Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 83 On the day of the Beginning of Summer, we will pay a visit to the Xun family!
Beneath the peach grove, scholars from Yingchuan gathered. A respected elder lectured on the Book of Poetry, while a group of young men displayed their literary talents, seeking critique to enhance their reputation. Several local gentry were seated at the head of the table for the village drinking ceremony, a testament to the gentry's virtuous upbringing. At this time, peach blossoms danced in the breeze, their fragrance lingering, and musicians played zithers and sheng, creating a harmonious and joyful scene. Servants brought wine and water, respectfully attending to the guests, allowing the scholars to simply enjoy the meal without lifting a finger. This was a grand event of Yingchuan's cultural and educational tradition, a "literary gathering" worthy of widespread acclaim and discussion!
However, emerging from the magnificent peach groves of the aristocratic families and arriving at the field ridges along the official road, one could see some yellowing wheat seedlings, revealing the beginnings of this year's drought. Insufficient rainfall, water shortages in the fields, and reduced or even failed summer harvests cast a grim shadow over the farmers' hearts. A group of country travelers dressed as farmers sat quietly and silently by the field ridges, making no noise whatsoever. This understated order could only mean one thing: this group was no ordinary person.

Xun Yu approached with an upright posture and steady steps. His gaze swept over the group of "country travelers," his eyebrows slightly raised, and a thoughtful expression on his face. Then, under the wary gazes of the crowd, he walked to the edge of the field, to the "old farmer" who was vaguely surrounded in the center. He glanced at the spirited young man beside the old farmer, then bowed to the old farmer and extended an invitation.

"Sir, I am Xun Yu, courtesy name Wenruo. Today, Lord Chen Taiqiu is holding a literary gathering to expound on moral teachings, and shortly there will be a village drinking ceremony. You have been listening here for quite some time and are a kind and honest elder. I would like to invite you to take a seat and discuss the ways of our village, and drink this ceremonial wine!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chenglue became wary, staring at this young scholar hailed as a potential advisor, his hand already on the hilt of his short sword. Given the man's keen perception, he couldn't possibly be oblivious to this group of elite disciples of the Taiping Dao. And could this invitation be a test?
The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao reached out and patted his young disciple on the shoulder, indicating that there was no need to worry. He smiled gently and said to the young Xun Yu.

“I am but a humble man who tills the fields and eats millet, and I know nothing of the etiquette of scholars. Why does Lord Xun invite me to the village drinking ceremony and to this grand gathering of the gentry?”

Upon hearing this unexpected reply, Xun Yu was taken aback, a flash of surprise crossing his face. He paused for a moment, pondering the "old farmer's" identity again, before respectfully replying.

"The village drinking ceremony is an ancient ritual passed down through generations. This ceremony is performed to honor the elderly, cultivate virtue, and educate the people. Regardless of social status, even those who till the fields and eat millet, as long as they are old and virtuous, they can sit at the head of the table! We, the younger generation, should sit at the lower end and offer wine to the village elders. In this way, we can clarify the order of seniority and filial piety, strengthen kinship and respect for elders, promote the teachings of the sages, and ensure peace and order throughout the world!"

"Oh! To promote the rites of the sages and bring peace to the world is indeed a good thing! But the great way resides in the heart, not in banquets. The Book of Changes says, 'When heaven and earth are in harmony, plants and trees flourish, and the sounds of feasting are not heard.' If rites are without virtue, what are they but a painted cake?"

The old farmer stroked his beard and smiled, then shook his head.

"You are a good man! However, those who drink in the countryside, supposedly to uphold ancient rites, are now mostly seeking fame. They honor the elderly by displaying their official robes and inviting them to the banquet. On the table, there is singing and music, while below, people suffer from hunger and cold. The court is corrupt, the counties are harsh, and plagues are rampant throughout the land, leaving the common people starving and freezing. Meanwhile, scholars gather to drink and talk about benevolence and righteousness, but in reality, they do nothing to bring peace to the world!"

