Chapter Two: The Great Scholar Cai Yong

The next day, within a study of Lady Dong’s Hall, Liu Yao curiously sized up the middle-aged man standing beside his father, the emperor. The man wore a brocade robe, exuding a scholarly aura from head to toe, his every gesture brimming with refined elegance.

“My son, this is the teacher I have found for you—Cai Yong, styled Bojie, currently serving as a Gentleman-in-Attendance and famed as a great Confucian scholar of our time,” Emperor Liu Hong introduced.

“It’s him!” Liu Yao exclaimed inwardly. Cai Yong was a renowned literary figure and calligrapher, held in the highest esteem among the scholars of the age.

“Sir, I entrust my son to you.” Uncharacteristically, Liu Hong performed a respectful bow to Cai Yong.

“I dare not accept such honor, Your Majesty. I shall do my utmost to instruct the Crown Prince,” Cai Yong replied, somewhat flustered.

“My son, you must study diligently under your teacher’s guidance, do you understand?” The emperor’s tone was deeply serious.

“Yes, Father,” Liu Yao nodded. Liu Hong looked at his son with satisfaction before departing, leaving master and student alone.

Inside the study, the two knelt facing each other, eyes locked, neither speaking a word. Liu Yao felt a twinge of annoyance. “Hmph, if you won’t speak, neither will I. Let’s see who lasts longer.”

Cai Yong had been observing Liu Yao closely. From the moment the boy entered, he had not offered the customary bow, which immediately lowered Cai Yong’s estimation of him. Yet now, after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the child remained calm and composed, betraying not a hint of impatience—a trait that made Cai Yong reconsider his judgment.

A cough from Cai Yong broke the silence. “Your Highness, today I will lecture you on the Book of Rites. Since ancient times, the rites cannot be neglected. Among the virtues of propriety, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and trustworthiness, propriety comes first…” Without waiting for a response, Cai Yong began an unbroken lecture, reciting over five thousand words from the classic in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Listening to his teacher’s rapid-fire delivery, Liu Yao could easily discern Cai Yong’s intent. Beginning with the rites, Cai Yong clearly wanted to point out his earlier lack of courtesy, and the swift recitation was meant to ensure he would not remember it all—no doubt a test was coming. Still, Liu Yao understood that Cai Yong’s intentions were good, hoping he would grasp the importance of ritual. Thus, he listened attentively.

Abruptly, Cai Yong finished and, face stern, asked coldly, “Do you remember what I just taught you?”

Liu Yao inwardly chuckled, “Just as I thought, here it comes!” For anyone else, such a move might have been intimidating. But Liu Yao, possessing a fair mastery of Confucian learning, had already committed the Book of Rites to memory.

In a youthful but clear voice, Liu Yao recited, “Just as Teacher said, since ancient times, the rites cannot be neglected. Among benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, propriety comes first…” His small mouth moved even faster than Cai Yong’s as he repeated the lecture.

“...Teacher, did I get it right?” Having finished, Liu Yao looked up at Cai Yong.

Cai Yong’s composure vanished; he gaped, mouth open in astonishment, his face a picture of stupefaction.

“Teacher? Teacher?” Liu Yao called softly, seeing Cai Yong’s look of shock.

“Ah! Ah!” Cai Yong snapped out of his daze, and soon, his surprise turned into wild joy. “A genius! A true genius!”

For a student, finding a good teacher is not difficult, but for a teacher to find a gifted student is far from easy. It is as rare as a talent scout discovering a thousand-mile horse.

Cai Yong had only agreed to instruct Liu Yao out of obligation to the emperor, never expecting to encounter such a prodigy. With such a talent to inherit his legacy, he could die without regret.

Seeing Cai Yong’s delight, Liu Yao was pleased as well—it meant he had been fully acknowledged by his teacher. With such a mentor, his own abilities, status, and the unique advantage of his modern knowledge, his fame among the scholars would surely soar. Already, Liu Yao imagined talented men flocking to his service in the future.

“Yao’er, with your talent and my guidance, you are sure to hold an influential place among the scholars of the realm,” Cai Yong said, stroking his beard with satisfaction, now addressing him with the affectionate “Yao’er” rather than “Crown Prince.”

“Teacher, I am well aware of your intentions. I will devote myself to learning and not let your instruction go to waste,” Liu Yao replied with a knowing smile.

Cai Yong was taken aback, then asked, “And what intentions do you believe I have?”

Liu Yao explained, “Typically, a child’s education begins with learning characters, but you began with the rites to correct my earlier discourtesy. I apologize—it was not intentional.”

“Extraordinary! Simply extraordinary!” Cai Yong marveled inwardly, repeating the words over and over.

Liu Yao’s expression suddenly grew serious. “But, Teacher, I hope you will not spread word of my abilities too quickly.”

“Why not? Don’t you wish the world to know of your talent?” Cai Yong was puzzled; in his experience, children loved nothing more than to show off.

“Teacher, what do you think of the current state of the Han?” Liu Yao asked gravely, changing the subject.

“Well… the Han is prosperous and mighty, its renown known throughout the world…” Cai Yong hesitated, sweat beading on his brow.

“Teacher, do you take me for an ignorant child?” Liu Yao interrupted. “The Han is already in its twilight.”

“You mustn’t speak such treason, Your Highness! The Han will endure for thousands of years,” Cai Yong protested, shocked that a prince would voice such heresy.

Waving his hand, Liu Yao replied, “Enough, Teacher. I may be young, but as a prince, I understand the true state of affairs. My father sells offices, indulges in pleasure, trusts only the eunuchs, and the Han has lost its authority. The great clans control everything—the dynasty is in peril.”

Cai Yong had already been shocked several times that day, and now, looking at the six-year-old prodigy before him, he was at a loss for words.

“Therefore, Teacher, what I say next is for your ears alone. I do not wish a third person to hear it,” Liu Yao said solemnly.

Cai Yong, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded in earnest, realizing that despite the boy’s age, he was speaking with the mind of an adult.

“Teacher, the Han is in crisis. Conventional methods cannot save it. The only solution is destruction before renewal!”

“Destruction before renewal? What do you mean?” Cai Yong asked, perplexed.

“Teacher, with my abilities, if others learn of them, I will surely become heir to the Han—but that is not what I desire. I wish to leave Luoyang, govern a domain, gather capable men and warriors, and, when chaos descends, reunite the realm to create a new Han dynasty. For this, I need your help,” Liu Yao declared passionately.

Cai Yong drew a sharp breath, never imagining that a six-year-old would conceive such a plan. “Fortunate is the Han, truly fortunate!” Tears welled in his eyes. He had watched the Han decline for years, powerless to stop it, his heart heavy with grief. Now, hope had returned, and his long-standing depression was swept away.

“Yao’er, tell me—how can I help you?”

“Teacher, for now, I am still young and have made little preparation. But I hope to rely on your standing among the scholars to recruit true talents for me, not just pedantic literati who can only recite poetry and essays.”

“Agreed! While I cannot promise everything, with my reputation I can certainly accomplish this much. If there is anything else I can do, I will not shirk it, even with these old bones,” Cai Yong replied confidently.

“Thank you, Teacher. I won’t stand on ceremony with you,” Liu Yao said with a mischievous grin, bowing to him.

“You rascal,” Cai Yong chuckled, amused by Liu Yao’s manner. Perhaps it was only at moments like this that one remembered Liu Yao was still just a child.

In the study, the elder and the young prince discussed their plans in secret. Thus, Liu Yao gained the first true support of his new life.