Chapter 6, Drunkenness Unending
The building foundation and a group of students stepped forward together to propose a toast, with each person expressing a word of gratitude.
Qianzi Lake is not large, backed by the imperial palace. On the southern bank, a Fubo Garden has been constructed, surrounded by the residences of internal officials as well as monasteries and Taoist temples. Many buildings are still under construction. From a distance, one can see tiny figures slowly moving on the high scaffolding, with faint shouts echoing; these are the laborers on the ground working together to transport wood, stones, and soil.
Liang Shengzhi smiled and said, "The surname Lou is quite rare; is he the son of the great general?"
The lights across the lake are bright, but it is not a banquet being held; rather, it is numerous laborers working through the night.
The steward of the building had to oversee the bookcase, thus he did not drink much. The scholar from the Wen family over there could not hold his liquor, and shortly after the Crown Prince left, he also got up to prepare to take his leave, but was forcibly held down by several people, resulting in him drinking quite a bit more.
The night was as dark as water, with the servant carrying a lantern walking ahead, while the scholar Wenren Xueji was supported and followed behind. Although autumn had already arrived, the fragrance in the garden remained undiminished, wafting in waves into the nostrils.
A large number of soldiers are arranged in Fubo Garden, their armor shining in the sun, weapons that can capture souls; a group of scholars walks among them, all feeling apprehensive and fearful.
The general's unworthy son, aged 17
Louchu was greatly shocked and hurriedly clasped his hands, saying: "Disciple... disciple sees no hope for the future, and thus was moved; there is no other intention."
"Excuse me." The building's foundation can only remain, as the book box is set down and the pot is held to pour wine
Liang Sheng strode out of the pavilion in a fit of anger, not even bidding farewell to Wenren Xuejiu
Wen Ren, the scholar, faced the lake for a long time without speaking. The disciple, standing behind the scholar, naturally could not speak freely and remained silent.
Fubo Garden arranged accommodations for everyone, and Liang Shengzhi personally escorted them to the door, instructing a servant outside to take Wenren Xuejiu to his room to rest
After everyone had taken their turn, the Crown Prince stood up, raised the cup of water in his hand, and toasted to everyone. He then took his leave, with Liang Shengzhi hosting the teachers and students of the Yuxue Academy on his behalf. Of course, these words were still spoken from Liang Shengzhi's mouth, and the Crown Prince did not utter a single word. As he left, his steps were light and brisk
The first three cups of wine are merely the beginning. Soon, the teachers and students take turns toasting in order, with varying numbers, either individually or in groups of three to five. From the moment one rises, numerous rules must be followed. The wide sleeves should hang just right, and there must be no noticeable shaking of the arms. Kneeling is not required; one may stand with legs apart, bending the upper body straight down. The wine in hand must not spill as a result. Toasting speeches can be lengthy, but repetition of previous speakers is not allowed
General Lan is valiant and unmatched in bravery, yet the turmoil in Qinzhou did not arise from rebellion, but rather from years of famine, compounded by the relentless oppression of officials, which forced the good citizens to rise in revolt. To quell the unrest, it should be through appeasement rather than suppression; however, the court, relying on General Lan's valor, sought to extinguish the uprising with force, which is akin to adding fuel to the fire. The situation in Bingzhou is quite the opposite, where only one county claims rebellion. It should be eradicated swiftly by a fierce general, yet the court appoints someone who has never commanded troops before...
Hey, ignorant child, what do you understand? Even if the General has ideas, he would not discuss them with you. If the world falls into chaos, your family, the Lou family, will be the root cause. Unfortunately, the officials in power are either short-sighted or fearful of the General's authority, each one keeping silent, thus nurturing a tiger that may bring disaster.
The royal protocols are numerous, but fortunately, there is guidance at every step. Even when to raise one's head and when to stand up are clearly articulated. With a few scholars leading the way, the students simply follow suit
Come, let me explain to you what "holding accountable for responsibilities" means, so that you can understand where your shortcomings lie
Mr. Liang sent a cup of wine, and this old man dared not refuse
Finally able to rise, the scholar was already staggering in his steps. Lou Chu hurriedly picked up the book box and ran through the crowd to assist him
The main event is the upcoming banquet. At this time, the sky outside has darkened, and several servants enter in succession, arranging the tables and chairs in order. The teachers and students bow in gratitude, and then take their seats, with one scholar per table and two students per table.
