The atmosphere in the Academy was heavy. The Mohist disciples had a powerful presence here too, already no weaker than that of the Confucian scholars.
Yang Sheng and Yang Zhu sat down to debate the Way. Before either could speak, a Confucian scholar called out, "The Academy of Luo State is a place where the Hundred Schools spread their ultimate truths. 'Universal love' and 'esteeming oneself' clash like water and fire, with no room for reconciliation. May we ask the two worthies to first resolve our confusion?"
He had barely finished when the Confucian scholars all called out, "We ask the two worthies to resolve the confusion of everyone under heaven."
Every face wore an excited expression. They were blatantly stirring up trouble.
Ever since Mo Di came to the Academy, the Confucian School had been pinned down and pummeled. Especially after Mo Di emerged from seclusion and produced his dedicated Against Confucianism, he had pointed straight at their noses and berated them, battering the leading Confucian figures until their heads spun.
Muddling things up and arguing unreasonably was useless in the Academy of Luo State. One truly had to use theories and words to leave the other side speechless.
But that was not the most fatal blow. What truly made the Confucian School resent the Mohist School was that the esteem it enjoyed in Luo State already rivaled their own.
In merely two or three years, it had surpassed more than a century of Confucian groundwork. This had thoroughly enraged the Confucian leaders.
Luo State was the Confucian School's private preserve, a paradise of the Way of the King, their heaven on earth. Having this place breached was no less devastating to them than having a nation's capital captured.
The Confucian scholars could tolerate losing to the Mohist School