Wang Su left Zhuge Dan's mansion in his carriage, all smiles.
Once he returned to the Minister over the Masses' Residence, he summoned his chief clerk and told him what needed to be done.
Chief Clerk Kong Chao could not help saying, "Master Wang, though Lord Zhuge understands the Classics and can debate them, his grounding in Classical Studies is not especially deep."
"Among the ministers at court, only Lord Zhong has the deepest grounding in Classical Studies. As for the others, I would not presume to judge their learning."
The Lord Zhong whom Kong Chao mentioned was the elder Zhong, namely Zhong Yu.
Of the scholarly schools of thought at the time, two flourished most. The first was Zheng Learning, headed by Zheng Xuan, with followers such as Zheng Xiaotong, Sun Yan, and Ma Zhao. The second was Wang Learning.
That was Wang Su's school, supported by Kong Chao, Zhong Yu, and others.
Kong Chao had originally been a Doctor of Classical Studies. After becoming Minister over the Masses, Wang Su had brought him to his side to help him with his work.
Kong Chao's attainments in Classical Studies were quite impressive, and he had the ability to look down on the current court's ministers in that field.
Wang Su sat in the seat of honor, his face wreathed in smiles.
"I went to them merely to give them something to do. I never imagined relying on them to accomplish this."
Wang Su swept a hand through the air. "I alone will suffice."
Wang Su was not boasting. Other matters aside, when it came purely to Classical Studies, never mind Zhuge Dan-even Zhuge Liang would have been no use, provided he came alone and did not bring an army.
Wang Su had developed his own scholarly theories and had