Virtue and Reputation Alike

Virtue and Reputation Alike

Zhang Yu stood in the middle of the hall, his sleeves hanging naturally at his sides, his bearing and appearance beyond reproach. He said with perfect composure, "Before presenting my proposal, this student requires a map of the Protectorate Office's territory."

Liu Guang smiled. "That will be easy."

At his command, an attendant left the hall. Shortly afterward came the rattle of chains, and a glass ceiling opened overhead. As light and shadow fell through it, a map appeared across the floor of the hall.

Zhang Yu accepted the pointer handed over by the attendant and indicated a spot upstream along the Dawn River. "This is Flood River Pass. Since the battle sixty years ago, sixty thousand regular troops of the Protectorate Office have been stationed here year-round, guarding against the warlike indigenous tribes deep in the interior and the gods lurking in the darkness."

He moved several steps to one side, following the course of the Dawn River downward with the pointer before finally tapping a broad blank area.

"This is Open Plain. This vast plain stretched as far as the eye could see, with no natural defenses to hold. To the east lay the gentler reaches of the Peace Mountains, where ravines crisscrossed the land and the terrain was broken apart. It had originally been uninhabited, but after the Protectorate Office altered the climate, some areas gradually became suitable for grazing and farming. Thus, over the past sixty years, indigenous tribes east of Peace Mountain had continuously migrated here under the pretext of worshipping their ancestral gods."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Anshi and the other two guessed that Zhang Yu's proposal concerned those indigenous people.

Zhang Yu continued, "Open Plain is simply too vast, and the Protectorate Office lacks the population to absorb it. Those indigenous tribes have also been relatively peaceful, so in the early years, in order to avoid fighting on two fronts, we adopted a policy of appeasement toward them. That policy has continued to this day. But what this student wishes to say is that, by next year at the latest, another indigenous tribe will migrate here."

Liu Guang's expression grew intent. "Gentleman Zhang, what problem will this tribe present?"

Zhang Yu raised his eyes to the three of them. "This tribe is called 'Hard Claws,' meaning 'steel claws.' It is a large tribe with no fewer than twenty thousand indigenous warriors." He stressed, "It is also a tribe the Protectorate Office has never encountered before."

"What?"

All three of Zhu Anshi's group were startled. The tribal warriors themselves were not much of a concern; stone spears and bone arrows could not contend with muskets, cannon, and steel weapons.

But such a number of tribal warriors could produce at least a hundred tribal priests with extraordinary abilities. There might even be one or two indigenous gods among them. Combined, those three forces would be exceedingly formidable and pose an enormous threat to the Protectorate Office's rule over its southern territories.

Zhu Anshi could not help stepping forward. "Where did you learn this?"

Zhang Yu said, "Three years ago, while traveling, I lived for a time near the boundary between the Peace Mountains and the lower reaches of the Dawn River. I could be said to understand the vast majority of indigenous tribes living in that region."

"In truth, the Steel Claw Tribe had begun migrating westward in dribs and drabs many years ago, clashing repeatedly with local tribes along the way. At the time, however, it was uncertain whether they would cross west over Peace Mountain. Only after reading newspapers from the past few days and seeing reports of indigenous barbarians with blue-painted patterns on their faces, feathered crowns on their heads, and claw emblems appearing within the Protectorate Office's borders could I confirm it."

Zhu Anshi immediately called over an attendant, his expression grave. "Bring every newspaper published in the Protectorate Office over the past half month. Bring several copies of each."

Liu Guang then said, "Gentleman Zhang, according to your letter of self-recommendation, you should have been only fourteen three years ago?"

Zhang Yu said, "Yes."

In fact, he had been twelve when he set out on his travels. But for the first two years, he had been with that teacher, who had instructed him not to mention him before others, so Zhang Yu had skipped over that period.

Xin Yao adjusted her glasses. "Impressive."

Liu Guang asked curiously, "Gentleman Zhang, what made you think of going there at the time?"

Zhang Yu fell briefly silent, as though sinking into some memory from the past. Then he began to recount it.

"While studying Ancient Natural History, this student discovered that in the hundred years since the Protectorate Office arrived on this land, its understanding of the indigenous civilizations here remained extremely limited. Most indigenous tribes' legends and origins lay on the other side of Peace Mountain, so I developed the notion of going there to investigate..."

He then broadly described the various hardships and dangers he had encountered in that region. Thanks to Verbal Resonance, his voice was deeply compelling, and his observations of things were uniquely perceptive and detailed. Even simply listening to his account gave one the feeling of being there in person.

The three knew little of Zhang Yu, yet an image naturally formed in their minds of a young scholar with a fearless spirit, daring to explore.

Just then, the attendant entered carrying a huge stack of newspapers. The three immediately divided them up to verify the matter and quickly found the reports Zhang Yu had mentioned.

Since no one had considered those barbarians important, records of them had appeared only in obscure corners. In fact, they had made the newspapers only because they had hunted several spiritual creatures. Unless one paid special attention, or was particularly sensitive to such matters, it would indeed have been easy to overlook them.

The three immediately realized that Zhang Yu had used his proposal as a pretext to deliver intelligence of immense importance.

And if used well, it could allow them to seize the initiative at the next Metropolitan Hall deliberation!

After Zhu Anshi, Liu Guang, and Xin Yao exchanged a few quiet words, they said to Zhang Yu, "Young Master Zhang, please wait a moment."

Zhang Yu cupped his hands in salute. "This student will wait."

Zhu Anshi and the other two then went together to an adjoining discussion chamber.

Liu Guang was in high spirits. Before even sitting down, he said, "Instructor Zhu, Instructor Xin, the news Young Master Zhang brought is exceedingly useful. On that merit alone, he can pass this self-recommendation. I propose that the three of us jointly recommend him as an Academy instructor."

