Chapter Ninety-Five: The State of Affairs (Part One)

Chapter Ninety-Five: The State of Affairs (Part One)

Nie Yunzhu’s acquaintance with Elder Qin by the riverside was, in truth, not entirely by chance. Although Ning Yi had already instructed her to regard Elder Qin as her sworn father, she did not object to this arrangement. Yet, by nature, Nie Yunzhu was a determined and courageous woman with her own opinions. During the days Ning Yi was away, she sought out Elder Qin herself, partly because she wished to take the initiative in forming a bond with this elder who might become her adoptive father.

After their meeting, listening to the two of them speak about Ning Yi’s talents and his unconventional character along the banks of the Qinhuai River felt like gaining a new perspective on him. Seeing Ning Yi again that morning brought a sense of familiarity intertwined with novelty.

Although Jin’er, the mischievous girl, came along to cause some disturbance...

Once it was known that Nie Yunzhu had met Elder Qin, there was no need for Ning Yi to push the matter of formal adoption—it would come naturally in time, and there was no urgency. After the heavy rainstorm the previous night, the weather cleared by afternoon. When Ning Yi arrived at the riverside, Elder Qin was playing chess with Nie Yunzhu. She glanced at him with lively eyes but remained silent. Ning Yi greeted Elder Qin and sat nearby to watch.

Nie Yunzhu was skilled in various arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Though a master in music and dance, her abilities in calligraphy, painting, and chess, while impressive, could hardly match Elder Qin’s level. Ning Yi observed briefly and knew that Elder Qin was holding back, merely offering some gentle guidance as they played. While playing, they discussed the disaster relief and epidemic prevention manual.

Elder Qin had already sent the booklet to his eldest son, Qin Shaohe, who was far away in Jiangzhou. On Kang Xian’s side, it was said that connections had been used to distribute the manual, but it would take time to see any real effect. As Elder Qin spoke, Nie Yunzhu listened silently.

For Nie Yunzhu, this was the first time she had seen this side of Ning Yi. Since they had met, she had only seen fragments of him: hearing of his talents from others, daily chatting about trivial matters, listening to his fondness for strange old songs, watching his peculiar lacquer paintings. It all felt genuine but superficial. Though they had discussed business with some ease, it was still just the small dealings of a merchant.

But now, the impression was different. They spoke of matters of state—not the empty rhetoric of an uninformed scholar, which she had encountered often enough in Jin Feng Pavilion. Over the past two days, hearing Elder Qin mention that Ning Yi was not such a naive scholar but a pragmatic and cautious man when it came to affairs, she felt a faint pride and joy in Elder Qin’s evaluation.

The days that followed passed much as usual, though some changes were underway, none greatly affecting Ning Yi.

The number of refugees inside and outside the city continued to rise. On the streets near Yushan Academy and beneath the walls, beggars wandered and gathered frequently. Though pitiful, their plight was beyond effective aid, and even Xiao Chan had grown accustomed to the sight. Beggars had never been scarce in Jiangning City; now there were simply more of them. Many refugees had come from afar seeking kin, including some relatives of the Su family who had been displaced.

Thus, the sudden increase in population was the primary cause of the city’s slight overcrowding and disorder. The government and military had intensified control measures, and the situation inside the city remained manageable. Those with travel permits or identification were allowed entry; those without, and without kin to shelter them, had to wait outside for aid.

Chapter Ninety-Five: The State of Affairs (Part Two)

Order was still maintained these days, and the city gates remained open. Yet when Ning Yi passed by the gates and looked out, it was clear that the number of refugees outside had grown considerably since his return. They had built makeshift shelters, creating a scene of chaos and fear, filled with noise and cries. The Martial Valor Army had stationed many troops by the gates, ready to respond and close them if necessary.

Because of the refugee crisis, Ning Yi had put on hold plans to produce high-grade liquor equipment and workshops. The blueprints were ready, but they would wait until the situation stabilized. Every morning he ran to the small building where he often saw Yuan Jin’er and Nie Yunzhu drinking tea. Upon his arrival, Jin’er would grab her tea cup and scamper away.

Jin’er’s departure from Jin Feng Pavilion had become the talk of Jiangning, even reaching Ning Yi through Li Pin, who reported that one of the four great guild leaders was currently missing. Seeing her drink tea there each morning reminded Ning Yi of Li Pin’s words, stirring mixed feelings. It was said that a few infatuated men were still searching for her.

This woman intended to learn from Sister Yunzhu how to run a business. After leaving Jin Feng Pavilion, she paid to buy her freedom, though she still had substantial savings, which she planned to invest fully in Zhu Ji—a significant sum. According to her, from now on, “I’m Sister Yunzhu’s person.” She was resting these days, preparing to take up a position as a junior manager at Zhu Ji in a few days.

