The Great Seminary

Chapter 200 It's Hard to Distinguish Right from Wrong (Part 1)

Anyone who heard Zhang Jiujiang say such a thing while he was joking around would find it inexplicable.

But Zhang Gui had long wanted to see the scenery of the 'Yuanshan' grasslands, the land that nurtured the legendary emperor Tie Mu Changsheng, and he clapped his hands in agreement.
"Zhang Jiujiang, you really know me inside and out, you can always think the same way I do."

However, I want to go to Yuanshan to see what the situation is regarding the 'base' of the biggest known rival.

What do you want to do there?
"And you're traveling with your classmates from the academy, believing that 'reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles'? You guys are really daring."

Zhang Jiujiang did not answer Zhang Gui's question directly; his expression darkened.

"The reason I am returning to Pingyang Town at this time of year is that 'Qingdou Academy' has closed its gates."

As for when it will reopen, it seems like it's a long way off.

The reason is that the hometown of our headmaster Huaihe's wife, Chengping County of Yuanfu Prefecture in the Western Guangdong Province, was destroyed by a group of bandits who were said to be invincible in battle due to natural disasters and man-made calamities.

The entire Madam's family was implicated, with no one escaping unscathed.

Upon learning this devastating news, the lady was overcome with grief and anger, vomited three liters of blood, and died.

The headmaster and she were deeply in love. After his wife was laid to rest, he stayed up for nine days straight without sleep.

The academy gates were suddenly closed.

The root cause of the lady's death was the war between Yuanshan and Ming Song, which led to the collapse of the order in the Southern Kingdom.

He was going to Yuanshan to meet with Temu Changsheng, to explain the dire situation, and to persuade him to end the war.

"No, your headmaster has clearly lost his mind because his wife died."

"How could Tie Muchangsheng, a man of such stature, possibly..."

"Therefore, we all believe that the headmaster intended to use the pretext of petitioning to impersonate Zhuan Zhu and carry out the 'Fish Intestine' story."

Zhuan Zhu was a native of Tangyi, Wu County, before the Ming Dynasty of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago.

Born a scholar, he was tall with deep-set eyes and a large mouth, broad shoulders and a strong build, and was skilled in cultivating qi and blood, as well as close combat techniques.

He was a renowned filial son, good husband, and loving father, as well as a righteous man in the village.

Later, Wu Commandery was invaded by the King of Chu, and Zhuan Zhu and his entire family perished, along with the whole village.

Only Zhuan Zhu, who was visiting a friend outside the prefecture, managed to escape the calamity.

Upon learning the news, he first spent three years searching for renowned iron craftsmen across the land to create an extremely sharp, three-inch soft sword capable of piercing the Qi.

It took another three years to visit famous chefs all over the country and learn the art of cooking fish.

After that, he spent another three years opening a restaurant called "Yu Chang Lou" in Longze City, where Chu Jun lived.

Ultimately, his reputation for skillfully preparing "live fish stew" amazed the king.

One evening, during a banquet for his ministers, Zhuan Zhu was asked to perform a dish of live fish stew to accompany the wine.

As a result, Zhuan Zhu hid the soft sword in the intestines of a live fish and got within ten steps of the King of Chu when the dish was served!

According to the "Biographies of Assassins" in the Records of the Grand Historian,
"...At the gates and steps, on both sides, stood close to the king and his men, each holding a long spear."

When the wine was flowing freely, Zhuan Zhu placed a roasted soft-swordfish inside its belly and served it to the fish.

Upon arriving before the king, he split the fish and stabbed the king of Chu with his sword, killing him instantly…

Since this legendary story was recorded by Sima Qian, it must have actually happened in history.

However, there are too many unreasonable aspects to it.

For example, Zhuan Zhu, who was at most a scion of a prominent family of the 'Wenxian' or even 'local gentry' level, had no right to visit famous craftsmen all over the world after his family was destroyed.

