At this very mont, a fine drama was unfolding at the Shengjing Academy.
The inscription on the academy’s plaque, "Learning to Reach the Heavenly Nature," was written with divine bone and grace.
When Chen Ke, dressed in an embroidered blue official’s robe, returned to this place, everything felt so unreal.
A group of scholars in high hats and wide sashes stood at the academy’s entrance, each with an extraordinary bearing. The one in the lead was the very sa person who had berated and scolded him most fiercely back then. It was said that he ca from a prominent family in the Imperial Capital, with officials in his line for three generations.
But now, upon seeing him, they could only bow and address him as "Gentleman."
Chen Ke froze at the entrance, experiencing for the first ti the status that ca from power and prestige.
He was accompanying the current National Academy Sacrificial Officer of Great Yan, a Junior Third Grade official. The man looked like an ordinary elder, but he was in charge of all academies in Great Yan and even served as the chief examiner for the annual imperial examinations. His position was noble and respected, and he held the power to decide which recomnded scholars from the academies were qualified for office. Even a Great Scholar couldn’t afford to offend him.
If he were to say soone was of poor character, it would undoubtedly spell the end of that student’s scholarly career.
Yet, this very sa traditional old senior was treating Chen Ke with utmost courtesy, welcoming him with a smile. The young Advanced Scholars and examination candidates observing nearby were all shocked.
This was the sa destitute Confucian Scholar who, just six months ago, had nothing to his na and couldn’t even bear to buy a new Confucian Shirt.
’And now he holds the power to decide who Shengjing Academy recomnds for official positions?’
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer smiled warmly at Chen Ke and said, "Chen Shidu, for you to return here with the rank of a Senior Fifth Grade Hanlin Imperial Tutor is a matter of fate. After all, since Chen Shidu has spent ti here, you must be the one most familiar with the younger generation of Shengjing Academy, correct?"
At his words, the crowd fell silent.
’He now indirectly controls who from Shengjing Academy gets to beco an official?’
If he were to speak of their past deeds, call them malicious, arrogant, or verbally abusive, their official careers would effectively be over.
Why did he have so much influence, so much power?
It was all because of one of Chen Ke’s identities.
Disciple of the Literary Saint.
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer smiled, his gaze slightly lowered as he carefully observed Chen Ke’s expression. He had thought the young man would smile happily, or at the very least, offer so polite words.
But he did neither.
Chen Ke simply regarded everything before him with a calm expression, then gave a slight smile. "Lord Sacrificial Officer, aren’t you here to inspect the academy’s disciples? Please, you go first. This junior is rely a subordinate official responsible for recording. You are the chief official; what this subordinate says does not count."
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer forced a smile. Chen Ke’s words were indeed reasonable, so he proceeded forward alone.
Upon entering Shengjing Academy, many of the scholars behaved like well-behaved children. A few, however, didn’t dare to look at Chen Ke and sat stiffly to the side.
The Sacrificial Officer scanned the room, picked up the roster of candidates recomnded by the academy for official posts, and fixed his gaze on the na of the person who had once insulted Chen Ke most viciously. "Chen Shidu," he asked, "do you know this person?"
The scholar in the brocade robe and Jade Belt imdiately fell silent as a cicada in winter. A cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his eyes filled with despair.
’My life is over.’
He had mocked Chen Ke, saying he was unworthy of being compared to the ancients, nothing more than a frog in a well.
However, Chen Ke recalled for a mont and said, "This person is skilled in debate and adept at using classical allusions. He is familiar with the Five Histories. He could make a good Historian."
A look of astonishnt flashed across the face of the scholar in the brocade robe and Jade Belt, followed monts later by a flush of sha.
The Sacrificial Officer nodded and pointed to another na.
This ti, it was a tall scholar. His burly fra could not hide the fear on his face.
On that rainy night, he had been hired to throw Chen Ke out of the academy gates.
Chen Ke spoke, "This person studies diligently and lives frugally. He has tilled the land to help the people and is always ready to lend a hand. He is skilled in agricultural colonization and military matters."
Hearing this, the tall scholar’s face showed a complex mix of guilt, self-reproach, and gratitude.
The Sacrificial Officer’s smile was quite stiff, but he nodded nonetheless.
For every person that followed, all of whom had offended Chen Ke in the past, Chen Ke not only refrained from speaking ill of them, but he even put in a good word for them.
Everyone was silent.
"Chen Shidu is indeed very familiar with Shengjing Academy."
Just then, a dapper young gentleman stepped out from within the academy, holding a folding fan and smiling.
"I just wonder if it’s true kindness, or hypocrisy."
Everyone was very familiar with this person: Young Master Shi of Duke Zhen’s household, Qin Mangui.
This man held a high position in the academy. He had passed the examinations to beco an Advanced Scholar at a young age, ca from a wealthy family, was extrely well-read, and was now at the Seventh Realm of the Confucian Dao—the sa realm as Chen Ke.
To this, Chen Ke replied calmly, "A gentleman cherishes virtue; a lesser man cherishes land. I was rely speaking the truth."
’These people were talented enough on their own. They just couldn’t stand the fact that I had used connections to get into the academy, which is why they ostracized . Logically and emotionally, what reason do I have to resent them?’
"You dare call a lesser man?"
