Chapter 124: Petitioning for the "Three Character Classic"

Song Mu continued his studies at the prefectural academy, yet because he was to participate in the upcoming hunting expedition, he pushed himself harder than his peers, determined to perform well and avoid any errors.

Whether it was literary or martial arts classes, cultivating literary power or mental strength, or practicing war poetry and exploring strange realms, Song Mu strove to divide his time with precision, dedicating every single moment to his practice.

However, there were priorities to manage. Song Mu had to carve out time to write stories for his *Miscellaneous Talks on a Hundred Demons*, and whenever inspiration struck, he would immediately take up his brush to work on the *Three-Character Classic*.

The *Three-Character Classic* had undergone significant revisions. While one could not call it a total transformation, Song Mu now felt it was polished enough to be shared with others. Still, he remained concerned about potential improprieties, so even as he neared completion, he continued to refine the text.

Time flew by, and mid-October arrived. Autumn had officially set in; the morning breeze carried a chill, leaving only the midday sun with a lingering trace of summer’s heat. Over this month of study, Song Mu had read widely and benefited immensely. The academy’s curriculum was incredibly fulfilling, and every day brought a wealth of new knowledge to absorb.

The second volume of *Miscellaneous Talks on a Hundred Demons* had been released. This time, Song Mu had included a few stories from *Journey to the West* to test the waters. The plots were equally gripping, and the response had been excellent. According to Manager Zhang, the first volume was now being sold in several prefectures within the Jiangnan West Circuit, performing quite well—it was certainly a standout among popular literature. To prepare for the third volume, which he would need to handle after the hunt, Song Mu simply pushed himself to finish twenty stories at once, resolving his immediate urgency.

On the fourteenth of October, as the scholars at the academy were making final preparations for the hunt, Song Mu brought a scroll of bamboo paper to the academy grounds to see Education Commissioner Fan.

Hearing that Song Mu had come to find him, Commissioner Fan set aside his official duties and met him in a courtyard behind the academy. As Song Mu arrived, he saw the Commissioner carefully reviewing a booklet. Seeing him, the Commissioner beckoned him over.

"Jingzhao, come here quickly. The latest issue of *World Literary Journal* has arrived."

Commissioner Fan spoke with excitement, handing the booklet over. Song Mu was taken aback, but he quickly scanned the pages. To his surprise, he found one of his own poems in the poetry section.

"'Occasional Composition'—while it may not compare to your other works, it is quite sufficient. It is another excellent poem encouraging study. You have now appeared in the *World Literary Journal* four times in a row; I imagine people across the land are starting to wonder just who this Song Mu is, haha!"

Commissioner Fan stood before him, smiling with clear admiration. Song Mu looked at the entry, feeling a bit stunned. He had hardly written any poetry over the past month, yet this piece had managed to make it into the journal. Still, it was a poem by Zhu Xi, so its quality was beyond question.

Commissioner Fan regained his composure and asked, "Jingzhao, why have you come to see me today? You leave for the hunt tomorrow—do you not need to prepare?"

Song Mu bowed respectfully and replied, "I have finished my preparations. I came today because there is something I wish for you to look over."

As Song Mu spoke, Commissioner Fan glanced at the scroll in his hand and smiled. "Are you here to test my knowledge? You should ask your master about that; whether it concerns classical meaning, poetry, political discourse, or literary and martial arts, he is far more learned than I!"

Song Mu was momentarily speechless at this, though a thought crossed his mind: his master’s background was truly extraordinary if even Commissioner Fan held him in such high regard.

Song Mu stepped forward and respectfully presented the scroll. "Your Excellency, I have not brought a question this time, but rather some thoughts I had recently. I have written them into an article and would like your review. If you find it acceptable, I would also like to request the official seal for its publication."

"Oh?" Commissioner Fan was genuinely surprised. This young man, who seemed quite youthful, had not only written something he wanted reviewed but was also considering publishing it as an official work? With a look of intrigue, he took the scroll and began to read carefully.

As he unfurled the paper and saw the three large characters, *Three-Character Classic*, Commissioner Fan raised an eyebrow. He looked up at Song Mu, asking with a playful tone, "Song Mu, are you planning to publish an official work already?"

Song Mu remained poised, bowing as he replied, "That is indeed my intention."

Commissioner Fan let out a long sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. He wondered if Song Mu was becoming too impetuous—perhaps the title of top scholar, his status as Master Fengming’s student, and his growing fame had made him arrogant. He was only seventeen; which scholar did not exhaust their entire life’s work to see their own book published?

However, Fan did not reveal these thoughts. He looked down at the scroll, intending to reject it later to teach Song Mu a lesson in humility.

"At the beginning of life, the nature is inherently good. The natures are similar, but the habits make them differ. Hmm?"

Upon reading the first line, Commissioner Fan’s eyebrows shot up. His expression turned one of disbelief. The opening was profound; in just twelve characters, it articulated the Confucian theory of the inherent goodness of human nature. It was an excellent start, and Fan could not help but glance at Song Mu again.

As he read on and saw lines like "The mother of Mengzi, chose a neighborhood," Commissioner Fan blinked. Was this work a compilation of classic Confucian stories? With this realization, he set aside his critical stance and read on with focus.

When he reached lines like "Our Middle Kingdom, in the northeast," he felt a new wave of confusion. Was it now discussing geography? His eyes widened, his inner thoughts undergoing a complete transformation—from sighing to criticism, then to appreciation, and finally to bewilderment.

After finishing, Commissioner Fan finally set the booklet down and looked at Song Mu, stroking his chin. "Jingzhao, what exactly is this work of yours?"

Song Mu realized that Commissioner Fan had grasped the essence of the piece and replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, I conceived this *Three-Character Classic* when I returned home after reaching the scholar level. I saw that in the fishing villages, many people did not read, and children did not even know their own names."

"Oh?" Commissioner Fan’s eyes brightened. He looked at Song Mu with newfound interest. "So, you intend to write a book for the elementary education of children?"

As the words left his lips, Commissioner Fan paused. The article did indeed make sense; whether it was Confucian philosophy, stories, geography, or the virtues of filial piety and duty, the text covered it all. He knew that in this era, primary education was the greatest challenge. Countless scholars had tried countless methods, but literacy remained the most difficult hurdle for children.

Primary education was the critical step from zero to one. Every stage was arduous, and every student had to endure the teacher’s rod time and again just to recognize a hundred characters and recite a text. How old was Song Mu? To think he might achieve something significant in this area!

After a long moment of contemplation, Commissioner Fan looked back at the scroll. The more he read, the more he liked it. It used a three-character rhyming structure that was incredibly catchy, and the content was so upright that it was nearly impossible to find fault with it. Suddenly, he let out a sound of surprise and peered at the final few lines.

Song Mu watched him, remaining calm with a faint smile on his face.

A moment later, Commissioner Fan’s expression turned serious. He tapped the paper against the stone table and looked up sharply.

Their eyes met, and Song Mu saw astonishment in the Commissioner’s gaze.

"You... this book... you intend for it to be an official publication?"

Song Mu nodded. "Yes. I am about to set out with the hunting party, and I wished to resolve this matter beforehand."

Commissioner Fan nodded, then added, "However, your book seems to be missing a few concluding lines, does it not?"

Song Mu smiled knowingly. "I am only waiting for your approval, Excellency, to add the final lines."