Chapter 62

Lin Yanzhao, upon hearing Chen Xinggui's words, thought for a moment and said, "I have not yet made a decision on this matter. Please allow me some time to think it over, and I will give you a reply, Brother Chen."

Chen Xinggui showed a very understanding expression, nodded, and said, "Sure, Brother Lin, just let me know when you've decided. I and a few good friends are all studying the Spring and Autumn Annals, and we have formed a society called the Spring and Autumn Society. There are many disciples in the society from the upper and middle dormitories. They usually focus on their own studies, but gather to discuss and research during lectures. Sometimes, we even get personal guidance from the headmaster, who was once the top scholar in the Five Classics and the best in the province in the Spring and Autumn Annals."

Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but be moved. He admired the headmaster's scholarship and hoped to receive his guidance.

Lin Yanzhao was now certain that Chen Xinggui was sincerely inviting him, but after some thought, he still said, "I really appreciate it, Brother Chen, for thinking so highly of me and inviting me so warmly. I will think it over carefully and give you a reply."

Chen Xinggui smiled and said, "Alright, Brother Lin, no need to rush. You have half a month."

After Chen Xinggui left, Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but ponder, "What's going on with Chen Xinggui? Is he trying to win me over? Is it a trap? Or is it a gesture of goodwill?" Lin Yanzhao thought to himself that as a poor scholar, he didn't have much that would make him a target for harm, but it didn't seem like a gesture of goodwill either.

After Chen Xinggui left, Lin Yanzhao deeply felt the lack of knowledge in the Five Classics and found it difficult to choose which one to specialize in.

As the saying goes, "Each profession has its own expertise." In the Han Dynasty, there were Five Classics Doctors, each specializing in one of the classics, teaching their disciples according to their family traditions.

At that time, most scholars specialized in one classic, and it was rare to study two. Xu Shen, the author of "Shuowen Jiezi," was praised by the great scholar Ma Rong for his unparalleled expertise in the Five Classics. There were few in the Han and Tang dynasties who could claim to study all five.

By the Song and Ming dynasties, more people were studying the classics, but even the great scholars of the time, though they might claim to understand all five, would only teach one when instructing disciples.

Therefore, Lin Yanzhao needed to choose a classic to specialize in. The best choice would be the Spring and Autumn Annals or the Book of Songs. Especially the Book of Songs, as Lin Liao had been very kind to him, and he would certainly teach him everything he knew. As for the other three classics, the headmaster and lecturers might not be able to teach him.

However, Lin Yanzhao didn't want to study the Spring and Autumn Annals or the Book of Songs; he wanted to study the Book of Documents.

In his previous life, he had read articles by several contemporary masters of Sinology on the Book of Documents, gaining insights and understandings that surpassed those of the ancients in this era. As for the other four classics, he had no knowledge at all.

There was also a reason why he had a special fondness for the Book of Documents.

Confucius once said about the Six Classics, "When you enter a country, you can know its education by its customs. If the people are gentle, sincere, and kind, it is the result of the Book of Songs; if they are knowledgeable and far-sighted, it is the result of the Book of Documents; if they are broad-minded and kind, it is the result of the Book of Music; if they are clean, quiet, and insightful, it is the result of the Book of Changes; if they are respectful, frugal, and dignified, it is the result of the Book of Rites; if they are good at rhetoric and narration, it is the result of the Spring and Autumn Annals."

The Book of Documents, also known as the Book of History, is a record of ancient times, starting from the Three Dynasties. Zhu Xi, in his preface to the Doctrine of the Mean, stated that the sixteen-character heart transmission of the Confucian sages came from the Book of Documents, specifically the Great Yu's Plan.

As Confucius said, studying the Book of Documents can broaden one's knowledge and insight.

Lin Yanzhao decided not to rush to a conclusion and to gather more information.

He first went to the book tower and borrowed a list of candidates from the local examination in Fuzhou. This list recorded the names, ages, and hometowns of the candidates, as well as the classic they chose to specialize in.

After reading the list, Lin Yanzhao summarized that in his region, the most popular classics were the Book of Songs, the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Book of Changes, followed by the Book of Rites, and the Book of Documents was the least popular. Lin Yanzhao couldn't help but curse; with so few students choosing the Book of Documents, it meant there were also very few teachers who could teach it.

Should he follow the trend and change his focus to the Book of Songs? Confucius once said, "The three hundred poems can be summed up in one phrase: 'Think without evil.'" The general idea is that the Book of Songs promotes a correct moral outlook.

