The Literary Gathering Pavilion librarian

As one remark led to another, the conversation turned to the imperial examinations and earning a scholarly degree.

Yu Zhen smiled. "With your learning and insight, Brother Jia, which academy do you attend?"

In the Great Han Divine Capital, besides the government schools, there were private schools founded by respected local figures and retired officials. Their students could also sit the imperial examinations.

Jia Heng said, "I previously engaged a tutor, but after my mother passed away, all manner of household affairs tied me down, and my studies fell by the wayside."

The smile faded from Yu Zhen's face. "My condolences, Brother Jia."

Jia Heng sighed and said nothing.

Seeing that the mood had grown somewhat heavy, Han Hui changed the subject with a smile. "With your literary gifts, Brother Jia, I imagine you have also studied the fashionable examination curriculum in some depth?"

Jia Heng waved a hand. "I am ashamed to say that I have not devoted enough effort to the Four Books and Five Classics, and so I have yet to earn even my first degree."

Earning that first degree meant becoming a licentiate. In the original Dream of the Red Chamber, for instance, Jia Zhu had become a licentiate at fourteen, and then... married Li Wan.

At the mention of this, Yu Zhen took up the conversation with a light laugh, saying in a clear voice, "At your age, Brother Jia, it is hardly too late to set your heart on diligent study. Becoming a licentiate should be as easy as reaching into a bag and taking something out! Besides, the teachers in village schools vary wildly in quality. If you studied at the Imperial College, a licentiate degree would scarcely amount to anything."

Often, examination candidates spent years getting nowhere. Apart from a few who truly lacked aptitude-rotten wood that could not be carved-the chief reason was that they had never found a good teacher.

Why had scholars from Jiangsu and Zhejiang outperformed those from the north in the examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties? Because education flourished south of the Yangtze, and its teachers were exceptionally capable.

Han Hui nodded in agreement. "For elementary instruction, a licentiate is sufficient as a schoolmaster. But to make headway in the examinations, one must seek out a distinguished teacher."

For learning one's first characters, a licentiate was generally adequate. But if one wanted to become a licentiate oneself, having another licentiate as one's tutor would not quite do; one needed a provincial graduate.

For instance, a certain Shen Black Dog who had risen to first-rank office had studied under a metropolitan graduate, one of the Ten Remonstrators of Yue...

Jia Heng considered this. "The trouble is that distinguished teachers are hard to find, and my purse is thin."

Distinguished teachers were not so easily found, and their fees were extraordinarily high.

As far as he knew, among the better private schools in the Divine Capital, one kind consisted of retired officials teaching the younger members of their own clans. How could he gain entry to someone else's clan school?

The other kind consisted of private academies, which charged expensive tuition and primarily admitted sons of small and middling landowners and merchant families.

Yu Zhen pondered for a moment. "I do know a few lecturers at Yinghua Academy, but the academy scarcely admits candidates who have yet to earn a degree. Brother Han, is there any distinguished teacher you could recommend?"

Han Hui set down his fragrant tea and smiled. "There are certainly distinguished teachers, but I fear they may not suit Brother Jia."

Yu Zhen's expression shifted. He looked up, exchanged a glance with Han Hui, and nodded.

Someone like Jia Heng, who depended on selling his writing to make a living, might not be able to afford even a distinguished teacher he managed to find.

As for Han Hui and Yu Zhen giving him money, even helping someone did not call for going that far. Besides, they had only just met; their friendship was not yet so deep.

A cup of rice earned gratitude; a bushel bred resentment. Those who helped themselves would always find others willing to help them.

Han Hui smiled. "If you would not disdain it, Brother Jia, I do have a way for you to receive instruction from distinguished teachers without spending money to engage one. It might serve both purposes."

Yu Zhen smiled. "Oh? I never knew there was such a way to have the best of both worlds. Tell us, Brother Han."

Han Hui smiled. "The other day, Song, the Registrar at the Imperial College's Literary Gathering Pavilion, mentioned that after borrowing and returning books, the students put them wherever they please, paying no heed to the catalogue. Everything is in such disorder that books are difficult to find. Those previously responsible for arranging and cataloguing them were all illiterate and unequal to the task... If you would not disdain it, Brother Jia, you could apply to serve as a Canon Clerk at the Imperial College's Literary Gathering Tower. The pay is meager, and the post beneath your talents, but you could seek instruction from the college lecturers and obtain books from the Literary Gathering Pavilion. Would that not serve both purposes?"

Jia Heng was taken aback. The Imperial College, the Literary Gathering Pavilion, a Canon Clerk...

