Chapter 104: Parting

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The arrangements for the journey to the capital had been settled.

What remained now was to say farewell.

Before the Qingli reforms, the Imperial University was little more than a place where students lodged temporarily, and no more than ten or twenty people attended the lectures. For many students, apart from making the journey to the capital, the Imperial University was simply regarded as a “post station”—an inn where one stayed for a time.

But Fan Zhongyan’s reforms separated the residences of the sons of officials enrolled in the National University from those of the Imperial University, placing them under separate administration.

The students of the National University were sons of officials of the seventh rank or above. Their quota was two hundred. The court could scarcely control such young men, and so for the most part let them do as they pleased.

The students of the Imperial University, however, were sons of officials below the eighth rank, as well as talented young men from every prefecture. Their quota had initially also been two hundred, but by now it had expanded to nine hundred.

Fan Zhongyan had invited Hu Yuan, Sun Fu, and Shi Jie to serve as instructors, and they subjected the Imperial University students to strict examinations. The atmosphere of study there was utterly transformed; students were no longer permitted to idle away their days, working for three days and loafing for two.

This was naturally a good thing for the court’s selection of talent, but it made life exceedingly hard for the students.

Those whose families lived in the capital had it easier. Take Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao, for instance.

When Zhao Mingcheng was an Imperial University student, he generally lived at the school, but on the first and fifteenth days of each month he could return home. He would pawn belongings for money and spend it buying all manner of things for Li Qingzhao. Since the two of them loved collecting ancient bronzes, books, calligraphy, and paintings, they would search for treasures in the market at the Xiangguo Temple, then bring them home to admire.

But for students from out of town, such as Zhang Yue and Guo Lin, returning home was impossible. This journey to the capital would last at least two years, and perhaps many more.

There were countless talented young men from distant places who repeatedly failed the examinations and eventually died of illness at the Imperial University.

Zhang Yue first went to the county school to see Instructor Hu. He presented the official certificate from the prefectural school, and Instructor Hu immediately issued him a travel permit.

Once the formalities were complete, Instructor Hu said with satisfaction, “To be recommended by the prefecture to the Imperial University after only one year—though you are a student of the Classics, it is still an achievement of no small distinction.”

“Will you be going to the capital alone, Third Son?” Instructor Hu asked.

“Indeed,” Zhang Yue replied.

“Do you have relatives there?”

“I come from a poor branch of the family and have not been in contact with the main branch for many years. Even if I go to the capital, I doubt we shall have much dealings. Still, when the time is right, I shall call upon them and present a formal letter…”

Instructor Hu laughed. “I had nearly forgotten. You could not even enter your own clan school.”

He paced a few steps before continuing, “Now that you are going to the capital, you might as well pay them a visit. At the very least, they may offer you some assistance.”

Zhang Yue was utterly baffled. Surely that was something his father, Zhang Youzhi, ought to have told him.

After a pause, Instructor Hu said, “As I recall, your second elder brother is in the capital at present.”

Zhang Yue was startled. “He is… but…”

Instructor Hu smiled. “This is a family matter, and I should not interfere. But the former county magistrate, Master Gu Ling, twice sent someone bearing a letter to inquire after your circumstances. He said he was acting at another’s request. I do not know whose request it was. What do you think?”

Master Gu Ling was the man now known as Chen Xiang, Judge of the Court of Sacrifices. When he had served as magistrate of Pucheng County, Zhang Dun had been his favorite pupil, while Instructor Hu had been an assistant instructor at the county school.

Zhang Yue thought that whether his second elder brother had made the inquiry no longer mattered. Even if he truly had asked about him personally, Zhang Yue had already passed beyond the age when he needed his brother’s concern. When he had fled his arranged marriage, Bailiff Zhao had driven Zhang Yue’s entire family into such desperate straits. At the moment when they needed him most, his brother had vanished without a word. What use was there in speaking of it now?

Besides, it was entirely possible that Chen Xiang himself had simply been unable to bear watching any longer and had written to ask.

His emotions stirred, and Zhang Yue said, “Please forgive me, Instructor. I was lost in thought just now.”

Instructor Hu smiled. “I understand.”

“At present, all I wish is to go to the capital. I do not wish to concern myself with anything else.”