Qin Mangui’s expression turned ugly. An inexplicable anger surged from the bottom of his heart.
It was the sa when he had first seen Chen Ke. He just couldn’t stand the sight of him. That calm air of his was infuriating, and the word "hypocrisy" had practically blurted itself out.
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer stopped their argunt. "That’s enough. Don’t cause a scene."
"If you must argue," he said, his lips parting again, "then go to the academy’s Saint Inquiry Platform and debate."
The so-called Saint Inquiry Platform was a place for scholars to hold debates, a more refined equivalent to a Martial Artist’s dueling stage.
However, the consequences could be more dire. Losing on a dueling stage usually ant just severe injuries.
But for scholars, losing a debate could, in serious cases, cause one to truly drop in realm.
Qin Mangui snorted coldly. "I dare. I wonder if Chen Shidu will accept the challenge?"
Chen Ke noticed sothing was off about Qin Mangui. He thought for a mont and said, "Let’s do it."
"Lord Sacrificial Officer, please pose the question."
Seeing that the two had actually gone up to the Saint Inquiry Platform, the National Academy Sacrificial Officer showed a helpless expression, but ultimately posed a topic.
"I ask you both: what is the National Fortune?"
Qin Mangui’s face was full of confidence as he answered, "The Destiny of a Dynasty is the National Fortune."
"When the National Fortune flourishes, the Dynasty prospers. If the National Fortune declines, efforts yield half the results, and natural and man-made disasters occur one after another."
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer continued to ask, "How does one strengthen the National Fortune?"
As soon as he said this, all the scholars present grew curious and bowed their heads in thought.
"Enhancing the National Fortune lies in the foundation. Waging war is ultimately not a long-term solution."
"The foundation of a Dynasty should be its people. When the people prosper, the nation prospers. When the people are wealthy, the nation is powerful. Thus, the National Fortune can be enhanced."
"A National Fortune built this way will last for ten thousand generations."
Qin Mangui’s answer made the National Academy Sacrificial Officer nod repeatedly, and many scholars also found it extrely reasonable.
"The young lord’s theories are very similar to the Sub-Saint’s: ’The people are the most important elent; the sovereign is the lightest.’ He must have read a great deal of the Saints’ words."
"But of course!" Qin Mangui unfurled his fan and gave a graceful smile.
Just as the crowd was praising him, Chen Ke, after a mont of contemplation, shook his head and questioned:
"Allow to ask the young lord one question: do you know how many Wen Coins a pound of rice costs in the Capital City?"
As his voice rang out, everyone in the academy couldn’t help but turn their gaze to Chen Ke.
This was especially true for the National Academy Sacrificial Officer.
"I do not."
Young Master Qin glanced at Chen Ke. He had wanted to remain silent, but after a look at the Lord Sacrificial Officer, he still gave a curt reply.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer, but that he truly didn’t know.
"Then do you know how many Wen Coins a at bun costs?"
Chen Ke continued to ask.
"I do not."
Qin Mangui frowned. He very much wanted to say nothing, but still gave a reply.
"Then you must at least know how many Wen Coins a bolt of linen costs, right?"
Chen Ke asked with a smile.
This ti, Qin Mangui did not answer.
Chen Ke gave a light chuckle and shook his head slightly. "You speak of ’the people’ with every other breath, yet you don’t even know the cost of their basic salt, clothing, or coarse rice."
"What face do you have to keep ntioning ’the people’?"
"Doesn’t the young lord find it ridiculous?"
The mont Chen Ke said this, the entire academy fell completely silent.
The National Academy Sacrificial Officer, in particular, had a look of shock and surprise in his world-weary eyes.
Chen Ke turned his head away, no longer looking at them, and said as if to himself:
"A Saint once said: ’To succeed in a matter, one must first understand that matter.’ If you speak constantly of the people but know nothing of their basic food and clothing, isn’t that just armchair theorizing?"
"The Sub-Saint said, ’The people are the most important elent; the sovereign is the lightest,’ but he also said, ’If a ruler treats his ministers like his own hands and feet, they will regard him as their heart and mind. If he treats them like dirt and weeds, they will regard him as a bandit and an enemy.’"
"The true National Fortune is people, not just ’the common people’."
"Whether it’s the ruler, the ministers, or the commoners, all are part of the National Fortune. If the bond between ruler and people is a principle, is the bond between ruler and minister not also a principle?"
Inside the academy, all eyes were filled with astonishnt. The hall was silent.
They had never expected Chen Ke to propose a "people-centered" hypothesis. It was sothing they had never heard before.
They were beginning to understand why the Literary Saint had taken this man as his disciple.
"Chen Shidu is truly a dragon among n!"
Many scholars exclaid this from the bottom of their hearts.
After Qin Mangui finished listening, a warmth spread through his heart.
In his mind, the four-character Confucian True Words for "Furious" finally vanished completely.
...
However, after the visit to Shengjing Academy concluded, Chen Ke submitted a morial to the Ministry of Personnel and the Cabinet, requesting to resign from his position as Hanlin Academy Imperial Tutor. He hoped to return to the Wenyuan Pavilion and resu his post as a Scholar.
In response, Wang He’fu expressed his deep regret.
He had just been appointed Vice Chief Minister and was in great need of talented people.
However, he respected his decision.
...
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