Cao Zhi sighed and said, "Although I have been studying classics since childhood, I never thought of this aspect in the past few decades. Your Majesty's deep thinking is greatly admired by me."
"I just have a different perspective than Your Imperial Uncle," Cao Rui said, waving his hand. "Since Your Imperial Uncle has understood this, have you started on translating the five classics into common language?"
"It has already begun." Cao Zhi said, "The Poetic Canon, Book of History, Rites, Changes, and Spring and Autumn--the Five Classics. I have begun translating the Poetic Canon into common language. I have translated over twenty articles so far."
Cao Zhi replied, "I have translated the 11 pieces in Zhou Nan and the 14 pieces in Zhao Nan, a total of 25 pieces. Moreover, since I came to Chenliu to meet the emperor this time, I brought all these translations in the carriage."
Cao Zhi asked, "Your Majesty, should I have someone fetch these translations for Your Majesty to review?"
"There is no need." Cao Rui waved his hand. "I will not read them now. After Your Imperial Uncle has translated all the Poetic Canon, I will read them again carefully."
Cao Zhi nodded, "I understand. Your Majesty, I have another question that I would like to ask for clarification."
"What question?" Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhi.
Cao Zhi said, "Outside the Taixu in Luoyang are a row of stone inscriptions. Students of the Taixu can use these as a reference. However, even if I translate the five classics into common language, how will the government promote it?"
Cao Rui's lips curved into a faint smile: "Your Imperial Uncle is asking how to promote it?"
"I do have that doubt," Cao Zhi replied.
Cao Rui nodded lightly: "Your Imperial Uncle's question is excellent."
Cao Rui smiled slightly: "The promotion of classical learning, of course, requires the teaching of the gentry and distinguished scholars. But it still requires the court to make real efforts in the background."
"The realm is no more than a hundred or so prefectures, from the Western Commandery, Ji Qing and Youyin, to Yunyu, Xu Yang, and Yongzhou and Liangzhou. After translating the five classics into common language, the court should first send copies to all the provinces, and then each province would send another copy to their respective commanderies and kingdoms."
"After reaching the prefectures and commanderies, whether it be the county or commanderies providing funds to have it copied by others, or selecting important passages to be written on the screen wall, all of these are feasible."
Cao Zhi bowed and said, "I have a general understanding. If there is a five-classic translation that circulates in the world in each county, the center of learning in each region will shift from the private academies established by scholars to the official academies run by the county."
"By promoting education, it also makes students in various regions understand that the source of their knowledge comes from the court rather than from a certain famous scholar."
"It seems that Your Imperial Uncle and I are thinking in the same direction." Cao Rui smiled and nodded, "In the Han Dynasty, there were the Eastern Observation and the Orchid Pavilion. Now I also want to establish an institution in Luoyang to promote Confucianism, teach poetry and calligraphy, which we can call Chongwen Pavilion."
Of course, Cao Rui also planned to return to the capital and dispatch people to improve papermaking and printing techniques after his return, but it was unnecessary to mention this to Cao Zhi at the moment.
Cao Zhi inquired curiously, "Your Majesty is planning to establish a center for Confucian studies in Luoyang?"
Cao Rui nodded in agreement.
Cao Rui has always been concerned with two things: short-term power and long-term centralization.
To gain power in the short term, it is mostly a matter of focusing on actions.
Whether it is personnel appointments in the central government or military operations against Wu in Huainan, Cao Rui's actions are all aimed at centralizing power and enhancing his authority as emperor.
From a long-term perspective, the threat from noble families and great clans is undoubtedly the greatest. They control elections, solidify social classes, form cliques for personal gain...
In today's era, the great clans and the scholars' families are almost equivalent.
Cao Rui said, "Uncle, as the late emperor once said, writing is a great undertaking for the country and a great achievement that lasts forever. If we are to create a prosperous era for our great Wei, we not only need the martial prowess to unite the world but also the civil governance."
Cao Zhi looked at the emperor, carefully and tentatively asking, "Your Majesty, should the function of translating and interpreting the Five Classics also belong to this Chongwen Pavilion?"
Cao Rui glanced at Cao Zhi's eager expression, knowing that Cao Zhi was once again harboring restless and ambitious thoughts to do something. He then said, "The Chongwen Pavilion is just an idea I have in mind. The specifics will be decided when I return to Luoyang."
Cao Zhi nodded calmly, his facial expression seemed to convey some disappointment.
Cao Rui seemed not to notice and went on smiling and said, "Before I came to the East Palace, I had read many of Uncle's articles very well and even some that I could recite by heart."
"Oh?" Cao Zhi seemed to regain some interest, raising an eyebrow and asking, "I have written many poems and articles. Are there any that Your Majesty particularly likes?"
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Your Imperial Uncle's literary talent is so good that I naturally have some favorite poems. Moreover, there are two that are related to the word 'White Horse.'"
Cao Zhi thought for a moment and smiled, saying, "Are you referring to the two pieces that are called 'White Horse' and 'Gift to White Horse King Biao'?"
"That's right," said Cao Rui. "Whether it's in terms of literary style or connotation, I believe these two pieces are the cream of your poetry and prose."
When dealing with generals, it's best to talk about their military campaigns, achievements, and military strategies. When interacting with scholars, the most effective way to build rapport is by discussing their most cherished works.
However, Cao Rui showed no trace of coercion. With Cao Zhi's literary talent, a bit of praise was well-deserved, and Cao Rui's words were from the heart.
Cao Rui slowly stood up, his back turned as he began to pace around the hall while reciting sentences from Cao Zhi's "White Horse" poem.
