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After passing Yangcheng and following the Ying River southeast, one arrives at Yangcui, the administrative center of Yingchuan Commandery.
The closer one gets to Yangcui, the more people one encounters, especially scholars wearing tall hats and wide sleeves, all hurrying into the city. When Fei Qian stopped one to ask, he learned that Xun Shuang was going to hold a public lecture at the Xun family's private residence!
This was a public lecture during the Eastern Han Dynasty!
Fei Qian was immediately intrigued and quickened his pace to reach Yangcui.
Xun Shuang was a prominent figure among the great minds of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Xun Shuang came from the prestigious "Yingchuan Xun Clan" and was a direct descendant of Xunzi. By extrapolate, he was the twelfth-generation descendant of Xunzi.
Xun Shuang was studious from a young age, having understood the "Spring and Autumn Annals" and the "Analects" by the age of twelve. This fact astonished Fei Qian, making him wonder whether ancient people were smarter than modern ones. In later times, a twelve-year-old would still be considered a mere child.
It is said that the famous Han minister Du Qiao, upon meeting him, praised him by saying, "He could be a teacher to others." This was high praise indeed, indicating that Xun Shuang's achievements in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" and the "Analects" surpassed those of ordinary people, making him qualified to teach others.
Xun Shuang did not rest on his laurels after gaining fame but delved deeper into his studies. In Yingchuan Commandery, there was a saying, "Among the eight dragons of the Xun family, Ciming is unparalleled." The eight dragons referred to the eight brothers of the Xun family, including Xun Shuang, and Ciming was Xun Shuang's courtesy name.
Fei Qian thought maliciously, "Eight dragons? How extraordinary must one be to accept such a title? Fortunately, this was the Han Dynasty, where the concept of dragons and phoenixes wasn't as exaggerated as in later dynasties. Otherwise, such a title would have been a sure sign of rebellion..."
Xun Shuang was a leading figure in Confucianism during the Han Dynasty. He advocated for complete filial piety, suggesting that children should observe a three-year mourning period after their parents' death. He also promoted the idea of male superiority and submitted many critical suggestions to the court. However, unlike Cai Yong, who suffered for his lack of caution, Xun Shuang wisely resigned and went into seclusion after submitting his memorials.
During his seclusion, Xun Shuang did not forget to maintain his presence, becoming even more famous and writing many books, earning him the title of "Great Confucian."
Therefore, when it was heard that Xun Shuang was going to hold a public lecture, people from far and wide flocked to Yangcui, making the city bustling with activity.
The Xun family, being a prominent clan in Yingchuan, remained composed amidst the excitement. A reception point was set up at a pavilion outside the city, where scholars from various places could register. The Xun family would arrange accommodations based on each family's status, though those dissatisfied with the arrangements could seek their own lodging in the city.
Fei Qian, feeling he had no reason to act superior, registered outside the city like many other ordinary scholars.
After reporting his name as Fei Qian from the Heluo Fei family, a Xun family member registered him and handed him a wooden plaque.
Fei Qian examined the plaque: it was square, with ancient cloud patterns carved around the edges and the character "Xun" in seal script in the center. On the back, it read "Xun Family Guest House, Room C-27," followed by Fei Qian's name and origin.
Fei Qian pondered, realizing that the ancients had already developed a system similar to modern hotel room numbers.
Originally intending to bring Uncle Fu along, Fei Qian was informed that only single accommodations were allowed, with no servants or attendants permitted. Thus, he had to let Uncle Fu and Zhang Zhao find their own lodging elsewhere. Given the event's scale, many locals had vacated rooms to earn extra income, so finding a place for them wasn't a concern.
Since Zhang Zhao also needed to deliver a large bundle of letters, they temporarily parted ways, agreeing on a time and place to meet next. Fei Qian then boarded a Xun family carriage and entered Yangcui city with other scholars.
The Xun family carriage turned east upon entering the city and soon came to a stop.
Upon alighting, Fei Qian's first impression was of the Xun family's grandeur.
Before him stood a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story archway. The central plaque bore the characters "Yingchuan Xun Clan" in a dignified and imposing script, with the archway's eaves and painted beams exuding the family's extraordinary presence.
Beneath the archway, Xun family members were guiding and receiving guests. After checking Fei Qian's plaque, one of them led him through the archway to a square.
The square was vast. Fei Qian roughly estimated that there were already over a hundred people waiting, yet it still felt spacious and uncrowded.
When the Xun family member led Fei Qian to a spot in the square and stopped, Fei Qian noticed two others already there: one about his age and the other slightly older.
The Xun family member clasped his hands and said, "All three occupants of Room C-27 have arrived. Please wait here while I inform the steward. Someone will take you to your accommodations shortly."
Fei Qian thought to himself, 'So it's a triple room. I wonder if the other two have any habits like grinding teeth, farting, sleepwalking, or talking in their sleep...'
Being the last to arrive, Fei Qian clasped his hands and greeted the two waiting men, "Fei Qian, courtesy name Ziyuan, from Heluo, greets you both."
The older one, who had been waiting longer and seemed impatient, gave a slight nod and said, "Ying Yu, courtesy name Zijin, from Runan," before falling silent.
Fei Qian thought, 'So he's from Runan. It's quite a journey from Runan to Yingchuan. He looks travel-weary, probably exhausted.'
The younger scholar, who had been holding a plant resembling grass, tucked it into his sleeve and clasped his hands, saying, "Zao Zhi, courtesy name Zijing, from Changshe, greets you, brother."
Fei Qian found it amusing that the young man was playing with a blade of grass. However, everyone has their quirks, and since it was their first meeting, Fei Qian refrained from commenting and stood by to wait.
Soon, a Xun family servant arrived, greeted the three, and led them into the Xun Family Guest House.
The Xun Family Guest House was a facility built by the Xun family to accommodate visitors, divided into five grades: A, B, C, D, and E. Fei Qian's C-grade was mid-tier.
Grade A was reserved for renowned individuals of high status, such as someone like Cai Yong, though such figures rarely attended, so these rooms were often vacant. Grade B was for prominent families or social elites, like Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, who would undoubtedly be assigned Grade B accommodations.
Grade C was for ordinary scholar families. Fei Qian, by coincidence, benefited somewhat from the reputation of the Heluo Fei family to be assigned a Grade C room.