Chapter 1: Passing the Flame

After his time travel, he not only developed hypersomnia, needing to sleep for five to six hours a day, but his memory was also severely impaired, at most being able to recognize all his relatives. As for the teachings of the Classic of Filial Piety, the Analects, and even more complex texts and commentaries, he had long forgotten them completely

New Dynasty

Huan Tan lifted his eyelids, and Liu Gong also looked towards Di Wu Lun, but he heard the well-featured young man solemnly say: "I am willing to relinquish my quota for the Taixue!"

Huan Tan's words shattered the inherent impression of superstition and anti-intellectualism held by the gentry of this era. Unfortunately, he knew too little about the Xin dynasty, and it is uncertain whether Huan Tan will be remembered in history. In the impending chaotic times, will this wild scholar be able to survive

Naturally, someone stepped in to mediate for the Fifth Lun. The magistrate of Changping County, who had a longstanding relationship with the Fifth family, stated: "I dare to report to the Grand Music Minister that this young man is intelligent and eager to learn, having mastered thousands of characters, and has achieved top marks in the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects, earning considerable praise from the local community"

The spirit changes to another body to endure, isn't that referring to me? Could it be that my identity as a traveler has been exposed?

Perhaps when Huan Tan was yawning while waving a fan, he noticed that amidst the solemnity of the room, only Di Wulun seemed indifferent while Liu Gong spoke at length about the advancement in the imperial academy. Huan Tan particularly enjoyed criticizing those who spoke of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, while in reality, he was a mundane scholar solely focused on officialdom. As a result, he faced much opposition in the court and, after such a long time, still held the position of a minor official. Di Wulun's character, however, was quite to his liking.

The dwelling of Di Wu Lun is currently located at the county school of Lie Wei, situated beneath the southern city wall of Changping County. Within a low enclosure, there are three to five houses with blue tiles, their earthen walls interspersed with wheat straw, and coated with a layer of clam lime on the outside. The classroom is not large; including Di Wu Lun, there are only ten young students kneeling and sitting on the rush mats.

The great scholar of the previous dynasty, Xiahou Sheng, once stated that the ailment of scholars lies in their lack of understanding of the classics and techniques. If one can master the classics and techniques, obtaining the blue and purple seals would be as simple as bending down to pick up grass and weeds from the ground. All students should strive for this

I achieved first place with a first-class distinction at the official school in Changping County, and the second place was held by my cousin, Di Ba Jiao. We have a childhood friendship and have always been on good terms.

Liu Gong continued: "Confucius said, 'The Grand Academy is where the virtuous gather, and it is the foundation of education.' However, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty, the number of students in the Grand Academy was only fifty. During the reign of Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan, it increased to one hundred and then to one thousand during the reign of Emperor Yuan. Yet, this was still insufficient to support scholars across the realm"

Indeed, it is the audacious Huan Junshan who dares to proclaim before the Son of Heaven that there are no deities in this world; he is truly a wild spirit, unbound by the constraints of etiquette and law

The fifth Lun, however, understood everything clearly

Thus, the ashes of the candle are akin to the aging of a person, with teeth falling and hair turning white, and muscles withering. By this time, the spirit can no longer be nourished by the vitality of the blood. When the body breathes its last and dies, the spirit, like the extinguished flame of a candle, completely vanishes

... ...

Where are the deities? Huan Tan said with an open hand: Life has its duration, duration leads to aging, aging leads to death, this is akin to the cycle of the four seasons. As for Bo Shi wanting to change its nature and seek a different path, it is truly too foolish.

In contrast, the doctor who was conversing with him, named Liu Gong, courtesy name Boshi, is said to be the nephew of the national master of the Xin dynasty. Dressed in the robes of Fengye and wearing the crown of Zhangfu, he appeared quite serious. Yet, it was precisely from his mouth that such words as "Can a person's spirit be transferred to another body after death?" emerged.

As long as I give up quickly, embarrassment will not catch up with me

Indeed!

This speech stirred great excitement among the crowd. The principle of "learning leads to officialdom" is a natural law. The disciples present, along with their families, each displayed their talents in vying for positions, all in order to secure a favorable advancement for their offspring, as this is crucial to the future of their clan

How exactly the time travel occurred, he himself could not clearly explain; he only remembered that when the bus rolled down the mountain, he was closing his eyes listening to Teacher Wu Bai's "Last Dance"

Next, two doctors casually picked people to ask questions, merely going through the motions, with only those who performed exceptionally poorly being eliminated in this round. Liu Gong knew that if Huan Tan were to ask questions, he would definitely pose some obscure and challenging inquiries to make things difficult for others. Therefore, he took it upon himself to handle this task, allowing Huan Tan to have an easier time.

