Chapter 344: Please Call Me Teacher Zhang

A young man in a purple robe strode purposefully into the courtyard.

The scholar-officials gathered there hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

The young man was none other than Emperor Zhao Xu.

Earlier, when he had spoken with Zhang Fei under the alias Wang Ye, he had found himself deeply in agreement with many of Zhang Fei’s views. Consequently, he had kept his true identity hidden, fearing that once Zhang Fei knew who he was, he would no longer speak with him so freely.

He genuinely enjoyed exchanging views with Zhang Fei, as many of the latter’s perspectives were quite novel. For this reason, he had looked forward to this lesson for a long time.

“No need for formalities!”

Emperor Zhao Xu raised a hand slightly to gesture them down. Then, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, he exclaimed in surprise, “So many people have come!”

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, and the others felt a bit embarrassed.

Indeed they were.

As the Emperor’s own ministers, they had come to watch a pen-in-cap’s lesson, only to be caught in the act by the Emperor himself.

But then again, wasn’t the Emperor present too?

An elderly man with white hair spoke, “Your Majesty, since Emperor Wu of Jin established the College of National Scions, such a peculiar incident has never occurred. Inviting a pen-in-cap from the common people to lecture here is unprecedented. This old man fears it may chill the hearts of scholars throughout the realm.”

Emperor Zhao Xu glanced at the old man and smiled, saying, “Elder Yan is quite right. I am also here for this very reason.”

This old man was named Yan Fu. He was a retired official of the Ministry of Rites and had also served as the previous Provost of the College of National Scions. As the previous head of the institution, he held great prestige and authority in the world of education.

Yan Fu cast a glance at Sima Guang standing nearby, then deliberately asked Emperor Zhao Xu, “If Your Majesty is also concerned about this, why was the proposal approved?”

Emperor Zhao Xu was the best at avoiding blame and quickly explained, “I was previously unaware of this matter.”

Sima Guang had no choice but to step forward. “Your Majesty, this matter was arranged by your subject.”

“Is that so?” Emperor Zhao Xu pretended not to know the details and asked, “Academician Sima has always been extremely cautious in matters of education and teaching. This arrangement must surely hold some deep significance!”

Wang Anshi immediately chimed in, “Your Majesty may not be aware. He knew I also wished to recruit Zhang San, which is why he was in such a hurry to place Zhang San in the College of National Scions.”

Many of the scholars present furrowed their brows tightly.

They had guessed as much. Although they did not oppose Sima Guang recruiting Zhang Fei, they would not allow the College of National Scions to be sacrificed, for Confucius’s profession had been that of a teacher.

To put it slightly forcibly, this was an insult to the great sage.

“Do not speak nonsense.”

Sima Guang glared angrily at Wang Anshi. The old rascal was truly despicable. Turning to Emperor Zhao Xu, he continued, “Your Majesty, I decided to invite Zhang San to teach at the law academy because his insights into legal scholarship are unique. I myself have benefited from them on several occasions. However, since his knowledge goes beyond what is found in books, I determined that he should teach there.”

Emperor Zhao Xu nodded slightly. “I see.”

Yan Fu immediately spoke up. “In this old man’s view, for a teacher, insight and scholarship are of secondary importance. What matters most is moral character. In that regard, Zhang San is utterly unfit to be a teacher.”

Sima Guang refuted him at once. “Elder Yan, you are mistaken. Zhang San may have shortcomings in minor matters, but in great issues of right and wrong, he has never compromised his integrity. He cleared Li Si and the Shi family of their wrongful accusations and established a charity to aid the poor. While his methods often draw criticism, his aims are always good, never evil.”

After this speech, a few people nodded in slight agreement.

Yan Fu scoffed, “Zhang San saved Li Si for the commission of several hundred strings. He saved the Shi family for the widow. As for the charity, there has been much talk about it. He uses it as an excuse to help merchants avoid taxes.”

Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi looked at Yan Fu in surprise.

He certainly knew Zhang Fei’s deeds by heart!

