A breeze blew out of Zhao City, stirring only the weeds beside the road.
A few lightly spoken words drifted out, as quiet as a murmur in sleep.
"Zhao City has opened."
The breeze suddenly became a roaring gale, sweeping past and whipping up countless things to ravage the skies.
Those softly spoken words rang louder than ten thousand people shouting together.
The speaker stood atop a lofty mountain peak. He spoke into the valley, and the winds from every direction carried his voice everywhere.
Ten thousand li passed in no more than an instant.
"To Zhao City!"
"To the Academy!"
"To pay homage to the Sages and Worthies!"
Countless voices resounded across the lands of All Xia. Students from every commandery and county in All Under Heaven swarmed toward Zhao City with their teachers. Traveling scholars chose Zhao City as their first destination, and even students at Chang'an's Imperial Academy requested leave to go there.
Linzi.
This was one of the strongholds of Mengist Confucianism.
Mengist Confucianism enjoyed renown throughout All Under Heaven, but it was primarily an influential school East of the Passes. Few of its adherents entered official service at the court in Chang'an, but they wielded considerable influence in the commanderies and counties East of the Passes.
The current household head of the Meng Clan was a great Confucian scholar renowned throughout the realm, already at an age when both his hair and beard had turned white. He counted among those relatively close to Zhao City, yet even he could only visit the Hundred Schools' Sacred Hall there to pay homage on major festivals. He had never expected to witness Zhao City reopen at the end of his life.
"Teacher, Zhao City has reopened. Will you go?"
Looking at the young faces before him-some his disciples,