Chapter 32

The next morning, Xia Hongsheng went to the academy. He rushed straight to the courtyard at the back of the mountain where Master Yan lived. When he arrived, Master Yan was already up, feeding his golden roosters in the yard. Seeing Xia Hongsheng come so early, Master Yan asked, "Why have you come so early?"

"Yesterday, I met a middle-aged scholar in Luozhou City. He said he came from Chang'an and was looking for you in Luoyang. After much inquiry, he found out that you had come to Luozhou City. I don't know if it's true, but I came to find you here." Xia Hongsheng bowed to Master Yan and continued, "He said he wanted to visit you at the academy, but I don't know why. I thought I should inform you, and if you don't want to see him, I can persuade him to leave."

"Hehe, no problem. From what you've said, I already have an idea of why he's here. It's about time." Master Yan stroked his beard and smiled, "I've been living in seclusion in Luozhou City for two years, teaching and founding the academy. I believe... his intentions are clear."

Seeing Master Yan smile without speaking, Xia Hongsheng bowed again and asked, "I have another question, I hope Master Yan can enlighten me."

Master Yan, hearing that Xia Hongsheng had a question, scattered the millet in his hand to the golden roosters and turned to face Xia Hongsheng, "Go ahead, ask."

"I want to ask, is it true that all professions are inferior except for scholarship?" Xia Hongsheng bowed and asked.

"All professions are inferior except for scholarship... hehe, that's a clever saying. However..." Master Yan stroked his beard and smiled, "it's too one-sided. Indeed, most of the nobles in the court are scholars. But the court and the people cannot be maintained by scholars alone. We need food, so we need farmers; we need clothes, so we need weavers; we need to defend against foreign invasions, so we need soldiers... Although scholarship is respected, there are countless righteous paths in the world. I believe that everyone should do their part."

Hearing Master Yan's words, Xia Hongsheng smiled. Yes, that's right. It seems this old man isn't as rigid as he thought.

Seeing Xia Hongsheng grin, Master Yan continued, "If this were anyone else, I would have stopped here. But since it's you asking, I have more to say."

Hearing that Master Yan had more to say, Xia Hongsheng bowed again, "I am ready to listen to Master Yan's teachings."

"I know you are different from other students. Many times, I feel that you are just young in appearance, but in reality, you are already a mature person. I know you have your own goals. Since you asked this question, I will be clear with you. No matter what you want to do, you cannot avoid the path of scholarship and entering the government. Only by entering the government can you have the opportunity to achieve your ambitions, gain recognition, and build prestige, which will allow you to rally people and attract students from all over. This is called leveraging momentum. Otherwise, no matter how hard you try, you will still be like that day during the holiday."

Xia Hongsheng quickly bowed, respectfully. These words were not just a teacher's guidance to a student, but an elder's support to a junior, based on experience. It showed that Master Yan truly regarded Xia Hongsheng as a junior, which is why he spoke so deeply. Therefore, Xia Hongsheng could not be anything but respectful.

Master Yan's meaning was very clear, and Xia Hongsheng understood it. From his actions that day, Master Yan had already guessed what Xia Hongsheng might want to do. He needed a stage, and then he needed to perform on that stage, making the performance visible to more people and attracting enough of them. The court was this stage, and what he did after entering the court was the performance. It sounded easy, but when you think about it, it was extremely difficult. To cultivate a large group of people with advanced ideas and knowledge, and then to have them enter society to transform the Tang Dynasty from all aspects, was a grand goal. The path Xia Hongsheng had thought of was to start a school, beginning with primary education, and to cultivate them in a way similar to modern education. If, as Master Yan said, he had to rely on the power of the government, would he still have control over what was taught in the school? Administrative power interfering with education would result in phenomena like "no more masters after the Republic." To maintain the independence of thought, it was best not to involve administrative power.

However, thinking about these things was too far ahead. Who doesn't know that starting a school is a huge investment? To start a school, he first needed to make money. Xia Hongsheng shook his head and sighed. Should he go to Xu Qixian's house to ask about the tea business?

Just as he was thinking, he heard a clear voice from outside the courtyard, "I am from Chang'an, paying respects to Master Yan!"

