Jinting Han people

Chapter 13 A Faint Possibility

In the following year, Liu Xian grew so fast that Chen Shou was surprised.

He initially assumed Liu Xian, a recent learner, wasn't particularly eager to learn, so he prepared to just give it a try. However, after that unintentional remark, Liu Xian became absorbed in his studies, incessantly studying day and night. Every day, Chen Shou would teach him a passage, and he would recite it by heart the next day, prompting Chen Shou to teach him more. This cycle continued until, by the first month of the fifth year of the Xianning reign (279 AD), Liu Xian had mastered the "Book of Filial Piety," "The Analects of Confucius," and "Er Ya," and could also read some of the "Book of Songs," "Book of Changes," and "The Doctrine of the Mean" on his own.

Logically, Chen Shou had already taught Liu Xian to read "Records of the Grand Historian" and "Book of Han," as he had promised. However, after spending some time with him, Chen Shou readily discovered his student's astonishing ignorance of history. The reason was understandable: Anle Gong's family had been descended from the afterlife, and whether to avoid political suspicion or simply to avoid discussing painful events, they were bound to remain tight-lipped about their past.

But how should he teach this Prince of Anle? Chen Shou was in a dilemma. He was afraid that after Liu Xian learned about his life, he would become like the current Prince of Anle, dissatisfied and depressed with his current situation. But he also knew that the truth was like thunder on a summer night, which would suddenly destroy all silence in an instant and leave no place for hiding.

Some difficulties had to be faced. But Chen Shou kept putting off reading the history books until he came up with a good solution.

That morning, Liu Xian was reading poetry. When he read "Shu Li Pian", he came to the line "Those who know me say that I am worried; those who do not know me ask what I want." Chen Shou's heart moved, and he suddenly stopped Liu Xian and asked what this line meant.

Liu Xian pondered for a moment and said, "When I first read it, I thought it was about seeking love but being denied it, just like the poems 'Guanju' and 'Jiangjia'. However, the poem clearly states, 'Those who do not know me, what can they say I seek?' This shows that I did not understand the original meaning, so I mistakenly thought the author was seeking love. But what exactly he was worried about, I have no idea."

Chen Shou was very pleased and said, "You can have such insights, which shows that you have entered the door of poetry."

"This line should be considered in conjunction with the preceding lines. The poem begins with 'The millet is scattered, the millet seedlings are scattered.' Millet and millet are both food. Without food, people die, and without food, a country perishes. Therefore, the country is also called the altar of grain and the altar of the state. The author's concern for millet and millet is actually a worry about the fate of the country. Hence, he later laments, 'Wide heavens, who is this person?' The heavens refer to the country. It is precisely because this poem expresses this concern for the country and its people that Confucius placed it at the beginning of the Wang Feng."

"Then is his worry useful?" Liu Xian roughly understood the meaning of the poem, but at this time he did not understand the background of the poem, nor did he know the outcome of history.

"This poem was probably written after King Ping of Zhou moved east to Luoyang. Since then, the Zhou Dynasty declined, and was finally destroyed by King Zhaoxiang of Qin six hundred years ago," Chen Shou recounted slowly. "Around this Beimang Mountain, there are twenty-five tombs of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty kings."

At this point, Chen Shou had an idea: Why not let Liu Xian go and see these pre-Qin relics? After seeing the profoundness of history, it would surely help to alleviate some of his impetuousness.

Chen Shou asked Liu Xian, "Want to go and take a look?"

Liu Xian nodded hurriedly. The four words "six hundred years ago" alone had a magical charm for him.

Master and disciple put down their books, armed with bamboo canes and wearing straw sandals, and then spent the entire day strolling the paths of Mangshan. Liu Xian had often seen tombstones in his past visits, but it wasn't until today, while climbing with Chen Shou, that he discovered just how many ancient tombs Mangshan contained. Almost every hundred steps, a barren hill covered in weeds appeared. Most of these had become snake holes and rat dens, though occasionally one could spot a red fox or two scurrying among the brambles.

Until we reached a high slope with a very broad view. The sky above was unobstructed and the south was in sight. Countless hills were placed in the four corners like chess pieces, and between them, the Luo River could be seen passing through, turning the corners on both sides into a lush green plain.

Chen Shou pointed out three adjacent hillocks and told Liu Xian that they were the tombs of the three Zhou kings: King Jing of Zhou, King Dao of Zhou, and King Jing of Zhou.

The so-called tombs of the Three Kings, in their eyes, were nothing more than three small hills covered with trees and thorns. They lacked the legendary imperial aura, nor did they see any crouching tigers or entwined dragons, and it was impossible to tell who was who. If Chen Shou hadn't told them, they probably would never have imagined that three Zhou emperors were buried here.

The poet who penned "Shu Li Pian" likely worried about this very scene. A lifetime of wealth and glory, nothing remains in the end. Past joys and sorrows, all gone in a passing cloud. Even his own name is forgotten. Only this unscoreless poem remains, as untouched as the Luo River, expressing the sorrow of a homeland no longer inhabited for millennia.

