Chapter Thirty-Three: The Mohist School’s Complete Victory

Page (1/3)

“One city, three poems—from this day forth, frontier poetry will become the most dazzling genre in the Great Tang.” In the offices of the Imperial Academy, Kong Yingda carefully examined the three sheets before him; two and a half poems were transcribed with meticulous precision. He let out a sigh of heartfelt admiration.

Until now, frontier poetry was popular, thanks to the Tang’s illustrious military exploits, yet few renowned verses had been passed down. Who would have thought that two and a half masterpieces would suddenly emerge in the Imperial Academy?

“What a solitary city atop a thousand-fathom mountain! What a Jade Gate Pass! From now on, Jade Gate Pass will be celebrated throughout the world as the foremost hero’s gate!” one scholar exclaimed with fervor.

The other scholars nodded in agreement; every one of them was a renowned academic, and with their insight, how could they not recognize the brilliance of these lines?

“A prodigy!” A flash of wonder appeared in their eyes.

“This is not good! Doesn’t this mean the disciple of Mozi may win? What will become of our Imperial Academy?” Professor Liu Yinian cried out in alarm.

As soon as his words fell, he found everyone staring at him as though he were a fool, leaving him utterly perplexed.

“You still want to push away such a brilliant student?” Kong Yingda glared at Liu Yinian, suppressing his anger.

“Uh... uh...” Liu Yinian broke out in a cold sweat.

Indeed! Where else could one find such astonishing talent? To think of sending him away would be the height of folly.

“Perhaps he’s only skilled in poetry. He may not necessarily triumph against students from other disciplines.” Liu Yinian argued, full of confidence in the Academy’s students. After all, the Imperial Academy gathered the nation’s elite. How much could a disciple of Mozi, learning from birth, really achieve?

“Hou Zhicheng has been defeated!”

“Cui Chengxuan has been defeated!”

In a short span, Mo Dun had vanquished two, shaking the Imperial Academy.

“Ah!” The scholars were collectively stunned.

“Impossible!” Liu Yinian cried desperately.

Page (2/3)

Hou Zhicheng was a leading figure in the Academy, and Cui Chengxuan was the meticulously groomed heir of the Cui family of Qinghe. Liu Yinian knew of their scholarship; both were top-notch talents.

Yet even so, both fell in quick succession to Mo Dun. Did this not mean Mo Dun was even more formidable?

“Mo Dun is so unruly and surely proud; he must be difficult to manage. Better hand him over to my Grand Academy and let me properly discipline him,” declared the Grand Academy professor with fervor.

“The Grand Academy teaches the Five Classics; I doubt Mo Dun would be receptive. He should come to my Law Academy! The School of Law and Mohism do not conflict,” argued the Law Academy professor, refusing to miss his chance.

“Mathematics is compatible with all disciplines and does not involve ancient quarrels. He should join us!” The Mathematics professor joined the scramble.

The Imperial Academy erupted into chaos, launching a full-blown contest to recruit Mo Dun.

Meanwhile, Mo Dun, still battling, was oblivious to the fact that he had already been preemptively admitted by the Academy’s professors. Now, he faced a formidable opponent.

Kong Huishuo!

“Kong Huishuo, thirty-second descendant of Confucius, greets the heir of Mozi.” Kong Huishuo bowed respectfully.

“Mo Dun, disciple of Mozi, pays respects to the Sage’s descendant.” Mo Dun returned the bow.

Both employed ancient rites, each representing their most powerful school of thought.

The rivalry between Confucianism and Mohism was revived.

Though expected, no one anticipated Kong Huishuo would step forward before the Mathematics or Calligraphy professors.

Yet Kong Huishuo had no choice. Mo Dun had already defeated three; if he did not act, Mo Dun would continue his winning streak, leaving only himself as a contender. By breaking Mo Dun’s momentum, the Academy would still have a chance to prevail.

“What would you like to compete in?” Mo Dun asked gravely.

“Poetry is but a minor art. Today, let us test our strategies for governing the realm,” Kong Huishuo abruptly changed the contest, knowing he could not best Mo Dun in literary talent.

Mo Dun looked meaningfully at Kong Huishuo, then nodded: “Very well, please set the challenge.”

“The key to governance lies in virtue; the key to managing the people lies in benevolence... When virtue prospers, the nation prospers; when benevolent rule prevails, the people are blessed.” Kong Huishuo, a true Confucian elite, eloquently expounded Confucian principles of benevolent governance, making listeners nod in heartfelt agreement.

His strategy for rule spoken, Kong Huishuo’s face flushed. If he defeated Mo Dun today, his fame would spread throughout Chang’an, and his strategy would reach the emperor’s ears. His days of glory would soon arrive.

Page (3/3)

“Please, Mo Dun, enlighten us!” Kong Huishuo waved his white fan, looking confidently at Mo Dun.

“Your benevolent policy is indeed ingenious,” Mo Dun could not help but praise Kong Huishuo’s talent.

A look of pride appeared on Kong Huishuo’s face. When it came to governance, the Confucian school was unmatched. Mohism was long outdated; it could stir no great waves now.

“But…” Mo Dun paused, immediately putting Kong Huishuo on guard.

“But upon graduation from the Academy, the best appointment is that of a county magistrate. If you, Kong Huishuo, were to govern a county, how would you implement your benevolent policies?”

“Of course, I would establish schools! I would promote education throughout the county, teaching Confucian benevolent governance. Within three years, the county would flourish,” Kong Huishuo replied solemnly.

“If famine struck and the county’s grain stores could only support either relief efforts or education, which would you choose?” Mo Dun pressed.

Kong Huishuo inwardly scorned Mo Dun for attempting to set a trap. Everyone knows disaster relief is the highest priority. He answered without hesitation, “Disaster relief!”

“The county granary contains only twenty thousand bushels. There are seventy-five thousand refugees: thirty thousand adults, forty-five thousand elderly and children. Adults require five taels daily, the elderly and children three taels. How long will the grain last?” Mo Dun pursued.

“Uh…” Kong Huishuo was dumbfounded; he had not anticipated Mo Dun would challenge him with mathematics. Though the Academy taught mathematics, he had never paid it much heed. Mo Dun, cunningly, complicated matters by dividing the refugees into adults and the weak, making the calculation far more difficult.

“Ridiculous! There are clerks to distribute relief grain,” Kong Huishuo retorted.

“If the calculation is not done in advance and disaster relief is delayed, what then? If the magistrate ignores the grain, and clerks embezzle it, leaving refugees without aid, what will happen?” Mo Dun pressed relentlessly.

“Then the law must punish corrupt clerks!” Kong Huishuo said angrily.

“If the refugees, deprived of relief grain, rise up in revolt, do you think you can remain magistrate? Is it the clerk’s fault—or yours?” A sneer curled on Mo Dun’s lips. Such ignorance of basic needs was typical of the Confucian school; what use is such talent?

“I—I—I…” Kong Huishuo sweated profusely, his face ashen. No matter how fine the benevolent policy, it depended on peace and prosperity. In times of chaos and disaster, such a magistrate would only worsen matters. What use is a magistrate who cannot solve practical problems?

Heir of the Kong family versus disciple of Mozi.

Mo Dun achieved a complete victory.