Many Hidden Schemes

Many Hidden Schemes

The Xu-named Scholastic Inquiry nodded and stepped forward from the back. Sweeping his gaze around, he said solemnly, "During today's inquiry, no one is permitted to take notes or publish anything in the papers. Any violator will be stripped of office and expelled from the register."

Everyone raised their hands in a solemn salute, indicating their compliance.

The middle-aged Scholastic Inquiry was only here as a witness, so after speaking, he yielded the position back to Qiu Xueling and stepped down.

Qiu Xueling walked onto the platform and looked at Zhang Yu. A string of strange syllables issued from his mouth, ringing clear and grand beneath the circular hall.

It was hard to imagine such a loud voice emerging from his frail body. Many present looked at him anew; he clearly was not as decrepit as he had described himself.

Liu Guang knew that the instant Qiu Xueling spoke, the examination had already begun. He saw several nearby instructors conversing among themselves, apparently trying to determine exactly what language Qiu Xueling had spoken.

His heart tightened. If even these learned instructors did not know what language it was, could Zhang Yu answer?

After all, Zhang Yu was not very old. Even if he was skilled in one tribe's language, that did not mean he was proficient in every language everywhere.

The moment Zhang Yu heard the sentence, he recognized it as the language of a remote small tribe north of Peace Mountain.

He knew it only because he had happened to come into contact with natives of that tribe before. Even then, he could only speak a few sentences.

He saw the situation clearly. Qiu Xueling had spent decades studying these languages and had accumulated a profoundly deep foundation; there was no way Zhang Yu could surpass him. Even if he answered now, Qiu Xueling could simply switch to another language. Sooner or later, he would find one Zhang Yu could not answer. Thus, Zhang Yu simply remained silent.

Seeing that he did not speak, Qiu Xueling stroked his beard and switched to another language.

This time, someone immediately recognized it as the language of a native tribe from the middle reaches of Peace Mountain. They could barely be considered relatives of the An people. Several branches still lived deep in the mountains, surviving through hunting and the fur trade. Because they frequently interacted with the Protectorate Office, quite a few people now understood their language.

Zhang Yu stood there with a calm expression, still saying nothing.

Qiu Xueling then switched through several more languages, none repeated. Not only that, his pronunciation was clear and his speech rhythmic, making the transitions between the different languages distinctly audible.

Those present could not help feeling impressed. He truly was erudite, worthy of being a master of native languages. In the Protectorate Office, he was likely without equal.

Since Zhang Yu had remained silent no matter what was said, Qiu Xueling finally stopped. In an unhurried tone, he said, "Assistant Instructor Zhang, I have asked you so many things just now. Why did you not answer? There should have been at least one language among them that you understood, should there not?"

Zhang Yu said evenly, "Though Scholastic Inquiry Qiu asked many questions, what do they have to do with the language I am to teach?"

"Scholastic Inquiry" was meant to examine the knowledge an Academy instructor or assistant instructor originally possessed. But what you asked and what I knew were fundamentally not the same thing, so there was no need for me to pay you any heed.

Perhaps other young assistant instructors or instructors standing here would have been overwhelmed by the atmosphere Qiu Xueling had created, but Zhang Yu bore no such psychological burden. He was entirely justified and confident.

Qiu Xueling gave an oh, seeming mildly puzzled. Then a trace of apology appeared on his face as he mocked himself. "This old man did not think it through. Age has caught up with me, age has caught up with me. Assistant Instructor Zhang, since you understand the Steel Claw Tribe's language, then answer me a simple question." As if asking casually, he said, "Within this tribe, how do heaven, earth, and man communicate with one another?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yu raised his head slightly and glanced at Qiu Xueling. The latter's expression looked perfectly natural. Zhang Yu considered for a moment, then signaled to the attendants in the distance that he needed paper and brush.

Once the attendant delivered them, he picked up the brush and wrote several lines. He then had them sent up and said to the platform, "My answer is all written here."

Qiu Xueling took the paper from the attendant and held it before him. When he saw one line of writing on it, his pupils contracted imperceptibly. After pondering briefly, he deftly slipped the note into his sleeve, then praised, "Assistant Instructor Zhang is indeed remarkably learned." He looked toward the Xu-named Scholastic Inquiry and said, "I believe today's inquiry may end here."

The Xu-named Scholastic Inquiry found this somewhat strange. "Is that sufficient?"

Qiu Xueling said with certainty, "There is no need to ask further. Assistant Instructor Zhang is fully qualified for this post."

"I see..." The Xu-named Scholastic Inquiry pondered for a moment. He had only been sent by the Academy as a witness and did not oversee the specific proceedings. Since Qiu Xueling said so, any further matter would naturally be Qiu Xueling's responsibility and had nothing to do with him.

He therefore stepped forward and addressed the hall below. "The inquiry is over. Assistant Instructor Zhang, you have passed. You may return."