When it was the turn of the fifth round, he did not wait for Liu Gong to ask a question, but instead first bowed deeply to the two.

At this moment, the two officials on the stage completely forgot about the day's official business, seemingly treating the official academy as a debate forum, passionately exchanging words while pointing at the candles.

What nonsense are you talking about? Fifth Lun felt a bit flustered inside, yet he only smiled faintly on the surface. Others merely regarded him as mature for his age, completely unconcerned about Huan Tan's "joke"

In the fifth year of the Xin Dynasty, in the autumn of August (AD 18), in Guanzhong, at the official school hall of the county capital of Changping.

Then, they left a room full of people unattended and continued to discuss the previous topic among themselves

Before them, ten young students sat upright, all staring in astonishment. How could these inexperienced elementary students comprehend the profound philosophy concerning the spirit and body, life and death, and the soul?

He is quite fortunate; the fifth family cannot be considered a tyrant of the rural area, but they are still landlords in this county, which can be regarded as the lowest level of "local gentry"

Today, the county magistrate responsible for selecting the quota felt somewhat awkward, while the other nine disciples whispered among themselves about the "solitary conduct" of the fifth disciple, and the officials outside the room looked at him and laughed, thinking that this child was too foolish

The Fifth Lun then clasped his hands and said: "It is not that I am unwilling, but each year there are over 1,000 students entering the Imperial Academy, with each prefecture sending a varying number of candidates, from a few to several dozen. In the case of Liewei Prefecture, there are exactly ten candidates, with each county allocated one quota"

However, Huan Tan responded: "The master said that when the candle has burned out, it can be replaced with another one. So, who is it that will replace the candle"

The others in the official academy were astonished and turned to look at Di Wu Lun. Huan Tan then pointed at Di Wu Lun with a fan and said: "Young man, are you perhaps afraid that you cannot answer Doctor Liu's question, which is why you are hesitating"

Fifth Lun felt deeply ashamed: "As a friend, to seize the first place when he is unwell is unjust; as a younger brother, to occupy the elder brother's quota is unfilial. How can a person who is unjust and unfilial enter the great learning of the sages? Furthermore, I only have a superficial understanding of the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects. I wish to study for another year to deepen my knowledge and will give this year's quota to my elder cousin!"

In the past, as a staunch materialist, Wu Lun would have undoubtedly supported Huan Tan's words wholeheartedly, but now he no longer dares to be so certain

His compound surname is Di, with the single name Lun, courtesy name Boyu. At the age of 17, he already distinguishes himself from others in his appearance

Liu Gong further stated: "Establish the Taixue, appoint distinguished teachers, and conduct examinations to fully utilize their talents, then outstanding individuals should be attainable. After entering the Taixue, students must also diligently remember Your Majesty's teachings and study the Five Classics. In the Taixue, there is an annual examination; those who excel in the first category will have forty selected as Langzhong, twenty in the second category will be appointed as Taizi Sheren, and forty in the third category will be assigned to literary affairs."

They are all outstanding individuals who have passed the elementary school examinations and have been recommended by the county magistrate and the three elders. They are just waiting for the inspection by the Minister of Music from the court, who will casually ask a few questions to complete the process. In October, they will be able to proceed to the capital's Taixue for further studies, diving headfirst into the deep pit known as the Five Classics

I was discussing a matter with Doctor Liu on the way, and before we could finish our conversation, we arrived at the official school. Our interest was not yet exhausted, and since it is still early, it would be better for us to continue our discussion. The county magistrate, the three elders, and the students may feel free to do as they wish

I initially thought it would just be a formality, but unexpectedly, the two doctors who came today were rather unconventional. Especially the slightly older doctor, Huan Tan, who is in his forties and has a thinning crown of hair, entered the room and immediately dropped a remark.

Junshan

If I remember correctly, Xin Mang was a short-lived dynasty. Given the current situation, it seems that the fall is not far off. Now, I am rushing to become an official of the new dynasty

Huan Tan and Liu Gong are both learned individuals, so it is not surprising that those with the eighth and fifth surnames are relatives, as they originally belonged to the same family. Two hundred years ago, they both bore the surname Tian, being descendants of Tian Guang, the King of Qi during the Chu-Han period.

