Chapter 149: A Scholar of Clear Breeze Pavilion Makes a Vow

Yi Xingzhi's words struck like a sudden thunderclap, leaving the faces of the many scholars alternating between ashen and flushed.

They had always assumed that whether it was the Donglin faction or the Restoration Society, they were all men of upright character, merely out of favor with the court for their scholarship, which was why the court kept suppressing them.

Now, having heard Yi Xingzhi's personal account, the many scholars wished they could see every last member of the Donglin faction and the Restoration Society drop dead on the spot.

Had an ordinary merchant said these things, the scholars would not have reacted so strongly. But Yi Xingzhi was, after all, a classmate of many years, and his daily dealings with everyone had been quite decent.

In particular, his family could be considered a line of literary tradition, which made the scholars feel it keenly — no matter how powerful your Donglin faction or Restoration Society might be, you still had no business laying hands on the household of a fellow scholar, a disciple of the Confucian teachings!

That was merely what the ordinary scholars were thinking. As for the scholar surnamed Wang, who had been quite animated from the very start, he hurled his wine cup to the floor and roared in fury, "What utter shamelessness!"

Seeing this, the scholar beside him hurriedly stood up, grabbed hold of Scholar Wang, and urged, "Brother Wang, calm yourself, calm yourself. What's done is done — further rage will serve no purpose. Sit down first, let's talk sitting down."

Seeing that Scholar Wang still looked ready to burst with fury, the standing scholar counseled, "Brother Wang, why work yourself into such a state? Even if the hatred runs as deep as the heavens, those men have all been sentenced to death by slow slicing by the Son of Heaven.

Brother Yi's great vengeance can be considered fulfilled. Even if you rage further now, what can it accomplish?"

Scholar Wang ignored the classmate urging him and merely cupped his hands toward Yi Xingzhi, saying, "Earlier, it was Wang's fault. Here, I first offer Brother Yi my apologies."

Having said this, and without waiting for anyone else's reaction, he raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. Yi Xingzhi smiled bitterly.

"Brother Wang, why go to such lengths?

Yi bears no blame toward you. Besides, everything you said just now was out of concern for your younger brother here — how could I not know that?"

Scholar Wang, however, straightened his expression and said, "When Brother Yi said earlier that he would not sit for the jinshi examination, Wang inwardly grumbled that Brother Yi did not know what was good for him.

But after hearing Brother Yi's full account, it is clear that Wang measured a gentleman's heart with a petty man's mind, passing judgment recklessly without understanding the true circumstances.

That is truly not the conduct of a gentleman, and for that, Wang must apologize to Brother Yi."

Yi Xingzhi bowed deeply from the waist, prostrating himself in admiration. "Brother Wang is a true gentleman! Yi is in awe!"

Once this matter was put behind them, Scholar Wang again raised his wine cup and stood, casting his gaze around at the assembled scholars. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he then spoke: "Having heard Brother Yi's story today, Wang feels a profound helplessness.

When those of crooked mind read too many books, the evil they commit far exceeds that of the ignorant peasants and foolish women of the countryside.

Moreover, if everyone could read and understand reason, how could those ignorant commoners have done something like storming Brother Yi's residence?"

"From this, it is clear that teaching the common people to read and understand reason is far more important than winning some top examination honor or having one's name inscribed on the golden roster.

Wang Huaiwen, though lacking in talent, here makes a vow: I am willing to devote my entire life to teaching the village children to read, taking not a single coin for it. If I break this vow, I willingly submit to the punishment of ten thousand blades carving my flesh!"

These resolute, decisive words stirred even greater waves through the great hall. The earlier matter of Yi Xingzhi, though the scholars sympathized, had not happened to them personally, and the events were many years past.

Even the chief perpetrators had all been executed — there was little point in pursuing it further. But this scholar Wang Huaiwen — here was truly a man of immense courage, willing to spend his whole life as a village tutor, thus severing all ties with officialdom.

The assembled scholars were mostly young men of eighteen, nineteen, or twenty-odd years. Even if the ancients matured early, their age was still what it was.

