In late August of the Jian'an Era's third year, more than a month after Qin Tian's diplomatic mission, Liu Biao finally decided to deploy the navy to assist Liu Bei's army.
Having received this news, it was also time for Qin Tian to depart.
Yet he was no longer as he had been upon arriving, when only Wang Can had welcomed him. Over the past few days, he had made the acquaintance of quite a few people.
Before his departure, Kuai Liang hosted another feast for him on Liu Biao's behalf, inviting Fu Xun, Wang Can, Pei Qian, Pang Tong, Pang Lin, Pang Shanmin, Shi Tao, Cui Jun, Meng Jian, and the others.
Pang Degong and the rest had originally been invited as well, but Pang Degong never entered the city. Only Sima Hui and Huang Chengyan attended the banquet.
By official rank, Qin Tian naturally ought to have occupied the seat of honor. Yet he invited Huang Chengyan and Sima Hui to take the first and second seats.
He then gave Kuai Liang the third seat, while taking the fourth himself.
Once everyone had taken their places, another joyous feast began. When the subject turned to the university Qin Tian intended to establish, Kuai Liang asked curiously, "I have heard that Zixuan wishes to build a university in Huainan. How much will the tuition be, and what requirements will there be for enrollment?"
Kuai Liang found the very concept of a university remarkably novel, for Jing Province Academy had been modeled after Luoyang's Imperial Academy.
It admitted only the children of prominent clans and was vast in scale. Since Qin Tian had managed to persuade Huang Chengyan and the others, he clearly had something to offer.
At his question, everyone pricked up their ears. Even Huang Chengyan and Sima