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Two days later.
Fei Qian returned to Luoyang. Whether for public or private reasons, his first stop was to seek out Cai Yong.
"This matter…" After listening to Fei Qian's detailed account of the entire incident at Hangu Pass, Cai Yong shook his head. He seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent, only letting out a soft sigh.
Cai Yong, of course, could guess the true nature of the sudden appearance of the Yellow Turban rebels at Hangu Pass. However, his own position was extremely awkward. He was both a member of the Shandong gentry, hailing from Chenliu, and also a beneficiary of Dong Zhuo's patronage. Thus, while he understood many things clearly, he found it difficult to voice them.
Seeing the expression on his teacher's face, Fei Qian could somewhat guess Cai Yong's thoughts. But for him, this trip to Hangu Pass had been perilous beyond measure.
Fei Qian could not forget that sensation—the hair standing on end from head to toe, the blood in his entire body seeming to freeze solid, the feeling of his heart being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Death had been so close he could almost feel its breath upon his neck…
Although the Shandong gentry's actions were not specifically targeted at him, the fact remained that they had nearly caused his death.
When a person is pushed to the brink of death, nearly losing their head, and then someone turns around and says it was all just a misunderstanding, that everyone should seek harmony and let bygones be bygones…
Could it really be let go?
Hah!
Even now, Fei Qian could not forget those pair of dull, lifeless eyes, like those of a dead fish, or the warm blood that had splattered onto his hands and clothes…
In later generations, whether in books or movies, one often heard people sighing about being "in the martial world, one cannot always act as one wishes."
But on that night, with flames roaring skyward, he had truly experienced what it meant to be "in the Han Dynasty, one cannot always act as one wishes."
Especially the next morning, seeing the bloodshed and gore strewn across the land, the mutilated and twisted corpses, and the charred, shrunken remains of those burned black on the East and West Great Streets…
He had never imagined that a living person, after being burned to death, could shrink to such a small size. The smell made him want to vomit even now at the mere scent of meat.
Fei Qian felt he should thank Zheng Jian, and the soldier under Zheng Jians command who had died by his hand. If not for the fire at the posthouse that had nearly cornered him with no way out, if not for that blade's gleam that had almost severed all his hope of survival, he might still have been blinded by the achievements he had attained so far.
From an obscure collateral descendant of the Fei family to his current status—in the eyes of others, it might seem incredibly impressive. He himself had once thought so, believing that with his wits, he could skillfully navigate between the two major factions, pleasing both sides. He had thought not only to save his teacher Cai Yong's fate but also to reap greater benefits from the situation.
Looking back now, it had all been far too simplistic.
It could only be said that he was still not powerful enough. Even with the title of Cai Yong's disciple, even through marriage alliance with the Jingxiang gentry, even with the position of Assistant Secretary—in the eyes of those people, he was still nothing more than an insect.
At best, a slightly larger insect…
To escape a fate like that of an insect, he must truly grasp power of his own!
After a moment of silence, Fei Qian bowed his head to Cai Yong and said, "Gao Yao said to Yu: 'The sovereign should possess nine virtues. He should be broad-minded yet cautious; gentle yet independent; willing yet respectful; capable of bringing order yet reverent; adaptable yet firm; upright yet temperate; straightforward yet principled; strong-willed yet sincere; and powerful yet righteous. One who embodies these nine virtues will consistently demonstrate them, and his words and actions will be auspicious!' I dare ask you, Teacher, among the various lords in the court today, is there anyone who possesses these nine virtues?"
Gao Yao was a wise man during the time of Great Yu, renowned alongside Yao, Shun, and Yu as one of the Four Sages of antiquity. It was he who proposed the nine virtues a sovereign should possess. Although later, the Zuo Zhuan offered a new description of the nine virtues, Gao Yao was indeed the first to propose this standard.
Cai Yong shook his head.
