A single spark can set the prairie ablaze

Wen Zheng, courtesy name Anshi, was a teacher at the academy and also Wang Gang's instructor.

"Have you come from Gusu, sir?" Wen Zheng belonged to the Wen Family, a great clan of Gusu.

"Indeed. Just now, I spotted a carriage speeding off in the distance and wondered who it was! I never imagined it was you!"

"Heh!" Wang Gang cursed the old coachman again inwardly, then said with a dry laugh, "The carriage firm's driver might have had something urgent to attend to. He was going a little fast!"

Wen Zheng nodded and asked as they walked, "The spring examinations are next February. Rather than reviewing your books at home, Yukun, have you come to the academy because something has been giving you trouble?"

Wang Gang walked half a step behind him. "It was too noisy outside to study, so I came to the academy to prepare for the examinations in peace!"

Wen Zheng praised him. "I heard you married not long ago. Young men yearn for beauty, yet you can restrain yourself where women are concerned. Your strength of character is truly remarkable, Yukun! You will surely place high this time!"

"Heh..." Wang Gang continued to laugh dryly. He knew his own affairs best; they were not for outsiders to hear.

Teacher and student chatted as they walked, arriving at the academy on the mountain before they knew it.

A few scattered students first bowed to Wen Zheng, then spotted Wang Gang behind him and exclaimed, "Wang Yukun, why have you come back?"

"Quick, tell me how difficult the prefectural examination was!"

"Help me see how to answer this question!"

The students quickly surrounded Wang Gang, all clamoring with questions. He had placed third in the prefectural examination-a rare person to encounter!

The academy was divided into divisions A, B, and C, and only students from division A were allowed to sit each round of imperial examinations. These were all division B students, studying desperately to win a place in division A and sit the qualifying examination three years later.

Wang Gang watched helplessly as Wen Zheng walked away. He could only answer their questions one by one, then told a student holding a piece of verse:

"Since Chancellor Anshi's reforms, the imperial examinations no longer test poetry and rhapsodies. There's no need to spend too much effort on them. After all, even Su Shi hasn't produced anything outstanding in poetry with such rigid formal constraints!"

"Hah, if you're no good at poetry and rhapsodies, just say so. Why make excuses like that? Just because they aren't tested this time, does that mean they won't be next time? If Su Zizhan doesn't do well at them, must we all do poorly too?"

A grating voice came from behind him. Wang Gang turned and saw his former classmate, Liu Mo, who had supposedly fallen suddenly ill during this prefectural examination and failed.

Wang Gang gave him a sidelong look. "Liu Heigou, if you think they'll be tested, go prepare for them. If you think your talent surpasses Su Shi's, then show us."

"I'm merely afraid you'll lead other students astray!" Liu Mo said airily.

"Hah, even if poetry and rhapsodies are tested, you need only fill something in! What ultimately matters in the imperial examinations is essays on the meaning of the classics!" Wang Gang swept a cold, sneering glance over him. "Don't abandon the roots to chase the branches and end up without your name on the list!"

"You-Wang Yukun!" Liu Mo flushed crimson. Wang Gang was mocking his failure in this examination, and he immediately snapped, "I merely fell suddenly ill during this prefectural examination! Otherwise, how would you have had a chance to gloat?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I fell suddenly ill too, or wouldn't I have placed first in the prefectural examination? If I don't take first place in the next metropolitan examination, it'll definitely be because I fell suddenly ill!" Wang Gang jeered, and the others covered their mouths, snickering.

"You... you... you've gone too far!" Liu Mo flew into a rage and swung a fist at him.

Wang Gang sidestepped it, kicked him to the ground, and looked down at him from above, uttering two words flatly: "That's it?"

The others hurried over to break up the fight. Once they had separated the two, Liu Mo said in shame and anger, "You... disgrace our scholarly dignity!"

"Hah!" Wang Gang declared proudly, "If I didn't use my fists, how would you know I excelled in both letters and arms?"

"And how exactly do you excel in both letters and arms?" a stern voice rang out.

Everyone hastily bowed and greeted the academy head. Wang Gang bowed along with them.

"Wang Yukun, come with me!"

With that, the academy head turned and left. Wang Gang hurried after him, glancing back to see Liu Mo watching him with undisguised glee at his misfortune!

