Chapter 70: Jiangnan Literary Assembly: The Clash of Pen and Sword

After the Jinling storytelling, the Jiangnan literati were shaken.

Some praised Jiang Che for his openness.

Others criticized him for using his military achievements to suppress public opinion.

Still others issued a proclamation, saying:

"The world cannot be without a sovereign; the New System has no foundation."

"The Council Hall's bickering can never match a sage ruler's single word."

"If Jiang Che truly will not become emperor, he must install a virtuous prince to stabilize the world."

This article was signed "White Deer Mountain Hermit."

White Deer Academy is a Jiangnan academy with a hundred years of history, its students scattered across the land.

During the Old Dynasty, White Deer Academy produced many high officials.

After the New System, many officials from White Deer were investigated; some were dismissed for involvement in Old Dynasty corruption, others resigned for refusing to accept the abolition of the Kneeling Ceremony.

Thus, White Deer Academy deeply resented the New System.

The Jinling Literary Assembly was thus initiated by White Deer Academy.

The theme: four characters:

"Where Shall the World Go?"

They invited Jiang Che to attend.

Many advised Jiang Che not to go.

"It's a Hongmen Banquet."

"Literati kill without blood."

"They will roast you on the fire."

Yet Jiang Che went.

The venue was set by the Qinhuai River.

Jiangnan's renowned scholars, academy students, Local Representatives, merchant magnates, and even many commoners came.

Lu Guanlan, the head of White Deer Academy, presided personally.

He was over seventy, his hair and beard white, his bearing refined and scholarly.

Seeing Jiang Che, he bowed and said:

"Sword Master Jiang."

Jiang Che returned the bow: "Headmaster Lu."

Lu Guanlan got straight to the point:

"Sword Master says he will not become emperor, yet the world must still be unified."

"The Council Hall bickers, inefficient; local selections breed chaos."

"If disaster or war strikes, everything must be debated again—wouldn't that cripple the state?"

Jiang Che said: "Indeed, it would."

Everyone froze.

Lu Guanlan was also taken aback.

Jiang Che continued:

"Thus the New System needs emergency authority."

"During war or disaster, the Three Ruling Seats and the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master may jointly issue emergency orders, subject to post-facto review by the Council Hall."

Lu Guanlan frowned.

He had not expected Jiang Che to merely defend—he admitted the flaws and proposed fixes.

Lu Guanlan asked again:

"What if the Council Hall is bought by merchants, controlled by aristocrats, or swayed by ignorant masses?"

Jiang Che said: "Publish the ledgers, rotate seats, establish public grievance channels, and record everything in History Camp."

Lu Guanlan said: "Will these truly prevent it?"

Jiang Che shook his head: "No."

"Then on what grounds is the New System superior to imperial rule?"

Jiang Che looked at him and said:

"Because when an emperor grows foolish, the world must wait for him to die."

"With the New System, if it errs, at least we can question it, correct it, replace it."

The hall fell silent.

Lu Guanlan paused, then suddenly said:

"Sword Master, do you know the people may not know what they want?"

At this, many scholars nodded.

Before Jiang Che could speak, a voice rose from the crowd:

"I know."

Everyone turned.

The speaker was the widow from Han Zhou who sold lamb soup.

She had come south as Han Zhou's Local Representative to observe.

She stood up, unafraid.

"I know what I want."

My husband and son are dead; I want my relief payments delivered on time.

I pay taxes for my shop; I don't want them crushing me until I can't survive.

I lent soup to soldiers; I don't want them dying for nothing.

I'm old; I want the children in Yu Gu Yuan to remember who their fathers were.

She looked at Lu Guanlan.

"Lu Shanzhang, I don't understand the sages' books."

"But I know when you're hungry, you need food; when you're cold, you need clothes; when your kin die, you need justice."

"Does that count as knowing?"

Lu Guanlan was left speechless by the question.

Another person stood up.

It was the elder from Luo'an.

"I know too."

"I don't want to be taken again to be sacrificed to Heaven."

Another stood up.

It was the representative of the East Sea fishermen.

"I know."

"I don't want the officials to flee first when the Water Gate opens."

Then came the famine-stricken from the Western Desert, the young of the Southern Border Wu Tribe, the artisans of the Beijing Capital Region.

One by one, ordinary people spoke their "knowing" at the Jiangnan literary gathering.

They spoke without elegance.

Some were even crude.

But every word landed on the ground.

Lu Guanlan looked at them, his expression slowly growing complex.

At that moment, a young student from White Deer Academy suddenly rose and shouted:

"Can a state be governed by listening to merchants and peddlers?"

The moment he spoke, the entire hall fell silent.

Jiang Che looked at him.

"What's your name?"

The young student replied haughtily: "White Deer Academy, Shen Xiuwen."

Jiang Che said: "Shen Xiuwen, write down what you just said."

Shen Xiuwen froze.

Jiang Che turned to Lin Xiaoman.

Lin Xiaoman immediately picked up his brush.

Jiang Che said:

"Let future generations see that in the early years of the New System, there were still Scholars who believed common folk weren't worthy to speak."

Shen Xiuwen's face flushed red: "Are you humiliating me?"

Jiang Che shook his head.

"You're the one who spoke those words yourself."

Lu Guanlan closed his eyes.

He knew that today, White Deer Academy had lost.

Not to Jiang Che.

But to the people they had never truly seen.

When the literary gathering ended, Lu Guanlan walked up to Jiang Che.

"Sword Master, the New System might yet survive."

Jiang Che said: "Only might."

Lu Guanlan nodded: "Only might."

He let out a long sigh.

"White Deer Academy will open a new subject: studying the New Laws and civil administration."

Jiang Che bowed: "The Human Realm thanks you."

Lu Guanlan looked at him, then suddenly asked:

"What if one day the New System also decays?"

Jiang Che said: "Then let future generations change it again."

Lu Guanlan smiled.

"That sounds like the words of a rebel."

Jiang Che smiled too.

"I was one from the start."