Chapter 252: Going Viral
Wang Anshi, hiding behind his newspaper, listened to their endless chatter as they praised Sima Guang and refused to leave, making it inconvenient for him to get up. He couldn’t even cover his ears.
When one could no longer endure, there was no need to continue enduring.
Just as Wang Anshi was preparing to throw down his newspaper and debate with them, he suddenly heard someone say: “I actually think Miss Xu’s article is written better.”
Wang Anshi frowned slightly and secretly turned his head, revealing his eyes crusted with sleep. He saw a young official standing tall with his head held high, devastatingly handsome.
“Su Shi, are you still not fully awake?”
“Su Shi, your literary talent is quite good too. Can’t you even distinguish between good and bad writing? Miss Xu’s article has verbose sentence structures and monotonous word choices – it’s truly unbearable to read.”
“How can Miss Xu’s article be compared with Academician Sima’s article? You’re talking complete nonsense.”
The speaker was none other than Su Shi, Great Song’s number one contrarian. He looked around at everyone and said, “In my view, the quality of an article should first be judged by its intent, not by the elegance of its sentence structure. If the intent is poor, no matter how beautifully the sentences are written, it’s poison to me.”
“What? Do you think Academician Sima’s intent is poor?”
“Actually, their intents don’t differ much, but their levels are clearly different. Academician Sima is obviously superior by more than just a margin.” Faced with the questioning, Su Shi snorted: “Although Academician Sima’s article is well-written, most of his writing hopes to smooth things over and boast about his own ideas rather than discussing matters objectively. It’s like hanging a sheep’s head while selling dog meat – readers gain very little from it.”
Although Wang Anshi usually found this fellow disagreeable, he silently gave Su Shi a thumbs up at this moment.
Su Zhe, sitting nearby with one hand supporting his face and vacant eyes, looked utterly hopeless. He knew Su Shi wasn’t actually promoting Xu Zhiqian’s views – he just liked to argue and sing a different tune, saying things that annoyed people. He was too lazy to try to stop him and preferred to save his energy for damage control.
Su Shi continued eloquently: “In contrast, Miss Xu’s article hits the nail on the head with every sentence. The court collects taxes based on land registers, but property owners transfer the tax burden to tenant farmers. This is clearly unreasonable and will cause many misunderstandings that should be addressed.
What Judge Xu said was merely discussing matters objectively. What’s wrong with the court improving its laws? Besides, property owners can include taxes in the rent they charge tenants – the court never said this wasn’t allowed. If anyone still causes trouble over this, the court should impose severe punishments.”
Before he finished speaking, someone said: “What complete nonsense!”
Su Shi turned around and exclaimed in surprise: ” Academician Wang?”
The others suddenly realized Wang Anshi had been sitting there and immediately felt uneasy.
Wang Anshi suddenly stood up: “The reason you think Sima Guang’s article is well-written is precisely because it’s contrasted with Xu Zhiqian’s article. Why don’t you consider why Zhang San published these two newsletters together? Such a simple and base tactic – how can none of you see through it? Yet here you are foolishly praising it. It’s truly laughable.”
With that, he stormed off angrily.
The restaurant fell into dead silence.
Su Shi furrowed his brow, and after a long moment, he sincerely praised: “Good argument.”
“What good argument? I think Wang Anshi is clearly just jealous.”
However, contrarians like Su Shi were numerous.
When these two newsletters first appeared, public opinion was almost entirely one-sided, with everyone praising Sima Guang’s article. Anyone who read Xu Zhiqian’s article was considered uncultured. But soon, dissenting voices emerged.
If scholars didn’t argue, could they still be called scholars?
Debates raged throughout the streets and alleys, and Xu Zhiqian’s reputation began to soar.
A carriage quietly passed through the bustling marketplace.
“It’s all your fault.”
Xu Zhiqian’s face was as red as the rising morning sun as she complained to Zhang Fei: “I told you not to print it, but you insisted on printing it. Now look what’s happened – I’m too embarrassed to show my face in public.”
Zhang Fei was completely bewildered by the scolding. Looking at Xu Zhiqian’s crimson cheeks, he said in confusion: “Zhiqian, people are comparing your article with Academician Sima’s article – this is a good thing!”
Xu Zhiqian said: “What’s so good about it? How could my article possibly be compared with Academician Sima’s? This will only make me even more embarrassed. You’ve truly ruined me.”