Everyone in the circular hall was utterly baffled, unable to understand what had just happened. It seemed they had barely begun—how was it already over?

Many could not help feeling disappointed, thinking this inquiry had truly begun with the roar of a tiger and ended with the whimper of a snake.

Yet Zhang Yu did not seem surprised in the slightest. He cupped his hands in salute, and with his sleeves swaying, strode out.

At that moment, Qiu Xueling lifted his eyes slightly and gave him a deep look.

No sooner had Zhang Yu reached the hall entrance than Liu Guang chased out after him. He was equally puzzled by what had happened and asked, "Assistant Instructor Zhang, what did that mean just now?"

Zhang Yu said, "Let us speak elsewhere."

The two left Zhenli Hall and came to a secluded courtyard on the east side of the Academy. There was a broad lawn here, with several broken ancient stone pedestals scattered about.

Yet the place had clearly been tended to. Some spots had even been lightly repaired, giving what should have been a desolate scene instead a kind of ruined beauty.

Liu Guang could not help asking, "Assistant Instructor Zhang, what did you write on that paper? Why did Scholastic Inquiry Qiu let you pass as soon as he saw it?"

Zhang Yu said, "It was very simple. I merely wrote a passage in the Steel Claw Tribe's script."

"That was all?" Liu Guang found it somewhat unbelievable. "He let you pass just like that? Why?"

Zhang Yu said evenly, "Because he could not read it. No matter what he asked afterward, I would have said it was already written on that paper. He understood that as well, so he did not continue asking."

"Was that really it?"

Liu Guang felt that things were probably not so simple. But since Zhang Yu said so, and the inquiry was over, there was no need for him to pursue it further. Rubbing his brow, he said, "No matter what, we have finally shaken off this trouble."

Zhang Yu shook his head. "I fear we have not."

Liu Guang was startled. "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yu looked into the distance, then turned his gaze back to him. "Instructor Liu, while we were in the hall, who do you think knew more about native tribal languages, he or I?"

Liu Guang hesitated before saying, "I think he seemed to know more."

Zhang Yu nodded. "Exactly. Even you think so, so those who came to watch the inquiry likely think the same. If Scholastic Inquiry Qiu proposed to the Academy that he participate in the exchange with the Steel Claw Tribe, what do you think the Academy's Upper Layer would think?"

Liu Guang suddenly recalled that a confidant of someone in the Academy's Upper Layer had been in the hall today.

Zhang Yu said with certainty, "Therefore, Scholastic Inquiry Qiu's purpose today was not the inquiry itself. He wanted to use this inquiry to build momentum for himself, to make the Academy's Upper Layer feel that he was the authority in this field. I dare say that he will certainly interfere in this matter afterward."

Liu Guang said mockingly, "At such an advanced age, instead of enjoying his twilight years, he comes to fight for power and profit. Why put himself through that? Assistant Instructor Zhang, can you handle him?"

Zhang Yu said, "Though trouble will be unavoidable, at least there will be no problem while I teach the Steel Claw Tribe's language. As for what comes later, we shall have to wait and see."

Liu Guang thought it over. No matter what, the immediate matter had been dealt with. He cupped his hands and said, "Assistant Instructor Zhang, I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first. If you run into any trouble later, you may come find me again."

Zhang Yu also cupped his hands in salute and said politely, "Thank you for today, Instructor Liu."

After Liu Guang departed, Zhang Yu walked slowly through the courtyard. In truth, he had a suspicion that he had not mentioned to Liu Guang.

He had previously heard that Qiu Xueling was compiling comparative dictionaries of those native tribal languages. This was an extraordinary undertaking, showing that he had already distilled a set of linguistic principles that could be applied across the various tribes.

Zhang Yu knew that some people possessed an exceptionally unique talent for languages. So long as they knew certain key correspondences between two languages, they could roughly grasp the means of communication between both sides.

If Qiu Xueling was such a person, then his true purpose today had likely been to secretly learn from him. But I can teach you; I cannot let you steal from me! That was why Zhang Yu had answered in writing from the very start, blocking him off directly. Qiu Xueling had likely seen through his wariness and realized he could gain nothing from him, so he withdrew cleanly.

At this moment, inside Zhenli Hall.

Qiu Xueling entered a side chamber, where a handsome young man stood waiting. He asked respectfully, "Teacher, did you gain anything?"

Qiu Xueling narrowed his eyes. "This young man is no simple matter. He may have seen through my intentions. The Steel Claw Tribe's script is unlike any I have seen before. I fear it does not share the same origin as the Peace Mountain tribes I encountered previously."

The young man was not anxious at all. Smiling, he asked, "Then what shall we do next?"

Qiu Xueling said leisurely, "It does not matter. At the very least, I tested what I wished to know today, and I have already built my momentum. Once your father gives another push from behind, the Academy should agree to let me supervise his classes. Afterward, you may go with me."

The young man smiled faintly. "Teacher, I understand."