Liu Guang's words were quickly verified. It had only been three days since the Academy officially elected Zhang Yu as a scholar, and the newspaper published a few comments on the candidates for the position.
First, a few people were listed, including Yao Jinchu. However, it was obvious that the comments were biased. They emphasized and praised Yao Jinchu as if he was a perfect person.
Then, they changed the topic and began to criticize the others, deliberately exaggerating their shortcomings.
However, those who knew the ropes would be able to tell that the main target was Zhang Yu. The reason why they brought along the others was to show that they were not deliberately targeting one person.
The usual method here was moral criticism. For example, the newspaper said that Zhang Yu went out to travel when he was in his teens and only returned home after a few years. He claimed that he was going out to study, but he did not care about his elders. He was clearly an unfilial person.
However, they would not say that Zhang Yu's adoptive father approved of this. Even if someone pointed it out, they were not afraid. They had already checked and found that Zhang Yu's adoptive father had gone out to travel long ago. No one could prove it.
Another was to attack Zhang Yu's knowledge. They did not let go of the fact that he recommended himself to enter the Academy. They said that he did not have enough knowledge and was afraid that he was an opportunist. Otherwise, why would he choose to take a shortcut instead of a proper career?
Of course, they would not take the initiative to clarify that the so-called "shortcut" was actually many times more difficult than the "proper career". The shortcut was already preconceived and made people think that it was a relatively easy path.
Throughout the article, they used "fear", "maybe", "maybe" and other conjectures. They made their own imagination sound like it was real.
Similarly, based on Zhang Yu's past achievements, if there were other people, they would try their best to exaggerate and downplay Zhang Yu's achievements. They even compared some people to make people think that Zhang Yu did not need to do these things. In fact, if it were someone with some ability, they could have done the same. It was just a coincidence that they met Zhang Yu.
For example, Zhang Yu stayed behind to kill the Heavenly Salamander alone and save the people on the ship. They also chased him for thousands of miles and killed EsGod who attacked the Commissar. They really could not erase it, so they started to find people to analyze it.
They said that Zhang Yu had not joined Xuanfu at that time. If he was not Xuanxiu, how could he have dealt with a Heavenly Salamander? Therefore, before the Heavenly Salamander was killed by Zhang Yu, it was' very likely 'that it had already been hit by the cannon fire of the Dafu and was on the verge of death.
As for chasing EsGod, the article believed that EsGod had already been severely injured by the counterattack of many guards when he was retreating, so Zhang Yu had only taken advantage of it. They also invited many relatives of the guards from the government office here, saying that they could prove that EsGod was indeed injured after leaving.
As for how the guards from the government office who were completely wiped out on the spot told these news to their relatives, that was not within their discussion.
These articles were published for a few days. The people behind them tried to use these comments to lower their evaluation of Zhang Yu's past achievements.
These methods were not useless because the person who was elected as a scholar had to go through 'three inquiries'. Only after passing all three inquiries could one become a 'scholar'. The conclusion of one of the inquiries was made by people from the bottom of the society. If the person who was elected as a scholar did not have a good reputation among the people, it was very likely that he would not be elected as a scholar in the end.
Zhang Yu also saw these newspapers. This time, he did not take the initiative to explain anything because the Security Council and the school had already hinted that he did not have to care about anything before the meeting and left everything to them to deal with.
However, he did not expect that before these two families started to do anything, the Xiao family would be the first to express their dissatisfaction.
The Xiao family felt that when Xiao Qingshu was alive, the person she admired the most was Zhang Yu. She had published many articles to advocate for him, and Zhang Yu had personally written an inscription for her. Wouldn't the newspapers be saying that Xiao Qingshu was as blind as a bat and that she, together with the Xiao family, was ignorant of people?
The Xiao family's influence was also very great, especially Xiao Qingshu's brother, Xiao Qingzhan, who was now the head of the Civil Affairs Department. They were the same neutral party as Liu Fengquan. Originally, they did not want to get involved in the fight between the two factions. However, this time, when they spoke out, many people who were originally neutral stood on the side of the traditionalist party.
When the people behind the articles saw that the situation was not right, they quickly restrained themselves. However, their methods were not only limited to that. A few days later, people came to visit Zhang Yu one after another, and they were all elders of high seniority.
Zhang Yu had telepathy, so he could clearly see the thoughts and emotions of these people. They wanted to persuade him to take the initiative to retreat and not let "their own people" fight first. He was still young, and there would be opportunities in the future.
However, these people had never thought about who started the fight first. In the eyes of these people, only their own personal interests were right. They would never allow others to touch what they had long set their eyes on.
Therefore, he didn't pay attention to them at all. All such visitors were blocked outside the door.
He could also imagine that if these people couldn't see him, they would slander him with words of disrespect to elders and seniors. However, even if they did meet him, as long as they didn't achieve their goal, they could still use another way to disparage him.
