The Lord who use immortals as food

"Give it to me...or give it to Fang Jidao?" Pei Ye thought she had said something wrong for a moment and followed him in.

As a former residence, this place is indeed too inconspicuous. Although it has an undiminished shape, the texture and materials are similar to those of ordinary homes. Bypassing the screen wall, the courtyard is also planted with ordinary flowers and plants - but it turns out that It's not messy, it looks like someone has taken care of it.

"Here you go." Xu Chuo said, "Fang Jidao is the only one who is proficient in all five classics in the Imperial College this year. He was directly recommended by Confucian scholars, and he took the admission test specially set up for him - what recommendation letter does he want? ?”

"..."

Pei Ye glanced at her.

"Remember what I said? Before you came, I had been lacking a sword that was sharp enough." The courtyard is not like the small garden outside that dries up all winter. Holly plants are planted here ingeniously, making it beautiful all year round. There was greenery, so Xu Chuo tightened his warm cloak and slowed down his pace.

Pei Ye naturally remembered it, but later he thought that those were romantic words spoken by the subjects when they met, just like Liu Bei's words about the joy of fish and water when he held Kong Ming's hand for the first time.

Because later he heard about the noodle-eating man outside the Criminal Department Street, and also met Yan Feiqing, the top thug in the Sword Xiuyuan... To put it bluntly, from the pulse level to the top and then to the top, he, Shaoxia Pei, might not be the best. of that.

"What you need to accomplish is never to crush the Taiping Cao Gang or to penetrate the Huanlou." Xu Chuo seemed to be able to see what he was thinking, smiling softly.

Pei Ye looked at her in surprise.

"If you didn't come - or if it wasn't as good as you said, I was going to use Jiang Yin'er to take over." Xu Chuo said slowly and suddenly looked at him, "I heard that you met yesterday, how is the girl? ? "What did you talk about?"

"Yin'er, she's pretty good, she has an honest character... She's really good at using a sword." Pei Ye didn't realize the turn of the topic for a moment, "We didn't talk about anything, we just talked... I asked He told her something about Grandpa.”

Pei Ye thought of the peaceful chat on the rooftop last night and couldn't help but smile.

"What does she know about Yue Muzhou?" Xu Chuo said slightly strangely, "You might as well ask me if you ask her."

"..." Pei Ye was stunned.

Xu Chuo looked at him.

"...Yes."

He immediately tilted his head: "Then can you tell me?"

Xu Chuo couldn't help but smile: "I still have his letters in my hand. I'll show them to you when I have time. Well...but some of them are our personal letters, so they're not suitable for you."

"...What personal letters do you have?" Pei Ye was confused. "I am the closest person to Grandpa Yue. There is nothing I can't read."

"You are not the person closest to me." Xu Chuo was also confused.

Pei Ye pursed her lips.

Xu Chuo turned around and the two of them walked on the stone path of the winter garden: "That was the first time I met Jiang Yin'er that day, and I didn't have the confidence you gave me when I met you."

The woman changed the topic: "Although you were still angry that day, weak and seriously injured, and you didn't have a sword on your body, I think the person in front of you is indeed the young Jing Ke. With one sword strike from you, you will definitely be able to enter the pond and slay the dragon and come back."

"But even so... what I want you to do is still a wall of heaven." Xu Chuo said softly, "I don't know how sharp a sword needs to be, because you are facing something that no one has ever challenged. enemy."

Pei Ye looked at her seriously.

Xu Chuo took out the key. This was a two-story wooden building at the end of the path. It still looked like there were no carvings. Xu Chuo unlocked it, and Pei Ye followed her in. There was a mellow smell of books.

"Pei Ye, there are few lower-class scholars selected in the imperial examination, and those who come up are all dependent on aristocratic families, and aristocratic families are an iron wall... Then do you know why we are able to fight today?" Xu Chuo looked back at him. .

Pei Ye was slightly startled, yes, there shouldn't have been a chance to let go... How did Mr. Yuan come to power?

"Yuan Zhao was not originally from the Ministry of Husbandry. He actually started from the Ministry of Rites. However, his appearance, conduct, knowledge, literary talent, reputation and reputation were not outstanding, and it was even difficult for him to be promoted to minister, so he was transferred to the Ministry of Husbandry." Space in the building. It was more cramped than expected, and the walls were crowded with books. Xu Chuo was not in a hurry to find anything, so he pulled out a chair and sat down. "As for the fact that he was able to become a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, it was because at that time, Li Mingqiu was still serving as the Minister of Rites. ”

Xu Chuo leaned on the backrest and looked at the book wall, indicating to him to light the small stove.

Pei Ye remembered that the old gentleman who always looked upright in class was indeed quite the world's top scholar. He remembered his resume - he was a doctor of the Imperial College when he was young, and he worked his way up to the position of Minister of Etiquette. Devote yourself to etiquette and education throughout your life.

He taught the same course as Xu Chuo and published articles in the national newspaper. Indeed, he had always had a close relationship with the woman.