In the end, they actually managed to get their hands on the 'Fish Intestine Sword,' a divine weapon with an extremely unique purpose.

For example, Zhuan Zhu's assassination plan, which took nine years to prepare, was perfectly executed and could not possibly have been a spur-of-the-moment act.

But this story, which should have been absolutely impossible, ended up becoming a reality.

This has left endless room for imagination for future generations...

The story of "Fish Intestines Stabbing the King" flashed through his mind. Even with two lifetimes and a highly imaginative mind, Zhang Gui didn't know how to judge Mr. Huaihe's actions.

All I could do was open my mouth and say:
"Jiujiang, all I can say is that Mr. Huaihe has the spirit of the ancients."

"Yes, people like our headmaster only exist in ancient books."

There's a 99% chance he'll be beheaded before he even meets Changsheng Tiemu. Or, out of curiosity, Tiemu Changsheng might actually meet our headmaster.

In this world, no one can predict what will happen until it does.

All we can do is focus on doing our own jobs.

"So you bunch of 'Qingdou' students want to go to Yuanshan Kingdom to collect Mr. Huaihe's body?"

"exactly.

Judging by the time, the headmaster has been gone for more than ten days.

Everyone was at a loss and went home.

But three days ago, several senior brothers suddenly sent me a message via flying sword, saying that they were going to Yuanshan Kingdom to make a great impression on the headmaster's trip.

Then a few of us close classmates talked it over and we all felt that the headmaster might no longer be around.

Those senior students who had connections and influence learned of this matter and wanted to go to Yuanshan to bring him back to his ancestral grave for burial.

We can't let the headmaster be buried in a foreign land.

“So that’s it.

That would be a good opportunity to go.

After all, given the magnanimity of a powerful ruler like Changsheng Tiemu, he might have killed Mr. Huaihe, a renowned scholar, because of his reckless behavior and bookish pride.

But I would never kill you young lads and girls.

I really can't bear the shame.

At most, they'll just get someone to whip you a few times with a shepherd's whip.

But if you were to actually receive such a whipping, you would become famous throughout the Ming and Song dynasties.

On the contrary, it's a good thing.

Zhang Jiujiang was taken aback upon hearing this, then angrily pointed at Zhang Gui and said:
"Zhang Gui, what are you saying? Do you think that my going to welcome the division commander's remains home was also for ulterior motives and to gain prestige?"

"Is not it?

From the interesting stories you told me about your student days, it seems you weren't very familiar with Mr. Huaihe at all.

Would someone genuinely travel thousands of miles for him, risking their life? That would be insane.

“You, you, you, I’ve been troubled every day since I returned to Pingyang Town, and I’ve been thinking every day that you can come back and comfort me.”

I finally caught you today, and this is how you infuriate me!

“Jiujiang, we are ‘brothers for life,’ so I won’t flatter you or me.”

Think about the logic behind it.

You were a transfer student who got into Qingdou Academy through marriage; neither your maternal grandparents nor your paternal uncles care for you.

Mr. Huaihe is the headmaster of the academy, a man of noble status, and has met countless scions of ancient and prestigious families, as well as many peerless geniuses and scholars.

If it weren't for Zhang Jiuqing's connection, who would even know who you are?

So stop being so self-satisfied, okay?

Developing this habit will lead to losses.

Seeing how serious my friend was, I knew he genuinely cared about me.

The anger in Zhang Jiujiang's chest subsided, but he felt a strange mix of emotions.

"Oh, Da Gui, we were young and ignorant when it came to matters of state and family, so we just let it go."

How come you're still like this at your age?

Does he really think he's some kind of barbarian prince?
But hasn't the Stone Corpse Kingdom of Aunt Keyang's family already become a mere shell of its former self?

Your small fortune was all given to you by the Ming and Song dynasties. Now that the dynasties are gone, you'll have nothing left.

For this reason alone, one should at least have some loyalty to the emperor and love for the country!

(End of this chapter)