Inheritance was a major problem. The Chinese nation had never lacked wisdom, yet how much brilliant wisdom had been extinguished under the iron hooves of foreign tribes? Every time Chinese society developed to its peak, invaders would come attacking. They would wantonly ravage the greatest nation on this planet with their iron hooves and sabers.

We were skilled at building magnificent structures from ruins—this was our pride, and also our sorrow. A nation skilled at creation but not at combat, yet the Lord of Heaven had surrounded it with the most ferocious hungry wolves.

From the Quanrong of the Zhou dynasty, then the Xiongnu to the Turks, right through to the Mongols and Jurchen, the Chinese nation was mowed down like chives, crop after crop. Each time we were cut down, we had to start over from the beginning. Each time we were cut down, the wisdom and wealth of our ancestors was damaged once more. Precious books were used as kindling, ingenious agricultural tools became playthings for children on the grasslands.

There had been one hero of resistance—his name was Ran Min. He told the Lord of Heaven that he would slaughter all the barbarian tribes, and he truly did so. Millions of barbarians died because of him. Later he died in battle, and not many people cared about him after that. They only said: “When Ran Min died, all vegetation on Mount Eyan withered, locusts arose in great numbers, and heaven showed great sorrow through drought—tears without rain. Heaven and earth grieved greatly, none more than the humiliation of a sage and worthy man, unable to have his name cleared for a thousand years.” Even Heaven knew of Ran Min’s injustice; Heaven itself was moved.

But human hearts were not moved!

No one knew how many Han people Ran Min’s Edict to Kill the Barbarians had saved, nor how much contribution he made to the transmission of Han culture. Men still drank wine, women still took medicine, all in that tiny territory south of the Yangtze! The refined and elegant scholars wearing the Jin dynasty’s unique split-crotch pants sang of wind and moon, singing aloud to crowds: “I shall exhaust all songs and rhymes under heaven, store them in the southern mountains, and transmit them to later generations.”

So we were fortunate enough to read: “Guan guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river. The modest, retiring, virtuous young lady, for our prince a good mate.” Very beautiful lines—a cultured scholar seeing a beautiful woman uttered the deepest form of mental lust!

The steel frying method was gone. The seed drill was gone. The legendary five-colored glaze was gone. The Qin dynasty’s assembly line work method was gone. Only that dead legion silently guarded those vanished glories underground.

Old Cheng said nothing. Old Niu also made no sound, only gently sipping the wine in his cup.

Listening to Yun Ye recount the tragic fate of the entire Chinese civilization.

“Boy, how much have you inherited?” Old Cheng raised his head and asked.

“This junior has only picked up a few beautiful shells at the edge of the great sea…”

Old Niu said nothing, only carefully rolled up those scrolls, casually tore down the newly made curtain from Yun Ye’s window, wrapped them up, tied them into a bundle, and fastened it to his chest.

“This old man has several thousand strings of cash at home with no use for them. I’ll have someone haul them back to you—the Institute of Investigation can use them.”

“Uncle Niu underestimates this nephew too much. If it were simply a matter of money, this junior has plenty of ways to get money. Even emptying the national treasury isn’t without methods. To be honest, this junior really doesn’t care for those several hundred thousand strings in the treasury.” Yun Ye said with full confidence.

“Braggart!” This was the assessment Old Cheng gave Yun Ye.

“People! There are no people! In the entire world, the only person who can truly be called a qualified talent is just this nephew alone. In this day and age, talent is most important!”

“Smack!” He took a blow to the head that sent Yun Ye toppling onto the heated platform. Old Cheng never looked at where he was hitting—Cheng Chumo had probably been beaten stupid by him. Was he trying to make me the same as his son? Yun Ye muttered as he sat up properly again.

“I’ll get you one hundred men from the Left Militant Guard first.” Old Cheng was very generous.

“What would this nephew do with them? Help me eat? There are too few people who can be truly useful at the Institute of Investigation. Even the great scholars from the Imperial Academy and the Academy of Scholarly Worthies might not qualify. Your Left Militant Guard’s common soldiers can be excused.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt something was wrong. What was wrong with him today? A bit hot-blooded and overheated—why was he saying everything? Daring to speak ill of the Left Militant Guard—was he tired of living?

