Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 314 The Education of the Prince

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month in the fifth year of the Qiming era. Only two days remained until New Year's Eve.

The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year in Chang'an was already so strong it was almost palpable. The sounds of firecrackers echoed through the streets and alleys, and the laughter of children was even louder than the firecrackers. Red lanterns in front of every household swayed gently in the wind, like strings of ripe persimmons.

Inside the Taiji Palace, the palace servants were still putting the finishing touches on things. The ladies of the various palaces had also had some free time and began visiting each other and exchanging New Year's gifts. Only the Wenhua Hall remained as busy as ever.

Chen Xing sat at his desk, with three exam papers spread out in front of him.

Those were the three princes' year-end assignments. According to custom, every year on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the teachers of the Imperial Academy would compile the princes' assignments into a book and present it to the Emperor for review. Chen Xing would personally review it, and then on the eve of New Year's Eve, he would summon his three sons to give them his comments in person.

He looked at Chen Qi's exam paper first.

Chen Qi is ten years old this year. He is the eldest son and the most popular choice to become the crown prince. Naturally, his studies are the most closely watched.

The exam paper was quite thick, with more than ten pages. At the very beginning were questions on interpreting the Analects. The question the teacher gave was: "Confucius said: 'Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?' Please explain its meaning."

Chen Qi's answer was very long, and his handwriting was neat and tidy:

"Learning is to emulate. Practice is to review. The Master's meaning is not merely to review old knowledge, but to learn so that one can act, act so that one can think, think so that one can gain knowledge, and gain knowledge so that one can find joy. Hence the saying, 'Is it not a pleasure?' Learning is not for pleasing others, but for oneself; not for seeking knowledge, but for practicing knowledge. Only when knowledge and practice are united can one find joy."

Chen Xing looked at the text and nodded slightly.

This child has learned to think. It's not about rote memorization or blindly copying commentaries; it's about developing his own understanding. Though still immature, he's on the right track.

He continued flipping through the pages. Next came the essay question: "How should a ruler employ people?"

Chen Qi's answer was written with greater caution:

"In my opinion, a ruler should employ people like a craftsman uses wood. Straight pieces are used for shafts, curved pieces for wheels, long pieces for beams, and short pieces for wedges. Each should be used according to its own material and to the fullest extent. One should not demand perfection, nor should one discard great talent because of minor faults. However, one should also examine their virtue. Those who are talented but lack virtue should not be entrusted with important responsibilities; those who are virtuous but lack talent can be taught and employed. Those who possess both virtue and talent are treasures of the nation and should be treated well, given important responsibilities, trusted and entrusted with important tasks, without suspicion or resentment."

Chen Xing stared at the text in silence for a long time.

This child, only ten years old, already understands the principle of "each according to their own talents" and the importance of "both virtue and ability." What's even more remarkable is his final statement, "Trust and entrust them with responsibilities, without doubt or suspicion"—something many rulers never learn in their entire lives.

He sighed softly.

This child is so steady. So steady for a ten-year-old, it's heartbreaking.

Next up is Chen Heng's exam paper.

Chen Heng is seven years old this year and is Su Xiaoxiao's son. This child has been smart since he was a child, quick to react, and learns everything faster than others. But his flaws are also obvious—he can't sit still, can't concentrate, and is easily arrogant.

The test paper was thinner than Chen Qi's, only seven or eight pages long. The very first page also contained interpretation questions from the *Analects*, with the same question: "Is it not pleasant to learn with constant perseverance and application?"

Chen Heng's answer was quite interesting:

"Learning makes us realize our shortcomings; practicing makes us realize our strengths. Knowing our shortcomings allows us to improve; knowing our strengths allows us to find joy. It's like eating: when you're full, you're naturally happy. When you understand what you've read, it's like being full—you feel comfortable. That's why Confucius said, 'Isn't that a pleasure?'"

Chen Xing couldn't help but laugh as he read the text.

That's a fitting analogy, kid. Understanding what you've read does indeed feel like being well-fed—it brings a sense of satisfaction. But the phrase "well-fed" is a bit too colloquial. If those older gentlemen saw it, they'd probably frown.

He continued reading. The essay question was the same one: "How should a ruler employ people?"

