Sima Shi and Xiahou Xuan, led by a minor official, slowly walked inside the Chongwen Observatory, glancing left and right from time to time.
Among the three in Chongwen Observatory, the division of duties was actually quite clear.
Gao Tanglong led the compilation of history, Cao Zhi was responsible for compiling scriptures, and Wu Zhi was in charge of literature. The one Master of Sacrifices and two Associate Masters of Sacrifices, aside from being part of the same institution at Chongwen Observatory, had little interference with each other.
Gao Tanglong is in the palace, and Wu Zhi has been spending most of his days in Luoyang city, interacting with literary figures. Either it's poetry gatherings or banquets.
But this is also Wu Zhi's primary duty.
If one were to collect articles, poems, and verses from various individuals, simply by having them passed down through the great scholars and literary figures in Luoyang, it would already be a shortcut.
In this era, the majority of people who can write articles and poems are either from aristocratic families or noble households. This is due to the limitations of cultural dissemination in that era.
He Yan, upon hearing that the two were coming, had already stood at the doorway to greet them.
Upon seeing He Yan waiting outside, Xiahou Xuan and Sima Shi both bowed respectfully.
He Yan said with a smile, "It's good that Taiyi and Ziyan have come! I already have several scholars here to join me in compiling the 'Yi' together. Hurry and come inside to take a look!"
Xiahou Xuan said, "It's been a favor, younger brother Pingshu."
As He Yan guided the two into the interior, Sima Shi also saw the overall structure of the room clearly.
The large room was similar to a regular classroom in Tai Study, with fewer than ten desks scattered around the room, making it seem quite empty. Besides He Yan, there were also four other people seated inside the room.
Upon seeing He Yan lead the two inside, the four people also rose to their feet.
He Yan said with a smile, "Gentlemen, let me introduce each of you to each other."
He Yan patted Xiahou Xuan on the arm: "You two might not have met yet. The person beside me is Xiahou Taizhi, the son of Xiahou Zhengnan."
"This is the eldest son of Sima Sikong, Sima Ziyuan. These two young scholars are among the top students at Tai Academy, and you should all be aware of them."
The person closest to the door smiled and said, "I've heard of Xiahou Taizhi for a long time. I am Dongping Bi Jin, and I used to hold the position of Literary Scholar in the East Palace."
Xiahou Xuan bowed respectfully and said, "I have heard of Brother Zigli's great name for a long time, and today I finally get to see him."
Sima Shi stood aside and watched as Bi Jin and Xiahou Xuan exchanged pleasantries without mentioning him, feeling a hint of displeasure.
After Bi Jin introduced himself, the remaining three people also started to interact with the two. However, what upset Sima Shi was that the three of them started by chatting with Xiahou Xuan first, almost not asking him anything at all.
He Pingshu has already given my name some reputation, right? Apparently, this reputation thing is useful for outsiders but completely useless for people who know each other well and have no effect at all.
However, one cannot really blame them for this.
There are too many high officials and nobles in Luoyang. Compared to Xiahou Xuan, who is known as "bright as the moon and the sun," Sima Shi, as the son of Sima Sikong, is not that well-known. Compared to him, his popularity is indeed much lower.
After the exchange, He Yan said with a smile, "Bi Jin, Deng Yang, Li Sheng, and Ding Mi are four scholars I know well. Xiahou Taizhi and Sima Ziyuan, you should try to visit each other more often in the future."
Xiahou Xuan bowed and said, "Thank you for the introduction, Brother He. We came to visit today especially to hear about your work on compiling the 'Yi' at the Chongwen Observatory."
"Please, everyone, take a seat," He Yan said with a smile. "Xiahou Taizhi is right. According to tradition, all five classics should be compiled and translated into plain language."
"But there is a priority to be followed,” he said. “The Prince of Yongqiu is currently responsible for compiling the 'Shijing,' and he has entrusted me with the task of leading the compilation of the 'Yijing'. Once the 'Shijing' and 'Yijing' are completed, I will start on the 'Shangshu', 'Liji', and 'Chunqiu'."
Sima Shi curiously asked, "Brother He, may I ask, does one need an official position to compile the classics here?"
He Yan nodded and said, "Of course, there is an official position involved. The Master of Sacrifices and the two Associate Masters of Sacrifices each have a salary of two thousand yuan. As for me, as a scholar of Chongwen Observatory, I also hold a position with a salary of one thousand yuan."
Beside, Bian Gui said with a smile: "Brother He is a scholar. The four of us are also scholars. Although Brother He is a scholar of one thousand stones, the four of us are only six hundred stones."
Six hundred stones... That's a significant raise from the three hundred stones that a Tai Xue graduate can get as a Tai Xue Lang.
"The court treats scholars so generously, it's really generous." Sima Shi asked again: "However, this scholar position at Chongwen Observatory, is it solely chosen by Chongwen Observatory, or does it need to go through the Office of the Ministry of Education?"
He Yan said with a smile, "Sima Ziyuan, what are you thinking? Although Chongwen Observatory enjoys the favor of the emperor, who would pay the salary of an official position without prior approval from the Office of the Ministry of Education?"
"But compared to other positions, Chongwen Observatory is still much better."
Deng Yang continued He Yan's words, with an arrogant expression: "Our wonderful positions are all thanks to our dear Brother He!"
Xiahou Xuan was puzzled and asked: "What does Brother Deng mean by that?"
He Yan turned his head and looked at Deng Yang, but Deng Yang seemed to have everything under control, smiling and saying to He Yan, "Is Brother He not letting me say? Xiahou Taizhi and Sima Ziyuan are also our friends. What's there that can't be said about a mere position of six hundred stones?"
