Chapter 101: The Power of Mind Philosophy, an Old Gentleman on the Brink of Death

“Explain in detail!”

Xu Cunren maintained a composed exterior, but his heart was deeply shaken.

This child was far more intelligent than he had imagined.

Ever since the Emperor had leveraged the old Zhang family to suppress the Kong clan, some officials in the court harbored vague resentment toward the Zhangs.

It wasn’t that they truly disliked the Zhang family; rather, their dissatisfaction was directed at the Emperor, and they vented their frustrations onto the Zhangs.

The Zhangs had benefited from the Emperor’s favor and therefore bore the blame in his stead.

Xu Cunren disliked this kind of misplaced anger but felt powerless to change it.

“At first, I knew nothing, but when Mr. Li insulted me as a charlatan of Mount Longhu, in such a moment of urgency, I believed Mr. Li spoke honestly. So, I boldly surmise that his enmity toward me stems from Mount Longhu! Considering my father’s recent imperial favor and his attitude toward the young master of the Kong family, I think I understand the reason!”

Zhang Yi spoke candidly, prompting Xu Cunren to nod slightly.

From the moment he observed this child, he sensed Zhang Yi was no idle scholar.

When Li Zhi had clashed with Zhang Yi, Xu Cunren had already gathered the gist of the matter.

Though the boy professed ignorance, his rebuttals to Li Zhi were confident and assured.

He twisted the phrase, “Govern with political measures and punishments, and the people will avoid wrongdoing but lack shame; govern with virtue and propriety, and the people will have shame and reform,” to attack Li Zhi. Though a stretch, his argument struck a chord.

Yet this was not why Xu Cunren had summoned Zhang Yi.

What truly astonished him was a casual remark Zhang Yi made.

“What does it mean to unify knowledge and action? The right path is to know first and then act. Child, do not rashly speak of channeling the sages’ teachings into metaphysics! If others had caught wind of that, they’d surely come after you!”

Zhang Yi was stunned. He had not expected Xu Cunren to ignore his previous classroom antics and instead care so deeply about this one sentence.

But upon reflection, Zhang Yi understood.

Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism began with Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi in the Southern Song, was perfected by Zhu Xi, flourished before the Yuan, and by the Ming had become mainstream Confucian thought.

Zhang Yi had always believed that Neo-Confucianism’s rise, which fused heavenly principle with Confucian doctrine, supplemented Confucian sanctity and imperial legitimacy. Hence, since the Song, Neo-Confucianism had enjoyed imperial favor and widespread acclaim.

The “unity of knowledge and action” he casually mentioned was a core tenet of the later School of Mind, where Wang Yangming diverged from Neo-Confucianism.

No wonder Xu Cunren had cautioned him.

He observed the elder, who seemed unlike other scholars, and said:

“Compared to the Cheng-Zhu school’s ‘know first, then act’ and ‘investigate things to extend knowledge,’ I prefer Mr. Wang’s unity of knowledge and action. As he said: ‘Knowledge is the intention of action; action is the practice of knowledge. Knowledge is the beginning of action; action is the completion of knowledge. To speak of knowledge alone is to have action within; to speak of action alone is to have knowledge within!’”

Xu Cunren’s expression changed drastically.

Zhang Yi’s words clashed head-on with the doctrines Xu had learned since childhood. He wanted to be angry but instead read countless meanings into that sentence, his composure unraveling.

“‘Knowledge is the beginning of action; action is the completion of knowledge’! Where did you hear this? Who is this Mr. Wang?”

“He’s a pilgrim from Mount Longhu. I bragged and chatted with him!” Zhang Yi lied boldly. “I said I dislike studying; he said he dislikes the teachings spread in the lowlands… but the emperor favors them, and he cannot help it!”

“Unity of knowledge and action… unity of knowledge and action…”

Zhang Yi had no idea how much trouble one casual phrase could cause a lifelong scholar like Xu Cunren.

Originally, Xu had summoned Zhang Yi out of curiosity, to question him.

But Zhang Yi’s words gave Xu a vague sense of having discovered a treasure.

“Who exactly is this Mr. Wang?”

The elder suddenly leapt up and grabbed Zhang Yi, who replied, “Wang Yangming!”

Wang Yangming? Xu racked his brain but could not recall any such figure in the world.

“Sir, did I pass the test?”

Zhang Yi’s words snapped Xu Cunren back to reality. He gazed deeply at the boy and said,

“All right, go back now. Tell Li Zhi I sent you, and he won’t dare trouble you!”

Zhang Yi nodded obediently and left.

Xu, however, sank into deep thought.

“I forgot to ask that boy what else Mr. Wang said.”

By the time he realized, Zhang Yi was already far away.

Xu shook his head with a smile.

“I had planned to retire to the countryside this year, but meeting such an interesting youngster makes it worth staying a while longer.”

***

The next day,

Zhang Yi arrived at the academy, dressed in common clothes.

He and Deng Zhongxiu had hurriedly found someone overnight to make him a garment he could barely wear.