Chen Heng's answer was written in great detail:

"In my opinion, employing people for a ruler should be like driving a carriage. Horses vary in quality, roads have varying elevations, and carriages vary in weight. Good horses are used to pull fast carriages, while bad horses are used to pull slow carriages; they run fast on flat roads and slow on mountain roads; heavy carriages are assigned more horses, while light carriages are assigned fewer horses. The most important thing is that the driver must know what the horse is thinking—it needs to rest when it's tired, drink when it's thirsty, be comforted when it's afraid, and be soothed when it's angry. When the horse is happy, the carriage runs fast; when the horse is unhappy, the carriage won't move."

Chen Xing looked at the text and laughed again.

This child compares employing people to driving a chariot and ministers to horses. While somewhat crude, the principle is sound. A ruler truly needs to know what his ministers are thinking, and must know how to appease, encourage, and guide them. Without this understanding, even the finest horse will not run fast.

The problem is, this child is too smart. Smart people are prone to taking shortcuts, being cunning, and looking down on those who are less capable than themselves.

Attached to the back of Chen Heng's exam paper was a note in Su Xiaoxiao's handwriting:

"Your Majesty, Heng'er is indeed intelligent, but he is too impetuous. I cannot control him. Please, Your Majesty, discipline him more."

Chen Xing looked at the note and sighed softly.

This kid definitely needs a talking-to.

Finally, there was Chen Ke's exam paper.

Chen Ke is five years old this year and is Lan Fenghuang's son. According to the rules, princes must begin their formal education at the age of five. Chen Ke just entered school this autumn and has only attended classes for three months.

The test paper was very thin, only two pages long.

The first page contained literacy exercises. The teacher gave Chen Ke ten characters to write down. The ten characters were: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Chen Ke's writing was crooked and uneven, some large and some small, and some even written in the wrong direction. The character "three" was written as three winding lines, like three earthworms crawling; the character "seven" was written as a vertical hook, like a walking stick; and the character "eight" was written as two round circles, like two eyes.

Chen Xing couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the words.

This child doesn't have enough hand strength; he can't even hold the pen steadily. But the characters he writes do have a certain childlike charm.

The second page contained memorization exercises. The teacher's question was: "Recite the first eight lines of the Three Character Classic."

Chen Ke's answer was not words, but a painting.

In the painting, a person is sitting with a book in front of them, and a child is standing beside them. The sitting person has a circle drawn on their head, so they are probably bald. The standing child is holding a square, which is probably a book.

Below the drawing, a few words were written in a crooked and messy manner:

"At birth, people are inherently good. Their natures are similar, but their habits make them different. If they are not taught, their natures will change. The way to teach is to focus on one thing at a time."

The handwriting was terrible, but somehow it was all correct.

Chen Xing stared at the painting for a long time.

This child, who can't write yet, uses drawing instead. In the drawing, the bald man sitting is probably the teacher? The child holding the book is probably himself? He's using this method to tell his father that he can recite it.

Chen Xing smiled softly.

This child takes after his mother. He's simple-minded, but possesses a certain intelligence.

In the evening, the three princes were summoned to the Wenhua Hall.

Chen Qi walked in front, his posture upright and his expression respectful. Chen Heng followed behind, looking around constantly. Chen Ke, being led by Chen Qi, walked quickly with his short legs, trying his best to keep up with his brother.

"Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The three children knelt on the ground and bowed in unison.

Chen Xing looked at them with a gentle gaze.

Get up.

The three children stood up and stood in a neat row.

Chen Xing first looked at Chen Qi.

"Qi'er, I've read your exam paper. It's very good."

Chen Qi bowed slightly: "Thank you for the compliment, Father."

Chen Xing continued, "Your policy proposals mention 'each according to their talents,' 'both virtue and ability,' and 'trust and appoint them.' It's good that you can conceive of these principles. But I have a question for you—"

He paused, his gaze becoming profound:

"Can you do what you're saying yourself?"

Chen Qi was stunned.

Chen Xing looked at him and slowly said:

"Everyone can talk the talk, but few can walk the walk. If you become a ruler in the future, you will be dealing with living, breathing people, not just figures on paper. They have selfish desires, ambitions, fears, and pride. The real skill lies in whether you can use them, control them, and make them willingly serve you."

Chen Qi bowed deeply:

"Your subject will remember this."

Chen Xing nodded and looked at Chen Heng.

"Heng'er".

Chen Heng immediately stood up straight: "Your subject is here."

Chen Xing said, "I have also read your exam paper. You are intelligent and quick-witted."

Chen Heng's eyes lit up, and he was about to speak when Chen Xing followed up with his next sentence:

"But intelligence is not a skill. If intelligence is used poorly, it's just petty cleverness. People with petty cleverness won't go far."