Isn't it the same for me? Chen Shou smiled bitterly inwardly, then gathered his thoughts and leaned on his bamboo cane. "Lately, the capital has been all about discussing the mysteries of life and cultivating the mind. But in all these years, I haven't seen an immortal. Many myths that were popular for a while, when I saw them in person, turned out to be nothing more than local tales."

"If even people are like this, what about nations? The Zhou Dynasty ruled the world for 800 years, the longest reign in history, yet it was reduced to dust in the end. Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, may have boasted a lot, but his saying that throughout history, there has been no nation that has not perished, no tomb that has not been dug up, is truly true."

For children, these words are too disillusioning. Children often harbor the illusion that aging is distant, passion is boundless, and youth is eternal. But by breaking these illusions, people will avoid too many perplexities and be able to accept mediocrity with peace of mind. This is exactly what Chen Shou aimed for.

Liu Xian was indeed confused. He asked, "Is the longest reign of a nation in history only eight hundred years?"

Chen Shou didn't answer immediately, but continued walking west with him. Two miles further west, in a valley, they came across another ancient tomb. It was more desolate and bleak than any graveyard they had encountered so far. Even the tombstone was covered in withered vines. Only two stone horse statues covered in green moss in front of the tomb seemed to indicate the tomb owner's extraordinary status. Chen Shou pointed to the tombstone under the withered vines and asked, "Bi Ji, guess how long has the owner of this tomb been dead?"

"Four hundred years?"

"No," Chen Shou slowly shook his head, pulling aside the withered vines to reveal the faint words "Tomb of the Former Grand Marshal Cao Zhen" beneath the tombstone. He explained to Liu Xian, "This is the tomb of Cao Zhen, the Grand Marshal of the Cao Wei Dynasty. He died only forty years ago."

Liu Xian was puzzled. Although he didn't know what the title of Grand Marshal was, judging by his teacher's tone, he must have held a high position. So why was his tomb so desolate? Wouldn't his descendants visit his grave?
The mystery was soon solved. Chen Shou explained, "After Cao Zhen's death, his son Cao Shuang was highly valued by Emperor Ming of Wei, who entrusted him with his affairs after his death. This led to his utmost power and control of the government. However, Cao Shuang was incompetent, and was soon assassinated. His entire clan was exterminated, and over a hundred members of his family, young and old, were killed. Although the court later ordered that one of Cao Zhen's distant relatives be chosen to inherit the title and carry on Cao Zhen's legacy, no one dared to visit his tomb."

"Why don't you dare?"

Hearing Liu Xian's question, Chen Shou turned around and looked at him, then slowly said, "Because the one who executed Cao Shuang was none other than the current emperor's grandfather, Emperor Gaozu Xuan."

Liu Xian was stunned for a moment.

Chen Shou put down the vine in his hand, slowly stepped back a few steps, and looked at the desolate ancient tomb again. He also felt that fate was playing tricks on him: the pillar of Cao Wei that Shu Han faced during the Northern Expedition, ten years later, his family withered away like flowers falling from a branch, and the one who wiped out his descendants was his successor Sima Yi.

Ten years, for the eight hundred years of the Zhou Dynasty, was nothing. And eight hundred years, for the creation of the universe, was it not a brief moment?

This shows how insignificant the individual human being is compared to the world, and how fragile human existence, especially the existence of "I", is.

Chen Shou thought that as long as Liu Xian could understand that human power is limited and then become indifferent to the rise and fall of his family and country, the purpose of this trip would be achieved.

On the way back, the two of them were silent until they arrived at the thatched cottage. Then Chen Shou asked, "Biji, what are your thoughts on this hike?"

Liu Xian lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "Fate is truly terrifying. It can even destroy an eight-hundred-year-old dynasty."

Chen Shou secretly praised him in his heart, but unexpectedly Liu Xian continued: "But people are more powerful. Facing such unpredictable fate, there are ways to resist."

"Oh?"

"Humans invented writing and used it to record poetry and history. Even after an 800-year-old dynasty collapsed, this melancholic poem still exists. How remarkable!"

Liu Xian flipped through the scroll of poetry in his hand again, his eyes shining as he said:
"I still remember when we met, my teacher said, 'Everyone has to die, but some people's death is heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a feather.'"

"I didn't quite understand it in the past, but today, the teacher is trying to tell me that a person's value is ultimately measured by moving words!"

"However, if you want to write moving words, how can you lack a wonderful life?!"

Looking at Liu Xian's spirited face, Chen Shou was momentarily stunned. He hadn't previously realized that beneath Liu Xian's silent exterior, he possessed such a vibrant spirit. He couldn't help but recall his first impression of his disciple: arrogant. He had, however, somewhat forgotten it lately.

A child of seven or eight years old, already capable of defying fate, was my worry about him unnecessary? After all, he still had the blood of the late Lord in him. Perhaps he could face any adversity with a smile. Perhaps there was still a slight chance he could break the shackles of fate?
Thinking of this, Chen Shou's expression relaxed again. He thought, maybe it's time to teach him history.

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(End of this chapter)