"Leave this matter to me!"
Li Junxian's white robe fell to the ground as he suddenly spoke. His face was much paler than it had been a few days ago, and his face seemed a little haggard. It was clear that he had not been sleeping well in the last few days. He had never encountered Wang Chong's style of attack before. No one in the Tang dynasty would do what he did.
But this was precisely the King of Foreign Lands of the Tang dynasty.
'Might Makes Right' was spreading among the people day by day, and Li Junxian was well aware of what this trend would lead to. But after several days of thinking, he had been unable to come up with a good solution. Wang Chong's method had been too ingenious. Not only had he promoted his own ideals, he had also sealed their mouths.
"Not only that, Dalon Trinling of Ouzan, Wunu Shibi of the Western Turks, Ashinatuozhen of the Eastern Turks, Yeon Gaesomun of the Goguryeo Empire, and Arabia have all sent letters urging us to stop this matter. Based on the reports of our spies in the various countries, there are already voices of resistance in the various countries, calling for the cancellation of all their agreements with us. Some are even discussing calling back all their armies!"
At this time, a voice sounded. Bamboo Mirror, who was in charge of intelligence, stepped forward and also spoke.
"Buzz!"
Li Junxian and all the other Confucian Sect experts in the room tensed and raised their heads at these words.
"When did this happen? Has the Imperial Court already received the news? "
Li Junxian asked.
"This was a private message from a few days ago. I was worried that you would be under too much pressure, so I didn't tell you."
Zhu Jing said.
Everyone in the room breathed a long sigh of relief. Since it was a private message, it meant that there was still room for negotiation. The other countries clearly did not want to go to war with the Tang dynasty. But it was also clear that all the countries on the border felt an enormous threat from Wang Chong's actions and the storm in the capital, and they hoped that the Confucian Sect could prevent the situation from worsening.
"In truth, it's not just the countries. The Prime Minister, the Grand Preceptor, and King Qi have also sent letters asking what we should do."
At the side, Elder Song sighed and spoke as well.
The pressure the Confucian Sect faced wasn't just limited to the borders and the surrounding countries, but also included the imperial court. King Qi, the Grand Preceptor, and the Prime Minister were all important allies of the Confucian Sect.
Everyone could see that Wang Chong's' Might Makes Right 'was spreading through the capital and the rest of the nine provinces. It was clear that the First Prince, King Qi, and the Prime Minister were also hoping that the Confucian Sect could change the situation.
At the side, the white-clothed young lady's lips moved, but in the end, she refrained from saying anything. The Young Master had racked his brains and was already facing enough pressure. There was no need to add more trouble to him.
In an instant, the hall was dead silent. Everyone was looking in the same direction, and each gaze was like an invisible pressure.
Li Junxian was the leader of the Confucian Sect, and if there was anyone in the world who could contend against Wang Chong, it was probably him.
"Got it!"
After a long while, Li Junxian finally spoke. At that moment, countless thoughts flitted through his eyes, and finally, Li Junxian's eyes gradually became determined.
"In the grand undertaking of the Harmonious World, everyone is insignificant. The thousand-year foundation of the Confucian Sect cannot be destroyed by our own hands in the face of this unprecedented opportunity, much less by the hands of the King of Foreign Lands.
"Help me prepare to bathe and change my clothes. I want to go to the Holy Temple!"
Buzz!
The words' Holy Temple 'startled everyone in the hall, and they all revealed expressions of respect, even more so than when they were with Li Junxian.
"Young Master, you want to …"
Elder Song stepped forward, bowed, and cautiously said.
"Mm!"
Li Junxian firmly nodded.
"This is a struggle of ideals that no longer concerns our Confucian Sect. At a time like this, we should go and see him."
Li Junxian sighed.
… …
Four hours after the conclusion of the meeting in the hall, a simple and inconspicuous carriage blended into the surging stream of people, passing through many streets and alleys until it reached the northwest corner of the capital, a plum forest adjacent to the Imperial Palace.
This plum blossom forest was completely different from any other place he had been to before. At the entrance of the plum blossom forest, two golden dragon banners were erected, fluttering in the wind. On both sides of the banners were the Imperial Guards and Golden Guards, who would only appear in the royal palace.
This place was clearly not a place that ordinary people could enter.
Li Junxian showed a token at his waist. Without being questioned, he quickly entered the depths of the plum forest.
Quiet! Quiet and secluded!
It was difficult to imagine that there was such a secluded place in the capital. Following a winding path, Li Junxian's carriage stopped in front of a dazzling palace.
"Young Master, we've arrived!"
A Confucian Sect disciple quickly got off the carriage and opened the door. Li Junxian walked out, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he smelled the fragrance unique to the plum forest.
"It's been a long time since I've been here!"