It seemed they had prepared well for today.

Sima Guang stroked his beard but did not know how to refute him.

Wang Anshi stepped forward and said, “The world is busy, all driven by profit. Saving Li Si earned a commission; saving the Shi family earned a beautiful wife. These are mutually beneficial acts. What is wrong with them? Does one have to shed blood and sacrifice one’s flesh to be considered noble? That is what the Buddha did, not something ordinary people do.

As for the charity, hmm, the land donated to the charity did not pay taxes to begin with. Now, they can at least put up some money for charity. That is far better than being entirely stingy. If Old Master Yan can make those people pay taxes, I will surely petition His Majesty to abolish the charity!”

Yan Fu could still offer gentle advice to Sima Guang, but he showed no such patience toward Wang Anshi. A true Confucian scholar, he felt profound shame at Wang’s strive for benefits. Yet his face remained calm as he stroked his beard and smiled. “The world bustles, and men go and come for profit. If this is the nature of man, I will not deny it. There is some truth in that.”

With that, he turned the conversation. “If it is human nature, why does it need teaching? If we teach benevolence and righteousness, students will naturally prioritize these virtues. Human nature, however, cannot avoid seeking profit. But if we teach people to strive for benefits, I fear that once they have learned it, they will only become more extreme, turning into petty and lowly men who covet wealth and lust. That is surely not the way to educate.”

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang glanced at each other, then looked at Yan Fu. This old man was just as formidable as he had been in his youth.

Although Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were both skilled orators, Yan Fu had been a teacher for decades and had participated in the debates over the Qingli Reforms. His arguments were indeed layered and well-constructed.

Sima Guang had no desire to argue further, especially with a senior like Yan Fu. He clasped his hands and said, “Master Yan, since matters have come to this, why not wait and see first? If Zhang San truly is unfit, I will take the blame and resign as Dean of the Law Academy. I will have nothing more to do with it.”

Yan Fu replied, “So be it.”

Sima Guang nodded. “Someone must bear responsibility for this.”

Yan Fu nodded. “Very well then.”

Wang Anshi did not appear particularly pleased either. Even if Sima Guang resigned, there were still so many conservatives. If someone else took the post, Sima Guang would likely still pull the strings from behind the scenes.

He had come at just the right moment! Emperor Zhao Xu watched them argue until their faces were red and felt a suppressed burst of amusement. He looked around. “Has that Zhang San arrived yet?”

They had debated for a long time, yet the main character was nowhere to be found!

Everyone’s gaze turned to the man standing in the back.

Who could it be if not Xu Zun?

Xu Zun mumbled awkwardly, “I don’t know either.”

The faces of the assembled officials all darkened. It was his first day on the job, and class was about to begin, and yet he still had not shown up.

Lu Gongzhu chuckled. “I am used to it.”

Seeing everyone look at him, he added, “When that boy is in court, he never fails to arrive last.”

“Being in court is one thing, but taking up a post is quite another. It is simply outrageous.”

“In the end, it comes down to the Accounting Chancellor being too lenient with him when he was at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. That’s why this boy has no respect for anyone.”

Lu Gongzhu immediately shut his mouth.

He certainly could not afford to offend this circle of venerable scholar-officials!

……

In fact, Zhang Fei had already arrived. He had simply parked his carriage in a small alley beside the College of National Scions, where he was indulging in some intimate activity with Xu Zhiqian.

Li Si and Long Wu, serving as two imposing gatekeepers, stood at the alley entrance keeping watch.

“Don’t push your luck.”

Xu Zhiqian pressed down the misbehaving hand on her waist. Her phoenix eyes widened, and she glared at Zhang Fei, her face flushed with shame.

Zhang Fei wore a look of grievance. “This isn’t my fault. You were the one who pulled me out. If I had gone in early, I would have had to engage in another verbal battle with those scholar-officials. In that case, there would be no point in attending the lesson. Better to just sit down for a meal. So, you have to keep me company and help me pass the time.”