Xia Hongsheng looked back and then turned to Master Yan. Master Yan nodded to Xia Hongsheng, who quickly walked out. Outside the courtyard stood the middle-aged scholar from the previous day. Seeing Xia Hongsheng come out, he smiled and politely clasped his hands.

"Please come in, Master Yan is inside." Xia Hongsheng returned the gesture.

As soon as he entered the courtyard and saw Master Yan, the middle-aged scholar's eyes lit up. He hurriedly ran to Master Yan and bowed deeply, "I have come to see Master Yan! Master Li sends his greetings!"

"I dare not accept. Master Li is highly respected, and I consider myself a junior before him. How can I accept his greetings?" Master Yan waved his hand and stepped aside, avoiding the scholar's bow.

The middle-aged scholar did not straighten up but said, "Master Li has sent a message to Master Yan: the spring in Chang'an is full, the scenery is beautiful, and it is a good time to return."

Master Yan was taken aback, then burst into laughter. He gently supported the man to stand up and said, "Very well, I understand. I will return to Chang'an with you once I have settled things here."

Then he turned to Xia Hongsheng and said, "Go and call the other teachers, and do not spread this news."

Xia Hongsheng quickly bowed and ran to inform the other teachers to come to Master Yan's courtyard.

Xia Hongsheng already knew that Master Yan would eventually return to Chang'an, as historical records show that the imperial records were kept by the Yan family, and Master Yan was responsible for writing them in the palace. However, he did not expect it to happen so soon. His departure to Chang'an would determine the future of the Luozhou Academy. The other teachers were invited by Master Yan, and once he left, they would likely not stay long. This would cause the students to seek education elsewhere, and the Luozhou Academy would likely fall into disuse.

Xia Hongsheng was deep in thought, frowning as he walked to the front of the academy. He was so lost in thought that he did not even hear someone calling him.

"Hey! Xia Hongsheng, I'm calling you!" Xia Hongsheng was startled by someone tugging on his arm and looked up to see Xu Qixian. Xu Qixian said, "Xia Hongsheng, you have to help me this time! I used the methods you taught me and got all the math problems right. My uncle was shocked and questioned me severely. Under the pressure of my uncle and father, I had to reveal you! My uncle is coming to the academy to find you, and I couldn't stop him. I came early to inform you, so you can prepare!"

"That's easy, I'll just stay home for a day." Xia Hongsheng said.

"Ah?" Xu Qixian was surprised that Xia Hongsheng would simply go home, not understanding his reasoning.

Xia Hongsheng looked around and, seeing no one, lowered his voice, "Xu Qixian, Master Yan told me not to spread this news, so I shouldn't tell you. But since you have been kind to me, I must inform you. Someone from Chang'an has come, and Master Yan is planning to return to Chang'an. The other teachers are like free birds, and once Master Yan leaves, they will likely not stay long. You should prepare for this."

"Alright, I understand. I'll go home now to avoid your uncle's anger." With that, Xia Hongsheng turned and walked out of the academy. Although he missed his student days, he did not want to study again. He needed to buy some materials and teach his sister-in-law more quickly. Master Yan's decision to return to Chang'an made Xia Hongsheng realize that he would eventually have to leave Luozhou City. If he did not teach his sister-in-law everything he needed to, it would be too late once he had to leave.

He bought pork and offal from the butcher, who was already avoiding him. Xia Hongsheng had bought pork and offal several times, and the butcher felt guilty about selling the offal, which he believed was inedible. This time, he bought a lot, and the butcher, blushing, refused to take the money.

Xia Hongsheng laughed and bought a lot of mutton and lamb bones, leaving half a string of coins without looking. The butcher called his apprentice to push a wooden cart to help Xia Hongsheng deliver the meat to his home. Taking advantage of the cart, Xia Hongsheng also bought a bag of salt soil. Yesterday, the half bucket of salt solution only produced half a bowl of salt, which was not enough for the family. Today, he would make more, so his sister-in-law could use good salt when she set up her stall tomorrow.

After sending the butcher's apprentice away, Xia Hongsheng set up an iron pot, added water, and brought a piece of pine wood from the carpenter Zhang Lao's house. When the water boiled, he threw the mutton and lamb bones into the pot.

(End of the page)