This time he dared not be late and arrived early at the Imperial Academy.

“Yo-ho, isn’t this the little Taoist from yesterday?”

“Greetings, little Taoist!”

Having boldly confronted teachers the day before, Zhang Yi attracted much curiosity at the academy, with people greeting him continuously along the way.

He quickly exchanged names with them and happily chatted.

“Hey, countryman, you look pale. Did you sneak up to the Sixteenth Floor? I have a remedy if you want to try.”

“Nonsense! We can’t study, but you still don’t trust Mount Longhu’s prescriptions?”

“That woman used trickery on you. Don’t fall for it…”

“If you want smallpox inoculation, I have it here…”

“I think we can handle this matter like this…”

Inside the classroom, Kong Kejian watched Zhang Yi closely.

This seven-year-old had quickly mingled with his classmates.

He could chat about the Sixteenth Floor with a thirty-year-old fellow Jiangxi native, discuss emotions with the nephew of the Suzhou prefect, and then turn around to teach others how to safely perform inoculations, with everyone gathered around him.

Wherever they went, the Zhang family seemed destined to be the center of attention.

From the eldest at thirty down to the fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds, there was no one Zhang Yi could not talk to. Regardless of sincerity or pretense, all met him with goodwill.

And what about himself?

Bearing the name of a Kong family heir, everyone seemed to respect him.

Yet so far, they kept a friendly distance.

Some teachers cared for Kong Ne, but others still dared not approach.

The reputation of the Kong family as traitors was cemented by whispers from the Emperor’s court. Others might ignore the rumor, but they certainly cared about the Emperor’s attitude.

The Kong Mansion in Noda had stood for a long time without a single official entering.

It was a lonely hell prepared by the Emperor for Kong Kejian — noisy around, but utterly devoid of warmth.

And Kong Ne realized that his own place was no different.

His classmates, who attended the Imperial Academy, either had family in officialdom or sought government posts. Regardless of background, none would easily approach him.

“Ahem, class is starting!”

Someone’s voice scattered Zhang Yi’s little circle.

He ran back to his seat and noticed Kong Ne looking a bit lonely.

“This kid’s being isolated. No wonder—the mascot must endure a mascot’s fate!”

Zhang Yi felt sympathy for Kong Ne. Though he thought Kong Kejian was a traitor, it did not mean all Kongs were so.

Besides, the boy looked proud but, beneath that façade, resembled a child on the verge of tears.

Zhang Yi understood Kong Ne’s feelings, for before coming to Ying Tian Prefecture, he had also been shunned by his elder brothers at Mount Longhu.

He poked Kong Ne with his pen. Kong Ne turned around.

“Here, this is from Zhang the elder brother in Jiangxi. I can’t finish it all!”

Zhang Yi smiled and handed over a pastry. Kong Ne was stunned.

He was the first besides the teachers to dare approach him at the academy.

Seeing Zhang Yi’s smiling face, Kong Ne felt a flood of emotions but quickly put on a stern expression and pushed the pastry back.

“Who wants to be friends with you?”

Zhang Yi was taken aback by the gesture, then grew angry. Hmph, you look down on me?

He ignored Kong Ne and stuffed the pastry into his mouth.

“The master is here!”

A student in the front row whispered, and everyone hurriedly tidied up and straightened their posture.

“Old Xu!”

“Prefect Xu?”

The teacher entering was not the familiar Li Zhi but Xu Cunren.

“Mr. Li has been reassigned. From today on, I will be your teacher… Don’t call me Prefect; call me Mr. Xu!”

Xu Cunren’s arrival stirred the students.

Having the prefect teach them in person was a great honor.

Those who came to the Imperial Academy were generally of two types.

One, sons of meritorious families or officials who entered by hereditary privilege; the other, talented youths recommended from across the land seeking official positions.

The imperial examination had yet to open, so officialdom was mainly attained through recommendation and testing.

To enter the Imperial Academy was to seize an opportunity in officialdom, and a good teacher’s recommendation was invaluable.

Xu Cunren was the prefect of the academy and had taught other princes, even serving as one of the tutors of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

Such a connection could open doors and secure influential support.

Unlike the others’ excitement, Zhang Yi stared at the crowd as if they were fools.

They did not know Xu Cunren’s fate, but he did.

This old scholar could be killed by Zhu Yuanzhang at any moment!

When that day came, these classmates, now eager to cozy up to Xu Cunren, would later feel cursed and wish to distance themselves from him.

The world of fame and power was mercilessly pragmatic.

“Let’s begin the lesson!”

As Mr. Xu started the lecture, the classroom fell silent.

Though Xu Cunren also taught the Analects, to Zhang Yi, a layman, his teaching was far clearer and more approachable than Mr. Li’s the previous day.

His tone was gentle, and the lesson was easy to understand.

Even Zhang Yi listened attentively—perhaps the first time in his life he took a Confucian course seriously.

After several hours, the long class finally ended at noon.

“You two, come with me!”

Xu Cunren pointed at Kong Ne and Zhang Yi and called them out.

(End of chapter)