Chapter 26: Da Xia Academy Admissions Imminent

Wenxin Study Hall.

As the bell rang.

All the students left one after another.

Yet within the quiet study hall, a figure appeared.

Zhang Yunhai strode quickly, as if something urgent had arisen, going straight to the main hall to find the head of the study hall.

"Brother Zhang."

"What matter is so urgent?"

As a middle-aged man arrived, Zhang Yunhai immediately rose.

"Mr. Zhou, the position of head has been decided."

Zhang Yunhai spoke.

"Who is it?"

Hearing this, the head of the study hall couldn't help but feel curious, looking toward Zhang Yunhai.

"Su Wenjing, the Su clan."

Zhang Yunhai spoke slowly.

Upon saying this, the head of the study hall's expression changed, and he couldn't help but exclaim.

"Half-Saint Wenjing?"

"That's impossible."

"Hasn't he retired?"

The latter exclaimed, never expecting the court to actually invite this great figure to oversee Da Xia Academy.

"He has retired."

"But I heard it was His Majesty who personally invited him."

"With Mr. Wenjing overseeing Da Xia Academy, this will likely cause some trouble."

Zhang Yunhai gave an answer, while also showing a troubled expression.

The latter remained silent.

Pacing back and forth in the hall, unknown what he was calculating.

Su Wenjing.

A contemporary Great Scholar, having already come into contact with the Sage's Path, he is extremely likely to become a Half Saint in his lifetime.

The most frightening thing is that Su Wenjing does not wish to enter politics; as a model and pure stream for scholars, studying to become an official is natural, yet once entering officialdom, gossip is inevitable.

This is the norm.

Yet such a pure stream like Su Wenjing earns the admiration of scholars worldwide, precisely because he does not enter officialdom.

In that case, many plans would be completely shattered.

To hold a position and seek its duties.

Whether or not one is a Great Scholar, upon entering officialdom one gains power and position; through continual evolution, this eventually forms a vast civil-official bloc.

Although possessing righteous integrity, everything seems fair on the surface, yet unfairness exists everywhere in practice.

Take the simplest example: in the imperial examinations, seventy-two candidates made the list, yet the essays of the seventy-second and seventy-third candidates differ little.

But the seventy-third candidate is a descendant of military generals; with no vested interest, basically all examiners would not choose him.

This is unfairness beneath fairness.

Da Xia Academy is the highest institution of learning in the Da Xia Dynasty; in past years it was controlled by Minister of Rites Yang Kai, and as a Minister of Rites he would naturally not engage in such tricks.

But those below are different; the learning involved is too great, involving personal connections and officialdom.

Aside from the top ten outstanding candidates, the rest are more or less mixed with many political factors.

However, now His Majesty has personally invited Su Wenjing to oversee Da Xia Academy, which will surely suppress the civil-official bloc.

Not only is this an immediate suppression, but more importantly it is a signal.

Whether to cultivate a new force?

What is the purpose of cultivating a new force? To force civil officials to agree to war?

In court there are no trivial matters; anything the Emperor does is watched by countless eyes, and each matter must be pondered over repeatedly.

This is officialdom.

"Brother Zhang, did His Majesty personally go to find Mr. Su, and bring along the Crown Prince?"

The head of the study hall stopped his steps, looked toward Zhang Yunhai, and asked.

"No."

"The Crown Prince only just found out as well, which is why I, your younger brother, am so anxious."

Zhang Yunhai spoke up, informing him of this matter.

"The Crown Prince only just found out?"

In an instant, the study hall courtyard grew even more silent.

Now, the Yongsheng Emperor, though not yet of advanced age, is no longer young; in his youth he campaigned with the Grand Ancestor, in middle age he launched the Jiande Rebellion, and his body is full of old ailments.

One never knows—he might pass away any day.

Of course, as subjects we certainly do not wish for the Emperor's demise, but we must prepare thorough countermeasures for any eventuality.

They are the Crown Prince's men; indeed, seventy percent of the civil officials in the court are under his command.

The Da Xia Emperor invited Su Wenjing but did not inform the Crown Prince, which is not a very good signal for them.

"Mr. Wenjing, I, your elder brother, also hold him in great esteem."

"He is a contemporary Great Scholar; this time emerging from seclusion, he may truly break through to the Half-Saint realm."

He oversees the Da Xia Academy, which is fitting enough, but I hear Mr. Su Wenjing is somewhat eccentric, and it is precisely because of these eccentricities that there is a great rift between him and his brother.

But no matter what, we should not speak rashly; since the Emperor has already decided this matter, saying anything would be useless.