"Li Mingqiu was not born in the fifth surname, but he was considered respectable. His selection to the Ministry of Rites was Xu Xiangdi's fault." The fire started to rise, and Xu Chuo stretched out his hand from his cloak to bake it. "At that time, Yuan Zhao was quite talented and sharp. , Prime Minister Xu asked Li Mingqiu to help him make progress."

"..."

"Later, when he wanted to be appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it was actually Li Mingqiu who withdrew from the Ministry of Rites and made several attempts to exchange for this position with more real power." Xu Chuo said softly, "But further down the road Later, he established a foothold in this position and gradually became a leader. The fact that he is now able to point the finger at Li Du is more due to his own ability. I only cooperated. "

"...Hmm." Pei Ye seemed to understand, "I thought Mr. Li was really old."

Xu Chuo smiled, lowered his head and used a pole to poke the fire: "After people are over fifty, they can choose to retire due to illness every day. It's just a good excuse."

"So," Pei Ye probably understood, "everything... started from Xu Xiang's time."

"The New Imperial Examination Law was compiled by him personally." The woman whispered, "In order to implement this law, he struggled for more than ten years."

"...didn't succeed?"

"Not only did he fail, he even lost his life." Xu Chuo chuckled.

"Although we are also hitting a wall everywhere now, we still have a peak to rely on when facing the sky wall. Xu Xiang's time... was the real hardship of near despair, and he was alone in the siege, and it was nothing more than that." She whispered.

Pei Ye looked at her, and the woman's face did not show any pain, and her elegant and quiet face shone in front of the fire.

"He opened such a road, and the poor scholars had a place to fight. Now that Yuanzhao is here, the scholars can gather around him." Xu Chuo said, "What we are doing now is just to carry on his legacy."

"..." Pei Ye was quiet.

"Let me ask you." Xu Chuo suddenly looked up, "You have been in Shenjing for a month, and you have seen all the nine classes, gangs, poets, scholars, high officials, and dignitaries... one by one. Tell me, how can we implement the new law?"

Pei Ye was slightly stunned. He had indeed seen them all.

To open up the way for official advancement, it is indeed only necessary to reform the imperial examination system and make the upward path smooth, so that society will not be distorted. However, even if the official positions can be increased or decreased, the power is constant. If the poor occupy more, the nobles will have fewer. There is no means to soften the contradiction. The essence of this matter is to bite off the flesh from the aristocratic families.

Irreconcilable contradictions can only be determined by winning or losing, which often leads to fierce and cruel violent struggles, but at this time you will find...you are facing an enemy that cannot be overthrown.

The aristocratic families, or the entire group built around the aristocratic families, will block it. To put it in a more horrifying way... that is the entire Tang Dynasty.

You cannot issue an order to reduce the power of the vassal states, and the emperor will stand with you; you cannot negotiate and bargain with them, because you have no cards that can shake them; as for the coup, don't joke, it's not a matter of not being able to eat or survive... and the 100,000 scholars and their families together cannot beat any family.

Pei Ye paused in his thoughts, and in front of the small fire, Xu Chuo looked at him with quiet and deep eyes.

Unlike the stories in the vernacular novels, the "aristocratic families" are not some kind of corrupt and powerful disease, nor are they abscesses that hinder the progress of the Tang Dynasty. They are connected to the lifeblood of the entire Tang Dynasty, and they carry the destiny granted by the unicorn. They are arms, legs, and even heads and hearts. They are the Tang Dynasty itself.

... As the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, all your power and strength come only from this identity. How can you implement what you want?

Pei Ye stared at the fire in the furnace in a daze.

Unless...

"Unless, the 'heavenly mandate' respected by the Tang Dynasty is wrong." Xu Chuo said softly.

The building was quiet for a while, with only the crackling sound of burning wood.

Remove the firewood from the bottom of the cauldron.

"Confucianism has external learning, which is the Four Books and Five Classics, benevolence and forgiveness of the monarch and ministers, and the way to govern the world; Confucianism also has internal learning, which is the truth of the world, the fate of the soul, and the way of heaven and man." Xu Chuo said, "Don't you always not know what the Tianliyuan does? In fact, it is just as its name suggests - it is just to study the principles of heaven."

... Yes, in such a world, the most powerful dynasty was established, the immortal king looked down, and the immortal power was scattered. How could the Tang Dynasty not pay attention to the sky above its head?

What exactly will affect our destiny?

So Fang Jidao must want to "seek the only truth in the world" to want to enter the Tianliyuan.

"You should have attended a few classes of Li Mingqiu in the Imperial College, and your eldest grandson should have taught you. You should have a general understanding of the natural law that the Tang Dynasty respects now." Xu Chuo said slowly, "The noble families are in a high position because they inherit the blood of the unicorn; the reason why the unicorn is irresistible is because they hold the power of fortune; and fortune is the concrete manifestation of the will of heaven."

"If you want to move the noble families, you must first move the 'will of heaven'."

Xu Chuo also raised his feet and stretched them towards the stove. After a moment of silence, he tilted his head and said, "Let me test you. What is the logic of this 'will of heaven'?"

