fake gentry

A bowl of shaved ice is like opening a magical door.

The atmosphere in the peach grove quickly became much more lively.

Xie Hong had the empty bowls cleared away and replaced with honey water and tea. He was surrounded by Lu Shi, Lu Na, Wang Huzhi, Wang Biaozhi, Yang Ben, and He Xi. The conversation naturally revolved around the Huangshiyan gathering. If anyone asked, Xie Hong answered; if he didn't want to answer, he would give a knowing smile, with his devoted follower Lu Na naturally there to smooth things over for him.

Looking at Xie Hong's composed demeanor, Yang Ben couldn't help but sigh, "Having met Xie Lang today, I find the rumors to be far too conservative."

He Xi sat next to him, holding a wine cup, without saying a word, but he nodded slightly.

Xie Shang remained kneeling upright behind Xie Hong, his eyes clear and bright.

Other young noblemen sat in twos and threes along the banks of the stream, some leaning against peach tree trunks, others lying half-reclined on straw mats, their wine cups being refilled when they were empty.

Xie Hong's demeanor impressed almost all of them.

No one would doubt that the gentleman who could simultaneously win over the Wang clan of Langya, the Gu clan of Wujun, the Shan clan of Taishan, and the He clan of Kuaiji was actually a fake.

However, not everyone is convinced of Xie Hong's abilities.

One of the young noblemen seated by the winding stream suddenly put down his wine cup, stood up, and bowed to Xie Hong, saying, "I am He Xun. Greetings, Young Master Xie. Since you have impressed Master Zhu, Master Gu, and Master Zhai, why not discuss metaphysics with us today? I have heard that you are well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, but I wonder which school you truly belong to? The Book of Changes says: 'That which is above form is called the Way, and that which is below form is called the vessel.' Judging from the ice cream and soap you have made, they are all vessels, not the Way. Since you are famous for your refined conversation, why do you avoid discussing it today? Do you perhaps look down on us?"

The peach grove fell silent instantly.

Wang Huzhi and the others all looked at He Xi, their eyes asking who this He Xun was.

He Xi looked somewhat embarrassed and forced a smile, saying, "Xun is my cousin Xi."

He immediately shouted, "He Xun, you mustn't be rude!"

He Xun's words were not exactly rude, but they were definitely not polite either.

Lu Na frowned, about to speak, but Xie Hong spoke first with a smile: "Brother He has misunderstood."

He returned the greeting with a cupped hand, speaking in a gentle tone: "It is not that I look down on you all, but I said on the day of the Huangshiyan gathering that I would no longer discuss metaphysics or Confucianism with anyone after that day."

"Why?" He Xun pressed directly.

Xie Hong shook his head and said calmly, "I am but a sixteen-year-old boy. How many of the books of sages and worthies have I read? That day, I was forced by circumstances to express some immature ideas. It is fine if these ideas cause controversy, but if they cause others to develop obsessions and waste time, then it is my fault. Therefore, if you all want to discuss metaphysics and Confucianism today, I really dare not accompany you."

He Xun was momentarily stunned.

He didn't expect Xie Hong to say that.

Shouldn't we be refuting ourselves?

A young man from the Wang family of Taiyuan suddenly sneered: "Young Master Xie neither discusses metaphysics nor Confucianism, so how can he be considered a scholar?"

These words were a bit too much, and even Wang Huzhi's expression changed.

I will just be myself.

Xie Hong's voice wasn't loud, but his words surprised everyone.

He then looked around at everyone and smiled slightly: "Gentlemen, you probably know what I said when I discussed with Mr. Gu at the Huangshiyan Gathering: the way of inner sage and outer king. I can now cultivate myself, but I don't care about the external world."

The young nobleman who had been making things difficult for him opened his mouth in surprise. He probably hadn't expected Xie Hong to respond like that.

Self-cultivation is a concept he proposed in his new interpretation of "The Great Learning" as an inner sage and outer king.

Xie Hong was unwilling to discuss metaphysics and Confucianism, but instead quoted Confucian classics in response, a gesture that angered him.

Because this is an attitude in itself.

Xie's son indicated that he did not wish to engage in verbal battles.

He Xi suddenly put down his wine cup and asked, "Young Master Xie, if you were in charge, how would you plan to govern the country and bring peace to the world?"

All eyes were once again focused on Xie Hong.

This question is far more sincere than the provocations of those two.

But it's also much more difficult.

