Chapter 15

At first, the young students were a bit不服气 (unwilling to accept), but when they heard that Fang Yun had been recommended by the great scholar Li to the *Sacred Path*, their resentment quickly turned to admiration, especially among the younger students, who began to look at him with a hint of reverence.

In the Holy Yuan Continent, being published in the *Sacred Path* was the highest standard for poetry and literature. While there might be debates over the poems, few questioned the qualifications, as only great scholars had the right to recommend works, and then the power of the Hall of Saints would eliminate the unworthy, regardless of anyone's will, even a half-saint's. The final decision on when and where to publish was made by the people of the Holy Academy.

Fang Zhongyong looked at Fang Yun with envy, but soon felt uncomfortable. After some thought, he suddenly realized that the way he looked at Fang Yun was the same way others had once looked at him, the prodigy.

Fang Li was so angry at his son's expression that he couldn't speak. He had worked hard to win honor for his son, but now his son had betrayed him!

Fang Li was even more displeased. If it had been someone else who won the top place, it would have been fine, but to be outdone by someone with the same surname meant that the title of the first among the Fang clans in Dayuan Prefecture would not go to his son.

Just as Fang Li was about to speak, Wang Yuanjun said, "It's not two archways, but three."

"Where did the third one come from?"

"Fang Yun is a child scholar before the sage." Although the literary academy had announced the results, it had not specified "before the sage," and very few people knew about it.

The entire venue was in an uproar.

In the past hundred years, Jing State had produced only two child scholars before the sage, and Fang Yun was the third.

Fang Li suddenly clamped his mouth shut, not daring to say a word. He knew that if he dared to continue to provoke Fang Yun, he would become the second Mr. Zhen.

People were discussing excitedly, and many raised their glasses to toast Fang Yun. Fortunately, the alcohol was very light, so drinking more was not a problem.

After the discussion, County Magistrate Cai said to Wang Yuanjun, "Fang Yun's 'Spring Dawn' is the highlight of this literary gathering. We'll discuss it later. Fang Yun, did you write half a poem before 'Spring Dawn'?"

Fang Yun saw County Magistrate Cai holding a crumpled piece of paper and said, "Yes, I did, but the poem had the potential to criticize the government, so I didn't finish it."

"Within the literary academy, when a good poem is written, those with high literary positions can sense it. Although your poem is only half-written, it still stirs talent and could reach the prefecture. Now that you are a child scholar with a literary position, discussing politics is your duty. Can you continue the poem? It would be a pity not to."

The expressions of the people in the room became even more vivid. Many scholars struggled to have their poems recognized beyond the county, but Fang Yun could easily write a poem that reached the prefecture and was willing to give it up?

Fang Zhongyong felt ashamed. He had been proud of writing a poem that reached the county, but compared to Fang Yun, he was far behind.

Fang Yun said, "Last year, I discussed the war with my classmate Lu Lin. I was filled with sorrow and anger, wanting to speak for the fallen soldiers, but I was too insignificant to say much. Now that I have a literary position, I will finish this poem."

The poem "End of the Year" criticized the inaction of court officials. Fang Yun couldn't write it before he had a literary position, but now that he did, writing such a poem would more easily increase his literary reputation.

Literary position, official position, and literary reputation were all very important.

At the literary gathering, everything was already prepared. Fang Yun stood up, took the crumpled paper, and walked to a table to grind ink.

After a moment's thought, Fang Yun completed the five-character regulated verse "End of the Year."

At the end of the year, far from home, the border is still at war;

Smoke and dust invade the snowy mountains, drums and horns sound in the city.

Heaven and earth bleed daily, who in the court will volunteer?

To save the times, dare I love death? In solitude, my heroic heart is startled.

After Fang Yun finished writing, he recited it again. The entire venue fell silent. Some sighed, some remained silent, and some were terrified.

While writing the poem, Fang Yun vaguely understood County Magistrate Cai's intention.

Because "End of the Year" had the potential to criticize the left chancellor, Liu Shan.

The thousand-year non-aggression pact between the Sage Confucius and the barbarians had long expired, and now the barbarians were stirring.

Last winter, the Wolf Barbarians moved south. According to tradition, Jing State should have mobilized its full strength to strike the enemy. However, Left Chancellor Liu Shan used various excuses to oppose the war, missing the best opportunity to start the war. As a result, the Wolf Barbarians won a great victory, and Jing State lost a great scholar, two Hanlin scholars, four jinshi, and twenty thousand soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of border residents were captured, and the nation was shaken.

Liu Shan not only refused to admit guilt but also claimed that an earlier war would have resulted in even greater casualties.

After the war, the ministers were furious and demanded a campaign against the Wolf Barbarians. However, Liu Shan advocated peace, not war, and demoted several pro-war officials. He then sent envoys to negotiate with the Wolf Barbarians, eventually ceding three prefectures and paying ten million taels of silver and a large amount of cloth and minerals.

Jing State was severely weakened.

Later, there were rumors that because the Jing State ruler was only three years old and the empress dowager was regent, if the war had been successful, the empress dowager's prestige would have greatly increased, which would have been very disadvantageous for Liu Shan, who wanted to be the chief minister. Therefore, Liu Shan first delayed the war by citing a lack of supplies and then interfered.

Although Fang Yun did not have deep feelings for Jing State, he detested Liu Shan's actions of sacrificing tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians and ceding territory for peace to gain power.

Moreover, Fang Yun hated Liu Zicheng, so writing this poem to upset the Liu family was a duty he could not shirk.