"?!"

Upon hearing these words, Xun Yu was startled, and a hint of emotion appeared on his face. He pursed his lips, carefully observed the distinguished old man for a while, and then bowed again.

"Your words, sir, are like a gust of wind breaking through a window, leaving me utterly bewildered. May I ask your honorable name?"

The great teacher Zhang Jiao smiled but did not answer. He looked at this handsome and well-mannered direct descendant of the Xun family for a while before leisurely asking.

"I heard that Xun Ciming has returned from the banks of the Han River to Yingchuan?"

"?!"

This casual remark caused a slight change in the young Xun Yu's expression. He suppressed the shock in his heart and forced a smile.

"Where did you hear this rumor, sir? My uncle, Ciming, is imprisoned and has been living in seclusion in the countryside for a long time, and hasn't returned."

"Ah."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao looked at the young Xun Yu and smiled faintly. This question didn't need a verbal answer; the subtle change in Xun Yu's expression was the clearest answer. He stroked his short beard and spoke to his disciple Zhang Chengfu beside him.

"Chengfu, where is that book I asked you to put away? Take out a volume and show it to this Lord Xun."

Zhang Chengfu nodded, took out a carefully tucked scroll of the *Jing Shi Yi* from his backpack, and handed it to Xun Yu. Xun Yu looked at it with a puzzled expression, then suddenly widened his eyes in surprise.

"The Jing Family Yi? The Jing Family Yi actually still has a lineage?! You, sir, are a descendant of the Jing Family Yi?!"

"Ah."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao smiled and said nothing more. He took out a letter he had written long ago from his bosom, handed it to Xun Yu, and said solemnly.

"This is a letter for your master. Since we've encountered a direct descendant of the Xun family here, I won't have to send a disciple to deliver the letter."

"Right now is Grain Rain, and in half a month, around the Beginning of Summer, I will personally visit the Xun family of Yingyin with my disciples! Your master, who inherited the *Fei Shi Yi*, is one of the few great Confucian scholars in the world. At that time, I would like to sit down with your master and discuss the Dao with him, debating the lineage of our inherited scriptures."

"This is a matter of great importance! Please handle it carefully and do not let any outsiders here know about it!"

"Ah, to sit and discuss the Way, to debate the orthodox tradition?!" The young Xun Yu's expression shifted several times, finally settling into a solemn one. He knew the weight of these words, and he knew how much his uncle valued the orthodox tradition. For a family like the Xun clan, a "family of classical scholars," the inherited orthodox tradition was the very foundation of their family! Since another family with the same tradition wanted to discuss the Way, even though he was still under the shadow of the partisan purges, his uncle would certainly meet with them! He could never refuse, lest he tarnish the reputation of their family's orthodox tradition!

"Yes! I will deliver this letter to my master! At the beginning of summer, the main gate of the Xun family manor will be opened to welcome you and your disciples!"

Upon learning of the old man's lineage of "I Ching" teachings, Xun Yu immediately changed his form of address. Then, he solemnly bowed again. The Great Teacher accepted the bow standing up, and then glanced at Zhang Chengfu.

"."

Zhang Chengfu remained silent for a moment, then bowed and returned the greeting to Xun Yu on behalf of his teacher. After the exchange of greetings, Xun Yu made no further mention of inviting them to a village drinking party.

The *Jing Shi Yi* was a renowned lineage of classical studies, once serving as official learning. However, the subsequent fierce competition among various schools of thought led to its gradual decline, with no successors remaining in official positions at court, and some even rumored to have entered the Daoist order. Inviting this old man to the banquet without revealing his identity would inevitably result in disrespect. Revealing his identity, on the other hand, would put Chen Taiqiu in a difficult position; it was better to simply bid farewell.

"I am deeply grateful to have met you today, sir. I hope to meet you again someday, regardless of the court or formal attire, to hear your and my uncle's profound insights! I take my leave now!"

