In the Western Han Dynasty, scholars and literati discussed social status, and scholars from the "public clan" should be ranked the highest.
It is the highest position in the hearts of scholars and literati in the world, to be able to sit and discuss affairs as one of the Three Excellencies. If a scholar's father or grandfather had served as one of the Three Excellencies, that scholar can be considered to be from a "public clan."
The public clan is indeed at the top of the chain of contempt. Compared to the public clan, the royal house is not much.
However, in the current Wei state, after experiencing the chaos across the empire and continuous military campaigns, countless noble families have either declined or ceased to exist, and the political and social status of those who lead the army from the Xiahou and Cao clans is increasingly elevated.
This is only natural. Spirit comes from material things. Without the military leadership of the Cao and Xiahou clans in resolving the chaos, how could there be a stable period? Those who have experienced the chaos of the times naturally understand this truth.
Today, to be born into the Cao or Xiahou clan, is almost equivalent to being considered from a "public clan" among scholars.
Xiahou Xuan is a distinguished figure among the scholars of Luoyang today, and he can even be regarded as a leader of the scholars.
In terms of family background, talent and virtue, as well as appearance, Xiahou Xuan is clearly outstanding in all aspects.
From a family background perspective, Xiahou Xuan's father is Xiahou Shang, and Xiahou Xuan's uncle is Cao Zhen. Xiahou Shang was close to Cao Pi and had served as the commander-in-chief of the military in Jingzhou, making him one of the prominent high-ranking officials in Wei state. Xiahou Xuan's uncle Cao Zhen is now the Generalissimo of Wei state, in charge of military affairs.
In terms of talent and virtue, Xiahou Xuan had mastered the Five Classics by the age of fifteen and had once debated with more than a dozen scholars without losing. Just a few months ago, when the young son of Xu You, Xu Zan, came to the capital, it was Xiahou Xuan and He Yan who organized the debate between Xu Zan and Fu Guo.
In terms of appearance, Xiahou Xuan is also one of the most handsome. He is 8 feet tall, and his face is as beautiful as a jade ornament. At the age of seventeen, Xiahou Xuan gained fame in Luoyang for his appearance, and people at that time called him "Clear like the moon and star in one's embrace".
A comprehensive body of top-level government officials, top-level handsome man, and top-level young scholars, is almost considered the leader of all young scholars in Luoyang.
Sima Shi had long wanted to befriend Xiahou Xuan, but before today, the two of them were only acquaintances who had never engaged in deep conversation. And today, Xiahou Xuan, upon learning that his father had been promoted to the position of Grand Secretary, made the first move and greeted him himself.
It's no wonder that Xiahou Xuan acts in this way. Being born into such a prominent family, although on the surface, he always handles things with logic and poise, giving people a sense of being in the spring breeze, he naturally divides people into different levels. This is just an ingrained habit of behavior.
"Big brother Ziyuan, you've come so early today?" Xiahou Xuan greeted with a smile and bowed to Sima Shi.
Xiahou Xuan was seventeen years old at the time, two years younger than Sima Shi, but he was almost half a head taller. Height is an important part of determining demeanor. In the early years, when Cao Cao faced a visit from the Xiongnu envoys, he had Cui Yan, who was taller and more imposing in appearance, to act as host for the reception.
One could say that Sima Shi still had some awe and admiration for Xiahou Xuan.
Sima Shi hurriedly bowed back in greeting: "Tai Zi, you've arrived quite early as well. I have nothing to do, so I've come here to read the Shijing."
Xiahou Xuan did not come to the Academy of Learning alone; he was followed by a girl and several attendants. However, Sima Shi did not ask too many questions, so he only greeted Xiahou Xuan himself.
Xiahou Xuan's father, Xiahou Shang, passed away more than half a year ago. Before his death, he followed his son's suggestion and gave him the courtesy name "Tai Zi," which means "the beginning" in English. The courtesy name is from a passage in the Zhuangzi: "The beginning has neither existence nor non-existence; it has no name."
