Chapter Thirty-Seven: Grass as a Garden
On a late summer afternoon, sunlight streamed through the carved wooden window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone floor of the general's study. Guo Huairou, dressed in a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with delicate lotus embroidery on the hem, walked slowly into her father's study. She carried a freshly brewed cup of Junshan Yinzhen tea, its fragrant aroma filling the air.
"Father, I have a favor to ask of you." Huairou's voice was soft, with a touch of girlish shyness. She took small, quick steps and walked to the large sandalwood desk. The middle-aged man sitting behind the desk was none other than Guo Shichang, the current General of the Northern Garrison. Although he was nearly fifty years old and had a few streaks of gray in his temples, his eyes still retained the heroic spirit honed on the battlefield. At this moment, however, he looked at his most beloved youngest daughter with a kind and gentle expression.
"Speak, you little rascal," Guo Shichang put down the military strategy in his hand and looked at her with a smile, "I heard from your mother that you went to Yongzhou. I wonder if your knowledge and your mind have grown as much as they have?"
Huairou smiled, gently placed the teacup beside her father, and said softly, "Father, you know about my trip to Yongzhou. I didn't cause any trouble for the court. But I have certainly broadened my horizons a little." She extended her slender finger and made a tiny gesture, but her eyes shone brightly.
Guo Shichang's heart stirred slightly. Huairou had always been obedient and sensible, never easily making demands of her family. This time, her engagement to Lu Binghui had been postponed due to the escalating war in the north, and he already felt somewhat guilty towards his daughter. Seeing her expression, he knew she had something on her mind, and it was no small matter. He stopped joking, reached out and took his daughter's slightly cool hand, his voice gentle yet solemn: "Huairou, do you know that the Seventh Prince is coming back?"
Huairou nodded gently, her long eyelashes drooping slightly to conceal the fleeting joy in her eyes. Guo Shichang looked at his daughter's serene face and continued, "I know about the sworn brotherhood between you and the Seventh Prince over these six years. You repeatedly offered advice during his most difficult times. Although you were not involved in court affairs, you stabilized his mind and clarified his aspirations. The road to becoming an emperor is long, and although you did not claim credit, you are a first-rate contributor."
Huairou raised her eyes, a faint yet genuine smile playing on her lips. No one knew the overwhelming happiness surging within her at that moment. It didn't stem from her father's approval, nor from her affection for the prince, but from a secret expectation that belonged only to her.
General Guo saw his daughter smile without speaking, assuming she was just shy, and his heart softened even more. He looked at his daughter, who had grown into a graceful young woman, her eyes showing both the gentleness of a girl and a strength and open-mindedness that he himself had not expected. He laughed loudly, "Alright, speak up, whatever you ask for, as long as it's within your father's power, I will do my best to grant it."
Huairou took a deep breath, knowing the time was right. She raised her bright eyes, looked directly at her father, and said in a clear and firm voice, "Father, there is a barren mountain next to Qingshan Academy, with a garden on it. I heard that it was a reward from the court to our family when you and my brother quelled the rebellion in the southwest two years ago. I want to... I want to borrow it from you to set up an academy."
"Establish an academy?" Guo Shichang, a seasoned veteran who had seen countless battles, was taken aback by this unexpected suggestion. He subconsciously repeated the suggestion, his thick brows furrowing slightly, his eyes filled with scrutiny and incomprehension. He composed himself, trying to make his tone as calm as possible so as not to dampen his daughter's enthusiasm: "Huairou, teaching, and educating people are certainly excellent things, meritorious deeds. However, the sons of noble and official families in our dynasty all have private schools. Even Qingshan Academy is a state-run academy, recruiting the best talents from all over the country, inviting contemporary Confucian scholars, and teaching the classics of sages, all for the purpose of cultivating talents for practical use in the court. If you were to establish another academy, what would you intend to teach? And who would come to study there?"
