Chapter 42: Zhang Fangping's Gift

Lu Beigu, of course, knew that not only was "I want them all" out of the question, but he could not choose a single item from within.

Li Pan spoke up in time: "Minister Zhang, Lu Beigu excels in policy essays, though he is slightly inferior in memorized commentaries and poetry. On the way here, he mentioned hearing that Minister Zhang is particularly skilled in the classics and is eager to hear your teachings."

Whether Lu Beigu actually said those words was, in fact, unimportant.

Zhang Fangping did not outwardly display any obvious emotion upon hearing this, but deep inside he was quite pleased; after all, in his youth he had been famous for his extensive knowledge and strong memory, and he possessed a profound understanding of the classics.

Yet even so, asking him to spare a few days to explain the classics to Lu Beigu was unrealistic for Zhang Fangping.

On one hand, as the Prefect of Chengdu, he was almost the busiest official in all of Sichuan; on the other hand, lecturing on the classics differed from writing a recommendation letter, as it involved shouldering the greater karmic bond of "teacher and student."

Zhang Fangping recognized Lu Beigu's talent and was willing to promote the younger generation, but with the court situation suddenly changing, he actually did not want Lu Beigu to have any direct connection with himself, lest it hinder his future prospects.

At this moment, Zhao Bian saw Zhang Fangping's concerns and suddenly spoke up voluntarily: "This youth has a heart of pure sincerity. If Minister Zhang truly has no spare time, I have nothing to do recently and would be willing to teach poetry and prose for a few days."

The Transport Commissioner's Office is usually extremely busy during the autumn tax collection and audit periods.

Zhao Bian had long since carried out sweeping reforms in the Yizhou Circuit Transport Commissioner's Office, including simplifying tax procedures, punishing corrupt officials severely, and rectifying the tea administration; everything had already been systematized.

Therefore, although things were busy below during ordinary times, in early summer Zhao Bian, as the Transport Commissioner, was very idle.

Moreover, unlike Zhang Fangping, Zhao Bian had none of those reservations.

"In that case, you may stay in Chengdu for a few days. Do you have a place to stay?"

Li Pan hurriedly replied: "I have made arrangements with the Taoists at Qingyang Palace to stay there for a few days."

Zhang Fangping nodded; Li Pan's arrangement suited him well, as he did not like people who were too showy.

Looking at Lu Beigu, Zhang Fangping felt somewhat guilty at this moment, so he stood up, rummaged behind him, and brought out a camphor wood book box.

"This set of 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King' was given to me by Master Taishan when I was in Kaifeng; it also contains some of Master Taishan's handwritten notes, which should be of great benefit to your imperial examinations, so I give it to you."

Master Taishan referred to Sun Fu, one of the "Three Great Scholars of Early Song"; this great Confucian scholar lectured on Mount Tai for over twenty years and, together with his fellow disciple Shi Jie of the "Three Great Scholars of Early Song," founded the Taishan School.

The Taishan School was one of the important schools in the Confucian world of the Great Song; Sun Fu and Shi Jie organized Confucian thought and promoted the doctrines of "Revering the King" and "Orthodoxy," becoming the most powerful supporters of the Qingli Reforms within the Confucian community.

Among them, Sun Fu advocated studying the classics with the method of "not being confused by commentaries and abandoning commentaries to seek the classics," directly inspiring the intellectual mode of "distinction of principle" in Neo-Confucianism, while Shi Jie's explanations of important concepts such as "principle," "qi," and "orthodoxy" had a tremendous influence on the Two Chengs and Zhu Xi, essentially opening the path for Neo-Confucianism.

Furthermore, the thought of the Taishan School spread rapidly throughout the Great Song Confucian world as Sun Fu and Shi Jie taught at the Imperial Academy, and it has now become an important basis for formulating answers in the imperial examinations.

Now that Shi Jie died young and Sun Fu is very old and no longer serves as a Direct Lecturer at the Imperial College, the rarity of this unique 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King' is evident; it is not only more precious than those sold on the market due to the inclusion of Sun Fu's own handwritten notes, but it also holds immense collectible value.

Previously, Lu Beigu had never had the money to buy this set of memorized commentary reference books, yet now he had directly received the version of 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King' with Sun Fu's handwritten notes.

"Thank you, Minister Zhang!"

