Chapter 1084: A Small Problem

The construction and reform of the Imperial Academy, including reforms to the imperial examinations, are all underway.

It is shameful to admit, but although the Imperial Academy is the highest administrative body for education, when it comes to actual reform, the people within the Academy have done very little. A large group of officials, academicians, and others are either supervising construction sites, compiling textbooks, or going out to find various master craftsmen and skilled farmers and herders; preparations must begin now.

Wang Yan, however, remains steadily at the Imperial Academy teaching classes, one session daily lasting one and a half double-hours, which equals three hours, basically occupying the entire morning.

He did not force anyone to attend, yet in less than a month of his lecturing, the eight hundred students he had expanded enrollment to admit, combined with the original two hundred, plus various wealthy families who suddenly saw the light and donated money to the Imperial Academy to purchase spots, have grown to over two thousand people. Consequently, he has added an afternoon session to his original morning class.

He is now a great Confucian scholar of his generation.

Even if people suspect Wang Yan of harboring thoughts of rebellion, they would absolutely never doubt that his scholarship is insufficient. Recently, rumors have emerged from who-knows-where claiming that Wang Yan's 'New Learning' offers solutions to problems; officials have already utilized the ideologies within this 'New Learning' to resolve practical issues in their work with success, and merchants have employed its principles to form vertical and horizontal alliances in a short time, earning considerable wealth.

This is a true matter, for the content Wang Yan committed to writing includes methodology. Although he indeed had ulterior motives, he did not engage in shoddy work. While his theories borrowed heavily from the ideas of other great Confucian scholars, this was merely donning a layer of skin to conform to Confucian ethics; the true content was not copied by him but was the summation of thoughts he had accumulated over more than a thousand years.

I, Wang Mou, am not stingy; what I write are legitimate dragon-slaying arts. Whether one can comprehend the dragon-slaying blade from them depends on one's personal fate.

As for why there were no such rumors before, that is naturally because I only just released them...

Studying is truly bitter; with over a thousand people wanting to hear Wang Yan's words, they must crowd around him in three inner layers and three outer layers, and now that it is midsummer, it is very hot.

Wang Yan, wearing his official robes loosely and sloppily, spoke loudly: "Let us end here for today; the weather is scorching, minds are restless, and some cannot endure the high temperatures, already growing drowsy and likely unable to absorb anything. Henceforth, classes will be limited to two hundred people per session, with two shifts daily on a five-day rotation cycle. My teachings cannot assist you gentlemen in entering officialdom through the imperial examinations, so you must still devote greater effort to other subjects. The Daoshitang has prepared mung bean soup to relieve the heat; drink a bowl each and disperse."

He waved his hand, and the crowd, somewhat drowsy a moment ago, perked up, rose, and scattered.

One person quickly caught up with Wang Yan, who was swaying as he left, drew close, and said, "This student has a matter to report to the Chancellor."

This man was in his twenties, not tall in stature and rather thin, yet his thick eyebrows and large eyes sparkled with vigor. He was an impressive figure named Zhang Dun, twenty-four years old this year. In the Jiayou Second Year imperial examinations, he passed as a jinshi alongside Su Shi and others; the top scholar (Xingpu Zhuangyuan) of that cohort was Zhang Heng. Since Zhang Heng was Zhang Dun's clan nephew, and Zhang Dun could not accept failing to outperform his own grand-nephew, he declined an official post and prepared to take the exams again.

In Jiayou Fourth Year, which is this year, he passed the jinshi exams again and was assigned to the Imperial Academy as a minor official. At that time, Wang Yan was visiting various powerful figures; perhaps to show emphasis, or knowing that Wang Yan was certainly planning moves, they sent several promising talents for him to employ.

Zhang Dun was here auditing classes; he was a member of the Reform Faction and had long held ideas of strengthening the nation through reform, so he greatly admired such an impressive superior as Wang Yan. Since arriving, apart from performing his assigned duties, he always sought to consult Wang Yan on scholarly matters.

Even if Wang Yan did not know that Zhang Dun would one day govern the world as a Grand Councilor, he would still appreciate him. The imperial examination system certainly has flaws, and focusing exclusively on Confucian classics is insufficient, yet those who emerge victorious from the examinations are without exception outstanding individuals. The principles taught in the Confucian classics are all grand truths regarding governing the state and conducting oneself; these outstanding individuals can truly read between the lines, which is the reason for their broad understanding. In just two words: geniuses.

Speaking truthfully, among the officials who passed the jinshi exams and entered service, not a single one is useless. However, once they enter the bureaucratic arena, differences in character, experience, stance, and methods cause people to be ranked higher or lower. Some rise rapidly to high positions, while others offend someone immediately upon taking office and spend their entire lives traveling aimlessly.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Speak."

