Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 122 June's "Jiangnan": Ten chapters by one person, causing a sensation in Jinling!

"Sir, would you like to include these articles in this issue of the publication?"

Yang Xianyu asked in a low voice, holding in his hands Jiang Xingzhou's several groundbreaking works.

"Change!"

Zhou Dunshi made up his mind, slammed his hand on the table, causing a few drops of ink to splash from the inkstone, and said, "Replace those articles that were submitted outside the county!"
This journal has always taken it upon itself to promote emerging literary talents in the state. How could such a brilliant work be buried? I, an old man, must give it a helping hand!

In each issue of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering," a large portion is always occupied by old works by scholars from other regions of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Even with his exquisite annotations, those famous works that have long been known throughout the world are merely icing on the cake, ultimately lacking the fresh and vibrant spirit of the Jiangnan region steeped in misty rain.

The finest articles newly written by talented scholars in Jiangnan will be given priority for publication—this is both to mentor the younger generation and to add fuel to the fire of Jiangnan's literary tradition.

Yang Xianyu's heart skipped a beat—among those "articles about leaving the county" that were about to be withdrawn,

Besides the various old works, they also reveal the bright futures of the scions of the ten prominent families in Jiangnan.

Those young masters from wealthy and powerful families had long ago sent their servants with "heavy" visiting cards, just waiting for the moment when the ink was put on paper and they would make a name for themselves.

If we were to remove it rashly, we might offend people.

"Then select a few articles to publish?"

Yang Xianyu glanced at the articles and hesitated before asking.

"Ten articles, all of them!"

Zhou Dunshi's voice was resolute and echoed in the study.

His gaze swept across the table, his fingertips lightly brushing over the pages of manuscripts—three about leaving the county and seven about reaching the prefecture. These articles, some elegant and refined, others powerful and majestic, were all rare masterpieces.

Each time I turned the page, a wave of hesitation washed over me—it would be such a waste to abandon it.

Even those three works that were "written outside the county," if published in "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering," would surely spread throughout the ten prefectures of Jiangnan within ten months and be promoted to "high-ranking prefecture" status!
"Snapped!"

The manuscript in Yang Xianyu's hand suddenly fell to the ground and scattered everywhere. His eyes widened as if he had heard some shocking statement.

His voice was strained, and even his fingertips were trembling slightly.

"My lord, this is not the usual practice! I fear some people will object!"

"Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" was the premier literary journal in Jiangnan. Once an article was published, it could spread throughout the ten prefectures within ten days, attracting countless literati to read it.

Countless powerful and wealthy families have secretly resorted to all sorts of underhanded tactics to secure a publication. If it weren't for Zhou Dunshi, a Hanlin Academician, serving as the chief editor, this book would likely have long since degenerated into a collection of mediocre and shoddy writings!
No one has ever been able to publish more than three articles in one go!

And Jiang Xingzhou actually wants to have ten chapters all to himself?!

—This takes up almost 20% of the entire publication!

The flickering candlelight cast dappled shadows on Zhou Dunshi's aged face, but could not conceal the burning light in his eyes.

"Standard practice?"

Old Scholar Zhou sneered, his withered fingers slamming heavily on the manuscript. "Tell me, since the founding of 'Jiangnan Elegant Gathering,' have you ever seen anyone write ten articles in one go, all from the county or prefecture level?"

Yang Xianyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he said bitterly, "But those powerful families... I'm afraid they'll cause a huge uproar..."

He also had more than a dozen visiting cards from powerful and influential people in his sleeve, filled with works of "knocking on the town's gate," hoping to use "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" to add a layer of literary fame to his "leaving the county"!

Jiang Xingzhou alone has ten articles?
This is more than just blocking access.

This has shattered the plans of countless powerful families in Jiangnan and blocked the path of so many people. No wonder they are furious!
They would use any means necessary to block scholars from poor families and prevent other literati from gaining fame!

Let them make a scene!

Zhou Dunshi coldly said, "I'd like to see who can touch these ten articles!"

He grabbed the top two articles, "Ode to a Humble Abode" and "Banquet at the Rich Man's Gate," the papers rustling in his hands: "If these kinds of articles aren't published, how can I, an old man, have the face to manage the premier literary journal in Jiangnan?"

