Chapter 1468: Chapter 80: Passing the Torch (Part 2)
Jiang Shouyi said warmly: “This ti, it’s still bringing you, Anfeng, into the fold.”
Wang Anfeng replied: “When the ntor has matters, the disciple carries the burden.”
Jiang Shouyi smiled and spoke softly:
“I suppose once the people are enlightened, such matters should beco less frequent.”
Then he added: “Behind the Imperial Academy, there’s a plum forest about three to five miles away, every year it blooms better. You can still co here and see it in the future, perhaps it will be better than this ti.”
“There are so teapots and books at ho, and so notes. If you have free ti, you can co and take them.”
These were all warm, small matters, and Wang Anfeng agreed to each one.
The carriage slowly passed through the gates of the Imperial Academy, and under an old tree opposite the Academy, an elderly man dressed in the robes of a Master stood with a sorrowful face, watching those young students full of passionate emotions, tears streaming down his face.
His grief was not for the death of his nephew.
A great man can die aningfully, sacrificing himself for a principle, not lesser than Mount Tai, which is sothing many seek but cannot achieve.
Though saddened, he felt only that a wild song of farewell was fitting, so as not to let down his nephew’s actions.
He was distressed by these young people being used.
What grieved him, was that those who stood for the people were most deeply hurt by them, and he was pained that such a person’s departure left few feeling sorrowful, with no one understanding Jiang Shouyi’s aspirations and resolve, eventually to be like ripples smoothed back on the water’s surface, forgotten in ten, a hundred years, with no one to rember the Scholar, haunting him with sleepless nights.
He even relentlessly questioned himself in his heart, whether such an Imperial Academy is worth it, as like a long night, one person transforms into a candle only briefly illuminating.
Afterwards, perhaps still a long night; is it worthwhile?
Jiang Shouyi respectfully bowed in the direction of the old man from one side of the carriage.
In those days, it was that elder who spared no effort to allow him to return to the Imperial Academy.
It was also the elder who supported his recklessness.
The carriage slowly moved on.
This ti, he must finally leave Heaven Capital City.
……
Outside the gates of Heaven Capital City, ten miles away, there lies a ten-mile-long embanknt, planted with willow trees.
In past years each spring, when the willows sprouted, the ten-mile pavilion would be a pleasant scene of greenery, but now it’s not yet ti, although winter has passed, spring is still so ti away, so this place for farewell with willows has few visitors, the empty willow branches swaying in the wind, bringing a touch of lancholy.
A Scholar in plain clothes arrived early to one side of the willow embanknt, sitting on a rock beside it.
His clothes were washed until faded, yet tidily arranged, and his eyes and brows carried a youthful vigor and sharp essence, yet also composed, with two books placed beside him, taking a hard, dry bun, dipping it in hot water to eat, earnestly reading with focused diligence.
He was not the first to arrive; this area, otherwise sparse with people around New Year, now had considerably more, with sparse passersby along the road to Heaven Capital City, curiously looking over to find mostly Scholars gathered here.
Normally, even having a few individuals would be rare, yet today there were nearly a hundred Scholars, naturally igniting curiosity within people.
An elderly gentleman with graying hair overheard the coachman speaking of the matter, he even had the coachman halt the carriage, stepping out to look over, indeed finding the ten-mile pavilion filled with dozens of Scholars.
Though youthful, upon one glance, they each held their own deanor; the elder was a rchant, yet always admired the refined elegance of Confucian Scholars, having after founding a family in middle age, dedicated free ti to reading books, having read extensively enough to gain a taste for the triadic anings within, and at this mont, upon seeing the distant scene, he couldn’t help but murmuring aloud:
“How marvelous indeed to have such a long embanknt filled with blooming orchids and jade-like trees?”
The coachman, not understanding, curiously asked:
“Trees?”
“The willow trees haven’t sprouted yet, sir.”
The elder chuckled, pointing towards the Scholars, explaining: “Orchids and jade-like trees refer to scholars who uncover profound truths and flavors over several miles, rare gems and talents, you understand?”
The coachman still didn’t quite grasp it, yet seeing the elder so engaged, he echoed in agreent:
“I see, no wonder when I look over, it seems as if the long embanknt’s willows have sprouted leaves in winter, looking so splendid, like a revival.”
The elder paused, then pointing lightly at the coachman laughed heartily: “Not bad, not bad, you’ve uttered words of so essence there, so it seems the years of pushing you to read have not gone to waste, don’t put on such a sour face, I won’t stop you reading anymore; when we return today, I’ll reward you with a few coins for wine.”
