Top Scholar

Chapter 455 Even in a lawless state, one still desires to uphold justice (Seeking monthly votes)
Inside the examination cells, the candidates couldn't wait to start reviewing the questions as soon as they received them.

Su Lu was no exception; as usual, he first looked at three questions from the Four Books, which were:
'Yu Ji Huanzi saw Xing Ke serving in the government.'

The quote comes from Mencius, Book 15, Part 2. It means that Mencius said Confucius served Ji Huanzi because he saw an opportunity to follow the right path.

"To await a sage for generations without wavering is to know people."

The saying comes from the Doctrine of the Mean, meaning that the principles by which a virtuous person governs the world will not be doubted by sages a hundred generations later, because they understand human nature and reason.

'The Xia dynasty required a tribute of fifty mu, the Yin dynasty seventy mu, and the Zhou dynasty one-tenth of the harvest; in reality, all of them paid one-tenth.'

The quote comes from Mencius's "Teng Wen Gong, Part 1," and refers to the tax system of the Three Dynasties... It is said that Mencius's discussion of the tax system of the Three Dynasties was frequently used as material for economic policy questions in the imperial examinations of this dynasty.

On the contrary, you won't find Mencius's political views on the exam paper.

After reading them, Su Lu's overall impression was that the three questions were well-balanced, grand, and comprehensive, yet they also covered a complete system of governance thinking encompassing morality, politics, and economics. The question setter was of extremely high caliber, far superior to those in the provincial examinations.

His intuition was absolutely correct, because the person in charge of setting the exam questions was Wang Ao, the greatest essayist in the land, who single-handedly set all the exam questions.

While Liu Bing, the chief examiner for the provincial examination, was of decent ability, he was ruthless, using a method of collective question setting and selection by drawing lots. How could that possibly compare to the questions set by Wang Ao for the metropolitan examination?
Wang Ao's questions had reached a level of profound simplicity, almost bordering on the Dao, yet Su Lu still discerned a hint of his personal attitude from the very first question. This was because, back in Nanjing, his tutor had imparted to him the secrets of becoming a top scholar. One of these secrets was:

"Understand the examiner's mindset and grasp the deeper meaning behind their questions. Only by crafting words that resonate with their hearts and evoke their empathy can you earn their favor!"

It should be understood that the four thousand candidates who had passed through the rigorous selection process were all of similar academic ability, and their writing was also difficult to distinguish in terms of quality. To stand out and rank among the best, this was absolutely necessary!

Therefore, his teacher gave him a detailed account of the life stories, character, aspirations, current situations, and inner conflicts of the candidates for the examination, so that Su Lu could understand their deeper intentions.

Wang Ao, being the most popular candidate for chief examiner, was naturally the one that Master Shi Gong (Master Shi Gong) highlighted.

He told Su Lu that Liu Jin was currently in power and the eunuch faction was rampant. Those in the court who were in charge were immediately killed, while the rest dared not speak out. Even worse, some people disregarded shame and colluded with the eunuchs.

As a minister renowned for his integrity, Wang Ao was naturally in great distress. He was unwilling to compromise his principles and compromise his integrity, yet he could not bear to abandon the country and passively withdraw from the world.

To quote his own words from his letter to his master, "Even when the state is without the Way, I still wish to uphold it."

Although Wang Ao concealed this struggle and perseverance well, it still involuntarily revealed itself in his exam questions. The most obvious example was the first question on the Four Books—

'Yu Ji Huanzi saw Xing Ke serving in the government.'

Ji Huanzi was not the perfect ruler in the eyes of Confucianism. On the contrary, he wielded absolute power in the State of Lu, and his wealth surpassed that of the Duke of Zhou. He was a minister who overstepped the bounds of propriety and was not an ideal candidate for regent.

However, Mencius said that Confucius saw the possibility of promoting some of the righteous ways with the help of the Ji family, so he chose to serve Ji Huanzi.

This is the wisdom of Confucianism in expediency... It is difficult to find a perfect monarch in the world. Scholars and officials should not withdraw from the world just because the monarch has flaws. The core is to judge whether there is an opportunity to practice the Way.

