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Chapter 14: Fourteen Treasures ?

Xu Zhen disagreed. "Do you know Confucius's career path?"

The student replied proudly, "Of course."

"Then you must know that before becoming an official, Confucius nearly worked for a rebel state. Do you think working for rebels counts as being an official?"

His expression faltered. He considered it a blemish on Confucius's record, unworthy of a gentleman. Hearing Xu Zhen mention it, he denied it vigorously. "He didn't go in the end. Who knows if it's true?"

Unfazed by his denial, Xu Zhen continued, "Confucius's willingness to work in a rebel state suggests he believed it didn't matter where he worked as long as he could fulfill his ambitions. Being an official anywhere is the same; it's about seeking power."

The student from Class B was momentarily speechless. Confucianism, to him, was noble and pure, teaching benevolence and gentlemanly conduct. Hearing that being an official was about power was unsettling.

Unable to refute, given he had introduced the idea of officialdom, the student remained silent.

Seeing this, Xu Zhen continued, "Once you have ideas, you know how to govern. Once you have power, you begin to govern."

There was a murmur among the students, many expressing that they had ideas but lacked power.

Xu Zhen heard this and asked one student, "What's your idea?"

The student bowed with a smile. "Naturally, universal harmony."

Xu Zhen asked, "If you had power, how would you achieve it?"

The student hesitated, then said, "Educate the masses."

"Educate?" Xu Zhen said, "But Da Qing already practices universal education. Do you think we have universal harmony now?"

The student paused again, then stammered, "Grow crops, so people have food and clothing."

Xu Zhen replied, "Once people are fed and clothed, they have desires. Are you sure this will lead to universal harmony?"

Unable to answer, the student sat down, embarrassed.

Most students shared similar thoughts and fell silent, listening intently to Xu Zhen.

Turning to the student from Class B, Xu Zhen asked, "What about you? How would you govern?"

The student sat in a daze, his mind filled with thoughts of restoring traditional rites like Confucius. But after hearing other students, he realized saying that would likely get him scolded.

He thought carefully, recalling how the head often spoke of great figures implementing policies to improve people's lives. Beyond that, there wasn't much else.

What once seemed impressive now felt like empty rhetoric.

Having faced setbacks, the student struggled to conceive a good idea and could only say, "Benefit the people, so everyone can be 'poor yet happy, wealthy yet courteous.'"

Xu Zhen responded, "And how would you achieve that? By having everyone study? Da Qing already does that. Or by growing more crops so everyone is content?"

The student stared blankly, finally saying, "Submit a memorial to the emperor and let him decide."

Xu Zhen thought: Wow, this student is clever, even knows how to pass the buck to the leader!

She asked, "What if someone prevents you from submitting your memorial?"

The student from Class B remained silent, then said, "Wait for the right time."