APSIL -Chapter 41 Disciples of the Ge School

Lu Sanlang was positively radiant, his face glowing with excitement.

Zhang Chen, on the other hand, looked utterly miserable, as though life itself had lost all meaning.

Just by looking at their expressions, Zhang Shou could almost hear what they were thinking.

Thankfully, this world has mathematics.

That was surely the heartfelt sentiment of Lu Sanlang—the struggling humanities student but a hidden genius when it came to mathematics.

Why does this world even have mathematics?

That was undoubtedly Zhang Chen’s lament—a hopeless case in math, and quite possibly in every other subject as well.

To Zhang Shou’s ears, Ge Yong’s explanation of the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, one of the Ten Mathematical Classics, was already remarkably clear and easy to understand.

Unfortunately…there simply weren’t many students with any aptitude for mathematics.

Aside from Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen, everyone else wore expressions of pure agony.

Still, Ge Yong’s reputation was simply too overwhelming.

No matter how badly they wanted to scratch their heads in frustration, every one of them sat obediently through the torture.

Only after the old man skipped ahead to briefly explain the method of proportional taxation used in distributing corvée labor and taxes, then declared the lesson finished, did Zhang Shou notice the entire room collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhang Chen, in particular, looked like someone who had just survived a catastrophe.

As for Zhu Ying…

The young lady had cleverly requested Ge Yong’s reading list at the very beginning, claiming she was going to arrange for the books to be purchased.

Then she had quietly slipped away.

She had escaped the mathematical brainwashing entirely.

Ge Yong rose with a stern face.

He had already realized he was casting pearls before swine.

The more he looked at this group of so-called grand-disciples, the less he liked them.

Throughout his life, he had educated students all over the empire.

But most of them had merely been successful examination candidates or former pupils.

The disciples he had personally accepted as true successors…could be counted on two hands.

Had Zhang Shou merely possessed a photographic memory, Ge Yong might not have so readily reversed his previous decision simply because of the Duke of Zhao’s request.

But Zhang Shou’s astonishing talent for mathematics had changed everything.

As for these students Zhang Shou had accepted…

Ge Yong felt he had already done more than enough.

The rest could be left to his newest disciple.

With a light snort, Ge Yong reached into his wide sleeve and casually withdrew a book.

He handed it to Zhang Shou.

“This is a collection of some of my notes.”

“Read through them when you have time.”

“When I return to the capital, I’ll send you some mathematical problems that I’ve discussed with my old friends.”

“See whether you have any ideas.”

“All right.”

“I’m leaving for the capital.”

“No need to see me off.”

Even though he had never formally performed a disciple’s ceremony, Zhang Shou had somehow acquired the greatest teacher in the empire.

Naturally, regardless of Ge Yong’s refusal, he still escorted the old man out.

Behind him followed an entire crowd of smiling young nobles enthusiastically seeing off their Grandmaster.

Glancing sideways, Zhang Shou noticed Qi Liang still looked somewhat dazed.

He knew it wasn’t because of the lesson on the Nine Chapters.

Rather…

Ge Yong had just rattled off an enormous reading list, which Qi Liang had carefully copied down before handing it to Zhu Ying.

Coming from a poor family, Qi Liang was simultaneously overjoyed…and utterly overwhelmed.

Three to five hundred volumes.

Not three to five hundred sets of books.

People of this era were still limited by poor circulation of knowledge.

Book collectors treasured their libraries like priceless heirlooms.

“All of you, stop right there!”

“Except for Zhang Shou, everyone else get back and study!”

“If I find any of you slacking off, I’ll personally visit your fathers and grandfathers and give you all a good beating!”

The students scattered like frightened birds.

Only then did Ge Yong gesture for Zhang Shou to follow him as he leisurely walked toward the main path in front of the panda relief wall.

When they reached it, Ge Yong looked up at the delightfully plump panda carved into the wall.

Zhang Shou hurriedly explained casually, “I heard there was such a creature in Shu Province, so on a whim I asked Master Xu to carve one…”

“The Iron-Eating Beast.”

“It’s also called Pixiu, isn’t it?”

“I saw one myself while traveling through Shu years ago.”

“It looks gentle enough…”

“…but once it moves, it’s incredibly fierce.”

“Quite suitable as a guardian beast for a front gate.”

Guardian beast?

In modern times…that would be a mascot.

Although Zhang Shou knew pandas were technically dangerous animals… he still found Ge Yong’s completely matter-of-fact attitude strangely difficult to process.

Suppressing the urge to argue, he quickly changed the subject.

“How are you planning to return to the capital?”

“I completely forgot to ask how you came here.”

“My carriage is waiting at the village entrance.”

“Wang Datou, the Prefect of Shuntian, assigned me plenty of guards.”

“Otherwise, how could I have subdued Tang Ming’s and Xie Wanquan’s attendants before making such a dramatic entrance?”

Ge Yong looked at him with obvious disdain.

“Honestly, you’re slow.”

“And another thing.”

“Call me Teacher.”

“‘Sir’ is what any village tutor can be called.”

“But in your entire life…”

“…you’ll only ever have one teacher.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“This student was foolish.”

“Thank you for the reminder.”

Zhang Shou accepted the correction immediately.

Then, looking puzzled, he asked, “But aren’t chief examiners in the metropolitan examination also addressed as ‘Teacher’?”

“Oh?”

“So you plan to take the metropolitan examination?”

Ge Yong burst into laughter.

With a flourish of his sleeve, he briefly displayed the bearing that had once dominated the literary world.