Zhang Dun said, "Yesterday afternoon, this student heard that the second younger sister of my lord's esteemed wife's natal family, and Liang Han, the legitimate second son of the Yongchang Earl's household... have an illicit affair, and that my lord's father-in-law caught them in the act at the Xiangguo Temple; currently, all of Jingcheng is spreading this story. My lord's situation is now precarious, I fear..."

"My situation is not good?" Wang Yan asked with a playful smile, "Zihou, tell me exactly how my situation is so bad."

"Uh..."

Zhang Dun hesitated, then smiled foolishly, "Does the Chancellor already know?"

"I heard it from family members this morning. These are trivial matters; I recall when I served as Patrol Commissioner of the Military Patrol Office in the capital, when others made things difficult for me, at most they claimed my father-in-law and mother-in-law's family were privately lending usurious money. I was summoned to the Policy Council for accountability... and what happened afterward? Pang Ji was dismissed as Chancellor, and that Clerk Zhou died of illness while transferring posts. Zihou, my situation has never been good since I entered official service. Go attend to your duties."

Wang Yan patted his shoulder, shook his patina-covered fan, and swayed away leisurely.

Zhang Dun pondered the meaning behind his leader's words, grinned, turned, and left, walking quickly to the Daoshitang to eat.

He had heard that Wang Yan's diet was exquisite and that he treated subordinate officials extremely well. Previously, this was all hearsay, but after coming to the capital, he realized the claims were true. At noon mealtime, the fragrance of cooking could be smelled drifting from the Military Patrol Office and its branch offices. After being assigned to the Imperial Academy, he experienced this firsthand; the food and drink were no worse than in fine restaurants, all provided as benefits. Even though the summer heat was oppressive, he had absolutely no loss of appetite...

Although his family conditions were quite good, this did not prevent him from enjoying these benefits; not only were they free, but they also served as an affirmation of status and rank. Among all the government offices in the entire capital, only two operate their own cafeterias with excellent meals: the Military Patrol Office and the Imperial Academy.

Zhang Dun naturally did not understand economics; the reason the Military Patrol Office and the Imperial Academy ate well was that these two offices cooperated with farmers near Bianjing to purchase meat, eggs, and vegetables.

This was Wang Yan reaping what he had sown. It was all because he had consistently sent people to manage operations, distributing various seedlings to the common people, encouraging them to raise pigs and poultry, which he then purchased uniformly, while also constructing large-scale breeding farms and implementing what is known as ecological circular farming methods.

When purchasing a mountain, he would also buy fields near its base; raising chickens on the mountain, fish, ducks, and geese in the water, and setting aside an area for raising pigs. Then he would hire people to compost the manure to fertilize the crops, and a portion of the crop harvest would be used again as feed.

He had countless such locations throughout the Great Song. Over these many years, having endured numerous epidemics, he had trained countless veterinarians and skilled handlers for raising these meat animals; their skill levels were very high, highly professional, and a mature system had already been established.

However, he had always operated this alone, so the scale was not yet too large, radiating outward only from Hangzhou, Yangzhou, Bianjing, and the Northwest. Compared to the entire territory of the Great Song, it was still insufficient.

The meat products raised in these places were purchased by a department specifically responsible for this business and then supplied steadily to the Military Patrol Office and the Imperial Academy.

Neither of these two offices lacked money; the Military Training Office had its own businesses, and as Wang Yan developed the Northwest, their business operations extended there as well, making them very wealthy. As for the Imperial Academy, since Wang Yan took office, while one could not say it was very wealthy, it certainly did not lack funds.

He negotiated with the Policy Council to establish the 'Imperial Academy Book Garden,' preparing to sell books, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, while simultaneously launching a newspaper named 'Great Song Cultural Gazette,' which, as the name suggests, focused on culture, literature, thought, and ideology, intended for educated literati. He also created two supplements called 'Great Song Livelihood Gazette' and 'Great Song Story Collection.'

The former discussed national development for the common people to hear, while the latter was dedicated to collecting exciting stories, strange tales, and anecdotes to entertain the public.

Although cultural education flourished in the Great Song, the literacy rate was only ten percent. However, for stories with strong dissemination properties, while older people might not learn to read, younger children, through prolonged exposure, would naturally learn common characters.

Moreover, these newspapers had strong sales; Wang Yan also prohibited private individuals from running newspapers. Although some official offices imitated this by starting their own, clearly, this was not something that could be done well merely by imitation.

The money earned by the Imperial Academy was sufficient to improve the treatment of its officials and clerks. This was a stable source of revenue. Furthermore, with the official resale of student qualifications and the absorption of donations from wealthy families, the officials and clerks of the Imperial Academy, though somewhat overworked now, were very comfortable, their power had increased, and they revered Wang Yan as if he were a god.

