Chapter 104: He is a natural-born scholar? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Old Zhu sent Zhang Yi to the Imperial Academy, but it was far from a benevolent act. He knew the brat hated studying more than anything and deliberately sent him there just to vex him.

Of course, there might have been a faint hope in his heart to reform Zhang Yi, but at that moment, such thoughts were absent.

Indeed, who said a cunning emperor couldn’t be capricious?

Yet, on second thought, this kid had baffled even him at times—there was no way he’d behave obediently at the academy.

So when Xu Cunren spoke those words, Old Zhu felt an odd sense of affection.

He had been tested by that boy plenty of times himself and yet couldn’t bring himself to kill him.

Old Master Xu recounted the previous day’s events at the academy, and Old Zhu and Zhu Biao relished the story like spectators at a spectacle.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing a rival fall.

On the very first day, Zhang Yi caused a ruckus at the academy—and yet suffered no loss?

Zhu Yuanzhang admired the boy’s audacity. How could this uneducated scoundrel talk nonsense so skillfully?

“A gentleman is not a tool; a gentleman does not resort to weapons when fighting. It’s a disgrace to our scholarly tradition that this boy thought of such a thing! And he showed no respect to his teachers—he must be punished!”

Though inwardly amused, the emperor feigned indignation.

“A gentleman is not a tool.

A tool is form!

Form implies limits; limits imply fullness. Therefore, a gentleman’s thoughts are not confined by form, nor are his actions or his capacity.

Confucius’ words carry profound meaning.

Yet that boy twisted it to mean a gentleman should fight without weapons?

Zhu Yuanzhang could only imagine how the scholars at the academy, those daily immersed in learning, would fume at such a distortion.

The emperor put on a show, loudly declaring he would punish Zhang Yi.

But Zhu Biao had long seen through his father’s pretense. He chuckled and pleaded for Zhang Yi’s cause:

“Father, we cannot entirely blame the young Taoist from the Zhang family. The teachers at the academy were clearly excessive! Zhang Yi responded to governance with law, to discipline with punishment, to the people’s shamelessness he replied with morality and ritual, and when confronted with such, he retorted with sharp wit! The teacher Mr. Li was plainly taking out his anger over Lord Yan Sheng’s matters on the Zhang family, deliberately targeting Zhang Yi, which is a breach of the teacher’s duty. Zhang Yi mocked him for never truly passing on his teachings and for trying to enforce punishments—truly a petty man!”

As crown prince, Zhu Biao’s branding of Li Zhi as petty effectively sealed the man’s political fate.

Old Zhu nodded slightly; there was truth in Zhu Biao’s words.

If Mr. Li merely punished Zhang Yi for his misbehavior, that would be acceptable under the teacher’s code.

Even questioning him with phrases like “Govern with political measures, discipline with punishments; the people become shameless. Govern with virtue, order with ritual; shame arises and order follows…” and invoking Kong Ne to criticize Zhang Yi would not be excessive.

Elevating the Zhang family to strike at the Kong lineage, deliberately swaying ministers against the Zhangs—that was a calculated maneuver by Zhu Yuanzhang using imperial strategy.

Within the court were those who disapproved of how Zhu dealt with Kong Kejian but dared not oppose the emperor openly, so resentment naturally fell upon Mount Longhu.

Zhang Zhengchang enjoyed the emperor’s favor and was engaged in matters of enduring importance.

Even if some officials harbored grievances, they would not risk misfortune by opposing the emperor’s promotion of variolation.

Thus, by a twist of fate, Zhang Yi became the first target among the Zhang family.

Being targeted might be bearable, but once he reached this position, his moment had arrived.

Yet Li Zhi continued to challenge him with “A gentleman is not a tool”—even the less perceptive could see the intent to provoke.

Had it been any other child, they might have accepted the mistreatment without resistance or even awareness.

But not Zhang Yi.

He had worn down even the emperor; how could he ever be a stepping stone for others?

“Besides having a wicked temper and foul mouth, this boy is actually not too bad!”

If he weren’t constantly tested by Zhang Yi, Old Zhu rather liked the boy’s spirit…

He pondered for a moment and said:

“Xu Cunren!”

“At your command!”

“The Imperial Academy is the cradle for cultivating talent in our Ming dynasty. Teachers must be impartial and must never let personal feelings contaminate the sacred purpose. From this day forth, Li Zhi is to be expelled from the academy and exiled three thousand li!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Xu Cunren’s expression did not change. Having served Zhu Yuanzhang for ten years and hearing the story of Zhang Yi from the start, he knew Li Zhi’s fate was sealed.

The emperor might not care much for Zhang Yi, but his own dignity brooked no slight.

He could tolerate overstepping, but Zhang Yi had stirred an incident neither small nor great—and that sealed his destiny.

“Zhang Zhengchang’s second son has a stubborn nature. I had hoped to give him a future by having him recite scriptures for me here in the capital and pray for blessings, but he’s so unruly. He must be disciplined properly. Xu, I leave this matter in your hands. I sent him to the academy, and if he fails to produce scholarly merit, it will bring shame upon me! Punish him as you see fit, provided it is not out of malice. By the way, what is your assessment of this child?”

Xu Cunren thought for a moment and replied:

“He is a seed of scholarship.”

“Ah!”

“Hmm?”

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang exchanged a glance, nearly bursting into laughter.

A seed of scholarship?

Impossible, absolutely impossible…

This boy was full of rebellious spirit, practically wearing his disdain for Confucianism on his face. There was not a trace of a scholar about him.

Xu, seeing their odd expressions, understood and smiled as he recounted the latter part of the story—the dialogue between himself and Zhang Yi.

“Unity of knowledge and action!”

