Chapter 82: Wang of Langya vs. Liu of Hedong

The time for the discussion was originally set for the beginning of the Si hour. Even Kong Zhangyu, the Prince's attendant who was highly valued by the Prince of Badong, had arrived, but the Prince of Badong was nowhere to be seen.

At first, everyone could wait quietly, but later, discussions and complaints began to rise. Kong Zhangyu was also very anxious and sent several waves of people to look for him. Nearly an hour passed, until Kong Zhangyu heard the sound of horse hooves roaring like an earthquake, and then he felt relieved.

A cavalry team of more than twenty people rushed into the dojo, kicking up clouds of dust!

The Confucian scholars dodged in embarrassment, and three or four people fell one after another.

A young man in brocade robes carrying a large yellow bow took the lead and jumped directly onto the high platform on the large stone terrace in the middle of the dojo!

The young man on the horse had a strong physique, a face with distinct angles, and raised thick eyebrows. A masculine and heroic spirit overflowed, appearing out of place among the Confucian scholars. He scanned the crowd with shining eyes and said casually: "Everyone here? Then let's start."

The scholars under the platform all changed color.

This person was the fourth prince, the Prince of Badong, who held the festival, commanded the military affairs of the seven provinces of Jing, Xiang, Yong, Liang, Ning, North and South Qin, and was also the General of the West and the Governor of Jingzhou—Xiao Zixiang!

Not to mention that he was so late, without even a word of explanation, just his way of appearing was truly shocking.

On such an occasion, as a prince guarding the border, he should use a carriage according to etiquette; how could there be any reason to carry a bow and jump on a horse? Is this a discussion or a lecture on martial arts?

Many Confucian scholars shook their heads secretly when they saw this.

The Prince of Badong ignored everyone's gaze, turned off his horse, and sat down proudly. The seat was a gilded carved couch with a tiger-painted screen behind it.

The cavalry guard leader Wang Chongtian stood by his side holding a bow.

Wang Yang was stunned to find that the warrior holding the bow for the Prince of Badong was the person who had caused trouble by riding a horse in the market that day!

Kong Zhangyu, the Prince's attendant, stepped onto the platform and began to read the Prince of Badong's "teaching" text:

"Clouds moisten and winds soar, the nourishment of grass dew is thick; stars shine and the moon moves, the rain of mountain spirits has long washed.

The orchids and iris must wait for the shade and moisture before they are fragrant; the phoenixes, how can they not have sweet springs to quench their thirst.

Emerging from the stars, the auspicious blessings cover the forest; the spiritual effects of the Yangtze and Han rivers, the elegance and grace reach the school.

The sun wheel is about to rise, time changes to observe the astronomical phenomena; the foundation of the great cause, rise and fall depend on the movement of learning!

Our Jingzhou learning began at..."

The so-called "teaching" was a literary style at the time. When the Son of Heaven issued a document, it was called an "edict," and when a prince issued a document, it was called a "teaching."

So this long teaching text nominally belonged to the Prince of Badong. Of course, no one would think that it was really written by the Prince. It was highly likely written by Kong Zhangyu, who was reading it with great emotion.

Letting Kong Zhangyu open the scene was actually very inappropriate.

Because although he was trusted by the Prince of Badong, his official position was "Prince's Attendant," and his role was equivalent to a housekeeper, with a low rank.

In the Southern Qi official system, from the Chief Clerk down to the various military advisors, all were appointed by the imperial court, so they were called "court-appointed officials." As for internal affairs officials like the Prince's Attendant and Cavalry Guard Leader, they were selected by the Prince of Badong himself.

So from the perspective of identity attributes, Kong Zhangyu was closer to the Prince of Badong's "private subordinate" rather than a formal official.

Since it was decided by the Prince of Badong, everyone was not surprised.

After Kong Zhangyu finished reading the teaching text, he asked both sides of the discussion to take the stage.

Director Liu Tan Tan wore a green embroidered gold robe and a Jinxian crown, looking dignified and extraordinary, stepping onto the stage proudly.

Wang Yang wore a lake-blue cross-collar silk shirt inside, covered with a treasure-blue cloud-pattern gauze robe outside. Because he was not yet twenty, he could not wear a crown, so he only wore a green horn scarf, holding a folding fan, with sparse eyebrows and bright eyes, walking calmly, like a handsome young master in the world.

This outfit was bought on credit at a clothing store yesterday with the Cangming jade as collateral, costing a total of 7,800 coins.

It wasn't that Wang Yang was extravagant, but the occasion today was special, and he absolutely couldn't let people doubt his identity as a member of the Langya Wang family. So he had to change out of that "fake brand."

Even so, he tried his best to control the cost. The inner clothes were made of "silk," not the more expensive "damask," and he didn't buy "brocade." The outer clothes were made of superior gauze woven from ramie in Kuaiji, which was much lighter and softer than ordinary gauze fabrics.

Although this outfit couldn't be called very precious, it wouldn't be considered "cheap" for a young master from a high-ranking family to wear. That was enough.

