In a modern university classroom, a white-haired old man walked slowly into the classroom with a book in his hand.
"Classmates, before we begin today's lecture, I'd like to digress a little. Do you know about a tomb that was unearthed some time ago?"
When the students below mentioned this, they all excitedly rushed to answer.
"Of course I know! I still remember that rubbing of the stone inscription! I heard it was Xu Zhongqin's winning formula! I never thought even ancient imperial examinations required practice."
"He truly is a great sage of the Qi Dynasty! After the tomb was unearthed, I even researched his life. I never imagined a scholar could have taught so many high-ranking officials. Historical records show that two ministers of state during the Qi Dynasty were his students."
"Historical records show that he taught 130 scholars, 53 juren, and 26 jinshi throughout his life!"
The old man smiled as the students rushed to answer. He took a sip of his tea, then slowly put it down and said, "Everyone is right, but there's one person you haven't mentioned."
"Who? Impossible! I've searched all the historical records that mention him. Is there anyone else who's important, sir?"
"That person is An Jingzhi, the one we're talking about today. Information about his life may have been lost during the change of dynasties. I only learned about it a few days ago. History books only record him as having served as Grand Tutor of the Great Qi Dynasty, but no other information can be found. However, I participated in the excavation of artifacts from Xu Zhongqin's tomb a few days ago, and we surprisingly found some information about An Jingzhi's life."
The students below immediately started talking.
How could these two be connected? Could he also be a student of Xu Zhongqin? However, according to historical records, when An Jingzhi was an official, Xu Zhongqin was probably just an ordinary old scholar. It is said that it was only later that he developed a learning method suitable for children, which led to his teaching of so many historical figures.
Some students guessed correctly! An Jingzhi is Xu Zhongqin's student!
"No way? How is that possible? The time doesn't match, teacher?!"
The old man chuckled, then spoke seriously again, "An Jingzhi's birth and death years are unknown. When he passed the imperial examination, Xu Zhongqin was indeed just an ordinary old scholar. However, after he taught a top scholar, his reputation soared, and the county magistrate at the time was very polite to him. His notebook contains many records about An Jingzhi. An Jingzhi once studied at his school. He took pity on his talent and allowed An Jingzhi, despite his poor family, to live in his house at a low rent. An Jingzhi lived up to his expectations, overcoming all obstacles and becoming the top scholar of the imperial examination at the age of seventeen. He was also highly regarded by Emperor Taixuan, who appointed him as the prefect of his hometown. As history students, you should know that no official has ever served in his hometown, but he is the only one who has."
According to Xu Zhongqin's book, An Jingzhi once said during a visit that this special situation occurred because Emperor Taixuan wanted to reform the country and favored him. An Jingzhi was very smart and his reforms were successful, but it could also be said that they were not.
Having said this, the old man stopped and drank a sip of tea.
"Teacher, please continue. Why did you suddenly stop?"
"Teacher, you really whet my appetite."
"Don't be anxious, students. Teacher Rong, have a drink of water."
The old man put down his teacup with a smile and continued:
Why is it said that he was both successful and unsuccessful? Everyone should know what reform means, right? Simply put, it means redistributing the pie. The emperor wanted the clans with the most pie to share some with the common people.
"If it were everyone else, I don't think they would agree, right? Those clans are even less likely to agree. Emperor Taixuan knew this, and An Jingzhi knew it even better. If someone were to harm the interests of others to provide for the common people, even with the emperor's protection, An Jingzhi wouldn't end well. There are countless examples recorded in history books, so I won't give you any examples here."
"But An Jingzhi was very clever. He didn't try to reform the law, but he accomplished the results that Emperor Taixuan wanted!"
"If marketing tactics are anything to go by, this guy is probably the forefather! Everyone knows about cliffwood, right? It's one of our province's famous products. You all know it was famous in Da Qi, beloved by the upper classes, and later became a tribute throughout the dynasties. But perhaps you don't know that An Jingzhi was the one who hyped this wood up, right?"
"What? Was there marketing back then? Do officials need so many skills?"
"Oh my god, this is incredible! Young and famous, in a high position, and with business acumen! So inspiring! Idol!"
The old man motioned for everyone to be quiet, and then said:
"An Jingzhi didn't touch anyone else's cake. Relying on his own brains, he used only the then-worthless cliff wood to transform the impoverished Yazhou Prefecture into the largest taxpayer at the time, with taxes three times higher than those in Kyoto! All the money earned from the cliff wood was used to build local areas in Yazhou Prefecture. Yazhou Prefecture also went from being one of the poorest places to a place that officials were vying for. You don't have to do anything there, just keep doing what you've always done, and you'll definitely get an A in your performance review!"
"His peaceful retirement wasn't due to the emperor's patronage, but rather to his own political skills. During his tenure, he never made enemies at court, fulfilling the emperor's orders without harming the interests of others. He earned the admiration of everyone in the court."
Everyone knows that Xu Zhongqin also taught two chancellors, but few know that their rise to the position was largely due to An Jingzhi's support. Out of fellow student affection, he cared deeply for his two junior colleagues, and it was thanks to his protection that the two chancellors' careers were so smooth. Besides these two, many other officials who served in the court under Xu Zhongqin's tutelage also benefited from his help.
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