In early July, Hangzhou fell, and chaos engulfed the land. Everyone was busy fleeing for their lives, trying to find a way out. At that time, the sea vessels at the Qiantang River dock, south of Hangzhou, offered the easiest and safest escape route. Ning Yi had initially considered that option, but it wasn't his only choice. Furthermore, everyone had believed the Wude Camp was an elite force, and Ning Yi himself had been confident that Hangzhou could hold out, not expecting it to fall so quickly.
During his escape after the city fell, Ning Yi heard various things, including the news that Qian Xiwen had immediately fled by ship. In Ning Yi's eyes, scholars were either rigid and dull, like rotten wood difficult to carve, or cunning and manipulative. He generally had little regard for them. So, when he heard that Qian Xiwen had been among the first to escape after the city fell, it wasn't particularly surprising, and he didn't dwell on it.
However, in reality, after the city's fall, the old man had not genuinely departed with the ship. It was said that after seeing off some promising younger members of the Qian family onto the vessel, he took a few old servants and secretly disembarked. From beginning to end, even as various groups attempted to break through later, he did not leave Hangzhou with anyone.
After sending away those he could, the old man gathered some loyal servants, relatives, and soldiers who hadn't managed to escape. They put up a resistance near the old Qian family residence. Their numbers were small, but the resistance was reportedly fierce, lasting for roughly an entire night. Later, Guo Shiguang led his troops to overrun the area, capturing the old man, who has been imprisoned ever since.
After his capture, Ning Yi naturally hadn't concerned himself with the fate of the Qian family. However, in the academy recently, some students wanted him killed, while others wanted to protect him, almost causing a division. The students who wished to protect him naturally formed a better relationship with him. Someone likely informed him about the executions taking place, and only then did he learn that Qian Xiwen had not left. That morning, he greeted A-Chang, expressing a desire to visit, and A-Chang agreed, accompanying him.
The Blade Camp's surveillance of Ning Yi seemed outwardly lax. In Ning Yi's view, this was because they wanted him to see for himself. They wanted him to witness how desolate the city had become after its fall, how tragic the fate of those who refused to surrender was. Letting him come voluntarily was a form of psychological warfare.
Ning Yi was naturally willing to go out, primarily to look for an opportunity to escape. However, he also understood at the time that his body had not fully recovered. Moreover, with Xiao Chan accompanying him, and given their opponents' experiences at Taiping Lane and Huzhou, he knew he wouldn't find many chances. Since he couldn't take such a risk, there was no need to let the enemy see through him too easily; he simply remained near the academy to recuperate. When he finally spoke up this time, his captors were rather pleased. A prison visit, conveniently allowing him to witness an execution – it was the best outcome for them.
"This Qian Xiwen you mentioned, I've heard of him too. I heard he's very learned, not just someone trying to deceive others. He's formidable; he intentionally didn't leave, and he didn't commit suicide when we captured him. Some of his family members were also caught, to make him surrender... You know, a lot of messed-up things happened. I heard one of his own sons had both hands chopped off right in front of him, and he didn't even blink... Anyway, his whole family is going to be executed today. Since you knew him, it might be good to go and see. It would be even better if you could persuade him to live... but I doubt it."
Of the two accompanying Ning Yi, A-Chang was relatively serious, while A-Ming was a bit more frivolous. Yet, when speaking of Qian Xiwen at this moment, even A-Ming showed a hint of admiration.
Xiao Chan was left outside. After passing through a long prison corridor, where many people were crying and shouting, Ning Yi saw some members of the Qian family who hadn't escaped, most of whom had already been tortured. Ning Yi even recognized one or two individuals. Among them was a young man he had encountered when first visiting the Qian residence, who had tried to steal Qian Xiwen's coral pen holder. Ning Yi didn't remember his name, but the young man now lay in his cell with a broken leg, barely breathing.
Ning Yi was still lost in thought when, after walking several meters, a voice suddenly called out from behind him: "My name is Qian Weiliang!" He frowned and looked back; it was the young man who had spoken. At that moment, many in the cells were crying for help or shouting other things, but this young man had merely stated his name, nothing more. Soon after, Ning Yi heard several others speak their names: "My name is Qian Weiqi." "My name is Qian Haiting." The man named Qian Haiting was the middle-aged man who had lost both his hands.
Then, a jailer was heard muttering, "Damn it, every time someone comes, they say it again..."
Only upon entering the innermost cell did Ning Yi see Qian Xiwen. The old man appeared not to have been physically abused; apart from a scuffed forehead that had scabbed over, the rest of his body seemed unharmed. His clothes were neat, and he was using a basin of clean water to tidy his attire and hair. The light in the cell was dim, and he had to squint for a moment to clearly see Ning Yi.
