After Shen Gonghai saw off his master’s carriage, he whistled, and an extremely luxurious carriage swiftly drove over. Without him calling out, Yuan Jia, Zhu Zong, and Yao Si had already unceremoniously climbed into the carriage. They deliberately pulled up the carriage curtain so everyone could see that Academy graduates could now wear official caps. The three fellows all wore identical caps with two ribbons flowing behind their heads—anyone who saw them would know these were learned scholars.
Shen Gonghai wore a golden crown with a red pompom hanging from it, indicating his status as a son of an official. He was already speechless about these three. Going to a brothel didn’t need to be this exaggerated, making it known to everyone.
“Old Hai, today we’ll first go to Zuifeng Tower for a big feast. After dark, we’ll go to Yanlai Tower to savor romance. It’s agreed—today I’m treating. The silver my father stuffed into my hands when I entered the Academy will grow moldy if I don’t use it now. Whoever fights me for the bill, I’ll get angry with them.” Zhu Zong proudly patted his bulging chest, speaking to the other brothers as if no one else existed.
“No problem. I’m a poor devil—how could I miss a feast? When I left home yesterday, my wife packed a string of cash for me, saying that when I go to Yanlai Tower I can’t be stingy, telling me not to be stingy when tipping. This money needs to be kept for tipping, so the money for eating and playing all has to be on you.”
“Your wife permits you to visit prostitutes?” Three pairs of eyes widened as large as bells.
“Hahaha.” Yuan Jia laughed heartily, pulled out a fan and waved it twice, saying spiritedly: “My wife said that when learned people visit brothels, it’s called poetic elegance. She used to love watching those literati exchange poems and songs with the most learned girls in the establishments, believing that to be the most beautiful scene in the world. My husband’s literary talent is extraordinary—even in the Academy he’s a renowned talent. Why shouldn’t he go? It’s just that our family is poor and can’t produce much money. Otherwise, I could go often.”
Zhu Zong sighed and said: “Damn it, my father arranged a marriage for me. The woman’s looks are just average, but her family has money. I hear their business is several times larger than my family’s. If I want to come out and carouse in the future, I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”
Yao Si patted Zhu Zong sympathetically and said: “It’s still better to marry from small humble households. When I glare my eyes, they immediately obey without a peep. So when I marry in the future, I’ll marry a farmer’s daughter. Haven’t seen enough of those wealthy young ladies these years? The conditions for proposing marriage sound like I’m marrying into their family. How can we tolerate such humiliation?”
Shen Gonghai’s face fell. He waved his hand listlessly and said: “Why talk about this? I’d rather not marry for my entire life. The woman I’m supposed to marry, I’ve only heard of but never seen. Every time my mother praises how that lady has the bearing of a great family’s daughter, my whole body shivers. A distant niece of Minister Fang’s household—my future days won’t be much better than Minister Fang’s. Never mind her. Today we have wine, so today we drink. In the pride of spring wind, let’s go seek our pleasures.”
Having said this, he gave an order to the servants, and the carriage immediately accelerated, racing madly toward the West Market.
Other students were also celebrating. After four years of arduous study, today they finally achieved completion. Whether they entered government service or not didn’t matter—there would always be opportunities to serve their country. No one graduating from the Academy had heard of anyone unwanted. The worst off became instructors at prefectural academies, which in other people’s eyes was already being an elite.
The examinations were over. Brothers might be scattered in all directions any day, mountains and waters far apart. Who knew if there would be a day to meet again? Better grasp today well to avoid future regrets.
Among the students, those who were older and more steady came before those waiting people and cupped their hands saying: “Thank you all for waiting. This junior feels uneasy. Helplessly, today is the day for us students to celebrate. We’ve neglected you gentlemen. Before His Majesty has spoken, we dare not presume. Please return, everyone. In ten days, the Academy will officially issue our graduation certificates. At that time, we welcome you all to visit the Academy. If we are not recruited by His Majesty, we will certainly give you all a satisfactory answer.”
“Young Master Zhao is too polite, too polite. This humble one is the chief manager of Dongfu Trading House. If Young Master Zhao wishes to feast with friends, Dongfu Tower will definitely sweep clean the couch in welcome…”
“Young Master Zhao, I am the owner of Yingchuan Mine, an ancestral business. Currently, we lack talented people like you, young master, to join us. If you don’t disdain it, we will certainly treat you as an honored guest…”
“This old man observes that Young Master Zhao is young and elegant, with literary grace and romantic bearing. Currently, I have a young daughter at home not yet betrothed. Young Master Zhao need only visit this old man’s home once—it will certainly be a fine marriage…”
Li Gang, Yuanzhang, and Yushan walked out from the palace gate. Seeing the lively scene outside the palace gate, they smiled so broadly their mouths couldn’t close. Their disciples had now become hot commodities—how could they not be happy?
“If His Majesty hesitates any longer, these people will snatch everyone away. Then His Majesty will regret it when it’s too late. Look, that family, to compete for people—look at that cart of copper coins. Looks like a full five hundred strings, doesn’t it?” Yushan pointed at a cart without a cover and clicked his tongue, making Li Gang and Yuanzhang look.
“What are copper coins? Haven’t you seen that family deploy a young lady? Her looks are quite acceptable too.”