Chen Heng was stunned.

Chen Xing continued, "You compare employing people to driving a carriage, and ministers to horses. That analogy is interesting. But I want to ask you—do you know that horses get tired, get sick, grow old, and die? Do you know that horses also have tempers, feelings, and thoughts?"

Chen Heng opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Chen Xing looked at him calmly:

"Let me tell you, employing people is not like driving a carriage. A carriage is inanimate, but people are alive. When you employ people, you must treat them as human beings, not as horses. Understand?"

Chen Heng lowered his head and whispered:

"Your subject... Your subject understands."

Chen Xing nodded and looked at Chen Ke.

"Ke'er."

Chen Ke blinked: "Father!"

Chen Xing pointed to his painting:

"What is this?"

Chen Ke leaned closer to take a look and said seriously:

"This is a picture I drew. I can't write, so I draw. This person is the teacher; this child is me; this book is the Three Character Classic; these lines are me reciting."

Chen Xing nodded:

"Recite the first eight lines of the Three Character Classic."

Chen Ke puffed out his small chest and loudly recited:

"At birth, people are inherently good. Their natures are similar, but their habits make them different. If they are not taught, their natures will change. The way to teach is to focus on one thing at a time."

Word for word.

Chen Xing smiled.

"Good. You memorized it very well."

Chen Ke's eyes lit up with joy, but he dared not laugh out loud, his face turning red with suppressed laughter.

Chen Xing looked at him with eyes full of affection.

This child is still young. There's no rush.

After the comments were finished, the three children didn't leave.

Chen Heng hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Father, I have a question."

Chen Xing looked at him and said, "Speak."

Chen Heng asked, "Your Majesty, I would like to know, how well did you study when you were a child?"

Chen Qi was stunned and quickly tried to pull him away, but he shook him off.

Chen Ke blinked and looked at his father with curiosity.

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"When I was a child," he said slowly, "I didn't receive much formal education."

The three children were stunned.

Chen Xing continued, "When I was a child, my family was poor and I couldn't afford to go to school. Later, when war broke out, I had even less opportunity to study. The characters I know were all learned from the military advisor during the war. The books I read were all read secretly by myself during the breaks in the fighting."

He looked at his three sons, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"So you are luckier than me. You have the opportunity to study, the opportunity to learn skills, and the opportunity to do things that I cannot do."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"But you must also remember—studying is not about competing to see who does better, but about making yourself better. Whatever you do in the future, you must live up to the books you've read and the skills you've learned."

The three children stood there, speechless for a long time.

After a long silence, Chen Qi bowed deeply:

"Your subject will remember this."

Chen Heng bowed in response.

Chen Ke didn't know how to bow, so he imitated his older brothers and bowed.

Chen Xing looked at them and smiled softly.

"Go ahead. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, have fun."

The three children responded and turned to leave.

As they reached the door, Chen Ke suddenly turned around, ran over, and hugged Chen Xing's leg.

"Father, I will study hard from now on and do even better than my elder brother!"

Chen Xing was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

He bent down, picked up his son, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Alright. Father, we'll wait."

Chen Ke smiled with satisfaction, broke free from his embrace, and ran towards the door.

Chen Qi and Chen Heng stood at the door waiting for him. The three children, hand in hand, disappeared into the night.

Chen Xing stared at their retreating figures, remaining motionless for a long time.

into the night.

Chen Xing stood alone by the window of Wenhua Hall, gazing at the deep night outside.

Jia Wen appeared behind him unnoticed and whispered:

"Your Majesty, the princes are all well."

Chen Xing nodded without saying a word.

Jia Wen continued, "The eldest prince is composed, the second prince is intelligent, and the third prince is innocent and carefree. Each has his own merits."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"It's just too good."

Jia Wen was stunned.

Chen Xing gazed out the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Excellent! I'm the one who doesn't know who to choose."

Jia Wen didn't dare to reply.

Chen Xing remained silent for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"No rush. They're still young."

He turned around and looked at Jia Wen:

"Prime Minister Jia, tell me, am I overthinking things?"

Jia Wen bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty doesn't overthink things; you think far ahead."

Chen Xing nodded and looked out the window.

Outside the window, the lights of thousands of homes in Chang'an City were lit one by one.

Behind each of those lights, there is a family.

Those children are also growing up, studying, and thinking about the future.

He and his children were one of those families.

Their house was just a little too big.