The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 37 Li Qi Accepts Disciples
The provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture came to an end. Li Qi first went to the palace to report to the emperor, and then went straight back to the princess's residence.

He paid no attention to the uproar that Wang Gen's selection as the top scholar and his words had stirred up in the literati.

……

The steward of the princess's residence entered the study and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the top scholar from Yingtian Prefecture, Wang Gen, requests an audience."

Li Qi was playing chess with Xie Jin when Xie Jin made a move and said with a smile, "He was not supposed to win, but thanks to you, Brother Jinghe, he was chosen as the top scholar. He should indeed come to thank you."

Li Qi paused, raised his eyes and glanced at Xie Jin a few times. Xie Jin felt that Li Qi's gaze was too strange, as if he was looking at something.

"Manager Li, bring Wang Jieyuan here."

Before long, Steward Li led an unremarkable-looking young man into the study.

"Student Wang Gen pays his respects to the scholar."

"Please sit down, Wang Jieyuan."

Li Qi glanced at Wang Gen's unremarkable face and was already certain that this was the Wang Gen from history. He just didn't know why Wang Gen, who should have been taking the provincial examination in Jiangxi Province, had come to Yingtian Prefecture.

Wang Gen.

In the first year of the Jianwen reign, he was the top scholar in the Jiangxi provincial examination. In the following year, the second year of the Jianwen reign, he ranked second in the first class of the imperial examination.

Moreover, he should have been the top scholar, but Emperor Jianwen thought he was not good-looking, so he gave the title to Hu Guang.

Historically, Wang Gen and Xie Jin were close friends.

In the fourth year of the Jianwen Emperor's reign, Zhu Di's army captured Nanjing. At that time, the three great talents Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wang Gen gathered together. Xie Jin and Hu Guang denounced Zhu Di, declaring that they were irreconcilable enemies and would never surrender. However, the next day they surrendered to Zhu Di and later became members of the first cabinet of the Ming Dynasty. Wang Gen, on the other hand, remained silent during the gathering, but in the end, he and his family died for their country, serving the Jianwen Emperor.

Since ancient times, death has been the only hardship. If a person has the courage to die for his country, no matter what mistakes he has made in his life, he will eventually receive a positive evaluation. Moreover, Wang Gen never failed the country; on the contrary, it was Emperor Jianwen who failed him.

Although Li Qi himself was not the kind of person who was absolutely loyal, no one would hate a loyal person, so Li Qi was quite satisfied with the top scholar he had personally selected.

Wang Gen keenly sensed a hint of goodwill from Li Qi towards him. He didn't understand it, so he decided to follow his heart and asked directly, "Has the scholar seen me before?"

Li Qi did not answer, but instead asked, "I wonder if Scholar Wang has come to visit with important business?"

"I know that I am not very talented and learned. I only took this provincial examination to gain experience. However, I am fortunate to have been favored by the scholar and promoted. He also spoke up for me to quell the public opinion among scholars. Therefore, I have come to express my gratitude."

Li Qi finished speaking and said calmly, "Selecting talents for the country is our duty. You have the talent to govern the country, so it is only right to appoint you as the top scholar in the provincial examination."

but……"

"I would appreciate your guidance, sir."

"However, although you are sharp and insightful and have outstanding talent, you are still somewhat immature in your studies. If you participate in the imperial examination next year, I'm afraid you will not be up to the task."

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I have decided not to participate in next year's spring examination. I will go home and study for another three years before taking the exam again next year."

Li Qi nodded slightly: "You are from the South, yet you have the insight to bridge the divide between North and South, which is truly rare. I value talent, and if you are willing, you may become my disciple."

Upon hearing this, both Xie Jin and Wang Gen were taken aback, for although Li Qi had many disciples, he had not yet accepted any formal disciples.

Wang Gen felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky, and he almost immediately knelt on the ground, saying happily, "Teacher, I am willing."

Li Qi smiled and said, "You should go back first today. Seven days later, at the Princess's residence, I will invite my friends to formally accept you as my disciple."

Wang Gen felt as if he were in a dream. He stumbled out of the princess's residence. He had only come to express his gratitude, but he never expected to become the disciple of Duke Jinghe!

"Brother Jinghe, are you trying to buy a horse's bones with a thousand pieces of gold?"

As everyone knows, Li Qi was the leader of the scholars in the north. He protected the northerners in many matters and sought many benefits for them.