They admitted that previously, hearing only of Wang Yan's notorious reputation, their thoughts had been somewhat extreme. Wang Yan was very annoying, but if he was their direct superior, then he was a living father...

It was all one link connecting to the next.

Other offices wanted to imitate this, but they had no money...

As for the sudden scandal that erupted in the Sheng family, this belonged to the category of unexpected situations. When one is in the capital, such messy affairs are always difficult to avoid.

Wang Yan was naturally clear about this plot; it was designed by Sheng Minglan to ensure Sheng Molan married a man who was not so good.

Originally, it was because Lady Lin caused the death of Minglan's birth mother, Lady Wei, but now, due to Wang Yan's reminder, Lady Wei had not died and had even borne another son. Yet Minglan was still secretly sabotaging Molan; it was estimated that although her life had been preserved these years, her days were truly extremely hard to endure. The few sighs Hua Lan had made earlier probably could not express even a fraction of it.

After all, since Lady Wei did not die, Minglan lived together with her; without the support of the Old Lady of the Sheng household to spend money on her, and with Sheng Hong being biased and gullible in the inner quarters, Lady Wei's side suffered from poor food, poor sleep, heat in summer, and cold in winter—it was very difficult.

Of course, even so, it was certainly better than commoner families, but the Sheng family were not commoners; they were officials, engaged in commerce, and possessed a substantial family fortune. Minglan had grown up enduring bullying, and this time, when arranging for a good husband, there would certainly be no shortage of scheming and infighting. Minglan was naturally one who held grudges, so it was normal for the drama in the Sheng family's inner quarters to return to its previous state.

"... My father is truly anxious this time; he has locked up that Lady Lin, and Molan has also been confined to the ancestral hall..."

At the dinner table, Hua Lan, who had stayed home all day, recounted family matters with some apprehension, saying, "Will these matters in my family have any impact on Da Da Guanren?"

Glancing at the three children pricking up their ears while eating, especially the youngest daughter in the room who was only a little over three years old, Wang Yan shook his head amusingly and tapped his bowl with his chopsticks: "You few are listening quite attentively; can you understand?"

"How does Father know I don't understand?" The three-year-old daughter spoke in a milky, childish voice, blinking her large eyes. Her name was Wang Wenlan. Together with her elder brother Wang Wenhua, they formed the name 'Hua Lan.'

"You understand so much, hurry up and eat." Hua Lan lightly tapped the girl's little head, then turned to look at Wang Yan.

Wang Yan took a sip of the fragrant fish soup and smiled: "These are merely matters of young children, trivial issues; what impact could they have? It is my father-in-law who will have a difficult time; ultimately, it affects his reputation. People will only think the Sheng family failed to educate their daughters properly, which will also implicate Rulan and Minglan."

"Exactly, my father cares most about the Sheng family's reputation and the Sheng family's future. Now look, the Sheng family's reputation is ruined. My father too; how could he let such a matter spread..."

"My father-in-law would not lose his head in anger; furthermore, my mother-in-law is still here, and the Old Lady is here too; they would certainly control all relevant people immediately. So how did the news spread?"

Hua Lan pondered deeply and said, "It must have been arranged long ago. Was it Lady Lin? They did it on purpose! I heard the person my father introduced to Molan was a juren student currently studying at the Imperial Academy. Molan takes after Lady Lin; she is one who climbs toward wealth and status. This mother-and-daughter pair did this so that Molan could marry into a wealthy family!"

"My beloved wife is truly clever!"

While speaking, Wang Yan slapped the back of his eldest son's head, "Laozi is talking to your mother; why are you curling your lips?"

"Hiss... Father, your son was wrong, truly wrong; Father is right, Mother is the cleverest." The nine-year-old eldest son, covering his head, acted obediently and ingratiatingly, trying to liven up the mood for his mother, who was somewhat worried about her natal family.

Glancing sharply at her eldest son, Hualan said, "Then there is no other way; the shame has already been incurred, and we must acknowledge it. The Yongchang Earl's Manor must marry Mo Lan. As for you, my lord... perhaps it is better not to get involved. I hear Liang Heng's reputation is not good, suggesting the Yongchang Earl's Manor is not entirely clean either. If you sacrifice your dignity, I fear trouble may follow in the future."

"If I face trouble, does the Sheng family escape it? Why should I, your husband, personally intervene in such a trivial matter? Go first and speak with my father-in-law, my lord, to gauge his intentions: does he intend to beat Lin Shi and Mo Lan to death, or facilitate Mo Lan's marriage? If he chooses the latter, he must first mediate; I estimate the Yongchang Earl's Manor would not dare refuse."

