The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The crisp sound of the teacup shattering was particularly jarring in the deathly silent, dilapidated courtyard.

Jiang Lin didn't care about the broken cup that had been with the original owner for three years. He stiffly turned his neck and scanned the three teenagers in front of him as if they were three walking gold ingots.

"Your name is Su Shi?" The finger pointed to the handsome young man in the middle with bright, lively eyes.

"Exactly."

"So you're Su Zhe?" The finger moved to the youngest, somewhat shy one.

"Yes, sir, it is indeed your student."

"Are you Zeng Gong?" The question was finally directed at the composed and dignified young man.

"Zeng Gong of Nanfeng greets you, sir."

Jiang Lin took a deep breath, feeling a little short of breath.

If we disregard the fabrications in time-travel novels, according to actual history... these three people together would represent half of the literary world of the Song Dynasty!

"Holy crap! What incredible luck did the original owner have? These three powerful figures are actually hiding in this lousy academy?!"

Jiang Lin was internally screaming, but on the surface he pretended to be calm and even tried to maintain the indifference of a "master".

He slowly sat back down on the stone bench, casually covering his still slightly trembling fingers with his sleeve, and said softly:

"Now that you've introduced yourself, why aren't you leaving? You all heard what that Fatty Wang said earlier: this academy will be gone in three days."

The setting sun shone through the broken window into the lecture hall, and the dust floating in the air was clearly visible.

The three exchanged glances, and Su Shi spoke first.

He stepped forward, his young face radiating a clarity beyond his years:

"Teacher, I have been at the academy for more than three months. Although I have seen the academy gradually fall into disrepair, and even to the point of running out of food, I can always hear you reading aloud inside the room until late at night whenever I pass by the window."

"Just now, when that wicked servant of the Wang family came to the door, even though you were in dire straits, you remained calm and composed, showing no sign of losing your lofty aspirations. I believe that someone with such integrity is no ordinary person."

Zeng Gong, standing beside him, also cupped his hands and said in a deep voice:

"Indeed. I have observed you these past few days, and though you have encountered great difficulties, you have remained calm and composed. As the ancients said, 'Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, your expression will not change.' This is the mark of a person of great talent."

Only the youngest, Su Zhe, scratched his head and whispered:

"My elder brother said that you are an extraordinary person, so I believe you."

Jiang Lin's lips twitched as he listened.

"I was reciting scriptures until late at night? That's because the original owner was suffering from insomnia and anxiety, and couldn't sleep, so he was chanting and praying!"

"I'm not flustered? That's because I just transmigrated here and haven't figured out the situation yet!"

This is a huge misunderstanding.

But Jiang Lin would never be foolish enough to expose him. He sighed, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"You overestimate me. I am now heavily in debt, unable to even repay your tuition fees, and... tomorrow my rice jar will be empty."

Su Shi suddenly stepped forward, staring intently at Jiang Lin, and asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for three months:

"Sir, money is just an external thing. I have a question that has been on my mind for a long time."

"speak."

Su Shi took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp:

"People study for fame and fortune, or to make a living. Now that the academy is about to close down, and you, sir, have no interest in an official career and your family is not wealthy, why do you still insist on staying in this small space and studying hard every night?"

"Why do you study, sir?"

Upon hearing this question, Zeng Gong and Su Zhe both raised their heads and stared intently at Jiang Lin.

This was not only Su Shi's doubt, but also the confusion of this group of genius young people who seemed somewhat "unconventional" in this era.

Jiang Lin was stunned.

What is the purpose of reading?

To pass the civil service exam? For the salary? To avoid getting scolded by mom?

Memories of his past life surged up, only to quickly recede. Faced with those three pairs of clear, inquisitive eyes, Jiang Lin found himself unable to respond with perfunctory words.

Just then, a crisp electronic voice suddenly rang in my mind:

【Ding! 】

[System is activating...]

[SS-level historical figures detected: Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong.]

[Hidden Quest Triggered: Passing on Knowledge and Instruction.]

The "Ten Thousand Volumes Library" has been activated.

Before Jiang Lin could react, a line of large, gleaming golden characters suddenly appeared before his eyes. It was a famous saying that, even a thousand years later, could still stir the blood of countless scholars.

The swan song of Zhang Zai, the great Confucian scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty.

In this time and space, Zhang Zai was not yet famous, and this saying had not yet appeared in the world.

An inexplicable force compelled Jiang Lin. He slowly stood up, his back to the setting sun, hands clasped behind his back.

Its originally somewhat slender figure appeared rather majestic under the elongated shadow of the setting sun.

He looked at the three of them, his voice deep and powerful, each word like a hammer blow on a drum:

"To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth."

The three boys shuddered, their pupils contracting sharply.

"To establish a life for the people."

Su Shi's hands began to tremble, and his breathing became rapid.

"To continue the lost learning of the sages."

Zeng Gong's mouth dropped open, and goosebumps instantly erupted all over his body.

Jiang Lin turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over the three of them, and uttered his final words:

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

boom!

It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in the dilapidated lecture hall.

The whole world fell silent.

All that remained was the sound of the wind blowing through the withered grass.

