Doctor Qiu's Debate

"Hm?"

Qiu Yan's opening remark took the students present quite by surprise.

Within the Imperial Academy, lecturers, assistant instructors, and doctors each held different positions and powers. Yet when giving lectures, they invariably began with the meanings of the classics and canonical texts. Even if they did not, there would still be some examination of learning; opening words never strayed from the Four Books and Five Classics.

One had to know that at the founding of the dynasty, Imperial Academy doctors had been called Doctors of the Five Classics, each placed in charge of one classic. That alone spoke volumes. Even as the institution became increasingly refined and its duties gradually divided in greater detail, enhancing the authority of its doctors, it still retained the original system, with a limit of five positions.

There were not many like Qiu Yan, who began with everyday words rather than the meanings of the classics. And for him to speak of war between states the moment he opened his mouth made quite a few students' hearts skip a beat.

Their thoughts had indeed been circling around this matter lately, but lectures at the academy normally did not touch upon such subjects. Even when students asked about them, lecturers and the like would usually brush them aside in a word or two, without dwelling on them.

"What? I heard that you all have rather insightful views on the war between states, and often discuss it among yourselves. Some essays and observations of yours have even spread through the capital. Since I have some leisure today, I might as well discuss it with you."

When Qiu Yan saw that no one spoke, he added these words. At the same time, he spotted a familiar face among the crowd—it was Fang Ziyan, whom someone had questioned