At that time, just as now, Liu Jin was in power and the country was in chaos, a scene of "the state without morality". Confucius "saw that the way could be practiced" and served the Ji family, which is a spiritual mirror of Wang Ao's "desire to practice morality even when the state is in chaos".

Wang Ao knew that Liu Jin was arrogant and domineering, and that the court was full of sycophants. If he wanted to avoid the world at this time, it would be to abandon the people and the country to a dangerous situation, which was not the behavior of a true Confucian official.

However, if one wants to remain in the court, one must navigate the filthy clique of the eunuch faction, upholding one's own integrity and refusing to collude with the treacherous officials, while also seeking opportunities to "act righteously," striving to correct even the slightest malpractice, protect a loyal official, or reduce an exorbitant tax... This is something that is both impossible to achieve!
This persistence of 'knowing it's impossible but doing it anyway' is so similar to Confucius's choice in the title. He is basically comparing himself to Confucius!

Therefore, this question is not only an expression of Mr. Zhenze's feelings, but also his expectation for all the candidates in the imperial examinations.

He hoped that future generations could understand the profound meaning of "a person who can serve in office if they can act accordingly," and that after entering office, they should not become discouraged by the ills of the times or retreat in the face of adversity.

He hopes that future generations can learn from Confucius to assess the situation, maintain their aspirations, find opportunities to act in chaos, uphold integrity, neither collude with wicked people nor shirk responsibility by merely maintaining aloofness!

The world may be corrupt, but the Way of the Sages remains; the road ahead may be arduous, but the will to follow the Way remains unchanged—this is the steadfastness Wang Ao concealed in the examination questions. This unwavering commitment to "following the Way even when the state is without the Way" reflects his belief in the responsibility that scholar-officials should bear for the nation and its people!
Su Lu couldn't help but recall his previous article, "If You Use It, You Can Do It," which had caused him a lot of trouble. In terms of artistic conception, he was indeed a step below Mr. Zhenze.

His article begins by stating that "non-attachment is essential," and the entire piece emphasizes the transcendence of personal character—"having repeatedly experienced both use and rejection, I am content and at peace," and "when I met Yan Hui, we understood each other without words."

Ultimately, it leans towards self-cultivation and 'keeping one's own integrity.' It emphasizes 'adapting to the times and circumstances,' and if one encounters a 'misguided state,' it advocates 'abandoning the world and upholding the Way,' believing that maintaining one's own moral principles is sufficient.

At that time, his thoughts and writings were mostly about how individuals could maintain their integrity during the era of Liu Jin's chaotic rule. He never considered that in a world so corrupt that it was suffocating, what scholar-officials should have been the initiative to "do what they know is impossible."

But Wang Ao's "Seeing the Righteous Officials" is different. Mr. Zhenze's thoughts were not on how individuals could avoid disaster and protect themselves, but on how to find a glimmer of hope for the righteous path and a measure of well-being for the common people in a suffocatingly corrupt world. Even if Ji Huanzi was a usurper, even if Liu Jin was a corrupt eunuch, as long as there was a possibility of 'promoting some righteousness,' he was unwilling to easily give up this initiative of 'finding an opportunity to act righteously amidst chaos'!

This sense of responsibility—"preferring to plant flowers in the mud rather than retreat to springs and rocks"—is precisely what his article lacked. His article "seeks inward," seeking peace and detachment in his personal state of mind; while Wang Ao's test question was "seeking outward," seeking stability and vitality for the nation and its people.

One seeks 'self-sufficiency,' the other 'peace in the world'—the difference in their perspectives and levels of understanding is immediately apparent!

Su Lu felt ashamed but also deeply impressed. He realized that true adherence to the right path and morality should not be about avoiding the filth of a chaotic world, but about daring to step into the filth while always maintaining the clarity of the righteous path.

True 'non-attachment' is not about going with the flow by 'using when needed and hiding when not needed,' but rather about steadfastly upholding the Way even when the state is without it!

