The Resolve of the Imperial College Students

News that the court planned to create a national flag, national emblem, and national anthem spread like wildfire, causing a sensation throughout Nanjing City.

The Imperial College.

Wu Yun of the Hall of Following Nature was in the library, leafing through the Analects and puzzling over what old Zhu Xi's annotations meant.

Although Wu Yun disagreed with Zhu Xi's muddled interpretations, he had no choice. The imperial examinations used only Zhu Xi's annotations as their syllabus. Anyone who wanted to give his own views free rein could only turn around and go home to reclaim wasteland.

Bang, bang!

Wu Yun looked up and saw Hu Jun standing beside the window, looking at him.

"Brother Wu, come out! Something big has happened."

Hu Jun called out urgently.

Wu Yun pointed at the Analects in his hands and said, "The spring examinations are approaching. I cannot slacken my studies. Please don't disturb me with trivial matters."

Hu Jun laughed heartily. "You're already an Imperial College student in the Hall of Following Nature. Once you pass your assessments, you can be appointed to office. Why bother taking the imperial examinations? If you fail, won't you lose face?"

The Imperial College was divided into six halls. There were three elementary halls: Righteousness, Esteem the Will, and Broad Learning; two intermediate halls: Cultivate the Way and Sincere Mind; and only one advanced hall, the Hall of Following Nature.

Upon entering the Imperial College, students could join one of the three elementary halls after passing an examination on the Four Books.

Those who had studied at the Imperial College for at least a year and a half, passed their examinations, and written clear, coherent prose could enter the intermediate halls.

Only after studying in an intermediate hall for at least another year and a half, passing their assessments, mastering the classics and histories, and demonstrating excellence in composition and reasoning could they enter the Hall of Following Nature.

Students in the Hall of Following Nature were assessed every month. An excellent result earned one point, a passing result half a point, and a failing result none. Those who earned eight points within a year could receive official standing and an appointment to office.

Wu Yun had joined the Hall of Following Nature three months earlier and earned excellent results in every assessment. There was no need for him to take the imperial examinations at all. He only had to wait for his opportunity, putting in eight months, before he could enter government service, either remaining in the Capital or taking a local post.

Wu Yun smiled calmly and closed his book. "I value my aspirations more than my pride. I remember you have relatives in the Capital. Why have you come to the Imperial College? Have classes begun ahead of schedule?"

Hu Jun clapped his hands and hurriedly said, "Look at me! I actually forgot something so important. Brother Wu, you haven't heard yet: the court has established National Day on the fourth day of the first month, to celebrate with the people. Our holiday can be extended until after the Lantern Festival."

"National Day? Ha, that's something new. A celebration of the founding of the nation-not bad. On the fourth, I'll leave the Imperial College and take a stroll through the streets." Smiling, Wu Yun turned slightly and asked, "But surely a few extra days off aren't what have made you so delighted?"

Hu Jun climbed straight through the window, walked over to Wu Yun, and pulled out a stool beside him. "There's another major development. I just heard that the court intends to create a national flag, national emblem, and national anthem for the Great Ming, to proclaim its unity to all its people and the nations abroad."

"A national flag, national emblem, and national anthem? What are those?"

Wu Yun frowned. He had never heard of them.

Hu Jun chuckled. "That's precisely the point. Nobody knows what they are, but everyone wants them to exist. Imagine us holding the Great Ming's national flag high, gazing upon its national emblem, and singing its national anthem at the top of our voices. How stirring that would be! How glorious!"

"Right now, the Grand Secretariat, the Five Army Commandery, and the central Six Ministries are all busy preparing proposals for the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem. This is a great affair of state. As Imperial College students, and members of the Hall of Following Nature at that, how could we not take part?"

Hu Jun's words stirred Wu Yun as well. He put down his book and stood up. "Has the Rites Ministry asked our Imperial College to participate?"

"Oh, no, it hasn't."

Hu Jun answered bluntly.

Wu Yun gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Hu Jun. "Then why are you telling me all this?"

Hu Jun burst out laughing. "Although the Rites Ministry hasn't invited our Imperial College to participate, we can find a way to do so. Surely you, Wu Yun, want to take part in an affair of state that will leave a name for a thousand generations?"

Naturally, Wu Yun did not want to miss such an opportunity. He said frankly, "Who wouldn't want to participate? But unless the Rites Ministry gives the word, what can you do?"

Hu Jun brought over the teapot beside them and poured a cup of cold tea. With a sly chuckle, he said, "Don't forget that our Imperial College has someone whose reach extends to the heavens. As long as he speaks up, getting the Imperial College involved won't be a problem."

"Don't tell me you mean the Python Master, Wang Shen? You want us to go beg him?"

Wu Yun's eyes widened in disbelief.

Wang Shen's use of pythons to select talent had struck immense terror into all the students. Outside of class, few ever sought him out of their own accord.

Hu Jun looked calmly at Wu Yun. "You know that Wang Shen has the right to submit memorials directly to the emperor. The men he recommended, including Li Zhigang, Guo Lian, and Wang Huai, have performed admirably and excelled in their assessments. That proves his eye for talent. His methods may be sinister, but that doesn't make him any less capable."

Wu Yun's mouth twisted, but he said nothing.

A man who dared use pythons to test his students' courage, whipping the Imperial College into a storm of blood and terror, was indeed a talent.

However unorthodox his methods were, his results were legitimate.

Hu Jun took Wu Yun by the arm. "The chancellor and deputy chancellor are both absent. If we want to participate, our only path is to have him step forward. I've already arranged to contact more than thirty people. As long as we petition him, even if he refuses, he'll pass word of it up to His Majesty. Then we'll still have a chance."

Wu Yun lowered his head solemnly and agreed.

Wang Shen was reading at leisure when a servant reported that some Imperial College students had come to see him. He could not help feeling puzzled.

Ordinarily, the students could not flee from him fast enough. Now they had actually come to his door of their own accord. It was truly baffling.

The sun was still up in the sky...

Although the Imperial College was on holiday, many students were unable to return home and stayed behind. Moreover, Zhu Yunwen had changed the examination schedule on his own initiative, so quite a few students remained at the college, studying diligently.

An extraordinary examination had already been held in the thirtieth year of Hongwu. Under the regulations requiring one every three years, the next should have been held in the second year of Jianwen.

But Zhu Yunwen did not want to wait. Not only had he put forward his "Cat Theory," he also advocated that "the capable rise and the mediocre fall." He had forcibly moved the imperial examinations forward by a year and announced the change nationwide through urgent dispatches, intending to replace the old with the new.

Naturally, this move drew opposition. But the leading men of the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries all supported it, so whatever their subordinates said was of no avail.

A group of students entered the plain, modest Wang residence. Facing Wang Shen, they bowed respectfully and called out, "Your students pay their respects, Professor Wang."

Smiling, Wang Shen recognized Wu Yun, Hu Jun, and the others. "Has something gone wrong at the Imperial College?"

Hu Jun stepped forward and bowed with his hands clasped. "Professor Wang, all of us students wish to contribute to the foundations of the Great Ming. We ask you to help our Imperial College make its name renowned for a thousand autumns, its fame resounding through the ages."