"This is also the reason why the Academy did not enter the world previously."
"I just don’t know why Su Wang this time is willing to let the Academy enter the world, aren’t they really worried about the Academy being consumed? Moreover, with these philosophers and noble families in place, the students of the Academy entering Ying Country and Chen Country could still maintain some balance."
"The fear is that upon entering Jiangnan, these great scholars and intellectuals, relying on the sage wisdom of the world and their own disciples, would inevitably point fingers and meddle in the entire direction of Jiangnan, showing themselves as venerable old men."
"But we cannot say anything."
"Once we speak, it becomes a matter of orderly respect for elders and juniors."
"They still have factions under their control, as well as scholars and disciples."
Feng Xiao ruffled his naturally curly hair even more messily. He already understood why Gongyang Su Wang did not allow the Academy to enter the world, as he did not want the Academy to be divided and devoured, nor did he want various factions to coerce those young scholars who were still inexperienced.
To avoid their own scholars being used as pawns, only to be discarded in the end.
The Academy had arrived, unlike its former solemnity, it now rather had a lively atmosphere.
Feng Xiao drank half a pot of wine, his face showing a hint of drunkenness, he raised his head and whispered, "Lord, Ji Daochun gave his life for you to become the opponent of the noble families, and today is about seizing a large amount of talent, Chen Country and Ying Country are happy to see such a thing."
"But the great trend woven by Wen He and Lingjun for the Lord cannot be revealed yet."
"In today’s debate, you will be the target of those great scholars, do not speak of stupidity, they are very clever, one side is wisdom, the other is human relationships, Ji Daochun, old and steadfast, did not rely solely on his cunning methods."
"In his youth, he also had ambitions, and the current Mr. Wen, back in the day when he was poor, Ji Daochun personally gave him books; Mr. Jiang entered the Academy on a snow night, upon encountering heavy snow blocking the mountains, with his body almost frozen to death, Ji Daochun brought people to bring him back."
"At that time, Ji Daochun was twenty-three years old, not successful within the Imperial Family, he carried the then obscure Mr. Jiang on his back all night, and when returning, his legs and feet were frozen stiff."
"There are many such things, it can only be said that Ji Daochun before fifty and his later self often seemed like two different people, since ancient times, many were vigorous in youth and became stubborn and muddle-headed in old age, not a few."
"Indeed, much of the incompetence recorded throughout history died thirty years early, all were the darlings of heaven."
"After all, if one can enter history, they won’t truly be incapable."
"It’s a pity that their life spans were too long, ruining their reputations afterward."
"He died, his connections and relationships instead became your opponents."
"So I’d rather drink myself to death with Thousand-Day Drunk before becoming confused in old age."
Li Guan Yi laughed and scolded, "Still greedy for drink."
Feng Xiao scratched his head and laughed, took a sip of wine during a break, looked at the gate, and said, "I cannot accompany you inside, Lord, I have some other matters to attend to..."
He smiled and paid his respects, saying, "May you find success, Lord."
Li Guan Yi said, "Do you think, with the Academy gathering ten thousand people, how many can we take away?"
Feng Xiao replied, "Before you came to Central State, about a hundred or so."
"After the affairs of the Heavenly Strategy Mansion, it should be a thousand, is already ten times, your opponents are the Chen Country and Ying Country with three hundred years of imperial rule and eight hundred years accumulated of great scholars, Ming Sect, and factions, able with one’s reputation to win over more than a thousand scholars."
"The Lord’s prestige is truly remarkable."
Li Guan Yi smiled and nodded, tied his mount beside him, and then entered through the solemn gate of the Academy, the green stone bricks murmuring underfoot, he walked slowly into the place where the debate was held, already a sea of people, with scholars surrounding the periphery.
In fact, those who could listen in and observe here today were the outstanding disciples of various factions, most scholars cannot approach, and so use the text, sending the progress of the debate with Flying Eagle to different places, then being spread by the storytellers of [Novelists], one of the Nine Streams.
Li Guan Yi’s eyesight was excellent, he could already see Chen Dingye, Jiang Wanxiang, and Ji Zichang on high, they were kings, although they came here today, they did not participate in the debate, but watched from above.
Jiang Wanxiang, masterful in martial arts, noticed Li Guan Yi, gave a slight nod.
Chen Dingye’s gaze dropped down, calm and cold, with a hint of chill, yet carrying a different aura from the past, he lifted the wine cup on the table and slightly toasted towards Li Guan Yi.
Toast of congratulations, then he tilted his head back and drank.
Li Guan Yi walked slowly, there were actually many scholars here, but upon noticing him, they paused slightly, then retreated in layers, leaving a clear path before Li Guan Yi as if waves parted.
Two great scholars were engaged in debating the Tao.
What they spoke were the words of the Saint, quoting widely, with eloquent phrases, using the Saint’s words to exemplify their political views.
However, today’s debate was different from the past when it was to refine one’s path, it was more about expanding one’s own faction and suppressing others, scholars from humble backgrounds found it difficult to progress without entering a faction.
This situation only eased somewhat after Gongyang Su Wang ascended to the position at the Academy.
When Li Guan Yi arrived here, the debate between the two great scholars suddenly halted.
Their eyes simultaneously shifted and focused on Li Guan Yi, the previous debate was merely idle conversation between them, all their attention had been actually centered on Li Guan Yi.