His article ultimately lacked the profound sense of responsibility to "take the world as one's own duty," and the compassionate spirit to "establish a heart for heaven and earth and establish a destiny for the people" in dire straits.

So, how to write this article becomes obvious!
Su Lu closed his eyes slightly, taking a final moment to compose himself. Only when he felt the arrow was on the bowstring and could not be released any longer did he take out the inkstone he had been carrying, dip it in the rich ink, and with a flourish of his brush, write a magnificent piece of writing—

'A sage serves in Lu because he can apply the Way; a virtuous person enters service solely for the sake of righteousness.'

"Sages and virtuous men, when serving in office, do not cling to one particular doctrine and thus abandon power; gentlemen, when establishing themselves, must follow the Way and conform to righteousness..."

"When the state is well-governed, implement policies and promote benevolence; when the state is poorly governed, seize opportunities to clarify the Way. Do not demand perfection from the state, but examine the feasibility of the Way; do not shy away from the difficulties of the times, but guard the integrity of your heart..."

"When a scholar serves in office, he acts out of righteousness, not out of mere conformity; when a virtuous person emerges, he cultivates virtue, not to avoid fame. Consider the sages of the past who served the Ji family; they did not pursue empty positions, but genuinely sought to alleviate the people's suffering and ensure the preservation of the sage's way. This is the wisdom to assess the times—"

"If one can trust someone's heart, then one's official position will not be abandoned because of the person; if one can find a way to succeed, then one's principles will not change with the times."

Amidst powerful ministers, he alone stands upright; in times of chaos, his righteousness shines through…

'Even when the state is without the Way, the Way will not perish, thanks to the virtuous who uphold it; even when times are difficult, the will will not falter, thanks to the virtuous who shoulder responsibility.'

'Undeterred by the criticism of petty people, I deeply understand the importance of the people's livelihood; I do not crave personal comfort, but only remember the hardships of the nation. If I can do even a little bit of the right thing, the people will receive a little bit of benefit; if I can preserve even a sliver of benevolence, the world will retain a sliver of light…'

~~
Su Lu completed the first 700-word essay on the Four Books in one go within an hour.

Only after putting down his pen did he realize that his mouth was dry and his stomach was rumbling; he was both thirsty and hungry.

Then I remembered that I had eaten at 3 a.m., and oh right, I also had a bowl of mutton soup on the way.

He glanced at the sky; it was already past noon, and he hadn't eaten or drunk anything for almost ten hours. Besides writing essays, he'd also been doing physical labor all morning—it would be strange if he wasn't hungry.

He then put the exam paper and drafts into the exam bag and hung it back on the wall, and then took out a thermos from the exam box under the number board.

It is made of dark black pottery with a warm and lustrous glaze and a unique structure. The double-layered, hollow bottom of the bottle provides excellent heat retention; when filled with hot water, it can maintain a warm temperature all day long, far exceeding that of ordinary utensils.

This is a rare find only in the capital, supposedly made only in the Imperial Palace's Liulichang workshops. It's not much different from the thermos flasks of later generations. Anyway, Su Lu had never seen one in Sichuan, and of course, given the temperature in Luzhou, there was little need for it.

But it was much more expensive than the thermos flasks of later generations, and one would sell for three to five taels of silver!

So even in the capital, this was something only wealthy people used. Ordinary people wouldn't waste their money just to have hot water anytime.

Moreover, in winter, the kettle sits on the stove all day long, so getting hot water is always a breeze. Therefore, apart from wealthy people who are extravagant, the biggest customers for this thing are these scholars.

But no matter what, when Su Lu poured a cup of steaming tea from the thermos and took a sip in the early February examination hall, the sense of satisfaction he felt made the money worthwhile...

After drinking a cup of warm tea, Su Lu felt less thirsty, but even hungrier.

He then took out the first serving of dried fruit and pastries, braised meat and pickled vegetables, and tea eggs for the day. Finally, he scooped out a spoonful of glutinous rice and red date steamed rice, ate it all with tea, and then guess what?

full!

P.S. There might not be a next chapter, so don't wait.

(End of this chapter)