The Spring and Autumn Annals was also good, as Confucius revised it to convey profound meanings, making corrupt officials and traitors fear.

But after much thought, Lin Yanzhao still couldn't bear to give up the Book of Documents. However, without a teacher who could guide him in the Book of Documents, it would be useless. He decided to ask for more opinions before making a decision. When he returned to his dormitory, most of the others were still awake. Lin Yanzhao's grades were inconsistent, and the others now treated him as an oddity, unsure of his true abilities and whether he was cheating.

In the dormitory, only Yu Qingzhou had a good relationship with Lin Yanzhao after their heart-to-heart talk that night. Lin Yanzhao took the opportunity to ask him about the possibility of choosing the Book of Documents as his main classic. Yu Qingzhou was surprised and asked, "Why do you want to choose the Book of Documents?"

Lin Yanzhao replied without hesitation, "I like it! Ha ha!" Yu Qingzhou scolded, "It's not about liking or disliking. Generally, students in the academy only study the Spring and Autumn Annals or the Book of Songs. Unless you are self-taught or have already studied with a master before coming to the academy, you usually don't change to another classic."

Lin Yanzhao didn't say anything. Yu Qingzhou lowered his voice and said, "Why are you so casual? You ranked second in the last monthly exam. If you keep this up, you have a good chance of moving from the outer dormitory to the middle dormitory, from an outer student to an inner student. But if you choose the Book of Documents next month, who will teach you? You'll have no chance."

Lin Yanzhao replied, "What's the difference between being an outer student and an inner student? It's just a bit more silver. I don't believe that being in the middle dormitory will make me smarter. Wherever I study, it's the same."

Yu Qingzhou shook his head and said, "You really don't understand the rules. You think there's no difference between outer and inner students? Let me tell you, in the past hundred years, no outer student has ever passed the child examination to become a scholar."

"Outer students can't become scholars?"

Yu Qingzhou nodded and said, "It's very difficult. Most fail in the county or regional exams. Even if they pass the regional exam by chance, it's almost impossible to pass the academy exam. Yanzhao, you need to understand that the child examination is ten times harder than the academy's three dormitories. If you can't become an inner student in the academy, how can you expect to pass the child examination and become a scholar? You might as well go home early like me."

Lin Yanzhao was slightly surprised. Yu Qingzhou, sitting cross-legged on the bed, said in a senior's tone, "Now you know how difficult it is. So, the monthly exam in half a month and the quarterly exam in a month and a half are crucial for you. Take advantage of your current chance to enter the inner dormitory."

Hearing Yu Qingzhou's words, Huang Biyou also chimed in, "Brother Yanzhao, if your next monthly exam ranking is the same as this time, even if you do well in the quarterly exam, you won't have a chance to enter the inner dormitory."

Huang Biyou then said smugly, "I should have made a bet with Brother Lin this time. The loser would write two thousand '服' (服 means 'to submit' or 'to admit defeat') characters."

"This time, let's have another competition in the monthly exam," Lin Yanzhao said seriously.

Huang Biyou's face turned red, and Yu Qingzhou said, "Brother Huang, don't be a coward. You were the eighth in the outer dormitory this time."

"Hmph, who cares about him," Huang Biyou said, flinging his sleeve and leaving.

The others heard and laughed quietly.

Yu Qingzhou looked at Lin Yanzhao's determined expression and thought, "Where does this kid get his confidence?" But he didn't have the nerve to make a bet with Huang Biyou.

"Brother Ye is the best, staying out of it," Yu Ziyu said with a smile.

Ye Xianggao smiled but didn't say anything, continuing to read his book.

Seeing Ye Xianggao's proud demeanor, Yu Ziyu said in a senior's tone, "Instead of arguing, you should spend more time studying. The students in the middle and upper dormitories won't wait for you."

"Of course, Brother Ye is an exception. For you, entering the inner dormitory is as easy as pie."

For someone who had ranked first in all three exams, entering the inner dormitory was indeed effortless. Hearing Yu Ziyu's words, the others felt a bit uncomfortable, thinking that one spot was already taken by such a genius. They didn't like "other people's children" who were so good.

So, Yu Ziyu's words were quite effective.

Ye Xianggao, of course, understood. He said, "Brother Yu, I've heard that after each quarterly exam, only one or two students from the outer dormitory enter the inner dormitory. So, even if you are the second in the outer dormitory, bad luck could still ruin your chances. I think you need to work harder than the others. Besides, you might not even end up as the second in the outer dormitory."

Yu Ziyu was furious and said, "What do you mean, Ye Xianggao?"

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