“You didn’t say so sooner.” Xu Zhiqian muttered quietly. Zhang Fei had already explained this to her just now, and she fully agreed. Seeing that mischievous smile on his face, she couldn’t help but look down on him. Pouting slightly, she said, “Look at the way you are. Do you even look like a teacher?”

A light came into Zhang Fei’s eyes. “How about you help me rehearse?”

Xu Zhiqian asked, “Rehearse what?”

Zhang Fei said, “I’ll be the teacher, and you’ll be the female student.”

Xu Zhiqian was still puzzled. “And then?”

“And then…!”

Zhang Fei moved one hand from his waist to launch an attack on the mountainous terrain.

“Hey!”

Bang!

“Ouch!”

“You insolent, shameless rascal. If you went to be a teacher, you would truly be a detriment to your students.”

Xu Zhiqian angrily jumped down from the carriage.

Behind her, Zhang Fei rubbed his chest while getting out of the carriage, grumbling in his heart, *You must have read some books, yet you don’t even know what role-play is.*

At that moment, Li Si suddenly walked over. “Brother San, it’s about time, I think.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Li Si nodded earnestly.

Zhang Fei took a deep breath, kicked up a small notebook, and began running frantically forward.

“What’s going on?”

Long Wu grew anxious.

Xu Zhiqian scoffed, “Liar.”

…

“How is no one here yet? The class is about to start.”

Provost of the College of National Scions, Chen Yuansheng, frowned tightly.

Sima Guang also began to worry.

The emperor is here. If we are late, it will truly be… disastrous!

Wang Anshi watched Sima Guang’s anxious expression and couldn’t help but tease him. “Perhaps Zhang San simply doesn’t want to be a teaching instructor at all. You, must have forced him to come.”

Yan Fu nodded in agreement with Wang Anshi, a rare occurrence for him. “That is quite likely. If Zhang San had even a shred of self-awareness, he would not have come here to teach.”

Sima Guang fell silent. It was truly unfortunate to have encountered someone like Zhang Fei.

Just then, a man stumbled into the room, out of breath. “Oh my! I nearly died from the run. I hope I’m not late.”

It was none other than Zhang Fei.

Seeing Zhang Fei, Sima Guang felt as though an enemy had appeared before him. His irritation boiled over, and without a word, he leaped forward, landing directly in front of Zhang Fei. His anger was at its peak as he shouted, “Why are you only arriving now?”

“Traffic… oh, no. My coachman didn’t know the way and took a wrong turn. Besides, there are regulations, and carriages cannot travel fast. I… I saw that I wouldn’t make it in time, so I ran here myself. I beg Academician Sima’s forgiveness. Forgive me.”

Zhang Fei gasped for air, his breaths coming in heavy rushes.

Sima Guang was about to say more when the sound of a gong rang out in the distance.

Zhang Fei felt a surge of relief. I am truly a genius at timing!

Sima Guang urged him quickly, “Go see His Majesty now.”

“His Majesty is here too?” Zhang Fei asked, surprised.

Sima Guang said, “Stop chattering. Hurry along.”

He glanced toward Emperor Zhao Xu.

“Yes!”

Zhang Fei took a step forward, then shied away again. “There are so many people here.”

In his heart, he thought, Good thing I didn’t arrive earlier. I wouldn’t have had the energy for class!

Sima Guang stomped his foot in frustration. “What are you standing there for? Go offer your respects!”

“Oh!”

Zhang Fei hurried over. Just as he was about to bow, Emperor Zhao Xu waved his hand. “No need. Class has already begun.”

“Your humble subject obeys.”

Zhang Fei nodded, but when he raised his leg, he did not know which way to step. “Um… where is… the classroom?”

Oh no!

Even Wen Yanbo thought Sima Guang had played a truly terrible move.

“Cough, cough!”

Xu Zun coughed deliberately twice. Seeing that Zhang Fei was looking at him, he gestured with his eyes toward the largest classroom on the east side.

Zhang Fei shot him a grateful look, then hurried off toward that classroom.

Inside the classroom, roughly fifty students were seated, packed tightly together.

