The literary era since 1979

Chapter 81 I'm Just Sick, Not Dead
The controversy and sensation caused by "The Great Qin Splitting" far exceeded Fang Yan's expectations, according to the news he got from Su Ya.

In Yenching University alone, students from all majors and departments were engaged in rounds of debate and discussion around "The Rise of the Qin Empire". The already bustling Weiming Lake became even more lively and noisy.

"The Qin laws were harsh and cruel, the people were weak but the country was strong, the Qin corvée was heavy and the thoughts were controlled. These are indisputable facts!"

"But judging from the bamboo slips from the Qin Tomb at Shuihudi unearthed a few years ago, Qin law does not seem to be as cruel and inhumane as the legend says. It still has a humane side. For example, the Qin Law Sikong stipulates that for people who are sentenced to fines for crimes, or who owe debts to the government and cannot repay them, if they use corvée labor to pay off their debts, they will be paid 8 coins per day of labor. If they need food from the government, they will be paid 6 coins per day of labor."

"........."

Hearing a group of people discussing Shangjunshu and Qin Law, Bai Ruoxue guessed that they were students from the law department.

"The Splitting of the Great Qin" not only discusses the spirit of reform and the international situation, but also discusses "rule of law" through the debate between Shang Yang, Shen Dao and Shen Buhai. It just so happened that the concept of "rule of law in the country" was proposed at the beginning of last year.

"Sima Qian said in the Records of the Grand Historian that 'Shang Jun was a mean person by nature'. How could such a cruel and unkind person who relied on reforms to please Qin Xiaogong be rehabilitated?"

"That's right, and we shouldn't vindicate the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty!"

"But given the situation Qin was facing at the time, if it didn't reform, change the law, and become stronger, it would perish. Apart from Shang Yang's method, are there any other ways to save the country and strengthen it?"

"'The Kingly Way' and 'Inaction', Fang Yan has clearly written in the novel, these cannot make Qin strong!"

"........."

Looking at the group of people quoting from classics, Bai Ruoxue could immediately conclude that they were students from the history department.

In the Chinese Department, in addition to topics such as Shang Yang's Reforms and the redress of the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, there was also a comprehensive discussion on the rigor of "The Qin Splitting" as historical literature, its pioneering nature as reform literature, and its ideological, literary and artistic aspects.

"Everyone, be quiet! Everyone, be quiet!"

Luo Yihe and Su Ya stood in the middle of the crowd and spread out their newspapers. "There is an important review in today's Literary Gazette!"

"Is this another criticism of The Great Qin Splitting?"

"Or is it criticism from the other teacher?"

"Of course. These days, I've seen a lot of criticism in newspapers like the Literary Gazette and the Huaxia Youth Daily, but I've never seen anything good about The Splitting of the Qin Empire."

"........."

While everyone was discussing this, Luo Yihe shouted, "What a coincidence! This is the first article! And it was Mr. Shen Yanbing who personally gave a favorable review of "The Fission of the Great Qin"!"

"what?!"

In an instant, there was an uproar.

The great master of literature actually gave a positive review of dialects!
"Don't worry, I'll read it now."

Looking at Su Ya clearing her throat, Bai Ruoxue listened quietly.

“This is not a history textbook, but historical literature.”

"The Splitting of the Qin Empire is closer to the historical works of the classical era, such as Herodotus's History..."

"The writing of "History" and "Zizhi Tongjian" is not only to pursue historical truth, but also to convey the political admonitions of the present world. There, history and fiction are always indistinguishably intertwined, and exploring the true intention is more important."

"This kind of real intention has a strong basis in reality. The same is true for "The Great Qin Splitting". That is, we look at reform from Shang Yang's reforms, development from the rise of Qin, and the current global situation from the struggle for hegemony in the Warring States Period!"

As soon as this comment came out, a huge earthquake broke out in Yanyuan.

After all, this is a positive review.

And it was a positive comment given by Shen Yanbing!
The students spread the news, and the word spread to ten people, and then a hundred people, to the point where they wanted to form a visiting group to visit Fangyan.

Even teachers from the Chinese and History departments and other majors were involved, pushing the attention to "The Qin Empire" to a new level.

If this is the case on campus, the situation in all walks of life is even more intense. The literary, historical, and even theoretical circles all support, oppose, praise, or criticize "The Rise of the Qin Empire."

If there were Weibo, Tik Tok and Kuaishou at that time, the dialect would be on the hot search list for at least a week and would be on the headlines every day.

However, at this time, I was in the hospital.

"Did you expect this to happen after the publication?" Shen Yanbing flipped through the newspapers. Whether it was the mainstream literary and artistic newspapers or the literary supplements of comprehensive newspapers, they were all densely packed with comments in dialect on "The Qin Empire."

Of course, there are also literary criticisms of him.

The situation was tense and the entire literary world was in chaos.

"It's definitely a little more turbulent than I thought."

Fangyan nodded.

"Are you afraid? Do you regret it?" Shen Yanbing asked.

Fangyan shook his head and decided not to do it again next time.

Shen Yanbing's face was filled with satisfaction. "When Midnight was listed as a banned book, I thought the same thing. The more it was banned and the more controversial it became, the more famous I and Midnight became."

Then he laughed and said, “Afterwards, I summed it up in one sentence.”

Fangyan listened quietly and heard "the debate in the literary world is like a boxer hitting a sandbag. When you open a sandbag, you get progress in boxing. Similarly, the literary world is struggling on a road full of thorns and owls and foxes, and only then can it truly develop in depth."

(ps: there is such a saying)

"Balzac said, 'Walk out of the thorns and you will find a broad road paved with flowers.' I give this sentence to you."

Shen Yanbing said solemnly.

"Teacher, I understand what you mean."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Since you have chosen poetry and distant places, you can only forge ahead regardless of wind and rain. However, this time the goal is bigger. It will become 'literature and distant places'."

"Haha, that's right, literature and the distance!"

Shen Yanbing cast an admiring look.

Diverting the topic of "Daqin: Fission", the master and the apprentice chatted about the publication of "Insidious", and the plans to release single volumes of "Dark War" and "The Shepherd" this year...

The atmosphere in the room gradually became relaxed.

"I think I'll be discharged from the hospital soon. If you give me another six months, I should be able to finish writing my memoirs."

Shen Yanbing was half lying on the pillow.

Fang Yan shook his withered hand and said, "Teacher, I will accompany Brother Shen to pick you up from the hospital, and then we will set off for northern Shaanxi."

"it is good."

Shen Shuang agreed readily and sent Fangyan out.

"Bring me some paper and pen."

Shen Yanbing's face darkened slightly.

"Dad, what do you want to write?"

Shen Shuang took the initiative to write for him.

"Please remember that I need to write another review."

Shen Yanbing nodded.

"Is it the review of Iwako's novel?"

Shen Shuang was shocked.

“Literature is a forum, and disputes are inevitable.”

Shen Yanbing is preparing to write another review for the next part of The Great Qin: Fission: "He is still too young to play. As a teacher, I cannot watch him be so passive. I am just sick, not dead!"

(End of this chapter)