Chapter 354: Spectators Should Remain Silent

Wang Anshi was entirely correct. The explosion in registrations at the law academy was not because those candidates had been moved by Zhang Fei’s scholarship; rather, they were thoroughly enrag­ed by him. The man was simply too arrogant. They went purely to argue.

In the world of philosophy, one couldn’t attain the status of sage while one was alive. It was impossible not to be confronted and challenged.

Even when the two sages, Confucius and Mencius, were alive, they were challenged daily. Others were no exception. The difference was that the two sages possessed a formidable ability in verbal combat. Most people could not argue their way against them, and so they became sages.

When it came to upholding the principle that there is no number one in literary studies, the literary world was remarkably united.

Losing to a dead man is one thing, but losing to a living one is absolutely unacceptable, especially when that living one is merely a whiffing, immature boy.

This spirit of nitpicking was truly a tradition passed down from one generation to the next.

Wang Anshi had a deep understanding of this. Therefore, he was not only unconcerned but actually quite pleased. As long as Zhang Fei’s systemic law was disproven, the law academy would surely be severely damaged, if not become a complete joke.

Sima Guang fully agreed with this assessment. At present, he was weighed down by gloom and misery.

Those students were relatively easy to deal with. The real problem was that many scholar-officials were also preparing to enter the fray.

The worst part was that Zhang Fei claimed he was merely putting up a show and did not possess any real skill. This truly threatened to be fatal!

“Master Yan is too kind as to grace my humble home. May I ask what brings you here?”

Sima Guang managed a thin smile as he asked Yan Fu.

In truth, Yan Fu was already the tenth guest to arrive that day.

“No, no, I would not dare.” Yan Fu bowed with hands pressed together. “I took the liberty of calling on you unannounced. I hope you will forgive the intrusion, Sima Guang.”

Why do you still show up even knowing it’s an intrusion! Sima Guang thought, his words at odds with his true feelings. “Please, do not mention it. Please.”

“Ahem… this is the matter,” Yan Fu said, somewhat awkwardly. “I wonder when exactly Zhang San’s class is to be held?”

I knew it…! Sima Guang let out a dry laugh. “Master Yan, given the standing you hold today, why must you trouble yourself with a boy like that?”

Yan Fu replied, “You yourself are willing to have him teach. Surely you are not afraid of me debating with him?”

The old man was quite formidable with his words, too. This single remark left Sima Guang at a loss for how to respond. He could only say, “It is still being arranged.”

Yan Fu stroked his beard. “You have a law academy open, yet no classes are being held. This… this is hardly proper. Even if you do not arrange for Zhang San to teach, you must arrange for other lessons. Do not waste the precious time of your students.”

“Yes… Master Yan is right. I will arrange things as soon as possible.” Sima Guang nodded, though in his mind he thought the old man had far too many schemes.

At present, the law academy could only offer Zhang Fei’s classes. If this matter was not settled, no teacher would dare to step in. Moreover, the students were all on edge, like powder kegs. Anyone who stepped up to teach law would be roasted until they were burnt out on the inside and scorched on the outside, so long as a single word touched upon the laws of a legal system.

Yan Fu added, “I hear that more than three hundred people have already signed up for your law academy.”

Sima Guang nodded cautiously.

Yan Go said again, “The College of National Scions does not have a classroom this large. As it happens, this old man is on rather good terms with the abbot of Xiang-guo Temple. Why not hold the classes there?”

Sima Guang felt a cold shiver run down his spine. “I do not think that is necessary. We can simply divide them into several classes.”

If they were to go to Xiang-guo Temple and sit in the main hall, the noise would be deafening. It would surely shake the very heavens.

Yan Fu said, “How can it be unnecessary? People would come specifically for Zhang San’s scholarship.”

Sima Guang performed a movement of Tai Chi and said, “Zhang San would attend every class.”

Yan Fu glanced at Sima Guang. Though he could hardly say much more, he finally remarked, “Well, I suppose that is acceptable.”

After Yan Fu had left, Sima Guang could not sit still. He could not bear it any longer. The daily pressure was unbearable, and he had to go ask Zhang Fei about the situation.

……

Zhang Fei was no less troubled. He had to keep up the act. Although he was completely at ease, he still had to pretend that he was working very hard.

He had no choice. Who could blame him when Xu Zhiqian was his fiancée? Under the joint supervision of Xu Zhiqian and Gao Wenin, Zhang Fei spent every night studying the teachings of the Hundred Schools. Reading Confucianism alone was not enough; he also had to read Legalism, Daoism, Mohism, and more.

Fortunately, a visitor finally came to his home.

Yan Jidao.

