Chapter 5, Master
At a royal banquet, Wang Yan Hongxi, who had always maintained a good relationship with Wang Yan Honglie, made a joking remark about Princess Zhao while intoxicated, which caused Wang Yan Honglie to leave in anger, showing no regard for face.
Certainly, there are risks involved. If in the future, Prince Jang Wang Wanyan Hongyu ascends to the throne, the fate of him and his family will be exceedingly tragic
On this day, Yang Kang was brought into the study of Wanyan Honglie, where he saw a young man of striking appearance. He was unaware that the person before him would later become the chancellor Yelü Chucai, who would assist Temüjin in unifying Mongolia
Yelü Chucai is not famous merely because he is the father of Yelü Qi and Yelü Yan, but rather due to his own talents
He is an ambitious person who wishes to achieve something significant. The current Jin state requires a strong emperor to bring about change; otherwise, it will head towards decline.
Returning to his room with a sense of unease, he carefully recalled that the story seemed to mention nothing about Yang Kang's childhood teacher. Aside from Qiu Chuji coming later to teach him martial arts, there was a complete blank regarding Yang Kang's early years
Before arriving at the Zhao Wangfu, Yelü Chucai had inquired about this young prince, who was said to be a prodigy capable of reciting the "Thousand Character Classic" backwards and proficient in the art of *tu* and *shu*.
What a time traveler fears the most is the alteration of history
After the ceremony, Yelü Chucai, symbolizing the surname, asked a few simple questions, to which Yang Kang answered one by one, truly embodying the respect for teachers and the importance of the Way
If history were to change, then his advantages would vanish completely, and how could he realize the various thoughts that have been swirling in his mind
Yang Kang knelt on the ground, bowed his head in respect, and presented a cup of clear tea
Although this time I am serving as a mentor to the young prince, it is a good stepping stone, as it allows me to participate in Wanyan Honglie's daily affairs and also to influence the next generation of the Jin dynasty's emperor
Wanyan Honglie was very pleased with this and instructed someone to bring Yang Kang over to prepare for the apprenticeship arrangements
Upon reaching this point, he felt reassured and continued to indulge in his beautiful dreams
Bao Xiruo's emotions affected Wanyan Honglie, and he thought that since this was the case, it was time to find a master for Yang Kang.
He cannot influence Wanyan Honglie's decisions directly, but it is feasible to exert some influence indirectly through this young prince
The education of the royal family members of the Jin Dynasty generally took two forms. One was to attend the Guozijian under the Ministry of Rites, where they studied Jurchen and Chinese literature. This was the learning method for the majority of the royal relatives.
It was not until Yelü Chucai departed that Wanyan Honglie provided a detailed introduction of this master, at which point Yang Kang was able to recall this figure from his memory, and he was immediately taken aback.
Just turned eighteen, Yelü Chucai stood in the study and, after considering for less than ten breaths, agreed. He decided to seize this opportunity
He originally thought he would find an old man with a white beard to be his teacher, reciting "zhihu zhe ye" with a nodding head every day, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a young person, which made him somewhat curious
There are many rumors about her, but ever since Wanyan Honglie ruthlessly executed so many people, everyone knows that the Princess Zhao is Wanyan Honglie's Achilles' heel, and no one is willing to touch her
His family has a profound scholarly background. From a young age, he extensively read a wide range of books, mastered classical Chinese literature, and also delved into various miscellaneous subjects.
It is said that the education of the young prince was previously the responsibility of the princess, and he has developed a curiosity about the Han princess who has long been hidden in the Zhao royal residence
What surprised him was not that Yelü Chucai later became the Prime Minister of Mongolia and achieved great accomplishments, nor was it that he had a pair of children, Yelü Qi and Yelü Yan, but rather that he had never remembered that his master, Tu Shu, was such a significant figure.
After understanding Yang Kang's current situation, he felt that teaching texts like the "Analects" was too difficult, as children would not comprehend them and might even develop feelings of aversion. Therefore, he decided to take Yang Kang outside for a walk, allowing this young prince to witness the hardships of the common people
The reason Yang Kang did not maintain his usual low-profile demeanor is that he genuinely wanted to make Bao Xiruo happy
Merely because Yang Kang wished to please his mother, he altered the course of history; this is the butterfly effect
This was the main reason for Wanyan Honglie's intense anger at that time
It is fortunate that Yang Kang is doing well; at least he has not done anything outrageous so far. Moreover, he responds clearly and maintains a proper attitude, which is quite rare for a four-year-old child
Wanyan Honglie not only wanted to find a master for Yang Kang, but also sought a capable advisor for himself. Of course, this required a long period of observation to determine whether this person was truly worthy of the title.
Yelü Chucai recognized that this was an excellent opportunity. In the intense court struggle that took place before the New Year, Wanyan Honglie gained significant advantages and was very likely to become the future emperor
Decades later, the title of Master will bring him immense prestige and power.
These matters can only be gossiped about in one's heart; Yelü Chucai would not dare to touch the taboos of the future emperor and should focus on performing his own duties well
This woman has devoted almost all her heart and soul to him, and due to the previous poisoning incident, the imperial physicians have diagnosed that Bao Xiruo may no longer be able to bear children
In the upper echelons of the Jin Kingdom, the Princess Zhao is a peculiar presence. She rarely appears in public view and does not visit other royal residences. Aside from the occasional visit to the palace to meet with the Empress Yuan, Li Shier, she seldom makes an appearance.
Yelü Chucai's teaching methods were somewhat unusual. From Yang Kang's perspective, they somewhat reflected Confucius's principle of teaching according to the student's abilities. After understanding Yang Kang's learning progress, he did not explain more advanced concepts, but instead took him out of the royal palace to engage with the outside world
In fact, if in the original story, Yang Kang were to follow the normal procedure to attend the Imperial Academy and study alongside other members of noble families, he would not encounter Ye Liu Chucai, nor would he have such a future renowned master.
He has no particular thoughts about the prodigy, as he himself is a prodigy. Teaching a prodigy is a joy. He worries that rumors may be misleading, fearing he might encounter an arrogant and unruly young prince, as such debauched youths are not uncommon in the royal family of the Golden Kingdom
Another approach is to invite renowned officials or scholars to teach in the residence
This is the reason why Wanyan Honglie is looking for him
Yang Kang's actions yielded significant results, and no mother would not feel pleased by her son's intelligence. Observing Yang Kang's obedient and understanding demeanor, Bao Xiruo's mood inevitably brightened.
This is the effect of subtle influence
Given that Yang Kang is still young and that the relationship between Wanyan Honglie and the royal family is not good, in order to prevent the child from being bullied, the second method was adopted
He was originally a descendant of the Khitan royal family. After the fall of the Liao dynasty, his ancestors lived in the Central Plains for a period of time and later became nobles of the Jin dynasty, residing permanently in the Central Capital.
This is to formalize the matter; a true apprenticeship should be much more ceremonious. At the very least, it is necessary to invite some esteemed nobles to serve as witnesses. A date must be chosen, and it cannot be done hastily.
At this time, it was the center of economic and cultural activities in the north. Emperor Wanyan Jing vigorously promoted sinicization, making Sinology a hot topic among high-ranking officials and nobility. Yelü Chucai frequently attended various gatherings of literati, gradually rising to prominence.