She was so agitated that she stamped her feet hard, with tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
She too came from a scholarly family and cared deeply about literary matters. She knew her own level, and hearing those flattering comments about her from outside truly made her anxious.
Zhang Fei simply couldn’t understand – this traffic was absolutely amazing, making her a big celebrity. What was wrong with that?
When they arrived at the law firm, Fan Li approached with a face full of admiration: “I truly failed to recognize Mount Tai before me. Who would have thought that Miss Xu’s literary talent is no less impressive than Academician Sima’s? Truly, women are not inferior to men.”
“You’re the one who’s not inferior to men!”
Xu Zhiqian directly scolded him and stormed inside in a huff.
Fan Li was left completely bewildered by the reprimand.
Zhang Fei patted his shoulder: “Don’t take it to heart. You and I are kindred spirits.”
With their level of cultural refinement, how could they distinguish between good and bad writing?
Zhang Fei had previously read Wang Xizhi’s “Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion”, but didn’t recognize many of the characters. How could he appreciate it? He could only pretend to understand, exclaiming in admiration, but everyone was the same – no one would expose anyone else.
This was a noisy morning where a drowsy breakfast was transformed by a small newspaper into a grand banquet.
The young masters’ party, as if awakening from a dream, immediately rushed to the major restaurants.
“Where’s the newspaper? Doesn’t the White Crystal Inn have newspapers?”
“We do! We do!”
Fan Zheng quickly said: “Young Master Gao, please wait a moment.”
With that, he turned to instruct a nearby server: “What are you standing there for? Quickly go get a newspaper.”
“Young Master, that’s exactly what I wanted to tell you about.”
“What is it?”
“We’re missing over twenty newspapers.”
“How could they be missing?”
“Perhaps customers took them.”
“…?”
Fan Zheng never would have imagined that customers coming to the White Crystal Inn would do such a thing.
Unbelievable!
Once debates started, everyone needed to find allies, so they had to take newspapers with them – otherwise, how could they find people to study how to argue?
Many newspapers were smuggled into the Imperial City, causing another wave of heated discussion.
The Reform Planning Commission was no exception, with all the officials debating until Wang Anshi appeared, at which point everyone fell silent.
“Hmph!”
Wang Anshi huffily went directly to his rest room.
Lu Huiqing hurriedly followed.
“Master!”
As soon as Lu Huiqing spoke, Wang Anshi exclaimed indignantly: “That Sima Guang is truly despicable, actually using a woman’s article to highlight his own writing.”
Lu Huiqing listened with a bewildered expression: “Mentor, what do you mean by this?”
Wang Anshi said: “Usually no one praises Sima Guang’s articles.”
Lu Huiqing quickly said: “That’s true. Academician Sima’s articles cannot compare with yours.”
Wang Anshi glared at him: “Who’s comparing with him? It’s just that he truly writes poorly – evasive and concealing, hiding this and that, having things to say but not daring to speak plainly. His writing is more obscure than Buddhist scriptures – this is not the writing of a true gentleman.”
He had read quite a few of Sima Guang’s articles. Though he had a slight disdain for them, the reason he was so angry was mainly because Sima Guang had inserted various personal agendas into his writing, extensively promoting political concepts like preserving wealth amongst the people and reducing expenditures. It was truly ungentlemanly.
This was exploiting poor Xu Zun.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Lu Huiqing nodded repeatedly.
Wang Anshi suddenly asked: “What were you trying to say earlier?”
Lu Huiqing said: “Earlier, His Majesty sent someone with a message asking you to come to the Hall of Delegated Rule for a meeting shortly.”
Sima Guang himself didn’t care about this matter – he didn’t even know what had happened today. But soon, he would have no choice but to know.
At this moment, Sima Guang was being escorted by Wen Yanbo, Zhao Bian, Lu Gongzhu and others toward the Hall of Delegated Rule.
“Stop talking, stop talking. I’m begging you all.”
Sima Guang kept bowing repeatedly to Wen Yanbo and the others, almost wanting to kneel before them as he pleaded tearfully: “What I wrote was truly just something casual, only addressing this particular matter, with absolutely no intention of showing off. I beg you all to be magnanimous and stop bringing it up.”
He truly disliked being in the spotlight. When the Emperor held banquets, he didn’t like attending and would decline whenever possible, getting goosebumps all over.