“Is my visit today disturbing you?” Yan Jidao asked.

“Not at all!”

Zhang Fei shook his head repeatedly. “This is the perfect time to relax a little.”

“Ah?”

Yan Jidao paused in surprise.

Zhang Fei stole a glance at Xu Zhiqian, who was watching him intently from beside them. He hurriedly said, “Um… what I meant was, by the way, Mister Yan, what brings you here?”

“Oh, yes. I have finished revising the manuscript from last time.”

Yan Jidao handed a document to Zhang Fei.

“Already?” Zhang Fei took it.

Yan Jidao said, “It was because you felt the earlier content was acceptable; only the narrative approach needed to be adjusted. It was not difficult to do.”

With the previous manuscript, Yan Jidao had truly weighed every word and written it with great care. But since Zhang Fei had asked for a more accessible style, that had been too easy. Yan Jidao had finished it in only a few days.

“Let me take a look first.”

Zhang Fei nodded. To his inner voice he thought: It is so hard to get a visitor to come, and then I end up having to read books. I… Young Master Cao, Little Ma, won’t you come soon!

But reading this draft was rather pleasant. After all, Zhang Fei had asked for the story to be told as a narrative. It was like reading the story of Yan Shu. That was far better than reading the Records of the Grand Historian. Moreover, he could understand it all.

After a good while, Zhang Fei nodded. “Yes, that is what I meant. But I need to read it more carefully.”

“No rush, no rush.” Yan Jidao hurriedly said. “I know you have been quite busy lately. I should not have come to trouble you at this time. It is just that… I happen to have a few questions of my own, and I wanted to ask for your advice.”

Zhang Fei was surprised. “What questions?”

Yan Jidao said, “They concern systemic law.”

“Mister Yan.”

Xu Zhiqian suddenly stepped forward.

Yan Jidao was startled. “What does Lady Xu wish to instruct me on?”

“I dare not.”

Xu Zhiqian made a graceful bow, then added, “As for the matter of systemic law, Zhang San will be discussing it in class when the time comes.”

Zhang Fei nodded in a dazed manner.

Yan Jidao was also a genius; he caught on immediately. They were planning to use a surprise strategy, which meant they couldn’t give away the details. This implied that Zhang Fei did not possess the optimal solution for governing the state, but was merely employing the technique of the pen-in-cap. Therefore, there was nothing to ask about. He smiled and nodded. “It was my presumptuousness. However, as far as I know, many old scholars are studying this systemic law of yours. When the class begins, Zhang San must be extremely careful.”

“Thank you, Mister Yan, for the heads-up.” Zhang Fei clasped his hands in a salute.

Yan Jidao had barely left when Sima Guang arrived right behind him.

“Wow… Academician Sima, you look quite haggard.”

“You have the nerve to say that?”

Upon hearing this, Sima Guang exploded. “When I made that decision, I must have had a demon possess me. How could I allow you to teach at the College of National Scions? Do you have any idea how I have been spending these days? From morning till night, everyone comes running to me, acting as if I were the one who devised this systemic law. It is truly outrageous.”

Having said that, he swept his sleeve. “Let us leave those matters alone. I can no longer hold them back. Have you thought of a solution?”

The conversation had already reached its conclusion. Zhang Fei wiped the spittle from his head, glanced at Xu Zhiqian, and thought, If I keep enduring this, I will not be comfortable either. He affected a moment of deep thought. “Let us set it for three days from now.”

Xu Zhiqian was slightly startled. Have you thought of a solution?

Sima Guang asked, delighted, “Do you already have a solution?”

Zhang Fei replied, “There is no perfect solution, but I have thought of a middling one. It will ensure that I do not drown in their spittle.”

Sima Guang asked, “What is this middling strategy?”

Zhang Fei said, “Simply put, it is to let them finish saying everything, so that they have nothing left to say.”

Sima Guang listened in confusion. He waved his hand and said, “Do not give a simple account. Explain it in detail. I have time now.”

If I tell you now, I’d still have to go and deliver the lesson again. Are you trying to exhaust me to death? Zhang Fei responded sheepishly, “It is not possible to explain it in detail because they will ask questions. I must adapt on the spot.”

Sima Guang looked at him and thought, Could this boy be worried that I might betray him?

Zhang Fei suddenly remembered something. “By the way, there is one matter in which I need your help, Academician Sima.”

Sima Guang asked, “What is it?”

Zhang Fei said, “When it comes to scholarship, there is no end to what can be discussed. Moreover, the more one speaks, the more likely one is to make a mistake. I have only prepared enough material for one class session. However, since they will certainly not assign anyone to ring the gong this time, Academician Sima, you will still need to secretly arrange for someone to be in charge of the gong to signal the end of class.”