The day Ning Yi returned, Li Pin told him something.

“By the way, a few days ago, a pair of siblings came to the academy looking for you.”

“Siblings?”

“Yes, apparently children of a wealthy family, quite young but with remarkable bearing. The sister, around twelve or thirteen, was rather difficult—seemed intent on challenging you. You weren’t there, so she really put me to the test. The brother’s temperament was better.”

Li Pin laughed, mimicking their heights, then recounted the challenge. With an easygoing nature, he wasn’t offended by a child’s antics, and with his learning, he was confident he wouldn’t lose. He said the siblings had considerable knowledge, and he admired that.

Ning Yi smiled upon hearing the description, recalling Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu. Though they had met only once at the Dragon Boat Festival, to show up expressly to challenge him was quite bold—and offending a woman was never a good idea.

He soon dismissed the matter from his mind.

Ning Yi’s daily routine remained fixed—teaching classes. Having finished the Analects, he began lecturing on Mencius. Confucius spoke of benevolence; Mencius emphasized righteousness. While Confucius focused on individual conduct, Mencius addressed matters of state and collective welfare. Ning Yi often wove stories of national significance into his lessons. On this day, he spoke of the Battle of Hubudagang several years prior.

Chapter Ninety-Five: The State of Affairs (Part Three)

Ning Yi had gathered some intelligence on the Jin dynasty’s movements, often discussed with Elder Qin and Kang Xian. The battle occurred four years ago when Emperor Tianzuo personally led 700,000 troops against Wanyan Aguda’s 20,000. The Jin commander was prepared for death, yet those 20,000 soldiers achieved a stunning victory—not a narrow one, but nearly annihilating the emperor’s massive army. Regardless of the complex reasons behind it, this battle was a miracle in the annals of warfare spanning millennia.

Ning Yi used this extraordinary example to illustrate the bravery of the Jurchens and the relationship between state and people, though he refrained from delving too deeply with a roomful of children. After class, he and Li Pin could talk more about the Jin, walking together to the office. Setting down their scrolls, Li Pin sighed.

“There have been sayings that fewer than ten thousand Jurchens cannot be defeated, and more than that are invincible. These years seem to confirm it. Yet such victories cannot be repeated; the Liao remain powerful, and the Jurchens too few. The outcome of this war is still uncertain.”

Ning Yi smiled. “Isn’t that better? The streets are full of talk about mutual destruction and varying strengths. Our Song dynasty can profit from that.”

His tone was teasing. Li Pin glanced at him and laughed.

“Again with your evasions, Ning Yi. The talk on the streets is just idealistic nonsense. Our Song is weak; whatever neighbors we have, it’s never good. If the realm could be divided into three powers, perhaps we’d catch a breath, but even that is overly optimistic. This isn’t a balanced situation. Despite our weakness, we must act and not sit idle. The Sixteen Prefectures have been ceded for over two centuries. If we can seize the moment to reclaim them, fortified by the Great Wall’s natural defenses, we might truly gain a respite and plan further.”

Ning Yi nodded in agreement, waiting for Li Pin to continue. But Li Pin, seeing his reaction, hesitated briefly before smiling wryly.

“You still don’t believe it, do you…”

Then he straightened, clasped his fists, and bowed slightly.

“At a time like this, there’s no need to hide anything. I’ve long wished to hear your view, Ning Yi. Given the current weakness of the realm, what do you think offers hope for this world?”

“Tsk…” Ning Yi frowned briefly, then laughed. “How long have you been holding that in? Ha, what good will asking me do…”

“It’s been a while,” Li Pin chuckled. “After hearing a few of your lectures, I found them thought-provoking. I wanted to discuss this with you, but it seemed no different from the idle chatter in taverns. Later, reflecting on many of your points, I realized you have your own distinct line of thought—pragmatic and startling. You possess unique views on past dynasties and understand the current state well. Now, I genuinely wish to hear your thoughts on the situation, to encourage one another… If we end up sounding like tavern philosophers, so be it.”

A little earlier, in the corridor beside the academy, two children walked one after the other—siblings. The elder sister, Zhou Pei, and her younger brother, Zhou Junwu, each held a small pouch, eating soft glutinous cakes as they walked. Their attendants and guards had been left at the academy entrance. Approaching the classroom, Zhou Pei hung her pouch at her waist, wiped her mouth, and glanced sideways at her brother, who was still eating while walking. She shot him several sharp looks.

Only when voices came from ahead did Zhou Junwu look up, blinking in confusion at his sister’s scolding. She turned away with a look of hopelessness, and he hurried to catch up.

Originally out for a snack, they had come to challenge Ning Yi upon hearing that the “barbarians” had returned. With his belly still a bit empty, he popped the remaining half of his cake into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully…