Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 768 1 will achieve great success

Yuan Tao returned to the State of Wei with his personal guards.

Looking down at the magnificent landscape below, Yuan Tao was filled with emotion.

He didn't know how long it would take for the Wei Kingdom to catch up with the current prosperity of the Taiping Region.

It may take ten or even several decades.

But what was the Taiping Domain like at that time?

Yuan Tao found it hard to believe, and his feelings were complicated.

Lu Zheng was able to rally so many patriots and talents, and also enable so many demon race forces to coexist and develop peacefully.

As the crown prince, he clearly had greater power, yet he faced even greater obstacles.

Even completing a single construction project in the Taiping Domain is extremely difficult.

"Unity..."

Yuan Tao spoke softly, and even these demons knew it, but the powerful and noble people of Wei seemed not to understand.

Perhaps those people actually understand this, which is why they unite to protect their own interests, rather than the interests of the entire Wei Kingdom.

Yuan Tao said quietly, "How can one govern a country well while surrounded by a bunch of insects?"

Yuan Tao looked at one of his personal guards beside him, "Go to Pingcheng first, and find Prince Huaiyang..."

……

Pingcheng, the residence of Prince Huaiyang.

Yuan Zhong, dressed in simple cloth clothes, was eating vegetarian food and admiring chrysanthemums in the courtyard, feeling quite content.

Since the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, some Buddhist precepts have been implemented, including a rule that strictly prohibits monks from eating meat and fish.

Yuan Zhong could not be considered a true Buddhist monk, but he still observed many precepts, which could be regarded as setting an example and doing good deeds.

Just then, the steward of the manor hurriedly brought Yuan Tao over.

Yuan Zhong raised an eyebrow and looked over, then quickly stood up with a smile and said, "So it's Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Has Your Highness had your meal yet...?"

Yuan Tao smiled and said, "Uncle Wang, has your diet been so simple lately?"

Yuan Tao was still somewhat surprised. Yuan Zhong used to be a very particular person, but recently he seemed to have changed and had started advocating frugality.

Yuan Zhong laughed and said, "Oh, I'm just devoted to Buddhism and want to emulate the Buddha and Bodhisattvas! Don't let the fact that these dishes are very vegetarian fool you, they taste quite good. Our chefs went to Taiping Domain to learn how to cook them..."

“Hey, Your Highness, you may not know this, but there are publicly available recipes for sale in the Taiping Domain. I’ve tried to learn some of them.”

Yuan Zhong instructed the servants to arrange a seat for Yuan Tao.

Yuan Tao sat down near Yuan Zhong, but his mind was not on the dishes.

He went straight to the point and said, "There are some important things I'd like to discuss with Uncle Wang."

Yuan Zhong looked at Yuan Tao and noticed that Yuan Tao's expression and tone were not like usual.

Yuan Zhong's heart stirred, and he turned and stood up, saying, "Your Highness, please come with me!"

The two then arrived at a secret room.

Yuan Zhong asked, "Has something happened in Luoyang?"

Yuan Tao did not answer, but instead asked, "Does Uncle Wang think I am competent as the Crown Prince?"

Yuan Zhong glared, "Which bastard impeached you? Your Highness, you've done so much for Great Wei, who dares to say anything against you? I'll be the first to oppose it!"

Yuan Tao smiled and said, "I know Uncle Wang supports me."

If he didn't trust Yuan Zhong, he wouldn't have come here at this time.

"That is!"

Yuan Zhong grinned, "Don't you know what kind of relationship we have? For you, I've done so much... Ah, let's not be so formal."

Yuan Zhong thought to himself that he had staked a lot of his family fortune on Yuan Tao, so anyone who went against Yuan Tao was just making trouble for him.

Yuan Tao slowly began to speak: "I have recently been targeted by several assassination attempts, and I want to take revenge."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhong exclaimed in shock and anger, "Who dares to be so audacious! This is utterly lawless! Tell me who it is, and I'll have their entire family wiped out..."

Yuan Zhong paused, then uttered a Buddhist chant, recited a apology, and calmed himself down.

Yuan Tao said solemnly, "I don't know the specifics, but I can roughly guess who was responsible."

"That's it..."

Yuan Zhong frowned. "Then things are getting a bit complicated."

Without any evidence, it will probably be difficult to retaliate.

Even as the crown prince, if he wants to punish someone, he can't just arbitrarily deal with them without finding any evidence against them, which would only give others leverage over him.

Yuan Tao said unhurriedly, "But none of that matters. They're doing this simply to stop the reforms I'm leading..."

"Uncle Wang is older than me and knows people better. I want to know, in Heping City, Luoyang, who are on our side, who can be trusted and won over? And in the army..."

Yuan Zhong felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this; these words were not simple at all.

They're even in the military... what are they trying to do?

Yuan Tao continued, "I want to build a prosperous and powerful Wei Kingdom. Some people seem unwilling to see this. Wouldn't such people be considered traitors to the country? If they are traitors, then there's nothing more to say."

Yuan Zhong's mind raced as he tried to understand Yuan Tao's words.

Yuan Zhong couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Your Highness, what do you want?"

Yuan Tao solemnly declared, "Purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the treacherous ministers."

Yuan Zhong's heart skipped a beat; he knew it...

Yuan Zhong looked at Yuan Tao, his eyes wide, and asked, "You, have you thought this through?"

Yuan Tao nodded emphatically and said, "My mind is made up. In a way, it was they who forced me onto this path."

Yuan Tao sighed inwardly. Some people were too short-sighted. For short-term gains, they insisted on opposing him and even dared to plot an assassination.

He doesn't want to investigate who did it now; he'll just suppress all dissenting voices when he gets to that point.

Yuan Zhong was at a loss for words, not expecting Yuan Tao to have such an idea so quickly.

After a long silence, Yuan Zhong finally spoke, "This matter needs to be discussed carefully..."

This is a huge deal; if it's handled poorly, it could lead to utter ruin.

Yuan Zhong couldn't help but ask, "What are your plans?"

Yuan Tao then expressed his thoughts.

Yuan Zhong's eyes flickered as he listened, thinking to himself that Yuan Tao was still too young and lacked some details in his plans, but his general ideas were sound.

However, details determine success or failure. Throughout history, the failures of rebellions... oh, the failures of purging the emperor's inner circle were basically due to very small oversights.

Yuan Zhong sat there and began to think carefully.

Yuan Tao stayed quietly to the side, not disturbing the other party. He knew that his uncle was very capable and could be a great help to him.

After a while, Yuan Zhong slowly opened his eyes, his eyes gleaming.

"Let's do it! I'll take the gamble with Your Highness!"

Yuan Zhong slapped his thigh and said in a deep voice, "If it works out, put everything else aside, could you also grant me a Bodhisattva status?"

Yuan Zhong had been a prince for most of his life, and the high-ranking official positions and generous salaries in the imperial court were just so-so; there was really nothing worth pursuing.

It would be more practical to seek a Buddhist monastic status.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tao thought for a moment and said, "Now that the orthodox Buddhist sect has emerged, it is not easy to cultivate to the true Bodhisattva level, which may require great merit. However, I will help Uncle Wang to secure a position."

"Okay, okay!" Yuan Zhong beamed with joy upon hearing this. He wouldn't have believed it if Yuan Tao had agreed so readily.

Yuan Chong was overjoyed for a moment, then composed himself and said, "Let's talk about the current matter first. As for Pingcheng, we can win over quite a few people..."

……

"Are all the Chu armies so easily defeated?"

Wang Meng stood atop a newly occupied city, watching the smoke rising from within and the sounds of battle still lingering, and couldn't help but sigh.

Since he personally led his army into Chu, he has not encountered any powerful enemies along the way.

Those righteous gods of Chu were also easily defeated and posed no threat whatsoever.

In the distance, several figures flew over.

The man in the middle looked disheveled, his body bound by fine iron chains that exuded a mysterious power.

The group quickly landed in front of Wang Meng.

"General, the local City God has been found..."

Wang Meng narrowed his eyes, looking at the City God of Chu before him.

The city god, his gag lifted, hurriedly said, "I am from the Mi clan of the Chu state. General, if you would release me..."

"Snapped!"

A burly soldier stepped forward and slapped the City God so hard that he saw stars and was speechless.

Wang Meng smiled slightly and said, "This general is not one to kill innocent people indiscriminately. How about this, I'll give you a chance..."

Upon hearing this, the City God's eyes lit up, filled with a desire to live.

Wang Meng glanced at a spot below the city and raised his chin. "Those are the people of the city. They must have received a lot of protection from you, the City God. As long as they beg you to let them live, I will spare them for now."

Wang Meng gestured to his subordinates.

Several soldiers dragged the city god directly to a section of the city wall and displayed him to the crowd below.

A soldier spoke up loudly: "This is your former City God. Our general said that if he is a good priest who has protected you a lot, then as long as you plead for him, our general will spare his life for the time being!"

