A visit from the prefectural school

After the affair over New Meanings of the Three Classics, the academy returned to its usual state, and Wang Gang settled into a regular routine: practicing martial arts, studying, and beating up Liu Mo every day.

Occasionally, when he had some leisure, he practiced calligraphy too.

His calligraphy had already been quite good among his peers. Though his brushwork lacked seasoned mastery, it already had form and distinction. Information had been readily available in the later era, and he had studied the calligraphy of many masters, blending what he learned into a style of his own.

When insight struck, he wrote a few strokes; when the scenery moved him, he wrote another piece. Passing his days this way was quite pleasant.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. That day, a group of scholars came up the mountain, led by an instructor from the prefectural school, whom Wen Zheng received in person.

After Wen Zheng and the instructor left, the academy students began chatting with the government-school scholars. All were scholars from the same area and had not been strangers to begin with. Through family connections or introductions by friends, they soon grew familiar.

Some students brought tea, and everyone sat out in the open, admiring the scenery and drinking tea, discussing current affairs or exploring the meanings of the classics. What a pleasure it was!

"Yukun, will you be sitting the spring examinations next year?" A scholar he knew came over.

"Brother Buqi, I heard you took part in the Imperial Academy's selection. How did it go?" Wang Gang exchanged pleasantries as well.

"I was fortunate enough to be selected!" the scholar replied with a restrained smile.

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Wang Gang cupped his hands in congratulation. For government-school scholars of the Song dynasty, the imperial examinations were not the only route forward. The Imperial Academy offered another path. After studying for several years, they could take its graduation examination. Those in the top grade could enter office directly, those in the middle grade could skip the Ministry of Rites examination, and those in the lowest grade could skip the qualifying examination.

Of course, it was also extremely difficult, especially after Wang Anshi's reforms to the Three Hall System made competition even fiercer!

Then more acquaintances came over to greet him. Several had also passed the qualifying examination. They exchanged pleasantries and agreed to travel to Dongjing together after the New Year so they could look out for one another.

Watching Wang Gang chatting so merrily with the others, Liu Mo rolled his eyes in thought and patted the person beside him. "Shen Ziyan, aren't your family and the Wang Family on good terms? Why aren't you going over to talk to Wang Yukun?"

"Why should I talk to him?" Shen Yu turned his head, glanced at Wang Gang, then withdrew his gaze.

His family and the Wang Family had long been close, and the youngsters had grown up together and shared a strong bond. Yet who would have thought that after passing the qualifying examination, Wang Yukun would turn his back on them? When his father went to propose a marriage on his younger sister's behalf, he had been rejected outright, leaving his sister crying for ages.

Had he been trying to climb onto a higher branch, that would have been one thing! A scholar choosing a high-ranking official's family as his in-laws was understandable. But what sort of person had he chosen? A girl from a humble household!

His sister was educated, sensible, and as lovely as a flower beneath the moon, yet she had been passed over for such a girl! This was simply an insult! He had broken off contact with Wang Gang because of it!

He simply had not quarreled with him face-to-face. After all, when gentlemen severed ties, they spoke no ill of each other!

Liu Mo blinked his little eyes, looked between the two of them, and smiled. "I heard there's a scholar at the prefectural school who excels at poetry. Has he come today?"

Shen Yu looked at Liu Mo in puzzlement, then followed his gaze and understood at once. He was targeting Wang Gang! Having been close to Wang Gang for years, he naturally knew he was no good at poetry. However, he did not want to get involved, so he turned and called, "Brother Danshan!"

A slender scholar walked over with a smile and cupped his hands. "What is it, Brother Ziyan?"

Shen Yu smiled. "Nothing on my part. This is Liu Mo, Liu Zi'an. He's long heard of your great talent, Brother Danshan, and wanted to make your acquaintance."

Liu Mo cupped his hands in greeting. "I've long heard of your reputation, Brother Danshan."

"You're too kind!" Lin Zhen returned the greeting. "Brother Zi'an, I've long admired your name!"

Once the two had been introduced, Shen Yu excused himself and went elsewhere.

After chatting with Lin Zhen for a while, Liu Mo suddenly raised his voice. "With such beautiful scenery before us and distinguished friends filling our gathering, how could we have no poetry to celebrate? Why don't we compose poems to match today's scenery?"

