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The sky had already grown somewhat dim. The myriad things of the world were no longer sharply defined or distinct; every outline had become somewhat blurred by the fading light, and the colors, too, were gradually drawing closer to shades of gray and black. It was much like the situation in which Fei Qian now found himself.
In all honesty, Jia Qu believed that Fei Qian's handling of Wei Wang just moments ago had already been done very well. Yet, it was possible that Wei Wang had come with the fallback objective in mind from the very start. Of course, if Fei Qian had foolishly accepted the estate outright, that would have been even better for Wei Wang. Although it was uncertain whether the Wei clan would, like the sponsors of later ages, desperately stamp their logos into every corner, doing so would at the very least leave a favorable impression of the Wei clan before the students—which was equivalent to harvesting renown.
After the serving maids were dismissed and the dishes and bowls cleared away, candles were lit, and more tea broth was served. Fei Qian looked at Jia Qu and asked, "What are your thoughts on this matter, Liangdao?" (T/N: Jia Qu courtesy name will be Lingdao from now."
Unexpectedly, Jia Qu did not speak at length about Wei Wang. Perhaps he felt that Fei Qian already had a clear sense of the matter in his heart, so instead he said, "That... will depend primarily on whether my lord intends to teach the New Script Classics or the Old Script Classics."
Oh? What was the meaning of this? Could it be... "Liangdao, what you mean to say is—does the Wei clan primarily follow the New Script Classics? Is it not said that they transmit the Guizang?" Fei Qian was somewhat puzzled. Was the Wei clan not a family that transmitted the Yi Jing through its lineage? Did they not possess three fragmented scrolls in their household collection?
Jia Qu nodded and said, "Though they do possess the Guizang, the Wei clan primarily adheres to the Jingshi Yi."
Well, that explains it. Fei Qian nodded, largely understanding the situation.
The Yi Jing could be said to trace back to the wellspring of ancient philosophical thought regarding the origin of the cosmos and all things. Throughout its development, the Yi Jing itself underwent several transformations. The earliest was the Lianshan, which perished by the Xia dynasty. Then came the Guizang, which was lost by the Shang dynasty. Only the relatively complete Zhou Yi, preserved by King Wen of Zhou, survived. At that time, it was called the Yi, but it was not yet a "Classic." Because the archaic language was obscure and difficult to understand, during the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius and his disciples created the Ten Wings, that is, the Yi Zhuan, to explicate the Yi. It was only when the Yi and the Yi Zhuan were merged into one that it came to be called the Yi Jing, formally becoming a canonical text that Confucians were required to study.
Later, after the Qin bibliocaust, the Tian family became the foremost transmitters of the Yi in the early Han. Subsequently, the Jiao and Fei schools emerged, which later branched into thirteen schools. Among these thirteen, the Yi studies of the Shi, Meng, and Liangqiu schools were the most influential. In addition to these, there was also the Jingshi school of Yi studies. The Jingshi Yi studies originated from the Jiao school and placed particular emphasis on divination.
What was intriguing, however, was that in order to establish their own novel interpretations, these scholars of the Yi all, without prior agreement, infused their own personal views into their understanding of the Yi, embarking on various forms of... annotation—or, indeed, even... distorted interpretation.
To put it simply, it was much like when Fei Qian had traveled to Jing-Xiang for study and, at the Xun family's secondary residence, attended a lecture by Xun Yu on the "Discourse on the Four Virtues." That, too, could be seen as a form of annotation on the Yi. Xun Yu's interpretation, at least, could still be considered a positive explication. The Jingshi Yi, however, largely involved divination to probe the hexagram images and offered interpretations based upon that. Well, this led to... well, everyone understood.
"Liangdao, do you believe the New Script Classics are better, or the Old Script Classics?" Fei Qian asked.
"That..." Jia Qu hesitated slightly. After all, he himself was not a master of classical exegesis; how could he presume to offer an opinion so casually?
Fei Qian smiled and said, "It's nothing. Let us simply consider this idle conversation, a casual exchange. Liangdao, you need have no reservations."
