Chapter 48: A Thorough Understanding of Worldly Wisdom is True Learning

Su Ze glanced at Cai Xiang, who was also looking back at him.

Only then did Su Ze recall that it was during the third year of Jingyou in Emperor Renzong’s reign—eight years ago—that Prime Minister Lü Yijian was in power.

At that time, Fan Zhongyan submitted the “Portrait of Officials,” accusing Lü Yijian of using his position for personal gain and nepotism. However, Lü Yijian turned the tables by employing the remonstrator Gao Ruone to counterattack, falsely accusing Fan Zhongyan of factionalism and exiling him from Bianjing.

Yu Jing, then the Chief Scholar of the Jixian Institute, petitioned with an essay titled “On Fan Zhongyan’s Injustice in Being Punished for His Words” to defend Fan but was demoted to Taizhou. Yin Zhu, an editor at the imperial library and a friend and mentor to Fan, submitted a memorial admitting his association and was likewise demoted to Tangzhou. Ouyang Xiu, also an editor, wrote a letter denouncing the remonstrator Gao Ruone for sycophancy and pandering to Lü Yijian, accusing him of shamelessness; he too was demoted to county magistrate of Yiling.

At that time, twenty-five-year-old Cai Xiang witnessed the demotion of all these outspoken officials and felt a deep sense of injustice. He then composed the poem “Four Worthies and One Unworthy,” praising Fan Zhongyan, Yu Jing, Yin Zhu, and Ouyang Xiu as virtuous men while harshly condemning Gao Ruone as unworthy.

The poem quickly spread throughout the capital, copied and recited by scholars and commoners alike, reaching a fevered pitch akin to the “Luoyang Paper Scarcity” phenomenon.

Now that Lü Yijian had been overthrown thanks to Su Ze’s presentation of the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” scroll, Cai naturally regarded himself as a gentleman akin to Fan Zhongyan and displayed a friendly demeanor.

Then, the clerk handed over the Four Treasures of the Study to Su Ze. Cai Xiang said, “Lord Su, please write your memorial to express gratitude.”

After officials were appointed, they were required to write a memorial, also called a “Chen Biao,” which could be seen as a pledge before assuming office or a statement of governance principles.

Generally, selecting and appointing officials was the duty of the Censorate, and the memorial only needed to be kept there.

However, since Su Ze was an official personally appointed by imperial decree, he needed to submit a memorial directly to the court.

Su Ze took the brush, paused thoughtfully, and then wrote on the paper:

“How I wish for ten thousand spacious dwellings, to shelter all the poor and cold of the world with joy.”

After writing this line, he set down the brush and wrote no more.

Yet, upon seeing Su Ze’s brief and somewhat careless memorial, both Cai Xiang and Zhang Yaozuo were full of admiration.

The Northern Song dynasty placed great emphasis on the demeanor of scholar-officials; this “demeanor” was essentially a form of refined self-presentation.

Officials with distinguished demeanor were more likely to gain the favor of their superiors and thus ascend to critical positions.

Figures like Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi exemplified such officials.

In contrast, individuals like Liu Yong were considered frivolous due to their romantic exploits and thus never gained significant promotion.

Su Ze’s memorial quoted just one line from Du Fu’s poetry but perfectly embodied the founding purpose of the Ministry of Residential Affairs, reflecting Su Ze’s ideal of solving the housing difficulties of the people through this office.

Unable to contain his admiration, Cai Xiang said, “Lord Su, what noble aspirations you have!”

***

After speaking, Cai Xiang instructed the clerk to send Su Ze’s memorial into the palace, then handed Su Ze his official appointment document, saying, “I hope you can realize your ideals at the Ministry of Residential Affairs.”

[Detected ten points of literary aura—absorb?]

This appointment document was personally written by Cai Xiang, a renowned calligrapher of the Song dynasty, and naturally able to absorb the literary aura.

Unexpectedly, Su Ze was greeted with such a surprise upon entering office. He carefully put away the document, and Cai Xiang cautioned, “According to contemporary laws, once an official receives their appointment, they must reach their assigned post within a prescribed time; failure results in punishment by the court. Since you are assigned in Bianjing, you face no travel difficulties, but you must arrive at the Ministry of Residential Affairs office within a month to complete the handover. Delay beyond that invites impeachment.”

Next, Su Ze realized that this famous calligrapher was quite a talker!

Cai Xiang meticulously detailed all the precautions for assuming office, including auspicious dates, ceremonial protocols, how to transfer account books, preventing unrest among subordinates, and establishing authority within the office.

Listening to this, Zhang Yaozuo nearly yawned, prompting Cai Xiang to say, “Forgive my nagging, but these are matters of experience. Many new officials stumble through carelessness and thus tarnish their reputations at the outset, ruining their careers.”

As Chief Examiner of the Censorate, Cai Xiang was well aware of many pitfalls that befell newcomers. He valued Su Ze’s talent and wished to see him avoid such stains.

After attentively listening, Su Ze asked, “Mr. Cai, could these words be compiled into a book? If such a work could warn new officials and help them avoid detours, it might enable them to familiarize themselves with governmental affairs more swiftly.”

Cai Xiang was momentarily taken aback and asked, “Could this really become a book?”

Su Ze replied earnestly, “To understand the world thoroughly is knowledge; to navigate human affairs skillfully is literature. What you have shared are words that illuminate human nature and social relations—how could they not be worthy of a book?”

Upon hearing these words, Cai Xiang’s eyes brightened. He murmured the phrases repeatedly, sensing the profound meaning behind them.

Su Ze continued, “The sages said that to establish teachings could mean immortal truths passed down through the ages or, as in your case, the accumulated wisdom of predecessors that guides future generations. Is this not a great merit?”

With such flattering praise, Cai Xiang truly began contemplating the possibility of writing a book.

Su Ze added, “I happen to know a publishing house that could help you print and publish it.”

After some thought, Cai Xiang nodded and said, “Then I shall give it a try. If it truly helps new officials avoid pitfalls, it would indeed be a meritorious deed.”

A smile spread across Su Ze’s face.

While at Zhang Yaozuo’s residence, Su Ze had noticed that previous books lacked literary aura.

The “Collected Works of Mr. Changli” sent by Ouyang Xiu contained such aura only because of his own annotations.

Su Ze surmised that only the author’s original manuscript was likely to hold this literary aura.

Thus, he cleverly persuaded Cai Xiang—a famous calligrapher who was also a literary man—to write a book himself.

His personal compilation would surely contain this literary aura.

Hence, Su Ze’s sudden inspiration to urge Cai Xiang to publish a book.

Upon leaving the Censorate, Zhang Yaozuo looked at Su Ze with completely different eyes.

Originally, Zhang had regarded Su Ze as a calculating, resolute political operator.

But today he realized this young man’s skill at flattery surpassed even his own.

With just a few words, he had charmed Cai Xiang into friendship and even persuaded him to write a book.

Such a person was truly formidable!

Zhang finally understood why Zhang Xiuyuan valued Su Ze so highly and spared no effort in recruiting him. So young yet so cunning; given time, he might well ascend to the rank of prime minister.

Zhang Yaozuo climbed into the carriage and said to Su Ze, “The Ministry of Residential Affairs handles complex matters, and the court does not ask you to work for free.”

“Su Ze, the court has issued a secret decree: if you truly encounter grave difficulties, you may request one favor.”

Su Ze promptly replied, “Uncle, I just happen to have a matter; could you petition the court on my behalf?”

“Ah?”