The Junior Liang Shanbo: A Formidable Young Man

Next came the young men's philosophical discussions.

Chen Mao's gaze swept over the faces of the young men, and he said to Zhu Tao with a smile, "Lord Zhu, today's gathering of refined conversation and poetry recitations includes a prize of ten thousand coins to encourage future generations. I see that some of you are eager to try. So please, Lord Zhu, give us another topic so that we can also display our ambitions."

Zhu Tao stroked his beard and smiled: "Brother Minze, you have thought this through thoroughly. In that case, I will pose another question."

He pondered for a moment, looked around at the disciples present, and slowly said, "There is a fable in the Zhuangzi: The Mountain Tree, which you have all probably read."

Zhuangzi was walking in the mountains when he saw a large, lush tree. The woodcutters stopped and did not cut it down, saying, "It's useless." Zhuangzi said, "This tree, because it's useless, has lived out its natural lifespan." Later, he stayed at the home of an old friend, who ordered a goose to be killed. A young boy asked, "One can crow, and the other cannot. Which one should be killed?" The host replied, "Kill the one that cannot crow."

A disciple asked Zhuangzi, "The trees in the mountains grow because they are useless, and the master's geese die because they are useless. Where will you, sir, go?" Zhuangzi laughed and replied, "I will dwell between the useful and the useless." But Zhuangzi immediately added, "Being between useful and useless is like being something that is not useful at all; therefore, one cannot avoid being burdened."

Let each of you express your opinions: Should a scholar, in his conduct, oscillate between being talented and incompetent?

Once the question was posed, all the young students pondered it deeply.

Xiao Hu's elder brother, Xiao Sheng, was the first to rise, bow to the elders, and said loudly, "In my humble opinion, a scholar should be a 'talent.' He should learn both literature and martial arts to serve the court. If he cannot be used by the world, what value is there in his learning?"

A tree may escape the axe because it is useless, but useless wood is ultimately nothing more than rotten wood in the mountains. A goose dies because it is useless to the world. I, a junior, wish to be useful timber, and even if I suffer the axe's blow, I will not regret it.

He spoke with an air of confidence, and Xiao Zhen nodded slightly from his seat.

Zhu Tao's grandson, Zhu Yan, immediately stood up, humbly cupped his hands, and said in a gentle tone: "Brother Xiao's ambition is admirable. However, the Book of Changes says, 'The dragon that soars too high will have regrets.' Too much sharpness will inevitably lead to injury."

I believe that while talent is certainly desirable, it should not be fully displayed. Like a fine sword, it is easily broken if taken out of its sheath, but its sharpness is preserved when it is sheathed. Therefore, whether one is talented or not does not depend on whether one possesses ability, but on the timing of its use.

Seeing this, Sun Yuangui also wanted to stand up and say a few words to show his face, but he didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Wang Shu could not contain himself and stood up to bow, his voice clear and bright: "What you two brothers have said is all reasonable, but I think it can go a step further. Brother Xiao spoke of the value of 'material,' and Brother Zhu spoke of the necessity of 'concealment.' However, the most thought-provoking aspect of Zhuangzi's parable is not the material or the lack thereof itself, but rather the phrase 'it seems to be but it is not.'"

He spoke eloquently: "He said 'to be in the middle' and 'to be similar but not quite,' which clearly means that the space between talent and lack thereof is just a name, a temporary place to stay. To be attached to 'talent' is attachment, to be attached to 'lack of talent' is also attachment, and to be attached to 'the space between talent and lack thereof' is also attachment."

I believe Zhuangzi's meaning goes perhaps deeper: true liberation lies not in any one of these three aspects, but in not clinging to any one method or being confined to any one perspective. For example, mercury poured onto the ground takes the form of a square or a circle, yet it remains mercury throughout, neither increasing nor decreasing with the shape.

Wang Shu raised his voice slightly: "Therefore, a scholar's conduct in the world should not necessarily be about whether he is talented or not, but about maintaining his true self amidst what seems right but is not."

Before Zhuge Liang left his thatched cottage, was he capable or not? He would sit with his knees drawn up and let out a long sigh, unknown to the world. After he marched out of Qishan, was he still capable or not? He devoted himself to the cause until his dying breath, without regret. Whether he was capable or not is merely the judgment of outsiders; from beginning to end, he was simply Zhuge Liang.

Wang Shu glanced at Zhu Tao and then said, "In my opinion, there is no need to be caught between being talented and not talented; as long as one does not deceive one's own conscience, that is enough."

This speech was delivered quickly and clearly, with sharp and incisive arguments.

The elders nodded slightly, and Sun Datian said with a smile, "Nephew Wang has remarkable insight. Mr. Meng's disciples are indeed full of hidden talents."

Wang Shu bowed and said, "Uncle Sun, you flatter me."

Just then, Chu Wenju's grandson, Chu Jing, stood up and asked Wang Shu, "Brother Wang, I greatly admire your example of Zhuge Liang. However, there is one thing I don't understand, and I would like to ask you about it."