After making a bow, Lu Beigu hurriedly took the camphor wood book box; it felt very heavy in his hand.

Camphor wood naturally possesses insect-repellent and moisture-proof properties, effectively protecting books from environmental damage; among book box materials, it ranks second only to nanmu, so this not-insignificant book box was already quite valuable.

"Open it and take a look," Zhang Fangping said.

Lu Beigu opened the camphor wood book box in front of everyone; this book storage tool had a structure of a "five-sided box with a removable lid," facilitating access and offering good sealing, and inside lay a full twelve scrolls of 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King,' with edges reinforced by thin bamboo strips and tied tight with straps and clasps.

He opened it and flipped through; the pages were already somewhat yellowed, clearly showing their age, and the handwritten notes recorded on them were quite profound; with his current level of classical learning, he could not understand many things at all.

"It is normal to have things you do not understand; just remember one sentence."

Seeing his confusion, Zhang Fangping casually recited: "No one knows the 'Spring and Autumn' better than Mencius, who merely said, 'When the Spring and Autumn Annals were completed, rebellious ministers and treacherous sons trembled.' If in those two hundred and forty-two years no one had been a rebellious minister or treacherous son, how could it be that from the Son of Heaven down to the feudal lords and ministers, not a single person or event escaped condemnation? Those who seek too deeply and thus lose the original intent of the 'Spring and Autumn' truly began with Fu."

Lu Beigu pondered carefully, then suddenly realized.

— What history of the Spring and Autumn period was there? It was merely speaking of the chaos of the Five Dynasties.

Precisely because the Great Song feared the emergence of a world filled with rebellious ministers and treacherous sons again, it had to value the Taishan School advocated by Sun Fu and Shi Jie with their doctrine of "Revering the King and Repelling the Barbarians"; this was also the reason why the Taishan School's teachings on the 'Spring and Autumn' were adopted as the standard answers for the current imperial examinations.

"Minister's guidance is exquisite; this student has learned."

Seeing that he understood, Zhang Fangping waved his hand and said: "Take it back and read it well; I still have some matters to discuss with Prefect Li."

Zhao Bian looked at Lu Beigu; since Lu Beigu did not hold an official position, his status did not warrant a "diploma" similar to an official letter, nor could a "zhazi" similar to a report be used.

Therefore, he wrote a "gongping" for Lu Beigu; compared to a one-time temporary instruction like a handwritten note, this document had a longer validity period.

Zhao Bian wrote Lu Beigu's name on it, filled in the reason as "seeking learning," and finally stamped it with his personal small seal.

"Here," Zhao Bian said, "take this for the next few days; if you have time, you may come to the Transport Commissioner's Office in Chengnan to find me. Do not come today; it has been a long time since I taught poetry and prose, so I need to find two books to prepare first."

Lu Beigu was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said: "Yes."

Carrying the camphor wood book box containing the twelve scrolls of 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King,' Lu Beigu walked out of the courtyard on the lake island.

A boatman was already waiting for him at the small dock.

The lake surface was like a mirror, reflecting the sky and clouds; willows on the shore swayed gently, and occasionally birds flew past.

As the boatman rowed and swept the water, fine ripples rose on the lake, spreading out as if present yet absent.

It was extremely tranquil, yet full of vitality.

On this small boat that seemed to sink and float, Lu Beigu's heart also gradually calmed down.

Lu Beigu knew very well that with a highly weighty recommendation letter plus a set of 'Spring and Autumn: Revealing the Subtle Meaning of Revering the King' with Master Taishan's handwritten notes, Zhang Fangping had already settled accounts with him.

And Zhao Bian, this "Iron-Faced Censor," was an upright gentleman who would only teach him poetry and prose and would not seek any private gain for him.

Moreover, it was hard to say whether this relationship even counted as teacher and student.

Therefore, Lu Beigu did not become complacent or even self-inflated simply because he had visited Chengdu with Li Pan this time and gotten to know two high officials.

Although he had always lived in an ivory tower, he clearly understood the operating rules of this world.

In this world, the important thing was not who he knew, but who he himself was.

——————

① Gongping was a common travel or identity document in the Song Dynasty, issued by officials, stating the holder's identity, reason, and scope of permission; non-government personnel entering or leaving government offices had to possess this item, otherwise they would be punished for the crime of "unauthorized entry."

(End of Chapter)