Chapter 35: Discoursing on Scholars in Yingchuan

Lu Zhi and Liu Kuan did not end up quarrelling, mainly because the current Superintendent of the Imperial Household, the venerable Liu Kuan, adopted an attitude of meek submission.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

"Alright, alright, alright!"

"Whatever you say goes!"

That was roughly how he behaved.

As for Teacher Lu Zhi's attitude, one might glimpse a hint of it from another matter — the moment Liu Kuan arrived, he asked Gongsun Xun to fetch wine, but Lu Zhi put on a stern face and immediately launched into a lecture on the interaction between Heaven and man using the locust plague as his topic, making Liu Kuan so unbearably awkward that he had to reverse his stance and declare that he too would not drink until the locust plague was over!

The outcome of the discussion under such circumstances was beyond doubt — everything was decided according to what Lu Zhi said: the formal status of the three Gongsun brothers remained unchanged, two teachers meant two teachers, after all Lu Zhi had spoken first and he would not renege on his word; but among the three brothers, Gongsun Xun had to return to Mount Goushi, or rather had to follow Lu Zhi to study ancient script, while Gongsun Zan once again proved his good fortune — he and Gongsun Yue could follow Liu Kuan and remain in Luoyang.

In terms of becoming known among the feudal lords, the difference between Luoyang and Goushi was probably like the current gap between the official ranks of Liu Kuan and Lu Zhi — the former was sitting at the third rank and eyeing the second, liable to leap straight into the Three Excellencies position any day, while the latter had just stepped down as Grand Administrator and only held the treatment of an Erudite... and even that appointment had not yet formally come through.

But Gongsun Xun had also thought it through — since he could see no hope of resistance anyway, he might as well take things as they came. At the very least, here in Goushi there was a charity lodge where he could build up his reputation, a courtyard where he could bask in the sun, a teacher he could orbit around, and a whole crowd of wastrels from Hebei orbiting the teacher along with him...

Incidentally, Gongsun Yue was truly a good kid. After hesitating repeatedly, he actually chose to stay in Goushi with Gongsun Xun, which was genuinely heartwarming.

And after Lu Zhi returned to Mount Goushi, he naturally did not just teach, hold classes, and discipline unruly boys. He had come back this time to accomplish a major undertaking, namely the carving of the Stone Classics. So, the very next day after Teacher Lu returned, he submitted a memorial to the court. The memorial was simple and direct — it crisply and decisively proposed that ancient script be included in the "official curriculum."

But what was interesting was that the Luoyang side displayed a bizarre attitude. Whether it was the central administration dominated by the New Text faction or the emperor high above, all actually maintained silence.

In response, Lu Zhi reacted swiftly and with strong execution. After pondering for half a day, he decided to widely issue invitations to heroes... He needed support, and support for the ancient script faction could be found everywhere now, since the entire Guandong region was the ancient script faction's domain.

And this action unexpectedly allowed Gongsun Xun, who was feeling stifled here on Mount Goushi, to suddenly seize an opportunity. He volunteered, requesting to go with Lu Fan to Runan to deliver letters — although Runan was the Yuan clan's stronghold, the Yuan family, with four generations of Three Excellencies, would not take out their hereditary Meng Family Commentary on the Changes to teach others, so from top to bottom that region was still the domain of ancient script.

Lu Zhi did not say much about this and simply waved his hand in approval.

"I hear that Yingchuan has a flourishing literary culture," Gongsun Xun could not restrain himself the moment they exited Huanyuan Pass (one of the Eight Passes of Luoyang, between the Shaoshi and Taishi peaks of Mount Song) and entered Yingchuan Commandery. "Brother Ziheng has long resided in Runan, neighboring Yingchuan Commandery. Could you introduce the local figures and customs to me?"

The so-called Brother Ziheng was none other than Lu Fan. Due to Gongsun Xun's urging, Lu Zhi had just capped him and bestowed a courtesy name upon him before they set out on this journey, and he was now called Lu Ziheng.