Wang Shu cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Chu, please speak."

Chu Jingdao said, "Brother Wang said, 'There's no need to be caught between being talented and useless; just strive not to deceive your own heart.' That's an excellent statement. But I'd like to ask, whose heart is this 'heart' you're referring to?"

The pavilion fell silent.

Chu Jing continued, "He Pingshu was born the grandson of the Minister of Ceremonies, and was already in the palace when he was born. Shan Juyuan was orphaned and poor at a young age, and farmed in the fields and gathered firewood in the mountains. Their original intentions were not the same from the beginning."

He Pingshu spent his life discussing metaphysics and Taoism, while Shan Juyuan spent his life negotiating and bargaining. Whose true heart was more genuine? Whose true heart was higher? If one's true heart is shaped by birth and circumstances, then what we truly follow—our true heart or our destiny?

This question, like a fine needle, pierced the crux of Wang Shu's grand discourse.

Wang Shu was stunned for a moment.

He just said "not to deceive one's conscience", but he didn't think about another question: can one choose one's conscience?

Seeing that Wang Shu was speechless, Gu Jun frowned slightly, as if he was trying to think of a way out for Wang Shu.

Zhu Yingtai looked at Wang Shu, then at Liang Shanbo, her lips moved, but she held back.

In the midst of this silence, Liang Shanbo stood up.

He first bowed to the elders, then turned to Chu Jing, his tone calm: "Brother Chu's question is very insightful. He Pingshu was born into a high-ranking family, while Shan Juyuan grew up in a humble family. Their hearts are indeed different in terms of their social standing and their passions. I dare not answer on behalf of Senior Brother Wang, but I would like to add a few more words to follow up on Brother Chu's words."

He paused, then continued, "The pines and cypresses in the mountains do not choose where they grow. Those grown in fertile soil grow taller, while those grown in rocky crevices grow more gnarled. But when the spring breeze comes, the pines do not sprout first; when the autumn wind rises, the pines do not wither first. When the winter snow weighs down their branches, they do not break, do not move, and do not change their color. The land is given by fate, but their appearance is something they grow themselves."

He Pingshu's compilation of interpretations of the Analects presents a multitude of conflicting viewpoints. He did not adhere to any single school of thought, but rather absorbed the strengths of various interpretations, seeking a synthesis amidst the differences. Despite criticism, he remained silent, and his book has survived to this day. On his deathbed, Shan Juyuan still instructed his descendants to uphold frugality and simplicity.

These two men, though different in heart and different in what they upheld, never betrayed the very essence of their own hearts.

Brother Chu asked if one can choose their own true nature. I would say: what one cannot choose is one's true nature; what one can choose is whether or not to uphold it.

He glanced at Wang Shu and concluded, "Brother Wang just said to not deceive one's own heart, and I wholeheartedly agree. However, I would like to add one more point: not deceiving one's own heart does not mean questioning where this heart comes from, but rather not betraying it no matter where it comes from. Zhuge Liang was Zhuge Liang when he was in the mountains and forests, and he was still Zhuge Liang when he marched out of Qishan. Whether he was talented or not was measured by others; whether he adhered to his principles or not was the path he walked himself."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Tao's gaze lingered on Liang Shanbo's face, and he asked, "What is your name?"

Liang Shanbo bowed and said, "I am Liang Shanbo, a disciple of Master Meng."

Zhu Tao turned to look at Meng Wenlang, a smile playing on his lips: "The younger generation is truly formidable."

Meng Wenlang bowed slightly: "This unworthy disciple is young and his words may have been inaccurate. I hope you will forgive him, Your Excellency."

Zhu Tao shook his head, then turned to Chen Mao: "Brother Minze, what this young man just said has already concluded this topic. Pine and cypress trees cannot choose their location, but they can choose their posture. This saying isn't something you learn from books, it's something you experience firsthand! At this age, I've rarely seen anyone who can utter such a phrase!"

Chen Mao nodded, his gaze lingering on Liang Shanbo's face for a moment, before addressing the crowd: "The discussion among the disciples is now concluded. Everyone has expressed their opinions, all of which are worth noting, especially my nephew Liang's words, which were quite insightful and did not disappoint the purpose of today's 'pure conversation'."

He then looked at the elders present and said with a smile, "The snow scene outside is just right right now. Please have some pastries and warm wine first. Later, there will be a poetry competition, so let the young men of your families have a contest of poems."

Everyone raised their glasses.

Wang Shu knelt down again, glanced at Liang Shanbo, and nodded.

Gu Jun nodded to Liang Shanbo.

Zhu Yingtai looked at Liang Shanbo with obvious delight.

She was no longer surprised by Liang's talent; in fact, she was quite pleased. Liang had displayed his abilities on this occasion. The former prefect, the county magistrate, the heads of several prominent families, and local notables had all been present!

Outside the pavilion, the snow continued to fall.