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After the tea tasting came the banquet. Although Pingyang was still somewhat dilapidated, hosting a wine banquet between members of the gentry was still manageable. There were, however, no song and dance performances—mainly because such accoutrements, like silk-stringed instruments, bronze bells, and stone chimes—who would carry those along with them during a time of war? Meat dishes were available, but fresh vegetables were scarce. The area itself was a region being brought back under cultivation, and no one could magically conjure up a vast array of assorted vegetables to be freely consumed on a whim.
Fei Qian noticed that Wei Wang ate a little of the chive-and-egg dish and some Chinese toon, then drank some of the mutton broth. As for things like roasted meats, he basically left them untouched. Wine, however, he drank several cups. His appetite was good, but his teeth likely gave him trouble.
And that was precisely the irksome part. When one's teeth were in poor condition, one became extremely picky about food. To serve everything soft and mushy would be far too dull, yet the dishes that required chewing were beyond his ability to eat, leaving him only able to watch helplessly as others enjoyed them. Coupled with a hearty appetite, it became a form of sheer torture. The crux of the matter was that, in order to maintain the proper decorum of a gentleman, he could not even display this misery.
It was not that Fei Qian had intentionally arranged things this way, but Wei Wang simply refused to open his mouth and speak of serious matters, continuously beating about the bush. It was quite tiresome. Fei Qian had a mountain of affairs awaiting his attention; to be dragged and stalled here like this was no trivial inconvenience.
During the earlier exchange of mutual flattery, Wei Wang had not even so much as hinted at any words relating to the White Wave troops, and Fei Qian had cooperatively played along as if he had forgotten as well. Yet now, moving back and forth between the hall and the lower quarters, serving wine and dishes, were precisely the serving maids who had originally belonged to the household of Wei Ji of the Wei clan. Could they truly pretend not to see?
Toward Wei Wang, Fei Qian truly harbored no goodwill whatsoever. The Wei clan of Hedong commanded immense prestige and renown in this region, their roots sunk deep and spreading wide, colluding with local villages, ingrained like a stubborn rash—exceedingly difficult to eradicate. If he himself could not wield the ferocious momentum of a raging fire, he could not lightly reveal the slightest murderous intent. Therefore, no matter what, he could only choose the policy of maintaining stability.
Perhaps it was that merely watching others eat had become somewhat unbearable, but Wei Wang set down the silver chopsticks in his hand and spoke with a beaming smile: "These unworthy, clumsy talents of mine hold the position of Three Elder. I have long loathed myself for failing to augment moral edification, deeply ashamed of the duties entrusted to me. My heart is truly despondent; waking or sleeping, I ponder it ceaselessly. Today, to my joyous surprise, I heard that the General of the Household intends to establish an academy—such a grand undertaking in classical scholarship brings me boundless delight. Thus, I have brazenly come, though my face be thick with shame. If I could contribute even my meager strength, it would fulfill my lifelong wish, and even in the Nine Springs below, I could close my eyes in peace!"
Fei Qian smiled, but inwardly, his mind began whirring with calculations. So it was indeed for this matter that he had come, and couched in such grave terms, as if delivering his dying testament.
He had come to claim a share of the spoils.
At Wei Wang's age, things like wealth and riches likely held less appeal than leaving behind a legacy of renown. Though everyone desired money and material goods, one could neither bring them at birth nor take them in death. Once accumulated to a certain degree, their significance waned—just as now, no matter how delicious the food, if one lacked the teeth to eat it, what use was it?
Renown, however, was different. This intangible asset might not be directly convertible into material wealth, but it could bestow a certain degree of discursive power through personal prestige. Even after death, it could still shelter one's descendants, and even elevate the standing of an entire branch of the clan. A matter like establishing an academy was, frankly, the perfect tool for burnishing one's reputation—no wonder Wei Wang had come so eagerly and in such haste.
Fei Qian laughed and said, "Revered Sir Wei, your refined intentions fill me, Fei Qian, with profound admiration. I wonder what guidance you might have to offer?" Very well, bring out whatever scheme you have in mind.