Furthermore, if we stir up trouble, we will invite criticism from the reformist scholars, making things even more troublesome.

When will Mr. Su Wenjing arrive?

After a moment of thought, the head of the study hall spoke slowly.

I'm not sure about that; it's said he's already reached the vicinity of the capital, but he hesitates to enter, which is rather odd.

Moreover, there is another matter: Mr. Su Wenjing's brother has gone to Fuyu and taken charge of the Fuyu Academy.

Zhang Yunhai once again revealed a secret.

This caused the head of the study hall's expression to change.

He went to the Fuyu Academy?

No wonder the Emperor personally went to invite Mr. Su Wenjing out of retirement.

The head of the study hall exclaimed in astonishment.

Su Wenjing is a contemporary Great Scholar, highly likely to become a Half Saint.

But Su Wenjing's brother is truly a Half Saint; they share the same father but different mothers, and in the Confucian Dao, his brother is slightly superior, making them a pair of distinguished scholars in one family.

It is precisely for this reason that Su Wenjing's fame is so great.

Who would have thought that Su Wenjing's brother actually went to the Fuyu Dynasty?

Within the Eastern Wilderness, there are three great dynasties: the Da Xia Dynasty, the Fuyu Dynasty, and the Great Jin Dynasty.

The Great Jin Dynasty is the strongest, the Da Xia Dynasty second, and the Fuyu Dynasty third.

After all, when the Da Xia Dynasty was first founded, before that the Ten Kingdoms were contending for supremacy; if not for the Grand Ancestor's descent, quelling internal chaos and repelling foreign tribes, sweeping across the Ten Kingdoms, there would be no Da Xia to speak of.

The Da Xia Dynasty surpassing the Great Jin Dynasty is merely a matter of time; if not for the Jian De difficulty, it would happen even sooner.

But precisely because of the Jian De difficulty, the Da Xia Dynasty fell into twelve years of internal turmoil, delaying its development by twelve years, thus leaving it in second place.

This has also become the present Emperor's greatest disgrace.

It is also one of the criticisms leveled by many scholars.

Hmm.

Brother, are we really just going to sit back and watch how things unfold?

Zhang Yunhai continued to speak, asking.

Hmm.

If Mr. Su Wenjing's brother had not gone to Fuyu, we could still have maneuvered a bit.

But since Mr. Su Wenjing's brother went to Fuyu, I roughly understand the Emperor's intentions.

As for this Da Xia Academy, we must absolutely not interfere; let Mr. Su Wenjing come.

The head of the study hall spoke slowly, having made up his mind.

Good.

In that case, I will inform my fellow officials to avoid causing trouble.

Zhang Yunhai also added his voice.

Go ahead.

The latter nodded, and Zhang Yunhai immediately left the study hall.

Meanwhile,

Da Xia Capital.

Gu Family.

As Gu Jin Nian had just returned to the manor, he was about to begin reading and cultivating his qi.

The sixth uncle's figure then appeared in the courtyard.

Jin Nian.

Come, Sixth Uncle has something to say to you.

As if he had been waiting especially, Gu Jin Nian's sixth uncle, Gu Ningya, spoke with a smile.

Sixth Uncle, why do you feel like you have nothing to do? Why do you keep running home every few days?

Have you been dismissed from office?

Or have you been sidelined?

Gu Jin Nian stepped closer, simultaneously looking at this sixth uncle of his with curiosity.

It's not that Gu Jin Nian is sharp-tongued; compared to his other uncles, this sixth uncle of his truly has nothing to do.

After all, he is also a deputy commander of the Suspension Lamp Office; how many matters does the court have to handle? How can he feel so idle? "Jin Nian, why does your temperament seem to have changed after your serious illness?"

In the past, whenever you saw me come, you weren't smiling with brows relaxed and eyes bright?

Gu Ningya felt somewhat depressed.

Before Gu Jin Nian could say anything, he directly grabbed Gu Jin Nian's neck and said

Jin Nian, let me tell you some good news.

This time, the head of the Da Xia Academy is not Yang Kai.

It's been replaced by someone else, not those pedantic scholars from the court.

You're lucky this time.

Gu Ningya, unable to wait, told Gu Jin Nian about this.

Not Yang Kai? Then who is it?

Gu Jin Nian wasn't surprised; Yang Hanrou had told him about this earlier, but Gu Jin Nian was curious as to whom the court would appoint as head of the academy.

The renowned Half Saint Su Wenjing.

Gu Ningya lowered his voice and told Gu Jin Nian.

Su Wenjing?

