Chapter Forty-Four: The Final Lesson (Part One)

Zheng Shian was a pitiable creature!
When he was reliant on the Zheng family, he had not an ounce of independence. The concept of clan has endured for thousands of years in China, a force not easily resisted. If Yan Qing had not journeyed here from another life, he too would likely have drifted along, clinging to the Zheng family without distinction.
In the world he came from, individuality was prized, but in this era, those who asserted their independence often met with tragedy.
Yan Qing did not expect Zheng Shian to truly develop a unique character of his own, but he did hope that Zheng Shian could grow into an independent member within the clan. After all, a clan is composed of both branches and individuals. At the very least, Zheng Shian should become his own person, rather than blindly attaching himself to the Zheng family. In fact, was not the esteemed Elder Zheng once an individual within the clan himself?
It was simply that Elder Zheng had a fortunate lineage and a capable father who laid a solid foundation for him, which resulted in his current standing in the family...
Soon after midsummer arrived, the peace of Guanzhong was suddenly disrupted by a storm of rumors and intrigue.
No one knew from whence the news came, but word spread that the Emperor had grown estranged from the Crown Prince and was inclined to restore the former hidden heir.
In an instant, Guanzhong was thrown into turmoil.
The powerful figures at court and the great clans all fell silent; none stepped forward to clarify the truth.
The Crown Prince himself became conspicuously quiet, as if he lacked the strength to counter these rumors, which only added to the confusion of the situation.
At the end of April, Crown Prince Yang Guang hurriedly left Chang’an for Renshou Palace, temporarily leaving the governance of the court to Yang Su, and ordered Pei Shiju, the Viscount of Wenxi and Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat, to assist him. This seemed to be his way of demonstrating filial piety toward the Emperor.
“Teacher, will His Majesty truly depose the Crown Prince?”
It was midsummer. A heavy rain had just passed, but the air was far from cool; instead, a stifling pressure lingered in the heat.
Dressed in white, Yan Qing knelt quietly on the veranda, watching as Li Ji asked his question with curiosity.
Li Ji, clad in a single layer of clothing, held in his hands a bowl of bayberry soup that had been chilled all day in well water, savoring it with obvious delight.
His upright face was softened by a kindly smile, a glimmer of satisfaction hidden within.
This bayberry soup was made from wild bayberries picked by hunters from Longmen Mountain. Zheng Shian had prepared it to ward off the summer heat. Yan Qing had stored a jar in the well for a day and brought it to the study as an offering to his teacher.
Though it was merely a bowl of bayberry soup, in Li Ji’s eyes, it surpassed the finest delicacies.
“Heh, who can truly know what goes on in the royal household?
But if you ask me, I do not believe the Emperor will depose the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is not like the hidden heir; he is tolerant and shrewd, never one to anger the Emperor lightly. As for these rumors, I suspect they are the work of those wishing to muddy the waters. Have you not noticed that the men in power at court, whether Yang Su or Pei Shiju, are all partisans of the Crown Prince?
The Crown Prince entrusted the government to these two; on one hand, it shows his trust in them, and on the other, it suggests that the Emperor has no intention of removing him. Otherwise, the Emperor would long since have sent someone to reclaim the reins of power.”
Yan Qing nodded, asking no further.
He understood well that such matters were not for him to inquire into too deeply, lest he arouse suspicion.
At eight years old—really only six in modern reckoning—he was precocious in calligraphy and poetry, but to meddle in state affairs would be entirely too shocking. A taste of the matter would suffice; it was enough to understand the situation.
It was clear that there was no true discord between Yang Jian and his son.
And if there was no discord, yet rumors still abounded, then something must be amiss.
As for what exactly was amiss, Yan Qing could not say, but he was certain that the situation remained firmly in the Crown Prince Yang Guang’s grasp. Judging from the earlier incident where Prince Han Yang Liang attempted to sway the scholars and gentry of Shandong and the He Luo region, it was not impossible that Yang Guang himself had a hand in these rumors. Li Ji might have seen through some of this, but he would not discuss such matters with Yan Qing.