However, at this time, Li Qi took Wang Gen, a southerner, as his disciple. Coupled with Wang Gen's essay and Li Qi's explanation of why he chose Wang Gen as the top scholar, Li Qi's true goal was already obvious.

It bridges the gap between North and South, transcending geographical boundaries.

Only follow the right path.

What he wants to do is not to be a political leader in a region, but a cultural leader like a sage, covering the entire world!
Like Confucius, Mencius, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi! Those who aspire to this should become his disciples and study the new learning together!

……

"If you join my school, there are not many rules. I only ask one question: What have you learned from reading the books of sages and worthies?"
It's just four lines from Zhang Zai's poem!

In the main hall of the princess's residence, Xie Jin, Chen Ying and other friends sat to one side, while Li Xianmu stood quietly to Li Qi's left. Li Qi touched Wang Gen's shoulder with a ruler.

"To establish a heart for heaven and earth."

We scholars should understand the principles of creation and transformation of all things, so that the Way of Heaven may be revealed.

If you can't do that, don't be discouraged; just dedicate your life to learning.

Wang Gen knelt on the ground and kowtowed once, saying, "For the sake of the world, your disciple has learned much!"

Li Qi touched Wang Gen's right shoulder twice with a ruler.

"To establish a life for the people."

We scholars should strive to enable ordinary people to live and work in peace and contentment in this world.

If you can't do that, don't be discouraged. Just keep a kind heart, be a good person, and do good for others.

Wang Gen kowtowed twice, "For the sake of the people, your disciple has learned much!"

Li Qi touched Wang Gen's left shoulder three times.

"To continue the lost learning of the sages."

We, as scholars, should continue the immortal teachings of the sages of past dynasties that are on the verge of extinction.

If you can't do that, don't be discouraged. Just do your best to pass on what you've learned.

Wang Gen kowtowed three times, saying, "To continue the lost learning of the sages, your disciple is grateful for your instruction!"

Li Qi made the final touch on Wang Gen's right shoulder.

"To usher in an era of peace for all generations."

We, as scholars, should aspire to seek a great path for lasting peace and prosperity for all generations to come.

If you cannot do this, do not be discouraged. Extraordinary things require extraordinary people. You only need to uphold righteousness and help those who uphold a public-spirited heart and aspire to bring peace and prosperity to the world.

Wang Gen kowtowed four times, saying, "For the sake of lasting peace, your disciple has received your instruction!"

Then Wang Gen got up from the ground, served tea, and Li Qi instructed him: "Since ancient times, people have hoped that their sons and disciples would become high-ranking officials. As your teacher, I do not expect you to be listed in the imperial court and bring glory to our school in the future."

I only hope that you will always have a bottom line and a conscience in your heart in the future, and that no matter how difficult the situation or how decadent the world is, you will always be a good official and do good deeds. Then I will be happy to accept you as my disciple today.

The four lines by Zhang Zai (Zhang Ziyi) shine brightly throughout the world, yet they are inevitably grandiose and abstract. Even I, as his teacher, dare only say that I have captured five-tenths of their essence. Therefore, I have reduced them. If you can achieve even this reduction, it will already be quite remarkable.

Wang Gen was taken aback, and then his expression became solemn, realizing that he had truly made the right choice in choosing a teacher.

……

Li Qi's explanation of the Four Lines of Hengqu during the apprenticeship ceremony caused a sensation in the capital. It turned out that the Four Lines of Hengqu could be broken down into small goals!

[Reputation +1, current reputation 89.]

[This revitalizes Zhang Zai's four-line poem, greatly benefiting Confucianism and Taoism. Achievement value +50, current achievement value 600.]

Li Qi remained silent. "Is this what they mean by 'unintentionally planting willows and expecting them to thrive'?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu, Wang Gen was recommended as the top scholar in Yingtian Prefecture. Li Zi highly valued Gen and, during the ceremony of becoming his disciple, Li Zi taught Gen the four words of Zhang Zai. This became a popular topic of discussion in the capital. Why was this?
Before Li Zi, while Zhang Zai's four-character verses were indeed thought-provoking, they inevitably felt somewhat empty. After Li Zi, however, the four-character verses became grounded in reality, and thus became a praise for scholars throughout the land. — *The Official History of Confucian Scholars*

(End of this chapter)