Actually, they all knew Sima Guang’s personality. Since it was rare for him to be in the spotlight, they naturally had to tease him about it.
It was fortunate that Su Shi wasn’t qualified to participate in this meeting, otherwise it would have been even more lively.
Wen Yanbo still wouldn’t let up, saying with a serious expression: “Whether it’s good or not isn’t for you to decide – the world will judge for itself.”
Lu Gongzhu stroked his beard and laughed: “Lord Wen speaks reasonably. Now in the streets and alleys, everyone is talking about your article. Even the articles of Masters Fan and Ouyang haven’t received such attention.”
Sima Guang was truly about to cry. “Lord Wen, Gongzhu, please spare me. You’ve been talking about this all morning – aren’t you tired?”
At the time, he had truly just felt the urge to write and dashed off an article without much revision. He never imagined it would spark such heated discussion – he truly regretted it now.
“Ahem!”
Suddenly hearing two coughs, Sima Guang turned his head and saw Wang Anshi walking over.
“Sima Guang! I really must say a few words to you.”
Wang Anshi said with a stern expression.
Sima Guang asked uneasily: “Say what?”
Today he was particularly afraid of Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi said: “Usually you hide your talents too deeply, keeping a low profile without showing off, but with just a casual piece of writing, you create a masterpiece for the ages. I just finished reading your article, and I was truly shocked and gained much from it.”
It could only be said that when it came to needling Sima Guang, he was a professional.
The reverse was equally true.
Sima Guang’s face turned completely red. If it were anyone else, that would be one thing, but for Wang Anshi to say such words – who the hell would believe that! He spat directly at his face: “Bah! You Wang Anshi, stop your veiled insinuations here. You think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Wang Anshi swept his wide sleeve to wipe away the spittle from his face and said aggrievedly: “Sima Guang, you truly misunderstand me. I swear to heaven, your article is truly so much better than Qian’er’s – it’s breathtaking. I admire it! I admire it!”
The last two “admire it”s were delivered with explosive sounds, spraying spittle all over.
Sima Guang wiped his face, and his whole person was about to go crazy.
Lu Gongzhu, who had just taken office, quickly stepped forward and stood between them, saying, “The hour is almost here, let’s hurry and go.”
They had just arrived at the Hall of Delegated Rule when Emperor Zhao Xu came, and without even waiting for the ministers to bow, he smiled and said to Sima Guang: “Academician Sima, I just finished reading your article. It was written very well and was quite enlightening for me as well!”
Before Sima Guang could react, Wang Anshi was stunned first.
Sima Guang also looked bewildered and said: “Your Majesty also read that newspaper?”
It had only come out this morning, and you’ve already received it.
That’s too exaggerated!
Even the official bulletin wouldn’t be received that fast!
Emperor Zhao Xu nodded: “This morning, Consort Lan left the palace to purchase goods and heard that the streets and alleys were all discussing this newspaper, so she brought a copy for me to see. It was truly written very well, which is why I decided to convene this meeting on short notice.”
What?
So the theme of this meeting was the newspaper!
Wang Anshi was completely dumbfounded. Did this newspaper really have such power?
Sima Guang was truly flattered and honored, saying with a red face: “Your Majesty is too kind. That was merely my crude scribbling, making Your Majesty and all the gentlemen laugh.”
Emperor Zhao Xu smiled and said: “You are too modest. What you said is also what I was thinking. My appointment of you to revise this law is not to target anyone in particular, but to hope we can avoid repeating past mistakes and stirring up popular resentment again.
As for what Judge Xu mentioned, I have also heard about it. In my view, it’s nothing serious. After all, our Great Song’s ancestral laws require comprehensive order to prevent misfeasance. Even though it’s just one legal statute, it must be thoroughly considered. It is understandable that such points are raised during discussion.
The court would naturally never do such a thing. Local security is the responsibility of the government. If unrest occurs, it’s naturally due to poor government management – how could we shift the blame to others?”
Zeng Gongliang, Wen Yanbo, Zhao Bian and the others breathed a long sigh of relief after hearing this.
With Emperor Zhao Xu’s statement, this matter would naturally be settled.
Wang Anshi also breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Zhao Xu’s last sentence was quite cunning, with the hidden meaning being that if someone took the opportunity to cause trouble and the local government couldn’t handle it, he would hold them accountable.
In other words, the local governments had to control these big landowners and not allow them to act recklessly. If you don’t punish them, the imperial court will punish you.