Chapter 93: Chapter 85: The Gentleman’s Sword
The young Ruan Shantao had indeed never killed anyone, but he had certainly fought plenty.
This fact could also be seen from his strange sword, which was covered in so many cuts and scratches that they were almost uncountable. Any ordinary sword would likely have broken on the spot, but this unusually thick "Rectangular Sword" had survived numerous battles and remained composed, even growing more formidable with each fight.
"So, you’re saying this isn’t a sword?"
After yet another day of sword dueling, finally, one of the students who had been beaten couldn’t help but complain.
"This is surely more of an iron club, isn’t it?"
"This is indeed a sword."
The young Ruan Shantao raised the Rectangular Sword and argued on the basis of reason.
"Do you have any issues with my Sword of the Gentleman?"
"Yes."
Facing Ruan Shantao, who held up the heavy sword blade, the student who had fallen to the ground nodded.
Then, he raised his hand and pressed a clasp on his waist.
With a metallic swish, a glint of cold steel sliced directly towards Ruan Shantao’s wrist!
"A sneak attack!"
Ruan Shantao’s pupils suddenly contracted, and he swung the heavy sword blade down fiercely.
"Despicable villain! The pinnacle of shamelessness!"
Clang—
The heavy sword blade viciously smashed down upon the glint of cold steel.
But this time, the usually unstoppable Rectangular Sword did not manage to break the sword in front of it on the spot.
It turned out to be a sheath-clinging Soft Sword.
The Refined Steel had transformed into a flexible weapon, and under the student’s cunning strength, the flexible blade sprung into an arc, striking Ruan Shantao’s forearm.
His forearm ached, and the heavy sword slipped from his grip. This time, Ruan Shantao had lost.
"Haha! I won this match... What are you doing?"
The student with the Soft Sword had just gotten up from the ground, brushing off his clothes to boast of his victory, only to see Ruan Shantao already charging at him with clenched fists!
A heavy punch landed on his face, leaving the student instantly dizzy.
"Despicable villain! How dare you use a Dark Sword to launch a sneak attack! Today, I shall teach you a lesson in humanity!"
"Hey! You scoundrel! A loss is a loss! How can you not take it!"
Ruan Shantao, adept with the heavy sword and possessing considerable strength, faced the student who maneuvered the noodle-like flexible blade with peculiar skill. The two were evenly matched, exchanging punches and kicks in a fight that neither could dominate.
If sword dueling was a fleeting matter, this bout of fisticuffs lasted the entire afternoon, stretching into dusk when the moon first rose, leaving both bruised and battered as they lay on the ground.
One used a Dark Sword to harm, the other refused to admit losing, both bearing some degree of fault, and so no more was said about this inexplicable duel.
And the young Ruan Shantao, in the vast Capital City of Jiankang, had made his first friend.
Though he often felt like punching this friend in the face.
The friend’s name was Xiang Rong, like Ruan Shantao, a student from a humble background studying at the Grand Academy. Just like the name "Xiang Rong," this friend, despite being slender, had a fondness for martial matters, contrasting with Ruan Shantao’s scholarly achievements despite his warrior-like physique.
Yet these two seemingly opposite individuals found a deep connection when discussing many issues.
For instance, the newly established Imperial Academy by the court of the Great Chen.
Unlike the all-inclusive Grand Academy, the Imperial Academy only admitted nobles’ offspring. Thus, seeking to scrutinize the Imperial Academy’s quality, Ruan Shantao and Xiang Rong found opportunities to engage the Imperial Academy students in several exchanges.
Their exchanges ranged from debating scriptures to sword duels to wrestling if swordplay got too bloody, with plenty of methods at hand to engage physically.
However, the results of these exchanges left Ruan Shantao and Xiang Rong very disappointed.
"I originally thought the Imperial Academy was the nobles’ plan to monopolize classics and cut off the universal paths of the Grand Academy... Who would have thought they were even more disappointing than I imagined."
After battling the Imperial Academy’s students for ten days, Ruan Shantao finally sighed.
"They can’t even match ordinary students of the Grand Academy; it’s just a gilded path. After all, graduates of the Imperial Academy are no different from the Grand Academy students, and this..."
"What you think isn’t wrong. After all, the Imperial Academy is new; who knows whether they’ll siphon off the Grand Academy’s books and Doctors to the Imperial Academy later?"
Likewise immersed in ten days of battles, Xiang Rong shook his head repeatedly.
"Alright, Ruan, there’s no need to overthink it. It seems this Great Chen might be reaching its end."
"No, it’s not to that extent yet."
Ruan Shantao did not agree with Xiang Rong’s view, instead showing resolve.
"Even if Great Chen has its issues, there’s still you and me, and many spirited students of the Grand Academy. After years of reading sacred texts, how can we give up so easily!"