“Knowledge is the intention of action; action is the accomplishment of knowledge. Knowledge is the beginning of action; action is the fulfillment of knowledge. To mention knowledge alone is already to have action; to mention action alone is already to have knowledge!”

These words of Zhang Yi were outright heresy.

The Ming revered the Cheng-Zhu School of Neo-Confucianism, which held that knowledge precedes action.

To speak of unity of knowledge and action was already a critique of the Cheng-Zhu orthodoxy.

Neither the emperor nor the crown prince were scholars, and thus held little interest in the philosophical nuances of knowledge and action, yet they understood the gravity of the statement.

To utter such words, one must be a great scholar, perhaps rivaling Song Lian, even surpassing him.

“Though these words were not Zhang Yi’s own, but rather casual remarks remembered from Master Wang Mingyang during a chat, it shows the boy is not dull or incapable of learning. His temperament remains unsettled, and growing up in Mount Longhu’s Taoist enclave, he cannot be said to respect the orthodox teachings. But with proper guidance, he may yet achieve something!”

Hearing the name Wang Mingyang, Zhu Yuanzhang’s face flushed with annoyance.

Another devotee from Mount Longhu? And how many such visitors could there be?

Previously, there was Zhang Han, the one with the so-called “shoehorn face.” Despite exhaustive investigations, no such person could be found. Now this Wang Mingyang appeared—Zhu Yuanzhang knew exactly what was going on.

These so-called devotees were most likely figures from the future.

Zhang Yi had simply glimpsed fragments of the future and was treated as one of these “devotees.”

In other words, some future scholar would write about him and slander him as having a shoehorn face?

Unforgivable!

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang recalled the term “right of dissemination.” Scholars ought to be the mouthpiece of the sovereign, yet if they fabricated stories, they could sully the emperor’s reputation in history.

This was also Zhang Yi’s point: the power of rumors.

The common people cared little for the emperor’s appearance, but if he looked strange, they would eagerly spread tales, which would become part of history.

“Damn it! I cannot let these people run amok! I’ll have that brat Zhang Yi paint a few more pictures for me!”

Old Zhu gritted his teeth, cursing the scoundrels who concocted these rumors and resolved to actively salvage his impending ruined image.

“I didn’t expect the teacher to hold this boy in such high regard!”

Suppressing his worries about the scholar class, Zhu Yuanzhang refocused on Xu Cunren’s words.

“Whether from the Kong family or the Zhang family, since I have sent someone to your care, it is up to you to watch over him. You may go now…”

Having asked all he needed, Xu Cunren knew it was time to take his leave.

“I take my leave!”

After Xu Cunren left, Zhu Biao asked:

“Regarding the imperial examinations, it seems Mr. Xu is somewhat reserved in his views toward Your Majesty?”

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered.

Though the Imperial Academy wielded little real power, its influence on the state was profound.

As the highest learning institution in Ming, it was also the supreme administrative body over official education.

According to prior dynastic regulations, the imperial examinations would eventually commence, but with the realm unsettled, there was no rush.

Yet even so, Old Zhu and Xu Cunren had many differences regarding the definition of “official learning” and the future of the imperial exams.

Xu Cunren did not fully agree with the emperor’s ideas but did not oppose them either.

“He has his thoughts; I have mine. We shall set this matter aside for now.”

“By the way, find an opportunity to arrange a meeting with Zhang Yi for us—and bring your mother along…”

“Bring mother?”

Zhu Biao was taken aback. Why would His Majesty bring Empress Ma when meeting Zhang Yi? Normally, Zhu Yuanzhang never sought out Zhang Yi without cause—what was on his mind today?

“I want him to paint!”

Remembering the “shoehorn face” rumor, Zhu Yuanzhang ground his teeth.

“Also, to ask him a few things!”

“Paint?”

Zhu Biao was stunned. Had his father been provoked somehow?

But he did not dwell on it and replied, “Yes, Father!”

Zhu Biao himself had been wanting to meet Zhang Yi to deliver some silver…

“Your mother is interested in that brat too. She has asked me several times when, after revealing his true identity, we might bring him to the palace to meet. For now, I do not intend to expose his identity, but you can take your mother to see that brat!”

Zhu Biao was dumbfounded. The two of them had already gone out incognito on patrols. Now Old Zhu wanted to drag Empress Ma into this?

They sought Zhang Yi for what was in his mind, so why bring Empress Ma along?

“To have him paint a picture for your mother. Though his paintings lack deep meaning, they do resemble the subject well!”

The emperor’s reasoning was whimsical but fitting for a devoted husband.

Zhu Biao accepted the explanation.

He would go personally to invite Zhang Yi, and Old Zhu would speak with Empress Ma.

Inviting Zhang Yi normally would have been entrusted to Gao Jianxian, but Zhu Biao had personal matters on his mind and wished to go himself.

After the crown prince left, the emperor sought out Empress Ma.

“Zhongba, you’ve come!”

Empress Ma, surprised to see the ever-busy emperor with free time, set down her needlework.

“You never seem to rest!”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at her helplessly; she smiled gently.

“Aren’t you the same?”

They exchanged a smile, and the emperor got straight to the point.

“Sister, today you’ll come with me outside the palace to see someone…”

“Who?”

Empress Ma asked.

“You’ve always wanted to see that child. Now’s your chance; I’ll take you to meet him!”

“I’m curious—why do you want me to come?”

“That boy’s painting skills are good. I want him to paint you a few pictures…”

Old Zhu ground his teeth.

“So no one can smear me later…”

Meanwhile, at Qingxin Temple.

Zhang Yi finally found a rare moment of leisure, tinkering with his own affairs in the Taoist temple.

Deng Zhongxiu approached and said:

“Young Master Huang is waiting for you outside!”

Zhang Yi’s eyes lit up—his angelic investor had come with money?

(End of chapter)