Chapter 102: Sophomore Year

Wang Shen, styled Jinqing, hailed from Taiyuan Prefecture and resided in Bianjing. Born into a distinguished family, he married the Princess of Shu, daughter of Emperor Yingzong Zhao Shu, making him the brother-in-law of Emperor Shenzong Zhao Xu and a prince consort during Emperor Yingzong’s reign.

Initially, Wang Shen held the posts of Commander of the Prince Consort's Guards, Inspector of Dingzhou, and Defense Commissioner of Lizhou. However, due to factional disputes and his close association with Su Shi, he fell out of favor and was demoted to Junzhou. It was only in the first year of the Yuanyou era that he was reinstated as the Prefect of Dengzhou and Commander of the Prince Consort's Guards.

Thus, Wang Shen maintained a relatively good relationship with Su Shi.

One day, Su Shi sent a letter recommending Gao Er to Prince Consort Wang Shen.

After returning to the capital together with Li Sanjian, Gao Er sought refuge under Wang Shen, serving as a household servant in his residence.

Wang Shen was the uncle of Zhao Ji and shared a close friendship with him. Gao Er, being clever and quick-witted, became the messenger between the two households, entrusted with delivering gifts from Wang Shen to the Duke of Duan’s mansion.

On this particular day, Gao Er was sent by Prince Consort Wang Shen to deliver a finely crafted jade comb knife to the Duke of Duan’s residence. At that moment, Zhao Ji and others were playing cuju, an ancient form of football. Zhao Ji kicked the ball awkwardly, which caused Gao Er to burst into laughter.

“How dare you mock me, your lord? Come here...” Zhao Ji, flushed with anger and humiliation, ordered his men to seize Gao Er.

“Your Highness, forgive me! I was blinded by foolishness and offended you. Please pardon me,” Gao Er knelt down with a thud, bowing repeatedly.

Covered in dust from the cuju field, Gao Er’s face looked pitiable as he kowtowed fervently.

“Your Highness, there’s no need for this,” Li Sanjian, who recognized Gao Er and was also seen by him, interjected, trying to calm the situation. “You are magnanimous; why quarrel with a lowly servant? Please, Your Highness, don’t lose face.”

“Lose face? What do you mean by that?” Zhao Ji turned to Li Sanjian with a puzzled expression.

“Well... ‘losing face’ means lowering your esteemed status by arguing with a mere servant,” Li Sanjian explained after a moment’s thought.

“Oh, haha, losing face? That’s rather fitting,” Zhao Ji chuckled, his anger subsiding under Li Sanjian’s persuasion.

“In honor of Li Sanlang, I won’t hold it against you today,” Zhao Ji said to Gao Er. “However, I have a question. You laughed when you saw me playing cuju. Do you know how to play?”

Zhao Ji had already noticed Gao Er’s amused expression earlier and decided to ask.

“I know a little,” Gao Er replied obediently, not daring to greet Li Sanjian, who seemed quite familiar and friendly with Zhao Ji. This puzzled Gao Er.

“A little? Then you dare mock me?” Zhao Ji’s anger flared again. His face darkened as he declared, “Today, you shall play cuju here. Show me your skill. If you impress me, I will spare you. Otherwise... you shall be punished.”

Li Sanjian grew anxious. Zhao Ji had clearly forgiven Gao Er, so why not just admit fault? Claiming to know a little about cuju would only stir trouble.

Li Sanjian worried for Gao Er, but Gao Er appeared unfazed. He stood up, rolled the hem of his garment, tucked it into his waist, bowed, and said, “Your Highness commands me to perform. I dare not refuse. Please instruct me on how to proceed.”

“Very well,” Zhao Ji nodded and pointed to a bamboo goalpost in the distance. “See that goal? You have three attempts to kick the leather ball through it. If you succeed, you shall meet my approval.”

“Bring him a leather ball,” Zhao Ji ordered his attendants.

A servant handed the leather ball to Gao Er.

Gao Er closed his eyes briefly, gently caressing the ball as if it were his own child.

After a moment, he tossed the ball lightly into the air. As it fell, he lifted both feet off the ground and tapped the ball with his head, changing its trajectory so it landed near his waist. He then raised his right foot, flicked the ball with his toe, sending it upwards over his head. Tilting his head, the ball rolled onto his right shoulder, then shifted to his left shoulder, and finally dropped down. Raising his left foot, he nudged the ball back onto his shoulder.

The ball seemed glued to Gao Er’s body, rolling over him without ever touching the ground, leaving onlookers utterly astonished.

“Flying dribble,” “rolling dribble,” “big spike,” “small spike,” “falling blossoms and flowing water,” “Eight Immortals crossing the sea”—Gao Er unleashed his full repertoire of cuju skills before Zhao Ji and the assembled guests, dazzling everyone.

