Chapter 65: Taking Advantage of Your Lack of Learning

The earlier debate on the theory of status had utterly shocked Zheng Zhongkui.

But at this very moment, Zheng Zhongkui was about to die laughing; the scene before him could only be described with one phrase: the greatest farce under heaven.

Zhao Han, too, was quoting out of context!

Yet over two hundred teachers and students present, including Vice Education Commissioner Cai Maode himself, had not a single person realize Zhao Han was spouting nonsense.

Cai Maode was indeed a renowned Confucian, but his primary study was the School of Mind; having read the *Classified Sayings of Master Zhu* already counted as qualified — why would he ever leaf through the complete *Hui'an Collection*?

"Brother Weiran, this disciple of yours is truly… beyond words," Zheng Zhongkui said, stifling a laugh.

Pang Chunlai asked, "Is he talking utter rubbish?"

Zheng Zhongkui shook his head. "Not entirely rubbish; on the whole it's still correct. It's only on the matter of urging widows to remarry that your student is quoting out of context, taking advantage of the fact that no one present has read the *Hui'an Collection*."

"What did Master Zhu actually say?" Pang Chunlai was quite curious.

Zheng Zhongkui laughed. "The younger sister of Chen Shizhong — her husband died and she wished to remarry. Master Zhu urged her to preserve her chastity, but in the end he simply failed to persuade her."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Pang Chunlai coughed repeatedly, choking on his own saliva.

Zheng Zhongkui found it increasingly amusing. "This student of yours is wonderfully clever. He used Master Zhu's original words, quoted out of context, and turned urging her to preserve chastity into urging her to remarry. Yet if one reads Master Zhu's writings thoroughly, this out-of-context quotation does not actually violate Master Zhu's original intent."

"How so?" Pang Chunlai was thoroughly confused.

Zheng Zhongkui explained, "On the matter of widows, Master Zhu's views boil down to three: he approved of preserving chastity, sympathized with remarriage, and opposed following a husband in death. The younger sister of Chen Shizhong had a special circumstance — her deceased husband was also a friend of Master Zhu. Master Zhu consistently proclaimed that if a husband died leaving elderly parents above and young children below, the wife should preserve her chastity in order to care for her parents-in-law and children. That was the reasoning when Master Zhu urged Chen Shizhong's sister to preserve her chastity."

"So that's how it is," Pang Chunlai said, suddenly enlightened, then asked, "Is he not afraid of being exposed?"

Zheng Zhongkui said with a smile, "This student of yours is shrewd indeed. The *Hui'an Collection* runs a full one hundred volumes. Anyone who has read it thoroughly would naturally grasp Master Zhu's true meaning and would not expose him on the spot. And those who would wish to refute him lack the patience to read it thoroughly."

Pang Chunlai asked, "Is he not afraid someone might go look up Master Zhu's classical exegesis?"

Zheng Zhongkui countered, "How would they look it up? The *Hui'an Collection* has one hundred volumes, and the individual essays have no table of contents. Moreover, Master Zhu has other works as well. To actually find this particular essay would take at least ten days to half a month."

Pang Chunlai said approvingly, "This lad is cun—clever. My heart is deeply gratified."

Do not think that the teachers and students present, at this moment, were all stunned by Zhu Xi's recorded sayings.

After the debate ended, probably very few would be willing to devote themselves to studying Zhu Xi's works. Even if some did start reading, they certainly would not persist for more than a few days.

Those who truly could persevere would inevitably grasp Zhu Xi's true meaning — so why would they ever expose Zhao Han's little trick?

If Zhao Han were ever to be caught out one day, that would actually be cause for celebration, proving his fame had spread far and wide!

…

Zhao Han continued flipping through his cheat sheets and quickly found new material. "Mr. Chen, allow me to read another passage. This text comes from the *Classified Sayings of Master Zhu*, which I presume you have also read."

Chen Lide had indeed read the *Classified Sayings of Master Zhu*, but that was in his youth, several decades ago.

Seeing Zhao Han about to read another passage from Zhu Xi's recorded sayings, Chen Lide could not help stepping backward, wanting only to flee this awkward scene as fast as possible.

Zhao Han said, "The original text is rather long, so I shall summarize its gist. In Biquan County, there was a woman whose husband was unable to support the family, and she wished to divorce him. Master Zhu's student said, 'The bond between husband and wife — how can it be abandoned because of poverty? The authorities could never permit it.' Mr. Chen, do you know how Master Zhu replied?"

"Of course it is…" Chen Lide hemmed and hawed; he truly dared not speak recklessly anymore. This was not the Zhu Xi he remembered.

Zhao Han smiled. "Master Zhu said: In this matter, one cannot listen to only one side of the story; one must understand the circumstances of both husband and wife. If it is truly because of the husband's fault that his wife finds it hard to survive, then one must not rigidly adhere to the great principles of the cardinal relationships."

