novelapdf Chapter 114 Meritorious Deeds for the Present Generation
Chapter 114 Meritorious Deeds for the Present Generation
Chapter 114 Meritorious Deeds for the Present Generation
"I don't believe it!" Zhang Jingheng said in a deep voice, "Why would he ask you to do this?"
Huang Qi said, "Because the emperor is extremely suspicious, he said he would pave the way with his death. But if the emperor and the powerful don't feel the pain, then no matter how much the knife cuts off, it will be of no use."
"So, I want you to hit them hard, so that the powerful and wealthy will feel real pain."
"I didn't quite understand before, but seeing how your national policies are implemented, I realize how insightful he is."
Zhang Jingheng couldn't help but take several steps back, his face pale.
The world believed that Huang Qi's uprising was due to the extreme oppression he had suffered.
Who would have thought that it was Tang Shijun, the Duke of Ming, who secretly provided the financial assistance?
Zhang Jingheng quickly realized that the teacher had not done anything wrong.
If it weren't for the fierce fighting of the refugee army, even with Emperor Chongming's support, how could those powerful figures have so easily allowed the national policy to continue?
The teacher is indeed paving the way, but not just the one path he sees.
The interplay of light and shadow has created the current trend.
Even though the existence of the refugee army caused many innocent people to die or be injured.
But compared to the powerful and wealthy who prey on ordinary people, the lower classes suffer terribly, their lives worse than death.
Or, the situation of the Jing Kingdom collapsing and various warlords fighting each other would be much better.
Huang Qi sighed: "But I must admit that many people later became too ambitious and forgot their original aspirations."
"You may kill me or torture me, it is entirely up to you. But if possible, do not involve any other people."
"Those who have followed me to this day are all truly devoted to the country."
Previously, Zhang Jingheng wouldn't have listened to a single word of nonsense.
But now, he was utterly shocked.
After a moment, Huang Qi said, "After I die, could you please send my body back to Pingshui Town?"
Zhang Jingheng took a few deep breaths, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and asked, "You want to go back to Pingshui Town?"
Huang Qi nodded and said, "I lived there when I was young, so naturally I want to go back after I die. It's just a pity that no one will take care of my parents' graves."
Zhang Jingheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Then let's go. Let's see what we need to see and say what we need to say."
Huang Qi was taken aback, seemingly not understanding what he meant.
Then, a jailer came over, helped him remove his shackles, and brought him clean clothes and food.
Huang Qi looked utterly astonished: "What is this—"
Zhang Jingheng said calmly, "The prefect of this place, Song Qizheng, is my protégé. He can testify that you can bite your tongue and commit suicide here."
"I shouldn't have tolerated you, but if you really were the second person the teacher chose, you've worked hard all these years."
"But keep this a secret, and don't tell anyone!"
Emperor Chongming was extremely suspicious, and there were countless spies around him.
Having witnessed Tang Shijun's death, how could Zhang Jingheng be foolish enough not to build his own team?
Fortunately, Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, has been providing for me a great deal of support over the years.
With him around, Emperor Chongming wouldn't notice anything unusual.
Song Jieyuan, who had taught Chu Xun a lesson in Fenggu City back then, actually became the second-place scholar in the imperial examination and went to become a disciple of Zhang Jing.
More than a decade has passed, and he has become a third-rank prefect.
Upon hearing this, Huang Qi felt a mix of emotions.
He didn't mince words; as he changed out of his prison uniform, he asked, "Who wrote you the letter?"
Zhang Jingheng said expressionlessly, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
Huang Qi did not ask any more questions. After changing into clean clothes, he left the cell on his own.
That night, all the prisoners in the cell died.
They were already serious criminals awaiting execution; it made no difference whether they died sooner or later.
As for releasing Huang Qi without permission, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
He said that the uprising was instigated by Tang Shijun.
Zhang Jingheng held his deceased mentor in the highest esteem and naturally did not want to kill Huang Qi directly.
With the help of the local prefect and some of his own secret forces, it wouldn't be difficult to fake his suicide.
Moreover, Emperor Chongming is now quite old and under too much pressure, so he has lost interest in governing.
He indulged in pleasure in the harem every day and even sought out alchemists to refine elixirs in search of immortality.
Many matters were relayed by Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Releasing Huang Qi this time was also a test by Zhang Jingheng.
However, the one being tested was not Emperor Chongming, but the old eunuch who had accompanied Emperor Chongming for many years.
Songliu River, torrential rain pours down.
Chu Xun stood on the bank, gazing at the river.
The essence of Ren water is condensed silently, presenting a faint blue color that appears unremarkable.
A giant python, blue and white in color, snaked its way out of the water.
After years of being nourished by the essence of Ren water, the blue-white python has now reached an astonishing length of thirty zhang, with scales all over its body as white as jade.
Its head is a small hill, more than ten feet high and wide enough to cover a house.
Its vertical pupils were as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool, and its blood-red tongue emitted a foul stench with every breath.
The green python and the white python have grown a bit in the past few years, but they are only about seventeen or eighteen zhang long.
In front of the blue-white python, it became "small".
A 30-zhang (approximately 13 meters) python is an unimaginably enormous creature.
Even the slightest movement underwater can cause a surge of waves.
"No wonder you attracted a heavenly tribulation when you transformed into a dragon. You are only thirty feet tall and you already have such power. When you reach a hundred feet, won't you cause a flood with just a move?"
The blue-white python opened its mouth and swallowed the trace of Ren water essence, then affectionately leaned forward and rubbed against Chu Xun's arm.
Fortunately, it was raining heavily at the time, and no one could see what was happening, otherwise they would have been scared to death.
He patted the blue-white python's head, signaling it to go back to the river.
Chu Xun turned around and went back to Songguo Village.
After he left, the rain quickly stopped.
Upon arriving at the fields, Chu Xun deliberately slowed his pace.
As water and earth magic were continuously used, the soil in the fields within a thousand feet became much looser.
A faint mist, imbued with a subtle spiritual energy, covers the roots.
This is the key to Songguo Village's consecutive years of bumper harvests.
If you have the ability, you can easily help others without suffering any loss.
Upon entering the village, a young woman holding a baby called out to Chu Xun, "Ah Chen, you're out in the fields?"
Chu Xun nodded, gave a few casual replies, and walked away.
The young woman watched his departing figure, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
When Chu Xun returned to Songguo Village after regaining his youth, many young girls in and around the village were infatuated with him.
He came from a wealthy family, had a handsome appearance, and although he had no official rank, he was well-educated and reasonable.
Most importantly, he also had Zhang Jing, the Minister of Revenue, as a relative.
If I could marry him, it would be the best thing that would happen to my ancestors.
Countless people have proposed marriage to Chu Xun, but he has rejected them all.
To this day, no woman has been able to get into his bed.
As time went by, the village girls grew up and got married.
But whenever I see Chu Xun, who is in her thirties, although she looks much more mature, she is still pretty, and I feel even more empty inside.
What we don't have is always the best, and this applies most aptly to them.
When Chu Xun returned to his own courtyard, he saw someone standing at the door.
Hearing footsteps, the man turned around and saw Huang Qi, who had been secretly released.
Upon seeing Chu Xun, Huang Qi's expression was somewhat complicated.
After sighing, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Ah Qiao greets Mr. Chu."
When he last came here, he was still the commander of the refugee army.
Now, returning to his hometown, he is the same Ah Qiao he once was.
Chu Xun was not surprised that he could come back alive. Huan'er had served as the Minister of Revenue for so many years, implementing national policies and pursuing the refugee army.
He was the top man in the army, and Duke of Wei, Liao Shouyi, was also from the same hometown.
With the support of Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he held a position second only to the emperor in the court.
Saving a life, even if that person has committed a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family, is not difficult.
The only question is, why is Zhang Jingheng willing to protect him?
Chu Xun didn't ask that question immediately, but instead asked, "Where are my radishes?"
Huang Qi was taken aback, only then remembering that when he left Songguo Village, he had said that he would give the other person radishes when they met again.
He gave a wry smile and said, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sir."
Chu Xun pushed open the courtyard gate and let him in.
Huang Qi showed no intention of going in, saying only, "I have no face to enter your courtyard. I have only returned this time to see you, sir."
"Then I will go to the county school to pay homage to the Master."
"And then what do you do?" Chu Xun asked.
Huang Qi remained silent, unsure of what to do next.
"If there's really no place, I can get you a few acres of land in Pingshui Town to farm, but you can't use the name Aqiao or Huang Qi anymore," Chu Xun said.
Huang Qi remained silent, and Chu Xun did not try to persuade him further, saying, "Think it over carefully before you speak, there's no rush."
After a moment, Huang Qi spoke up and asked, "I have something I'd like to ask you, sir."
"Please speak."
"My rebellion caused many deaths, but it also allowed national policies to proceed smoothly. Was it right or wrong?"
He used to believe that he was right, and that whatever he did was right.
But now, things are uncertain.
Chu Xun asked, "Do you think Wu's invasion was right or wrong?"
Huang Qi replied without hesitation, "Of course it's wrong."
Chu Xun shook his head and said, "It was wrong for us, but right for Wu. Invading brings temporary infamy, but future generations will have a much larger territory."
"This is what is meant by 'a meritorious deed for the present, a benefit for future generations.'"
Judging right and wrong based on this might be biased, but in this world, how many things are truly right and wrong?
"The judgment of right and wrong, merit and demerit, shall be made by future generations."
Huang Qi was slightly taken aback. After pondering it carefully for a long time, he could understand three-tenths of the reasoning, but not the whole truth.
Chu Xun waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, no rush, think about it slowly."
Huang Qi remained silent for a moment, then bowed to him and left.
Upon arriving at the county school, he dared not get too close, only gazing at the plaque that read "Learn to Apply What You've Learned" from afar.
In the school, Qiao Ziyan was teaching the students.
He is a straightforward and outspoken person who speaks loudly and passionately.
The students looked up at them, their faces filled with reverence.
At that moment, Huang Qi felt a pang of envy.
I can't help but recall what Confucius once said: "If you return to this place in the future, you can come here to study."
Looking back on the past, Huang Qi felt as if he were in a dream.
Her eyes were slightly red, and she sighed inwardly.
If we hadn't left Pingshui Town back then, perhaps it wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Chu Xun, who was in the courtyard, did not feel much about Huang Qi's return to his hometown.
For him, this was just a small part of the journey to immortality.
It's worth thinking about, but you don't need to keep it on your mind all the time.
Just as he was using magic to heat up the meteorite iron from outer space, preparing to hammer it again, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside.
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and the white-haired old general looked at Chu Xun, who was in his thirties.
After a moment of hesitation, he tentatively began to speak.
"Xun-ge'er?"