"With only two months left until the autumn imperial examinations, which of the powerful families in the ten prefectures of Jiangnan hasn't been hiding their manuscripts for years, waiting for this moment to submit them and try to make a name for themselves?"

"Do those counterfeit or ghostwritten works really think they can get away with it?"

"Today, I will show them—"

"What defines a prodigy!"

"What is literature?"

Zhou Dunshi paced around the room, then suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning and his voice like cold iron.

What he hates most are those who try to pass themselves off as genuine.

Normally, once a poem or essay is completed, it will be recognized by the local Confucian temple. Excellent works from above the county level will be collected by the local Confucian temple, inscribed on bronze vessels, and passed down to future generations.

However, those powerful families used every means to elevate their own sons.

for example--

First, have a member of the clan write a short piece, then pay a hefty sum to invite scholars of the rank of Juren or above to secretly offer guidance.

A single word can change a world of difference!

If the original sentence had simply said "open," the person offering the guidance would have tapped the table with their finger, implying that the word "tap" would have been more effective. This single word difference dramatically transformed the writing, elevating it from ordinary to "outstanding."

After repeated refinement, it finally became a masterpiece, but the signature was still that of a scion of a prominent family!
Of course, this kind of trick is mostly used when "leaving the county".

After all, if one could truly write a work worthy of the title "Da Fu", scholars would all sign their names, making their names known throughout the prefecture, which was more profitable than ghostwriting for others!
Such methods are countless.

“Students understand.”

Yang Xianyu bowed deeply, and when he looked up again, his eyes were clear and bright. The candlelight reflected on his resolute face, making his determined features stand out clearly.

Even if it offends those powerful and influential families, I will not hesitate. "Tomorrow, I will personally supervise the scribes to copy the new edition overnight."

The candle flame popped with a "pop," scattering a few sparks.

Zhou Dunshi watched his disciple's departing figure, his green robe gradually disappearing into the night, leaving only a wisp of ink fragrance lingering in the study.

The old scholar slowly sat back in his armchair, picked up a vermilion brush, and carefully annotated each of Jiang Xingzhou's articles.

As the pen moves, it sometimes claps in admiration, and sometimes ponders deeply.

Those bold, vermilion annotations seemed to pour all the knowledge he had acquired into this stack of manuscripts.

His aged fingertips gently caressed the three characters "Jiang Xingzhou," and suddenly he chuckled softly:
"It seems that another 'Four Great Talents of Jiangnan' is about to emerge in the literary world of Jiangnan. This is a great event for the literary world of Jiangnan."

The sound of the third watch drum came from afar, startling the copper bells on the eaves.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion of Jiangnan Bookstore, the lone lamp never went out, illuminating the manuscripts throughout the room until dawn.

When the June issue was finalized, the entire copy room of the Jiangnan Book Society was brightly lit.

Yang Xianyu, dressed in a blue robe, stood before the desk, while dozens of scribes behind him held their breath, their wolf-hair brushes rustling on the Xuan paper.

Although movable type printing technology already existed, truly good articles ultimately needed to be imbued with talent—each volume of "Jiangnan Elegant Collection" had to be handwritten by scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, making it even more valuable for collection.

Amidst the fragrant aroma of ink, hundreds of first-edition copies of the new publication quietly appeared and quickly appeared on the shelves of various large bookstores along the Qinhuai River in Nanjing.

At first, nothing seemed amiss, and even the shopkeeper hadn't noticed anything unusual.

Until a scholar in a blue robe caught a glimpse of the article's signature, his hand holding the June issue suddenly trembled—

"[Leaving the County] 'Grass', Jiang Xingzhou? Wait, is this [Dazhou] 'Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet' also written by Jiang Xingzhou?"

His trembling voice drew the attention of the scholar beside him.

"This is 'Ode to a Humble Abode'." The pages flipped through the book. "It's Jiang Xingzhou again?! This is his eighth one!"

The exclamations were like pebbles hitting water, instantly creating ripples that spread throughout the entire Qinhuai River.

"Ten pieces! A full ten pieces, seven of which are by Jiang Xingzhou! Who is he? My scalp is tingling!" "Excuse me! I've never heard of his writing before, let me see!"