Zhao Han suddenly paused, swept his gaze across all the teachers and students present, and declared in a ringing voice, "Master Zhu's words are already very clear. Even if a wife follows her husband after marriage, even if the husband is the guiding principle for the wife, when the husband commits a grave fault, the wife may request a divorce, and the authorities ought to permit it! Is this not equality between man and woman? Is this not equality between husband and wife?"

The debate ground fell into dead silence; the School of Principle's worldview was once again overturned.

Pang Chunlai asked in a low voice, "This one wasn't quoted out of context, was it?"

Zheng Zhongkui shook his head. "No, Master Zhu truly said exactly that."

The xiucai Liu Ziren, who had been clamoring for rebellion, finally could not hold back and asked, "What my junior fellow student says — is it absolutely true?"

Zhao Han pointed toward the library building and said, "Hanzhu Academy possesses the complete works of Master Zhu; they have lain in the library for nearly a hundred years. Honored teachers, fellow students, if you have doubts, you may go look them up and read for yourselves."

"Many thanks for the reminder," Liu Ziren said, clasping his fist in thanks.

Zhu Zhiyu suddenly walked up to Fei Yuanlu, cupped his hands, and said, "Headmaster Fei, I am Zhu Zhiyu, a scholar from Yuyao, and I request permission to study at Hanzhu Academy for one year."

Even a scholar from Yuyao had been drawn here?

Fei Yuanlu was inwardly delighted and said, "The heart that yearns for learning is something all men possess. My friend, you are most welcome to stay."

Zhu Zhiyu had lost his father at the age of eight, and his family's fortunes had declined. Only after his elder brother passed the military jinshi examination did they become prosperous again, but he still had never found the opportunity to read Zhu Xi's complete works.

For scholars who truly yearned for learning, it was not that they did not wish to read "miscellaneous books," but that "miscellaneous books" were far too precious!

Often, even with money, they simply could not be bought.

For instance, when Fei Yinghuan wanted to read famous ancient prose, he had to travel and study in Jiangnan himself, searching through the library towers of various great clans to find them.

Zhao Han once again picked up the cheat sheets in his hand and asked, "Mr. Chen, do you still wish to debate Master Zhu with me? We need not stick to dry textual debate; we could also discuss the moon. Master Zhu held that the moon does not emit light, but shines because it is illuminated by the sun, and thus we have the moon's phases of waxing and waning."

"There is no need to debate further. If Master Zhu said the sun shines on the moon and it glows, then surely it is the sun shining on the moon and it glows." Chen Lide spoke as he walked, turning directly to leave the debate ground. He had no face left to stay and debate, nor even any face left to remain on Hanzhu Mountain. He would resign as soon as he collected this month's salary.

Zhao Han asked the crowd, "Who else wishes to debate Master Zhu with me?"

No one answered.

Zhao Han clutched several sheets of paper in his hand, all of them recorded sayings of Zhu Xi. And everyone present, having only a smattering of half-understood knowledge about Zhu Xi, how could any of them dare step forward to argue with him!

Zhao Han asked the crowd again, "Who else wishes to debate the theory of status with me? Who still opposes the idea that human character is born equal, and divided into high and low only by acquired virtue?"

At least one-third of the teachers and students disagreed with this proposition.

But, recalling what had happened to Chen Lide, none of these people dared to stand forth, each afraid of being rebuffed just as thoroughly and left covered in dust and ashes.

As the arbiter of the debate, Cai Maode stood up and said, "That being the case, today's debate shall be judged a victory for Fei Han."

A portion of the students cheered, a portion were dejected, and many more were seething with indignation.

Those who opposed the theory of status dispersed immediately once the debate ended.

Those who supported the theory of status crowded tightly around Zhao Han, even including several academy teachers; they wished to consult him on some related questions.

Fei Ruyi rushed forward the fastest, grabbing Zhao Han's hand and saying, "Master, would you be willing to come with me to Suzhou? Yanshan's scholarship is stale and decayed, not conducive to spreading your learning. If you go to Suzhou, you will surely be greatly welcomed, certain to become the darling celebrated by all the literati!"

"Er, that won't be necessary," Zhao Han said, extracting his hand and seizing the chance to cup his fists and turn to another person. "Mr. Zhang, you were just saying…"

Cai Maode and Fei Yuanlu walked away from the debate ground side by side.

Fei Yuanlu smiled and asked, "Director of Studies, what did you make of today's debate?"

Cai Maode said, "It has opened a new atmosphere. Hanzhu Academy is bound to see its reputation soar."

"That is entirely thanks to your guidance, Director of Studies." Fei Yuanlu's words carried a hidden meaning — he was asking Cai Maode to help spread the word.

Cai Maode did not answer directly, but instead said, "I must trouble you, sir, to have this Fei Han summoned to my room."

Fei Yuanlu said, "To receive the Director of Studies' earnest instruction — this is a great fortune for the boy."

(End of chapter)