I have a composite mirror

Chapter 17 Zuo Zhuan

The afternoon sunlight streamed obliquely into the classroom through the carved windows.

The old master Xia, who teaches Chinese literature, is holding a yellowed copy of "Zuo Zhuan" and explaining it with intonation.

"In the Battle of Chengpu, Duke Wen of Jin retreated three she (a unit of distance), which was a wise move..."

The old master's voice was full of energy, carrying a touch of a storyteller's charm.

He is sixty-three years old this year. His white beard is meticulously trimmed, and his long gown, though worn and faded, is ironed perfectly.

This is a remnant of the old era, full of knowledge, but born at the wrong time.

"Do you all know how Duke Wen of Jin was able to achieve hegemony?"

The old master put down his book and glanced at the students' faces.

The classroom was completely silent.

As everyone knows, Master Lao's questions are just the beginning; he will give the real answer himself.

really……

"It was not because of their bravery or the strength of their troops."

The old scholar, with his hands behind his back, slowly strolled to the window:

"But it lies in their understanding of the 'way of yielding and stretching'."

"Retreating three steps may seem like a sign of weakness, but in reality, it's a strategic retreat to gain the moral high ground."

"The Chu army was arrogant and complacent, and the Jin army gained the upper hand, thus settling the situation in the Central Plains in one battle."

He paused here, then sighed and looked out the window:

"The struggle for supremacy during the Spring and Autumn Period, with its numerous states vying for power, is strikingly similar to the chaos we see today..."

That's a bit harsh.

The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly changed.

Some students instinctively looked towards the door, afraid that someone might overhear them.

After all, discussing politics these days is not a wise move.

But the old master seemed completely oblivious and continued:

"Northern warlords were divided and each ruled their own territory."

Although the Southern government commands the entire country, its orders are often ignored and its prohibitions are disregarded.

"Foreign concessions were like states within a state; foreign merchants and their goods were everywhere in the city."

His voice grew softer and softer:

"During the struggle for hegemony between Jin and Chu, there was still the name of respecting the king and repelling the bar

Now, in this world, not even a 'name' remains...

After saying that, he shook his head and reopened the book:

"Alright, I've said too much. Let's continue with the story."

But the students in the classroom had no mind to their books.

Gu Shenyan sat in the third row by the window, his gaze fixed on the view outside.

From this angle, you can see the street outside the school.

Several police officers in black uniforms were patrolling the streets, with whistles and batons hanging from their waists, and one of them had a Mauser rifle slung across his shoulder.

Those were "new-style police" supervised by foreigners, who were said to have received special training and were much more "civilized" than the constables of the old days.

But in Gu Shenyan's eyes, it was just a different skin.

The protection fees that should have been collected were not deducted in full, and the things that should have been turned a blind eye were still turned a blind eye.

Further away, the edge of the concession can be seen.

Various flags fluttered there—the Union Jack, the tricolor flag, the Rising Sun flag…

Beneath each flag stood a row of grand and imposing Western-style buildings, a stark contrast to the surrounding blue bricks and gray tiles.

That is the country's "wound," cracked open in the most prosperous place, oozing pus and blood, yet it is still sung as "civilization and progress."

Gu Shenyan withdrew his gaze.

It was the last class before school ended, and he felt inexplicably nervous about the upcoming meeting.

The words Princess Bailu gave me "unintentionally" three months ago, now seem far from accidental.

What exactly did she see?

Why help yourself?

"Be careful what you say."

The old master's voice suddenly rang out.

Gu Shenyan was startled and quickly stood up: "Student is here."

Do you know what the key to the Battle of Chengpu was?

The old master squinted at him.

Gu Shenyan pondered for a moment: "It lies in Duke Wen of Jin's skillful use of the terrain and his keen eye for talent."

"Oh?" The old scholar became interested: "Tell me in detail."

"The terrain of Chengpu is open and advantageous for chariot warfare."

Duke Wen of Jin, fully aware of his own advantage in chariots and horses, deliberately lured the enemy here, precisely to use his strengths to attack their weaknesses.

