Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 78 Debate with a Group of Confucian Scholars

Lu Chuan didn't stand on ceremony and picked up his pen.

An hour passes in the blink of an eye.

Lord Chen struck the gavel heavily: "The discussion is over. The first speaker from the affirmative side, please make your statement."

The first person to appear on the affirmative side was Zhou Ziqian.

After he stood up, he glanced at Lu Chuan with some hesitation, only to receive a look from the other man.

Zhou Ziqian's heart jolted, and he took a deep breath, abandoning the well-prepared and steady set of words he had previously prepared.

"Ladies and gentlemen, just now I wanted to talk about the Book of Changes, about the Qian hexagram, and about the ambition of scholars. But now, I want to talk about the 'inevitable' reasons behind this 'striving for the lead'..."

As expected of someone from a prestigious family, Zhou Ziqian possessed exceptional eloquence. Inspired by Lu Chuan, his statement transcended mere emotional conflict and began to explore responsibility and commitment.

The people in the room nodded in agreement, and even Lord Chen at the head of the table slightly raised his eyelids.

However, the opposing side immediately launched an attack.

Although the child prodigy Lin Zhirun is young, his voice is clear and bright.

After he stood up, he spoke with a sharp edge: "Brother Zhou, your words are grand, but you've forgotten that a gentleman should be cautious even when alone. The so-called concealment of one's sharpness means to hide one's brilliance and conceal one's tracks, so that one can walk steadily and go far. If everyone were to rush ahead, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"Just like the rare flowers and exotic plants in Shengwen Garden, each has its own place. If they all compete to be the first to bloom in spring, it will only ruin the tranquility of this garden."

After Lin Zhirun finished speaking, a suppressed sigh of admiration rang out from the room.

The elderly judges whispered among themselves, clearly moved by the profound meaning of "each in their proper place".

The other five scholars on the opposing side were greatly encouraged and followed Lin Zhirun's line of thought, elevating "concealing one's edge" to the realm of the natural way of heaven.

"What Young Master Lin says is absolutely right. Just as the greatest sound is silent, a true gentleman should be like an orchid in a secluded valley, fragrant without striving." A scholar from the opposing side pressed his advantage, fanning himself with a fan, and said, "If one only seeks speed and being first, one will likely be seen as impetuous and lose the dignity of a scholar."

For a time, the affirmative side was put in a very passive position.

Although Lu Chuan had inspired Zhou Ziqian's ambition, his statements about responsibility seemed somewhat pale and powerless in the face of a room full of powerful and respected figures who championed integrity and dignity.

The other companions looked at each other in bewilderment, some even hanging their heads in dejection, as if they had already foreseen their defeat.

Lord Chen's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the young man in the blue robe in the corner.

"The last one on the affirmative side, Lu Chuan of Qingyang." Lord Chen's voice was unhurried yet carried an undeniable pressure. "As the last one standing, what countermeasures do you have against the theory of seclusion?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lu Chuan slowly left his seat and stepped into the center of the hall.

Instead of directly refuting Lin Zhirun's lofty and aloof talk about being like an orchid in a secluded valley, he first turned to look out the window.

At this moment, a gentle breeze blows through the Lanyue Pavilion, causing the plants and trees throughout the garden to sway.

"What my classmate Lin said, 'Everyone has their place,' and 'Fragrance arises naturally without striving,' truly represents the highest realm of self-discipline for scholars."

"However, I would like to ask you all: where does the tranquility of Shengwen Garden come from?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the water channel and the neatly trimmed flowers and trees.

"Is this tranquil place created because all the flowers and plants in the garden are 'in their proper places'? Not at all."

Lu Chuan turned around, his eyes sharp: "This tranquility is because someone dug canals to draw water in the dead of winter, someone sweated and pruned under the scorching sun, and someone painstakingly cultivated it in the mud."

"Without this dedication to being ahead of the seasons and to labor, these exotic flowers and rare herbs would have long since withered and died amidst overgrown weeds. How could they possibly be 'naturally fragrant'?"

Lin Zhirun's expression changed slightly, and he was about to speak when Lu Chuan raised his hand to stop him.

"You all admire the idea that 'a good article is naturally perfect' and 'it is beautiful without striving'."

"But true literary integrity is not about hiding in a life of wealth and comfort and talking about lofty ideals, but about using one's 'hard work' to fight for justice and a way out in this difficult world."

Lu Chuan stepped forward, his tone suddenly rising, each word resounding with conviction:

"You say that striving to be first is rash, but I say that if sages did not strive, how could the cultural heritage be passed down? If our predecessors did not strive, how could you all be here today in this elegant pavilion, discussing the state of the nation?"

The article's "painstaking effort" lies not in personal fame, but in the sense of responsibility that "must be fought for."

"Natural talent is certainly precious, but it is merely a gift from heaven; only the painstaking effort born from hardship, loneliness, and dire circumstances can support the literary world of the Great Qian Dynasty, and indeed, the entire world!"

He looked at the silent Lord Chen and bowed deeply:

"The students believe that true tranquility lies in the perseverance to focus on scholarship amidst storms, rather than in the self-admiration of hiding within walls."

"If one is afraid to strive for advancement simply to maintain appearances, then no matter how much one reads, one is nothing more than a bonsai tree in this prestigious garden, meant for the enjoyment of nobles!"

This last sentence about bonsai was like a thunderclap, causing many of the self-proclaimed refined scholars at the table to change color in shock, and even making the few dejected members of the affirmative side suddenly raise their heads.

Inside the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, there was a deathly silence.

The ruddy complexion in the eyes of those elderly people seemed to have faded somewhat, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

Lord Chen opened his eyes wide, which had been half-closed, and stared at Lu Chuan for a long time without saying a word.

"What a fine bonsai," Lord Chen finally spoke. "I have been retired and returned to my hometown for many years, yet you, a mere child from Qingyang, have described it as me playing with a bonsai."

During the gathering, the scholars on the opposing side had ashen faces, especially Lin Zhirun, who seemed somewhat lost in thought.

He was hailed as a child prodigy from a young age and received the most orthodox education. No one ever told him that what he took for granted was based on the labor of others.

Zhou Ziqian was very surprised at this moment.

"Gentlemen," Lord Chen stood up, his gaze sweeping over the ashamed faces, "the beauty of debate lies not in the elegance of language, but in the clarity of reasoning. Lu Chuan's words, though somewhat sharp, are like a sudden awakening."

He walked to the window and sighed deeply.

"A good article is born of nature, and a masterpiece is often a stroke of genius. But without the painstaking effort to 'measure the suffering of the people,' where does such a masterpiece come from? What my friend Lin meant by 'concealing one's talent' is indeed about upholding integrity, but if all writers uphold integrity and dare not strive for excellence, who will pave the way for the people, and who will establish a moral compass for the world?"

Lord Chen turned around and nodded slightly to Lu Chuan. This action almost made everyone's jaw drop – a former second-rank prefect and a renowned scholar of the time actually gave a half-bow to a top scholar from a peasant family.

"The affirmative side wins this game."

As soon as the three words were spoken, the Lanyue Pavilion fell silent.

The scholars on the affirmative side were overjoyed, but when they looked at Lu Chuan, they couldn't help but suppress their smugness, and some even guiltily covered their exquisite cuffs.