Chapter 828: Martyrdom
There were quite a few people gathered in the Jinyiwei lobby at this moment.
Shen Lian lowered his head, thinking about Tang Shunzhi's recent estrangement from him.
Since moving out of the Shen family, Tang Shunzhi has been temporarily living in Xiyun Temple in the west of the city. Every day he is still the same, dressed in cloth clothes and straw sandals, walking around here and looking around there, just like a playboy playing in the world.
Why is he so close to Jiang Qingzhi?
Although Shen Lian felt that the Ming Dynasty needed reform, he was not optimistic about the reform initiated by Emperor Jiajing and Jiang Qingzhi. He felt that Jiang Qingzhi's words and deeds were too radical. From the beginning, he showed his intention to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the literati and meat eaters, which would inevitably lead to a violent backlash.
Furthermore, once the new policy is implemented, the Mohist school will inevitably expand.
How could those knowledgeable Confucianists just sit there and wait for death?
The subsequent fight between the two sides... That's right, in Shen Lian's opinion, the new policy will inevitably lead to bloodshed. In other words, if it is not handled properly, it will cause chaos and war.
No matter how strong Song Shenzong was and how firm Wang Anshi's will was, it still ended in disgrace.
Mo family!
Shen Lian narrowed his eyes, thinking about some recent events in the School of Psychology.
The New Deal caused a lot of controversy, and there were also some disputes within the School of Mind. Some people said that the New Deal was a good thing, but they were immediately criticized for wanting to take the opportunity to expand the Mohist School.
As Mohism expands, where will the School of Mind go?
This has been the latest worry within the School of Mind. Those who originally supported the new policy are now hesitant, and some even went to find Tang Shunzhi to ask him about his attitude towards the matter.
——Let it be.
This is the attitude of Tang Shunzhi. The attitude of this former giant of the School of Mind is very much in the style of the School of Mind: follow your heart.
That is to say, do not oppose, disapprove, watch, or participate.
No objection!
This is Tang Shunzhi's attitude.
What about Ke Xin Xue?
Shen Lian thought of someone's suggestion that once the new policy was implemented, the war between Confucianism and Mohism would inevitably intensify, and the School of Mind could take the opportunity to expand.
Be a fisherman?
Shen Lian was once tempted, but after thinking about the tactics of Emperor Jiajing and Jiang Qingzhi, he felt that this idea might be difficult to realize.
The School of Mind is more powerful than the Mohist School at present. It has a certain foundation among the people and many followers in the officialdom. However, the influence of Confucianism is so great that people dare not rebel.
That’s right. Until now, the School of Mind has positioned itself as a branch of Confucianism. We are all one family and family members do not fight against each other.
If it weren't for this attitude, Confucianists would have slapped the School of Mind to death long ago.
Although the study of the mind was developed as a result, it was also limited and became like a puppet or a hermit crab.
Shen Lian was sometimes quite envious of the Mohist school. As soon as the Mohist school started, Jiang Qingzhi openly and clearly stood firm on his position.
——Mohism is Mohism, and it has never been a vassal of Confucianism for thousands of years!
What followed was a great battle between Confucianism and Mohism, and Jiang Qingzhi was not afraid of anything.
Although this road is difficult, I can be independent and self-reliant...it is enviable.
But all this came to an abrupt end today.
"…If the army mutinis, the capital will be in danger. Commander, I think that our Jinyiwei should send out scouts to investigate the army's movements. If there is anything wrong, report back to Xiyuan quickly. This way, we can make up for our crimes!"
Shen Lian regained his composure and looked up to see a centurion talking animatedly.
Lu Bing looked solemn and nodded slightly, "It has been arranged."
This was a sign of approval, and someone immediately came out to offer a suggestion, "Commander-in-chief, Jiang Qingzhi left the city and headed north. I think he went to appease the troops. So, let's wait and see..."
Jiang Qingzhi is the sworn enemy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It won’t be too late for us to take action after he is killed.
Lu Bing looked calm and suddenly threw the paperweight in his hand down. The captain who made the suggestion was hit on the head and it was bleeding, but he didn't dare to wipe it off and knelt down to apologize.
But I don’t know what I said wrong.
Lu Bing said grimly, "Once the army mutinis, the capital will become hell. Have you ever heard of soldiers passing by like combs? The people in the north are tough and the people who have a hard time will follow the soldiers to rebel and march straight to the capital. Are you going to sit back and watch? Are you going to sit back and watch the capital fall? Idiot! Get out!"
Shen Lian sneered in his heart, thinking that the man was asking for humiliation.
Although Lu Bing was very selfish, he was never vague when it came to matters concerning the safety of Emperor Jiajing.
This is also one of the reasons why Emperor Jiajing still tolerated Lu Bing even though he had been sitting on the fence for many years.
"Commander-in-chief," someone came in to report. "The remaining guards of the capital have begun to be on alert. All soldiers on leave have been recalled, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the camp."
This is a measure to guard against mutiny in the army.
Lu Bing said in a deep voice: "Keep an eye on the movements in the city. If anyone wants to take advantage of the situation to cause chaos, take decisive action!"
"Yes."
The atmosphere was a little tense. Lu Bing continued, "The most important thing about this matter is Jiang Qingzhi. If he can calm the army for half a day, there will be room for maneuver."
Shen Lian's mind moved, "Commander-in-chief, Jiang Qingzhi has a high prestige in the army. Judging from his speed, he should have arrived at the army long ago. The most important thing at the moment, I think, is... food and fodder."
"Yes!" Lu Bing said, "The baggage has been returned, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. So we still have to see what Jiang Qingzhi can do."
"Commander." Someone came in at this time, "A brother saw Jiang Qingzhi returning to the city earlier."