"Don't push! You're stepping on my cloud-patterned shoes!"

The long street near the Confucius Temple suddenly erupted in excitement.

Many scholars abandoned their usual refinement and scrambled to grab copies of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" from the bookshelves, while the surrounding common people also flocked to join in the fun.

In the blink of an eye, the new edition of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" in major bookstores in Jinling City was sold out.

The shopkeepers were left staring at the empty bookshelves, exchanging bewildered glances.

Within a day, major bookstores in Jinling City rushed to Jiangnan Bookstore to purchase books.

Scholars and literati in Nanjing vied to buy it, and even prominent families sent their servants to queue overnight—the sky-high price of thirty taels of silver per volume could not stop the enthusiasm of the Jiangnan literati.

Those who were impatient and couldn't wait even borrowed copies of the June issue to make them available, causing a temporary shortage of paper in Nanjing.

In teahouses and taverns, one could see a scholar holding a page of newly written poems, reciting them with great enthusiasm.

Inside the Zhaixiang Pavilion, the fragrance of agarwood wafts through the air.

A group of more than ten young scholars from Jinling Prefecture, dressed in fine clothes and jade belts, sat around a table. The ink of the June edition of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" in their hands was still fresh, but it made their faces look even more gloomy.

"Ha, my piece that was published outside the county didn't even make it to the last page!"

In Jinling Prefecture, Gu Qingyang, the eldest son of the Gu family, lightly tapped his teacup. The crisp sound of the celadon masked a cold snort, revealing his dissatisfaction.

A month ago, he specially sent his steward with generous gifts to the Jiangnan Bookstore to bribe Yang Xianyu, but he still returned empty-handed.

Among the open pages of the book on the table, the three characters "Jiang Xingzhou" were strikingly obvious—ten exquisite articles, all written by this scholar from Jiangzhou!
"Who is this Jiang Xingzhou?"

Some hesitated, speculating, "Could it be the direct descendant of some sage family?"

"If it weren't for a family of sages who had accumulated knowledge over a century, how could so many of Dafu's masterpieces have been completed in one go and appeared in the 'Jiangnan Elegant Gathering' at the same time?"

"That's possible! Otherwise, who could produce so many of Dafu's articles in one go?"

The ivory fan snapped shut with a "whoosh," and the room's shimmering light suddenly trembled.

"If he is truly a direct descendant of a sage family..."

The group looked at each other, their faces reflecting a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in the tea.

The expressions of all the young men in brocade robes changed drastically—it was like a dragon emerging from the water, about to shake up the entire imperial examination system in Jiangnan!

It is a very important event for a scion of a sage family to serve in an official position!
Since ancient times, the eldest sons of sage families who entered the world were destined for a smooth and successful path to success, passing the imperial examinations with flying colors.

There is an old precedent in the court that when paving the way for such a person, the talented scholars of an entire prefecture are suppressed for ten years—this is nothing more than a speck of dust slipping through the fingers of the sage, and is not worth mentioning.

"I do know a thing or two about this person's background!"

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out. Xie Yunmiao, the young master of the Xie family in Jinling, held a fan and waved it lightly, a smile playing on his lips.

"After the prefectural examination, I traveled to various prefectures in Jiangnan Circuit. I heard a scholar from Jiangzhou mention that this boy came from a poor family, but he was fortunate enough to be admitted to the Xue family and studied there for five years."

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the pages of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering," and said, "These articles are indeed from his hand. Jiang Xingzhou, the top scholar in Jiangzhou, is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone in Jiangzhou, young and old, knows him."

The tense shoulders and backs of everyone in the room suddenly relaxed.

The Duke of Xue's Mansion?

— He rose to power through military merit, and although he holds the title of Duke and a certificate of merit, it is now nothing more than hereditary wealth and honor!

The powerful aristocratic group of the time only held real power in the military. In the imperial court, the influence of the Three Departments and Six Ministries had waned. Even the eldest son of a duke had to compete with scholars from humble backgrounds in the autumn imperial examinations.

Compared to the families of sages, they were not afraid of the Duke's mansion.

