horse' theory, and ultimately did not become his disciple."

Gongsun Long turned his face away with some annoyance and snorted, "In the past, the King of Chu lost a bow and thought that if a Chu person lost a bow, another Chu person would find it, so there was no need to look for it. Confucius thought it should be changed to, 'If a person loses a bow, someone else will find it.'"

"Confucius also distinguished between the people of Chu and other people, which is similar to my 'white horse is not a horse' argument!"

"Kong Chuan, as a Confucian disciple, followed Confucian doctrines, yet he opposed the words of Confucius. This is utterly unreasonable."

Despite being seemingly hit where it hurt, Gongsun Long still managed to refute it in just a few words.

The people of Confucius and the people of Chu, the horse of Gongsun Long and the white horse, are clearly different.

"The people of Chu are not people" emphasizes the commonalities of people by moving from the small to the large, while "The white horse is not a horse" emphasizes the individuality of things by moving from the large to the small.

Gongsun Long conflated them, directly attributing his own "white horse is not a horse" to the words of Confucius, which is naturally sophistry.

But this is a difficult thing to explain clearly, and it's not an easy thing to argue with him.

Back then, Kong Chuan couldn't out-argue Gongsun Long and ultimately had no choice but to leave.

Ying Jing was confident he could refute this point, but he felt it was unnecessary.

In the end, it's all just empty talk; it's meaningless!

"I think Mr. Kong Chuan is indeed a descendant of Confucius. Mr. Gongsun's 'white horse is not a horse' theory is a fallacy and should be discarded!"

Gongsun Long was not angry when his most proud theory was refuted to his face.

He even became interested, and the weariness on his body seemed to fade away all at once.

Gongsun Long's famous "White Horse is Not a Horse" argument has been used to defeat countless masters of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

He was not afraid even if Xunzi and Beimingzi were face to face.

Today I unexpectedly encountered another stubborn person who actually wanted to argue with me about this!

"I wonder what Lord Changxin's opinion is?"

Gongsun Long grinned, revealing a mouthful of large, yellow teeth that contrasted sharply with his white hair that was being blown about.

Ying Jing knew what Gongsun Long was laughing at, so he laughed too, but it was a forced smile. He then turned to look at King Han.

"May Your Majesty bring a white horse?"

Han Wang An would certainly not object.

"Hahaha, although my Han royal palace is not large, I can still find a white horse!"

"Someone, bring a white horse."

"It is a great honor to witness Mr. Gongsun and Lord Changxin's debate today. Let me, the King, be their witness for three days..."

Although it was a little different from the original plan, the result didn't seem to be much different.

For such a high-level debate between figures like Gongsun Long and Lord Changxin, it's normal for it to last for three days, right?

Han Wang An felt great!

Soon, a snow-white foal was led to the center of the palace.

Ying Jing smiled gently, then looked up at Han Wang An, who was still excited and wanted to say something more.

"Your Majesty is overthinking it; there is no need for three days."

"The outcome can be decided in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

King Han was momentarily stunned.

That's Gongsun Long, the head of the Ming family, who has never lost a debate!

Lord Changxin wouldn't be so arrogant as to think he could defeat him in a short time, would he?

Dongjun remained expressionless, but her hands, clasped together at her lower abdomen, clenched even tighter. Her beautiful eyes couldn't help but wander, occasionally landing on Ying Jing.

Han Fei, however, seemed to have thought of something, and a hint of helplessness appeared in his deep eyes.

"Does Lord Changxin intend to admit defeat?"

Gongsun Linglong couldn't help but jump out, gently waving her peach blossom fan. Her plump figure swayed, and her sharp voice sounded somewhat grating to Ying Jing's ears.

Ying Jing ignored him and went to the little pony in the hall, gently stroking the mane on its neck.

"Lord Changxin, we already have the white horse. Do you have any suggestions?"

Gongsun Long maintained his cheerful expression, grinning and showing off his big yellow teeth with great confidence.

In debates, especially those about the "white horse is not a horse" argument, he has no chance of losing.

"This is clearly a deer. Could it be that Mr. Gongsun's eyesight is not very good, mistaking it for a horse?"

Ying Jing's tone was somewhat surprised.

"Hehehe, what nonsense is Changxin-jun spouting..."

Gongsun Linglong chuckled strangely, but before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly stopped.

Behind her, the bright and pretty girl lowered her hands from the mudra.

Her pretty face, devoid of any expression, turned almost imperceptibly. Her seemingly emotionless, cold eyes quickly scanned the hall, and the unnatural blush on her face quietly dissipated.

This woman is too noisy, so I have to make her quiet down!

Even Gongsun Long might not have noticed Dongjun's little trick, but Ying Jing did.

His gaze swept over the elegant and graceful young woman, and then Ying Jing suddenly looked at Ji Wuye and Bai Yifei.

His gaze suddenly turned much colder, and he looked around the entire hall before finally settling on Madam Mingzhu above, giving her a bright smile.

"Madam Mingzhu, do you think this is a deer or a horse?"

Lady Mingzhu immediately understood Ying Jing's meaning, and her beautiful face became even more charming, her alluring eyes full of seductive allure.

"Hehehe, of course it's a deer. Is there anyone who can't tell the difference between a horse and a deer?"

Han Wang An was dumbfounded: "My beloved concubine?"

Ying Jing looked at Bai Yifei again: "What does Marquis Xueyi think?"

There was a hint of coldness in Bai Yifei's eyes, as if he was somewhat dissatisfied.

But Madam Mingzhu had already made her choice, and he could only follow suit, coldly saying, "Deer."