Dingzhou.
Ever since Wu Zhi had pacified Lingzhou, attacked Xuzhou by surprise, and captured Pei Du one day, he was made Prime Minister. After taking control of the Emperor to command the feudal vassals, the first thing he did was to submit a memorial saying that Pei Du was broken and not worthy of being a capital. He asked the Emperor to inspect Dingzhou and half-forced the entire court to move to the headquarters in Dingzhou.
In the same year, the era name was changed from Ping An to Da Ding.
The era name of the Emperor often had blessings and unique meanings. Some Emperors only used one era name for their entire lives, while others changed several times a year. For example, if there was an auspicious sign, it could all be a reason to change the era name.
The use of "Da Ding" at this time naturally had the intention of pacifying the world. In the eyes of the other feudal vassals, Wu Zhi's ambition was clear as day.
Unfortunately, even though they knew this, in the face of Wu Zhi's overt plot, in order to fight for righteousness, the other military towns inevitably sank into the chaos of attacking each other. This caused the first anti-martial alliance to fall into pieces before it was even established.
Taking this opportunity, Wu Zhi also stopped fighting, which was a rare occurrence. He recuperated and quietly farmed to accumulate wealth.
After all, after years of battle, the potential of the entire Dingzhou had reached its limit. If it was forcefully stimulated and neglected the foundation, there was the risk of the collapse of the hegemony.
Time slipped away. Because Wu Zhi, the largest military town, stopped fighting, although the entire world was still in turmoil, there were no large-scale battles involving more than 100,000 people. It was as if the world had entered a period of relative peace. Although everyone knew that the peace at this time was only accumulating strength for the final power to swallow the world, it might not hurt to let the low-level commoners have some time to breathe and not be forced to death by the heavy life … although they would still have to continue to struggle in this war-torn world …
As the spring of the fifth year of Da Ding was about to arrive, a boat with a black awning slowly sailed into a small port outside Dingzhou. A white-haired old Confucian came down and looked at the busy port. He couldn't help but sigh. "It's only a small port outside the city, but it's also so prosperous. King Ding Zhimin indeed has some tricks!"
"Welcome, Teacher!"
On the port, a few Confucian scholars had long been waiting. "Hearing that Teacher is coming to give a lecture, the numerous students of our academy are overjoyed. They have already arranged everything and are only waiting for Teacher to come!"
"Good!"
This old Confucian was named Huang Zong, a famous Confucian of the Northern School of Confucianism. He had written many books, and his reputation had spread far and wide. The imperial court had invited him to be an official several times, but all of them were tactfully declined.
For the Confucian scholars in Dingzhou, being invited to give a lecture was indeed a grand occasion in the literary world.
"This place is very good, but the smell of merchants and armors is too heavy …"
After getting into the carriage and entering Dingzhou, Huang Zong looked at the bustling scene on both sides, as well as the young military officers riding tall horses and brightly dressed, frequently attracting the attention of many women. He couldn't help but sigh and say, "It's a pity that he is not scholarly enough."
In troubled times, military strategists could protect their borders and pacify the people. Merchants could circulate their goods. Even farmers could have abundant products and eliminate disasters.
Wu Zhi started his career with military affairs, so he naturally would not destroy his own foundation. The families of the soldiers in the town enjoyed tax exemption and other preferential treatment. He also worked hard to develop production. Within a few years, the whole territory was under great rule and there was no large-scale famine. Moreover, the rich and powerful families were proud of marrying military officers.
However, in the eyes of some old-fashioned Confucian scholars, this was "the moral degeneration of the world, and the hearts of the people are not what they used to be."
Even though Huang Zong was more open-minded, he was still a pure Confucian in his bones. He also felt that the literary style here was not flourishing, and that there would probably be trouble in the future.
Of course, he would not say this at this time.
This old Confucian scholar stroked his beard and spoke of another aspect. "On my way here, I saw many farmlands and country houses. Since the first year of the Great Ding Dynasty, Dingzhou and Lingzhou have both had good weather. It seems that Prince Ding has truly received the Mandate of Heaven."
"Correct, Teacher's words are reasonable."
The other Confucian scholars all agreed.
In ancient times, food production was a matter of life and death for a country.
Natural disasters led to famine, famine led to refugees, and among the refugees came rebel armies, which further destroyed the original agricultural production. Basically, the end of a dynasty was always in this kind of vicious cycle.
As long as the common people could eat their fill, wear their clothes, and live a good life, they did not care much about who the ruler above them was.
As for Dingzhou and Lingzhou, the crops had ripened several times, and the grain had filled the warehouses. With a good harvest, the people's hearts were also stabilized. This was quite terrifying, as it represented the stability of the foundation of the rule. If this was the case in other places, then it would enter a period of division and consolidation of various kings, such as the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in Wu Ming's previous life.
Now that Wu Zhi's family was like this, it was even more of a sign that a 'wise ruler' was about to emerge!
Although this sign pointed to Wu Zhi, who was an existence that made many Confucian scholars so hysterical that they wanted to stomp their feet.
