Mountains and Rivers Without Moon

A scholar on the shores of the East China Sea once asked whether there could be true scholars in the world who would set up their minds for heaven and earth, establish their destiny for the people, carry forward their unique knowledge for the past saints, and create peace for all generations. A governor of that state wrote, "If you live high in a temple, you worry about your people; if you live far away from the rivers and lakes, you worry about your ruler." This novel and its characters are purely fictitious. Any similarity is purely coincidental and should not be imitated.