fifth form

Chapter 3327 Entering the Palace
Zhang Xuezhou returned to Chang'an earlier than usual.

News is always delayed; for Zhang Xuezhou and others, news from more than ten days ago was something many people were only just learning about.

The fall of Shanggu County City had a tremendous impact. From the city gate to the imperial city area, countless people were discussing the matter with solemn expressions, while some were also eager to rush to Shanggu County City to fight the enemy. Some cultivators even formed groups of three or five to agree to go on a long journey to fight.

It's hard to say what role these small groups can play, but Zhang Xuezhou has been in the Han Dynasty for over twenty years, and this is the first time he has seen such a situation.

Society seems to be slowly changing, with less of the previous antagonism and apathy, and more of a sense of belonging.

The situation in Chang'an is definitely not an isolated case. If Zhang Xuezhou can see this kind of situation in Chang'an, the situation in other cities will be more or less similar.

This trend is related to the guidance of the imperial court. If the court had acted like a coward when faced with an invasion and had sought peace and avoided war, it would have been met with condemnation from many. But it was precisely because the court stood up straight that many people in the Han Dynasty changed.

Confucius once said, "Repay kindness with kindness, and repay injustice with justice!"

As they traveled in the carriage, constantly observing the surroundings, Dong Zhongshu murmured something to himself.

“The sword is straight,” Zhang Xuezhou replied.

"A sword is only straight if it pierces the opponent's body!"

Dong Zhongshu took a deep breath and responded.

Zhang Xuezhou's attitude leaned towards war, which made Dong Zhongshu feel somewhat relieved.

The top-tier combat power in Beiju Luzhou includes Daojun, Zhujiuyin, and Jiuling Yuansheng, while the secondary combat power includes dozens of demon kings and hundreds of human great cultivators.

Among the top combat forces of the Han Dynasty, only Li Guang was the most famous. Leaders of schools of thought such as Dong Zhongshu were considered to be of secondary level, and cultivators who were not good at long-range attacks were ignored.

Winning a war is a difficult task, and even great monks can only play a supporting role on the flanks, and cannot determine the outcome of a war.

If the new emperor's summons to Chang'an this time is not related to the sudden death of the Prince of Jiangdu, then it must be for war.

Dong Zhongshu needed to provide a feasible suggestion, or even participate in it.

The new emperor cannot afford to lose, and neither can the opponent.

"I'll need to bother you for a few days!"

The carriage finally stopped in front of Zhang Xuezhou's residence.

Having been confirmed dead by the Nine-Headed Lion, Zhang Xuezhou felt reassured and returned to his residence.

His residence was unassuming, without even a plaque. If one did not investigate carefully, or if Hongku and others came to his door in person, it would be difficult to find him.

Zhang Xuezhou jumped off the carriage, while Dong Zhongshu cupped his hands in greeting, indicating that he needed to go to the palace first.

"You can stay a little longer," Zhang Xuezhou said, bowing in return. "We recently obtained a decree that allows us to go to the palace to get food every day, so we no longer need to worry about not having enough to eat here!"

"The conditions here have really improved a lot!"

Dong Zhongshu rarely praised him.

Zhang Xuezhou was very enthusiastic, but he practiced fasting techniques, and his wife worked in the palace and was paid by the government, so the family had to eat whatever they could get by.

Gongsun Hong suffered from hunger quite a bit while he was there. Unfortunately, he didn't have much money and couldn't afford the high cost of living in Chang'an. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and get by. In his messages to Dong Zhongshu, he often mentioned borrowing money to buy food.

See you later!

Zhang Xuezhou knocked on the door, and Dou Shisan and the others quickly pushed it open.

Watching Zhang Xuezhou go inside, Dong Zhongshu shook his head slightly, then quickly walked forward.

In just a hundred meters, you enter the Sima Gate of the Imperial Palace.

Dong Zhongshu took the waist token and applied for permission. In a very short time, he was granted permission to enter the palace.

"Prime Minister Dong, this way please. His Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Garden!"

The Imperial Garden was close to Sima Gate, but Dong Zhongshu vaguely sensed that it was not just a matter of distance. The Imperial Garden was full of flowers, which also likely corresponded to an extreme killing intent.

If Dong Zhongshu hadn't intercepted Zhang Xuezhou to find out the situation, he would have truly thought that this scene was directed at him.

"Dong Qing, I remember you told me two years ago that the world needed to 'suppress all other schools of thought and promote the Six Classics'?"

