Chapter 246: Debate 2

"To put it bluntly, if you want to study Li Yuxuan—or any complex historical figure—many people's understanding goes through three stages, which I call the 'Three Stages of Looking at Mountains'."

"First Stage: Construction—seeing a mountain as a mountain, seeing water as water. At this point, historical figures are seen in us as either all black or all white. We mostly rely on textbooks and mainstream film and TV dramas (such as the proper drama Record of Jingxing) to form our initial impression. Li Yuxuan is an 'Anti-Japanese General', a 'patriotic figure', his image lofty and bright. This is a necessary starting point, the shaping of mainstream values."

"Second Stage: Deconstruction—seeing the mountain is not a mountain, seeing the water is not water. We begin to think independently, accessing knowledge beyond textbooks: unofficial histories, declassified files, opposing narratives, various 'secret rumors' on the internet. We discover, huh? This person seems to have another side? He did deeds that are not so glorious? He is different from what we imagined? Thus a rebellious mindset arises. We become eager to dig up 'dark material', to challenge the authoritative narrative, feeling we were previously 'deceived'. This stage easily leads to doubting everything, even taking pride in uncovering the dark side. Adaptations like Wind and Rain Nian'an that indulge in the bizarre can become popular, to some extent catering to this mentality."

"Third Stage: Reconstruction—seeing the mountain is still a mountain, seeing the water is still water. After experiencing the chaos and shock of deconstruction, if we do not linger in simple rebellion, we begin to seek more comprehensive, solid sources ourselves, engaging with more serious scholarship. We start to realize that history is not black or white, but a series of delicate, richly layered grays. We understand the specific environment the figure lived in, the real constraints faced, the inner conflicts and struggles. We no longer rush to label him a 'good person' or a 'bad person', but try to understand why he made those choices and what consequences they brought. At this point, when we look back at the textbook sentence, our comprehension is entirely different—the sentence is no longer a thin conclusion, but a highly condensed historical coordinate that needs to be fleshed out with rich detail."

"OP, you may currently be in the transition from the Second Stage to the Third Stage. Feeling lost is a good sign; it shows you are thinking."

This answer has been marked as "Favorite" by countless people, who think it clarified the line of thought.

Within the framework of 'Time Sculptor', the comment section has become a showcase for the various stages of cognition.

"The post above is too abstruse; is there a simpler version?" ID "Zhi Xiang Chi Gua" asked.

ID "Kuai Yi En Chou" said directly: "Who cares! Anti-Japanese means heroism, siding with the wrong side in the civil war is a fault! Let's split merits and demerits seven to three! Simple and clear!"

ID "Republic of China Fengqing" retorted: "Siding with the wrong side? That's loyalty to ideals and the leader! The history written by the victors naturally says he was wrong!"

ID "Lishi Xi Zai Du Sheng" sighed: "'Three Stages of Looking at Mountains' are described perfectly! In my years studying history, that's pretty much the mental journey I've taken—from worship to disillusionment to understanding. The publication of Li Yuxuan's diary is truly timely; it provides a wealth of first‑hand, unvarnished inner material, allowing us to see his hesitation, pain, and scheming when making decisions. For example, his account of the torment in the days before the Nanjing retreat is more shocking than any historical text. History instantly shifts from a cold conclusion to a warm, lived experience."

ID "Tui Xiu Jiaoshi" said: "When I taught, the thing I feared most was students asking 'Is he a good person or a bad person'. Looking at today's online discussions, many still ask that question. The three stages described by 'Time Sculptor' should be incorporated into history education, so students understand that knowing history is a process, not memorizing a single conclusion."

ID "Piaobo Zhe" wrote: "My grandfather was in the Huangpu 14th Cohort, later went to Taiwan. In his lifetime he often praised Director Li, saying he had the bearing of an ancient gentleman. In his old age he wanted to return to the Mainland to see it, but never made the trip. After reading Li Yuxuan's story, I feel I somewhat understand the helplessness and perseverance of their generation. The great tide of history rolls in, and an individual's choices are actually few. The so‑called 'loyalty and treachery' is often just fate pushing you into that position."

ID "Jiazu Jiyi" shared: "My family had an elder who, back in Modu, was almost liquidated as a 'merchant of treachery'; a Kuomintang officer, out of respect for General Li Yuxuan's servant, (they seemed to have a distant kinship), secretly gave a way out. Within the family the story is told differently—some are grateful, some think it was disgraceful. After seeing Li Yuxuan's complexity, I also felt at peace. When history lands on concrete individuals, it becomes these tangled, unresolved grievances where black and white cannot be clearly spoken of."

As the discussion neared its end, a user with ID "Qingshan Yijiu" summed up the earlier 'Three Stages of Looking at Mountains' metaphor in one sentence:

"Seeing the mountain as a mountain, seeing the water as water. This sentence actually contains everything."

Someone below asked: "What does it mean? Could you explain it again?"

"Qingshan Yijiu" replied: "In short: believing everything in a book is worse than having no book. Textbooks are 'books', unofficial histories and rumors are also 'books', films and dramas are still 'books'. If you trust any one side completely, you remain at the first level of 'seeing the mountain as a mountain'—only the 'mountain' you see may be the one others want you to see. The true 'seeing the mountain as a mountain' comes after you pierce the fog of information, climb it yourself, touch it, feel it, and form your own understanding. That mountain has always been there—complex, majestic, silent. What you see depends on where you stand, how you look, and how far you have walked to approach it."

ID "Anjing Xianren" also unusually appeared in this Li Yuxuan discussion thread, leaving a slightly melancholy remark: "Can a person who leaves a mark in the annals, whose mainstream appraisal is 'a name in the green history', be a simple person? My grandfather often said that Director Li was a man whose thoughts were as deep as the sea. You might think he was loyal to the Young Master, but at critical moments he had his own calculations. You might think he was close to you, yet the traditional scholar-official demeanor in his heart was never shed. Every deed he performed can be justified with a respectable reason, yet also reveal a shadow of selfish scheming. One cannot summarize Li Yuxuan's life in black and white. He is the era itself—ripped, struggling, seeking light in darkness, carrying old burdens, eyes fixed on a new road. To evaluate him? Better first understand how difficult that era was."

ID "Zuozhe Benren": I originally thought this book was about to end, but when I asked—goodness, those two characters could actually be written! Now, Shen He suddenly vanished, leaving my heart empty, even a bit nostalgic for the daily battles of wits with him. It seems my routine will return to the thrilling life of typing while guessing, 'Will this pass?' again!