This is also related to Xiahou Xuan's personal academic interests, as he prefers Daoism over Confucianism.
"It's the chapter of the Mean," Xiahou Xuan said, looking at the Stone Canon in front of where Sima Shi was standing. "To be sincere and become wise is called nature; to be wise and become sincere is called teaching."
Xiahou Xuan asked, "Big brother Ziyuan, what do you think this sentence means?"
In this era, whether it's an imperial edict or a conversation among scholars, one usually begins with citing classical texts and then expressing their own views. Since scholars want to make friends with each other, they need to have a good understanding of each other's talents and virtues.
Seeing Xiahou Xuan's question, Sima Shi thought for a moment and replied, "Sincerity refers to truthfulness without deceit, and brightness refers to profound understanding of matters. Being sincere and becoming wise is the characteristic of a sage, while being wise and becoming sincere is the virtue of a virtuous person."
"After sincerity comes nature, this means that one should prioritize sincerity in their actions."
Xiahou Xuan listened to Sima Shi's words with a smile and nodded: "The view of Ziyuan is correct. However, I have a different opinion recently."
"Oh?" Sima Shi was quite surprised, couldn't it be that Xiahou Xuan was annotating classics by himself?
Sima Shi asked, "What do you think this statement means, Tai Zi?"
Xiahou Xuan smiled and said, "According to my limited view, a person can become wise from sincere and vice versa. This actually means that sincerity and wisdom, truth and practicality, are intertwined and inseparable. So is there such a thing that can simultaneously include truth and practicality?"
"It seems that the Taoist concepts of the natural and the void can encompass both."
Seeing that Sima Shi seemed to understand but was not fully grasping it, Xiahou Xuan did not intend to delve deeper. Most scholars at that time only studied the Five Classics and paid little attention to other Daoist teachings. Xiahou Xuan had simply gained some new insights from Daoist teachings and had some new thoughts about the words 'sincerity' and 'wisdom'.
However, Xiahou Xuan was modest and humble, and Sima Shi, although he didn't quite understand, was not afraid to agree with Xiahou Xuan: "Tai Zi's high vision is beyond me. Although I am not very familiar with Daoist teachings."
At this moment, the girl standing beside Xiahou Xuan spoke up: "Brother, I think what he said is right. The master taught us that way, and I've never heard of such opinions from you."
Sima Shi originally wasn't quite comfortable with initiating a greeting, but since the girl had spoken up herself, it wasn't too impolite to greet them about the meaning of the text they were discussing.
Sima Shi smiled at Xiahou Xuan and asked: "Tai Zi, who is this?"
Xiahou Xuan introduced, "She is my sister, Xiahou Hui, who is now only fifteen years old. Hui'er, this is Sima Shi, the eldest son of Sima Si, the Grand Secretary."
Xiahou Hui blinked her eyes at Sima Shi: "Are you Sima Ziyuan? I've heard my brother mention you."
Sima Shi replied, "I am indeed Sima Ziyuan. I just heard you mention me. Do you read classics too? Tai Zi is deeply versed in classical meanings, so I'm sure his sister must also be exceptional."
Seeing that Sima Shi wanted to talk with his sister, Xiahou Xuan quickly changed the subject: "Ziyuan brother, the main entrance of the Academy has already opened. Let's go in together."
Sima Shi naturally had no reason to refuse, smiling at Xiahou Hui and nodding, he then turned around and headed towards the direction of the Academy of Learning. Xiahou Xuan naturally followed quickly, but just as he took a few steps, he turned his head and glared at his sister.
Xiahou Hui understood her brother's meaning and made a cheeky face in retaliation. As they gradually walked away, Xiahou Hui looked at the text on the Stone Canon, but after looking for a while, she couldn't help but turn around to look for the figures of her brother and Sima Shi.
