Chapter Eighteen: Shusun Tong

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Snow fell upon Xianyang City. Chunyu Yue watched as carriage after carriage departed; each carried a scholar from Qi and Lu and was fully escorted by the Qin army.
Looking back, he saw Zhou Qingchen also boarding a carriage.
Chunyu Yue said, “On your journey north, be obedient to the Qin army and never disobey military orders.”
Zhou Qingchen sat silently in the carriage, allowing the Qin soldiers to escort him out of Xianyang.
Chunyu Yue solemnly saw them off, then noticed someone standing beside him, also watching the departing carriages.
This was Shusun Tong, a scholar summoned to Xianyang by the First Emperor and Chancellor Li Si.
Chunyu Yue said, “I hope these men return safely.”
Shusun Tong stroked his beard, standing against the wind. “They will return. Li Si only wants them to see the situation in the north, not to have them killed.”
Chunyu Yue then asked, “I heard you met with Lord Fusu?”
Shusun Tong sighed, “Once.”
“It’s a pity, the lord has not seen me.”
Shusun Tong added, “Today I have some old friends to visit.”
Chunyu Yue frowned, about to say more, but when he looked back, Shusun Tong was already striding away.
In the snowy Xianyang City, a profound desolation prevailed.
Fusu felt that as dusk approached, the city seemed warm, for every house had its lights lit.
Night cloaked Xianyang as wind and snow filled the sky, and snow piled on every windowsill.
The flickering lights from the windows shone warmly against the cold night.
Fusu descended from the drum tower at the city wall, having just admired the myriad lights from above, a feeling of great comfort.
Soldiers coming to relieve the guard hurriedly saluted the lord.
Fusu nodded, “Thank you for your efforts.”
The soldiers bowed again.
Since the reforms of Shang Yang, the people of Qin have been adept at seeking self-improvement. This is not unique to Qin; anyone, over centuries, longs for a path to upward mobility.
Fusu recalled household servants, where several women would compete fiercely for a highly efficient spinning wheel.
Li Si’s rise from a court official to chancellor was a testament to self-advancement.
Tian An handed over a scroll, “My lord, this is the roster General Zhang Han sent.”
Fusu took the roster and confirmed its contents. “Rest early.”
Upon hearing this, Tian An left the lord’s chamber.
In his life, Fusu had grown accustomed to sleeping and waking without knowing the hour.
Only upon waking and asking Tian An would he learn the time.
Probably tired from the late night, upon waking and washing, Fusu asked Tian An and learned it was the hour of the dragon.
Since court had adjourned, there was no need to worry about the exact time of waking.
After washing, Fusu vigorously wiped his face with a hot cloth, then exhaled into the cold air, his breath turning to mist.
He then prepared his own breakfast.
The weather remained gray and overcast. Fusu sat by the stove, waiting for rice porridge to boil.
An attendant hurried in, “My lord, someone requests an audience.”
Usually, when a teacher came, the attendants would simply announce the chancellor’s arrival.
Fusu sipped hot water, “Who requests to see me?”
“A man named Shusun Tong, here to return a book.”
Holding the steaming bowl, Fusu said, “Show him in.”
The early morning at Gaoquan Palace was busy, with palace staff sweeping away the snow.
The snow inside the palace seemed even thicker. Shusun Tong walked along the cleared path to the hall.
Lord Fusu sat before the hall, with three stoves nearby, each holding ceramic bowls of various sizes.
Shusun Tong cupped a bamboo scroll with both hands. “My lord, this is the book borrowed earlier by the venerable Master Fusheng. I have come to return it.”

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Fusu gestured for Tian An to take the scroll as he lifted a lid from a ceramic bowl, placing some cut fish meat inside before boiling it a while longer.
Shusun Tong watched curiously, blinking in wonder.
His beard and hair were grayed, suggesting over fifty years of age, yet his complexion and slightly plump cheeks suggested closer to forty. Age was difficult to discern in the ancients.
For example, a youth in his twenties with a long beard might easily be mistaken for over thirty if his facial hair was not trimmed.
Among the ancients, many middle-aged men had white hair and beards; a man with white hair might only be in his thirties or forties.
Noticing the other’s gaze and these thoughts, Fusu realized these reflections had passed through his mind within a few breaths.
Noticing Shusun Tong’s curious look, Fusu asked, “Is it strange for a Qin lord to cook his own meal?”
Hearing this, Shusun Tong quickly bowed, explaining, “I just find it uncommon.”
Fusu smiled, “Cooking is quite enjoyable, especially in passing time and feeling accomplishment. Consider me a leisurely lord of Qin.”
Shusun Tong smiled unexpectedly and said, “Indeed, Qin’s lords are unlike those of the six kingdoms.”
Truly, this man’s speech was pleasant. Among the scholars of Qi and Lu, some could talk well.
Fusu took the fish porridge off the stove, setting it aside to cool, then brought down a pot of soymilk from another stove.
“This is called soymilk, made by the people of Shangyan Mountain. Grinding it is hard work.”
Tian An understood and brought over a table.
In front of Shusun Tong were a bowl of soymilk and a bowl of fish porridge.
Fusu ate quietly, occasionally glancing at the bamboo scroll.
Shusun Tong looked around—each attendant and palace maid smiled warmly at him.
When Fusu nearly finished the porridge, Shusun Tong took a sip of the warm porridge himself. It was savory with fish, delicious enough to widen his eyes.
He gulped down the rest eagerly.
Then he drank the soymilk in one go.
Satisfied, Shusun Tong belched loudly, then realized his rudeness and bowed apologetically.
Fusu said, “No matter, I care little for such formalities... hmm, no wonder people say Qin folk are coarse.”
Shusun Tong replied, “I do not think the people of Qin are coarse.”
Fusu continued, eyes on the book, “Back then, whether from Yan, Zhao, Qi, or Chu, all said the Qin did not know propriety.”
Shusun Tong said, “I believe propriety is not mere adherence to words and gestures but about order—what we call ritual and system...”
At this, the Qi and Lu scholar began to expound at length on the matter of ritual.
Truthfully, much of what he spoke was trivial, often intended to confuse the listener until they forgot their original question.
Fusu continued, “I heard yesterday the chancellor sent you scholars north, and you shouted curses in front of your teacher’s door?”
Shusun Tong thought briefly, then quickly replied, “I was visiting friends yesterday.”
Fusu had witnessed the incident himself and intended to challenge the scholar.
But this man was clever and cunning, avoiding offending anyone by providing an alibi: “I wasn’t there, I don’t know what happened; I was dining with friends.”
More or less so.
Fusu asked, “Do you have many friends in Xianyang?”
Shusun Tong said, “Not all are friends but my teacher’s old acquaintances. Most admire my teacher’s reputation and want to send their children to study in Qi, so they flatter me. To be frank, as long as I’m in Xianyang, someone invites me daily.”
Thus, the descendants of Confucius still held great prestige.
Everyone wanted their children to have a renowned teacher, and at this time, the best academic background was usually from Kong Fu, a descendant of Confucius and Shusun Tong’s teacher.
Fusu had never met Kong Fu, but it was clear the ancients valued the influence of famous teachers.
The ancients were never foolish. Like Shusun Tong, he accepted all comers but might not agree to teach everyone.
Therefore, the issues the ancients faced remain worthy of study and deep reflection.
Fusu then said, “My teacher is the current chancellor, who studied under Xunzi. So in a way, I am also a disciple of Xunzi, though my knowledge is shallow. My teacher is busy with state affairs and has little time. There is one matter I wonder if you could assist with.”
Shusun Tong said, “Please speak freely, my lord.”
“I have three thousand household servants and over three hundred children under ten at Shangyan Mountain. I want to find a teacher for them. Can you teach them?”