"Alas … Prince Ding is good at everything, but he is too lenient towards martial artists and merchants …"
Even though Huang Zong did not want to mention it, the other Confucian scholars also complained one after another, "We scholars are the foundation of a country, but Prince Ding puts the cart before the horse and even uses the method of examination to pick on us scholars. This is simply an insult to the culture …"
Before Wu Zhi, not just anyone could become a scholar.
Those who could be called gentry were at least landlords. Otherwise, they would not be able to support a full-time labor force for a long time and buy books to study hard.
At that time, as long as a scholar was successful in his studies and had a reputation in the countryside, he could be recommended to become an official. Thus, a group of 'talents' who only knew how to make a name for themselves, knew nothing about government affairs, and only knew how to talk.
Now, Wu Zhi's examination method, on the one hand, improved the technology of papermaking, printing, and so on, to expand the source of examinees. On the other hand, more practical content was added to the examination content, so that the examinees would be more like officials instead of directly becoming a chief official.
How could these original scholars tolerate this?
This man was obviously one of the people who had failed to pass the exam and was unwilling to study hard with those bumpkins.
"Extraordinary people must have extraordinary actions!"
Huang Zong wasn't hostile towards the Imperial Examination Method.
He even admired the practice that scholars could not directly become an official after becoming an official, but had to start step by step from a basic official, "Among the Confucian scholars, there are also schools of thought such as' valuing the people 'and' managing the society '. If I don't be a good petty official, how can I be a parent?"
"On the other hand, I would like to pay a visit to Prince Ding's daughter!"
At this time, the general trend of the world had gradually become clear. Wu Zhi had the most hope to seize the world.
Once he succeeded, there would definitely be a situation where the Female Empress would rule the court.
At that time, what kind of turmoil would occur in the entire world, and what kind of law this Female Empress was going to use to rule the country. Huang Zong felt that he had the obligation to plead for the people and advise this Emperor.
Unfortunately, he did not know that all of this did not come entirely from Wu Zhi, but from the hands of Wu Ming.
…
Prince Ding's residence.
Although the imperial court had moved and in theory, the Emperor was the most respected, the regulations of the Prince's residence were still far beyond the norm. If one were to count the officials, soldiers, and so on, it would exceed the Imperial Palace by many times.
Wu Zhi did not have any intention to restrain himself.
He was already preparing to usurp the throne, so this little overstep was just to test the waters.
If there was really a rash person who dared to jump out, she did not need to do anything as the civil and military officials below would teach the other party a lesson.
At this time, in the back garden.
Wu Ming was wearing a plain linen robe with a simple bun on his head. He smiled and looked at the little figure who was teased by a few wet nurses.
Inside the reception hall, tea was being brewed using a small stove. The spring water was boiling and emitting white steam. The tea leaves on the side were dark green in color and carried a delicate fragrance, causing one to feel relaxed and happy. It was obvious that this was not ordinary tea, but spirit tea.
"Young master and young ladies are very lively. For breakfast today, Second Young Master ate a bowl of yellow grain rice porridge and two jade cornbread …"
The old maid who was serving next to him said in a flattering tone.
"Oh? Is that so? That's good! "
Wu Ming opened his hands, and the two little guys who were running around in the hall rushed over, "Daddy … hug!"
"Haha … good!"
He held one in each hand and felt the slightly hot body temperature of the little people in his arms. A long-lost emotion emerged in his heart.
'No matter how I cultivate, I am still a human after all!'
In the end, he might even forget his own existence. Even if he was eternal, what was the point?
The true eternity was detachment, freedom, and not being burdened by the world.
"Zhong 'er, have you been good?"
He asked with a smile, a fatherly expression on his face.
Speaking of which, it was not that he did nothing all these years. At least, he had a lot of children in the backyard.
His second son, Wu Zhong, was also born by Wu Zhi. He also had a few daughters who were born by Princess Duanrui and other concubines.
"Huh?"
Just as Wu Ming was happily playing with the children, a strange feeling suddenly appeared in his heart.
Even with his composure, his expression couldn't help but change slightly at this moment.
"The evolution of that universe … has ended? The avatar is about to return? "
When he found the coordinates of the steamed universe in the main divine temple, even though he was a little hesitant, he still sent out the avatar for the secret of Daluo.
Even now, he was not going to give up.
Although after the avatar went to that world, it was vaguely schemed against and used an overt scheme to force Wu Ming to continue to follow up, it still had some confidence in its own means. It was even more so now.
After all, in order to prevent the avatar from betraying him, he had planted many secret techniques in the divine soul of the other party.
Unless the other party's level was far higher than his, he should have been restrained.
"You can leave now. Tell Ding 'er that I won't be checking his homework today!"
Wu Ming waved his hand and sent the others away. The entire hall suddenly became quiet.
He touched the center of his eyebrows and sank his consciousness into the main divine temple.
"Kaboom!"
Inside the main divine temple, many halls rumbled together. Ripples rolled inside, and the shadows of countless worlds vaguely appeared.
This incredible divine artifact formed by many grotto-heavens and worlds was dancing in joy at this moment, as if it was welcoming the arrival of the ruler.
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