The two of them had already entered the main entrance, and it was no longer possible to see their backs. Xiahou Hui pursed her lips, and when she looked at the Stone Canon again, she seemed to inhale softly.
The main entrance of the Academy of Learning in Luoyang is to the north, facing the Kaimeng Gate in the southern part of Luoyang. Sima Shi and Xiahou Xuan walked into the main entrance together. They saw many laborers sweeping the courtyard and wiping the door lintels, giving a festive atmosphere as if it was New Year's Day.
Sima Shi was puzzled: "What has happened? Why are they cleaning up like this?"
Xiahou Xuan smiled and said, "Ziyuan, I actually know why. But if I tell you, you must not spread it."
Sima Shi nodded: "I'm not a person who speaks without thinking, how could I spread it? But what is the matter happening?"
Xiahou Xuan made a show of mystery, pursing his lips, and pointed with his right index finger towards the sky: "It's happening tomorrow."
Xiahou Xuan pointed to the sky, indicating a very clear meaning. The emperor is coming to the Academy of Learning tomorrow? This is the first time in history.
Sima Shi nodded, stunned. It seems that the current emperor is indeed very attached to the Academy of Learning. Recalling his father's request yesterday to find out about the situation in the Academy of Learning, it seems that this Academy of Learning will become increasingly important in Luoyang in the future.
Sima Shi was not idle today in the Academy of Learning. In addition to studying according to the schedule, during the noon break, he also spoke with Gaotang Long, who was in charge of daily affairs at the Academy, about the current enrollment situation of the Academy.
Although Sima Shi may not be as good as Xiahou Xuan in the Academy of Learning, he is still among the top group of people. If an ordinary student wanted to ask Gaotang Doctor about something, Gaotang Doctor would have no time to chat with you.
But Sima Shi was so excellent that, combined with his father as a assistant minister and newly promoted to a Three Granducts, Gaotang Long was also very amiable in talking with Sima Shi.
As Gaotang Long introduced, Sima Shi sensed something was amiss. Not that anything else was wrong, but out of the total enrollment of five hundred students, two hundred were from Ruying (Jiyin), Wan (Xuchang), and Luoyang?
What about the other counties and districts in the world? Moreover, some places only have one quota per county?
It seems that I need to go home and report to my father in detail.
...
The second day, Luoyang, the Academy of Learning.
Jiang Wei had been in Luoyang for a month.
Having left his home in Tian'eau County after more than twenty years, Jiang Wei traveled eastward, starting from Ji County, following the Weishui River to Chen Cang, crossing the entire Guanzhong Plain to reach Tongguan, and then continuing eastward to arrive in Luoyang.
Along the way, the geographical landscape and people's livelihood varied greatly. Tianshui was very arid, but after entering Guanzhong, Jiang Wei saw vast fields stretching as far as the eye could see. He passed through Chang'an, a city known for its towering walls, and then through Tongguan, which was said to be able to block a hundred enemies.
When Jiang Wei first arrived in Luoyang, he was quite excited. Whether it was seeing the palace gate of the Imperial Palace from the Copper Camel Street or the Stone Canon occupying almost half a street at the entrance of the Academy of Learning, Jiang Wei was full of anticipation for his future studies at the Academy.
But after a month, Jiang Wei couldn't help but feel some disappointment towards the Academy.
The teachers at the Academy of Learning naturally have a wider range of knowledge compared to the Confucian scholars from Tianshui. The campus of the Academy is also several thousand times larger than Jiang Wei's own school. However, there is one thing that Jiang Wei is not particularly satisfied with - his classmates at the Academy.
The classmates were mostly from wealthy and noble families, which was not a problem for Jiang Wei himself, who also came from a prominent family in Tianshui. But these students, most of whom were in their teens or twenties, did not seem to be very diligent in their studies. Instead, they were more interested in comparing each other's families and clothes.
It was this extravagant learning atmosphere that made Jiang Wei feel uncomfortable.
(Chapter complete)
