Chapter Eleven: Harmony at Home Brings Prosperity

The golden morning light gradually flushed the eastern sky, while the main peak above the sea was bathed in a brilliant crimson by the radiant clouds. By the shore, fishing nets were still spread out to dry in the wind; elsewhere, low cottages stood with wisps of smoke curling from their chimneys, and wooden boats lay on the beach, hauled ashore for repairs.

"Li Ling first sends Ziqing home, dust gathers on silk stockings as wandering girls pass by. When shall I return to Mount Taihua? The fiery clouds and sun blaze as if to burn the sky."

Facing the dawn, Li Sanjian stretched out his arms, feeling a surge of wild energy, and recited a seven-character quatrain.

Time flowed like water—a year had passed in a flash. It had been over a year since Li Sanjian became a disciple of Su Shi. Under Su Shi’s wise instruction, and thanks to his own intelligence and diligence, Li Sanjian’s writing and calligraphy improved markedly. Though he could not yet claim the effortless grace of a master, his work was quite respectable, and at least he recognized the vast majority of characters now.

Especially with his “Song Lyric Cipher” technique, composing poems and lyrics came as easily as reaching into a pocket. Unless he encountered a true poetry connoisseur, he could still put on a convincing show.

"Li, Li, you’d better hurry back—Master has fainted!" Just then, a young man surnamed Zhang, also a student at Su Shi’s school, called out to Li Sanjian, who was running wildly along the shore.

Startled, Li Sanjian immediately asked, "Wasn’t he fine yesterday? How did he suddenly faint?"

Without another word, he took off toward Su Shi’s residence.

"I don’t know," the Zhang youth panted as he ran after, "I just know Master received a letter—and then he collapsed."

At fourteen, Li Sanjian had persisted in morning runs for over a year. He’d grown taller and stronger, no longer looking so frail compared to his peers, and his features were growing more handsome by the day.

...

"Master! Master! What’s wrong?" Li Sanjian burst into the wooden hut like a gust of wind.

The double doors behind him rattled noisily from the impact.

"Li, please, be gentle. Father has just fallen asleep," Su Guo, Su Shi’s third son, cast him an admonishing glance and spoke in a low voice.

Su Shi had four sons. The eldest, Su Dai, and second, Su Mai, had both been demoted to distant official posts. The youngest had died young, so only Su Guo stayed with their father during his repeated exiles.

"Oh, brother, how is Master? Why this sudden..." Li Sanjian, sweating, asked anxiously.

More than a year as Su Shi’s disciple had made Li Sanjian not only admire his literary talents but also deeply respect his character. Orphaned young, Li Sanjian had no memory of his biological father, Li Qing, and in his heart he had come to see Su Shi almost as a father. Thus, his worry now was sincere.

"A letter from the capital..." Su Guo shook his head. "You’re still young—you wouldn’t understand."

"He understands better than you." As the two whispered, Su Shi suddenly spoke.

"Father, Master..." Su Guo and Li Sanjian both started to speak.

Su Shi waved them off. "I’m fine, Jian’er. Take a look at this letter."

He handed Li Sanjian a letter from the table.

Li Sanjian read it carefully, then glanced at Su Shi, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.

"Li, if you have something to say, say it freely," Su Shi prompted.

"Master, I dare not speak recklessly," Li Sanjian replied, uncertain.

"Say whatever is on your mind. I will not blame you," Su Shi insisted.

"Your disciple knows nothing of court affairs," Li Sanjian said, still hesitant. "But I do know that with every new emperor comes a new court. Didn’t you once say that His Majesty... His Majesty has always been in poor health? Should the day come when the Dragon rides to heaven, who knows what will become of the empire? If, at such a time, the court recalls you, but your health is... wouldn’t that disappoint all those who look to you? Therefore, Master must take care of your health and not trouble yourself with court matters for now."

In addition to literature, Su Shi had taught Li Sanjian much about the workings of the court, so he knew a little of the Song dynasty’s political situation.

At that time, the Yuangfeng faction held favor; the Yuanyou faction was exiled or demoted, Sima Guang’s tomb desecrated, and Su Shi’s students and friends had died, been exiled, or, like the Six Gentlemen of the Su School, driven from court—some even perishing along the way. News of this had caused Su Shi’s old illness to flare up.

