One who walks an extraordinary path, shoulders an enduring mission, understands the changes of past and present, and takes responsibility for the rise and fall of the realm is called... the Great Teacher!
In the fifth year of Qingli, the reforms failed.
In the spring of the sixth year of Qingli, Gu Yuan, a disciple personally taught by Fan Zhongyan, placed first in all three imperial examinations. Upon taking up his post at court, he submitted a memorial titled “Seven Ills of Clinging to Outdated Practices,” publicly supporting the reforms.
Later, he was impeached by court remonstrators and falsely accused of cheating in the examinations. Bao Zheng investigated but found no evidence, and the emperor had no choice but to strip Gu Yuan of his official degree and order him to return home for reflection.
On the day Gu Yuan left the capital, all the city’s celebrated beauties and talented scholars came to see him off.
They would never forget the astonishing brilliance of this young man.
At the Fan Tower, he composed a hundred poems, won the courtesan’s heart, and earned the admiration of every scholar;
At the metropolitan examination, his essays on defending the realm and his brilliant plans for governing the country won him first place;
Beyond the Great Wall, he slew demons and monsters with sword in hand, earning fame throughout the land;
At Donghua Gate, his words, “All who serve the realm and its people are true men,” won the hearts of the soldiers.
Yet this elegant young man was still framed and forced to leave the capital.
Several years later.
In the fifth month of the fourth year of Huangyou, Fan Zhongyan passed away, and Gu Yuan answered the imperial summons to return to the capital.
Some said he would reclaim everything he had lost on this return.
But they never guessed that what occupied Gu Yuan’s thoughts most was the gaunt, lonely figure on Yueyang Tower all those years ago, crying out, “Be the first to worry for all under Heaven, and the last to enjoy its happiness.”
It's a pity that a time traveler actually helped Song