Hearing that name, Gu Jin Nian frowned slightly, and a flood of information instantly surfaced in his mind.

He was actually summoned out?

The next moment, Gu Jin Nian couldn't help but click his tongue.

Through the memories in his mind, Gu Jin Nian knew this Su Wenjing, who is a model of contemporary scholars.

A model for scholars of Da Xia.

He became a Great Scholar at thirty, and now he's reached the age of sixty, only one step away from the Half Saint realm.

Thus he is revered by the world as a Half Saint.

Gu Jin Nian really didn't expect it to be him.

Mm.

So you kid are lucky.

Su Wenjing has an eccentric temperament, but he's indifferent to fame and fortune; he's one of the few scholars your grandfather admires.

I was originally worried that the folks from Da Xia Academy would cause you trouble, but now that Mr. Wenjing is here, things should be much better.

Gu Ningya said that.

I understand.

Gu Jin Nian nodded; the person his grandfather admires is surely fundamentally different from ordinary scholars.

But whether Da Xia Academy seeks trouble with him or not, Gu Jin Nian doesn't care.

By the way, Jin Nian, when Da Xia Academy opens, a person named Su Huaiyu will come to find you.

He will assist you in investigating the truth, though ostensibly he's here to protect you, while secretly conducting the investigation.

You don't need to restrict him in any way, you can fully trust him, but just don't tell him about family matters.

Gu Ningya brought up the matter and informed Gu Jin Nian of it.

Got it.

By the way, Liushu, I have something to ask you.

Gu Jin Nian took in that information, and while looking at Gu Ningya, he brought up a matter.

What matter?

Gu Ningya asked.

Liushu, do you have any silver? Give me some.

Gu Jin Nian reached out his hand.

In his mind there was also a pay-to-win ancient tree; for now there's nothing pressing, but it's wise to be prepared—earning some extra silver isn't a bad thing.

What do you need the silver for?

Here, take it, and spend it sparingly.

Gu Ningya was full of curiosity, and at the same time took out a few taels of broken silver from his bosom and handed it to Gu Jin Nian.

Just this?

Gu Jin Nian looked at the few taels of broken silver in Gu Ningya's hand, his eyes full of doubt.

Is this still too little?

Then how much do you want?

You?

The clan won't give you silver to spend.

Gu Ningya was a bit annoyed.

No, the clan may not give silver, but there's always a stipend from the private treasury, right?

Liushu, you're said to be a Deputy Commander of the Lamp Guard Office; doesn't the clan give you a private treasury stipend?

Gu Jin Nian inquired.

They do.

But the private treasury's expenditures are too high, you Liushu don't have much silver either, Jin Nian—remember what I'm about to say.

The higher the official rank, the less comfortable his subordinates are; speaking of silver, don't think that you Liushu, as a Deputy Commander, being a third-grade official, means you're well-off.

Although the clan gives a lot to the private treasury, nowhere among the upper and lower ranks is there no need for greasing palms.

Silver is something no one will ever have too much of; whether one is clean or corrupt, as an official who wants to command people, you must give your subordinates money to spend—without giving money, saying more is just superfluous.

Gu Ningya said with deep meaning.

Gu Jin Nian kept these words in mind.

He fully understood.

Liushu, saying all that is useless—how much do you have left? Give me some.

Gu Jin Nian continued to demand.

There really isn't much left—how much do you want? I'll go get some for you.

Gu Ningya felt somewhat helpless.

A thousand taels of gold—do you have that?

Gu Jin Nian asked.

Get lost.

The next moment, Gu Ningya immediately turned hostile.

They didn't give Gu Jin Nian any chance, turning and running away.

One thousand taels of gold? Even if he had it, he couldn't possibly give it to Gu Jin Nian. If Gu Jin Nian took this money and did something improper, the unlucky one would be himself.

Watching the Sixth Uncle who had run off in a puff of smoke.

Gu Jin Nian sighed.

All said and done, he still hadn't reached adulthood; the whole family treated him like a child and simply didn't give him a monthly stipend.

It would be troublesome to reach out and ask for it, and he couldn't find a suitable excuse.

Forget it, forget it.

Gu Jin Nian had nothing to agonize over; he went straight into the room and continued reading.

Recently, he didn't plan to go to the study either, just reading at home.

The Da Xia Academy was imminent; he had to quickly condense a Confucian Dao fruit.

Otherwise, his heart would never be at ease.

He still had a resentment fruit in his mind, though it wasn't big, and Gu Jin Nian didn't plan to pick it.

Better to wait until it grows bigger before picking it.

Thus.

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

(End of chapter)