After speaking, Xun Yu carefully put the letter away, his expression unchanged, and hurriedly left. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao watched for several breaths, until Xun Yu returned to the scholars under the peach grove. He didn't know what Xun Yu said, but after sending his curious friend away, Zhang Jiao stroked his beard and asked with a smile.

"Chengfu, you previously said that the Xun family has two talents who can assist a king. Is this one of them?"

"Yes, teacher. This person is one of them."

"Hmm, he certainly doesn't seem like someone destined for mediocrity. Such young talents from the Yingchuan gentry!"

On the edge of the field, the great teacher Zhang Jiao sighed with emotion, and Zhang Chengfu lowered his eyes and remained silent, deeply agreeing with him.

The biggest problem facing the Way of Peace today is the scarcity of talented intellectuals. Knowledge transmission in this era has always been firmly controlled by aristocratic families. Ordinary scholars from humble backgrounds don't even own a complete set of the *Classic of Poetry*, barely managing to recall a few poems without a teacher to explain them. This cultural monopoly necessitates the widespread establishment of schools and the popularization of books through printing to break the cultural hegemony of aristocratic families! Therefore, woodblock printing and standardized calligraphy need to be put on the agenda as soon as possible, and craftsmen should be sought out to prepare.
"Village drinking ceremony! Three bows, playing the zither and singing, playing the sheng and reciting poems! Performing the song 'Deer Cry' and the music 'Southern Hill'!"

Ancient and solemn music rose from beneath the peach grove. Four musicians played the zither, four played the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument), and several others sang folk songs. The folk song "Deer Cry" was sung, originating from Duke Dao of Jin's consolation of Shusun Bao, and was a song for celebrating guests at a banquet. The music "Southern Gai" was played on the wind, a poem without lyrics from the Book of Songs, or perhaps called a "sheng poem." In the village drinking ceremony, what one eats and drinks is not important; what matters is the seating arrangement, the respectful and obedient attitude towards elders, and the intricate ritual itself!
This hierarchical etiquette is the Confucian order of respect for elders established in rural areas! This is the root cause of why powerful families are respected and ordinary people are lowly! Powerful families govern the world not with the swords in the hands of the strong, but with this set of "rites and laws" they control, using etiquette to clearly define the hierarchy of rank and status!
"Offer a seated sacrifice, then drink standing wine! Offer another sacrifice, then eat dried meat and pickled vegetables!"

The presiding official under the peach grove was the renowned scholar Chen Taiqiu, and naturally, everything was conducted strictly according to the regulations in the *Book of Rites*. Trained servants bowed and brought each scholar a cup of millet wine and a small bowl of dried meat with dipping sauce to their seat. The elders and gentry youths of Yingchuan first sat and offered sacrifices, drinking a cup of newly brewed millet wine. Then, they offered sacrifices again, exchanged greetings with Chen Taiqiu at the head of the table, and only then did they begin to chew on the dried meat.

Chen Taiqiu was known for his poverty, simple attire, and profound moral character. At this village drinking ceremony, both the wine and dried meat were ceremonial in nature, and the portions were very small. This amount was incomparable to the meals that scions of prominent families would eat at home; they might not even be full. He truly deserved the title of "poor"!
In this year of disaster, compared to the villagers who toiled all day, went hungry, and couldn't even afford a single grain of wheat, the "poverty" of the gentry was a story from another world. The scions of prominent families present often ate three meals a day, their diet refined. They did not engage in labor, and their physiques, teeth, and appearance were clearly different from ordinary villagers, as if they were two entirely different groups.
"Let's go! Since Chen Taiqiu is following the 'Book of Rites,' this village drinking ceremony will surely last half a day! The sight of numerous scholars performing the ceremony on the banks of the Peach Blossom River, honoring the village elders at the head of the table, will undoubtedly become a celebrated story, bringing honor and recognition to all participants! Chen Taiqiu's integrity and virtue will once again be known throughout the county. His character assessments will propel some of his sons to new heights, making them famous throughout the land."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao smiled and shook his head, rising from the edge of the field and brushing the dust off his clothes. Zhang Chengfu, gazing at the scholars paying their respects by the river, remained silent for a moment before asking a question.