Having gone through Yi Xingzhi's story and then being spurred by Wang Huaiwen's vow to teach, the scholars present were quite stirred to hot-blooded enthusiasm. At once, one scholar declared with fervor, "Brother Wang's righteousness is grand!

Yang Zhengxue, though lacking in talent, is willing to follow in your wake. If I break this vow today, I too willingly submit to the punishment of ten thousand blades carving my flesh!"

Seeing someone take the lead, another scholar stood forth and said, "Heh heh, the truth is, most of us here probably wouldn't succeed at the examinations or in office anyway. We might as well all follow Brother Wang and do this great deed that will benefit a thousand ages.

A thousand years from now, even the top examination graduate will be nothing but a handful of yellow earth, at most recorded in some county gazetteer or in the place he once governed.

But we — we will be remembered through the ages, who knows for how long the common people will keep us in their thoughts."

Since ancient times, it has been said that a great man cannot go a single day without power, cannot go a single day without wealth. In truth, what remains hidden and unspoken is that he cannot go a single day without fame.

Once the deeds of these scholars spread, their reputations would immediately soar. Even if they could not hold office and gained neither power nor wealth, their descendants for generations to come would reap the benefits.

Even if one day their family fell into decline, when their own descendants went out to beg, they would still be able to cadge two more steamed buns than the other beggars and urchins.

Those who could enter the Imperial Academy to study — how could any of them be fools? Even if their academic results were only middling, among ordinary people they were still the cream of the crop.

They immediately grasped the pros and cons. Apart from Yi Xingzhi, who had already stated his intention to go to the Royal Academy to assist Xu Guangqi, the remaining twenty-odd scholars roared in unison, "Well said, well said!

That is exactly the principle! So-and-so, though lacking in talent, is likewise willing to follow in Brother Wang's wake!"

Hearing the scholars' response, Wang Huaiwen bowed deeply from the waist, performing a sweeping group salute before saying, "My honored brothers, your righteousness is profound. Wang is deeply awed.

Wang's family has some surplus wealth, and I am willing to establish schools in the future, setting up a few community schools around the capital first, to teach the village children to read. As for exactly where to locate them, we must still discuss it together."

After the many scholars had finished their discussions and dispersed one after another, the madam of the Clear Breeze Pavilion emerged from the shadows. Looking at the girls standing dumbstruck throughout the great hall, she barked, "What's this?

Have you all gone stupid? Hurry up and tell this old mother everything, from beginning to end!"

It was rather amusing — this madam was herself only in her twenties, and it would be no exaggeration to call her in the full bloom of youth and beauty.

Moreover, having seen much in the world of pleasure, she possessed an alluring charm not found in ordinary well-bred young ladies. Her current pretense of ferocity only made the girls burst out laughing.

After listening to the girls chatter through the whole affair, the madam felt a massive headache coming on. These damnable scholars — if you wanted to discuss such grand matters, why stir up trouble here at my place?

Wouldn't the Drunken Red Pavilion next door have been perfect? And now, here she was, still having to bustle about in the middle of the night!

With repeated shouts of "Get lost!", she shooed the girls off to rest. Then the madam directly ordered the teapot-bearers, who had only now dared to come out and serve, to bar the doors and drop the locks.

The Clear Breeze Pavilion was not opening for business today. As for all the honored patrons — they could go cool off wherever they pleased.

The numerous teapot-bearers were sent scurrying in circles. Once everything was done, the madam finally left the Clear Breeze Pavilion and hurried through the night straight to the residence of Tian Ergeng, the Commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pounding loudly on his gate.

Book recommendation: (Footprints of the Wilderness) The protagonist transmigrates to a primordial era, struggling to survive with nothing at all — drilling wood for fire, firing pottery, leading primitive natives to establish the first human dynasty of the primordial age.

Only after achieving fame and success does he discover that this world is not so simple. This book is alternate-history fiction, not fantasy.

It can be called a classic of prehistoric literature. The epic saga of the primordial age is written by the protagonist.

If you ask which prehistoric novel is the best, look to Qidian History for Footprints of the Wilderness!

(End of chapter)