At A-Ming's urging, the jailer opened the cell door. After Ning Yi entered, the others departed. The old man, still tidying his hair, looked at Ning Yi several times. "You... you've been captured too."
Ning Yi nodded.
"Joined them?" Qian Xiwen looked at him, then nodded. "Hmm, a wise man adapts to the times. You are a practical person; it's good that you've kept your life."
"I'm not sure if I've really joined them yet. I originally heard, Elder Qian, that you left by ship immediately. Then yesterday I heard you stayed, so I wanted to come and see."
Qian Xiwen's eyes showed a hint of confusion. "Oh, what happened?"
"I..." Ning Yi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I... well, Qian Haiping and the others escaped. They should have reached Huzhou by now. There are a few people among them whom I know. They are... I thought you might want to hear this: they survived."
"Oh," the old man's lips curved into a slight smile. "These past few days, people have come one after another to try and persuade me, using every tactic imaginable. You are the last, and this news is truly excellent. How are you doing now?"
"I'm not sure either," Ning Yi nodded, "but I didn't come to persuade you; I just wanted to see you."
"Tell me about it, it's alright," the old man chuckled. "It hasn't been long since Fang La and his forces captured Hangzhou, and they are in urgent need of talent. If you truly wish to distinguish yourself, it's not difficult. I have lived in this world for decades and have some insight into such matters. If Ning Yi finds himself in any predicament, feel free to tell me; perhaps I, an old man, can offer some advice."
His words were sincere and cordial; he seemed to believe Ning Yi had already defected to Fang La's side and was now offering advice on how to survive or rise in power. Ning Yi watched the old man for a while, then finally said, "Do you want to hear about what I've experienced recently, Elder?"
"Tell me, tell me..."
"Haha, after the city fell that day, Qian Haiping, Elder Tang Xiuxuan, Chen Xingdu, and I..."
Ning Yi's original purpose in coming was not to tell a story, but at this moment, he felt there was no harm in doing so. As he recounted his experiences, Qian Xiwen realized that things were different from what he had assumed. The old man listened to the entire story of the escape team heading north, then falling into a perilous situation. The light in his eyes changed as he heard how Ning Yi set a trap, finally rallying the Wude Camp's morale to kill three of the enemy's generals. He lightly patted his thigh and slowly said, "Good." He then remained silent, listening until Ning Yi finished the whole account, before nodding again and saying, "Good." This time, his gaze towards Ning Yi was completely different, entirely unlike the tolerant look he had given him moments before when he thought Ning Yi had defected but found it understandable.
"Only extraordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things... Good. Chancellor Qin valued you, and he wasn't wrong. You must preserve your useful life, and quietly await the future... Fang La's army doesn't hold the general advantage; they might stop at Hangzhou and won't last long. You must live, you must live..."
He mumbled these words, and Ning Yi looked at him. "In some stories I've heard before, I've come across tales of pedantic scholars dying for righteousness. Some sound very grand, others seem less necessary. Elder Qian, if Hangzhou fell and you couldn't escape in time, I could understand that. I just don't quite understand why you left only to return. You are a practical person who understands the art of governance; if you had left, you could have been of greater help elsewhere."
Qian Xiwen looked up at him. "Liheng... you don't agree?"
Ning Yi took a breath. "Those people outside aren't worth it."
Qian Xiwen clearly paused at this, then after a long moment, nodded. "Yes... they are all good children, what a pity..."
"I..." Ning Yi was about to speak when Qian Xiwen suddenly looked up again. "Liheng, what do you think is the most important thing for us scholars to do?"
Ning Yi thought for a moment. "I don't want to boast or mislead you. Everyone has their own views. Scholars have duties, but to say what is 'most' important, I'm afraid no one can say clearly. Besides... I am not a scholar."
Hearing his reply, Qian Xiwen smiled. "Yes, that's why you can accomplish extraordinary things, like... reversing the situation in Huzhou in one fell swoop." Speaking of this, the old man seemed a bit excited. "But... I, an old man, have studied Confucianism for decades and have come to one conclusion: what we Confucian scholars should do most is, ultimately... to defend the Way."
Ning Yi frowned. Qian Xiwen chuckled for a moment. "Since I met Liheng, you and I haven't talked much, but these past few months, I've come to know what kind of person Liheng truly is. Liheng, I presume you've also heard some things about me—the Autumn Equinox Poetry gatherings, both then and now, including all the official dealings and political maneuvering. Liheng just said I am a practical person, and yes, practical..."