As Dong Zhongshu stepped into the Imperial Garden, his gaze had barely landed on the head wearing the imperial crown when the new emperor's voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, the disputes between schools of thought have waned, and guiding Confucianism is now urgent," Dong Zhongshu said, bowing respectfully. "The simple unity of man and horse in the Northern Xiong Kingdom has defeated the diverse schools of thought in our Han Dynasty. The chaos in our Han Dynasty needs to be unified. Only the schools of thought that survive are qualified to talk about development. This is also the agreement made at the very beginning of the disputes between the Hundred Schools of Thought!"

"Are you sure that promoting Confucianism can defeat the Xiong Kingdom?" the new emperor asked.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty thinks it's acceptable!" Dong Zhongshu couldn't be sure about such a thing, but he had to agree to the request, otherwise, things would be difficult to continue.

"Since Zhongshu said it's possible, then it must be possible," the new emperor murmured, then added, "Confucianism is not bad, is it!"

“Confucianism is very strong,” Dong Zhongshu nodded.

“Being strong is a good thing,” the new emperor replied. “I am very interested in seeing the power of Confucianism!”

"Does Your Majesty wish for me to perform magic in the Imperial Garden?" Dong Zhongshu asked, bowing. "I possess the power to summon clouds and rain..."

"No, no, no, you don't need to perform magic in the Imperial Garden!"

Before Dong Zhongshu could finish his question, the new emperor interrupted him.

"Only actual combat can verify the strength of a technique," the new emperor declared.

"Actual combat?"

Dong Zhongshu felt a sudden unease, sensing that things were getting a little worse.

Those skilled in warfare have gone to lead troops into battle, while those skilled in city defense have gone to garrison the prefectural city!

The new emperor rose and faced Dong Zhongshu, leaving the rest of his words to Dong Zhongshu.

“Those skilled in magic certainly need to engage in magical duels… I wonder, Your Majesty, who do you require me to engage in magical duels with?” Dong Zhongshu asked, forcing himself to speak.

You'll know when the time comes!

The new emperor fixed his gaze on Dong Zhongshu.

In the Battle of Mayi, besides Zhang Xuezhou, who was piloting the Sky Shuttle and keeping up with the pace, Tian Fen was also riding the Sky Shuttle. Among the remaining magic users, only Dong Zhongshu participated in time and used magic to control the field.

Those skilled in magic and law who can keep up with the pace of war are extremely rare. Apart from pulling Zhang Xuezhou along, Dong Zhongshu is the new emperor's only choice.

The idea of ​​"suppressing all other schools of thought and promoting the Six Classics" is unimportant; what matters is getting Dong Zhongshu to serve the Han Dynasty and contribute his time and effort.

The new emperor doesn't care about the future; he only wants to win in the present.

The imperial court dispatched four cavalry regiments; this small test of strength must yield results.

"I heard you say that Confucianism is inclusive of all schools of thought, and that the school is extremely good at imitating others to make up for its own shortcomings. If I want a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand swords like this, could you, Minister Dong, imitate them?"

After Dong Zhongshu agreed to the matter, the new emperor slowly pointed to the sword in his hand and asked a question.

"I cannot!"

"Oh?"

"If Your Majesty can be open and honest, and is willing to give others a chance, then the people of the world can transform into a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand swords and charge forward wherever Your Majesty's sword points!"

The new emperor had barely frowned when Dong Zhongshu responded with his own words.

This response is unrealistic. What the new emperor needs are truly skilled cultivators, not just people from all over the world to make up the numbers.

The new emperor was clearly very dissatisfied with this answer.

"I am open and honest with you and am willing to give you the opportunity, but when will Minister Dong be able to produce these ten thousand swords?" the new emperor asked.

"This one……"

"One year? Two years? Three years? Five years? Or ten years?"

"This……"

"Is Confucianism merely empty talk, or does it truly possess the ability to fulfill my wishes?"

The new emperor trained his troops in the Shanglin Garden, and the soldiers were instructed by the corresponding captains based on their strengths, thus promoting development through a one-to-one approach.

Nearly ten years have passed, and the training of troops has not reached the level that the new emperor envisioned.

He couldn't help but place his hopes on Confucianism.

Dong Zhongshu once spoke at length about the benefits of widely promoting Confucianism, and the new emperor hoped that the effect would be one or two tenths of what Dong Zhongshu had said.

If the standards are met, Confucianism will become the national art of the Han Dynasty.

He stared intently at Dong Zhongshu, clearly wanting to get a definite answer from him.