Pei Ye was stunned for a while, and slowly said, "...Heaven created all things."

Xu Chuo clapped his hands and looked at the fire: "Yes, heaven created all things, and 'heaven' is the origin of everything. The beginning and the end, then everything is of course determined by heaven. The fortune of the Tang Dynasty is naturally destined by heaven, and now that the fortune of the Tang Dynasty is high, it naturally means that the destiny has not changed and cannot be violated... Let me ask you again, what is the real key here? "

Pei Ye has understood at this time: "Human's 'nature' is also born."

The words he heard on the first day of entering the Imperial College are now echoing here-"Master's words about nature and heaven's way cannot be heard."

"Heaven's way" refers to the operating order and internal laws of "heaven". It is by no means just high up in the dark and invisible place of the sky, but exists in the existence and growth and decline of all things themselves, because all things in the world are originally born from "heaven".

Humans, of course.

Why do flesh and blood have spiritual nature, why am I me, the essence of "human" after stripping off bones and flesh is called "nature".

What is "nature" and where does "I" come from are the questions of everyone since ancient times; "nature" is born, and it is also the unchanging answer since ancient times.

Since it is born, it should follow the principles of heaven.

This is not indoctrination, it is a statement of fact that you are born into this framework and you cannot go against it any more than an arm can lift your body.

Xu Chuo stirred the fire and raised his feet, looking at him with some relief: "Yes, so the end point of this logic is - naturally people cannot change destiny."

Yes.

Who dares to say that the Tang Dynasty is not prosperous at this time?

Since the fate of the dynasty is rock solid and destiny is still here, why should I pay attention to the shouts of the scholars below?

Many people know that the current state of Datang is unhealthy, but so what?

If the destiny is really going to change, Qilin will issue an edict according to the changes in fortune, and then it will change accordingly. This is the way of survival of the Tang Dynasty for hundreds of years.

Pei Ye stared at the fire, and for a moment he really couldn't find any loopholes - they would not really make the people's lives worse than death and rise up, "luck" is like a water level meter, they can be unscrupulous before reaching the warning line The land sits on people's heads and they spend their time enjoying themselves, and no one has a reason to stop them.

That's why things like carp halls have become so unscrupulous among aristocratic families.

"...That's why there is such a heated debate about the relationship between 'Heaven' and 'Human'." Pei Ye murmured.

It is precisely because of the laws of heaven that guide people's behavior and also represent the right and wrong of people's behavior.

"If you want to come and see it, where should we make the argument?" Xu Chuo tilted his head to look at him and guided him softly, "Remember? The thing you are most familiar with - the 'sword', is the immortal power that belongs only to humans."

Pei Ye was stunned and suddenly realized: "I understand - 'Xing' is born by man! It has nothing to do with heaven?!"

Xu Chuo chuckled: "You are really the monkey head causing trouble in heaven."

"..."

"You can make this assumption, but let me ask you, how do people 'self-generate'? You are born in the embryo of your parents, and your parents are born in their parents... and so on until your ancestors, what is your own in it? ?”

"..."

"Or do you think that when a person grows to a certain level, sex will naturally arise from flesh and blood?" Xu Chuo tilted his head and said, "Then let me ask you, isn't your flesh and blood, your heart and brain the same as heaven and earth? Born?"

"..."

"The argument cannot be made by just snapping the head. It must have a complete logical chain and at least one empirical evidence." Xu Chuo suppressed his smile, "Unless you can prove that 'human beings' came from the ancient times and floated from outside the universe. The things that come are not in the heaven and the earth. Otherwise, no matter what, "human beings" would not be able to exist beyond this world. Since they are born in it, they follow the underlying logic of this world just like flowers, plants, insects and birds. "

"Oh." Pei Ye responded blankly, then suddenly tilted his head, "Then, Mr. Xu... found a way?"

Xu Chuo paused while warming himself up and said softly: "He found it."

"..."

"He was originally a disciple of Lao Jijiu, a great talent that Confucianism has not seen in decades. In order to advance this matter, he spent almost all his energy."

"It's just that back then, he couldn't even save his life, let alone promote this feat. Now I'm sending you to Tianliyuan because I want you to help complete this matter." In the quiet room, Xu Chuo looked up at him and whispered He told him the reasoning behind his old appearance.

"Since human nature cannot escape from the way of heaven, how can it not follow Haotian's destiny? Because...'There are two heavens.'"

Pei Ye was horrified.

“The heaven of nature and the sky of life correspond to the inanimate and the inanimate respectively - inanimate can give birth to spirit, and spirit can transform inanimate. Therefore, flesh and blood can give birth to consciousness, and all spirits return to dust after death. "Xu Chuo said, "'Luck' is the trend of nature, but what people respond to is the direction of life. "

"Changes in the heaven of life will change the heaven of nature, so the governance of the country must be measured by human beings, not by fortune. Only considering the fortune of nature and ignoring the lives of the people, the Tang Dynasty will be in danger." Xu Chuo looked at the gradually dimming fire and said, "In the Treatise on Two Heavens, he wrote it as 'Haotian invades the Tao'."