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Seeing Shusun Tong hesitated, Fusu added, “If they learn well under your tutelage, I will send them north to fight enemies. Those who earn merit will have their household registrations restored and become officials of Qin.”
Shusun Tong still did not agree.
Fusu painted a grand picture, “Thus you would have three hundred disciples, all officials of Qin. If even three or five become ministers, you will be renowned throughout the land.”
Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong’s expression subtly changed. He respectfully bowed, wary now. This Qin lord was formidable indeed.
“May I have half an hour to consider…”
“Half an hour,” Fusu confirmed.
“Well…”
“My lord, if you are unwilling, I will not insist.”
Originally, the book was borrowed by Fusheng from the lord; Shusun Tong came only to return it. How the debt fell upon him and encountering such a sharp-tongued lord was unexpected.
After consideration, with all benefits laid out, and owing a debt, Shusun Tong could find no reason to refuse and reluctantly said, “I accept your command.”
Having spoken, Shusun Tong immediately regretted it. If he refused, the lord might spread rumors about his teacher Kong Fu, a worse outcome indeed.
The Qin lord was still young; Shusun Tong had not expected such a wise young man to make such a request.
Fusu glanced at the sky, then said, “Tian An.”
“Present.”
“Arrange a carriage to take the master to Shangyan Mountain. It is now afternoon; there is still time to teach. Have General Zhang Han arrange lodging and teaching hours.”
In a few words, Lord Fusu sent the old scholar on his way.
Even once seated in the carriage, Shusun Tong repeatedly regretted his agreement. How had he consented?
Tian An was naturally pleased; the lord had quickly found a teacher for the children of Shangyan Mountain.
At Gaoquan Palace, Tian An reported, “My lord, I fear this master may not teach well or diligently.”
Fusu, still calculating his private affairs, said, “It doesn’t matter. If he teaches poorly, we’ll find another. Are there any supplies recently sent from the army to Shangyan Mountain?”
Tian An took down a bamboo scroll from the shelf, “General Zhang Han has everything recorded.”
“Rustle...”
Fusu opened the scroll, checking each item. Under Qin law, all military documents were meticulously recorded, down to every detail, such as each piece of wood or cloth sent to Shangyan Mountain.
This served to assure the army and protect himself from slander.
Tian An added, “My lord, the residence arranged by the chancellor has yet to be visited by you.”
Fusu asked, “Does anyone still visit that residence?”
“Since winter began, no one has visited. People have nearly forgotten it.”
Fusu nodded slightly. “Organize the bookshelves.”
Tian An nodded, carefully arranging the lord’s bookshelves, marking exactly which scroll went into which compartment and category, without error or disorder.
At noon, Tian An overheard attendants talking and reported, “My lord, someone visited the chancellor today.”
After Shusun Tong arrived, Fusu awaited General Zhang Han’s report while feeding fish, puzzled, “Since court adjourned, the teacher has not received guests.”
“This person entered the chancellor’s residence and was entertained by him.”
“Who is it?”
“Lord, his name is Zhang Cang, rumored to be a close friend of the chancellor and a fellow disciple of Xunzi. He serves as a censor in Xianyang, recommended to the emperor by the chancellor.”
Fusu continued reading Xunzi’s works, including Xunzi’s evaluation of Mencius.
“Zhang Cang a censor?”
“Yes, my lord. Though a censor, he manages documents and archives. Officials needing to review files or consult texts require Zhang Cang’s approval. He is also the custodian of the palace’s library. The emperor praised him as knowledgeable and well-learned.”
Xunzi had many disciples, but each was quite different in character.