Jia Qu nodded, then after a moment of deliberation, said, "The Qin bibliocaust was an error, a crime of the Legalist school. The Old Script Classics were fragmented and incomplete; the New Script Classics stitched and mended them—this was a virtuous undertaking..." Fei Qian nodded, neither interrupting nor commenting, knowing that this was merely Jia Qu's preamble and that his own views would inevitably follow. "...Yet the various scholars of today, harboring selfish intentions to tear down, lack the impartial heart to serve the greater good. Some are consumed by envy and jealousy; others form factions with their fellow disciples. They do not examine the true circumstances, nor do they grasp the authentic Way. Alas..." Jia Qu shook his head and did not continue.
Fei Qian subconsciously tapped his fingers lightly upon the desk, deep in thought. This, in fact, was a problem he had been pondering all along. This Three Kingdoms era was far, far from being as simple as he had originally imagined.
In later ages, he had seen on numerous forums people discussing the burning of books and the burying of scholars in one light or another. Looking at it now, it seemed that it was not only the Confucians who had been buried, but all schools of thought except the Legalists. Yet the result was not at all what the Legalists had desired. The other schools of thought struggled and survived, whereas the Legalist school itself was kicked right out of the halls of power—or rather, was swallowed whole by Confucianism, with the few remaining dregs spat far away.
At the same time, Confucianism seemed to have likewise swallowed up many other schools of thought that had withered in the aftermath of the Qin bibliocaust. On the one hand, it was to perfect its own theories and canonical texts; on the other, to accrue greater political capital. Many of the great Confucian scholars of the Han dynasty, without prior agreement, all chose the same path: compiling books and establishing their own authoritative works. And then they began to pad their content with water.
A phrase suddenly occurred to Fei Qian. He sighed deeply and said with great feeling, "Liangdao, what you are speaking of is precisely the problem embedded in the phrase 'The people may be made to follow, but may not be made to understand.'"
Jia Qu was momentarily taken aback, furrowing his brow with a trace of incomprehension. Fei Qian then casually punctuated this famous classical maxim in two or three different ways, briefly explaining the variations to Jia Qu. Jia Qu clapped his hands together in delight and exclaimed, "Exactly so! My lord's words capture the very malaise of the present age!" He was filled with admiration; this phrase was truly brilliant, the most fitting description of the current state of affairs.
Seeing the worshipful gaze of Jia Qu, Fei Qian could not help but feel a tickle in his throat and coughed dryly twice. This saying was simply too famous, and thus he was overly familiar with it. But, that being the case... the current state of Confucianism, combined with the resources now in his hands, could it be... well, it seemed... that he could stir up some matters? And if so, even if the Wei clan made certain moves, it seemed he might also be able to...
However, this matter would still have to wait until his teacher, Cai Yong, arrived to carry the great banner before he could proceed. With his own current small frame, taking on such a monumental proposition would truly be more than he could bear.
Therefore, Fei Qian said, "This matter involves far too many implications; let us set it aside for now. With the materials and funds borrowed from the Wei clan, let us first construct the academy on Peach Blossom Mountain before speaking further. The Wei clan's subsequent maneuvers will only be of any use once we have actually opened the academy, so there is no pressing urgency."
Jia Qu nodded and then asked, "My lord, may this phrase of Taibo be engraved upon the gate stele?"
Fei Qian chuckled and said, "That can certainly be done. However, let us merely note it down for now; it is temporarily inconvenient to speak openly of it."
"This is only natural; Qu understands." Jia Qu looked at Fei Qian, his heart somewhat stirred. The Jia family's ancestor, Jia Kui, had been a great literary scholar and a staunch proponent of the Old Script Classics. He had once debated against the great Confucian Li Yu, who specialized in the New Script Classics, and was renowned in that era. But later, the family had gradually declined. By Jia Qu's own generation, seeing the rampant spread of the New Script Classics, he had inevitably harbored a lingering resentment. Yet today, discovering that his lord, Fei Qian, seemed to hold considerable agreement with the Old Script Classics, he could not help but feel that he did not walk this path alone. Immediately, he felt a surge of vigor and, brimming with fighting spirit, took his leave, his energy so high he could scarcely wait to complete the construction of the academy at once.
Fei Qian escorted Jia Qu out of the hall, then stood in the central courtyard, tilting his head back to look at the dense multitude of stars—a sight he had never once beheld in the later ages. For a moment, he felt almost intoxicated. The Three Kingdoms era, like this magnificently resplendent curtain of night, in truth concealed countless secrets unknown to others. Only when one calmed the heart and gazed slowly did one seem able to perceive the heart-stirring, breathtaking beauty hidden within.