The social intercourse among the great gentry clans was exceedingly subtle. The Han-dynasty gentry, particularly the major houses, were deeply entangled with one another in numerous ways. With so many people, contradictions naturally multiplied, and grievances inevitably accumulated. Yet these grievances and enmities were often confined to the individuals involved and rarely expanded in scope—rather akin to the later-age principle of "opposing the deed, not the person." Take Cao Cao, for example: he lopped off countless heads and then declared, "Your wife and children, I shall care for them." In later ages, this would have been an irreconcilable blood feud of paternal vengeance—how could one not stage an epic like "The Orphan of Zhao"? But in the Han dynasty, this was not considered such a grave matter.
Thus, Wei Wang did not feel that coming to discuss cooperation with Fei Qian would in any way conflict with the branch of Wei Ji. One matter was one matter. Of course, if in the future Wei Ji encountered some new opportunity and came sweeping back, Wei Wang would not harbor any pity simply because of some cooperative relationship with Fei Qian. Again, one matter was one matter, each side acting for its own interests.
Therefore, Wei Wang spoke with an expression of utmost sincerity: "The transmission of the torch, passed from generation to generation; the throngs of devoted students thirsting for classical learning as if parched earth longing for sweet rain. Yet this place, Pingyang, has fallen into long years of disrepair. Even if we were to rebuild, it would consume both time and effort. It would be better..."
Wei Wang paused, carefully scrutinizing Fei Qian's expression, hoping to discern some flicker of emotional change and thereby glean some information.
Yet Fei Qian, still smiling, merely said, "Revered Sir, please, do speak frankly without reserve."
Wei Wang muttered inwardly to himself, then continued, "...This old man has no other request. It is merely that I have an estate north of Linfen City, with over a hundred rooms of various sizes—pavilions, terraces, towers, and gazebos, all complete. Without, it leans against verdant mountains as a screen; within, it is girdled by jade-green waters. One may gaze upon the dark-azure hues of the mountain scenery while wielding the brush and spreading ink, or listen to the natural music of murmuring streams. It deeply captures the essence of purity, stillness, seclusion, and elegance—able to dispel the chaos of worldly dust and nurture the atmosphere of classical scrolls. I wish to present it to the General of the Household as a site for classical learning, to assist the academy in opening its mountain gates at the earliest time..." As he finished, he tremblingly fumbled a land deed from his bosom, looking as if the moment Fei Qian gave the slightest nod, he would proffer it forthwith.
Could this be the rhythm of a pie falling from the sky? No—it was the rhythm of Wei Wang, having traveled a hundred li through wind and dust, personally delivering the pie right to Fei Qian's lips. Heh heh, where in the world would such a bargain exist?
Fei Qian turned the thought over in his mind. This old man truly had a voracious appetite! On the surface, Wei Wang was donating a manor so beautiful, so perfectly suited, that the very description stirred one's heart. Yet hidden within lay a trap. Though he asked not a single coin from Fei Qian, in truth, Wei Wang intended to carry off the entire pot—the academy Fei Qian was establishing along with it. Would an academy opened within the Wei clan estate in Linfen still count as belonging to Fei Qian? Within that mountain manor, there would inevitably still be some related members of the Wei clan, would there not? Adjacent to Linfen, the Wei clan could naturally enjoy the advantages of having their pavilion closest to the water, could they not? The man was old, but his heart was black enough.
With the slightest greed or a moment's carelessness, one would tumble right into the pit.
Yet outright refusal would not do either. He had to think of a reason first. Fei Qian paused in brief deliberation, then said, "Has the Revered Sir heard of a peach orchard in the southern outskirts of Yu, in Chenliu Commandery?"
Wei Wang was momentarily taken aback. "I am not aware of it," he said.
If you don't know of it, then that's convenient, because I don't know whether it exists either. Fei Qian chuckled inwardly, but that did not hinder him from speaking with complete deadpan seriousness: "My teacher is exceedingly fond of peach blossoms. He once remarked that he wished, beneath their sweet fragrance, to discourse upon the classics of Confucius and Mencius—a courtyard free of vulgar clutter, a quiet chamber affording leisurely calm, playing the zither in the shade behind the eaves, with peaches and plums arrayed before the hall. I deeply appreciate your generous intentions, Revered Sir. Yet, as fortune would have it, I have located a peach-blossom mountain here in Pingyang that perfectly suits my teacher's wish—a place one might truly call heaven-sent. Therefore..."
A great pity. Fei Qian expressed his deepest regrets. Yet it was abundantly clear that Wei Wang had no intention of giving up so easily.