Zhangsun glanced at Li’er with a resentful look and said, “You can even see the cruelty of life in the habits of insects. Your perspective is truly astonishing.”
Li’er chuckled and replied, “It’s different, different, vastly different! What I was focusing on just now was the scholarship itself, not whether it’s cruel or not. Zoology has actually existed for a long time. Zhuang Zhou was able to grasp spiritual enlightenment from a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, yet fell into confusion, unable to distinguish whether he had transformed into a butterfly or the butterfly had transformed into him. The ancestors of the Li family also spoke of following nature’s way, believing non-action to be best. No matter how I look at it, the academy’s biology studies carry a distinct Daoist scholarly flavor.”
Zhangsun nodded admiringly at Li’er and said, “If you weren’t the Emperor, and instead devoted yourself to scholarly pursuits, you would surely become a master of your generation.”
“I have never doubted this,” Li’er said. With Zhangsun’s words to accompany the meal, the simple fare tasted exceptionally sweet to him. After finishing the rice on his plate, he also ate the two pear slices and several orange pieces from the small dish beside it. Pushing away the plate with satisfaction, he said, “The academy’s food is quite good. I’m very comfortable eating it.”
Zhangsun helped Li’er clear away the dishes and said to him, “You haven’t been looking well lately. Why not rest at the academy for a few days? Don’t worry about matters at court for now—the sky won’t fall. Once we’re in the academy, let’s focus wholeheartedly on scholarly pursuits and think of nothing else. When you return to the palace, you can worry about court troubles then—it won’t be too late!”
Li’er said with a smile, “A few days should be fine. I’ll follow the Empress’s suggestion. We won’t think about troublesome matters and will focus on scholarship. No matter what, I must master this entire field of Myriapoda studies.”
When the Emperor wanted to pursue scholarship, it was considered neglecting proper duties. However, using some of his scattered spare time to maintain appearances wasn’t bad. At least Li’er’s attitude toward learning was extremely rigorous. Whenever Yun Ye saw Li’er with reading glasses perched on his nose, standing on a library ladder retrieving books from the massive shelves, he wanted to laugh, because he looked very much like an old pedant. Especially when other teachers were also leaning on ladders looking for books, the sight of a group of old men conversing in low voices made it even more amusing.
Even Chang’an’s most arrogant young wastrels wouldn’t dare behave recklessly in Yushan Academy’s library. Heaven knows whether the decrepit old man hiding in some corner reading might be a duke. At least Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were practically regulars here, so Li’er’s days were extremely fulfilling.
“Your Majesty, the study of metal and stone is truly a profound field of learning! Its primary objects of study are bronze vessels and stone monuments from previous dynasties, particularly the inscriptions and rubbings upon them. In the broader sense, it also includes bamboo slips, oracle bones, jade artifacts, bricks and tiles, clay seals, military tallies, and similar items. This humble subject has a particular fondness for wine vessels. If Your Majesty has leisure time, this humble subject would like to invite you to evaluate the wine vessels I’ve collected—no fewer than three hundred forty-four types in total. Originally I had another rather rare rhinoceros horn cup, an artifact from the Spring and Autumn period, but after attending a banquet at the Cheng family residence, it mysteriously disappeared. Today’s meritorious nobles have lost their original integrity.”
“This I must see. My dear minister, you’ve searched through the entire imperial treasury just to find these things? It’s rare that you’ve collected so many. I’m very eager to see them.”
Li’er was extremely curious about Du Ruhui’s retirement life. He set down the book in his hands and followed Du Ruhui to his office in the academy. The academy now offered many miscellaneous courses, among which metal and stone studies was one type. Master Jin Zhu, who headed the History College, had specifically invited Du Ruhui to come lecture on his discoveries in the field of metal and stone studies. The students were very respectful of the old man’s reputation, and many came to attend his classes.
Li’er, Du Ruhui, and Fang Xuanling examined all of Du Ruhui’s treasured collection and praised it effusively. Du Ruhui specifically presented a bronze zun vessel with inscriptions as a gift to the Emperor.
The three men ordered some side dishes from the kitchen in Fang Xuanling’s room and began drinking while appreciating the bronze wine cup they had just acquired. This was a ritual vessel, and only after cleaning away the bronze patina could they see the inscriptions on it. Li’er was a great expert in history. Upon seeing the two characters “Yellow Springs” and the patterns above, he knew the origin of this wine vessel.
“‘Until we meet at the Yellow Springs!’ With one heartless statement, Duke Zhuang of Zheng placed himself in an unrighteous position. This wine vessel was probably cast to commemorate this historical event. To glimpse the whole from a part—the study of metal and stone is truly remarkable.”
“Your Majesty once said: using bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one’s attire; using people as mirrors, one can understand gains and losses. Now the human mirror has passed away, and we subjects are gray-haired, wanting only to drag out our remaining years. When people grow old, they love to instruct others. Teaching some of our past insights here at the academy truly brings great comfort to our old hearts. Your Majesty possesses heaven-sent talent—why not compile your years of governing experience into a volume to educate descendants and future generations? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Fang Xuanling suddenly had a whimsical idea and shared this thought with the Emperor.
“You’re saying I too can give lectures?”
“Why not? Thirty percent of these students will become officials of our Great Tang, thirty percent are destined to become elites in various industries, another thirty percent will become technical officials, and the remaining ten percent will fill positions in academies throughout the land as instructors. Whether they become officials, functionaries, merchants, or instructors, their positions cannot be underestimated. Your Majesty’s learning spans ancient and modern times. If you were to open classes here, it would surely draw crowds. Even if they cannot learn the essence of Your Majesty’s scholarship, they can still benefit in various ways from moral principles and other aspects. In this way, Your Majesty would be the first monarch from ancient times to the present to hold open lectures. What could be wrong with that?”
Hearing Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling’s persuasion, Li’er’s heart immediately stirred up a storm. Indeed, it was so! When it came down to it, these people from the academy would still serve his purposes. There was no need to discuss scholarship—the academy already had countless great scholars. Just look at how the academy’s small buildings had nearly been built all the way into the Qinling Mountains, and you’d know how talented the people here were. But as Emperor, he had a duty to personally tell these students what kind of administrators the empire needed. The old system had undergone earth-shattering changes during the Zhenguan era. If the empire was as strong as the blazing sun, then its administrators also needed to possess corresponding moral character and talent.
Now that the empire was developing steadily, requirements for officials’ moral character should exceed requirements for their talent. This wasn’t the period of the Three Kingdoms’ chaos—Cao Wei’s policy of promoting talent regardless of virtue wasn’t suitable for the present.
Returning to his room, Li’er shared his thoughts with Zhangsun. She specially arranged her appearance and bowed gracefully, congratulating the Emperor for setting a precedent for all ages, truly becoming a model teacher for ten thousand generations.
Li’er was still somewhat embarrassed to tell Yun Ye and Li Tai about this idea, because doing so felt somewhat like seeking fame and glory. In the end, it was Zhangsun who conveyed the Emperor’s intentions to Yun Ye, Li Tai, and Master Yuanzhang.
This was an excellent thing. Students would have the opportunity to meet the empire’s sovereign face to face. As long as they were students, they would flock to it. Master Yuanzhang also strongly agreed with the Emperor doing this. However, there was one problem—the Emperor had never lectured before, not once. In court, he could praise or rebuke the officials below him; whether thunder or rain, it was all imperial grace, and those below could only accept it. But lecturing at the academy would be completely different. You could only speak your own reasoning, you couldn’t use force. There were no court beatings here, no warriors to arrest people, and no executioners would be prepared for you. Master Yuanzhang was very worried that the Emperor wouldn’t lecture well and would leave behind a laughingstock, which would be no benefit to the academy.
When Li’er saw that Master Yuanzhang could maintain his consistently courteous attitude toward worthy scholars, he immediately reverted to being that lofty sovereign after Master Yuanzhang took his leave.
“It’s just lecturing—nothing significant. However, you two have both lectured before. Tell me what preparations I should make.”
Li Tai said anxiously to the Emperor, “Father Emperor, you must not underestimate a single class. The difficulty isn’t much different from how you control the court. Though your son doesn’t know what you plan to teach, you must have substantial content. If you’re going to discuss character, you must prepare lecture notes on that topic, and you must know how much you can say in one time period, and you must make it engaging. Of course, you don’t need to worry about this last point. In your son’s opinion, as long as you can persevere for one time period, that will suffice.”
These were words asking to be beaten. Sure enough, just as Li Tai finished speaking, the back of his neck received a hard slap from Li’er.
“How dare you speak like that! Does your father emperor not know how to lecture? I am the master of this empire. When I speak, it becomes law. No matter what I say, everyone must bow their heads and listen, regardless of whether it’s good or bad!”
Yun Ye had to admire that Li’er was absolutely damn right. He quickly moved forward and said, “This is also good. Your Majesty can speak freely as you wish, and those below will listen with full attention. We’re all your subjects—no matter what Your Majesty says, we subjects will certainly listen attentively.”
Li’er smiled strangely, chuckled twice, then entered the inner room. He was probably going to prepare his lecture notes. Li Tai was very worried, but Yun Ye had complete confidence in Li’er. He was originally an emperor with extremely strong personal charisma—there was simply no possibility of stage fright. Therefore, this lecture would surely be recorded in the annals of history. The wisdom of a sovereign, especially Li’er’s brilliant sparks of wisdom, would surely be dazzling.
News that the Emperor would personally lecture spread without effort. Not only Yushan Academy was in an uproar—the directors of the Imperial Academy and Hongwen Hall were red-eyed as they roared at Master Yuanzhang, demanding that sufficient seats be reserved for them when the time came. Otherwise, the Imperial Academy and Hongwen Hall would never associate with Yushan Academy again.
Those wanting to enter Yushan Academy to attend the lecture weren’t just students. Many important figures also submitted requests to attend. Zhangsun Wuji’s request wasn’t something Yushan Academy could refuse.
As for the merchants, in order to have an opportunity to show their faces before the Emperor, front-row seat prices had already been driven up to a hundred gold pieces. Even so, they remained priced but unmarketable.
Xu Jingzong felt he could barely breathe. Although he had already entered the ranks of prime ministers, he had no intention of ever relinquishing his position as Assistant Director of Yushan Academy. Looking at the towering pile of letters on his desk, he only wanted to smash through the window and flee in panic, because Yun Ye had pushed the task of allocating seats onto him.