"You... Fine, you just can’t stand losing."
Xiang Rong sighed.
"But I still have to say, Brother Ruan, even the sage books say that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall."
"The sage books also say that a gentleman has three paths: the benevolent have no worries, the wise are not confused, and the brave are not afraid."
Ruan Shantao remained steadfast in his beliefs.
"If one cannot even uphold their benevolence, how can they be considered a gentleman?"
After a round of debate, neither Ruan Shantao nor Xiang Rong could convince the other, as this was no longer a mere academic disagreement but a clash of ideologies.
Thus, after completing their studies, Xiang Rong, having little regard for the Great Chen court, resigned from his position and traveled the world. Meanwhile, Ruan Shantao adhered to his principles, chose to serve, beginning as a state registrar and successively holding positions as Chamberlain, Minister of Personnel, Crown Prince’s Tutor, and even ascended to Minister of Works. During this period, Ruan Shantao continuously recommended talented individuals to the Great Chen court, providing opportunities for passionate students to realize their ambitions.
Through Ruan Shantao’s tireless efforts, it appeared that Great Chen was indeed showing signs of a revival.
However, the good times did not last long.
As signs of development appeared throughout Great Chen, calls to reduce the military power of various states emerged in the court. The reasons given were, of course, the current state of peace and tranquility, where swords could be turned into plowshares, and people could recuperate and recover—yet Ruan Shantao could not accept this. Always concerned with national affairs, he knew that whether it was the northern plains people, southern barbarians, western foreigners, or eastern pirates, these foreign tribes were always coveting the land, and even within Great Chen, banditry frequently occurred.
The current Great Chen could hardly be considered safe, so how could they talk about reducing military power and turning swords into plowshares?
But just as Ruan Shantao was preparing to submit successive memoranda to refute these ideas, he was visited by a secret envoy sent by the emperor at his residence.
"Minister Ruan, His Majesty has something to ask you."
The eunuch came into Ruan Shantao’s study, imitating the emperor’s tone.
"Minister Ruan, I understand the matter you mentioned. However, Minister Ruan, I must also ask you this."
At this, the eunuch paused briefly.
"Do you wish to speak on behalf of the border states or for the court?"
At these words, Ruan Shantao was rendered speechless.
Having navigated the court for many years, he had already become astute with age, and at this moment, with everything made so clear, how could he not understand the emperor’s intentions?
Clearly, this emperor had never been at ease with the border states.
Understandably so, although theoretically, the most powerful army of Great Chen was stationed in the Capital City as the emperor’s personal guard, the truly battle-hardened soldiers were likely to come only from the war-experienced border states. If anyone were to harbor treasonous intent and wish to sit on the dragon throne... how could the emperor sleep peacefully?
Therefore, at the root of it, weakening the military strength of the states was inevitable.
Even if it was just to let the emperor have a good night’s sleep.
"This..."
Even after the eunuch left, Ruan Shantao remained speechless for a long time.
Although he had had some vague premonitions before, until the eunuch’s arrival, he could not believe that the biggest obstacle would come from the emperor himself.
At the end of the day, this emperor was not like the Grand Ancestor Emperor, possessing extraordinary courage and strength that could even be described as surpassing all others. Therefore, his current actions were not surprising.
So, it’s time to go.
Since the court no longer needed him, what was the point in staying?
Thus, packing the few belongings he had, and with only a handful of family members, Ruan Shantao resigned from his post and returned to the mountains of his hometown in Yanzhou to live in seclusion.
Though in seclusion, Ruan Shantao, not one to sit idly, decided to establish an academy to enlighten young students, or teach those who were older but illiterate, how to study and read.
Like a great tree rooted and sprouting on Ziyang Mountain.
As long as more people could read and write, they would naturally understand the path of benevolence, and one day, these seeds would bear fruit.
As the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
As long as he did not give up, as long as more and more people chose not to give up, then this Great Chen, this world of people, would surely improve.
"So it’s better for this Yanzhou to remain peaceful."
Speaking thus, the elderly Ruan Shantao picked up his brush and wrote the word "benevolence" at the deepest part of Yanzhou’s arsenal.
Subsequently, he hung the Rectangular Sword that had accompanied him for countless years beneath the word.
A single word condensed all of Ruan Shantao’s determination. A sword that had never taken a life yet was the epitome of Ruan Shantao’s life.
Under the word and sword, all the Evil Qi from the weapons in Yanzhou’s arsenal was suppressed, never to stir again.
"I’ll have to rely on you, old friend."
The aging Ruan Shantao patted the scabbard as a gesture of farewell.
This sword would remain with him, maintaining the peace of all Yanzhou.
After all, studying requires a peaceful environment.
Even if only relatively peaceful.
