He fiercely criticized the Manchu scholar clique and the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

Guangzhou, Southern Media Group Building.

The central air conditioning in the cubicle hummed, and reporter Wang's hands remained hovering above the keyboard.

On the screen, the third-year graduate student in Fengtian, wearing a gray hoodie, had just uttered the question, "Who will tell the truth to the people?" This question shattered the defenses and sophistication he had built up over a decade of experience on the front lines of journalism.

Reporter Wang swallowed hard, shifting his gaze from the computer screen to the desktop, staring at the red light flashing on the voice recorder. He had originally anticipated this to be a farcical show of a troublesome student clashing with academic tyrants, and had even prepared a series of leading questions in an attempt to expose Zhao Shuyao's attention-seeking behavior.

As it turned out, the other party didn't play by the rules at all, and directly stood on the high ground of national sentiment and the integrity of scholars.

"Teacher Zhao." Reporter Wang raised his head again, adjusted his posture, and leaned forward closer to the microphone. He changed his form of address, no longer using the formulaic "Student Zhao".

"I have to admit, my preconceived notions were wrong." Reporter Wang's voice became low and solemn. "I really didn't expect you to be such a responsible person."

He paused for two seconds, carefully choosing his words: "I'm not saying that people like you are bad, it's just that in today's society, there are very few people as serious as you."

"When people leave school, their first thought is about their own lives, or rather, how to cater to conditions that are advantageous to them. Your idea really surprised me."

Fengtian, Northeastern University, Room 302.

Zhao Shuyao listened to the exclamation coming through his earphones, but did not show any smugness after being praised. He picked up the ceramic water cup with the school emblem on it, took a sip of water, and then placed the cup steadily next to the mouse pad.

"Reporter Wang, you don't need to flatter me like that." Zhao Shuyao interlaced his fingers and rested them on the edge of the table, his expression still relaxed. "It's normal for everyone to adapt to reality in order to make a living. The pace of life in today's society is too fast, and the economic pressure is too great."

"For ordinary people, buying a house in their hometown or a big city requires emptying the savings of six family members and taking on a 30-year mortgage. The first thing people need to solve in this world is the problem of survival. Only when the granaries are full can people know etiquette. It is unrealistic to talk about integrity on an empty stomach."

Zhao Shuyao looked directly at the camera, his tone calm: "Therefore, I never criticize those colleagues who choose to remain silent in order to stay at the university or get promoted. That's a personal choice, but..."

He sat up slightly, his eyes becoming more profound: "I believe this is just a phase-specific social phenomenon. As the country's economy develops and people's material lives improve, once their basic survival needs are met, they will inevitably turn back to find spiritual anchors. At that time, there will definitely be more and more people like me who are willing to uncover the truth of history and take things seriously."

Reporter Wang nodded repeatedly, quickly scribbling twice on the notebook with his pen.

"What you said is very objective," reporter Wang agreed. "Who hasn't been a young person full of youthful ambition? When we were in school, we all had ideals and pursuits to change the world. After solving our material problems, we do turn around and pursue that original ideal in our hearts."

Reporter Wang astutely grasped the extended point in Zhao Shuyao's words, which was an excellent entry point for the interview, enough to elevate an ordinary personal dispute report into a social observation with contemporary depth.

"Professor Zhao, since we've touched on the topic of spiritual anchors," reporter Wang posed a new question, "I'd like to ask how you view contemporary local culture. In the current public discourse, many people seem to lack confidence in our traditional culture."

"They feel that everything outside is better than what we have. Of course, many scholars are now awakening and working hard to promote local culture. From your professional perspective, what are your thoughts on this?"

This is a grand topic. If it were an average student, they would most likely just recite a few clichés from the textbook or shout a few empty slogans.

Zhao Shuyao did not answer immediately. He turned his head and glanced at the March sunlight outside the window.

After a while, he turned his head and looked at the screen.

"The sun and moon do not lose their essence, therefore they are obscured and then shine again; the Yangtze and Han rivers do not lose their source, therefore they are exhausted and then flow again; the sage does not lose his virtue, therefore he is abandoned and then revived."

A passage of classical Chinese was clearly uttered by Zhao Shuyao, with perfect pronunciation and a measured pace.

Reporter Wang was clearly stunned. He was a journalism major and had a good command of language, but this sudden use of classical Chinese was beyond his knowledge. He opened his mouth, his hand holding the pen hanging in mid-air.

"Excuse me, Professor Zhao," Reporter Wang smiled somewhat awkwardly, "What exactly did you mean by that?"

Zhao Shuyao's lips curled into a gentle smile, without the slightest hint of ostentation or greasiness.

"This quote comes from Huang Daozhou's extended commentary on the 'Appended Remarks' of the *Zhouyi* (Book of Changes)," Zhao Shuyao patiently explained. "It contains a very simple natural law: the sun and moon can be obscured by clouds, but as long as they remain, they will naturally regain their light once the clouds disperse."

"The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers have dry seasons, but as long as their sources remain unbroken, they will eventually flow again; the same is true of our nation's culture. Temporary setbacks or tarnishing are nothing to worry about. As long as the origins of our civilization and the spirit and virtues of our people remain intact, we will eventually emerge from the clouds and usher in a period of revival."