"Teacher, this Lord Chen Taiqiu is renowned for his virtue and is respected by all! If he were to die, tens of thousands of people would likely come to pay their respects. In your opinion, was he a truly virtuous person, or did he seek fame through virtue?"

Upon hearing this question, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao paused, glanced at his earnest young disciple, and calmly replied.

"Inheritance and responsibility, heaven and earth are divided into pure and turbid air, with the upper being pure and the lower being turbid. Scholars have a saying about the pure stream and the turbid stream, and associating with officials is the turbid stream. But the affairs of the world and the people of the world have never been so simple. We live between the upper and the lower, where the pure sky and the turbid earth are mixed together, and so are people! Therefore, having outstanding personal virtue and being good at making a name for oneself and seeking fame through virtue are not contradictory!"

"This Chen Taiqiu lived a life of poverty, traveling in an oxcart and never wearing fine clothes, just like a farmer in the countryside. However, this did not prevent the Chen family of Xu County from prospering because of him, becoming a prominent and influential family in Xu County! Such reputation and integrity among scholars are the very foundation of a family's prosperity and success. For Chen Taiqiu, only this near-perfect personal morality could help him maintain ties with the official families as a renowned scholar without being criticized or attacked by the literati!"

Before the second purge of the partisans, the father of Zhang Rang, a eunuch, passed away and was buried in his hometown of Yingchuan. However, to maintain a clear distinction, none of the prominent figures in Yingchuan attended the funeral, except for Chen Taiqiu, who went to pay his respects and saved Zhang Rang's face. When the second purge broke out, Chen Taiqiu, relying on this favor he had shown to Zhang Rang, not only protected the Chen family but also several prominent figures in Yingchuan. This is the origin of the idiom "foresight".

"Right now, this Lord Chen Taiqiu is holding a literary gathering and has invited many members of the partisan faction. If what you said before is true, that as long as we rise up, the emperor will lift the partisan ban, isn't that another kind of 'foresight'? So, this is a formidable figure, making precise moves at every step, never making mistakes, never offending any side, only bestowing 'favors'. Just like now, this Lord Chen Taiqiu, didn't he see us? Why did Xun Yu come to invite us? But Xun Yu came and went, so he knew what was going on, but he pretended not to see us to avoid making mistakes without knowing the full story."

Having finished his comments, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao smiled leisurely, facing Chen Taiqiu Gong, who sat at the head of the table. Both men came from humble backgrounds, were renowned throughout the land, and associated with both noble and official families. However, their final choices and fates were drastically different, leading them down completely different paths!

“You need not doubt Chengfu. What everyone sees, Heaven and Earth cannot deceive. This Lord Chen Taiqiu’s virtue is indeed outstanding! His words and deeds are impeccable; he is truly a highly respected elder!”

"However, behind such perfect personal virtue lies only one question: Which side does this Lord Chen Taiqiu truly stand on? Where is his path ultimately leading, and for whom? Is he acting for the common people? For the powerful clans? Or merely for the Chen family itself? The surging river of the world rushes forward, the gentry and eunuchs fight with swords drawn, and the common people struggle to survive. Only by standing still on a rock can one avoid getting one's feet wet, or even falling into the water. The position of this Lord Chen Taiqiu is truly difficult to discern!"

After speaking, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao shook his head and bowed respectfully to Chen Taiqiu Gong in the distance, who gave a barely perceptible nod. The two men, renowned throughout the land, thus parted ways. One sat serenely by the riverbank, peach blossoms rustling, music and song filling the air, noblemen drinking and offering sacrifices. The other, wearing straw sandals, strode forward, his feet treading the muddy ridges of the fields, while his followers trudged silently. And the Ying River flowed silently through the fallen peach blossoms, irrigating the parched wheat fields…
(End of this chapter)