It is clearly daytime, yet the yellow candle on the bronze lamp has been lit, the flame flickering gently on the wick, wisps of blue smoke drifting through the room

Fifth Lun shook his head, choosing not to dwell on the questions he would never understand in his lifetime. What he could do now, as Huan Tan said, was to cherish the new life well. Of course, he also had to be cautious in avoiding any troubles that might affect his future existence

The other students were all dressed in loose robes, their backs soaked with sweat yet unwilling to remove their scholar's caps. However, Wu Lun only wore a headscarf and a deep robe with a black base and hunting patterns, feeling quite cool. At this moment, he was staring intently with a pair of dark eyes at the two people on the stage, not wanting to miss a single word.

After recovering from the fifth bout of illness, when he looked in the bronze mirror, he found that apart from being a bit shorter, his skin was surprisingly delicate and smooth. When he smiled, a set of white teeth was visible, which symbolized a life free from worries about food and clothing, enjoying meals of fine rice.

This remark successfully amused Huan Tan, summarizing it well; isn't this the way of the world?

Fifth Lun, neither servile nor arrogant, responded: "Isn't the Grand Music Minister also dressed in coarse hemp garments and a small cap, yet he believes my attire is improper? Is it permissible for the nobility to set fire while the commoners are not allowed to light a lamp?"

Do not believe it and look around, is there a child from a poor family? Those who can reach this point are either the children of officials with connections in the government, or they come from families that have inherited Confucian classics and can receive additional lessons from their elders, or they are local tyrants like the fifth family. His grandfather was able to provide many benefits to the county, and after using money to squeeze out a cousin, he allowed Wu Lun to obtain a quota

Huan Tan said: "If no one takes the initiative to change, the candle will still burn out. In that case, after a person has aged and withered, who will replace us with a new body, and how will that change occur?"

I will not attend this school anymore

Being called upon by the teacher yet being unable to utter a single word is undoubtedly quite embarrassing, and there is only one solution

A candle, if supported by a person and frequently turned, can burn for a longer period and will not extinguish prematurely. The same applies to a person; rather than pondering whether one can be reborn in another body after death, it is better to seek the path of nurturing one's nature, so as to live out one's natural lifespan.

When the lamp runs dry, one can add oil to continue its light; when the candle burns out, one can replace it with another. As long as the fire is passed on, the flame will not extinguish. So, when a person is on the verge of death, can the spirit also be transferred to another body to continue its existence

He gestured towards the capital and said: "Until today, the ascension to the throne has been genuine, placing great importance on education and moral cultivation, thus leading to the establishment of ten thousand houses in the southern part of the city, with the number of disciples in the Imperial Academy increasing to ten thousand!"

"As a humble student of the Fifth Lun, I respectfully greet both esteemed doctors. I have a matter to discuss, and I hope the doctors will grant me permission."

It is fortunate that some memories of the body still linger in the mind, allowing him to understand ancient Chinese. He gradually collects and digests information about this era.

But I have a question, can Junshan provide an answer

Reading is not easy. In the first month of the lunar calendar, when agricultural activities have not yet begun, in August when the heat recedes, and in November when the inkstone freezes, both young children and adolescents must enter primary school. They study the "Classic of Filial Piety" and the "Analects," with several hundred students in a county. However, after being assessed by the county officials and the three elders, only ten outstanding individuals among them may be selected to enter the Imperial Academy.

Is it mere empty words to study diligently until one's hair turns white?

The reigning emperor's name is Wang Mang

The pain gradually faded away, and the melody of the music in his ears also slowly disappeared. When he awoke from his sickbed, he found that he had transformed into a boy named Fifth Lun, and the era he was in was ... ...

Fifth Lun heard someone nearby whispering about the remarkable deeds of this extraordinary doctor. It was said that he had served as an official during the Former Han dynasty, possessing extensive knowledge and having studied the Five Classics. However, he focused solely on the interpretation of profound meanings rather than on the text itself. His attire was simple and lacked any imposing presence; he wore a coarse hemp robe and a small cap, and he carried a hand fan. If it were not for the copper seal and ink ribbon tied around his waist, one would hardly recognize him as an official

Wang Mang himself was born into a Confucian scholar family, and after becoming emperor, he placed great emphasis on education, which can be said to have significantly increased enrollment.

Master Bo, please speak

For example, today's matters

Huan Tan turned his head to look at the crowd, and Fifth Lun did not shy away or divert his gaze; instead, he fixedly returned Huan Junshan's gaze, carefully listening to every word he said

... ...