Li Junxian took in a deep breath, his mind filled with emotion as he gazed at this familiar sight.
Turning his head, Li Junxian immediately saw a massive palace. There was no plaque on the palace, only a stone stele ten-some paces from the main gate. Several large words had been written in cinnabar on the stele.
'Head of All Confucians'!
Beneath it was a seal, upon which was written the words' By the will of the heavens'!
From the mottled inscriptions on the stele, it was clear that it had been here for a very long time.
The imperial seal of a high master!
This thought flitted through Li Junxian's mind as he gazed at the stele.
Throughout the ages, apart from the 'Great Sage' and the 'Second Sage Mencius', the emperors of the past rarely bestowed the title of 'Head of All Confucians' upon the Confucian Sect. Not just anyone could bear the title of 'Head of All Confucians'. The presence of the Golden Guards and the imperial seal of a high master — just these two points meant that the person living in this golden palace had an extraordinary status that no ordinary person could compare to.
Li Junxian's sleeves fluttered in the wind as he gazed at the palace before him, many thoughts flitting through his mind. Outside the imperial city, in the northwest corner of the imperial city, there was a plum forest and a palace hidden deep within it. Not many people knew of this place, but in the Confucian School, all the grand Confucians, grand Confucians, erudite Confucians, and Confucian scholars had supreme statuses.
This was a true holy temple of the Confucian school!
Because the person living inside, or perhaps worshiped, was the true 'spiritual leader of the Confucian school' of the world.
"The ruler is benevolent, never be unbenevolent; the ruler is righteous, never be unrighteous; the ruler is upright, never be unjust!
"Those who delight in the people's happiness, the people also delight in their happiness. Those who worry about the people's worries, the people also worry about their worries.
"The people are most important, the state is second, and the ruler is light. Thus, those who obtain the people become the Son of Heaven, those who obtain the Son of Heaven become the vassals, and those who obtain the vassals become the great officials … "
… …
When Li Junxian appeared in front of the Holy Temple, he could hear the sounds of reading coming from within. Unlike ordinary schools, the voices coming from within were not the voices of children. Each one of these voices was extremely old. If they were not extremely old, they were renowned Confucians in their fifties or sixties.
"Young Master, Master Zhu already knows that you have come. Please come in."
A few moments later, an old Confucian dressed in a gray-white Confucian robe stepped over the threshold and walked out. If anyone else were here, they would assuredly be shocked to see this old Confucian, because this old Confucian was an extremely famous Confucian throughout the Huxiang region. Twenty-some years ago, a book called 'The Study of Confucianism' had spread throughout the world and was regarded as a standard by all Confucians.
It was rumored that he had died long ago, but who could have known that he had entered this Holy Temple and followed that person for ten-some years?
"Many thanks!"
Li Junxian respectfully bowed, and then with a flick of his robe, he strode into the palace hall.
The palace hall was quiet, with not a single Golden Guard or Imperial Guard in sight. There were only incense burners placed on the sides of the hall, exuding a fragrant and musky scent. In front of the incense burners that were shaped like dragons, tigers, and cranes, great and great Confucians over the age of fifty were sitting cross-legged on the ground. They were either writing, drawing, transcribing scriptures, or meditating with their eyes closed. It was as if they were studying knowledge.
These people were so focused on their own matters that they didn't even glance at Li Junxian when he entered. Li Junxian did not care, brushing past these people as he walked deeper into the palace.
The sounds of reading got closer and closer, and after passing through a gate, Li Junxian saw a square made of stone and a simple but clean thatched hall in the back of the palace. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would have found it hard to believe that there was such a simple and crude hut standing behind this magnificent palace hall.
Although it was simple and crude, the thatched hall gave off an otherworldly feeling, fresh and elegant, and also had a pure and holy aura. Not only did it not make the magnificent palace hall seem inferior, anyone who saw it would feel that the magnificent palace hall had become insignificant in front of the thatched hall and the surrounding plum trees and bamboo forests.
Although it was rather strange, Li Junxian had long ago become indifferent to it.
The great and noble Confucians, their sleeves fluttering in the wind, were passing through the plaza, passing through the thatched huts, or leaving. Li Junxian quickly followed them. At the entrance of the thatched hall, the eminent Confucians and eminent Confucians were kneeling on the ground, carrying out the etiquette of a disciple as they intently studied with a single person.
Their demeanor was respectful, as if they were young people who knew nothing and were learning from a knowledgeable teacher.
These eminent Confucians, eminent Confucians, and old Confucians would all be revered in the Nine Provinces. At this level of learning, there was no need for them to learn from others, nor was there anyone who could teach them. However, when they arrived at the Grass Hall, they all knelt down like children to seek knowledge. Not only did they not feel ashamed at all, but they also felt honored. It was as if staying here to study was a great honor.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