After finishing the poem, Fang Yun said loudly, "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen! We, the literati, should discuss military affairs on the battlefield and fight bravely, not fear war!"

Everyone immediately widened their eyes. Not only was Fang Yun's poem excellent, but his words were also insightful and novel. The eight characters were weighty and could be pondered repeatedly.

County Magistrate Cai slapped the table and shouted, "Well said, the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen! With these words, it's worth giving you the double first! A toast to 'the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen'! A toast to the fearless Fang Yun!"

County Magistrate Cai raised his glass, and although the people were afraid of Liu Shan's power, their blood was not cold, and they responded enthusiastically, raising their glasses to toast Fang Yun.

Especially the young child scholars and scholars were extremely excited and almost regarded Fang Yun as a hero.

Fang Li's face showed shame, and he gave up the idea of making things difficult for Fang Yun. He also understood that just the eight characters "the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen" made him forever inferior to Fang Yun.

Wang Yuanjun nodded and said, "I didn't expect that an abandoned fragment of a poem had such a profound background. Please, County Magistrate, check if this poem reaches the prefecture. If it does, I will report the matter at the literary gathering to Great Scholar Li and have this poem published in the *Sacred Path*."

"Agreed!"

Fang Yun handed the paper to County Magistrate Cai, who placed his official seal above the poem. A two-and-a-half-foot-high orange talent aura shot up.

One foot out of the county, two feet to the prefecture, three feet to the state.

"Indeed, the poem reaches the prefecture. If it is promoted by the *Sacred Path*, it will certainly reach the state! Truly the first child scholar of Jixian County!" Scholar Su said with a smile.

"The *Sacred Path* teaches the people, promotes loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and propriety, and resists foreign enemies. This poem fits the *Sacred Path* and will certainly be published!" County Magistrate Cai concluded.

Afterward, Wang Yuanjun recited "Spring Dawn" and explained its beauty, and everyone praised it.

The younger people were not deeply moved by "Spring Dawn," but the older ones fell silent, pondering the line.

"How many flowers have fallen."

At this point, everyone was sincerely convinced of Fang Yun's talent.

County Secretary Liu said, "Fang Yun wrote another poem today and gave it to County Magistrate Cai, which was heard by Captain Lu. This poem is also very beautiful. Fang Yun, why don't you write it at the literary gathering and formally give it to County Magistrate Cai?"

County Magistrate Cai said, "It's just a poem. There's no need to make a big fuss and waste everyone's time. It's not necessary to write it."

Wang Yuanjun laughed, "That won't do. I'm very curious about this poem and must see it."

Fang Yun knew that County Magistrate Cai was being modest, so he said, "Then I will take the liberty."

Fang Yun walked to the table again, picked up the brush, and wrote "To Cai He," reciting it as he wrote.

By the ink-washing pool of the Cai family,

Flowers bloom with light ink traces;

Do not praise their fine colors,

Only leave the clear fragrance to fill the world!

When Fang Yun finished reciting, Scholar Su exclaimed in surprise, "Fang Yun is truly a genius! The first two lines are ordinary, but the last two lines are extraordinary, elevating the entire poem. County Magistrate Cai is always high-minded and practical, never wasting resources for vain glory. The clear fragrance of the flowers matches his integrity! A good poem! Without using the official seal, it's at least a county-level poem!"

"Scholar Su flatters me. I only did my duty," Cai He said humbly, without a trace of pride.

"Only a person with a clear fragrance can write such a poem, and only a person with a clear fragrance can receive such a poem," Wang Yuanjun said, looking at Fang Yun with a different expression.

Fang Yun didn't understand at first, but after some thought, he realized that Wang Yuanjun also wanted a poem like this.

Everyone praised the poem, and many looked at Fang Yun with burning eyes, like Wang Yuanjun.

They all knew that they could hardly write poems that would be remembered in history, but if they were mentioned in such poems, they would not trade it for ten thousand taels of silver.

Seeing the atmosphere, County Magistrate Cai quickly changed the subject to continue discussing poetry, saving Fang Yun from an awkward situation.

At nine o'clock at night, the literary gathering ended. The fifty-year-old Scholar Su invited Fang Yun to ride in his carriage and sent him home.

Scholar Su was well-preserved, looking no more than forty. He had once been an eighth-rank county secretary in Jixian County, equivalent to the deputy county magistrate. His three sons, two of whom were scholars, were studying abroad.

The Su family was a three-generation noble family, firmly holding the position of the first family in Jixian County.

Fang Yun thought Scholar Su would discuss poetry and literature with him, but as soon as they sat in the carriage, Scholar Su asked, "Has Master Fang been married?"

Fang Yun was both amused and embarrassed. It turned out that Scholar Su wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law.

"I am not married, but I have decided to marry Sister Yuhuan."

Scholar Su said indifferently, "Although Yang Yuhuan is the most beautiful woman in Jiangzhou, she is only a child bride. Marrying her as a concubine is already a great honor for her. Now that you are a double-first child scholar and a child scholar before the sage, you should marry a woman of equal status and education as your main wife."

Fang Yun said seriously, "I am not after her beauty. We have been together for years, relying on each other for survival. Without her, I would never have achieved what I have today! I swear, the position of main wife belongs to Sister Yuhuan! If I make her a concubine, wouldn't I be a beast?"

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During the new book period, I will update one chapter at noon and one at eight o'clock, with occasional bursts.

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