Xie Shang quietly reached out and tugged at Xie Hong's sleeve from behind, probably wanting to remind him that this topic was too sensitive and he shouldn't respond lightly. Xie Hong, however, looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle and said calmly, "It's just a reform."

"political reform?"

He Xi's eyes suddenly lit up.

He was the son of a contemporary Confucian master. The He family of Kuaiji was only considered a second-class aristocratic family in Jiangzuo, but in the eyes of the immigrant families, they were an insignificant third-class family. He Xi often felt a sense of regret for having ambitions but being unable to realize them.

Xie's son is really bold.

Reforms? During the Han and Wei-Jin dynasties, when were there ever any reforms?

Emperor Wu's policy of dismissing all other schools of thought and exclusively honoring Confucianism was not a reform, nor was the Nine-Rank System of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

Only the Seven Warring States of the pre-Qin period underwent reforms.

Since the southward migration of the Jin dynasty during the Yongjia era, the court had been confined to a corner of the country, and the gentry harbored their own ambitions. The laws and regulations were practically non-existent. Upon hearing the word "reform" from Xie Hong, He Xi instinctively reacted.

But he immediately burst out laughing.

Xie's son is just a young boy; he's only talking big.

"Thank you, young master." He Xun stood up again: "The imperial decrees don't even leave Jiankang. What makes you think you can change them?"

Xie Hong laughed and said, "Give me a hundred miles of land, and I will turn it into a hundred miles; give me a prefecture, and I will turn it into a prefecture; give me a state, and I will turn it into a state. Young Master He, things are done, not just said. Just like a person's journey, no matter how difficult the road is, as long as we keep going, we will eventually reach our destination."

He Xun retorted sarcastically, "What if you were the prime minister? Would you also be expected to perform the duties of a general?"

Even Wang Huzhi and the others' expressions changed immediately. He Xi roared, "He Xun, shut up!!"

When he stopped his cousin, his eyes were on Xie Hong.

Xie Hong laughed heartily: "If I were the prime minister, I would have three things to say to the world."

"Changes in the heavens are nothing to fear. Ancestral laws are not to be followed blindly. Public opinion is nothing to heed."

"Gentlemen, this is my ambition, Xie Fengzhi's ambition! Let us strive together."

Wang Huzhi suddenly sat up straight, He Xi was stunned, Lu Shi slowly put down the wine cup, and Yang Ben, who was tilting his head back to pour wine into his mouth, stopped when the wine cup was raised to his lips.

The other young noblemen stared wide-eyed, their mouths slightly agape, but they couldn't utter a single word.

He Xi stood up, bowed deeply to Xie Hong, then sat down again without saying a word, picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Lu Na looked up at Xie Hong and suddenly realized that he would probably never admire anyone else in his life. He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling but without hesitation: "Feng Zhi, Lu Na is willing to stay by your side!"

Lu Shi glanced at Lu Na. This usually aloof, arrogant, and even somewhat harsh eldest son of the Wu County Lu family also raised his head and cupped his hands in greeting to Xie Hong: "I am also willing."

More than ten young men from aristocratic families stood up and gathered around Xie Hong, chattering amongst themselves.

Xie Hong looked at the faces that had gathered around him. Some still had the naivety of youth, some were flushed from the alcohol, and some had both longing and unease in their eyes, but without exception, they were all ignited with passion.

He raised his hands in a bow to everyone and said, "Today, I feel that we are all kindred spirits and share the same aspirations. I have an idea: since you all aspire to serve the world, why not follow the example of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove and form an alliance?"

Wang Huzhi was taken aback: "A society?"

"That's right." Xie Hong looked at them. "No one can accomplish everything in the world by themselves. You gentlemen here come from different clans: the Wang clan of Langya, the Shan clan of Taishan, the He clan of Kuaiji, the Lu clan of Wujun, the Zhang clan of Wujun, and the Shen clan of Wuxing. We have become friends in this society. In the future, we will discuss scholarship together and plan for the future. We will surely be able to restore peace to the nation from peril and bring light back to the sun and moon from darkness!"

Everyone's eyes seemed to be burning with two flames. Wang Huzhi stared intently at Xie Hong, and He Xi, Yang Ben, and even those who had been making things difficult for Xie Hong all took a half step forward in unison.

Xie Shang stared blankly at Xie Hong. Although he was fourteen, he was not as impulsive as the others.

By following Xie Hong, he felt that he already knew his older brother very well.

What does it mean for a nation to be in peril but then restored to peace, for the sun and moon to be obscured but then restored to light?

My brother is incredibly lazy; he just wants to trick people into working for him.