Reporter Wang took a deep breath. He understood. This kind of highly expressive cultural imagery was more convincing than any dry theory. He quickly typed out these words on the keyboard.

Zhao Shuyao leaned forward slightly, taking center stage on the screen.

"Reporter Wang, I have always had absolute confidence in our Chinese civilization." Zhao Shuyao's voice was steady and powerful, carrying the rigor of a scholar.

"We are the only civilization on Earth that has not been interrupted. Many people look at history only at the results and not the process. In this long process of evolution, we have never had a smooth journey."

He held up one finger.

"We had the glorious Han and Tang dynasties, when all nations paid tribute and exported our absolute martial virtue and institutional culture to the world. But what about outside of those golden ages? We also had the darkest period of several hundred years during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the bloody tragedy of the Five Barbarian Invasions. In those times, the Central Plains were devastated, nine out of ten houses were empty, and the living space of the Han people was compressed to the extreme."

Zhao Shuyao's speech gradually quickened, and his emotions progressed.

"But what was the result? Where did those foreign tribes who rode tall horses and wielded scimitars into the Central Plains end up? They were either assimilated by our agrarian civilization, adopting Han surnames, wearing Han clothing, and becoming part of the Chinese nation; or they were driven back to the northern deserts. Why?"

Zhao Shuyao pointed to his heart.

"Because our civilization's genes contain an extremely terrifying resilience. This resilience comes from our complete writing system, from the ethical principles established by the various schools of thought in the pre-Qin period, and from the spirit of resistance that says, 'Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?' We have never experienced a break in our lineage. The more brutal the baptisms we have undergone, the more resilient our civilization's foundation becomes."

Reporter Wang sat in his chair, listening intently. He felt a long-lost sense of dread from within. Zhao Shuyao did not use grand narratives to tell any stories, but rather used the most basic laws of historical evolution to dissect the skeleton of Chinese civilization.

"Therefore, I believe that what we now call 'cultural insecurity' is just a psychological trauma left over from being backward and bullied in the past two hundred years," Zhao Shuyao said, spreading his hands in conclusion.

"We are now on the path of rejuvenation. Once we truly understand the fundamentals of our nation, truly recognize the greatness of our history, and shed those artificially created ideological burdens, everyone's confidence will naturally return."

"Just like during the Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, when our people stood on the streets of Chang'an and outside Jinling, looking at foreigners from the Western Regions and overseas, that ingrained, absolute composure and confidence will surely return."

After the lengthy discourse ended, the dormitory returned to silence.

Zhao Shuyao picked up his water glass and took another sip.

On the other end of the screen, reporter Wang remained silent for a full half minute. He quickly processed the massive amount of information Zhao Shuyao had delivered, and looking at this third-year graduate student, he completely abandoned his previous contempt.

This kind of depth and perspective is something that an internet celebrity who relies on sarcastic remarks to attract attention online simply cannot possess.

But his professional instincts as a journalist allowed him to immediately find a loophole in this seemingly impeccable argument that could create a sensation.

Reporter Wang pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, looked at the screen, and his eyes sharpened again.

"Professor Zhao, your discussion on the resilience of civilization is very insightful. Can I understand it this way: do you mean that as long as we restore the orthodox cultural status of the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties in history, and shed the ideological baggage you just mentioned, our cultural confidence will naturally return?"

"That's one way to understand it," Zhao Shuyao nodded.

"This leads to a very interesting point of contention." Reporter Wang clasped his hands together, leaned forward closer to the screen, and posed the crucial question.

"Teacher Zhao, you just listed the prosperous Han and Tang dynasties, as well as the prosperity of the Song and Ming dynasties, and even mentioned the integration during the Five Barbarian Invasions. However, you have overlooked the feudal unified dynasty that is closest to us."

Reporter Wang paused for a second, raising his voice by half an inch.

"Why don't you mention the Qing Dynasty? Since you're denouncing Professor Yan Chongnian online for glorifying the Qing Dynasty, according to official historical records, the Qing Dynasty was also at its peak of power during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns, and it was a time when all nations paid tribute to it."

"The Qing Empire's territory was unprecedentedly vast. Did the Qing people at that time not have a strong cultural influence? Were they lacking in confidence when facing foreigners?"

Reporter Wang stared into Zhao Shuyao's eyes, trying to catch his micro-expressions.

"If the Qing Dynasty also achieved 'all nations paying tribute,' then it seems plausible that Professor Yan and other scholars would praise Qing history and believe that the Qing Dynasty's governance model had its merits."

"Your deliberate avoidance of discussing the Qing Dynasty suggests that your theory of historical confidence suffers from a logical inconsistency when confronted with this last dynasty established by a minority ethnic group."

This is a typical logical trap. If we acknowledge that the Qing Dynasty's "all nations paying tribute" was a sign of confidence, then Zhao Shuyao's previous denunciations would be seen as narrow-minded national prejudice. If we deny it, then we must present hard-hitting historical materials that overturn public perception and refute the "golden age" conclusion that has been in textbooks for over a hundred years.