Chapter 28: The First Match in the Arena (Part Two)

The "silent scripture recitation" was, of course, more than just rote memorization. It could also work in reverse: one side would recite a passage, and the other had to identify the author, the source, or the subject described within it.

Yao Ding would not ask "giveaway" questions from the *Analects* or *Mencius*. He was certain to choose something more obscure. Still, Yao Ding was fair; he explicitly stated that the passage came from the *Records of the Grand Historian*. Anyone who had studied that work could answer it.

The group looked toward the presiding judge, who nodded. "This question is acceptable."

The four scholars from Weinan Town were, as expected, the pick of the crop. After a brief consultation, the lead respondent stood up and said, "This passage is from Volume 55 of the *Records of the Grand Historian*, the 'Hereditary House of the Marquis of Liu,' and it refers to Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu."

*Clang!* The sound of a chime signaled a correct answer, and the four Weinan students erupted in cheers.

Next, it was Weinan Town’s turn to pose a question. He Zhen drew a category at random: poetry. Usually, this involved naming a poem and requiring the opponent to provide the author and recite the full text.

The lead questioner from Weinan Town pulled a slip and asked, "The poem 'La Ri' (The Last Day of the Year). Please identify the author and recite the entire poem."

Li Yanqing was stunned. What a coincidence—they had just discussed this very poem over dinner the day before. Even the corner of Yao Ding’s mouth could not help but curl into a smile.

He Zhen, however, was furious. He had prepared over a dozen highly obscure poems, but the rules for the first round required moderate difficulty; if a poem were too niche, it would be rejected. He had selected four relatively accessible ones, and having thought of the Laba Festival at the time, he had casually stuffed this one into the envelope—only for the opponent to pick it.

As the judge signaled his approval, Li Yanqing rose and said, "This is 'La Ri' by the Sage of Poetry, Du Fu."

He began to recite:

*The warmth of the year’s end was still far away,*
*Yet this final day, the frost has completely vanished.*
*The daylilies emerge to challenge the fading snow,*
*And the willow branches reveal the secret of spring.*
*Indulging in wine, I hope to be drunk through this auspicious night,*
*Returning home, having just dispersed from the Zichen morning court.*
*Lip balm and facial ointments follow the imperial grace,*
*As emerald tubes and silver ornaments descend from the ninth heaven.*

*Clang!* Another chime sounded. They had passed, and Wang Gui and Tang Huai jumped up in excitement.

Li Yanqing nodded at Yue Fei with a smile, signaling his gratitude. He had truly forgotten this poem, and it was only because Yue Fei had read it aloud in the dining hall the day before that he had remembered it.

Yue Fei was secretly relieved as well. Had his master not asked him to read it aloud, they would have lost in the first round. Elated, he raised his palm and slapped it hard against Li Yanqing’s.

The first round ended in a draw.

By convention, the first round is relatively simple, with the difficulty increasing in the second and reaching its peak in the third. Lushan Town School went first again for the second round. Yao Ding drew "Competitive Archery." He frowned, showed the slip to the judge, and put it back. Competitive Archery was not a mandatory question and could be exchanged.

He drew "Poetry" a second time, but Yao Ding did not notice that He Zhen’s gaze was fixed intently on the archery slip he had just returned.

Yue Fei stood up and asked, "Identify the author of 'Reflections on the Past at Xisai Mountain' and recite the full poem."

This was a poem by Liu Yuxi. Generally, the works of Liu Yuxi that circulated widely were pieces like "Memories of Jiangnan," "Bamboo Branch Song," or "Inscription on My Humble Abode." While "Reflections on the Past at Xisai Mountain" was indeed his work, it was slightly more obscure—though not excessively so. It was of medium-to-high difficulty, fitting the requirements for the second round, so the judge approved it.

This poem made He Zhen nervous. He had taught this to his students a long time ago, and he wasn't sure if any of them remembered it.

They only had the time it took for one incense stick to burn to think. As time slipped away, the students remained stumped. He Zhen noticed a cluster of bamboo in the corner. When they had planted it at the start of the year, he had specifically lectured his students on Liu Yuxi’s "Bamboo Branch Song."

He Zhen glanced back furtively. Seeing two of his students looking at him with desperate eyes, he nonchalantly scratched his ear and quickly pointed to the bamboo in the corner, signaling them to think of Liu Yuxi’s "Bamboo Branch Song."

The presiding judge coughed heavily, annoyed. He had seen He Zhen’s small gesture but chose not to accuse him of cheating; after all, it wasn't easy for anyone, and the judge was willing to be slightly lenient as long as it wasn't excessive.

Yet, it was precisely this hint that reminded one of the students of the lecture his master had given before the bamboo grove. Remembering "Bamboo Branch Song" led him to Liu Yuxi, and finally, he recalled the poem.

They whispered a few words, and the lead student stood up. "This was written by Liu Yuxi."

He proceeded to recite:

*Wang Jun’s warships descended from Yizhou,*
*The regal aura of Jinling faded into gloom.*
*A thousand-fathom iron chain sank to the riverbed,*
*As a single flag of surrender rose from the Stone City.*
*How many times has the world mourned the past?*
*The shape of the mountains remains, pillowed by the cold currents.*
*Now that the world is united under one home,*
*The old ramparts stand silent in the autumn reeds.*

The judge glared at He Zhen, then struck the chime with reluctance. It was a pass.

The four students hugged each other in excitement. Passing this round had not been easy. Because their opponents had answered the first question so easily, they no longer felt the contempt they had at the start; if anything, they were beginning to feel nervous.

Perhaps Yao Ding truly had a premonition, having asked Yue Fei to recite "La Ri" in the dining hall, which happened to be the first round's topic. When He Zhen drew the category for the second round, he too was stunned: it was "Miscellaneous Studies."

Miscellaneous Studies included couplets, riddles, astronomy, geography, mathematics, painting, and calligraphy. Because the scope was so vast, the Children's Examination only tested two: couplets and calligraphy.

Calligraphy was a fundamental skill for scholars, so most could pass. Therefore, when used for the second round, it usually involved choosing a couplet. This was why Yao Ding found it such a coincidence.

The lead questioner from Weinan Town drew a slip and asked, "I provide the first line, please provide the second: 'The Goddess Nüwa who mended the heavens, the Earth Mother who sustains the world; how great is the Qian, how supreme is the Kun—two divine women through the ages.'"

Unexpectedly, the judge, still dissatisfied with He Zhen’s earlier prompting, flatly rejected this highly obscure couplet.

The Weinan student offered two more extremely esoteric lines, but the judge rejected them both without hesitation. He Zhen turned red with anger, knowing that his earlier hint had been seen, which was why the judge was being so difficult.

The judge said coldly, "All three attempts failed. According to the rules, it is now our turn to pose the question."

He smiled at Li Yanqing. "I will provide a first line. It is not overly difficult, but certainly not simple. Listen: 'Passing down the family line through loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and forgiveness; without great prosperity nor great decline, the legacy of our ancestors is far-reaching.' Scholar Li, please write down the second line. You have the time of one incense stick."

The judge then turned to the Weinan students. "For the sake of fairness, you may also attempt this couplet. If you can answer it, I will count the third round as passed for you in advance."

This question tested both couplet construction and calligraphy. Li Yanqing was inherently skilled at couplets. He pondered for a moment, then took up his brush and finished in one flourish. Beside him, Yue Fei slapped his palm in excitement. "A great line!"

Although Yao Ding had his back to them, he heard his grandson’s praise and immediately relaxed, knowing Li Yanqing had succeeded.

Li Yanqing stepped forward to submit his answer. The judge did not rush to look at it, instead waiting with a smile for the Weinan students' response. When the incense burned out, they still had not managed to write one.

The judge nodded. "I gave you the opportunity, but you did not seize it. That is not my partiality."

Only then did he unfold Li Yanqing’s couplet to admire it with the other two judges. Li Yanqing’s second line read: "Practicing kindness through hardship and difficulty; with deep virtue there must be deep blessings, the inheritance of those who follow is encouraged."

The three judges exclaimed in unison, "A fine couplet!"

The calligraphy was in the clerical script. While not yet that of a master, it was fluid, graceful, and well-executed. The judge nodded repeatedly. "A pity this is only the second round. If it were the third, I would have declared it a pass."

*Clang!* He picked up the small hammer and struck the chime.

The four of them cheered in unison. The judge then slowly asked He Zhen, "My first line was: 'Passing down the family line through loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and forgiveness; without great prosperity nor great decline, the legacy of our ancestors is far-reaching.' The Lushan school's second line is: 'Practicing kindness through hardship and difficulty; with deep virtue there must be deep blessings, the inheritance of those who follow is encouraged.' Master He, do you find this acceptable?"

He Zhen had nothing to say. The opponent’s line was well-structured, grand, and possessed a noble spirit; he could not find a single flaw.

Even Yao Ding’s face blossomed into a wide smile. His disciple was truly a genius.

In the second round, both sides had once again fought to a draw.