The expulsion of Su Shi and his peers meant no one in court dared speak for them anymore, and any hope of their return grew ever dimmer. Even Su’s scholarly tradition might gradually fade from public memory.

Li Sanjian only half understood, but worried for Su Shi’s health, he spoke candidly.

"How dare you! Such insolence—to slander the present Emperor?" Su Shi’s face darkened with anger.

Didn’t you just say I could speak freely? That you wouldn’t blame me? Then why the anger? Li Sanjian dared not reply, but thought indignantly: The Emperor banished you to the ends of the earth—why do you remain so loyal to him?

"Father, please calm yourself," Su Guo interjected. "Li is still young. He speaks with a child’s innocence. Yet... I think he has a point: above all, you must look after your health."

Su Shi looked at them both and sighed. "Factional strife has brought Great Song to such a pass—why must they persist in such madness?"

"Master, I don’t know the true state of the court," Li Sanjian ventured, "but if it’s as you say—gravely ill—then unless a powerful remedy is used, it cannot be cured. You worry so over the situation, but what good can it do?"

"A potent remedy, or a gentle one? Which do you favor?" Su Shi asked.

This debate—whether the disease required a strong or mild cure—had cost countless scholars their peace, and Li Sanjian knew enough to realize that a careless answer could drag him into the fray.

"Master, whatever prescription is chosen, this chronic malady cannot be cured," Li Sanjian finally replied.

"And why is that?" Su Shi pressed.

"Internal strife," Li Sanjian answered. "I am young and inexperienced, but I know that harmony at home brings prosperity. Without harmony, everything is difficult."

"Harmony brings prosperity..." Su Shi repeated thoughtfully. "Well said. We understand this, yet saying is easy—doing is as hard as climbing to the heavens."

In the court, whether Yuangfeng or Yuanyou, Shu, Luo, or Shuo factions, all believed their own ideas alone could save the dynasty and rescue the people. Each sought to impose his own views, and none would yield. In the end, factional conflict grew so fierce it became a struggle for survival; saving the dynasty was secondary—the urge to utterly defeat one’s rivals was paramount.

"Master, I do have a solution: break everything and rebuild. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new," Li Sanjian said.

At this, Su Shi and his son both burst into laughter.

...

"Brother, what’s the matter?" Li Sanjian asked as he left the hut, seeing Gao Er pacing outside like an ant on a hot pan.

"Ah, Jian, you’re out? This is hard to explain," Gao Er replied.

Gao Er had followed Su Shi into exile in the remote wilds of Qiongtai, remaining loyal. Before Li Sanjian became a disciple, Gao Er’s status was far higher than that of the local "barbarian" youth. But after the apprenticeship, their positions reversed; a servant could not compare with a student, no matter how loyal.

Still, Li Sanjian never looked down on Gao Er, always treating him as an elder brother, which made Gao Er fond of him, and the two addressed each other as brothers.

"Tell me, brother. I may be young, but perhaps I can offer an idea for you to consider," Li Sanjian said with a smile.

Gao Er nodded and whispered, "Jian, do you know? The master is in danger."

"What?" Li Sanjian exclaimed. "How? Isn’t Master recovering? Why is he still in danger?"

"You don’t know," Gao Er sighed. "Officials from the capital are coming—to take Master’s life."

"What? That’s impossible!" Li Sanjian protested.

He knew that, since the founding of Song, scholars were usually treated with relative leniency; the worst was exile to remote regions like Lingnan or Qiongtai, never to be recalled. Executions were rare except for the gravest crimes, like treason.

"The officials are nearly here—how could it be impossible?" Gao Er replied anxiously.

"Does Master know?" Li Sanjian began to believe him now.

"That’s the problem," Gao Er said. "He knows, but he’s told no one, acting as if nothing is wrong—it’s maddening!"

"In that case, brother, why don’t we persuade Master to escape, or hide him away?" Li Sanjian suggested.

"Ah, my friend, if Master intended to flee, he would have done so long ago. He’s steady as a mountain. I doubt he’ll listen, and hiding him is out of the question. If he did, what would happen to his family?"

"In that case..." Li Sanjian mused. "What if we dealt with those birds..."

He made a cutting gesture.

Gao Er was startled—he’d never expected this gentle-looking youth to propose something so ruthless.

"No, my friend, that would bring endless trouble..."

"Then what do you suggest, brother?"

"My idea is this..." Gao Er began, and the two stepped aside to discuss their strategy.