The coachman stayed puzzled but thanked him happily.
Turning back inside, the elder considered approaching and eting these young Scholars, though observing the atmosphere, refrained from doing so straight away, rely upon boarding the carriage wondering when Heaven Capital City grew such a number of remarkable academics? How had he never heard of them?
Unaware of which noble clans they belong to.
The elder, filled with doubt, entered Heaven Capital City, while another carriage imdiately exited the city.
The elder saw that the young man driving the carriage also had an imposing bearing, almost with the presence of soone profound and unshakeable like a mountain, and couldn’t help but feel even more astonished, continuously muttering to himself in wonder.
……
The scholar in plain clothes by the long embanknt had already read through that book once.
A young man with clothes slightly better than his sat next to him. The plain-clothed scholar, with a calm expression, moved slightly to the side, perhaps knowing that with this person’s arrival, he could no longer concentrate on the book. He tucked a willow leaf bookmark into the book and carefully put it away.
The young man next to him spoke:
“Shuyuan, are you still reading the Master’s book?”
He paused for a mont, then smiled and said, “Didn’t you read that book when you were seven?”
The scholar, whose courtesy na was Shuyuan, said calmly: “The Master’s teachings are profound, and without enough experience, no matter how many tis you read it, you cannot comprehend the true anings. It is not sothing that can be understood just by reading those so-called great Confucians’ annotations. If one could truly grasp the principles within, it would be like stepping in the Master’s footprints, step by step.”
“I don’t know if I will ever be able to finish even half of it in my lifeti.”
Beside him, Liao Xingzhi said helplessly: “Although I think the Master’s treatise is excellent, it’s not to the extent you’re talking about. You’re about to enter the Ministry of Personnel and start your position; didn’t you say you wanted to see those three positions? What, do you plan to govern the world relying on half of the Analects?”
Zhao Shuyuan replied calmly: “Who can know what the future holds?”
Liao Xingzhi smiled, softly saying: “Yes, who knows what the future holds?”
“I was thinking of inviting the Master for a cup of wine, never expecting His Majesty to invite the Master into the palace for a drink first.”
“There will be no more opportunities afterward.”
His voice lowered, and the usually composed Zhao Shuyuan beside him also showed a mont of emotion, then pressed his lips together, saying: “This is the Master’s choice. If one truly wishes to do justice to the Master, then we should endeavor to be a good official, worthy of Heaven and Earth, worthy of myself, and worthy of the Master.”
Liao Xingzhi murmured: “Yes, the Master’s choice.”
“Speaking of which, what did the Master ask of you that qualified you to enter the Imperial Academy? I’ve always been curious, and you’ve never told ; surely you can tell now?”
Zhao Shuyuan answered calmly: “One Great Qin Tongbao.”
“And in a hundred years, a world with rivers and seas moving freely.”
Liao Xingzhi smiled slightly, gently saying:
“We are all indebted to the Master for this world.”
From afar, a carriage slowly approached and gradually passed by. None of the young n felt anything unusual until they heard so music coming from the carriage. Zhao Shuyuan suddenly stood up. The composed scholar who hoped to govern the world with half of the Analects dropped the scrolls and the wrapped rolls he was holding, scattering them on the ground.
He rely muttered that the lody was one he had heard the Master’s wife play before, then straightened his attire, raised both hands, with the left hand placed over the right, and deeply bowed to the carriage, saying loudly:
“Student Zhao Shuyuan from Tianhe County.”
“Farewell, Master!”
Liao Xingzhi ca to his senses, his eyes reddening, bowed his hands in salute, saying:
“Student Liao Xingzhi from Heaven Capital, bid farewell to the Master!”
“Student Chang Weizhao from Tianxiong, bid farewell to the Master!”
“Student…”
…
The carriage slowed as it left.
Behind it, one after another, the scholars who appeared to have a bright future and were about to rise in the ranks in the eyes of others, all wore blue robes, bowing towards the capital city where the scholar’s infamous reputation was unbearable and everyone held in contempt, bidding farewell. Their sleeves fluttered, echoing the farewells that stretched along the ten-mile pavilion.
In the carriage, the scholar quietly murmured.
Our generation will pass on the fla, striving to ascend unstoppably.
The day will co when the sparks set the vast plains ablaze.
Why is it not worthwhile?
PS: Today’s update is presented…
The word count is relatively small as it is Jiang Shouyi’s conclusion, um, let’s consider it taking a day off. For today’s chapter, I’ll find a way to provide a longer update to make up for it later.
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