Chapter Nineteen: The Four Classics

Since Zhou Zhi had said that Sima Yi was the greatest beneficiary, Wang Ding immediately asked which of the Three Kingdoms’ figures Zhou Zhi wished to be. It was clear this question was fraught with peril.

Regardless of Wang Ding’s own nature, if Zhou Zhi replied that he wished to be Sima Yi, and Wang Ding one day spread word of it, trouble would surely come Zhou Zhi’s way. Sima Yi was a usurper, no different from a traitor. Although Zhou Zhi was just a penniless youth with nothing to his name, if someone sought to make an issue of it, he would hardly escape misfortune.

If Zhou Zhi were to accomplish anything in the future, such words would be even more detrimental.

Zhou Zhi furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment before saying, “I am a farmer’s son, born to poverty. My only wish is for my family to live prosperously and happily; I desire nothing else.”

Remembering his purpose in coming, he continued, “If I were to choose a figure from the Three Kingdoms, I would wish to be Zhuge Liang—loyal to his lord and caring for the people, exhausting himself in service until death.”

As Zhou Zhi spoke, Wang Ding’s aged eyes never left him, scrutinizing his every expression. Seeing Zhou Zhi’s calm and steady demeanor, Wang Ding could not help but nod inwardly, thinking, This old man’s judgment was not wrong; the boy is deep indeed. Yet what he says rings true—under this peaceful heaven, to be a Zhuge Liang would indeed be fine, a name recorded for all time.

Zhou Zhi’s words were measured and articulate, far from what one might expect from a mere peasant’s son. Wang Ding’s shock was profound—Zhou Zhi had changed so much from before, the old man could hardly fathom the reason.

Is it possible that Baiyue Village is about to give rise to a great talent?

Wang Ding’s eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at Zhou Zhi with a mixture of admiration and fondness. After a long pause, he asked in a gentle voice, “Young Zhou, tell me, what brings you to my home today? If there is aught I can do to help, I shall do my utmost.”

Zhou Zhi hurriedly climbed down from the kang, stood straight, and gave Wang Ding a deep bow before saying, “The truth is, I have come to request the loan of some books to read.”

“Books?” Wang Ding was instantly surprised.

For a poor farmer’s son to wish to borrow books—this could not help but astonish him. Yet soon Wang Ding found it understandable; this Zhou lad was not like the ordinary children of poor families. He had recently shown sudden wisdom, and a desire to read was only natural.

Thinking thus, Wang Ding chuckled, “Very well, I shall lend you a book.”

With that, he reached toward the head of the kang and took a small bundle, which he unwrapped to reveal several thin volumes.

“You may take whichever one you wish,” Wang Ding said with apparent generosity, laying the books on the table. However, he emphasized the word “one” heavily, making it clear he was reluctant to part with more.

It was hard to blame him; in ancient times, what scholar did not cherish his books as life itself?

What, only one? Zhou Zhi could not help but feel a pang of disappointment.

He glanced at the table. The books were all slender primers: “Three Character Classic,” “Hundred Family Surnames,” “Thousand Character Essay,” “Mengqiu,” and the slightly thicker “Elementary Learning” compiled by Zhu Xi. Clearly, these were texts Wang Ding used for teaching at the village school.

The village school was established by the authorities, its main purpose being the moral education of children. The curriculum included basic primers, etiquette for life events, and some classics and arithmetic. Sometimes, the Four Books and Five Classics were also taught.

Yet the students of Baiyue Village’s school were mostly farmers’ sons, who simply wished to learn to read, do sums, and understand the ways of the world, not to become scholars for the imperial exams. Thus, Wang Ding mostly taught basic primers.

In Wang Ding’s view, although Zhou Zhi had, after his recent fall and fainting spell, become astonishingly clever—capable of reciting the “Thousand Character Essay” and knowing much of the Three Kingdoms—he had never formally studied the primers, and so ought to start with these.

Zhou Zhi leafed through the books and smiled at Wang Ding. “Sir, I do not wish to borrow these. What I would like is to borrow one of the Four Books or Five Classics.”

As the “Three Character Classic” says, “Every learner must have a beginning. After mastering the primers, one moves to the Four Books.” In Zhou Zhi’s mind, if he could only take one book, there was little point in borrowing these simple primers.

After all, he was a transmigrator from the future, a graduate of a prestigious university. Though not able to recite these primers by heart, he was familiar enough with them, and besides, the imperial exams drew their questions from the Four Books and Five Classics, not the primers. He had little real acquaintance with the Four Books and Five Classics, so he resolved to begin there.

Wang Ding’s brow creased in displeasure. “One’s foundation must be firm. Until you have mastered the primers, how can you read the Four Books? It would be like building a castle in the air.”

“I have heard you teach these primers at the school’s gate, sir, and picked up a little. I dare say I might try reading the Four Books,” Zhou Zhi replied with humility, though his words carried a certain pride.

There was no help for it; without such words, he would not be able to borrow the Four Books.

In the past, had Zhou Zhi spoken so arrogantly, Wang Ding would surely have reprimanded or even scoffed at him. But things were different now, especially after their conversation about the Three Kingdoms, which had revealed Zhou Zhi’s eloquence and logic. Wang Ding could not help but treat him as someone extraordinary.

Wang Ding considered for a moment, then picked up the “Mengqiu” and said, “Since you claim to know the primers, let me test you. Tell me, what stories does the ‘Mengqiu’ recount?”

Zhou Zhi replied, “I recall you mentioning 'Li Ling first wrote poetry, Tian Heng sang with feeling, Wu Zhong would not rest, Shi Heng suffered much. Huan Tan criticized omens, Wang Shang refuted rumors. Ji and Lu prepared their carriages, Cheng and Kong formed instant friendships.' And also stories such as Xi Shi clutching her heart and so forth.”

The “Mengqiu” was composed of rhymed four-character lines, each referring to a historical anecdote. As a modern university graduate, Zhou Zhi naturally knew some of them.

Wang Ding gave a small nod. “A lofty tower rises from the ground. I see you truly wish to begin with the Four Books, and I shall not stop you. Still, I urge you to build a solid foundation.”

Zhou Zhi thought to himself, As if I didn’t know the importance of a solid foundation. But since you’ll only lend me a single book, what choice do I have? And with your love for your books, it will be hard to borrow again.

Wang Ding continued, “Reading is not the pursuit of ordinary men. Regardless of your present circumstances, the hardship alone is more than most can bear.

The imperial exams draw their questions from the Four Books and Five Classics, which must be memorized in their entirety. Alone, these texts comprise three to five hundred thousand characters—difficult and obscure. Not easy to memorize. And then there are the commentaries and scholarly works, which, though not all must be learned by heart, still require hundreds of thousands of words to be memorized. Moreover, the exams also include composition and poetry, so famous verses and classics must also be learned.

The sheer difficulty of memorizing all this is clear to see. It cannot be managed by rote alone; true understanding is needed, which is even harder. What’s more, to achieve any distinction, you must read histories, military texts, and a host of other works.

The bridge to ‘houses of gold,’ ‘granaries of grain,’ and ‘beauties as fair as jade’ is not easily crossed. The path of the imperial examination is arduous indeed! It is precisely because I know how hard this is that I let my own son work as a servant in another’s home rather than study. Of course, he is not scholar material.

Young Zhou, if you truly wish to sit the imperial exams, have you thought all this through?”