He sighed, seemingly with great emotion regarding that word. "But, Liheng, think about it: if it weren't for the current state of officialdom, if it weren't for the current state of the military, if it weren't for everyone choosing this clever, practical path... they attacked, and as soon as people felt the situation was hopeless, everyone turned and ran. How else could Hangzhou have fallen so quickly? If we merely speak of the sages' words all day, saying a true man should die for righteousness, but when the city falls, not a single person is willing to do something foolish, then who would believe the words of those sages?"
"If we talk about patriotism and dying for loyalty, but when death is imminent, no one is willing to act, then wouldn't Confucianism become something invisible and intangible? Liheng, this might sound overly pragmatic, but we Confucian scholars, every year, a few of us should die, a few... named individuals, die beneath the butcher's blade, die in the Golden Hall, die before millions of eyes. When it's truly time to die, we must not retreat. Only then can we remind the world that the Confucian Way is real. By dying for injustice, we truly carry on the lost wisdom of the past sages. My death here in Hangzhou is also to remind everyone that some people did indeed resist, so that when they wish to speak of it, in their moments of fervor, they won't struggle to find names to mention..."
He spoke with some agitation, his arm trembling as he fumbled to put on his hat. "I am old; it is fitting that I die here. Liheng, you shouldn't die yet, and those children outside shouldn't either, but there's no other way. Among them, some have been taught by me to believe in these principles, and so they, too, are... dying in a fitting manner, I suppose."
A faint light filtered in through a crack, with dust motes dancing in the air. The old man smiled faintly at this point. "So, it might not sound pleasant, but defending the Way, in truth, means... dying for you to see, at the appropriate time. Many have already died. Because of my greater reputation, I've instead lagged behind others, causing those children to suffer for a few more days... Burdened by empty fame, alas..."
Ning Yi was slightly silent. He held both reverence and disdain for Confucianism. What he revered was simply the vast, self-consistent system of governance, a dense web of ruling artistry, created under the name of Confucianism with its patriarchal rules. What he disdained were the various undignified behaviors of most scholars, whose minds had been dulled by excessive study, leading them to either think of nothing at all or to meddle in everything. However, the old man before him certainly made the very word "Confucianism" seem somewhat grand.
Practical and useful in daily life, and at the appropriate time... dying for you to see.
Like many Confucian scholars who died by striking pillars in front of the court, like Wen Tianxiang leaping into the sea at Yashan in later generations, or Fang Xiaoru, who continued to curse Zhu Di even after being cut in half at the waist. From a later perspective, many might seem foolish, believing they accomplished nothing. Yet, if Confucianism is regarded as a cause, it was ultimately these individuals who truly acted, truly carrying on the lost wisdom of the past sages. In essence, it truly was "dying for others to see."
Ning Yi would not do such a thing, yet he found it hard not to admire them. He thought to himself that after several days of killings outside, many people had likely died in this manner. He then remembered the few individuals who had called out their names upon his arrival and asked, "When I came in just now... some people were saying their names. What exactly were they...?"
The old man smiled. "They simply want people to remember that there were such individuals who died for you to see... They are all good children, whether they called out their names or not..."
He thought for a moment, then patted Ning Yi's shoulder. "If you can live, you should live. You must be alive to accomplish things. You are still young, don't overthink this. In the future, tell this as a story to others..."
The old man then shifted away from discussing Confucianism and instead remembered the safety of Su Tan'er and other members of the Su family, asking about them. Afterwards, he became somewhat rambling, mentioning various names and inquiring if those individuals were among the fleeing group. Ning Yi didn't remember many of them. He chatted with the old man for a while, but what he kept thinking about was the old man's coral pen holder. The old man governed his household very strictly, and his family's younger members had little money to spend. When they urgently needed funds, they would steal the old man's pen holder. The old man would then offer a reward of ten strings of coins for its return. He wouldn't ask any other questions, just give the ten strings of coins. Thus, the younger family members would frequently steal it, return it, steal it, return it, always getting money. And one of those young men was Qian Weiliang, who had called out his name outside...
Haha, that thief, who knew he could be so unyielding...
As Ning Yi thought of these things, his heart, which already felt ancient, found itself stirred. It had been a long time since he had heard such an interesting story, and he felt a slight wave of emotion...
At noon, a jailer entered and opened the cell door. Soon after, under the fierce sun, a row of heads was severed on the yellowish-brown square outside. In the crowd, some cheered and shouted approval, while others remained silent, their expressions solemn. Ning Yi stood among the onlookers, watching the entire process of the execution unfold.
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[6 minutes ago] Chapter 937: No One Recognized
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