This freshly minted Lu Ziheng, riding a tall steed and wearing brand-new silk clothes, could not help but smile faintly upon hearing this: "Brother Xun is being too formal. However, Yingchuan has far too many famous clans and renowned scholars — I fear we could travel the entire length of Yingchuan and still not finish talking about all these people..."

"Then just speak of the most important ones," Gongsun Xun said nonchalantly.

"There's no harm in speaking in detail. At worst, we'll just travel a bit slower," Liu Bei, riding alongside, for once took the initiative to contradict Gongsun Xun... It was not that this unruly boy was deliberately picking a fight, but rather that Lu Zhi was far too strict. In just a few short days since returning, he had already made Liu Bei, a youth who spent his days cockfighting and dog-racing, feel deeply apprehensive.

And this time, he had practically begged Gongsun Xun to bring him along.

"Don't mind him, you two elder brothers," Gongsun Yue, trailing at the back, curled his lip, clearly too lazy to lock horns with Liu Bei. "Brother Ziheng, just say what you were going to say."

Liu Bei also curled his lip but said nothing further.

"Speaking of famous clans and renowned scholars, the very first one to mention in Yingchuan Commandery is naturally that paragon of the realm, Li Yuanli," Lu Fan began with a touch of emotion only after the two younger ones behind him had finished their antics. "But Li Yuanli passed away many years ago. As for the present, it comes down to the figures of these few families — namely the Xun, Chen, Guo, and Zhong..."

Gongsun Xun narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The Xun clan needs little elaboration. Starting from Xun Shu, one of the Four Paragons of Yingchuan, who became renowned throughout the realm, Xun Shu's eight sons were called the Eight Dragons. And from the Eight Dragons on down, the number of outstanding and exceptional descendants is simply too many to list one by one!"

Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly. Xun Wenruo, pure as ice and clean as jade; Xun Gongda, with his endless stratagems — in his mind, he was probably even clearer about them than Lu Fan. These were all true top-tier figures. In his mother's words, these two surnamed Xun were both among the top ten strategists of the early chaotic era, and that Xun Wenruo was practically a figure on par with Zhang Liang or Xiao He.

"As for the Chen clan," Lu Fan continued, "this brings us to the foremost living figure in Yingchuan Commandery today, Chen Shi, the Duke of Taiqiu. The story of the Gentleman on the Beam was something from the Duke of Taiqiu's youth. And the Duke of Taiqiu's several sons were all exceedingly well educated. Among them, the eldest son Chen Ji and the fourth son Chen Chen are particularly outstanding. Before the Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions, the father and his two sons were often summoned simultaneously, hence they were called the Three Lords..."

Lu Fan spoke eloquently, but Gongsun Xun was completely uninterested in an old man and his two sons. The figure on his mind now was Chen Qun... if nothing unexpected happened, he should be this old man's grandson. He wondered how old he was.

"There are also the Guo and Zhong clans. The rise of these two families was actually very close in time to the Xun and Chen clans. Zhong Hao of the Zhong clan was also one of the Four Paragons of Yingchuan, and Guo Gong of the Guo clan, though his reputation was not as illustrious as the other three of those families, had the advantage of a large and flourishing clan with many branches, and is not to be underestimated."

Gongsun Xun certainly knew they were not to be underestimated... Guo Jia and Guo Tu put together, even at their worst, were no less than Zhong Yao.

"I've put you to trouble, Brother Ziheng," Gongsun Xun said after hearing all this information he already knew, finally bringing out the question he truly wanted to ask. "But I do have some puzzlement... Why does Yingchuan have so many renowned scholars?"

"My family is in Xiyang, downstream on the Ying River, so I do have some insight on this point," Lu Fan smiled faintly, as if he had long anticipated this question.

"Please do instruct me, Brother Ziheng," Gongsun Xun said earnestly.