Just as he was about to flee with his head protected, he heard Old Cheng sigh. “Boy, do you think this old man doesn’t know those people aren’t suitable? But where do you expect this old man to find people for you who can read books, write characters, know astronomy above and geography below, understand instrument-making, know how to draw diagrams, and have flexible minds? People who know all this have long been famous throughout the land—how would they wait for you to recruit them? You’re also a person of the Left Militant Guard; you know our foundation. This old man and Old Niu carefully selected from thousands in the Left Militant Guard to pick out one hundred literate men. This is all we can help you with—you figure it out.” Old Cheng was somewhat dejected.

“I don’t want them. I want Chuliang and Chubi. This nephew has also bought over a dozen children from human traffickers and plans to teach them myself.” Yun Ye laid out his cards to Old Cheng.

“Nonsense!” Old Niu became angry.

“You plan to have your children in the future call lowborn people senior brother? How do you know no one values your learning? It’s just that you don’t speak up. In mathematics, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with Liu Huai. In investigation studies, you are unprecedented and will never be surpassed. You master all crafts and are proficient in various skills. Just your master’s ‘Three Character Classic’ alone has already been revered by the great families and wealthy households of Chang’an as a classic for elementary education. Printed copies of the ‘Three Character Classic’ have already sold throughout all of Chang’an. Song Lian personally wrote the preface, His Majesty wrote the postscript, Her Majesty wrote the afterword—such tremendous honor and favor, and you don’t know? As long as you open your mouth, students will trample down your door.”

“So I’m already this formidable? I didn’t even know. By the way, since the book has been published, where did the royalties go?” Yun Ye was very angry—someone had embezzled his manuscript fees. What a huge loss! Before he finished speaking, Old Cheng kicked him off the heated platform.

“You scoundrel! Pure and honest learning, yet you insist on dragging it toward money. Aren’t you afraid of being struck by heavenly thunder? Your Yun family ancestors underground would all be angered to death.” Old Cheng was about to continue his assault but was stopped by Old Niu.

Good heavens! My wanting manuscript fees for writing a book is perfectly natural and right! Why was I kicked? And cursing my family ancestors with faulty grammar? If you have the ability, anger dead people to death again and let me see!

“Boy, listen carefully. Never again mention anything about royalties. Asking for money would be considered a disgrace to Chang’an. The two of us would go jump in the river—so shameful! No way to live anymore.”

He knew the two old fellows already regarded him as their own son. Though they wouldn’t actually go jump in the river if he did this, losing face would be real.

“Chuliang and Chubi are entrusted to you. Try not teaching them well and see what happens. I’ll find you some more students—they must be selected from the children of military officials. It wasn’t easy for a great master to emerge among our Great Tang’s military officials. We can’t let the civil officials take advantage. In the past when finding learned teachers for Chou Niu, we were badly snubbed. They said things like ‘rotten wood cannot be carved.’ To hell with that! Would this old Cheng’s son be rotten wood? Don’t worry about finding students—Old Niu and I will take charge. If others ask, just push it onto us.”

Very stern—he didn’t dare ask what kind of students they would find for him. Thinking of the several foolish boys from the Yuchi family, he prayed they wouldn’t be among them. Teaching such students would teach a teacher to death. And he absolutely must not get Li Ji’s family’s schemer Li Zhen. That boy died young precisely because he had too many schemes. Do you know who his son was? Li Jingye! A great rebel who caused his entire family to die out—a super unlucky person. Whoever touched him would have bad luck. The Qin family’s weren’t bad. Li Jing’s family could also be considered, as long as they didn’t ask him to treat his mother’s illness. The Zhangsun family? Who knew if they would catch Old Cheng and Old Niu’s eye. Whoever it was, he just needed to teach earnestly.

While her grandson was lost in thought, Old Madam and Aunt quietly carried away the wooden chest. Yun Ye knew Grandmother was preventing his serious prodigal behavior. Hadn’t he seen Old Niu leave carrying a bundle on his back?

“That damned old thing is taking advantage of my family again!” Old Madam thought this way.