Chapter 16

It was quite a coincidence. In the morning, Xia Hongsheng had been thinking about whether he should find a suitable pretext to drop out of the academy and pursue his own path. He hadn't yet thought of a way or made a clear decision. But by the afternoon, a classmate had packed his books and luggage, bowed deeply to his teachers, and was about to leave the academy. A group of classmates surrounded him, trying to stop him from leaving, questioning why he would abandon the study of the classics. Their heartfelt and earnest persuasion showed that this student was well-liked in the academy. It would be a waste not to witness such a scene, and Xia Hongsheng, who had also been considering dropping out, wanted to see why this classmate was leaving. He rushed out of the classroom, pushed his way through the crowd, and, taking advantage of his small stature, squeezed in to see the student who was about to leave. To his great surprise, it was none other than the classmate who had spoken up for him during the incident with Bai Jianzhi, when the other students had urged Xia Hongsheng to compose a poem in public. Xia Hongsheng didn't know him personally, but this didn't stop him from having a good impression of him. On that day, most of the students either hoped to see Xia Hongsheng humiliated or were just stirring up trouble, but this one person had spoken up for him. For someone he didn't know well, this was quite commendable.

A large group of students surrounded the classmate, earnestly trying to persuade him to stay. The classmate, however, wore a calm smile and didn't utter a word of rebuttal. He only kept bowing and thanking his classmates. Seeing this, Xia Hongsheng knew that the classmate had made up his mind to leave and that the other students' persuasion would be in vain. The students took turns, and when the classmate finally got a chance to speak, he bowed respectfully and said, "Xuanze thanks all of you, my classmates. I know you are all thinking of me, but now I have realized what I truly want to learn. I am going to pursue the knowledge that I desire. You should celebrate that I have finally found my path. My mind is made up, and I ask you not to try to persuade me further. Farewell, and may we meet again. Take care, everyone!"

Xuanze? Is it Wang Xuanze?! Who else in the Tang Dynasty would be called Xuanze?! It's actually Wang Xuanze, the brilliant strategist who single-handedly conquered a kingdom in India?!

Xia Hongsheng's eyes widened. He had heard so much about this historical figure, and now he was seeing him in the flesh, and in his youth! Xia Hongsheng felt a surge of excitement. Those who had faded into the annals of history could only be remembered and admired, but now, a living, breathing person was right in front of him. How could he not go and make his acquaintance!

Just as he was about to step forward, he heard a commotion from behind, with students shouting, "The headmaster is here!"

The students surrounding Wang Xuanze immediately dispersed and turned to bow respectfully to Yan Shigu, saying, "We greet the headmaster!"

Yan Shigu nodded at the students, and Wang Xuanze stepped forward, walking to Yan Shigu and kneeling down respectfully. He said, "Master Yan, I have been studying for nearly twenty years since my childhood, and I have never stopped reading and thinking deeply. But every night, when I can't sleep, I feel an emptiness in my heart, as if I don't know why I am reading. My heart feels like a tangled mess. Now, I have finally realized what I truly want. It is not the Confucian teachings or the words of the sages. What I truly want to learn is..."

"Yin and Yang create the world, and the art of diplomacy and strategy determines the balance of life. The teachings of the Hundred Schools of Thought are the foundation of the era, and the secrets of the Ghost Valley are the true scriptures. Brother Wang has the ambition of Zhang Yi and Su Qin, aspiring to become a master of the Ghost Valley's diplomatic arts. I admire you, Brother Wang." Wang Xuanze's words were interrupted by a voice from the side. The speaker recited a few lines, and Wang Xuanze's eyes lit up with excitement as he turned to look at the speaker in surprise.

Everyone was drawn to the voice and turned to see Xia Hongsheng walking forward with a smile, step by step, until he stood in front of Wang Xuanze. As he walked, he said, "Brother Wang, I heard you are leaving, so I came to see you off. My fellow students are trying their best to persuade you to stay, but don't they know that 'those who know are not as good as those who love, and those who love are not as good as those who enjoy'? We study with our teachers not just to read articles, but to cultivate a love for learning. How much time do we have to study in the academy? I believe that the most important thing in learning is to develop an interest. With interest, one will learn voluntarily and continue to learn throughout life. Knowledge is endless, and even the sages cannot know everything. What sets the sages apart is their focus. They dedicate decades to a single field of study and become experts. When one is passionate, the breeze feels like a gentle rain, and plain water tastes like sweet milk. When one loses passion, the fragrance of flowers becomes overwhelming, and even fine wine turns to poison. As the saying goes, 'interest is the best teacher.' When one is interested in learning, it becomes active rather than passive, and learning becomes a joy. This not only improves efficiency but also deepens understanding, making the knowledge more applicable. Brother Wang has little interest in Confucianism, and if he persists, he will achieve nothing. On the other hand, his interest lies in the art of diplomacy. If he focuses on this, he will surely become another Su Qin or Zhang Yi of our Tang Dynasty."