"First of all, it is because private academies have become the custom," Lu Fan spoke as if enumerating his family treasures. "Especially in these years, the Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions has implicated Yingchuan far too broadly. Many renowned scholars, unable to take office, could only establish schools at home. During the first Partisan Prohibition, Li Yuanli ran a school at home and routinely had a thousand followers. And at that time, figures like Li Yuanli numbered no fewer than five or six in Yingchuan, with other large and small private academies beyond count... I won't hide it from you, Brother Xun — I once met a man in Runan who had traveled from Hanzhong to Yingchuan to study. This man went through Bashu, then followed the Great River downstream, all just to reach Yingchuan a day earlier. If even people from Hanzhong come to Yingchuan to study, let alone figures from Qing, Xu, Yan, Yu, Jing, and Yang provinces. In all the realm, a place like this is probably only matched by where our Uncle-Master Zheng is."

Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly. Zheng Xuan was hailed as the Classic Sage, with disciples all across Guandong. Such a comparison only made the flourishing scholarly atmosphere of Yingchuan all the more apparent.

"Besides private academies," Gongsun Xun continued to ask with a serious expression, "are there any other explanations?"

"There is also the ancient character of this place," Lu Fan, seeing the other's earnestness, also became serious. "Brother Xun may not know this, but Yingchuan was the former territory of Han in the pre-Qin era."

"So?" Gongsun Xun asked, puzzled.

"So this place retains much of the surviving influence of Shenzi and Han Feizi."

Shenzi was Shen Buhai, the founder of Legalism. Han Feizi, needless to say, was the great synthesizer of Legalism. And both of these men were from the state of Han in the pre-Qin era.

Thereupon, Gongsun Xun immediately caught on: "Brother Ziheng means that this place practices both Confucianism and Legalism side by side?"

"Exactly so!" Lu Fan replied. "The teaching here is unlike other places. Upon entry, one first studies law, and only then masters the classics... The previously mentioned Guo Gong and Zhong Hao were actually both renowned as great Legalist scholars. Their family's transmitted learning was none other than the study of statutes and laws. Even the classical scholarship of figures like Xun Shu and the Duke of Taiqiu emphasizes not parsing individual phrases and sentences, but is instead famed for speculative reasoning. Therefore, the renowned scholars of this place are by no means idle talkers. Once they take office, they can generally achieve the pacification and governance of a region."

Gongsun Xun appeared thoughtful.

"Moreover, Legalism not only emphasizes the techniques of governance but also stresses stratagems and statecraft," Lu Fan suddenly said with a wry smile. "Thus, the renowned scholars of Yingchuan are often adept at seeking advantage and avoiding harm, and at perpetuating their families... Let me tell you something. Brother Xun, do you know that Zhang Rang of the Ten Regular Attendants also has his family in Yingchuan?"

"I have heard something of it."

"Back when Zhang Rang's father died, people from the entire commandery went to offer condolences, but among the so-called renowned scholars, only one went... Guess which one?"

"It certainly wasn't Li Yuanli, the paragon of the realm, otherwise he wouldn't have died in prison."

"That goes without saying... The one who went to offer condolences for Zhang Rang's father that day was the leading figure among the renowned scholars of Yingchuan Commandery, Chen Shi, the Duke of Taiqiu," Lu Fan said, his tone tinged with emotion. "It was this single act that made Zhang Rang weep with gratitude even to this day. A few years ago, when the second Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions began, countless renowned and prestigious families across the realm were ruined and exterminated. Even Li Yuanli was beaten to death. But in truth, that was because Li Yuanli had long been a core member of the partisans. In Yingchuan Commandery, however, any renowned clan with connections to the Chen family — as long as you didn't actively step forward — though barred from office, not a single person was imprisoned, let alone having their family ruined and exterminated. Everyone says this was the grace and virtue of the Duke of Taiqiu."

