Chapter 28 The Academy of the Hall of Collected Wisdom

“I wouldn’t dare give orders,” Wei Renshi replied, “I simply wish to ask you to help me contact a few Western merchants. I’d like to request that they bring certain items back from the Western Regions.”

The shopkeeper, hearing Wei Renshi’s words, waved his hand and said, “That’s easily done. Young Master Wei, if you need anything from the Western Regions, just tell me, and I’ll ask the Western merchants for you myself.”

Wei Renshi shook his head. “These items, I only know are found in the Western Regions and even in Dashi. But as for what they’re called over there, I’m not sure, so I can’t really ask you to relay the request. It would be best if you could find a few Western merchants who understand our language, so I can speak with them directly.”

“That works,” the shopkeeper nodded. “When would you like to meet with them?”

“That depends on when you can find them. I’m available anytime,” Wei Renshi replied.

The shopkeeper thought for a moment. “It won’t be difficult. Our business already cooperates with many Western merchants—at most, it’ll take a day or two. Why don’t you leave me your lodging address? Once I’ve gathered the merchants, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

“Very well.” Wei Renshi nodded, told the shopkeeper where he was staying, and prepared to take his leave.

The shopkeeper tried to persuade him to stay for a meal, but Wei Renshi politely declined. He wanted to stroll through the Northern Market, and then pay a visit to the Jixian Hall Academy.

The Northern Market was bustling, its stalls overflowing with all manner of goods. As Wei Renshi made his way through, he noticed that the majority of businesses dealt in silks and spices.

Wei Renshi was particularly interested in the spices. Upon closer inspection, he found that most were scented oils and unguents.

At this time, distillation techniques had not yet been developed, so there was no way to produce alcohol, much less perfume.

As he wandered, observing everything from food to clothing, ornamentation to adornment, Wei Renshi, with the benefit of over twelve centuries of knowledge beyond his Tang contemporaries, discovered countless business opportunities.

For this reason, his spirits remained high throughout. There was so much to be done—now that he had secured his family’s subsistence, the next step was to acquire an estate and build a few workshops to start producing these things.

Of course, such matters could not be rushed. They would require patience, each step taken with care, and for now, he lacked the capital.

Still, Wei Renshi was not worried. Unless another time traveler appeared, he had no fear that anyone else would bring these innovations to this era.

After his stroll through the Northern Market, he didn’t bother making inquiries. He simply hired a carriage and had the driver take him straight to the gates of the Jixian Hall Academy.

The academy exuded an ancient aura; it seemed as if one could smell the scent of ink even through the walls. There were no guards at the entrance. A few young scholars emerged, chatting and laughing as they walked off into the distance.

Wei Renshi glanced down at his own scholar’s garb and told Xi’er, “Wait here for a moment. I’ll see if I can sneak inside.”

When Xi’er nodded, Wei Renshi turned and strode toward the entrance. No servants were in sight; he walked straight in, and no one came to stop him.

Though called an academy, the Jixian Hall was not a place for teaching students in the conventional sense. It resembled more a national library, a center for collecting and preserving books, where the court gathered and compiled texts, worked on state histories, and drafted imperial edicts.

The place was managed with surprising laxity. Once inside, Wei Renshi saw other young scholars as well.

He followed them at a leisurely distance as they made their way to the rear courtyard and slipped into a building, furtively glancing around before quietly pushing open the door and entering.

When Wei Renshi reached the door, he gently pushed it open a crack and saw that the room was filled with people, all engrossed in their reading, oblivious to everything else.

These, it seemed, were students taking advantage of the Jixian Hall’s collection to read as much as they could.

Although the aristocratic clans had declined, they were still vastly superior to ordinary people. Books remained in the hands of the powerful; those without such a background had little opportunity to read widely.

Thus, with the academy’s extensive holdings, students came to read and seize a precious chance to learn.

Wei Renshi found himself admiring the administrators of the Jixian Hall—clearly, they were turning a blind eye, deliberately allowing students to sneak in and read. Otherwise, how could these scholars read so calmly and freely here?

He too entered the room. The books did not appear old, and the students handled them with great care, turning the pages gently, their respect evident.

Suddenly, a volume caught Wei Renshi’s eye. Excited, he took it from the shelf and opened it.

When he’d been at university in the future, the school’s library held a unique copy of this very book, said to be a Tang dynasty original. He wondered if this was the very same one!

An impulse surged within him—he almost wanted to write something in its margins.

Fortunately, he had neither brush nor ink at hand. Taking a deep breath, Wei Renshi pushed the thought aside.

He was about to return the book when a clamor erupted outside. Someone shouted, “I leave for but a moment, and you lot sneak into the Jixian Hall! Out with you at once!”

At these words, the students inside scrambled to put their books back and bolted for the door, making a hasty escape straight to the academy’s main gate.

The whole process—from replacing their books to fleeing the hall—was executed with practiced efficiency, leaving Wei Renshi stunned.

Out in the courtyard stood two men: one older, likely the one who had just shouted, was now laughing heartily at the students’ frantic flight, showing no sign of anger; the other, much younger, perhaps in his thirties, stood at his side, grinning widely.

“These rascals sneak in to read every day. I can hardly keep up with them!” the elder said, shaking his head.

The younger man laughed. “Scholar Zhang, your kindness is well known. I’m sure these students appreciate it.”

“Don’t tease me, Mengde! I’m simply old and frail; I haven’t the strength to chase them away,” Scholar Zhang said with a sigh, shaking his head. “Alas, my abilities fail me!”

Mengde? Could it be that Cao Cao has traveled through time as well?

Wei Renshi was taken aback, but then another thought struck him. “It’s him!” he exclaimed.

His exclamation was heard by the two outside. The elder turned and called, “Who dares to hide and not come out? Are you waiting to be punished?”

Caught red-handed, Wei Renshi knew this was the man who deliberately allowed students to read here. He stepped out boldly, bowed in the scholar’s fashion, and said, “Student pays his respects to Scholar Zhang. Thank you for your kindness.”