Chapter Seven: You Will Regret It

The invitation from the city garrison took Pei Min by surprise. Living in Huairou County, he was out of touch with current affairs and had yet to hear of the court’s appointment of Xue Ne as Military Governor of Youzhou. For the moment, he had no idea who this “Governor Xue” was.

There is a saying: “Capital officials have renown, frontier officials have power.” Especially for the commander of a strategic stronghold like Youzhou, the authority wielded is immense. The emperor, aware of the vast distances and the slow pace of communication, had granted such border commanders wide latitude to act as they saw fit in emergencies. The post of Military Governor of Youzhou was, in effect, akin to that of a king within the region.

Pei Min reasoned there was no need to offend the overlord of Youzhou without cause; perhaps he could even win his favor, rise swiftly, and fulfill his mother’s hopes. Smiling gladly, he replied, “Let me return to the academy to set down my belongings, then I shall pay my respects to the Governor without delay.”

The city guardsman grinned, signaling his men to make way, and Pei Min entered the city.

Guided by memories, Pei Min arrived at Yan Yun Academy in the eastern quarter. At this hour, the students were in class; only the faint, measured tones of the teachers’ lectures drifted on the air, with barely a hint of any other sound.

Yan Yun Academy was founded by the Pei family. All the instructors were provided by the clan, and most of the students were sons of noble houses, with only a handful admitted on account of exceptional talent. The academy was divided into three sections: the outer court served as the classroom, the central court housed the teachers’ quarters and a library with a vast collection of books, while the rear contained the kitchen and student dormitories.

Pei Min moved quietly toward the rear court, set down his clothes and books, and then prepared to seek out the headmaster in the central court to announce his return before fulfilling the invitation from Governor Xue.

Standing outside the headmaster’s study, Pei Min knocked gently on the door. “Headmaster, your student has returned!”

A hearty laugh rang out from within. “Come in!” The words were vigorous, full of strength.

Pushing open the door, Pei Min beheld an elderly man, over seventy years of age with hair and beard like snow, bent intently over his desk, completely absorbed in his writing, as if oblivious to Pei Min’s presence.

This elder was Pei Xingben. He lived during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, was appointed Chancellor alongside Ren Zhigu and Di Renjie, and, like them, was later accused of treason by the infamous inquisitor Lai Junchen. Thanks to Di Renjie’s stratagems, the three were exonerated; yet Wu Zetian, ruthless as ever, demoted Di Renjie to magistrate and exiled Pei Xingben to the remote south because of his aristocratic roots—a fate almost invariably fatal. Yet Pei Xingben, through sheer resilience, survived until Wu Zetian’s fall, when he was pardoned and allowed a peaceful old age.

Unable to remain idle, Pei Xingben had requested the position of headmaster within the clan, dedicating himself to the education of the Pei family’s younger generations.

Pei Min’s achievements placed him among the very best at Yan Yun Academy. Teachers naturally favored such gifted pupils, and Pei Min was especially esteemed by Pei Xingben; the two shared a close bond, living together at the academy as mentor and protégé.

Pei Min closed the door quietly and approached. Pei Xingben’s calligraphy flowed like dragons and dancing phoenixes as he transcribed a passage from Xunzi’s “Encouragement to Learning”: “Unless one climbs high mountains, one does not know the height of heaven; unless one stands at a deep ravine, one does not know the thickness of the earth; unless one hears the teachings of the ancient kings, one does not know the vastness of learning.”

Finishing in one unbroken motion, he added his name and a brief inscription at the end: “Learning knows no bounds—presented to Pei Min.”

“Well?” Pei Xingben set his brush on its stand and looked at Pei Min with a smile.

“Your calligraphy, Headmaster, is robust and upright, each stroke full and orderly, the characters open and spirited. It captures the powerful spirit of northern script perfectly—a fine piece indeed. I only feel unworthy to receive such a gift…” Pei Min replied.

Pei Xingben had written in the regular script, which was divided into northern and southern schools. The northern style retained the vestiges of Han clerical script, its brushwork rugged and forceful, with a plain and disciplined character. The southern style was more unrestrained, graceful, and suited to letter-writing. Northern script was bold, southern script subtle; both were masterful in their own ways. As a northerner, Pei Xingben had grasped the essence of northern script—perhaps not quite the equal of such legendary calligraphers as Yu Shinan, Ouyang Xun, or Chu Suiliang, but not far behind, and certainly a rare and superb hand.

Pei Xingben, well satisfied with his work, nodded. “Do you understand the meaning of these words?”

Without hesitation, Pei Min replied, “If you do not scale high mountains, you cannot know the height of heaven; if you do not approach a deep ravine, you cannot know the thickness of the earth; if you do not understand the teachings of the ancient kings, you cannot fathom the breadth of learning. It means that there is always a higher mountain, always someone greater. We must constantly seek new knowledge and experiences to enrich ourselves. In short, learning is endless.”

Pei Xingben nodded approvingly. “Well said. In these few days, your understanding of the classics has deepened—I am truly impressed. The world is vast, and there is so much to learn; one must not confine oneself to a single place. Laziness is possible, but to stop learning is to fall behind those who strive. Yan Yun Academy can teach you little more—it is time for you to move on…” His words held deep meaning; after a moment, he continued, “Pei Yu, our family’s steward in Youzhou, wishes to recommend you to study in Hedong. Hedong is the cradle of the Pei clan, and Jishan Academy there is among the finest in the land. All our recent chancellors, myself included, have studied there. What you gain there will benefit you for a lifetime.”

Pei Min had been troubled over how to fulfill his mother’s wishes; he had not expected the family to provide a shortcut so readily. It was as if, just when he longed for sleep, someone brought him a pillow. He could not help but marvel at the advantages of great families—whenever talent emerged, they immediately provided the best resources and education. No wonder such lineages flourished for a thousand years.

“But…” Pei Xingben hesitated here, his words faltering, uncharacteristically uncertain.

Pei Min looked at him in confusion.

Pei Xingben seemed to struggle for a long time before finally saying, “The clan leader is overjoyed that a talent like you has arisen from the eastern branch of the Pei family. He hopes you will return to the ancestral home in Hedong to pay respects at the family shrine. He emphasized that you must go alone.”

At once, Pei Min’s expression changed. Painful memories flooded his mind; his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. Were it not for the deep respect he bore his headmaster, he might have lost control. Even so, the anger within him was difficult to suppress. Unable to remain a moment longer, he bowed deeply and said, “I am deeply grateful for your guidance over the years, Headmaster. One day I will repay your kindness. As for the Pei family—such a family, I have no need of!”

He turned to leave, but Pei Xingben called after him, “You may reject the Pei family, but will you also reject me, your headmaster? Will you leave this piece of calligraphy behind?”

Pei Min turned, accepted the work with both hands, took a deep breath, and bowed. “A gift from my elder—I dare not refuse.”

Watching Pei Min’s departing figure, Pei Xingben shook his head and sighed deeply. “For the sake of appearances, you would abandon such a talent? Clan Leader… you will regret this—truly, you will regret it…”