Gongsun Xun could not help but shake his head, yet he remained utterly silent... He truly did not know what to say. Should he praise Chen Shi's foresight? Or say that he disregarded personal reputation for the sake of his descendants? Or mock him for using the other renowned scholars of the commandery as stepping stones to bestow favor upon a eunuch?

A matter cannot be interpreted from only one angle, especially when you have no personal stake. Because at such a time, no matter how you comment, you risk the suspicion of giving glib advice without bearing any cost.

In fact, it was not just the overthinking Gongsun Xun — even Liu Bei and Gongsun Yue, who had been riding alongside and listening attentively, opened their mouths several times wanting to speak but ultimately found themselves at a loss for words.

"There is also the Xun family," Lu Fan continued his introduction. "Their methods were even more direct. Xun Gun, the second dragon among the Eight Dragons of the Xun clan, arranged a marriage for his son Xun Yu while the boy was still in swaddling clothes to the daughter of Tang Heng, the Regular Palace Attendant who then dominated the court..."

"Xun Yu was betrothed to a eunuch's daughter?" Gongsun Xun was stunned.

"That's right," Lu Fan answered affirmatively.

"Do eunuchs have daughters too?" Liu Bei's focus was always rather interesting.

"Perhaps it was a niece adopted as a daughter, or perhaps he fathered a daughter before entering the palace," Gongsun Xun turned back to explain. "Just like Cao Mengde I told you about — his grandfather was also a great eunuch, and his father Cao Song was actually a clan nephew adopted by his grandfather."

Exactly! Cao Song was surnamed Cao to begin with and had nothing to do with the Xiahou or anything like that! This was an unexpected discovery Gongsun Xun made after arriving in Luoyang... Think about it — although Cao Teng was a eunuch, he had a biological elder brother, didn't he? And he even had three paternal nephews recorded in the histories, one of whom was actually the biological father of Cao Ren and Cao Chun. Tell me, if it really came down to it, letting a nephew inherit the title would still be better than adopting someone of a different surname as a son, right? It's even possible that Cao Song was originally one of Cao Teng's own paternal nephews!

So, his mother had definitely remembered it wrong!

Of course, what Gongsun Xun did not know was that his mother had not actually remembered it wrong — she had just transmigrated back a bit too early. Had she waited another two years until Cao Cao's tomb was archaeologically excavated, and then the wife-lover Cao himself was even exhumed and his DNA tested, thus clearing the Xiahou brothers of a millennia-old grievance... Ahem, to digress a bit further, the Xiahou brothers were truly not imperial clan members. It was only because the two families had been linked by marriage for many years, and because the Xiahou brothers' relationship with Old Cao was far too close, that they received treatment akin to imperial clansmen.

After lecturing Liu Bei, Gongsun Xun turned back and continued his conversation with Lu Fan: “But Brother Ziheng, I am rather curious — during the Proscription of Partisans, this Xu Heng was at irreconcilable odds with the scholar-gentry, nearly exterminating each other’s clans. Yet the Xun family entered into marriage with him. How then could they still maintain their status as a renowned clan and be accepted by the scholar-gentry?”

Lu Fan laughed again, but this time there was a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth: “This is the second reason why Yingchuan has so many famous scholars… Brother Xun, do you know that the Yingchuan gentry clans, besides being skilled in statecraft and legal governance, are most adept at forming cliques and factions? This is something recorded in the histories!”

As he spoke, Lu Fan recounted another old affair of Yingchuan, though that was already something from the Former Han period.

It is said that during the Former Han, the renowned official Zhao Guanghan was appointed Grand Administrator of Yingchuan. As soon as he arrived, he was shocked by the people of Yingchuan, because the factional ties among the local gentry were simply too tight-knit, and they had essentially monopolized the entire commandery’s operations. Zhao Guanghan was truly at his wit’s end, and finally, having no other choice, he could only resort to forgery to break the impasse — he himself wrote many fake anonymous accusatory letters, then submitted them to his own commandery office, and deliberately let those faction members who had infiltrated the official apparatus see the contents. He then seized the chance to sow discord, saying that this letter accusing the Zhang family was written by so-and-so from the Li family, and that letter accusing the Li family was written by so-and-so from the Wang family…

After all this turmoil, everyone among the Yingchuan gentry grew fearful and suspicious of one another, and only then were the Yingchuan factions barely broken apart.