Gu Shenyan thought for a while longer, then added:

"As for employing people, Xian Zhen, Hu Yan, and others under Duke Wen of Jin were all outstanding talents of the time."

As the saying goes, "Those who gain the support of talented individuals prosper," and the Jin state's ability to become a hegemon was fundamentally due to its talented people.

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled: "Excellent, very excellent. Sit down."

The surrounding students cast envious glances; it wasn't easy to get a "not bad" from the old teacher.

After another fifteen minutes of lectures, the bell rang, and the old teacher closed his book.

That's all for today.

After you return, please memorize the entire text of "The Battle of Chengpu." There will be a quiz tomorrow.

The students all stood up and bowed: "Mr. Xie."

The old master packed up his books, put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked out of the classroom.

His back was hunched, and his steps were unsteady, as if he were carrying a heavy burden.

After the old master left, the classroom immediately became lively.

"Ugh, more memorization..."

"What the old master said today was quite bold."

"Exactly, what if someone reports it to the higher-ups..."

Zhou Mingxuan leaned closer: "Brother Shenyan, shall we go together later?"

Gu Shenyan shook his head: "I have some things to attend to. You guys go ahead."

"What's wrong?" Zhou Mingxuan asked curiously.

"Go to the library to look up some information."

"Alright, let's meet again tomorrow."

Zhou Mingxuan didn't ask any more questions, packed his things and left.

Gu Shenyan sat in his seat, waiting for the people in the classroom to gradually disperse.

He took a pocket watch out of his bag, opened the cover and looked at it.

Shen Shi Zheng Ke (4 PM sharp).

He got up and walked towards the library.

In the corridor, groups of two or three students were chatting idly.

"Have you heard? The North has a new warlord."

"How many times has this happened this year?"

"The third time, I guess? Anyway, I change it every day, so I can't remember."

"Sigh, it's all the same no matter how many times they change them, they're all just a bunch of bandits."

Shh, keep your voice down! The walls are listening.

Several students huddled together, whispering amongst themselves:

"Another person died at the dock yesterday."

"What's going on?"

"I heard that someone was wandering around the dock at night when something dragged them into the water."

"When they pulled it out this morning, the body was rotten and its face was covered with claw marks."

"Could it be that water monkey again?"

"It's probably true. There's been something really strange going on at sea lately. My dad won't let me get near the dock."

Gu Shenyan paused slightly as he listened to these discussions.

Water monkey.

What the boat captain said was indeed causing trouble.

And judging from their behavior, they're becoming increasingly brazen.

He quickened his pace, crossed the corridor, and arrived at the library door.

The library is located on the westernmost side of the second floor of the teaching building, far from the classrooms, and is exceptionally quiet.

As you push open the door, the distinctive smell of old books hits you.

The library is large, with rows of bookshelves dividing the space into countless narrow passageways.

The bookshelves were filled with all kinds of books—historical classics, philosophical works, Western classics, modern textbooks… everything imaginable.

At the very back, against the corner of the wall, there is a small cubicle where some "special" books are displayed.

They are considered "special" because the origins of these books are quite dubious.

Some were books banned by the old dynasty, some were readings on new ideas, and some were strange tales collected from the common people.

Logically speaking, these things shouldn't be in the school library.

However, since Sacred Heart School was run by foreigners, they did not strictly manage these matters.

As long as nothing major goes wrong, we can just turn a blind eye and let it pass.

Gu Shenyan walked towards the cubicle with practiced ease.

The aisles between the bookshelves are narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.

Walking to the very back, I indeed saw that old wooden table.

A magazine lay open on the table, its cover bearing the striking words "New Thoughts".

This is a progressive publication that has emerged in recent years, dedicated to promoting new ideas and culture, and calling for "down with the old world and the establishment of a new order".

Next to the magazine, there was a thin booklet.

The booklet's cover was yellowed and the corners were badly worn, clearly indicating that it had been read many times.

The words "Demon Secret Records" are written in calligraphy above.