“The men who serve as chief examiners today…”

“…are either my disciples…”

“…or my disciples’ disciples.”

“If you one day enter the examinations and truly respect your teacher…”

“…then call them ‘Teacher.'”

“If not…”

“…it doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t care about empty formalities.”

He waved dismissively.

“No need to escort me further.”

“Just remember.”

“The students you’ve accepted…”

“…are your responsibility.”

“Teach them.”

“Discipline them.”

“Properly guide this group.”

“It’ll benefit you in the future.”

Leaving those words behind, Ge Yong strode away.

His wide sleeves swayed elegantly with every step.

Watching only his retreating figure, Zhang Shou couldn’t help smiling.

No wonder Zhu Ying had respected the old man so much.

Even at such an advanced age, he remained full of personality.

And whenever he became serious…his graceful bearing was unmistakable.

One could only imagine how remarkable he must have been in his youth.

What Zhang Shou couldn’t see, however…was Ge Yong muttering softly to himself after leaving the bamboo grove.

“The old and new factions at court are practically at each other’s throats now.”

“Your future father-in-law was dragged into that military affair by sheer bad luck.”

“Otherwise…”

“…no one would’ve thought to squeeze you, the softest target.”

“Heh…”

“Now I’ve accepted you as my final disciple…”

“…and publicly humiliated two promising young scholars favored by others.”

“This will only make the political situation even messier.”

“If you ever decide to enter the examinations…”

“…your path won’t be an easy one.”

Suddenly, Ge Yong stopped.

“Wait.”

“This brat…”

“…never actually kowtowed to become my disciple, did he?”

He slapped his forehead hard.

His face immediately filled with regret.

In his excitement over discovering such exceptional talent…he had completely forgotten the formal ceremony.

Their master-disciple relationship had been established by nothing more than a few casual words.

When Zhang Shou returned to Qingfeng Xulai Hall, he immediately sensed something was different.

Normally, the place would at least be somewhat noisy.

Now…it was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

There wasn’t even the usual scratching of brushes on paper.

Some students were merely staring blankly into space.

Whenever anyone happened to meet Zhang Shou’s gaze…they guiltily lowered their heads.

He couldn’t help smiling.

Back when he had disguised himself as the mysterious Old Master behind a bamboo hat and veil…none of these people had ever shown him such awe.

Yet Ge Yong’s dramatic appearance today had elevated Zhang Shou’s status more effectively than even Zhu Ying’s personal support ever could.

It was obvious.

At least in moments like these…

Ge Yong’s prestige surpassed even Zhu Ying’s noble status and beauty.

“Little Teacher!”

“You really kept us in the dark!”

Lu Sanlang jumped to his feet first.

“If we’d known you were Master Ge’s final disciple…”

“…being able to study the Mathematical Classics under you would’ve meant our ancestors were truly smiling upon us!”

“Not to mention…”

“…you personally spoke with every one of us last night…”

“…showing each of us a different road forward.”

“From today onward…”

“Master Ge is our Grandmaster…”

“…and you are our teacher!”

He proudly looked around the room.

“Does anyone disagree?”

A born flatterer with astonishing emotional intelligence.

Watching Lu Sanlang effortlessly solve the biggest problem that had worried him, Zhang Shou simply sat down calmly and observed everyone else’s reactions.

Feeling both Lu Sanlang’s and Zhang Shou’s eyes upon him, Zhang Chen found himself caught in an impossible dilemma.

A romantic rival becoming your teacher…

There was surely no greater tragedy in life.

Yet…even though his father had never paid much attention to him…the old scholar was stubborn to the core.

If he ever discovered that Zhang Chen had thrown away the chance to become Ge Yong’s grand-disciple…he would probably use family discipline for the first time in his life and beat him senseless.

So, though extremely reluctant, Zhang Chen stood up.

“Fatty Lu is right.”

“We’re all willing to acknowledge Little Teacher as our master.”

“But…”

“Yesterday you also told me I had no talent for mathematics.”

“And last night…”

“…you gave me quite a bit of advice.”

“Does everything you said then…”

“…still count?”

That was exactly it.

If Zhang Shou had personally spoken to each of them last night…what about the promises he had made?

He had subtly urged them to stand with Zhu Ying.

In other words…he had been recruiting them on Zhu Ying’s behalf.

And now…combined with Zhang Shou’s identity as Ge Yong’s final disciple…didn’t that imply that behind the Duke of Zhao…stood Ge Yong himself?

The once-quiet room instantly exploded with energy.

Dozens of eager eyes burned with anticipation.

Lu Sanlang, clever beneath his plump appearance, was already letting his imagination run wild.

Could it be…

Master Ge noticed my hidden talents long ago?

But in order not to attract attention…he deliberately had his final disciple, Zhang Shou, accept me instead?

Since Ge Yong had already publicly acknowledged this group as his grand-disciples, Zhang Shou no longer felt the need to avoid the issue.

Still…he knew this mixed bunch could easily cause trouble.

So a warning was necessary.

He cleared his throat.

“Everything I told you last night…”

“…still stands.”

“And…”

“Teacher knows all about it.”

The entire room’s eyes lit up like lanterns.

But before anyone could become too excited, Zhang Shou continued calmly, “However…”

“If any of you still intend to spend the rest of your lives being called worthless playboys…”

“…then my teacher cannot afford that disgrace.”

“If that’s truly what you want…”

“…then you may walk out of Qingfeng Xulai Hall right now.”

“From this day forward…”

“…you will no longer be disciples of the Ge School.”