Chapter 334: Chapter 57: Neither of the Two Options
The elder was leaving.
He had received the response he wanted from Jiang Li, so there was no need to ask further.
Yet before he left, he posed one more question.
"Yesterday, I heard that there was a debate between a scholar from the Imperial College and a disciple from the Mo Sect; Young Master Jiang was listening from the adjoining room. But I wonder, to Young Master Jiang, between the teachings of confucianism and mohism, which is superior and which does Young Master Jiang favor?"
Jiang Li was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, as he hadn’t expected the elder to ask such a question.
His mind raced, but he spoke calmly about the characteristics of confucianism and mohism, "The Confucians honor the superior, the Mohists root among the inferior; one preaches benevolence, the other universal love. It would be hard for juniors like me to judge which is superior."
Jiang Li wasn’t a historian, nor was he a sociologist, and though he possessed the common male propensity for politics, he still felt unqualified to discuss the superiority or inferiority of the current world’s confucian and mohist ideologies.
"It’s hard to judge which one is superior, does that mean you already favor one?" asked the elder.
Jiang Li had more to say, indicating there was more to his thoughts.
"I do have a humble opinion," he said slowly, "I favor none of the teachings of confucianism and mohism."
"Whether it’s the confucians who stress the roles of the ruler and subjects, or the mohists who believe in universal love and non-aggression, they all demand people to act in certain ways. Yet, I lean towards what I want to do, hence, I favor neither confucianism nor mohism."
It wasn’t about what I should do but what I want to do.
Unbound, unregulated, and free from taboos.
"This, indeed, is a true reflection of Mystic Sect thinking."
After a soft chuckle, the elder fell silent outside the door, as if he had already departed.
Shortly after, Tianxuan’s voice rang in his ears, "It seems that the Imperial College is showing a preference."
"Yes," Jiang Li nodded softly, "This is good news."
Though he did not reveal his identity, the standpoint that the elder represented was already clearly expressed. He was representing the Imperial College for this brief conversation.
He specifically mentioned not handing over Ming Yang, which indicated that the Imperial College would adhere to morals. And morals are, fundamentally, a set of widely accepted rules.
What is commonly accepted in Great Zhou is, naturally, the succession of the Emperor.
But a one-sided expression like this is ultimately not safe, so Jiang Li secured the leanings of the Imperial College with a guarantee, also addressing the other’s queries.
When the people from the Imperial College interacted with Jiang Li, they had already made a mistake...
What kind of mistake required the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer to bear guilt and seek forgiveness to put the Emperor at ease?
There could only be one answer.
...
...
"The Emperor desires immortality."
Standing by the lakeside, gazing at the rising and falling waves, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer sighed deeply, "Great Zhou has been at peace for eight hundred years, and now it faces a great turmoil."
No previous turmoil compared to the current, for past disturbances stemmed from clans and commoners, amounting to little more than minor ripples; even attempts by the western Buddha Country to spread its teachings couldn’t stir up significant waves within the borders of Great Zhou.
But now, it was the Emperor himself who intended to shake the eight-hundred-year order of Great Zhou. Though it seemed quiet now, once it erupted, it would be a massive wave, capable of rocking the foundation of the national altar.
"No need for undue concern, teacher."
The Confucian scholar came from behind, respectfully saying, "Leaving aside whether the Emperor can break through the limitations of the Dao Fruit, even if he manages, there will be opposition within the Ji Family, and the numerous court officials and clans will not allow the Emperor to proceed with this..."
He was a bit hesitant, but still said, "A foolish act."
"Each generation’s Emperor’s governing experience and cultivation insights are within the Emperor Dao Fruit. Once a new emperor ascends the throne, he can merge with the understanding from the Dao Fruit. Our Great Zhou has continued to this day without ever having a foolish monarch."
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer shook his head and said, "But you are not wrong. Although the Emperor is indeed the supreme sovereign, longing for eternal life against the heavens is no easy task. We, who are among his subjects, remain loyal to the Sacrificial Altar, and will not stand idly by."
At this point, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer had concealed the slight worry he had previously shown, becoming more introspective.
"Yun Shan, you have heard my conversation with that child of the Jiang family. What do you think?" the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer asked, seemingly with a deeper meaning.
Upon hearing this, the Confucian Scholar Yun Shan pondered for a while then replied, "Jiang Li of the Jiang family is not a common man."
"Yes, not a common man. I originally wanted his elders to reply, but unexpectedly, just he alone possessed the wisdom to match wits with me," said the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer with a laugh.
Yun Shan added, "With such a scheming mind, this youth might cause chaos in the future."
Although they opposed the Emperor’s desire for eternal life, both the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer and Yun Shan placed the stability of the Great Zhou Sacrificial Altar as their top priority.
An Emperor desiring immortality must be guarded against, and so must Jiang Li as a potential seed of chaos.
Jiang Li had already proven his strength, and with such a scheming mind, if real chaos were to arise in the future, his status as an affiliated son-in-law might not be enough to suppress him.
"That’s why I asked him one final question."
The shining eyes of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer seemed to peer into one’s soul. "And he, indeed, was able to sense this point and made a promise. He doesn’t want to be asked to do anything; rather, it’s about what he wants to do... This youth truly is a genuine seed of cultivation."
Confucianism and Mohism are both schools for governing the realm. By directly stating his abandonment of Confucianism and Mohism, Jiang Li also indirectly expressed his disinterest in ruling and his lack of ambition for courtly positions.
Moreover, in the court, what is most abundant are constraints, which naturally go against Jiang Li’s nature. Since he has spoken such words, it clearly signals that he does not intend to involve himself in the government.
With this, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer’s mind was somewhat eased.
With the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer’s experience in reading people, coupled with Dao Fruit Divine Power, he could sense that Jiang Li’s words came from the heart.
However, at the same time, it showcased just how airtight Jiang Li could be.
If he ever changed his mind one day, it would surely cause significant upheaval.
However, that was not something outsiders needed to worry much about.
’The girl from the Gongsun Family is not easy to deal with either,’ the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer thought to himself.
The immediate concern still lay with the Emperor. As for Jiang Li, even if he currently lacks ambition, if he ever harbored such ambitions, there would be those within the system designed to handle him, leaving no room for outsiders to intervene.
"Then, teacher, what should we do next?" asked Yun Shan.
"Wait."
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer calmly said, "This time, not only did it fail to serve as a warning, but it also incited defiance. The one from the Ji Family will certainly not let things rest. Additionally, Jiang Li’s attack can be seen as a kind of omen. Now, someone will have to make a choice."
In simple terms, it was about choosing sides.
The Imperial College was not just about the Sacrificial Officer; the Imperial College Scholars also had their own backgrounds and would be influenced by familial ties, relationships, and various other factors to take a stance. Even many of the lecturers in the Imperial College were affiliated with different parties.
After all, this was the Imperial College, an institute affiliated with the court, not just any sect.
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer intended to use this as an opportunity to discern where loyalties lay.
And the criterion for this discernment—
Was Jiang Li.
"Since the Imperial College has been put in such a difficult position, letting him exert some effort is only fitting," Yun Shan said with a smile.