Ten thousand kicks, countless tricks!

Finally, Gao Er gave a low shout, performed the twin swan turn, and sent the ball cleanly through the bamboo goal’s hoop without grazing the frame.

“Bravo!” The crowd erupted in heartfelt cheers.

Gao Er’s cuju skills amazed not only Zhao Ji and the nobles but also left Li Sanjian wide-eyed.

Such talent, in any era, would mark one as a superstar—capable of leading a team to glory beyond Asia, even onto the world stage.

Zhao Ji was delighted and said to Gao Er, “You, servant, have remarkable skill. Would you stay at my residence to serve me?”

Though Gao Er was Wang Shen’s servant, to the imperial family and nobility, a servant was no more than an object. Zhao Ji’s desire for a servant was a simple matter; Wang Shen would willingly comply.

Upon hearing this, Gao Er knelt swiftly and decisively.

“I am willing. Thank you, Your Highness, for your great kindness and favor. I am deeply grateful,” he said, bowing repeatedly.

Wang Shen was indeed a prince consort, but a faded one, hardly comparable to the brother of the current sovereign, Prince Duan Zhao Ji. Even the sitting prince consorts could not match the rank of a prince.

Beneath a great tree, it is always pleasant to rest—a timeless truth.

“Rise,” Zhao Ji said cheerfully. “Come, show us your cuju skills again! I want to see more.”

“Li Sanlang, you too,” Zhao Ji then turned to Li Sanjian.

“Greetings, brother,” Li Sanjian finally had the chance to meet Gao Er and stepped forward respectfully.

“Sanlang, how did you come to be here?” Gao Er asked, grasping Li Sanjian’s arm.

“Do you two know each other?” Zhao Ji inquired curiously.

Li Sanjian nodded. “Brother Gao and I met in Qianghai Danzhou. At that time, Brother Gao was a disciple of Master Dongpo, and I was a student under him as well.”

Recalling his own falling out with Su Shi, Li Sanjian felt a pang of sadness, his expression clouded and spirit dampened.

Zhao Ji and Gao Er were somewhat aware of Li Sanjian’s expulsion from Su Shi’s tutelage, especially Gao Er, who had known all along.

Gao Er squeezed Li Sanjian’s arm gently to comfort him.

“Come, let us go play cuju,” Zhao Ji said, leading Li Sanjian toward the field.

“Why be so downhearted?” Zhao Ji thought to himself. “Su Shi no longer teaches you, but I, the prince, shall be your master. Go light incense and offer thanks.”

“Your Highness, Brother Gao, I know nothing of cuju. I’ll watch you play instead,” Li Sanjian quickly begged.

Li Sanjian loved football and watching it to the point of obsession, speaking confidently about it, but he was all theory and no skill. He knew the leather ball but the ball certainly did not know him.

Zhao Ji and Gao Er were not convinced. They dragged Li Sanjian to the field, where a servant hastily brought a set of cuju attire to fit him.

“Wait, wait!” Li Sanjian shouted in panic. “I really can’t play. How about I be the referee?”

“Referee? What would you referee?” Zhao Ji asked, curious.

“Well, like this, like that…” Li Sanjian explained his idea.

Understanding his suggestion, Zhao Ji was overjoyed and exclaimed, “Wonderful, wonderful! Someone, prepare the cuju clothes! Divide into two teams! Everyone come! Today, I shall enjoy the game fully!”

In the Song dynasty, cuju mainly featured a single goal game with a bamboo pole about three zhang high, topped with a hoop. Two teams lined up on either side of the pole. After a draw, one side kicked off, passing the ball among various positions: the kicker, the assistants, the left and right posts, and the scattered players, before the “head” would attempt to kick the ball through the hoop.

Even if the ball missed the hoop, as long as a teammate caught it before it touched the ground, the game continued. The team scoring the most goals won.

The key was the “head” player’s final kick, which could determine victory or defeat.

This single-goal cuju was highly performative and entertaining, emphasizing individual skill over competitiveness or teamwork.

Li Sanjian, inspired, proposed modifying the rules to add a second goal, dividing players into two opposing teams. Any body part could touch the ball except the arms.

The prince’s household had every resource; upon the prince’s command, servants prepared everything swiftly.

“Your Highness, goal! Goal!”

“Gao Er, shoot! Shoot!”

“You blasted scoundrel, you kicked His Highness’s behind!”

“Ha ha ha, even the referee got knocked down...”

Li Sanjian adapted football’s rules to cuju, making the game lively, intensely competitive, and thrilling.

Thus, the Duan Prince’s residence established the Song dynasty’s first cuju team. Other nobles and local clubs soon followed suit, holding regular matches and even betting on outcomes.

Prince Duan Zhao Ji treated referee Li Sanjian and striker Gao Er like treasures, rewarding them generously and often.