He Yan shook his head helplessly, and Deng Yan's voice came from the side again.
Deng Yang said: "Chongwen Observatory is a newly established institution. Gao Tang and Wu have been absent from the observatory for days. The only high official in the observatory is Prince Yongqiu."
"A few days ago, Brother He went to see the prince and wanted to have us brought into the observatory. But the prince said that he only dealt with literary matters related to scripture compilation and did not concern himself with other affairs, instructing Brother He to go directly to the Office of the Ministry of Education."
"The Department of the Ministry of Education's Clerk Yuan Kan, who is known as Yuan Guangrong, has always been friends with us. He directly approved our official positions with just a stroke of his pen, without even needing half an hour!"
He Yan gave Deng Yang a slightly reproving glance: "Brother Deng, don't say that."
"Yuan Guangrong approved it so quickly only because Chongwen Observatory is highly valued by the emperor. What does it have to do with me or you?"
"Ha ha ha." Deng Yang laughed and raised his hand towards the ceiling: "Brother He is right, it's all thanks to the emperor's grace."
Xiahou Xuan and Sima Shi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with a hint of surprise.
Six hundred stones! That's not a small official position.
When Sima Shi's grandfather Sima Fang recommended Cao Cao as the north part of the Yue Prefecture, he held the position of 600 stones.
Xiahou Xuan had once accompanied the emperor on a southern campaign, and Sima Shi spent his days listening to his father, who was the recorder of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, talk about administrative affairs. Both were not unaware of political matters.
Yuan Kan and He Yan's behavior is clearly a violation of rules, engaging in private conferment!
If following the normal procedure, He Yan should have reported to Yuan Kan after seeking him out. Then, Yuan should have reported it to the right minister of the Office of the Ministry of Education, Weizhen.
A six-hundred-stone official, who is not a county magistrate of an important county, does not require approval from Ji Shu (the recorder of the Ministry of Civil Affairs) Sima Yi. Weizhen himself could have made the decision entirely on his own.
But Weizhen isn't usually in the palace working every day!
Clearly, Yuan Kan knew that Weizhen would certainly approve the application, so he went beyond his authority and granted the official credentials to He Yan in advance.
Xiahou Xuan asked He Yan awkwardly, "Brother He, this appointment seems to be out of line with the usual procedures, doesn't it?"
He Yan smiled and said, "Xiahou, you worry too much!"
"The Chongwen Observatory compilation of classics is a matter of great concern to the emperor, and it's also appropriate to approve in advance. Xiahou's concern is too heavy."
Xiahou Xuan, who also held his official position from the emperor, no longer felt a need to be concerned and asked, "Brother He, how exactly are you going to compile the 'Yijing', and how long do you expect it to take?"
He Yan smiled and stood up, pacing in the room: "The compilation of the 'Yijing' can be divided into two steps."
"The first step is to translate the 'Yijing' into common language, and I believe the principles behind this are well known among Tai Xue students?"
Xiahou Xuan nodded in agreement.
He Yan continued, "The second step is to annotate the 'Yijing'. Does Xiahou know? Chongwen Observatory's compilation of annotations for the Five Classics will be made public to all schools across the empire as an official textbook."
Sima Shi, noticing the situation, asked: "Brother He, I have a question."
"Go ahead, Sima Ziyuan," He Yan replied, looking at Sima Shi.
Sima Shi hesitated for a moment: "Brother He, isn't the current standard for the Five Classics based on Zheng Xue? The emperor's order for Chongwen Observatory to annotate the Five Classics is to base it on Zheng Xue, or should it be decided by yourself, Brother He?"
"He Yan pointed with a smile: "Subei has indeed been hit on the head. The task of making the five classics accessible to everyone is something Subei can accomplish."
He Yan smiled and asked, "What do you think of the annotations?"
Sima Shi nodded slightly: "I don't know. But when I last saw Brother He, he seemed to have quite a unique understanding of the 'Yijing'."
He Yan nodded: "The court has tasked us with annotations, how can we follow Ou Xian's words on everything? I once said that Kangcheng Gong may not be entirely right, but I did not speak idly."
"Kangcheng Gong was well-versed in the Five Classics, but when he annotated them, he always used his understanding of 'Rites' to explain the statements in various classics."
"Some exaggerate, and some are biased."
Sima Shi himself did not have enough expertise in the study of classics to comment on the annotations, so he did not know how to respond to He Yan's words.
Sima Shi could only bow and say, "In the field of scholarship, those who have achieved more come first. Brother He has great talent, and I am far behind you."
He Yan waved his hand: "Subei is just young. If he were a bit older, maybe we would all be looking up to him."
He Yan's intention was to compliment Sima Shi, but in Sima Shi's ears, it seemed to have another meaning.
If one has to be older to be looked up to, does that mean we're looking down on him now or just looking at him at eye level?
Combining the entrance just now, where everyone was clearly more enthusiastic about Xiahou Xuan, Sima Shi became even more suspicious.
Sima Shi's personality is different from others. When he meets scholars and talented people, Sima Shi often sincerely admires them. However, his more sensitive personality often makes him overly concerned about the opinions of others towards him.
A more acute sense of perception doesn't always bring about good things.
Sima Shi bowed and said, "Brother He's teachings, I have remembered."
While He Yan and the other four were discussing the interpretation of the "Yijing" in the Taixue, Sima Shi began to lose focus and wander from time to time.
Earning six hundred stones so easily... After the graduation of the Taixue in October, should I become a Taixue Lang or join the Chongwen Observatory?
Go ask my father and find out the best way! (Chapter Complete)