A warm feeling welled up in Huairou's heart. She was very grateful to this "father." He hadn't immediately denied it, nor had he been perfunctory; instead, he had sincerely asked her questions, which meant he valued her suggestion and was willing to discuss it seriously with her. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with a light she had never seen before, almost burning with passion.
"Father, what I want to establish is not an academy that teaches people how to be officials or how to serve the emperor. What I want to establish is an academy dedicated to the study of engineering, agriculture, science, and medicine." She spoke slightly faster, clearly having considered this for a long time. "In this academy, we will not teach the art of rulership, the way of being a minister, or how to lead troops into battle. We will also not teach the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which are good for cultivating character. What we want to invite are skilled craftsmen from the countryside, master craftsmen who know how to improve looms, are proficient in water conservancy and river engineering, and build pavilions and towers; they are old farmers who have spent their lives in the fields, exploring ways to increase yields and are good at identifying soil fertility; they are renowned doctors with superb medical skills who can identify all kinds of herbs and save lives; and they are also talented people who are knowledgeable in astronomy, geography, and can make exquisite instruments... We want them to come and teach."
She paused, observing her father's expression. Seeing that he didn't show displeasure, but rather listened with increasing focus, she continued, "We recruit students regardless of their background. Children from wealthy families who are interested in these practical skills and want to learn a trade can come and learn; children from ordinary families can also come and learn a skill to make a living, as long as they can scrape together enough tuition. Father, don't you think that methods to increase grain production, techniques to make weaving faster, knowledge to make bridges stronger, and medical principles to reduce the suffering of the people from illness... these are equally important, and perhaps even closer to the fundamental needs of the people?"
The study fell silent, broken only by the occasional chirping of birds outside the window. Guo Shichang gazed at his daughter, his heart churning with emotion. He was not a pedant; years of military service had instilled in him a deep understanding of the importance of practical application. The siege weapons and improved bows and armor crafted by artisans in the army could often determine the outcome of a battle; a guide who understood the timing and terrain could save an army from dire straits. His daughter's words were like a key, unlocking another door in his thinking. The knowledge he possessed concerned the grand principles of governing the country and bringing peace to the world, while his daughter's focus was on the fundamental issues of people's livelihood. Perhaps these two should never have been separated.
He astutely realized that the proposal of appeasement would be more beneficial than harmful to the country. This move could tap into the wisdom of the people and gather practical talents. If it could truly cultivate a group of well-rounded individuals, it would be a blessing for both the nation and its people. Moreover, running schools and lecturing did not violate ancestral rules, and there were precedents of private academies flourishing in previous dynasties.
After a long silence, Guo Shichang finally spoke, his voice steady and powerful: "Huairou, your idea... is very good, unexpected yet reasonable." He looked at his daughter's eyes, which lit up instantly, smiled slightly, and then said seriously, "You can start preparing for the school. Since His Majesty has bestowed that barren mountain and garden outside the city upon our family, you can use them as you see fit. However," he changed the subject, "I still need to petition His Majesty on this matter."
A hint of doubt flashed in Huairou's eyes.
Guo Shichang explained, “Firstly, although the garden belongs to my family, it is right next to Qingshan Academy and located at the foot of the capital. If we make a big fuss, it will inevitably attract attention. I am informing you beforehand and explaining the pros and cons to prevent anyone from using this as an excuse to cause trouble later, which would be undesirable. Secondly, running a school is not an easy task. It requires not only a place but also continuous financial investment and sufficient prestige to attract teachers and students. I still have some influence in the court and may be able to garner some support for you. At the very least, we need to make His Majesty understand that what the Guo family daughter is running is a practical school that benefits the country, not a place for idle talk about politics.”
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the lush pomegranate tree in the courtyard. His tone became long and drawn out: "Huairou, I am very pleased that you have such aspirations. In this world, women are often constrained. You have stepped out of your boudoir and are thinking about doing something practical. This ambition surpasses that of many men. Go ahead and do it. I support you."