Moreover, Jiang Xingzhou is not a member of the Xue family.

"Weird!"

Suddenly someone raised an eyebrow, "Brother Xie, since you've been traveling to Jiangzhou, how come I've never heard you mention this person even once?"

"Ah"

Xie Yunmiao swiftly unfurled the gold-painted fan, concealing the sneer on her lips. "I haven't even made a name for myself in Jiangnan yet. Am I supposed to rush to promote a complete stranger?"

The fan ribs tapped three crisp sounds in the palm, just like the water clock urging on.

With the autumn imperial examinations just around the corner, who is willing to pave the way for their rivals?

However, since "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" has already made that person famous, his revelation now is just like adding a spoonful of boiling water to a pot of hot oil, so it doesn't really matter.

The room was completely silent, with only the sound of wisps of tea smoke rising from it.

"."

The scholars were speechless for a moment, but their eyes were filled with unspoken emotions.

Yes--

In the literary circles of Jiangnan, the rise to fame of a talented scholar from a humble background means that there is one less place on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

They might get squeezed out!
The talented men of the ten prefectures are as numerous as carp crossing a river; who wouldn't want to be the best?
If such a monster were truly allowed to rise on the wind...
They'll definitely find a way to break his ladder to success before he even gets to the top! How could they let him rise to prominence so easily?!

Unfortunately, it's too late!

"such a pity"

Gu Qingyang slammed his teacup down, splashing out a few drops of cold tea.

The crowd's expressions were uncertain—even though they wanted to intervene, it was too late!

Now that Jiang Xingzhou's article has been published in "Jiangnan Elegant Collection," it will surely spread throughout the ten prefectures of Jiangnan within a month.

At that time, not only will ordinary scholars have this collection of elegant writings, but even the cinnabar brush of Prefect Wei Guanlan and the jade paperweight of Education Commissioner Du Jingchen will be under it, praising this poor scholar from Jiangzhou!
"Everyone."

Suddenly someone said quietly, "Do you think he has a chance to snatch the title of one of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan based on these ten of his [Da Fu] works?"

Before the words were even finished, the entire room was filled with dread!
These six words carry immense weight!

This title is no small matter—it represents the pinnacle of literary achievement among the younger generation in Jiangnan. It is reserved for those who have achieved the lowest level of literary talent, regardless of whether they are scholars or graduates of the provincial level.

The only reliable method for its evaluation is the "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering"!
Poems, articles, calligraphy, paintings, chess scores—anything that can be published in these publications can accumulate literary fame.

Every three years, on the day when the titles of talented scholars are awarded, the four with the most works and the greatest reputation are selected and given the honor of "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan".

"Wow—he already has ten articles on the list, it's actually quite possible!"

Someone gasped, and the teacup trembled slightly between their fingertips.

Even if Jiang Xingzhou is a genius from a poor family, he is still just a poor boy. What does it matter if he is exceptionally talented?

Why should these scions of noble families have to put up with the attitude of a commoner scholar? At worst, they can simply avoid each other and keep to themselves.

But if Jiang Xingzhou truly wins the title of "One of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan,"
The reputation of these "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan" is not just empty words.

Once you are granted this title, you will be able to attend literary gatherings of all sizes in the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, where you will be highly sought after and will be a distinguished guest, sitting at the head table alongside Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and Hanlin scholars.

Even those arrogant and aloof scholars would lightly tap their palms with a folding fan, address each other as brothers, and say they had long admired the name of the scholar.

The Four Great Talents of Jiangnan were fully qualified to sit at the same table as those old scholars who had devoted themselves to studying literature, and to be commentators on poetry and prose at literary gatherings!
A literary critic can judge the value of an article with just a casual remark!
The literary reputations of these young scholars and officials from various powerful families and prominent clans in Jinling Prefecture were subject to their whims and constraints.

"not good!"

In that instant, Gu Qingyang and Xie Yunmiao exchanged a glance, their expressions changing.

Today, the title of "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan" is still held by the direct descendants of the four prominent families of Jiangnan: the Wang, Xie, Lu, and Gu families.

If Jiang Xingzhou makes the list this year, he will definitely push one of the four surnames in Jiangnan off the list!
(End of this chapter)