Cao Rui lifted his head as he walked, as if this recitation was more flavorful in this manner.
"White horse adorned with golden stirrups, galloping swiftly to the northwest... Ask whose son, from the You and Bing regions comes this gallant youth..."
Seeing the emperor so thoroughly immersed in reciting his own masterpiece, Cao Zhi, as the author himself, began to recall the mood he had when writing "White Horse" poem in the past.
"White Horse" piece... that was in the 12th year of Jian'an.
Cao Zhi, at the age of sixteen, followed his father on an eastern campaign against Chunyu last year. This was his second campaign with his father, and this time it was an expedition far to the Wuhuan people, to eliminate Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi.
On the way to Liaodong, Cao Zhi was deeply impressed by the cavalry formations from You, Bing, and Ji states.
Riding horses, carrying bows, and galloping freely, even Cao Zhi himself wanted to become one of them.
The emperor's voice continued: "Feixi from the north, galloping up the high bank. Driving straight to attack the Xiongnu, looking back to subdue the Xianbei..."
Crossing the Lulong Pass with the large army, experiencing the dangers of the Yanshan Mountains; witnessing Zhang Liao's martial prowess at Bai Lang Mountain, feeling the strength of the imperial army—all of these were extremely stimulating and tumultuous for a sixteen-year-old boy like Cao Zhi.
At the foot of Bai Lang Mountain, after the Uruen Single Chief died in combat, there were soldiers dropping their weapons and kneeling all over the mountain. Zhang Liao personally held the large banner and rode a horse behind his father, glowing with victory. The cheers of Cao troops' victorious campaign that day still rang in Cao Zhi's ears as if it was just yesterday.
"White Horse" has only fourteen lines in total, and soon it reached the end. As the emperor's words "Dying for one's country in times of distress, treating death as if it were returning home" fell, Cao Zhi instead let out a long sigh.
Seeing the emperor smiling at himself with his hands behind his back, Cao Zhi stood up from his seat, "Your Majesty reciting my poem, I am truly frightened."
"I wrote the 'White Horse' poem when I was young, and what I wanted to express was the valor of You and Bing cavaliers and the sense of victory after our forces defeated the enemy."
"But now, I think that the army's campaign is not just about boasting of martial prowess, but also about the dangers of war and the difficulties of state affairs. After Emperor Wu returned from his campaign in Liaodong, he often sighed at the hardships of the distant expedition. If I were to write it again now, I'm afraid I couldn't capture that youthful spirit from before."
After saying that, Cao Zhi bowed respectfully and said, "I congratulate Your Majesty on the great victory in our southern campaign."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Although everything that Uncle mentioned is true, the youthful spirit and eloquent words in the 'White Horse' poem, I believe they are almost worth a thousand characters."
"However," Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhi, "the writings of Uncle after the reign of Emperor Han Xian show a more pronounced sense of sadness and indignation."
Without waiting for Cao Zhi to respond, Cao Rui began reciting a few lines from the "Gift to White Horse King Biao" poem in a low voice.
"Life in this world, as ephemeral as morning dew. A man of honor, with his ambitions stretching to the corners of the earth, will consider even a thousand miles to be as close as neighbors."
Cao Zhi knew that these two lines were excerpted from the poem "Gift to White Horse King Biao" and were not originally connected. But it seemed that the emperor had a special purpose in putting these two lines together.
It seems to be encouraging oneself to set one's sights high.
Even though the poem was his own creation, when faced with the emperor's reading comprehension that concealed questions and answers, Cao Zhi, the author himself, felt somewhat confused.
Cao Zhi cupped his hands and said, "May I be so bold, Your Majesty, I... since being assigned to the province, although I have often had the wish to serve my country, I have always been unused by the court."
"According to the system, I can be considered idle. And my successive fiefs of Anxiang, Juancheng, and Yongqi are only several li in size, almost like being under house arrest, naturally there is a sense of grievance in the words."
After speaking these words, Cao Zhi seemed to realize that he had said something inappropriate and immediately added, "Your Majesty, forgive me for my words. I have no intention of complaining."
Cao Zhi tried hard to recall the words he had just said.
It seems that the emperor said 'sadness and anger', while he said 'sadness and resentment'. Regardless, 'sadness and resentment' seems to be better than 'sadness and anger'.
Cao Rui said with a slightly faint expression, "So in your memorial to me, you said something like 'As the general in the west, I should command a division; as the marshal in the east, I should be responsible for the partial fleet'?"
"The general led the medium-ranking troops as the rear guard for the army, fulfilling a vital role. The marshal led tens of thousands of mounted soldiers, dividing and conquering and killing the Wu army, this was a close-range battle that incurred danger."
"Uncle said 'Military affairs cannot be predicted in advance, it is the ability to adapt to difficulties.' Your Majesty's expression gradually turned cold: "If Uncle were to lead his own troops, would he be able to block the enemy's formation for the country, or would he be able to pursue the enemy after a retreat?"
"Or perhaps, Uncle is looking to ask me for military power?" Cao Rui stared directly into Cao Zhi's eyes.
Cao Zhi's tone also gradually weakened as he spoke:"I just want to serve the country, not to gain power or any other intentions... I just want to try it out."
Cao Rui sighed lightly: "Uncle, as you also said just now, 'the military is dangerous'. Although this time I led the southern campaign in person, the military deployment was under the command of Marshal and General. The role I played was to discuss with the strategists and then decide on the strategy, which was then handed over to Marshal and General for execution."
"How could I possibly let Uncle go and 'try it out' for such matters?"
(Chapter Complete)