Li Gang listened to his two old friends joking while he tucked his hands in his sleeves, watching with a smile as Academy disciples scattered like wolves and pigs while those determined merchants intercepted them everywhere.
Du Ruhui watched the chaotic scene with a dark face, very unhappy. These people weren’t even enough to distribute among the Six Ministries—how could it be the turn of these lowly commoners? He ordered the guards who were cheerfully watching the excitement to drive all these people away, leaving not one behind.
Inside the palace, a thick stack of examination papers was piled before Li Er. Li Chengqian was numbering the papers. Li Er didn’t want these papers to pass through anyone else’s hands—not even the Empress would do.
Li Tai pursed his lips helping his father review papers. He picked up one paper, his eyes scanning over the mathematics section in front, carefully examining the classical texts, then looking at the policy discussion. He put the paper aside and said dissatisfied: “One mathematics problem is wrong. The physics experiment is talking nonsense. The classical interpretation is vague and unclear. The policy discussion, aside from some insight into enemy nations, only qualifies in the section on enriching the people. Was this fellow just wasting time at the Academy?”
Li Er suspiciously picked up the paper Li Tai had rejected. He couldn’t understand the mathematics, but he was very familiar with the classical texts. Though this student’s classical interpretation wasn’t outstanding, it was proper and correct. A piece titled “Rhapsody on Formidable Enemies” nearly exhausted the current situations of seventeen surrounding nations—quite insightful. The section on enriching the people used Yangzhou of Huainan Circuit as an example, starting from discussing water conservancy there, then emphasizing sea salt, and making his own observations on the state’s “Salt and Iron Decree.” Indeed not bad. He looked at his son and suddenly understood—Li Tai was comparing them to himself, looking down on his junior schoolmates.
“Qing Que, you just need to annotate the mathematics section. Don’t concern yourself with the rest. Chengqian, you must remember—what is talent? As long as someone has one redeeming quality, our imperial family must be good at utilizing it. Discovering and using talent is our sacred duty. The ancients said it well: first there must be Bole, and only then can there be thousand-li horses.”
“These people are the fruits of the Academy’s four years of education. Look at them—their breadth of vision and magnificent spirit can be called the choice of the age. Minor flaws don’t obscure major virtues. The owner of the paper Qing Que just rejected would make a decent county magistrate. If you want perfect talent, there is no such person in this world.”
“The most important thing for an emperor is vision and breadth of mind. With far-sighted vision and broad-minded tolerance, state affairs will naturally be managed by the chancellor for you, military affairs will naturally have fierce generals expanding territory for you. You just need to put the right people in the right positions.”
Li Chengqian bowed and received instruction. Li Tai, curious, picked up papers from prefectural scholars and looked through them. The essays were indeed flowery and embroidered, with refined language. Every character had roots, every sentence had sources. Pleasant to read, harmonious in tone and rhyme—quite pleasing to hear. But what did they say? Everywhere were the words of ancient sages. Where were their own thoughts?
“Father Emperor, what exactly does this ‘Rhapsody on the Four Seas’ say?” Li Tai showed the paper to Li Er.
Li Er took the paper and nodded and shook his head for quite a while before sighing: “This is also talent—a good seedling for the Imperial Secretariat. The students sent by the prefectures this time have also made great progress in their learning.”
“This is also learning?” Li Tai asked his father curiously. The saying goes that a person without desires is strong—he obviously spoke much more casually with his father than Li Chengqian did.
“It is learning. Look at the Academy’s papers—how many people can surpass this person in word choice and sentence construction? Qing Que, I’m afraid you’re only at this level too. The court’s edicts, documents, and decrees all need to be conveyed to the realm through written form. Such people are very useful. Though they can’t be principal officials, as advisors they’re still quite good. Put this paper aside separately. Father Emperor wants to carefully compare which is superior and inferior between these two educational systems.”
When Empress Zhangsun had palace maids bring food for the father and three sons, it was already lamp-lighting time. They had only reviewed a small portion of the papers. With each Academy student’s paper he reviewed, Li Er’s mind immediately knew where to send this fellow for tempering.
“This person should go to the Court of State Ceremonial. This ‘Treatise on Relations’ has truly opened my eyes. There are actually such insidiously harmful methods in the world? Putting lead powder in salt? Good heavens, what kind of person has the Academy corrupted this young man into? Killing without trace. The one-in-eleven execution order? This is military law—when can it be used in vassal states? Spreading our Great Tang’s learning to surrounding nations, increasing cohesion, and making those natives naturally develop favorable feelings toward our Great Tang—after a hundred years or so, they’ll gradually become subjects of the Great Tang? Wonderful! But why must prefectural scholars complete this task? Not giving them mathematics? Not giving physics, just the Four Books and Five Classics? The scoundrel—why is he already poisoning his own colleagues now?”
“Qing Que, this fellow must be Yun Ye’s prized disciple, right?”
“That’s right, Father Emperor. From the essay you can tell it’s written by Wang Xuance. Yun Ye has placed great hopes in him. This fellow has always wanted to go to Tubo, believing the people there are stupid and easy to deceive. He often tells others that his first accomplishment should be obtained from Tubo people. A mysterious Academy disgrace.”