Instructor Hu nodded, though disappointment flickered across his face.

“This is a matter within your family, and I should not say too much,” he said with a smile. “But you and your second brother were both among the pupils in whom I took the greatest pride.”

Zhang Yue opened his mouth, then stopped.

“Has my second brother written to ask after you, Instructor?”

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Instructor Hu was taken aback, then nodded.

Zhang Yue gave a bitter laugh. How could he himself fail to ask, yet have his teacher make the inquiry on his behalf?

He changed the subject. “In that case, now that I am going to the capital, is there any letter you would like me to carry?”

“There is indeed one, addressed to Magistrate Chen.”

“I would be honored to deliver it for you.”

“That would be best. Come back here in a few days to collect it.”

Zhang Yue agreed and took his leave. Instructor Hu watched him go, sighing for some time afterward.

Having said farewell to Instructor Hu, Zhang Yue went to the dormitory and took leave of his classmates one by one. They had shared a year of study; perhaps their friendship was not especially deep, but as he looked upon every blade of grass and every tree in the county school, he was nevertheless filled with emotion.

He then took the county school’s certificate to the county office and obtained his official travel authorization.

The next day he went to South Peak Academy. He was not wearing a scholar’s robe that day, but ordinary clothes.

When he arrived, Zhang Youzhi was unwell and had not gone to teach. Zhang Yue went directly to his dormitory to see him. Zhang Youzhi’s face was somewhat pale, but fortunately his spirits were still good, which eased Zhang Yue’s worries somewhat.

With Zhang Yue’s support, Zhang Youzhi rose from his bed.

“It is an old illness,” he said. “I merely endure it. But tell me about yourself. Has the prefecture recommended you to the Imperial University?”

“Just as you said, Instructor. I have come to take my leave.”

Zhang Youzhi nodded. “Good boy. Good pupil. A fine son of the Zhang family!”

“I am ashamed,” Zhang Yue said. “Your kindness as my teacher is as vast as the sea. I would never dare forget it, not even for a moment.”

Zhang Youzhi smiled. “If you preserve my seal-script and pass it on, that will be repayment enough for my teaching. Do you know what I feared most in my youth? That I might perish from this world in obscurity, my name unrecognized. So I devoted myself entirely to the art of calligraphy, carving my characters into stone, committing them to paper, and engraving them upon steles. This was what I thought: if one day I were buried beneath the earth, and someone came upon my calligraphy and paintings and asked, ‘Who was this Zhang Youzhi?’—that would be enough.”

“It is better still that my art now has an heir. Of all I have learned in my life, seal-script is what matters most. Li Si once declared, ‘Within nine hundred and forty years after me, there will surely be someone who continues my work.’ And indeed, Li Yangbing followed him.”

“But who came after Li Yangbing? Though I have spent my entire life studying seal-script, I fear there are still places where I fall short. Yet it does not matter. I have an heir now. If you can pass this art of mine down through the generations and secure for it a place among the great calligraphers, I shall have no regrets in this life.”

“I shall remember,” Zhang Yue replied.

Supporting Zhang Youzhi, Zhang Yue strolled through the grounds. There he saw Zhang Wangzhi arriving with his little granddaughter to visit Zhang Youzhi.

Zhang Yue bowed in greeting. Zhang Wangzhi smiled at Zhang Youzhi. “I said on the very day I first saw him that this boy was no creature confined to a small pond. Now he has truly made something of himself.”

Zhang Yue smiled. “I still have a supplementary examination to take in the capital. I cannot yet call myself an Imperial University student.”

Zhang Wangzhi stiffened his face. “You are still so cautious, always afraid of speaking too boldly.”

Zhang Yue smiled. “I have grown accustomed to being scolded by my teachers and superiors. I would not dare make grand claims.”

“When grand words are warranted, one must speak grandly,” Zhang Wangzhi said solemnly. “Otherwise one merely appears false. But I have heard that the regulations at the Imperial University are severe, with rules at every turn, and that its instructors are not men to be trifled with. If you commit some offense and are expelled, I shall see whether you have the face to return and meet the elders of Jiangdong.”