The room normally accommodated at most thirty people. However, so many wanted to teach Zhang Fei a lesson that they had competed based on their grades to select the fifty “lucky” ones who would attend this lesson.

At that moment, their excitement was boundless.

Both the Emperor and State Councilors were present. If they could catch a glimpse of him or show off their skills, who knows how far they might rise!

Seeing Zhang Fei enter, the students fixed him with hungry, greedy gazes, like wolves eyeing a rabbit. They looked as though they wished to swallow him whole, skin and bones.

Zhang Fei hurried into the room, placed a small notebook on the lectern, and began flipping through it. He seemed nervous and rushed, unsure of what he was looking for.

Suddenly, he looked up, scanned the room with a single sweep, and relaxed slightly. In a casual tone, he said, “ When Academician Sima  invited me to teach here, I was quite surprised. I am just a humble pen-in-cap; how could I possibly teach at the College of National Scions? I declined repeatedly, but Academician Sima insisted that I come.”

“I didn’t understand why before, but seeing you all like this, it suddenly clicked. All of you sit without posture, stand without decorum, and when you see your teacher, you don’t even bow or offer a greeting. Instead, you look at me as if I were the murderer of your fathers. Hmph….”

In the classroom, a group of the nation’s finest students suddenly came to their senses and hastily sat up straight.

Each of their faces turned as red as a monkey’s skin.

It was a misunderstanding!

This was absolutely a misunderstanding!

Just moments ago, they had all been debating whether Zhang Fei would dare to show up. When they saw him enter, they were all delighted. After all, how could one score a perfect ten without a target? Naturally, they had overlooked the proper etiquette between teacher and student. They stood gathered in small clusters of three or two, looking nothing like they were ready for a lesson.

Of course, they had never considered Zhang Fei a teacher.

Chen Yuansheng, Yan Fu, and the other scholar-officials and Lecturers of the College of National Scions bowed their heads deeply.

How awkward!

Wang Anshi and Emperor Zhao Xu, however, remained silent, a smile on their lips.

Zhang Fei laughed lightly. “Stop pretending. And let us skip the teacher-student formalities then. If you were good students, Academician Sima wouldn’t have invited me to be your teacher. Let’s all keep things casual.”

Yan Fu could not help but murmur softly, “He certainly has a sharp tongue.”

Unable to elevate his own status, he had only one option left: to lower his students to his own level.

As the saying goes, a crooked melon suits a cracked date.

A young man seated at the front could no longer contain his frustration. He stood up and retorted, “The reason we do not bow to you is that we believe you are not fit to be our teacher.”

This man was named Ye Zuqia. He too was a candidate who had traveled to the capital for the examinations. Judging by his seat, his scores were likely among the higher ones.

Zhang Fei shrugged and said, “But I am still your teacher. It was decided by those in authority above. If you did not recognize His Majesty, would you therefore refuse to pay respects to him? You certainly have a deep understanding of etiquette.”

Ye Zuqia trembled with fright, his face turning pale.

What did “not recognizing His Majesty” even mean?

Was he here to teach, or to collect lives?

The officials standing outside the door were also startled. They glanced one after another toward Emperor Zhao Xu. Seeing their looks, the emperor asked, “Do any of you believe he has a point?”

Wen Yanbo replied, “Your Majesty, what he said holds some truth. How can the rules of propriety be applied differently for different people?”

Yan Fu and the others also nodded, though unwillingly.

Etiquette was etiquette; there was no matter of being “fit” or “unfit.” If one first debated whether one was worthy of it, then there would be no etiquette in this world at all.

Regardless of everything else, Zhang Fei was their teacher today.

Just at that moment, a young man in the second row stood up. “This student pays his respects to the teacher.”

This was Cai Jing.

The others followed suit, rising to bow in greeting.

Trying to play games with me, are we? Zhang Fei smiled faintly. “My name is Zhang Fei, style name Yi’an, literary name Dongpo, and bandit name Zhang San. Just call me Teacher Zhang.”