Su Shi stared blankly at Jiang Lin, his eyes instantly reddening. These four sentences were like a sharp sword, cleaving through all the confusion and chaos in his heart.

Why read books?

That's the answer!

This is what a scholar should be like!

"Thump!"

Su Shi's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the dusty floor tiles, his forehead slamming against the ground.

"Sir, your words carry immense weight! They are like the sun breaking through the clouds, enlightening my understanding!"

"I, Su Shi, am willing to follow you, sir, for the rest of my life, even if it means dying nine times!"

Zeng Gong followed closely behind, kneeling down as if a mountain of gold and a jade pillar were collapsing, his voice choked with emotion:

"These are the words of a sage! Your student Zeng Gong, from this day forward, acknowledges you as my teacher and will never betray you in this lifetime!"

Although the youngest, Su Zhe, didn't quite understand the deeper meaning, seeing his older brothers and elder brother Zeng kneeling, he was moved to tears by the atmosphere and knelt down as well.

"Student Su Zhe pays respects to his esteemed teacher!"

The three men kowtowed in unison, the sound of their foreheads hitting the ground echoing in the empty lecture hall.

Jiang Lin: "..."

He maintained his posture with his hands behind his back, but inwardly he was screaming:

"They knelt down already? I only memorized one famous quote! This effect is absolutely mind-blowing!"

The system notification sounded in my mind again:

[Congratulations, host, you have successfully accepted a disciple.]

[Reward: Knowledge retrieval function unlocked (allows access to all previous life's literature at any time).]

The cheat code has arrived!

Jiang Lin was overjoyed, but maintained his composed demeanor. He stepped forward and gently helped the three of them up.

"Get up. Now that you've become my disciple, we're family. There's no need for such a grand ceremony."

The three stood up, their previous confusion gone, replaced by a fervent worship.

In their eyes, Jiang Lin, even in his patched clothes, radiated boundless light.

However, reality is often harsh.

After the initial excitement subsided, Su Shi looked around at the dilapidated walls and said with concern:

"Sir, your ambition is awe-inspiring, but... that Fatty Wang has given us a final deadline. If we can't repay the money in three days, the academy will be demolished. Although we are willing to live and die together, this..."

This bucket of cold water made the atmosphere instantly a little awkward.

After all, "creating peace for all generations" cannot be eaten, nor can it be used to pay off debts.

Jiang Lin looked at the worried looks in the three people's eyes and suddenly smiled.

That was a confident smile after possessing the "Ten Thousand Books Library," a super cheat code.

"Five hundred strings of cash is nothing to worry about."

Jiang Lin walked back to the stone table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound:

"The academy will not fall, and I will not let you sleep on the streets."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three of them:

"Do you trust me?"

The three of them said in unison, "Of course, we students believe in you, sir!"

Those four sentences have completely captivated their souls.

"it is good."

A glint of light flashed in Jiang Lin's eyes, the look of a gambler about to go all in:

"The Runzhou County Examination will be held in one month."

"Since the Wang family's Wenchang Academy claims to be the best in Runzhou and looks down on our dilapidated temple, then we'll play along with them on a grander scale."

Zeng Gong's heart skipped a beat: "What you mean, sir, is..."

Jiang Lin held up three fingers:

"I want the three of you to sweep the top three spots in this county examination."

hiss--

The three of them gasped.

Su Shi's eyes widened: "Sir, Wenchang Academy has hundreds of students, many of whom are seasoned scholars who have studied diligently for years. We... swept the top three spots?"

That's insane!

Although they thought highly of themselves, they weren't arrogant enough to believe they could trample all the scholars in Runzhou underfoot.

Jiang Lin remained calm and composed, as if discussing what to eat for dinner that evening with ease:

"What? You're afraid?"

"If we can't get into the top three, this academy is better off not being open at all. I'll close it down myself."

"But if we get it—"

Jiang Lin's lips curled into a playful smile as he looked out the window at the brightly lit Wenchang Academy in the distance.

"I want the whole of Runzhou to know that compared to our 'dilapidated temple,' their so-called prestigious schools are nothing but a bunch of chickens and dogs."

The boy's fighting spirit was instantly ignited.

Su Shi clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "Your student obeys! I will certainly not fail your high expectations!"

Zeng Gong and Su Zhe were also inspired and agreed in unison.

As night fell, Jiang Lin lit the only oil lamp in the dilapidated lecture hall.

Under the dim light, the shadows of four people were cast on the mottled wall.

Jiang Lin pulled out a few crumpled sheets of paper from his pocket; they were some things he had scribbled down from memory during the day.

"Sit still."

Jiang Lin's voice sounded particularly cold and clear in the night:

"Now that we've made a pledge, let's throw away all those old rote memorization methods."

"From tonight onwards, I will no longer teach you rote learning."

He spread out the papers, looked at the three future literary giants before him, and revealed a devilish drill sergeant smile:

"I will teach you the real art of slaying dragons in the imperial examinations."

The three teenagers sat upright. Although they didn't know what "Dragon Slaying Technique" was, they vaguely felt that a door to a new world was slowly opening.

Behind the door, however, was a... dimensional reduction attack that Jiang Lin had prepared for the entire Song Dynasty's imperial examination system.