Fei Qian continued, "In the past, Weizi asked the Grand Tutor, saying that Yin did not bring chaos to the four quarters, but was drowned in wine,混乱败坏其德 (luàn bài jué dé,混乱败坏其德 -混乱: chaos; 败坏: corrupt; 厥: his; 德: virtue - corrupting his virtue). Thieves and evildoers flourished. Officers acted lawlessly. All who were guilty could not be consistently apprehended. The common people rose up and became enemies to one another. It was like crossing a great river with no ferry in sight. Now, I, Qian, also have a question: Did he give rise to madness, or did he, in his old age, flee to the wilderness?"
Cai Yong remained silent.
Fei Qian spoke again: "Gongshu Yu said, 'A gentleman does not scheme, a scholar cannot die [for a cause without righteousness].' His words were put into action, and he died alongside the child from the neighboring state. The people of Lu considered not mourning the child as one would a youth, and asked Zhongni [Confucius] about it. Zhongni approved it. To act according to the time and circumstance, to achieve according to the event—this is the meaning of Fan [model, standard], this is the symbol of Li [ritual, propriety]. How can one be bound by rigid conventions?"
Cai Yong laughed softly, pointed at Fei Qian, and said, "Ziyuan, your learning has advanced considerably!"
The allusions Fei Qian had just cited were no longer limited to the Zuo Zhuan but extended to the Shang Shu (Book of Documents) and the Li Ji (Book of Rites). Moreover, they were interconnected.
First, he pointed out that the current court was not the ideal situation of a sage ruler receiving tributes from all states. Then, he mentioned that even Weizi, the elder brother of King Zhou of Shang, was powerless in the face of a terrible situation. Finally, he used the example of Zhongni (Confucius), who valued Li (ritual/propriety) above all, approving an act that broke Li, to expound a concept—
Teacher, this court no longer upholds benevolence, virtue, and the rules of propriety. Faced with such a situation, even the emperor's elder brother could only stare helplessly, powerless to change things. How much more so people like us, who have little right to speak?
Assessing the situation and acting accordingly is the true meaning of Li. Even Zhongni himself thought so. Your principles and steadfastness should not be bound by rigid conventions anymore…
Cai Yong shook his head while smiling and said, "Your learning qualifies you to be a Da Fu (Senior Official / Literati-Official)!"
The "Da Fu" Cai Yong mentioned was not a specific official title but referred to the scholar-official (士大夫, shi da fu). As the name implies, it consists first of shi (scholar, gentleman), then da fu (high official). This means one must first possess the qualities of a shi (knowledge, virtue) before attaining the position of a da fu (high official).
The shi da fu was a distinctive social stratum that emerged during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Different from the old aristocracy, the shi da fu emphasized "shi" — knowledge.
Especially after the policy of "Dismissing the hundred schools, respecting only Confucianism" was adopted, this became an unwritten rule among court officials in the Han Dynasty: those who had not read or did not understand the classics could not become court officials and could at most hold local positions.
Furthermore, those who did not understand the classics could not be called shi. But even those who had read the classics, if they could not find support for their arguments within them, would be unable to persuade others during court debates.
Therefore, court officials required a profound grounding in the classics, which was beyond most people's capabilities.
Thus, Cai Yong's evaluation of Fei Qian was quite high, meaning that Fei Qian now met the prerequisite conditions to become a shi da fu.
'Heh! Master, oh Master! Your skill in changing the subject is also masterful!' Fei Qian couldn't help but feel somewhat frustrated. Must you play it this way?
Being in the Han Dynasty, one must abide by its rules. His teacher Cai Yong's status was established there. Moreover, such matters could not be spoken of directly. He had finally, after racking his brains, found some examples to support his argument, only to have Teacher Cai Yong divert the topic entirely. It was truly both irritating and amusing.
How could Cai Yong not understand the meaning behind Fei Qian's words? It was just that regarding this matter, he himself had not yet fully made up his mind, so naturally, he could not give a definite reply.
In fact, Fei Qian did not realize that through his persistent efforts, seizing every opportunity to persuade him again and again, Cai Yong's originally steadfast beliefs had already begun to waver somewhat. Otherwise, in the past, he would have outright refused without hesitation, instead of evading the issue like this...