Lin Zhen gave Liu Mo a surprised look. Nothing more to it-he simply thought the change of subject was rather abrupt!

Someone looked their way and waved with a smile. "With Brother Danshan here, my poetic talent has stayed home today!"

"Hahaha!" Everyone found his remark mischievous and burst out laughing.

Another person said, "Brother Danshan's poetic talent is unrivaled. I wouldn't dare brandish an axe before the master carpenter either!"

"You flatter me, you flatter me!" Lin Zhen hurriedly bowed, though his smile was decidedly pleased. He was already a renowned talent in Gusu, particularly skilled in poetry, and had now secured a place in the qualifying examination as well. This was precisely what youthful triumph looked like. His present manner could already be considered restrained.

"How about this? Each side chooses one person to compose a poem, and then we all appreciate and discuss them together. Wouldn't that be splendid?" Seeing that no one wanted to step forward to compose a poem, Liu Mo proposed another approach.

This immediately won everyone's approval. Naturally, no one from the prefectural school objected. On the academy's side, some thought they would not be chosen, while others who did not know Lin Zhen were eager to try. Since ancient times, literature had admitted no first place, and martial prowess no second. How could they know who stood higher without a contest?

Wang Gang, however, knew what Liu Mo was thinking. He gave him a long look and thought, I still went too easy on him!

Liu Mo stood fearless, his head high and chest out. "I imagine Brother Danshan will represent the prefectural school. How about choosing Yukun for our side?"

"Good!" The prefectural school scholars naturally had no objections, and the academy students cheered as well. Some were excited, hoping to see Wang Gang get the better of the other side. Others were disappointed, lamenting the lost opportunity to display their poetic talent.

Wang Gang smiled apologetically. "My apologies, everyone. I'm not skilled at poetry. Please choose someone more capable!"

"Oh, Yukun, don't be modest!" Liu Mo said. "With your talent, even something you dashed off at random would be a masterpiece!"

He was using Wang Gang's remarks about formulaic poetry against him. By now, everyone understood: Liu Mo was deliberately using Wang Gang's weakness to embarrass him!

The prefectural school scholars perked up. This was infighting within the academy!

Seeing outsiders enjoying a laugh at their expense, the academy students were somewhat displeased. Everyday horseplay was one thing, but pulling this sort of stunt on an occasion like this-wasn't that disgracing the entire academy?

Someone immediately stepped forward. "Since Yukun is willing to yield to someone else, why don't I give it a try?"

"You won't do!" Before anyone else could speak, Liu Mo cut in. "Was your name on this year's qualifying examination list? Haven't you noticed that even I've retreated three marches?"

"You!" The student was only from the second division and had not even taken the qualifying examination, so how could his name have been on the list? He wanted to argue, but feared giving the others a spectacle, so he could only retreat.

"All right, Yukun. See? You're the most suitable person in the academy!" Liu Mo walked over and said gloatingly, with his back to the others.

Wang Gang shook his head with a smile and was just about to speak when he suddenly spotted Wang Zhong outside the crowd, his face full of anxiety.

Wang Gang's expression stilled, and he started toward him, only for Liu Mo to block his path and whisper, "You're not trying to run away, are you?"

"Move! I have something to deal with!" Wang Gang said impatiently.

"What's the hurry? It's only a poem!" Seeing Wang Gang's brows draw together, Liu Mo instinctively stepped back, then caught himself and leaned closer. "With all these people here, you're not thinking of hitting me, are you?"

Wang Gang signaled Wang Zhong with his eyes to wait a moment, then turned to Liu Mo. "You want me to write a poem? Fine! Bring brush and ink!"

Naturally, the academy had no shortage of brush and ink. Before long, everything had been neatly arranged on a stone table.

Wang Gang glanced at the scenery, picked up the brush, and began to write.

"Excellent calligraphy!" Wang Gang had only written a few strokes before someone in the surrounding crowd called out in praise.

"The verse is even better! This single word governs seven lines!"

"Literary technique is merely a minor art. The grand spirit and scope of the verse are what matter!"

Amid everyone's praise, Wang Gang set down his brush. Looking at the dumbstruck Liu Mo, he said, "I don't refrain from writing poetry because I can't! It's because poetry cannot set the world to rights!" With that, Wang Gang swept away.

"What is it?" Wang Gang asked as he reached Wang Zhong.

"Gongye Qian has been gravely wounded!"