“Little Demon, have you finished the assignments I left you?”
No one quite knew where Li Ji had picked up this nickname for Yan Qing, but it had gradually replaced his previous forms of address.
Yan Qing quickly replied, “Sir, aside from pondering your lectures, I have spent most of my time reading poetry.”
Poetry, meaning the Classic of Poetry and The Grades of Poetry. Yan Qing felt he could not always borrow from others; he must have some works of his own. Without understanding poetic meter, one could not truly speak of poetry. The ancients insisted on mastering these two works, and Yan Qing knew he must do so as well.
“Poetry and books are but minor pursuits; they may cultivate the spirit, but one must not become too engrossed.”
Li Ji set down his earthenware bowl and, after a moment’s thought, said gently, “You already know more than ten thousand characters, so you should be able to read the Four Books.
The path of the classics and histories is fundamental; you must not lose sight of the great for the sake of the small, lest you regret it in the future. Recently, I have finished teaching the Records of the Three Kingdoms; you need only ponder and comprehend the rest on your own. Soon, we will begin studying the Four Books—you should prepare yourself. Though you are young for such texts, it is not impossible. Here is a set of the Four Books with commentary by the great Zheng Xuan; take it home and read it at your leisure.
If you come across words you do not recognize, make a note and tell me. If there are parts you do not understand, do not obsess over comprehension; memorize them first, and in time I will explain. As you grow older, you will naturally come to appreciate the subtleties they contain.”
“I shall remember your instructions!”
Li Ji rose, went inside, and brought out a small bundle.
Opening it, he revealed a stack of books, the Four Books on top, and beneath them, two thin volumes.
He hesitated, pondering for a moment, then placed the two booklets together with the Four Books.
“In here, besides the Four Books, are also the Six Arts and the Manual of the Horse Lance. I know you practice martial arts; the Manual of the Horse Lance should suit you as well. As for the Six Arts, also known as the Six Strategies, it covers the ways of empire and war—you may enjoy it. However, I have one condition: if you have not mastered the Four Books, you must not study the Six Arts. Can you promise me this?”
Yan Qing was taken aback.
So, he could not touch the Six Arts until he had mastered the Four Books.
Though the Six Arts are little known in later ages, the Six Strategies are famous indeed.
Legend has it that these were written by the revered Jiang Taigong Jiang Shang, and that at the dawn of the Han, Zhang Liang received them from the mysterious Master Huangshi—the very Six Strategies.
“Teacher, are these the Six Strategies of Lord Liu?”
Li Ji was briefly startled, then understood Yan Qing’s meaning and laughed. “I told you not to make up stories all day, but you never listen. How can you treat apocryphal tales as canonical history? This Six Arts is rooted in Confucian teachings and is recorded in the national histories. Later generations, drawn by the fame of Lord Liu, renamed it the Six Strategies—do not confuse truth with fiction.”
Fanciful histories mislead!
Yan Qing sighed inwardly, scratching his head with a smile.
“Teacher, what shall we study today?”
Li Ji leaned against the veranda railing, sipped his bayberry soup, and chuckled.
“We’ve been discussing the Three Kingdoms lately, and you must be weary of it. Today, let us speak of something different.
Since you are wagering with Yan Shigu, let’s begin with the Yan Family’s Household Instructions and see where the conversation leads.”
In truth, it was nothing more than an idle chat.
Yan Qing nodded eagerly and shifted his posture.
When discussing the classics, Li Ji always required him to sit upright, without the slightest laxity. But since the topic was light, he could relax a little, leaning against the wall as he listened to Li Ji’s musings. Li Ji’s knowledge was vast, and it seemed there was nowhere in the world he had not been. From the northern frontiers to the southern rivers, from Bashu to the Eastern Sea, he spoke of human affairs and odd customs.
Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, dusk had already arrived.
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The fourth update is presented—one more plea for your recommendation. As Yan Qing says: recommendations are like a woman’s... give them a little squeeze, and you’ll always get some. So, please, everyone, squeeze a little more for me...
Here is the “Golden Valley Spring Dawn,” one of the Eight Views of Luoyang.