"Father!" Huairou could no longer contain her excitement, her eyes welling up with tears. She stood up and walked to her father's side, took his arm, and gently rested her head on his strong shoulder. "Thank you... thank you for supporting me."
Guo Shichang patted his daughter's hand, his eyes filled with love and pride.
Since their conversation in the study that day, Huairou seemed to have been infused with boundless energy. She first went to the desolate mountain outside the city. The mountain, named "Qingwu Mountain," had been abandoned for many years and overgrown with weeds, but its slopes were gentle, with clear springs flowing and lush trees. The garden halfway up the mountain was originally the villa of a disgraced prince from the previous dynasty. Although many of the pavilions and towers were damaged, the basic structure remained, and with a little repair, it could be used. What was especially valuable was the large expanse of flat wasteland next to the garden, perfect for establishing experimental fields and artisan workshops.
Huairou took out paper and pen and spent several days carefully surveying the terrain and drawing up a detailed plan. She clearly marked where to build the lecture hall, where to set up the workshop area, where to cultivate medicinal herbs and farmland, and where to use as student dormitories. She even considered details such as irrigation and road repairs.
At the same time, she spread out her writing paper and began writing to her trusted friends. The first letter was to the Seventh Prince, Yunji. In it, she detailed her idea of establishing a practical academy and earnestly requested his help in finding skilled artisans in the northern border regions, particularly those proficient in animal husbandry, iron smelting, or construction, and whether they would be willing to come to the capital to teach. She knew that Yunji, being in the northern frontier, understood best the importance of practical talent.
The second letter was written to a friend who was studying in Jiangnan. The friend was a member of the imperial family, but she was free-spirited and disliked being constrained. She loved to associate with all sorts of eccentric and unusual people. In the letter, Huairou earnestly asked her to help him find skilled textile craftsmen, agricultural experts, and even masters of garden and water system design in the Jiangnan region.
In her third letter, she wrote to her close friend and classmate who was studying at Songyang Academy. This man was very knowledgeable, especially in mathematics and physics. Huairou hoped that he could recommend some like-minded young scholars who were not bound by the imperial examination system, whether they came to study or give lectures.
Finally, she picked up her pen and wrote a letter to Lu Binghui. The pen paused on the paper, the ink slightly blurring. Her marriage to Binghui was arranged by their parents; they had only recently graduated from Qingshan Academy when he went to a distant place to attend to official duties. But Huairou knew him to be upright and pragmatic, and well-versed in law and mathematics. In her letter, she frankly explained her ambition to establish a school and inquired whether he knew any professionals knowledgeable in architectural standards and engineering mathematics. She wrote with exceptional care, maintaining the reserve of an unmarried woman while fully expressing her respect for his knowledge and her desire to learn from him.
The messenger carried her hopes and dreams to all corners of the world. Meanwhile, she was not idle. She began to organize the various miscellaneous notes she had read and collected over the years, from copies of incomplete copies of "Qimin Yaoshu" and "Tiangong Kaiwu" to her observations and records of local products and customs. She categorized them and accumulated several thick volumes.
Occasionally, in a break from her busy schedule, she would walk to the window and gaze in the direction of Qingwu Mountain. As the sun set, it bathed the barren mountain in a warm golden light. She could almost see that in the near future, it would no longer be a silent place, but filled with the clanging of craftsmen's hammers, the debates of students, and the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects in the experimental fields... It would be a paradise for pragmatists and explorers, an academy that she herself had painstakingly built with her own hands.
Meanwhile, far away in the northern borderlands, Qi Yu stood atop the city wall, gazing at the vast grasslands. He had received Huai Rou's letter, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips. This girl he had watched grow up was finally about to embark on something truly significant of her own. He carefully folded the letter and tucked it into his robes, thinking to himself, "His Highness the Seventh Prince instructed me to stand guard until the very end. Once this matter is settled, I will return to the capital. Huai Rou's school needs someone to keep things in check." The wind swept across his armor, carrying the unique chill of the frontier, but his heart was carried back to the capital by his sister's warm letter.
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