The soldiers' voices were loud and clear, echoing throughout the surrounding area.

Many Shu soldiers and Chu civilians below turned their heads to look at the figure on the city wall.

Upon hearing these words, none of the people spoke for a moment.

When the City God saw what was happening below, his heart sank to the bottom.

Those ordinary people who used to bow and kowtow before him now showed no reverence whatsoever. Their gazes towards him varied, some indifferent, some gloating, and some filled with hatred...

Why did this happen? Why did this happen? This shouldn't be happening! The City God was filled with unease.

He couldn't help but shout angrily, "Speak up! Why won't you speak! I am your City God, how can you..."

"kill him……"

Below, someone whispered something.

These words were like a boulder smashing the calm surface of a lake.

"kill him!"

"kill him!"

"He deserves to die!"

……

The Chu people were filled with indignation, becoming even more agitated than the Shu soldiers.

The City God felt a chill in his heart, thinking how dare these lowly commoners speak like that.

One of the soldiers holding the City God grinned and raised a large sword that radiated intense killing intent.

"No, you can't..."

The City God's pupils dilated, sensing the approach of death.

A flash of light, and a head fell to the ground.

The intense killing intent completely shattered the City God's soul, leaving him utterly dead.

The soldier slowly sheathed his sword, the killing intent contained within the blade even stronger than before.

"Hey, this City God is more worthwhile than the last official."

The soldier smiled and then sheathed his broadsword.

Wang Meng said calmly, "Send people to dismantle the temples throughout the city, appease the people, and re-register them into the register of citizens of our Great Shu..."

A subordinate, upon receiving the order, hurried off to carry it out.

Wang Meng remained standing on the city wall, clad in armor, pondering the upcoming battle.

Outside the city, several figures strode in, their speed neither hurried nor slow, yet far exceeding that of ordinary people.

A sharp-eyed scout spotted the group and exclaimed, "Hmm? Unidentified people are coming! They look like... Buddhist monks?"

Those around him were taken aback by what they heard and looked curiously towards the outside of the city.

These Shu soldiers had little contact with Buddhist monks; they had mostly heard stories about Buddhism, and not of a good reputation.

However, it wasn't until last year when the orthodox Buddhist tradition reappeared that they gained a different impression of Buddhism, though not much.

Wang Meng opened his eyes and looked outside the city. He saw that five young monks dressed in plain clothes had arrived outside the city gate.

Wuqiu slightly raised his head, looked up at the top of the city wall, put his hands together in a gesture of respect, and said, "This humble monk is Wuqiu, a monk from the White Horse Temple of the Wei Kingdom, who practices Mahayana Buddhism. I greet all benefactors!"

The soldiers had never heard of Wuqiu, but they knew about the White Horse Temple in Wei.

Someone asked, "What are you monks doing here instead of chanting scriptures in Wei? Can't you see there's a war going on here? Are you looking for death?"

The soldiers nearby all laughed when they heard this.

Wuqiu said, “It is precisely because I heard that the war here is ongoing that I have come to relieve the innocent people suffering… May Buddha have mercy. I have heard that you soldiers have occupied this city. Please refrain from killing and spare the lives of the innocent people…”

The soldiers looked at each other strangely. So you're here under the guise of orthodox Buddhism, here to save people from suffering? Don't you know your place?

Wang Meng looked at the monks and said with a smile, "Is the Wei Kingdom already in a state of peace and prosperity? Why would you monks from the White Horse Temple come here to help the people?"

Wuqiu said, "Wei is at peace, and the people here need help even more. This humble monk is willing to provide money and provisions in exchange for the lives of those people..."

Wang Meng said calmly, "This place will belong to the Great Shu in the future, and the people here will also be the people of the Great Shu. There are some things that are not for you to worry about."

Wang Meng paused for a moment, then said, "You do have the heart of a bodhisattva, which reminds me of an old friend."

Wuqiu's eyes flickered upon hearing this. "General, do you know Mr. Lu?"

"Mr. Lu?"

Wang Meng narrowed his eyes. "You mean Lu Zheng?"

Wuqiu nodded. "I studied under Mr. Lu for a period of time. Although I only learned the basics, it is enough for me to benefit for a lifetime."

Wang Meng was surprised, not expecting that this young monk had such a relationship with Lu Zheng.

Wang Meng said, "You all should come into the city and come up."

He was curious about the situation in the north, but he was too busy with the war to pay attention to it.

The army just happened to need to rest here for a while, which would allow them to find out the situation in Wei and with Lu Zheng. (End of Chapter)