A Statesman in Waiting

The quiet grounds of Gongsun Cuo’s mausoleum provided an unlikely setting for one of history’s most consequential intellectual journeys. Here, amidst the solemnity of the burial site, Wei Yang – the future architect of Qin’s transformation – found himself restless despite his usual scholarly composure. The departure of Pang Juan had left him with weighty questions about his future path through the fractured landscape of the Warring States period.

Wei Yang’s contemplative nature revealed itself as he spent an entire day analyzing Pang Juan’s intentions, concluding that the military strategist no longer saw him as a threat or potential rival. Yet this realization only led to more profound questions about his own destiny. As a custodian of the tomb, his temporary role would soon end, but surveying the political landscape of competing states, he found none satisfactory for his ambitions. Even Qi, which he considered marginally acceptable, remained an unknown quantity due to his limited knowledge of recent developments there.

The Intellectual Marketplace of Dongxiangchun

Recognizing the need for better intelligence about the shifting political currents, Wei Yang devised a plan to visit Dongxiangchun in Anyi – the vibrant heart of intellectual exchange where news and rumors from across the states converged. Presenting his request to the tomb administrator as a simple errand to fetch books from the chancellor’s residence, he secured permission for his journey.

The scene at Dongxiangchun presented a striking contrast to the austerity of the mausoleum. The establishment’s brilliance and prosperity were immediately evident in its brightly lit exterior and the collection of luxurious carriages in its courtyard. Wei Yang noted the establishment’s clever design – its central three-story main hall surrounded by dozens of exquisite courtyard rooms in the rear garden, each serving different social functions while maintaining an atmosphere of exclusivity and intellectual freedom.

A Meeting of Minds Over Zhao Wine

Wei Yang’s choice of seating and beverage revealed much about his character. Selecting a window-side jade table for solitary drinking, he ordered a bucket of Zhao wine and a ding of fine meat – choices that would prompt a revealing exchange with the serving maid about the nature of proper consumption and the philosophy behind his preferences.

The conversation took a more substantive turn when a white-haired elder at a neighboring table engaged Wei Yang in discussion about the merits of Song people and their wine. This exchange evolved into a profound dialogue about statecraft and the qualities of different Warring States, with Wei Yang displaying his characteristic sharp analysis and uncompromising standards. His critique of Song’s commercial traditions in an era requiring military adaptation demonstrated his penetrating understanding of the period’s demands.

The Turning Point: A Fateful Suggestion

The elderly stranger’s advice would prove transformative. When Wei Yang inquired about promising destinations for a man of his talents, the elder suggested looking westward – a veiled recommendation to consider Qin. This proposal initially surprised Wei Yang, who viewed Qin as weak and troubled, but the elder’s counterarguments about the potential for transformation under capable leadership planted crucial seeds in Wei Yang’s mind.

The discussion attracted growing attention, creating an impromptu symposium atmosphere as patrons rearranged their seating to participate. Wei Yang’s analysis of the strategic shortcomings of major states – particularly his critique of Chu’s superficial reforms and fragmented power structure – demonstrated his grasp of the era’s geopolitical realities.

The Revelation of Identity and Hidden Agendas

The intellectual gathering took an unexpected turn when a red-robed scholar joined and skillfully drew Wei Yang into debate, eventually revealing his identity as Wei Yang before mysteriously departing. This moment exposed the complex web of political surveillance and evaluation operating beneath the surface of seemingly casual intellectual exchanges.

Wei Yang’s subsequent encounter with a young scholar inviting him to play weiqi (Go) provided lighter moments, but the following day’s discovery of the red-robed scholar’s true identity as the famous legalist Shen Dao – and his connection to Pang Juan – brought home the dangerous political undercurrents surrounding Wei Yang’s situation.

The Crossroads of Destiny

The final revelation that Shen Dao had praised Wei Yang’s abilities to Pang Juan created a profound dilemma. Wei Yang realized his earlier attempts to appear unthreatening to Pang Juan might have backfired, potentially making him more of a target. As he processed this information during his morning ride along the Su River, Wei Yang began to seriously consider the elder’s suggestion about Qin – a state he had previously dismissed but which now appeared in a new light due to reports of its young ruler’s extraordinary determination and reformist zeal.

This series of encounters at Dongxiangchun marked a pivotal moment in Wei Yang’s journey, setting him on the path that would eventually lead to his historic role in transforming Qin and altering the course of Chinese history. The intellectual marketplace had served its purpose, providing both strategic information and dangerous revelations that would shape Wei Yang’s next moves in the high-stakes game of Warring States politics.