Chapter Sixteen: Visiting the Lu Manor to Study

  After August, Liu Bei returned to the Lu Zhi Academy to attend school. Lu Zhi had resigned as the governor of Jiujiang last year and returned to his hometown in Zhuo County, where he began to write at home, compiling "Shangshu Zhangming", "Yili Jiechu", "Zhouguan Li Zhu" and "Liji Jiechu". He also started a private school in the city of Zhuo County, recruiting students from local families and teaching them.

  For Lu Zhi, Liu Ze knew more than anyone else. The Book of Later Han: Biography of Lu Zhi records that Lu Zhi was styled as Ziguan, a native of Gaoyang County in Hebei Province, with a height of eight feet two inches and a voice like a bell. In his youth, he studied together with Zheng Xuan under Ma Rong, mastering both ancient and modern learning, and excelling at profound research without adhering to chapter and verse. His character was strong and resolute, with great integrity, always harboring the ambition to save the world, disliking ornate writing, and able to drink a stone of wine. During the Jianning period, he was summoned as a Doctor, and thus began his career. In the fourth year of Xiping, the Nine Tribes of the South rebelled, and the four provinces selected Lu Zhi for his combined literary and military talents, appointing him as the Governor of Nine Tribes, where he pacified the rebels. He left office due to illness. When the Southern Yi tribes rebelled again, Lu Zhi was appointed as the Governor of Lujiang because of his previous reputation in Nine Tribes. In the first year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turbans rose up, and the four provinces recommended Lu Zhi, appointing him as a Lieutenant General, holding a seal, to protect the Northern General Zhang Yong, with Vice-General Zong Yi, leading five regiments of soldiers from all over the country to suppress them. He defeated the Yellow Turban leader Zhang Jue in successive battles, capturing over ten thousand people.

  On the political stage of the late Han Dynasty, Lu Zhi indeed wrote a bold and colorful stroke. As a scholar who read books, at the critical moment when the country was in danger, he stood out and made great contributions to the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which is worthy of the reputation of the first Confucian general in ancient and modern times. What's even more rare is his character. According to legend, when he was young, he followed Zheng Xuan and Ma Rong, mastering both classical and contemporary knowledge, and became a great Confucian scholar at that time. Ma Rong was a relative of Empress Mingde, and his family was wealthy. Ma Rong was proud and arrogant by nature, and during lectures, there were beautiful women singing and dancing in front of the hall; Lu Zhi always listened attentively, year after year, without ever glancing sideways or stealing a look.

  During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he was appointed as Bei Zhonglang General. At that time, eunuch Zuo Feng visited the army to observe the situation, and someone advised Lu Zhi to bribe Zuo Feng with money. Lu Zhi resolutely refused: "The military rations are still lacking, where is there extra money to flatter the heavenly envoy?" Later, he was framed by Zuo Feng's false words, dismissed from office, and imprisoned. During Dong Zhuo's reign, he was not afraid of cruelty, and submitted a memorial to remonstrate, almost being harmed by Dong Zhuo. In the end, he resigned and retired. Lu Zhi died in the third year of Emperor Xian's Ping era. Before his death, he instructed his son Lu Yu to bury him thinly in a pit, without using a coffin. His son followed Lu Zhi's will. Later, even Cao Cao praised him: "His name is renowned throughout the land, his learning makes him a Confucian master, he is a model for scholars, and a pillar of the state."

  When Liu Ze read the Three Kingdoms, the person he admired most was not Cao Cao, who dominated the four seas, nor Liu Bei, who was kind and virtuous, nor Guan Yu, who was righteous and heroic, nor Zhuge Liang, who was wise and unparalleled. It was precisely Lu Zhi, a marginal figure in the Three Kingdoms, who was loyal to the imperial court with all his heart. Every time the imperial court faced difficulties, he was always the first to stand up. He pacified the Jiangnan region, suppressed the southern barbarians, and defeated the Yellow Turbans without complaint. Lu Zhi's family was poor, and after leaving office as the governor of Jiuzhou, he stayed at home writing books and teaching. He was so poor that he didn't even have money to edit ancient books. After being framed by Zuo Feng's slander and imprisoned, he remained calm and unafraid of violence. A great man cannot be corrupted by wealth and honor, nor can he be moved by poverty and lowliness. Lu Zhi was a man who lived up to his values, and his life was straightforward and upright, with an almost perfect character charm.

  In his early years, Liu Hong's family was poor. The tuition for Liu Bei to attend the Lu Zhi Academy was still sponsored by Liu Yuanqi. Now that Liu Hong has been promoted to Gong Cao, his family is naturally much more prosperous. Liu Hong then called Liu Ze over and asked him if he would like to go to the Lu Zhi Academy as well?

  Liu Ze was overjoyed when he heard the news. If he could make Lu Zhi his teacher, his future prospects would be secured. Although Lu Zhi is currently not serving as a governor and is idle at home, he will become a great contributor to the court for suppressing the Yellow Turbans and will be ranked among the officials in the imperial court. In the Han Dynasty, there was no imperial examination system, but rather a hereditary aristocracy system where one generation served as officials and their descendants followed in their footsteps. If a scholar wanted to enter officialdom, he had to be recommended for his filial piety and integrity. To be recommended, one not only needed talent and learning but also social status. Without sufficient social status, no one would recommend him. If he could become Lu Zhi's disciple, it would undoubtedly increase his own value. Being a student of the Lu family was a golden signboard worth thousands of gold!