Once inside his room, the academy head looked Wang Gang over and said, "I see you wear a sword at your waist. Presumably you've been practicing martial arts! What, did you learn them to bully the weak?"

I call this staying true to my original purpose! Wang Gang thought, but outwardly he still bowed respectfully. "I wouldn't dare!"

"With a sharp weapon in hand, murderous intent arises of its own accord! It was merely a verbal exchange, yet you resorted to violence, and you still say you wouldn't dare!" The academy head sat straight down and picked up the teapot, only to find it empty.

Wang Gang hurried forward to take the teapot, put in loose tea, added water, and poured the academy head a cup before saying with a grin, "I study so I can reason with others, and practice martial arts so others can reason with me too!"

"What twisted nonsense is that!" the academy head scolded, then pointed to a chair beside him. "Sit!"

Wang Gang sat as instructed. Looking at him, the academy head said, "Some days ago, I exchanged letters with Master Yichuan. He mentioned you several times in his letter. What do you think of the teachings of Masters Mingdao and Yichuan?"

"Uh..." He was asking what Wang Gang thought of the Two Chengs' teachings! What ability or standing did he have to pass judgment on such figures?

"Then just tell me your thoughts on your conversation with Master Yichuan last year!" Seeming to notice Wang Gang's unease, the academy head made his question more specific.

Cold sweat covered Wang Gang's brow. It might seem he had met Cheng Yi last year, but in fact, decades had passed. How could he still remember?

Only after pondering for a good while did he say, "Master Yichuan's assertion that principle is the origin of all things, that what lies above form is principle and what lies below form is concrete things, with principle as 'substance' and things as 'function,' truly cleared the tangled weeds from my mind. He also said that everything in heaven and earth has its counterpart, and all things have yin and yang. I agree wholeheartedly with that too!"

The academy head smiled. "From what you say, could there also be things you disagree with?"

Wang Gang hastily replied, "My learning is shallow. I wouldn't dare criticize a great scholar!"

"Oh!" The academy head stroked his beard. "Then if you were to become Master Yichuan's disciple, would you be willing?"

"Ah!" Greatly startled, Wang Gang waved his hands. "Please don't joke, Headmaster!"

"Who is joking with you?" the academy head said. "I saw him praise you repeatedly in his letter. Presumably, he has taken a liking to your talent! What do you think? If you're willing, I'll write a letter and put in a word or two for you!"

Wang Gang hesitated a moment, but still shook his head. "I am unwilling!"

"Oh! Why? Do you know that the Two Chengs were renowned throughout the land even as youths? Once accomplished in their studies, they lectured in Luoyang and gained countless students. So many people wish to enter their tutelage and cannot. Why are you unwilling?"

Wang Gang thought for a moment, then answered frankly, "I have my own principles too! While many of my ideas resemble those of the two masters, they are indeed fundamentally different!"

"Oh? Tell me!" The academy head grew interested.

"I also believe that everything in the world has its principles. But what are these principles? What laws govern them? Those are what I wish to study!"

"Investigating things to attain knowledge?"

Wang Gang nodded, took a book from the desk, and tossed it into the air. The book fell to the floor.

"What are you doing!" The academy head was displeased. As a scholar, he could least bear to see people fail to cherish books.

Wang Gang picked up the book. "Look, Headmaster. I clearly threw the book upward, so why did it fall to the ground?"

The academy head frowned at him.

Wang Gang explained, "I think it's because the earth exerts an attractive force on all things. Thus, instead of flying upward, the book falls to the ground!"

"Is this the principle you discovered through investigating things?"

Wang Gang nodded. "All things have their principles. If we can investigate them all thoroughly, it will surely benefit the people and the nation!"

"The learning of practical achievement!"

Wang Gang smiled. "Better than standing with folded arms, spouting empty talk!"

"But there are so many things in this world. How could you investigate them all?"

"The point isn't me, but this way of thinking! If everyone could learn it, even shamans, physicians, musicians, and artisans could discover principles through investigation!"

The academy head shook his head. "How difficult that would be!"

Wang Gang rose and cupped his hands. "A single spark can set the prairie ablaze!"

The academy head froze. After sitting in a daze for a moment, he finally waved his hand. "Go!"

After Wang Gang left, the academy head suddenly laughed and murmured, "Truly, the young phoenix's cry rings clearer than the old one's!"