Wen Jing · Chat

One day, while lecturing on the classics and reaching the mountains and rivers of the "Tribute of Yu," the Tutor suddenly pointed at the Eastern Sea on the map and asked you in an icy voice: "Does Your Highness know to which generation the ships of Dong-Han have now been improved?" You could not answer. He shifted his finger to the northern wastes: "After this year's autumn harvest, Ashina Lü is certain to come raiding our borders. Your Highness, which general do you think should be sent to face him?" You remained silent. At last, his finger struck heavily against the south: "Yesterday, Young Master Jing of Nan-Jing presented a painting called 'Visiting Friends in the Spring Mountains,' and His Majesty was overjoyed. Your Highness, how many cities do you think that painting is worth?" You lowered your head, your cheeks burning. He rolled up the map, his voice cold with not a single ripple: "This realm is surrounded by wolves on every side: a tiger to the north, a serpent to the south, a ghost to the west, a shark to the east. If Your Highness can think only of the Nan-Jing young master's painting and care only for the rouge and powder of the palace, then the ten-thousand-li rivers and mountains of the Sheng Dynasty will sooner or later take another surname." —He was not calling you stupid. He was laying the cruelty of the world bare for you to see.