"If the Yongchang Earl's Manor truly lacks sense, they have even less dignity to lose. You can send someone with my card to the Patrol Court, letting their officials communicate with the Yongchang Earl's Manor. Only if they still remain senseless would it be time for this official to intervene. However, the mother and daughter, Lin Shi and Mo Lan, can only be beaten to death."

"Although great families commit many dirty deeds, what they live for is their reputation. As the saying goes, one trades face for power, and once power is acquired, one uses it to regain face; this is not contradictory."

"Therefore, regarding the Sheng family's current situation, there can only be two outcomes: either Mo Lan marries out, or Lin Shi and Mo Lan are beaten to death. Beyond these, there is no other path."

Hualan nodded. "Very well. Tomorrow I will return home and have a serious discussion with my parents."

"Let us eat, let us eat. How can such a trivial matter ruin our appetite?"

Wang Yan knew Hualan still feared causing him trouble; as the saying goes, concern breeds confusion. But in reality, unless he became entangled in overly sensitive issues, no one was willing to bother with him.

He had already become too powerful to be easily removed.

They wished to destroy him, yet no one dared to strike. He had faced numerous assassination attempts over the years, so that avenue was impossible. Deploying troops to surround and kill him would certainly fail without legitimate justification; baseless accusations would absolutely never occur against Wang Yan. Furthermore, it was uncertain whether the very troops they sent to besiege Wang Yan might not include soldiers loyal to him.

Moreover, he wielded enormous influence in academic circles, commanded immense prestige among scholars and intellectuals, and enjoyed overwhelming support among the common people. Officials who had risen under his guidance were now scattered across the regions, holding various posts; they were highly capable and loyal ministers, staunch devotees of Wang Yan who adopted his methods of governance and upheld his political philosophy. Truly killing him would constitute nothing short of a disaster.

These sordid affairs within the inner quarters of his father-in-law's household were hardly significant matters, let alone something that needed to be dragged onto his shoulders...

After that day, Wang Yan paid no further attention to the matter; it was several days later that Hualan informed him of the outcome.

Nothing unexpected occurred; just as in the original story, Mo Lan successfully married into the Yongchang Earl's Manor. Lin Shi, an acquaintance of Wang Yan, was thoroughly beaten and sent to a manor outside the city, where she died shortly thereafter.

This time, it was most likely not Minglan who acted, but Lady Wang; or rather, it had never been Minglan's doing in the first place, but Lady Wang's.

In past conflicts within the inner quarters, Lin Shi always had Sheng Hong protecting her. This time, however, Sheng Hong was truly heartbroken; not only did her coquettish cries of 'Hong Lang' prove useless, but even calling him 'Father' would avail nothing.

Sheng Hong valued the Sheng family's honor more than his own life; his entire existence revolved around the Sheng family. Since Lin Shi had truly crossed the line, he naturally would no longer protect her.

Thus, Lady Wang, who had struggled against her for over twenty years, would naturally seize this opportunity to vent her long-held resentment. What if Sheng Hong softened his heart later and remembered Lin Shi again? Therefore, Lady Wang would certainly devise a way to eliminate Lin Shi completely, resolving the trouble once and for all to prevent any future recurrence...

Rulan still favored that scholar from a humble background and emulated Mo Lan's tactics. Although she did not carry it out completely—avoiding the 'board the carriage first, buy the ticket later' approach—she still managed to stir up a minor scandal, ultimately achieving her desire.

What surprised Wang Yan somewhat was Gu Tingye. He had not paid much attention to such a minor character. Yet, besides the incident where Gu Tingye's drunken ramblings reached Zhao Zhen's ears, resulting in his ban from the imperial examinations, the next time Wang Yan heard Gu Tingye's name was in a military report submitted to the court.

After failing the imperial examinations and offending Zhao Zhen, Gu Tingye enlisted in the army that same year, joining the Western Army in the northwest. Proficient in martial arts, literate, and knowledgeable in military strategy, he rose in rank after several skirmishes with the Western Xia.

In the autumn of the fourth year of Jiayou, the Song emperor and his officials believed the Western Xia was merely lingering on its last breaths and that launching a military campaign could deliver a fatal blow, completely extinguishing its regime; thus, they directly initiated war.

This battle raged from autumn until spring, and it completely annihilated the Western Xia. Part of the Western Xia royal family was captured, while the rest fled into exile.

It was during this campaign that Gu Tingye distinguished himself; within half a year, he rose from a Squad Leader to a Military Commander leading twenty-five hundred men. After the war concluded and merits were rewarded, he was directly promoted to the rank of a Miscellaneous General and transferred to serve in the capital...