  In response to his father's proposal, Liu Ze naturally agreed. Then Liu Hong prepared gifts and took Liu Ze to visit Lu Zhi's mansion.

  At the gate, Liu Hong handed over the card and the doorman went in to report. Before long, the doorman came out and said: "Liu Gong Cao invites you to enter, my master is waiting for you in the main hall." Liu Hong then led Liu Ze into the door and rushed to the middle hall.

  Liu Ze gave a cold glance, and indeed the Lu family was very simple, except that the courtyard was slightly larger than the Liu family's, there was nothing else to distinguish it. It was hard to imagine that this was the home of someone who had served as a county governor. In the central hall, on the main seat sat a person with a majestic physique and a stern expression, sitting upright with his hands clasped together.

  Liu Hong stepped forward and paid his respects, saying: "Liu Hong, the officer in charge of meritorious service from Zhuo Commandery, pays his respects to Lord Lu."

  Lu Zhi stood up and returned the courtesy, saying: "Lu Mou has resigned and returned to his hometown, he is already a commoner, Liu Gong Cao need not be too polite."

  Liu Hong said with great respect: "Master Lu is a great Confucian scholar of our time, a model for scholars. Although he is not in the imperial court, how could I dare to forget etiquette?"

  Lu Zhi invited him to sit, Liu Hong declined several times before sitting down. Lu Zhi said: "Liu Gong Cao is a close relative of the Han imperial family and a noble descendant of the emperor. What instructions do you have for me today?"

  "Hong has two sons, the elder son Liu Bei went to Lu Gong's mansion last year to study. This time, his second son Liu Ze has been away from home for many years and just returned, wanting to pay respects to Lu Gong as his teacher, but I don't know if he will accept him?"

  Lu Zhi glanced at Liu Ze who was standing below him with a somewhat weak appearance and smiled: "I don't know what year the second young master was born?"

  "My dog is fourteen this year."

  "Liu Gongcao entrusted, Lu Mou originally did not dare to decline, but the day before yesterday discussed with Kang Chenggong, it is not a scholar of moral character, temporarily not accepting him, covering that his second son has not yet reached the age of studying, can arrive in a year."

  "In the humble opinion of those below, I dare ask Master Lu why you don't accept students who are inferior to Zhi Xue?" Liu Hong felt somewhat disappointed.

  "Only because the school has limited capacity, and the registered students are endless, so Lu had to resort to this inferior strategy. Moreover, most of those who have just started learning are beginners in recognizing characters, while our school mainly focuses on lecturing on classics and discussing Taoism, if one lacks a foundation in classical studies, it's hard to understand the meaning."

  Liu Ze couldn't help but laugh secretly below, while Lu Zhi slightly furrowed his brow and said: "It seems that Second Master Liu has some objections?"

  Liu Hong was regretful, but after all, this rule was established by Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan Zheng Kangcheng. How could it be abolished because of someone? Seeing Liu Ze's cold smile, he secretly called out that something was wrong and that he absolutely couldn't provoke Lu Zhi, so he hastily scolded: "Ze'er, you must not be rude in front of Master Lu."

  Lu Zhi carefully looked at the young man, but saw that his face was like jade, although his body was weak, but he had an air of calmness and maturity that was not commensurate with his age. He felt a little fond of him in his heart, and after hesitating for a moment, said: "Second Master, please speak freely."

  Liu Zhen bowed and said, "I have heard that Confucius had three thousand disciples, but he did not distinguish between the wise and the foolish based on age. In the past, Qin Wuyang was able to assassinate the Duke of Qin at the age of thirteen, and Kong Wenju was able to receive guests at the age of ten. Why does Master Lu look down on children?"

  Lu Zhi secretly commended him, without changing his expression, and said: "With sharp teeth and quick wit, can you learn from Kong Wenju? But I don't know which classics the two gentlemen specialize in?"

  Liu Zeyi heard this and thought he was being tested. He immediately replied, "I have a rough understanding of the classics, history, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, but I dare not claim to be proficient in governance."

  Lu Zhi just smiled slightly and thought to himself, "This kid is young, but his tone is quite big." He decided to test him and said, "You claim to be well-versed in the classics, so surely you know that a gentleman has three virtues and three moral principles. What are the three virtues? What are the three moral principles?"

  "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."

  Liu Ze loved reading books in his previous life, although he wasn't too fond of those flowery and overly elaborate classical texts, but this famous phrase about governing the country and bringing peace to the world was one of his favorites, and now as he read it again, it still sounded refreshing and uplifting.

  Lu Zhi burst out laughing, his voice like a loud bell: "What a wonderful phrase - 'Cultivate your mind, cultivate your body, govern your family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world.' Your ambition is as high as the clouds! Now that I have this disciple, it's one of the greatest joys of my life."

  Liu Ze immediately performed the ceremony of becoming a disciple and started his career as a student in Lu's mansion.

  Among the classmates, apart from Liu Bei, there were also Liu Qian, son of Liu Yuanqi, uncle of Liu Bei, and Jian Yong from the same county. After a few days, Gongsun Zan also returned to Zhuo County from Liaoxi and met with Liu Bei and Liu Ze. He was delighted to know that Liu Ze had also entered the Lu family's school.