Chapter 26

Wenxin Study Hall.

As the bell rang.

All the students left one after another.

And in the quiet study hall, a figure appeared.

Zhang Yunhai walked quickly, seemingly in a hurry, and went directly to the main hall to find the study hall dean.

"Brother Zhang."

"What's the rush?"

As a middle-aged man arrived, Zhang Yunhai immediately stood up.

"Mr. Zhou, the position of dean has been decided."

Zhang Yunhai said.

"Who is it?"

Hearing this, the study hall dean couldn't help but be curious and looked at Zhang Yunhai.

"Su Wenjing, the great scholar."

Zhang Yunhai slowly spoke.

Upon hearing this, the study hall dean's expression changed, and he couldn't help but exclaim.

"Su Wenjing, the Half-Sage?"

"This is impossible."

"Didn't he retire?"

The latter exclaimed, never expecting the court to invite such a prominent figure to take charge of the Daxia Academy.

"He did retire."

"But it's said that the emperor personally invited him."

"With Su Wenjing in charge of the Daxia Academy, there might be some trouble."

Zhang Yunhai replied, also showing a troubled look.

The latter remained silent.

He paced back and forth in the hall, seemingly calculating something.

Su Wenjing.

A great scholar of the current era, who has already touched upon the path of sainthood and is likely to become a Half-Sage in his lifetime.

The most terrifying thing is that Su Wenjing does not engage in politics, serving as a role model and a pure stream for scholars. Being a scholar and an official is a natural progression, but once in the political arena, one cannot avoid some gossip.

This is the norm.

However, Su Wenjing, as a pure stream, is respected by all scholars precisely because he does not enter the political arena.

As a result, many plans have been completely shattered.

In their position, they must fulfill their duties.

Regardless of whether they are great scholars, once they enter the political arena, they gain power and position, and over time, a vast group of officials will form.

Although there is a sense of righteousness, and everything seems fair, in reality, there are many unfair aspects.

For example, in the imperial examinations, there are seventy-two candidates, but the difference between the seventy-second and seventy-third candidates is not significant.

However, the seventy-third candidate is the son of a military general, and without any benefit, almost all examiners would not choose him.

This is the unfairness under the guise of fairness.

The Daxia Academy is the highest institution of learning in the Daxia Dynasty. In previous years, it was controlled by the Minister of Rites, Yang Kai. As the Minister of Rites, he naturally wouldn't do anything underhanded.

But the people below are different. The complexity here is immense, involving both personal connections and official conduct.

Apart from the top ten, the rest are more or less influenced by political factors.

However, now that the emperor has personally invited Su Wenjing to take charge of the Daxia Academy, this will certainly put pressure on the group of officials.

Not only is it immediate pressure, but it is also a signal.

Is a new force to be cultivated?

What is the purpose of cultivating a new force? To force the officials to agree to war?

In the court, there are no small matters. Every action of the emperor is watched by countless eyes, and every matter must be thoroughly considered.

This is the political arena.

"Brother Zhang, did the emperor personally go to see Mr. Su and bring the crown prince along?"

The study hall dean stopped pacing and looked at Zhang Yunhai, asking.

"No."

"The crown prince only just found out, which is why I am so anxious."

Zhang Yunhai spoke, informing the other party of this matter.

"The crown prince only just found out?"

Instantly, the study hall dean became even more silent.

Now, Emperor Yongsheng, though not in his twilight years, is no longer young. In his youth, he fought alongside the founding emperor, and in his middle age, he launched the Jiande Rebellion, leaving him with many old injuries.

Who knows when he might pass away.

Of course, as a minister, one certainly does not wish for the emperor to pass away, but every matter must be prepared for.

They are the crown prince's people, and seven out of ten officials in the court are under the crown prince's command.

The emperor inviting Su Wenjing without informing the crown prince is not a good sign for them.

"Brother Su Wenjing, I also greatly admire him."

"He is a great scholar of the current era, and this time coming out of retirement, he might truly break through to the Half-Sage realm."

"His taking charge of the Daxia Academy is appropriate, but I've heard that Mr. Su Wenjing is somewhat eccentric, and it is precisely because of these eccentricities that he has a significant rift with his elder brother."

"But no matter what, we should not speak rashly. Since the emperor has already made the decision, there's no point in saying anything."

"Furthermore, if we make any moves, we will invite criticism from the pure stream of scholars, which would be even more troublesome."

"When will Mr. Su Wenjing arrive?"

The study hall dean, after some thought, slowly spoke.

"I'm not sure."

"There's one more thing. Mr. Su Wenjing's elder brother has gone to Fulu to take charge of the Fulu Academy."

Zhang Yunhai revealed another secret, causing the study hall dean's expression to change.

"Has he gone to the Fulu Academy?"

"No wonder the emperor personally went to invite Mr. Su Wenjing out of retirement."

The study hall dean exclaimed.

Su Wenjing is a great scholar of the current era and has the potential to become a Half-Sage.

But Su Wenjing's elder brother is a true Half-Sage. They are half-brothers, but in the path of Confucianism, Su Wenjing's elder brother is slightly superior, making them a family of two great scholars.

This is also why Su Wenjing's reputation is so prominent.

However, what no one expected was that Su Wenjing's elder brother would go to the Fulu Dynasty.

In the Eastern Wasteland, there are three major dynasties: the Daxia Dynasty, the Fulu Dynasty, and the Dajin Dynasty.

The Dajin Dynasty is the strongest, followed by the Daxia Dynasty, and then the Fulu Dynasty.

After all, the Daxia Dynasty was initially one of ten warring states. If it weren't for the founding emperor, who quelled the chaos and unified the ten states, there would be no Daxia Dynasty.

The Daxia Dynasty surpassing the Dajin Dynasty is just a matter of time, but the Jiande Rebellion delayed the Daxia Dynasty's development for twelve years, placing it second.

This matter has become the greatest disgrace of the current emperor and a point of criticism for many scholars.

"Indeed."

"Brother, should we really just watch and see?"

Zhang Yunhai continued to ask.

"Indeed."

"If Mr. Su Wenjing's elder brother hadn't gone to Fulu, we could have maneuvered a bit."

"But since Mr. Su Wenjing has gone to Fulu, I understand the emperor's intentions."

"This time, we must not interfere with the Daxia Academy. Let Mr. Su Wenjing take charge."

The study hall dean slowly said, making up his mind.

"Alright."

"Since that's the case, I will inform the other colleagues to avoid any trouble."

Zhang Yunhai also agreed.

"Go ahead."

The latter nodded, and Zhang Yunhai immediately left the study hall.

At the same time.

Daxia Capital.

Gu Family.

As Gu Jinnian had just returned to the mansion.

Just as he was about to read and gather qi.

His uncle, Gu Ningya, appeared in the courtyard.

"Jinnian."

"Come, Uncle has something to tell you."

It seemed as if he was waiting specifically for Gu Jinnian. Gu Ningya smiled.

"Uncle, why do you feel like you have nothing to do? Why do you come home every few days?"

"Have you been dismissed from your post?"

"Or have you been sidelined?"

Gu Jinnian approached, looking at his uncle curiously.

It's not that Gu Jinnian is sharp-tongued, but compared to his other uncles, this sixth uncle really seems to have nothing to do.

After all, he is the deputy commander of the Xuan Deng Si. How many things are there to do in the court? Why does he seem so idle?

"Jinnian, why do you seem different after your illness?"

"Didn't you always smile when you saw me?"

Gu Ningya was a bit depressed.

But before Gu Jinnian could say anything, he directly hooked his neck and said.

"Jinnian, I have some good news for you."

"The new dean of the Daxia Academy is not Yang Kai."

"It's a different person, not one of those sour scholars from the court."

"You're in luck this time."

Gu Ningya couldn't wait to tell Gu Jinnian.

"Not Yang Kai? Then who?"

Gu Jinnian wasn't surprised; Yang Hanrou had already informed him. However, he was curious about who the court would appoint as the dean.

"The famous Half-Sage, Su Wenjing."

Gu Ningya lowered his voice and told Gu Jinnian.

"Su Wenjing?"

Hearing this name, Gu Jinnian frowned, and a lot of information immediately came to mind.

"He was actually invited out of retirement?"

The next moment, Gu Jinnian couldn't help but be amazed.

From the information in his mind, Gu Jinnian knew that Su Wenjing was a role model for scholars of the Daxia Dynasty.

A great scholar who became a great scholar at the age of thirty and is now in his sixties, just one step away from the Half-Sage realm.

Therefore, he is revered as a Half-Sage by the world.

Gu Jinnian really didn't expect it to be him.

"Indeed."

"So you're lucky, kid."

"Su Wenjing is eccentric but indifferent to fame and fortune. He is one of the few scholars your grandfather admires."

"I was worried that the people at the Daxia Academy would cause you trouble, but with Mr. Su Wenjing there, it should be better."

Gu Ningya said.

"Understood."

Gu Jinnian nodded, knowing that someone his grandfather admires must be fundamentally different from ordinary scholars.

However, whether the Daxia Academy would cause him trouble or not, Gu Jinnian didn't really care.

"By the way, Jinnian, when the Daxia Academy opens, a person named Su Huaiyu will come to find you."

"He will assist you in investigating the truth, but officially, he is there to protect you, while secretly investigating."

"You don't need to restrain him, and you can trust him completely, but don't tell him about family matters."

Gu Ningya mentioned the matter to Gu Jinnian.

"Understood."

"By the way, Uncle, I have something to ask you."

Gu Jinnian stored this information and looked at Gu Ningya, mentioning a matter.

"What is it?"

Gu Ningya asked.

"Uncle, do you have any silver? Give me some."

Gu Jinnian held out his hand.

He still had a gold tree in his mind. Although there was nothing to do at the moment, it's better to be prepared. Having more silver is never a bad thing.

"What do you need silver for?"

"Here, take it, and spend it wisely."

Gu Ningya was curious and took out a few pieces of silver from his pocket, handing them to Gu Jinnian.

"Is that all?"

Gu Jinnian looked at the few pieces of silver in Gu Ningya's hand, full of doubt.

"Is this too little?"

"How much do you need?"

"My monthly salary is only two hundred taels of silver. This is a good five taels, right?"

"The clan doesn't give me any silver."

Gu Ningya was a bit annoyed.

"But the clan doesn't give silver, but there should be some private funds, right?"

"Uncle, you are the deputy commander of the Xuan Deng Si, a third-rank official. Doesn't the clan give you private funds?"

Gu Jinnian asked.

"Of course."

"But the private funds have many expenses. I don't have much silver, Jinnian. Let me tell you something to remember."

"The higher the rank, the less comfortable the life. Take silver, for example. Don't think my salary as a deputy commander, a third-rank official, is much."

"The clan gives a lot of private funds, but there are many places to spend them."

"No one ever has enough silver. Whether you are clean or corrupt, once you become an official, you need to spend money to get things done. Without money, all talk is just talk."

Gu Ningya said meaningfully.

Gu Jinnian remembered this.

He completely understood.

"Unc