Martial Cultivator

“The academy has a new rule: there’s no need to be formally admitted to attend lectures. Anyone can attend the classes now. This way, all the scholars of the world will have a chance to listen to lectures from those renowned scholars within the academy.”

Tutor Su looked at the content in the report, unable to contain his excitement. The greatest regret of his life had been failing to pass the entrance exams for the academy, and never having the chance to hear those foremost scholars of the current era teaching within its halls.

But now the report told him that even those who were not academy students could attend lectures by the instructors. It was just that they would not receive the same systematic education as the official students.

“I heard it was proposed by that female tutor. It’s already been settled. A thousand-year-old academy is undergoing a great transformation. Whether it’ll ultimately be a good thing for the academy’s future remains to be seen. But for scholars all across the land, it’s certainly a great thing.”

Tutor Su was beyond thrilled. Although he knew full well the madman sitting under the eaves would not respond, but he still chattered on endlessly.

”The court has had several discussions regarding the situation in Xinliu Prefecture. Some ministers argue that, since the desolate north now has a natural barrier, the demon race likely won’t, or even can’t invade the south for years to come. Therefore, expenditure on the Northern Frontier should be reduced. Even if the number of soldiers stationed at the border towns isn’t cut, the Ministry of Works should decrease its expenditures on armaments, and the various stipends across Xinliu Prefecture should be trimmed.”

”These past years, the court has supported the Northern Frontier Army with half the nation’s resources. Now, they say, it’s time for a change. But reports have been flying everywhere, and though they’ve reached the imperial palace, His Highness the Crown Prince has yet to voice an opinion; he’s acting like an old deaf man.”

Tutor Su sighed. “If this really comes to pass, it’d be a small matter if I, a humble teacher, stopped receiving wages from the government office. But Xinliu Prefecture has changed so much for Great Liang, how could such a place recover in just a few years, or even a dozen years? If the imperial court truly goes through with this, I fear it will chill the hearts of the people here in Xinliu Prefecture.”

As he spoke, Tutor Su felt a dry taste in his mouth. Though he understood the court’s difficulties, standing where he was, he could not help but see things from this side’s perspective.

At that point, he glanced again at the madman, hoping the man might at least say a few words in response. But no matter how many times he looked, the madman remained silent. A little disappointed, Tutor Su stood, went inside, and brought out a wine jug. Though he was drinking alone, he still brought two cups and poured a cup for the madman, and one for himself too. After taking a sip, he slowly savored the taste.

The wine was not anything special, it was the cheapest brew from the town. But Tutor Su drank it with great enjoyment.

But the madman had not spared the wine so much as a glance. He simply stared ahead, his eyes devoid of the slightest trace of clarity.

Tutor Su flipped through the report. Aside from the news about the academy, he did not care much for the rest. No matter how major the other matters were, he was not too concerned.

The truly important matters of the world were for those big shots to worry about. A lowly teacher like him had no business fretting over them. All he needed to do was teach his students well. If he could find the time to finish writing that travelogue of landscapes and rivers, that would be the best thing of all.

But his alcohol tolerance was not great to begin with. After a few cups of silent drinking, he was starting to feel dizzy and began rambling nonsense, saying things like how his family had pinned all their hopes on him becoming someone important in life, and that even if he could not rise to great heights, he ought to at least become an official and bring honor to the family name. The way he was now, if he went home, his old father would likely pick up a walking stick and chase him out of the house.

As for all those aunts and uncles back home, they certainly would not think he had amounted to anything.

“Sometimes I really can’t figure it out, are humans supposed to spend their lives becoming the kind of people others see as successful, or become the kind of people we ourselves feel are decent?”

Tutor Su said softly. “It’s easy to say the right things, but when it comes to living them out, it’s hard. Sometimes you know you’re doing the right thing, but you still can’t stand others’ judgment. And sometimes you’re doing something clearly wrong, and you know it’s wrong, but still can’t bring yourself to turn back. The character for ’person’ [人], it’s just two strokes. But for some reason, that stroke leaning left and the one leaning right, they feel like the hardest path in this world to walk. You never finish walking it, and you’re always walking.”

His cheeks flushed, Tutor Su felt he had spoken out of turn. But then he thought, it was just him and a madman here, so he gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He never dared to speak these buried thoughts to others. But now, mustering his courage, he could only confide them to a madman.

For fear of being mocked.

Just as Tutor Su wavered in that half-drunk, half-sober state, he saw the madman lift the cup of wine and take a small sip. And then, to his astonishment, he realized the madman’s gaze had turned incomparably clear.

The madman looked at Tutor Su and said calmly, ”Your interpretation of the character ’person’ [人] is better than many of the academy tutors.”

Tutor Su froze, at a loss for words. He did not know why, but at that moment, he felt that the madman before him carried an extraordinary presence, one that left him in awe.

”Earlier, there were three mistakes in what you said. First, that saint’s words were not as you explained; the original meaning was...”

The madman spoke calmly, with clear logic, he looked nothing like a madman at all.

Tutor Su was surprised. ”Sir is also a scholar?”

The madman looked at Tutor Su and shook his head. ”Perhaps not. Even if I were, people would still call me an unscrupulous ingrate, saying that whatever I’ve learned has gone into the belly of a dog.”

Tutor Su’s drunkenness had mostly faded. Looking at this madman in front of him, he realized belatedly that this madman’s knowledge far exceeded his own.

The madman looked at Tutor Su, raised his cup, and said, ”Could you pour me another drink?”

Tutor Su quickly picked up the wine jug and poured another cup for the madman. Then, he asked cautiously, ”May I ask for Sir’s name?”

The madman shook his head. ”I don’t want to say. If possible, I’d rather forget.”

Tutor Su sighed, understanding that this man, given his current state, must have a past he could not recall.

The madman held up his cup, took a sip, and said softly, ”The trees in this town were born white. From the beginning to the end, they have always had white leaves. It’s truly enviable.”

Tutor Su was puzzled and did not understand what the madman was talking about.

After a moment of silence, he tried to ask, ”Trees don’t actually have a concept of black and white.”

”What about humans?”

The madman looked at Tutor Su and softly said, ”Confucianism has two great saints with completely opposite views on human nature. One believes that human nature is inherently good, and the other believes it is inherently evil. These two saints hold extremely high positions in the history of Confucianism. Their words have influenced countless generations, but in the end, there was no clear right or wrong. What about you? What do you think?”

This question is one of the most famous questions in the entire history of Confucianism. For thousands of years, countless people have debated it endlessly. Great Confucian scholars from all eras have had their own opinions on the matter, and many books have been written to explain it, but there has still been no answer that can convince everyone.

Tutor Su remained silent for a long time before shaking his head. ”I have limited knowledge and cannot speak on this matter. It is a question that the saints of previous generations could not answer, so how could I possibly explain it clearly?”

The madman smiled but did not force Tutor Su to give him an answer.

Many things are better understood when one thinks them through personally, rather than when others try to explain them.

If one cannot make sense of something, no matter how much others say, they will not understand. But if one can think it through, they would not need others to say anything, and they will understand on their own.

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