Li Qing He suggested, "Sir, why don't we move to Xuanfu? It will be quieter this way."
Zhang Yu indifferently said: "It's no use. Even if I go to the Profound Palace, these people can still use the pretense of coming to discuss knowledge. If they don't see me, then they can say that I'm not knowledgeable enough. Otherwise, why would I hide from them with a guilty conscience? In short, they can always find a reason to talk about you. "
When Li Qing He heard this, he couldn't help but say angrily, "Sir, aren't these people too shameless?"
Zhang Yu nodded and said, "You're right. However, the battle of interests has always been like this. If I can't even pass this hurdle, how can I be called a 'scholar'?"
To become a scholar, one naturally had to stand at the heart of the struggle. This was a hurdle that had to be passed. He had already prepared for it. Dealing with these things was also a way to prove his ability.
Right now, he didn't need to pay attention to it at all. He also didn't need to think about how to deal with it because he wasn't alone. He had the full support of the An Xun Association and the Education Palace behind him. Everything would be handled by these two families.
If things didn't work out, then it would not only be his failure, it would also be the failure of these two families.
However, he could also see that this matter wasn't purely opposed by the Yao family. There were many other forces behind them, intentionally or unintentionally, pushing for it.
The Yao family's recent actions also made many of the Conservative Faction dissatisfied. From their point of view, Zhang Yu could be considered one of them. The Yao family took the initiative to jump out in opposition. This was completely an internal strife. No matter who won or lost, it was a loss for the Conservative Faction. Moreover, the Yao family was completely acting out of their own selfish interests. They didn't care about the overall situation. Thus, the Conservative Faction immediately moved.
The Yao family quickly discovered that all of their channels of communication had been blocked. Not a single Conservative Faction newspaper was willing to publish their articles.
The Yao family members were very dissatisfied with this. After internal discussion, under the instigation of some people with ulterior motives, they immediately turned to find the other Education Palace's newspaper offices.
As a result, a scene that made people laugh appeared. The Yao family, one of the largest forces in the Conservative Faction, actually ran to the newspapers of their former opponents to publish their articles. They also began to curse and criticize the Conservative Faction.
At this time, Superintendent Chi couldn't stand it anymore. He called Hong Xueling over and said, "What did Duke Yao's Residence say?"
Hong Xueling said, "Duke Yao's Residence has been in a coma for the past few days. Duke Yao's Residence has been by his side every day. I heard that he doesn't leave even for a moment. It's not good for us to trouble him at this time. Moreover, even if we want to go to Duke Yao's Residence, I'm afraid that the Yao family members will do everything they can to stop us from seeing him. “
Superintendent Chi understood. Duke Yao's Residence probably still didn't know what had happened outside. It was no wonder that things had turned out this way.
The Yao family had been in the Protectorate for a hundred years and had great influence among the people. If this continued, there would indeed be a large group of people who would follow them.
He was also a little angry. He said coldly, "These unfilial disciples of Duke Yao's Residence, do they think that they can keep the news from spreading like this? Previously, I took care of the Yao family's face and left them a way out. Since they don't know what's good for them, then they can't blame me. "
He paused for a moment, then said, "That student who's on good terms with Yang Weiwei is called An Chuer, right?
Hong Xueling said, "Yes, she's also a student taught by Zhang shi."
Superintendent Chi said, "Good. Have An Chuer try to bring a message to Yang Weiwei. As for what to say, it's up to you."
Hong Xueling clasped his hands and said, "Yes, I'll make the arrangements right away."
The next day, Yang Ying came to visit Duke Yao's Residence in the name of a student on behalf of the Governor. Although the Yao family members knew that she was Zhang Yu's student, they couldn't stop her. She successfully met with Duke Yao's Residence and informed them of the recent events.
After Duke Yao's Residence learned of this matter, they were filled with anger. They immediately gathered their clansmen for questioning and ordered them to stop immediately. However, not only did the clansmen refuse to listen, they even banded together to persuade him.
When Duke Yao's Residence saw his clansmen like this, he knew that his kind words were useless. After careful consideration, he made a statement in the newspaper the next day, saying that the Yao family members' words weren't his own, nor were they the intentions of his Residence. The previous words were mostly slander and untrue.
In reality, he knew that this wasn't a good choice. One shouldn't wash one's dirty linen in public. Moreover, by doing so, the Yao family's reputation would definitely be affected. In the future, it would be impossible for them to nominate the younger generation as' scholars'. However, he still did it.
The only ones in the Yao clan that truly had prestige were the two dukes' manors. Without these two, the remaining people were nothing. That was why when he spoke out, the Yao clan was filled with mourning. There was also no sound from the outside.
Zhang Yu also saw that after this person made this statement, more than half of the malicious words directed at him disappeared. Furthermore, the situation was gradually turning for the better. However, he knew that now wasn't the time to celebrate his victory. When the February meeting came, there would probably be a real contest waiting for him.
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