Well, now. Wasn't that a librarian at a national institution of higher learning?

After a moment's silence, Jia Heng said, "Brother Han, how could I possibly accept this?"

Han Hui was offering him such a favor at their very first meeting. It was puzzling.

If it was merely because of Romance of the Three Kingdoms or that poem, Linjiang Immortal-well, that was not impossible. He seemed to have underestimated the influence of an enduring masterpiece like Linjiang Immortal.

In truth, Jia Heng had misunderstood the position of Canon Clerk in the Imperial College's book pavilion. Such work was hardly anything so grand as a permanent public-sector post or an iron rice bowl.

For a provincial graduate to take it would disgrace his scholarly standing; a licentiate would find the wages too low to live on.

For Han Hui, it would not require much effort either. It might amount to no more than mentioning it to Registrar Song.

Of course, Jia Heng did not know any of this.

After spending some time with Han Hui, Jia Heng could tell from his clothes, bearing, and manner that he was either wealthy or noble, with a considerable background. But since Han Hui did not wish to reveal his identity, Jia Heng also pretended not to know and would certainly not ask.

Han Hui said, "There is no need to feel that way, Brother Jia. It really is nothing. Of course, I offer because I see how firmly you are resolved to study, and such talent ought not be buried. If you still feel uneasy about accepting, then please finish Romance of the Three Kingdoms sooner and let Brother Wendu and me have the pleasure of reading it first. We are like old gourmands catching the scent of fine food, itching with anticipation."

By the end, he was laughing.

One had to admit that even when such a man bestowed a favor, he did so like a spring breeze and nourishing rain.

"You may not know this, Brother Jia, but Brother Zisheng is always eager to serve the public good and uphold what is right. Nothing pleases him more than helping others achieve their wishes. He has long been known as Chang'an's Timely Rain." Seeing the gratitude on Jia Heng's face, Yu Zhen teased him with a smile.

Jia Heng's gaze deepened. He cupped his hands. "Your generosity commands my admiration and gratitude, Brother Han."

While they were talking, the Exquisite Pavilion's dishes had arrived. At Han Hui's invitation, they took up their chopsticks and continued talking as they ate.

During the meal, whether because one remark led to another or for some other reason, Yu Zhen suddenly brought up affairs on the frontier.

These were topics being discussed throughout the court and the country. As the nation's reserve of future talent, the students of the Imperial College naturally paid close attention to every stir in court affairs.

Yu Zhen continued, "This morning, the official bulletin was circulated throughout the court and the provinces. A force of thirty thousand elite Tatar cavalry broke through the passes and took Wanping County. County Commandant Li Ling fell in battle, and Magistrate Jiang Chun took his own life for his country. The Tatars rolled up their armor and entered the town, then a thousand cavalrymen plundered grain and fodder and carried women and children north. All this happened right beneath Beiping Prefecture's nose! Yet neither the Beiping Guard nor Commander Tang of Ji Town lifted a finger. They simply watched the Tatars raid back and forth as though passing through an empty land!"

The mood grew heavier at this. Han Hui sighed. "The forty thousand troops in Beiping Prefecture are charged with defending the city and dare not leave their posts without authorization. Commander Tang of Ji Town has too few men and can only rely on fortified cities for defense. It is difficult for him to march out and meet the enemy in open battle."

As under the former Ming dynasty, local officials of Great Han were responsible for defending their territories. Losing troops and land likewise meant being transported to the capital in a prison cart, jailed, and sentenced to death.

Jia Heng considered this. "Beiping Prefecture was the former Ming capital and has a garrison of nearly forty thousand. Ji Town commands strategic passes and has a hundred thousand troops stationed there. Yet they cannot contain thirty thousand Eastern Barbarians?"

Han Hui gave a bitter smile. "You do not know, Brother Jia. The Tatars have always been savage and fierce, and they excel at mounted archery. As the saying goes, 'The Jurchens are no threat below ten thousand; at ten thousand, none can stand against them.' Still, I hear the court intends to send reinforcements to the Northern Borderlands. The situation should soon improve."

After a few more cups of wine, Yu Zhen's cheeks had reddened. As the drink went to his head, he said, "At ten thousand, none can stand against them? I have heard that Chen Tang, the Han Commandant of Justice, once said that one Han soldier was worth five barbarians. Who could have imagined we would become so feeble today?"

Both dynasties bore the name Han, yet Liu Han had thrashed the barbarians on all four sides, while today's Chen Han had been forced by barbarian invaders to hunker behind fortified walls. How could any discerning man of the realm fail to feel stifled by such humiliation?