Man proposes, but heaven disposes; without the decree of heaven, tall buildings may collapse, strings and bamboo may become disordered, and clothing and food may be lacking
The scholar Wenren looked at his disciple, his eyes faintly glimmering in the darkness, "You originally possessed a heart free from desires and actions, yet recently there seems to be a stirring of intentions. What exactly is going on?"
Well, even if what he says is sincere, it doesn't matter; I simply cannot convey these words to the general
Three individuals of the first rank publicly recited their articles, and Liang Shengzhi, a servant of the Eastern Palace, posed several questions for them to answer, taking no more than half an hour in total
The world is already settled, yet a long way remains until a peaceful and prosperous era.
Haha, I enjoy listening to young people speak insincerely, watching you grow little by little
Liang Shengzhi arrived in high spirits, but after downing a glass, he lost his enthusiasm. He pressed down on the wine glass, signaling that he did not wish to drink anymore
This time the wait was not long, amidst the sound of silk and bamboo, someone announced in a loud voice the arrival of His Highness the Crown Prince, commanding all teachers and students to kneel in respectful welcome
Liang Shengzhi grew increasingly angry as he spoke. Suddenly, he turned around, casually grabbed a wine cup, and threw it to the ground. He said in a stern voice: "Although the Liang family is in decline, our loyalty remains unchanged. Please convey to the General that he must guard the palace gates carefully. If I see His Majesty, I will certainly advise him at the cost of my life and expose his conspiracy"
There is indeed a pavilion by the lake, situated slightly higher than the surrounding area, where one can stand inside and feel the gentle breeze, which is quite pleasant
Liang Shengzhi continued to respond on behalf of the Crown Prince, drinking wine, while the Crown Prince merely nodded occasionally or let out a sound of acknowledgment, occasionally taking a sip of water, with the dishes on the table remaining untouched.
The face of Lou Chu turned red, and just as he was about to defend himself for those few clichéd remarks, someone approached with large strides from outside the pavilion. Before the person arrived, their voice was already heard, "Haha, Mr. Wenren is indeed lying; his claim of being unable to hold his liquor is nothing but a deception"
The prince is a child of about six or seven years old, thin and small in stature. He sits upright, but his face shows little expression, and his gaze is vacant, resembling a child visiting poor relatives for the first time, feeling somewhat at a loss in the presence of so many people
Wen Renxue slowly rose and sighed, "It has only been a little over twenty years of peace."
Louchu did not dare to respond
Upon arriving at the residence, the scholar felt restless and insisted on staying by the lakeside for a while. The attendant pointed out the path and reminded them before leaving, "Your Highness will also be staying here tonight. You may sit for a while in the pavilion ahead, but do not wander about carelessly, as bumping into the night watch guards is no trivial matter"
The Crown Prince remained silent throughout, and speaking on his behalf was a scholar in his thirties, reportedly a servant of the Eastern Palace, named Liang Shengzhi. Lou Chu felt that this name sounded somewhat familiar and quickly recalled that this person was the grandson of Grand Tutor Liang, who had once intended to lead troops to Bingzhou to quell a rebellion but was vetoed by the Grand General
He really drank too much said the scholar Wenren
Liang Shengzhi rose abruptly, walked to the railing, and gazed out at the lake for a while before coldly remarking: "The Grand General thinks that everyone in the world is blind. I must let him know that there are still people in the court who see things clearly: the rebellion in the counties of Bingzhou is a pretense, while Shen Mushou seizing the opportunity to amass troops is the truth; the suppression of bandits in Qinzhou is a facade, while the shattered hearts of the people, leaving Shen Mushou a place to fight, is the reality."
The scenery in the garden is quite pleasant, but after a long time, it becomes somewhat tiresome. The students begin to converse softly among themselves. After waiting for another hour like this, as the sky is just about to darken, someone finally comes to deliver a message, leading everyone into a very spacious hall
The three remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, Liang Shengzhi spoke up: "I have thought it over carefully; chaos is bound to arise in Qinzhou, and there are even greater troubles in Bingzhou"
The thief is easy to subdue, but it is difficult to restore the people's trust. There is an article titled 'Using the People at the Right Time' that is well-written, incisively critiquing the current issues and hitting the nail on the head. If it were not for the subsequent irrelevant additions, it should have been ranked among the top.