"Oh!" Lu Bing raised his eyebrows. "Where did he go? Oh, he looked embarrassed... or anxious?"
The man said, "That brother said that Jiang Qingzhi and his riders were dusty and wearing veils. If it weren't for the prominent foreigner next to him, they wouldn't have been recognized."
Then naturally you can't tell his expression.
"Where did he go?" Lu Bingwen.
"He said he went to the west of the city."
"Zhu Hao also went to the west of the city!" Shen Lian said.
Just before that, Jinyiwei received a tip that Chen Yao appeared in a tavern in the west of the city. Lu Bing immediately ordered Zhu Hao to arrest him.
"Not good!" Someone said, "Jiang Qingzhi must have known where Chen Yao is and is going to get him. If things go wrong, Captain Zhu will be blocked by him."
Some people said: "If we fail to arrest Chen Yao, not only will our Jinyiwei be disgraced, but the Ministry of Revenue will also blame us for the incident."
Lu Bing asked: "Calculate the time." Someone checked the time when Zhu Hao set out with the time and place when Jiang Qingzhi appeared.
"Commander, Jiang Qingzhi will arrive first."
Lu Bing took a deep breath and said, "Let Zhu Hao come back."
Zhu Hao is asking for humiliation by being there now!
……
Outside the tavern, Mo Zhan put his hand on the hilt of the knife and slowly walked forward.
Sun Chonglou followed with a grim smile. His huge body made people feel scared.
"What are you waiting for?" a Jinyiwei sneered and slowly drew out his long sword.
At this time, Jiang Qingzhi's voice came from inside, "Quiet!"
Mo Zhan stopped, and Zhu Hao felt the pressure suddenly dissipate and couldn't help but take a deep breath.
This Xuanfu's number one swordsman originally followed Jiang Qingzhi to the Jinyiwei, and with one sword, he suppressed all the Jinyiwei's masters. Even now, he still makes people tremble with fear.
Sun Chonglou laughed and said, "That's it?"
Sun Bu Tong said in confusion: "I suddenly found that the stone looks a bit like a person."
"You mean the way he looked like he was going to die?" asked Paul.
Sun Bu Tong was surprised again and nodded, "Yes."
"Mr. Xu."
"That's right, he is just like Mr. Xu, he makes people want to vomit blood when he opens his mouth."
This guy... Sun Bu Tong glanced at Bol. In the past, Bol was a little humble and smiling. Apart from caring about the name he was addressed to, he would just smile no matter what you said.
As time went by, everyone thought that he was a two-faced person.
That is, the kind of people who have no self-esteem.
What a powerful enemy!
Sun Bu Tong stroked his stubbled beard and felt a sense of crisis.
In the tavern, Chen Yao seemed unaware that the Jinyiwei had arrived.
Maybe he really forgot himself.
Sometimes people will be so focused that they feel as if they are the only one left in the world. They can sense everything that happens in the outside world, but it does not leave a trace.
The mind has no place to stay!
Jiang Qingzhi thought of this Buddhist saying.
"...If the Ming Dynasty wants to be completely renewed and achieve nirvana, it must suppress Confucianism." Chen Yao's eyes were bright, "Please convey this to His Majesty..."
Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "You go ahead."
Chen Yao looked solemn, "Foreign enemies cannot destroy the Central Plains. It is them who will destroy the Central Plains. They... are called Confucianism!"
Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "I will report this to His Majesty. Do you have anything else to say?"
"What can I say?" Chen Yao said with a smile, "From the moment I intercepted the baggage, I knew I was doomed."
"Do you regret it?"
"Kind of."
"But it's too late to turn back."
"I am not afraid of death, but the depression that has accumulated in my chest for many years has turned into violence over time. Long Wilbur, why are you reading?"
"Reading?" Jiang Qingzhi took out a medicinal cigarette, lit it, and took a light puff. "It can increase your knowledge and make you less confused. It can help you understand things, but you have to combine it with the current situation. In the current Ming Dynasty, we should study for the rise of the Ming Dynasty!"
"For the rise of Ming Dynasty?"
"Yes, all the disciples of the Mohist School take this as their motto, and it will be passed down from generation to generation."
"I was wrong, I was wrong." Chen Yao smiled bitterly, "Back then! Back then! I was wrong!"
He laughed, stood up and walked to the woman who had been looking at him tenderly, and said softly: "That year I passed the imperial examination, I was so excited that I told my parents that I wanted to marry you when I got home."
The woman sat on the bench, looked up at him, and said gently, "I know."
"My parents said that I would become an official after my studies, and that I needed a backer to be an official. If I married you, your family would be ordinary and would not be of any help to my official career... My teacher also said so. At that moment... did you know that if I insisted, I could still marry you?"
The woman held his hand and said, "I know."
"I abandoned you for fame and fortune. For decades, every time I looked at the person beside me, I felt sad. But I knew it was my own fault."
"But you always took me with you. Wherever you served as an official, I opened a wine shop there. Although we are not husband and wife, we are envied by countless couples."
"But I am... shameless after all!"
"I never blamed you."
When their eyes met, Chen Yao smiled and said, "If there is an afterlife, I would rather be a farmer than live with you day and night, until we grow old... together."
Chen Yao knelt down slowly.
Blood flowed slowly from his lower abdomen and flowed down.
The woman held his shoulders and sighed, "You are always so competitive. No matter what you do, you always want to be one step ahead of others. Why bother?"
Chen Yao smiled bitterly, "I... am on the Naihe Bridge..."
The woman smiled and said, "Wait for me!"
The woman took out a dagger and stabbed it into her lower abdomen.
(End of this chapter)