“This is also a common tactic among great aristocratic clans.” After hearing this, Gongsun Xun also smiled, but seemed somewhat dismissive. “Everyone is either a disciple or a former subordinate of one another, either jointly praised or close friends — they share glory and share ruin, collectively elevating themselves while jointly suppressing others… Where under heaven is it any different? It’s just that Yingchuan is perhaps a bit more tight-knit than elsewhere.”

“Since Brother Xun understands clearly in your heart, I won’t say more.” Lu Fan shook his head with a sigh. “But you don’t realize — people from the Xun, Chen, Guo, and Zhong clans, even while still in their childhood, can somehow spread some kind of fine reputation, this one hailed as an uncut jade, that one praised for quick-witted eloquence. Yet someone like me, a son of a humble family from poor origins, though I strove and studied bitterly from youth, if I had not chanced to meet Teacher Lu, and thus stepped through the Dragon Gate to become acquainted with all of you, I fear I could not even obtain this silk robe on my body — let alone speak of fame and reputation?”

Behind them, Liu Bei and Gongsun Yue could not help exchanging a glance, then both secretly laughed.

Gongsun Xun also smiled faintly: “Though Yingchuan has many famous scholars, the elders’ reputations are too great for us to reach; those in their prime are implicated by the Proscription of Partisans, so it’s inconvenient to associate with them; the younger generation has yet to mature, and we cannot tell the good from the bad… Why not spur our horses on and hurry to Runan, to see the local scenery of Brother Ziheng’s homeland?”

Who would have thought, Lu Fan shook his head again, and instead strongly urged Gongsun Xun to take this chance to go meet these figures. According to him, it didn’t even need to be the Grand Hill Master — just one word of praise from any of the Eight Dragons of the Xun clan, and Gongsun Xun’s reputation would immediately spread throughout the Central Plains heartland.

“That way, Brother Xun won’t have to always be so gloomy and unhappy.” Lu Fan finally laughed. “To make a name — why must it be Luoyang?”

Gongsun Xun was utterly embarrassed and was just about to explain, when suddenly Han Dang, leading several companions, caught up from a side road. He quickly reined in his horse and seized the chance to evade this topic: “Brother Yigong, how is it?”

“Even more common than north of the Yellow River!” Han Dang shook his head from horseback. “In the summer heat, it’s even more unbearable to look at…”

“What are you two talking about?” Lu Fan asked curiously.

“Abandoned infants.” Gongsun Xun answered calmly. “Let us hurry on to Runan to deliver the letter. These Yingchuan renowned clans can wait for another time.”

Lu Fan said no more.

“The Regular Palace Attendant Tang Heng wished to give his daughter in marriage to Fu Gongming of Runan. Gongming refused, and passed the match to Yu. His father Gun, coveting Heng’s influence, arranged the marriage for Yu. Yu was criticized by commentators. Your servant Songzhi notes: ‘Tang Heng died in the seventh year of Yanxi, when Xun Yu was only two years old; the claim of coveting influence is therefore unfounded… In the past, Tang Heng held the power of life and death on his lips, his authority absolute and unrivaled. To comply meant peace for one’s six relations; to defy meant great calamity arriving at once. This was truly a time when one exchanged survival for destruction, enduring disgrace in hopes of preserving all. In former times, Jiang Xu married into the Wang clan, yet suffered no harm to his lofty and pure integrity. What injury, then, could Gun’s marriage cause?’” — From the Dianlüe, annotated by Pei Songzhi of Yan.

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(End of Chapter)