Liang, the gentleman, originally intended to lead troops to Bingzhou to quell the rebellion, but after being thwarted, his mood became unsettled
Within the garden, there is a different scene, with red walls and green tiles, and the grass and trees providing cover, making it impossible to see or hear the laborers working on the opposite bank
The foundation of the building must be solid. "For a hundred years, heroes have emerged in abundance, yet only our Heavenly Established Dynasty has been able to unify the realm. From this perspective, both rise and fall are determined by heaven, not by human effort.
He is merely hot-tempered, holds himself in high regard, and believes he is both cultured and martial; however, he has never truly commanded troops. It is reasonable that the court did not select him to go to Bingzhou.
The Institute of Induction encompasses more than just a single discipline of practical knowledge. Several scholars lead nearly one hundred students as they wait on the grass by the lake, only being permitted to enter Fubo Garden after the passage of one hour. From that moment on, both teachers and students hold their breath and calm their minds, closely following the footsteps ahead, not daring to lift their eyelids even slightly.
The scholar Wenren chuckled softly, turned around, and sat on the stone bench, looking up at the building's foundation, "If there were no human effort, who would raise the tall buildings? Who would play the silk and bamboo instruments? Who would offer the clothing and food?"
The ceremony concluded, and the three first-class individuals were summoned to the front to receive the prince's consolation, while the other students finally had the opportunity to steal a glance at the prince
Liang Shengzhi stood beside the Crown Prince, raising his cup to issue commands. The first cup of wine was to wish for peace throughout the realm, the second cup was to wish for the Emperor and Empress boundless blessings and longevity, and the third cup was to wish for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to experience continuous renewal and progress
Mr. Liang... has a certain resemblance to someone who has led troops.
Indeed, after you return home, please convey to your esteemed father that the disturbances in the Qin and Bing provinces persist, and the responsibility lies with him. It is hoped that the General truly remains unaware of the intentions of the Governor of Bing.
Wen Renxue interrupted Liang Shengzhi, saying, "I forgot to introduce, this is a disciple of the Institute of Induction, surname Lou, given name Chu"
The young man in the building has met with the gentleman Liang. The young man stood up and cupped his hands in greeting
Just as everyone was drinking their third cup of wine, the Crown Prince let out a yawn. This cannot be blamed on him, as over one hundred adults were merrily drinking, while he was bored, facing only a cup of plain water.
The crowd was led to an open area, where a few scholars had small stools to sit on, while the students could only stand and were not allowed to move around. Before setting off, some scholars had already reminded them to drink less water and to relieve themselves in advance, as there would be no convenient place for them once they arrived at Qianzi Lake Fubo Garden
Delicious food and fine wine appeared on the table as if by magic, while the students, already ravenous, could only swallow their saliva in secret, daring not to move a muscle
Louchu nodded slightly, unsure of what to say
Oh? Wenren Xueji replied softly, while Louchu adopted an indifferent attitude, listening quietly from the side
With the departure of the Crown Prince, the atmosphere in the hall became more lively. Liang Shengzhi no longer represented the Crown Prince and joined several officials from the Eastern Palace among the crowd, toasting and celebrating. Gradually, everyone relaxed, leaving their seats to toast each other, engaging in laughter and chatter, no longer adhering to any formalities.
Liang Shengzhi placed the wine jug and wine cup on the table, saying, "Since my heart is unburdened, I suppose I can drink a few more cups."
You have also had too much to drink, Wen Ren Xue Jiu reminded
Wen Ren, the scholar, fell silent, and Lou Chu said: "The truth and falsehood will be judged by the public, and the loyalty of the Grand General to the country is well known to all."
Wen Ren, the scholar, rose to greet him and smiled, saying: "It is true that I cannot hold my liquor, but my method of sobering up is different from others; I must find an open space to relax my mind and body"
"In a world of peace..." murmured the learned scholar, "How fortunate I am to witness this scene of tranquility; this is enough for a lifetime"
As the floor master was about to take his leave, Liang Shengzhi stopped him, saying, "It is better to meet by chance than to invite. I still have a cup here." Liang Shengzhi truly took out another wine cup from his bosom.
"I am getting old, I am getting old," Wenren Xuejiu lamented, "I am no longer able to keep up with my desires, I cannot drink anymore, I truly cannot drink anymore..."