Upon hearing this, Sima Guang was once again filled with worry. The statement lacked confidence, which was consistent with his ‘middling solution’, but there was no other option. Since things had come to this, they could only leave it to fate.

The main issue was that he truly could not stand up to them. The other side came to demand lessons every day. A group of students had signed up, but there were no classes. If the dean could not fulfill his duties to this degree, it was far too negligent.

After returning, he scheduled the lesson for the afternoon three days later.

…….

It was coming!

It was coming!

Finally, it was about to happen!

Those old scholars were truly eager, itching to get started.

But there were too few seats.

Sima Guang absolutely refused to go to Xiang-guo Temple, yet the emperor and the ministers were all expected to attend.

What could be done?

If he could not bully superiors, he would simply have to bully those below his station.

The number of student seats was simply reduced to fifteen. They only asked Cai Bian and the others to sit in the front rows to serve as a show, indicating that this was, after all, a class session.

In reality, it was a debate of ideas.

Today marked the second class session held since the law academy had opened its doors.

When Zhang Fei arrived at the classroom, he nearly burst into laughter. The front rows were filled with a mass of black-haired heads, while the back, the window seats, and the doorway were occupied by a sea of white-haired elders. The contrast between black and white was stark.

This set the tone for the lesson.

Emperor Zhao Xu and a group of State Councilors had all assembled. Zeng Gongliang and Chen Shengzhi had not attended the first session, but they were present today, showing just how much attention the matter had drawn.

It was largely the old scholars like Yan Fu who had been stirring up the publicity.

“Your humble subject Zhang Fei pays respect to Your Majesty.”

Zhang Fei first went to the back of the room and offered a respectful bow to Emperor Zhao Xu.

He had not bowed during the first session because Emperor Zhao Xu had been standing outside the door at the time and had entered only afterward.

Emperor Zhao Xu quickly said, “No need for so much formality. I am here simply to listen. You should focus on teaching and not be distracted by my presence.”

This was merely a polite pleasantry, but Zhang Fei replied with complete seriousness, “Allow this humble subject the presumption to interpret Your Majesty’s intent. Are you saying, Your Majesty, that in my classroom, I have the authority to lead it?”

Emperor Zhao Xu nodded and said, “Of course.”

Zhang Fei immediately said, “This subject is a first-time instructor and lacks experience. Last time I lectured, the students’ performance was very poor, which was extremely disappointing. As the saying goes, ‘If a child is not taught, it is the father’s fault.’ After returning, I reflected deeply and examined myself.

I realized that the reason I failed to teach well last time was because….”

He glanced at the circle of prime ministers and venerable scholars surrounding him and said awkwardly, “It was because too many people interrupted, which confused the students’ thoughts and distracted me as well. I also learned that ‘spectators should remain silent’ applies not only beside the chessboard but apparently in the classroom too.”

There was proper decorum in the classroom, and the teacher’s authority had to be maintained; spectators could not speak carelessly while listening.

“Huh?”

Emperor Zhao Xu was stunned on the spot.

Yan Fu widened his eyes, exclaiming agitatedly, “What do you mean, you fellow? You don’t allow us to speak?”

The other scholar-officials also looked at Zhang Fei in disbelief.

We had come to debate with you, yet you forbid us from speaking.

You…

Sima Guang was secretly pleased; this idea was indeed excellent.

Zhang Fei said sheepishly, “How could this humble junior, who has no merit or ability, dare to instruct an elder in scholarship? Such an act would surely shorten my lifespan.”

Yan Fu nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Are you blind? Did I come here to listen to a lecture?

Wang Anshi was also displeased. You are truly picking on the easy target. He was just about to speak when a student stood up at the front of the class. “Teacher is right. I agree with him completely.”

It was Ye Zuqia.

The other fourteen students immediately stood up as well, showing their strong support for Zhang Fei.

They, too, had come for revenge. Yet these old masters had reduced their army of fifty to a mere fifteen, which left them in low spirits. They knew full well that they were merely a decoy and would surely not have a chance to speak in a moment.

Originally quite dejected, they suddenly came alive at the sound of Zhang Fei’s words, as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Emperor Zhao Xu, naturally siding with Zhang Fei, glanced at the old masters who looked as though they wanted to kill someone. He suppressed a smile. “After all, this is a class. So… let’s stick to the lesson and try not to disturb them.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding.”

Zhang Fei quickly clasped his hands in a salute.

The old faces turned as sullen as eggplants hit by frost, thoroughly deflated.

This young brat had no sense of honor!