At this point, Wang Xuanze's eyes were shining like two bright bulbs, staring at Xia Hongsheng with intense excitement. If it weren't for the presence of the other students and the headmaster, he might have rushed over to grab Xia Hongsheng and declare him a kindred spirit.

"Brother Xia, how... how did you know..." Wang Xuanze was puzzled. How could Xia Hongsheng know his thoughts? These thoughts had only become clear to him, and even his master and the headmaster were unaware.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and bowed to Wang Xuanze, saying, "If Brother Wang wants to learn the art of diplomacy, after leaving the academy, go straight to Chang'an and seek out Minister Tang Jian. After that, it will depend on Brother Wang's efforts."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanze was first stunned, then his face lit up with joy. He was still a young man, not yet the master of diplomacy who would later conquer a kingdom in India. Seeing that Xia Hongsheng had pointed him in the right direction, he was deeply grateful. Overwhelmed with emotion, he bowed deeply to Xia Hongsheng and said, "I thank you, Brother Xia, for showing me the way. I will remember this kindness and repay it in the future."

"Ha ha, Brother Wang, you are too kind. The world is vast, and the Tang Dynasty is small. It will need talents like Brother Wang. I wish you success in your studies and hope you become a great master of diplomacy. As a farewell, I will recite a poem to encourage you." Xia Hongsheng laughed and then recited a poem: "Returning from the mountains with new wine, the chickens pecking at the millet are plump in spring. I call the servant to cook the chicken and pour the wine, and my classmates do not laugh at me for holding onto my clothes. I sing and drink until I am drunk, and dance in the sunset, competing with its brilliance. It is a pity that I did not start my journey earlier, but I will spur my horse and travel far. The foolish woman of Kuaiji looked down on Bu Chen, but I too will leave my home and go west to Qin. I laugh loudly as I leave, for we are not mere commoners!"

After reciting the poem, Xia Hongsheng turned and left, hoping that Wang Xuanze would be recognized by Tang Jian, who was also skilled in the art of diplomacy, and not fade into obscurity like he did in history after returning from India. The poem should inspire him to achieve greatness.

The other students were all fired up. This was truly a great poem! It was filled with a positive and passionate zest for life and a spirit of ambition. The line "I laugh loudly as I leave, for we are not mere commoners" especially resonated with them, stirring their hearts and making their blood boil. Yes, we are not mere commoners! The spirit of the students was ignited, and the entire academy was filled with the sound of "I laugh loudly as I leave, for we are not mere commoners," a wild and invigorating laughter that seemed to bring the academy back to life, full of vitality and energy.

Wang Xuanze recited the poem over and over, his voice growing louder and more confident, his back straightening, and his heart filled with self-assurance. He laughed wildly, immediately wrote down the poem, and carefully folded it, placing it in his inner clothing. The poem seemed to send a warm current through his body, making him feel invigorated.

Yan Shigu watched the students, who seemed to have been reinvigorated like spring grass, and looked at Xia Hongsheng's retreating figure. This young man was destined for greatness. The academy was too small for him, and even the city of Luozhou was too small. He belonged in Chang'an, where he could truly spread his wings. Perhaps, even Chang'an might be too small for him, and his stage could be the entire Tang Dynasty.

Yan Shigu smiled bitterly and shook his head. He glanced to the side, and a servant quickly ran over. Yan Shigu gave the servant some instructions, and the servant hurried to the back mountain courtyard, fetched a package, and rushed out of the academy. After the servant left, Yan Shigu returned to his room, instructed that he was not to be disturbed, closed the door, and walked to his desk by the window. He took out a piece of silk paper and picked up a feather pen. Just as he was about to write, he sighed and put down the feather pen, picking up a brush instead.

He dipped the brush in the fragrant ink, stared out the window for a moment, and then suddenly wrote in bold, powerful small characters: "Your servant, Yan Shigu, humbly states..."

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