Zhang Yue knew that Zhang Wangzhi’s words were never pleasant, but he also knew that this was nothing more than a kind-hearted warning. He said, “I shall remember your words, Director.”

After finishing his reprimand, Zhang Wangzhi fell silent. Zhang Yue noticed that his little granddaughter was looking at him with deep resentment.

He turned to her. “What is it?”

Her eyes reddened. “You faithless man! You promised to play chess with me, yet we have not played a single game!”

At this, Zhang Yue was both amused and helpless, while the two instructors laughed as well.

“What shall we do, then? I will play one game with you now.”

“No, I do not want to play. Bend your head down. I have a few words to tell you.”

“All right.”

Zhang Yue bent down. The academy was bathed in the full beauty of spring. The wind stirred the treetops, and the distant sound of students reading drifted from beyond the Day-Brocade Hall. His heart was tranquil, and at that moment he suddenly wondered whether the ink pool before the hall had thawed.

After whispering a few words, the little girl threw back her head and laughed until she clutched her belly. Zhang Yue had not heard her clearly, but he laughed as well.

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“When I stand before the Golden Hall in the future, I shall certainly ask His Majesty about this on your behalf!” Zhang Yue declared.

The little girl nodded. “You must keep your word!”

“Of course.” Zhang Yue smiled. “My nephew has already entered the clan school. Look after him for me.”

“I will. I promise. You must remember too.” The little girl smiled radiantly.

“Yue’er, come take a walk through the academy with this old man,” Zhang Wangzhi said.

“That is precisely what I had in mind.”

“Since you are going to the capital, I have something for you to do. Deliver several letters on my behalf.”

“Just give the order, Director.”

Zhang Wangzhi nodded. “I shall send them to your home tomorrow.”

From the side, Zhang Youzhi asked, “Are they for the Six-One Hermit again?”

Zhang Wangzhi stroked his beard and smiled. “Indeed.”

Zhang Youzhi smiled faintly. “The Six-One Hermit asked me last time for a seal-script inscription to serve as a hall plaque. Have Third Son take that to the capital as well.”

“You truly know how to make use of people,” Zhang Wangzhi said with a laugh. “I wonder whether Third Son will even be able to carry so many things on his back.”

“He is a young man,” Zhang Youzhi replied, stroking his beard as he laughed heartily. “How could he be unable to endure a little hardship?”

Zhang Yue knew that the Six-One Hermit was none other than the world-famous Ouyang Xiu.

Zhang Wangzhi and Zhang Youzhi were both on excellent terms with Ouyang Xiu; they could truly be called kindred spirits who recognized one another’s worth.

Under the pretext of sending letters, calligraphy, and paintings, the two men’s real purpose was to recommend Zhang Yue to Ouyang Xiu.

There was no need to explain who Ouyang Xiu was. He had been chief examiner of the metropolitan examination in the second year of Jiayou, and had personally brought forward the Three Su brothers, Zeng Gong, and Wang Anshi.

Now Zhang Yue was about to pay him his first visit under the name of the Zhang family.

Zhang Yue’s heart filled with emotion as they made their way to the front of the Day-Brocade Hall.

“When you meet the Six-One Hermit, do not be timid,” Zhang Youzhi cautioned him. “Answer whatever he asks truthfully. Remember that.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Yue stood outside the gauze-covered window and looked into the hall. Zhang Qiu sat in the first row, earnestly reciting poetry and the classics. His voice was still so young and tender. Among all the students in the hall, he was indeed the youngest.

“Third Son, shall we call him over?” Zhang Youzhi asked.

Zhang Yue shook his head. “Let him study. If he learns that I am leaving, who knows how hard he will cry?”

With that, Zhang Yue took a box from inside his robe. Within it lay a purple-haired writing brush. When Zhang Qiu had first entered the clan school, he had pestered Zhang Yue for a present. Zhang Yue knew that the boy had not truly been making a fuss; he merely wanted Zhang Yue to visit the clan school often so that he could see him.

“Please give this to him on my behalf,” Zhang Yue said.

Zhang Youzhi accepted it. “Very well.”

Zhang Yue gazed at Zhang Qiu as he read. Before he knew it, his eyes had grown moist. He turned and bowed farewell to the two instructors.

“Your pupil takes his leave!”

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