As for not reaching the age of twenty for the capping ceremony and not needing to wear a crown, that saved another expense.

Actually, Wang Yang didn't know how old he was now.

It's strange to say that after traveling through time, he didn't inherit any memory of the original body. He just relied on his appearance and body, feeling like he was seventeen or eighteen years old. Later, Liu Zhao helped him register his household, and specifically asked his age. Wang Yang casually said "eighteen." At that time, he didn't think he could save the expense of a crown, and he didn't expect that this casually mentioned age would be closely related to his official career in the near future.

"Director Liu Tan Tan of Hedong, courtesy name Wutong, holds the position of Friend of the Prince of Badong and Libationer of the Prince's Academy." Director Liu Tan Tan bowed to Wang Yang.

Wang Yang returned the bow: "Wang Yang of Langya, courtesy name Zhiyan, student of the commandery school."

The two bowed to each other, one blue and one green, reflecting each other in the sunlight, with bright colors, which was very beautiful.

Liu Cheng sneered in his heart and looked at Xie Xinghan, who was sitting in the southeast corner, only to see Xie Xinghan looking at the stage intently.

Since Wang Yang spoke, the low discussion under the stage had already become a piece:

"It's actually the Langya Wang family!"

"Where did the Langya Wang come from?"

"Wang Yang? Who is Wang Yang? Have you heard of him?"

"Why didn't Liu Zhao take the stage?"

"Liu Zhao didn't take the stage, but invited the Langya Wang!"

"Wang of Langya vs. Liu of Hedong! Something to see!"

"......"

Kong Zhangyu shouted at the top of his lungs: "The eighth year of Yongming, the year is Gengwu, the first River Crossing Master opens, Lu Huan of Wu Commandery!"

Hum!

The copper bell rang!

Among the three River Crossing Master seats, Shen Linsi was 71, Xu Bozhen was 76, and Lu Huan was 80. Among the three, the oldest, Lu Huan, stood up slowly with a cane.

Lu Huan devoted his life to studying classics, researching extreme works, hiding on Mount Tiantai, teaching tirelessly, with hundreds of disciples, known as the Confucian sect. His works such as *Exegesis of the Ancient Text Book of Documents*, *Examination of Differences between Modern and Ancient Texts of the Book of Documents*, *Brief Commentary on the Ancient Text Book of Documents*, and *Collection of Interpretations of the Ancient Text Book of Documents* totaled more than a million words, and the Imperial Academy cited them as textbooks, and everyone in the Three Wu region followed them.

Seeing Lu Huan stand up, all the Confucian scholars fell silent. Kong Zhangyu also bowed his head and bent his waist, bowing deeply to Lu Huan.

Lu Huan's face was old, but his eyes were extremely energetic. He spoke slowly, his voice long: "The first discussion, discuss the superiority and inferiority of the modern and ancient texts of the *Book of Documents*. Which of you two will go first?"

Director Liu Tan Tan smiled lightly: "There are too many places where the *Ancient Text Book of Documents* is superior to the *Modern Text Book of Documents*. If I discuss it first, I'm afraid it will take too long. Please go first."

Striking first to gain the upper hand.

Those who studied the *Ancient Text Book of Documents* under the stage all smiled knowingly, while those who supported modern texts sneered.

Seeing Director Liu Tan Tan's confident appearance, Wang Yang reminded him: "Is Lord Liu sure? If I go first, you might not be able to speak..."

Everyone thought this was Wang Yang's counterattack to Director Liu Tan Tan's previous remarks. Director Liu Tan Tan didn't take Wang Yang's words seriously at all, thinking he was just bragging. Only Liu Cheng suddenly had a bad premonition.

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Note: ① In the store where Wang Yang bought clothes, "damask clothes" were more expensive than "silk clothes," but that was only for specific styles of clothing, not that the value of "damask" was necessarily higher than "silk."

In medieval historical materials, precious fabrics were generally called "damask" alone. When calling them "silk," there were often qualifiers. For example, *Taiping Yulan* quotes the *Jin Code*: "Below the third rank, one may wear mixed-cup silk; above the sixth rank, one may wear seven-colored silk."

*Book of Song: Records of Rites* also says that those below the third rank could not wear "cup-pattern silk," and those below the sixth rank could not wear "seven-edge silk." (Song inherited the Jin system, so the "below" in "below the third rank" should be a mistake in the ancient book and should be "above." If "edge" is not a mistake, it is a synonymous term.) Then there is also a distinction between upper and lower within silk.

In archaeology, it is customary to call those with twill patterns on twill ground "damask," and those with twill patterns on plain ground "silk," but this was not necessarily the case during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

② Little friends, please rest assured, the places where the future is mentioned are not the joints of the pen, just a plot foreshadowing. It's like a forest full of red maples, just picking out a leaf without much care. I won't spoil the real foreshadowing. ===== CHAPTER 83 =====

② Little friends, please rest assured: the parts mentioned above about how the future will be are not the key points of the narrative, but merely plot foreshadowing. Just like a forest full of red maples, picking one leaf at random is not of much concern. I will not spoil the places where the real foreshadowing lies.