However, the Fifth Lun has its own calculations: "Not to mention that entering the imperial academy does not guarantee a successful career, even if one dedicates years of hard study, what good is it to end up as a low-ranking official or a literary historian without any real power? Can one command even a single soldier or a subordinate?"

Yet even the simplest questions, the Fifth Lun cannot answer

My elder cousin is older than me, diligent and eager to learn, never absent through the cold of winter or the heat of summer. His academic performance has always been outstanding, but unfortunately, due to illness during the examination, he fell to second place, which is truly regrettable

When Junshan was traveling with me in the same vehicle, there was a metaphor of the candle and the flame. You said: the spirit resides within the body, just as the flame burns on the candle. When the candle is consumed, the flame cannot exist alone in the void

What is the reason for my time travel? Perhaps it is hope or science

Fifth Lun did not want to waste time buried in a pile of bamboo slips; rather than studying those old texts, it would be better to continue advancing his own plans at home—how to ensure his survival in the impending chaotic times

Ah?

Compared to the hurriedly rushing slaves heading to serve with their certificates, and the descendants of the exiled officials stationed at the border, the starting point of Wulun is undoubtedly much higher, as his family could even afford to send him to school

However, apart from this point, Di Wu Lun is entirely lying; he and Di Ba Jiao are merely acquaintances and are not friends at all

Liu Gongdao: "Naturally, it is a person"

Such a situation has truly never been encountered before. Liu Gong turned his head to look at Huan Tan, intending to discuss it. However, Huan Tan was quite casual, waving his fan and saying, "If he doesn't want to go, then he doesn't have to. Since his ambitions do not lie here, why force him?"

Huan Tan looked at Di Wu Lun's attire: "Everyone else is dressed in tall hats and scholar's robes, yet you, a mere child, are wearing a fitted outfit. Is it to save fabric for the weavers? Surely it cannot be due to your family's poverty that you cannot go to the capital"

After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, in order to strengthen the core and weaken the branches, Liu Bang relocated the Zhuo clan from the Qi region to live in Lingyi. According to the order of migration, eight surnames were generated from the first to the eighth, but ancestral worship was still conducted collectively, and intermarriage among them was prohibited

Fifth Lun indeed did not take studying the classics seriously; there was no way around it, as the Five Classics and Six Classics were simply too tedious. He inquired and found that unless one possessed extraordinary talent, the time cost of studying the Five Classics was astonishingly high. Since the early Han Dynasty, there have been those who entered the Imperial Academy at the age of fifteen or sixteen to study the Five Classics, yet by the time their hair turned completely white, they could still only master one of the classics.

As a science student, his knowledge of history is limited, and he only knows two figures from this obscure dynasty: one is Wang Mang, who is suspected to be a "time traveler." The other is Liu Xiu, known as the "Son of the Plane" and the "Great Archmage," and beyond that, he knows nothing at all

As I stepped out of the official school, the heat outside had already dissipated, and the cool autumn breeze was quite pleasant.

Furthermore, while the university has expanded its enrollment, the number of job positions has not increased. Each year, thousands of students enroll, yet only a hundred can secure official positions, making it a one in ten competition, and the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. It seems that regardless of the era, the examination system remains a narrow bridge that thousands of troops must cross.

This is naturally a jest; years of full-time study, coupled with the exorbitant living costs in the capital, are simply beyond the means of an ordinary person. Yet, those who can sit here, how could they possibly come from a common household?

Everyone stood up straight, except for Wu Dilun, who was different. The assessment took place in early autumn, which was an event from before his time travel, and there was nothing to be proud of.

At this, Liu Gong was rendered speechless, and after a long while, he said: "Perhaps, we can only rely on the divine..."

Liu Gong stopped Huan Tan's unruliness and frowned as he asked Di Wu Lun: "Young man, gaining admission to the Imperial Academy is indeed not easy; many people seek it but cannot attain it. Why do you not wish to go?"

Moreover, although the original owner of this body was well-versed in Confucian classics, the education and advancement of this era do not solely rely on academic performance; they also involve the family background, wealth, and reputation of each individual

Wasn't that when they joined the fruit army in 1949

Now that the personal matters have been discussed, it is time to attend to official business. Huan Tan, who had previously been eloquent and persuasive, suddenly became disinterested, even yawning. He had to rely on Liu Gong to take charge, who then addressed the crowd: