Chapter 44 Subduing the Enemy Without Fighting

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From childhood until university, Li Yanqing had always been a runner, but never had he run as freely and smoothly as he did today. The reason was surprisingly simple: Uncle Hu had taught him the most basic breathing technique. After running a full hour, his legs and feet felt no soreness, and he entered the schoolhouse still full of energy and radiance.

“Brother Qing!” Li Er stormed up to him, fuming. “I waited for you all morning. Where did you go?”

Only then did Li Yanqing remember he had forgotten to tell Li Er. Feeling apologetic, he hurriedly said, “I went for a run this morning. I’m going to run every day from now on, so don’t wait for me anymore.”

“I’ll run with you!” Li Er declared.

“No problem!” Li Yanqing agreed with a smile. “Tomorrow at dawn, let’s meet at the crossroads.”

“Get up at dawn?!” Li Er looked troubled. He barely got enough sleep every day, dragged out of bed by his mother; dawn was impossible.

“I’ll think about it. If you don’t see me tomorrow, don’t wait.”

“Suit yourself. Where’s Lao Gui?” Li Yanqing looked around but didn’t see Wang Gui in the classroom.

“He took the day off today. Something must have come up at home,” Li Er said.

Just then, Tang Huai walked through the school gate. Li Yanqing dropped Li Er and hurried over to him. “Brother Tang, what’s going on with Lao Gui’s family?”

Tang Huai spoke slowly, “It’s about that horse. His grandfather is forcing the groom to pay for it. Gui argued with his grandfather, saying that if they keep making things difficult for the groom, he won’t study anymore.”

“What will happen then?” Li Yanqing asked anxiously. He hoped Wang Gui wouldn’t really quit school.

“No one knows. That kid is stubborn. But I heard his grandfather gave him a copper plum as a kind of ancestral warning. If he stops studying, his grandfather will be furious.”

Li Yanqing chuckled to himself. Wang Gui wasn’t foolish; he had found his grandfather’s weak spot, so it shouldn’t be too serious.

Just then, Yue Fei arrived. The three exchanged a few words and walked together toward the study rooms.

At the door, their master, Yao Ding, came out. Li Yanqing and the others quickly stepped forward to salute him.

Yao Ding’s expression had returned to normal, but it was still as gloomy as the calm before a summer thunderstorm. He said to the three of them, “There have been some changes at the school. I’ve selected a few students for special instruction. You three will come with me.”

After a few steps, he paused and asked, “Where’s Wang Gui?”

Tang Huai quickly explained, and Yao Ding nodded. “That’s rare.”

The three followed their master to the special training room. Li Yanqing noticed their master seemed in a foul mood and quietly asked Yue Fei, “What’s wrong with Master?”

Yue Fei gently shushed him. “I’ll tell you later.”

Inside the room sat eight or nine students from the senior class. Li Feng and Zhang Daxiao were also present, along with others preparing for the county exams next spring. Li Yanqing understood this was the advanced prep class.

The three took their seats. Yao Ding took attendance and said, “Three students are missing, but we won’t wait. As usual, after the children’s meeting, you must start preparing for the county exam. I know some of you want to pay to study, but even if you do, you still have to take the county exam. As your master, I must ensure you pass the basic test. I won’t waste time on other talk; one thing to remember: this door is open. If you want to leave, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

After this introduction, Yao Ding began his lesson. The county exam was based on calligraphy, then tested the "Classic of Filial Piety," the "Analects," and the "Mencius." But it was harder than the children’s meeting tests — not only memorization but interpretation. They would be given a passage of a sage’s words and asked to write about the corresponding historical event.

This test showed the master’s teaching level. A skilled master would explain precisely, leading to good student results.

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Since Wang Gui wasn’t present today, Yao Ding skipped the interpretation lesson and had them continue memorizing and reciting the three Confucian classics. Today they memorized the "Analects" ten times, also practicing calligraphy.

Once the homework was assigned, Yao Ding left. The dozen or so students began writing quietly. Li Feng cast a cold glance at Li Yanqing, though no one knew what he was thinking.

Yue Fei wrote a note on paper and passed it to Li Yanqing. It read: “The county sent a document yesterday. All students may only take the children’s meeting once.”

“Why?” Li Yanqing added, writing underneath.

“They said it’s to give more students a chance.”

“That’s good! Why is Master unhappy?” Li Yanqing wrote again.

Yue Fei smiled and replied on paper, “Without you, Lushan School won’t win the championship next year. Master feels great pressure.”

Li Yanqing was momentarily speechless. Last time, his victory was partly due to luck and cunning; next year, he might not be so fortunate.

Suddenly, Li Yanqing felt someone in front of him. Looking up, he saw Li Feng standing there. He quickly hid the note and kept writing, ignoring him.

“What were you two writing? Show me!”

Li Yanqing ignored him and continued writing, but Li Feng suddenly snatched his pen away. Only then did Li Yanqing look up calmly.

Li Feng had recently been cheated out of two strings of cash by a cricket seller. He dared not tell his grandfather and was bitter. Last night, his grandfather scolded him harshly for being useless, saying even a six-year-old kid was better than him. Seeing Li Yanqing, all his old grievances exploded.

He expected Li Yanqing to snap back, but Li Yanqing remained calm and unruffled, making Li Feng feel as though he had punched thin air.

“This is study time. What are you sneaking around writing? Show me, or I’ll tell Master.”

“Tell him what?” came Yao Ding’s stern voice from behind.

Everyone was startled and quickly bent over their work. Yao Ding stepped forward and glared at Li Feng. “Why are you taking someone else’s pen?”

Frightened, Li Feng put the pen down and lowered his head. “I saw them not focusing on their work and writing secretly. I couldn’t help but stop them.”

“Is that so?”

Yao Ding’s harsh gaze shifted to Li Yanqing. He reached out, “What are you writing? Show me!”

Li Yanqing reluctantly picked up the paper from the nearby stool, his heart stirred—it wasn’t the original note.

He handed it to Yao Ding, who glanced at it and softened slightly. “I’ll explain these interpretations later. Don’t be impatient. For now, just focus on your calligraphy.”

Returning the paper to Li Yanqing, Yao Ding shot Li Feng another glare. “You’re distracted and yet have the nerve to scold others. Go back to your seat and write. If I see you leave your place without permission again, you’ll regret it!”

Li Feng hit a wall and reluctantly glared at Li Yanqing as he returned to his seat.

Yao Ding made a round and then went to the neighboring senior classroom.

Only then did Li Yanqing read the paper—it contained a passage from Mencius: “Those who have no permanent possessions but possess a steadfast heart, only the scholar can do so.” It then asked how to interpret this and several other questions.

It turned out Yue Fei had secretly switched the papers. Li Yanqing glanced at Yue Fei, who was expressionless and serious, as if nothing had happened.

...

After school that afternoon, Li Yanqing and a few friends walked out the school gates. Tang Huai quietly grabbed Li Yanqing’s arm, and he noticed Li Feng with four or five cohorts waiting not far ahead.

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They were all about twelve or thirteen years old, taller than them, and each looked slovenly, almost like they had a cigarette dangling from their lips.

Li Feng dared not cause trouble inside the school, so he waited outside after class.

Li Yanqing shook off Tang Huai’s hand and approached calmly. “I don’t know what I did to offend you. But if you want to pick a fight, I’m not afraid. Let’s go to the ancestral hall—don’t make a scene here in front of others.”

Li Feng didn’t dare go to the ancestral hall and cause trouble. He didn’t even want other clan members to find out. Though Li Yanqing was a distant branch of the Li family, the clan chief doted on him, and even Li Feng’s grandfather couldn’t control him. Li Feng’s jealousy made him want to vent his anger on Li Yanqing.

But despite his jealousy, Li Feng wasn’t foolish. Li Yanqing’s words reminded him that if he fought and Li Yanqing reported to the clan chief, he’d be in trouble.

He quickly changed tactics and feigned concern: “I don’t want to fight you. I’m just warning you—someone wants to teach you a lesson.”

He signaled Zhang Daxiao to step forward, but Zhang hesitated. After all, he had roomed with Li Yanqing at the inn and was on good terms with Tang Huai. He didn’t want to lose face.

Li Yanqing understood and smiled. “How about this? No fighting. We’ll have a contest of skill. If I lose, I’ll pay you ten strings of cash. If I win, you never bother me again.”

The university students immediately saw an opportunity and encouraged Li Feng. “Let’s do it. We won’t lose.”

Li Feng had some martial training from the local militia exercises and was confident, especially against a six-year-old. As long as it wasn’t a literary contest, he wasn’t afraid.

Under his friends’ urging, he rolled up his sleeves. “I’ll compete with you. Sticks or fists, your choice. What do you want to fight with?”

Li Yanqing bent down and picked up a stone, weighing it in his hand. Then, with lightning speed, he hurled it. A pigeon resting in a tree was caught unaware and struck with a sharp ‘smack!’ Its feathers scattered as it fell straight down, landing right in front of several students.

Li Yanqing clapped his hands. “Let’s compete with this. Your turn.”

The university students were shocked, exchanging glances, then suddenly turned and fled. Their pride wouldn’t allow them to lose face like this.

Li Feng’s face flushed red. He waved his hand. “Forget it, forget it. If I fight you, others will say I’m bullying a kid. This time, I’ll let it go. Just don’t provoke me again!”

He turned to chase after his friends. “You idiots, why are you running?”

The students burst into laughter, surrounding Li Yanqing with chatter. That move was amazing; everyone looked at him with admiration.

Just then, a voice from behind asked, “Brother Qing, Lao Tang, what happened?”

Li Yanqing and Tang Huai turned to see Wang Gui and his grandfather walking out of the school. Wang Gui was beaming; his grandfather looked grim.

Everyone hurriedly bowed to Wang Gui’s grandfather. Wang Wanhao nodded. “Play for a while.”

He then told Wang Gui, “Gui’er, come to the shop later.”

He strode off toward town, hands behind his back. Wang Gui chuckled proudly once his grandfather was out of sight. “Back to school tomorrow. I won!”

Li Er held up the pigeon, shaking it in front of Wang Gui. “Do you know how Brother Qing hit that bird?”

“Hit what bird?”

Tang Huai recounted the earlier event. Wang Gui stomped and pounded his chest. “Such an amazing thing! Why didn’t you wait for me?”

He grabbed Li Yanqing’s arm, insisting he show him again how he hit a bird.