Zhu Anshi suddenly said, "I disagree."

Liu Guang looked surprised. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly laughed. "Could it be that Instructor Zhu fears damage to his own reputation? There is no need for that. I believe even the Academy would make concessions in this matter, much less our trifling bit of reputation."

"That is not the reason." Zhu Anshi's expression turned serious. "Instructor Liu, Instructor Xin, this Young Master Zhang may remain, and we may compensate him in other ways, but we absolutely cannot grant him an Academy post!"

Liu Guang was deeply puzzled. "Instructor Zhu, why? Can you explain your reasons?"

Xin Yao quietly watched Zhu Anshi, seemingly awaiting his answer as well.

Zhu Anshi said solemnly, "You two, in truth, we do not understand this man. We have merely heard a speech from him whose truth and falsehood are impossible to discern. We do not know the extent of his learning, nor do we know whether his character is good or bad. Just because he brought us one piece of news, we are to make him an Academy instructor? I cannot agree!"

As he spoke, he emphasized further, "An Academy instructor must serve as a model for others. How can we casually grant that position to someone whose background and origins are unknown?"

As an Academy under the Great Xia Ministry of Rites, Taiyang Academy retained some old-fashioned customs. It placed greater weight upon morality, believing it to be the foundation of a person's standing; scholarship, on the other hand, came second.

Just now, Zhang Yu's words had moved him, and for a time he had thought as Liu Guang did, unable to resist wanting to agree. But now that he had calmed down, he felt the matter was greatly improper.

In the end, Zhang Yu had not won his conviction through learning, but through a method Zhu Anshi considered somewhat opportunistic.

He was especially worried now that Zhang Yu might be a petty man of dubious character.

If that were so, it would be a minor matter for the instructors responsible for the assessment to be implicated. But if it damaged Taiyang Academy's reputation or even brought about worse consequences, that would be a grave fault.

Liu Guang argued, "But Instructor Zhu, you know perfectly well how important this intelligence is. The Protectorate Office has always pursued the strategy of Suppress the North, Pacify the South. At present, only Young Master Zhang understands the language of that Steel Claw Tribe. If we are to communicate with that tribe, we cannot do without him. If we give him no Academy post, no recognized standing, why should he exert himself for Taiyang Academy?"

Zhu Anshi's expression remained resolute. "If he is a man who understands righteousness and knows to place the greater good first, then once we clearly explain the stakes, he will naturally lend us his strength. If he refuses, that will prove he is merely a petty man seeking opportunistic gain, and we absolutely cannot indulge such conduct! Besides, now that we know this intelligence, I refuse to believe that among the Academy's many wise minds, no one can devise a workable solution for a single indigenous tribe."

Liu Guang was angered into laughter. A crisis for the Protectorate Office might be right at their doorstep, and this was when Zhu Anshi wanted to lecture others on morality? Had all that reading muddled his mind?

They could clearly solve the problem in the least costly way, yet Zhu Anshi insisted on making matters needlessly complicated. Liu Guang did not know what to say.

But this matter required all three of them to agree. If even one objected, it could not pass. For the moment, he had no solution. He suppressed the irritation rising in his chest, sat down heavily, and picked up the tea on the table, gulping down several mouthfuls.

Zhu Anshi looked at the two of them and said earnestly, "I know Young Master Zhang is talented. But the more talented such a person is, the greater the harm he can do once he reaches a high position. I do not wish to see another Yao Hongyi appear in the Metropolitan Hall in the future."

Liu Guang also fell silent. Just as he was about to speak, the attendant from before hurried over again, carrying several newspapers. Liu Guang looked over. "Where did these papers come from? Were they missed earlier?"

The attendant bowed. "Instructor Liu, these are newspapers published today. This servant thought the three instructors might need them, so I took the liberty of bringing them."

Liu Guang nodded and dismissed the attendant. The interruption made him forget what he had intended to say. He took a newspaper and glanced over it, but suddenly froze. He held it closer and examined it carefully, his expression turning subtle. Looking up at Zhu Anshi, he said, "Instructor Zhu, I recall this Gentleman Zhang is named Zhang Yu, correct? And according to his travel permit, he arrived at the capital aboard the passenger ship Great Fortune."

Zhu Anshi asked doubtfully, "Yes. What about it?"

"I think Instructor Zhu should read this." Liu Guang handed him the newspaper.

Puzzled, Zhu Anshi accepted it and opened it. Before his eyes was a realistic illustration of a gigantic monster: a young man stood upon a solitary island, while a ship sailed away into the distance.

"Yao Salamander?"

As an Ancient Natural History instructor, he had no difficulty recognizing the monster. But when he read further, he was stunned.

The newspaper gave a detailed account of Great Fortune's peril: how a young man had stepped forth, imitated the cry of a Yao Salamander hatchling, and remained behind alone to draw the monster's attention and cover the entire ship's retreat.

The article contained no artistic embellishment and no personal sentiment. It merely recorded the entire incident.

Yet those simple, almost cold sentences, paired with that black-and-white illustration, struck deeply at the heart.

Liu Guang looked at Zhu Anshi, who had not recovered for a long while, and said solemnly, "Instructor Zhu, I believe that a person willing to step forward in a moment of danger, sacrifice himself, and save others possesses a character beyond reproach. At the very least, I could not do as he did."

"Say no more..." Zhu Anshi's hand holding the newspaper trembled slightly. He raised his reddened eyes and said, "This is a true gentleman. I nearly committed a great error! I am willing to join the two instructors in jointly recommending him as an Academy instructor!"