Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 636: Win, win big, win terribly.

When we actually sat down and had a proper chat, it was clear that Lao Zhang had made a qualitative improvement compared to more than ten years ago.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Old Zhang, the one who can be said to be a genius like Xia Lin, is just not as brilliant as Xia Lin. Most of the time, people are just dazzled by the dazzling star and overlook that there is such a bright star next to this star that is enough to make people stop and watch.

Over the years in the imperial court, he rose step by step from the position of advisor in the Ministry of Rites to a position where he could rival the prime minister without being at a disadvantage and even achieve a steady victory. He was able to wield the power of investigation within the capital region without incurring resentment, and he was able to push his competitors to the mountains to build irrigation canals.

If it weren't for Xia Lin, Zhang Zhongchun would be the most dazzling star in this chaotic era.

He was six or seven years older than Xia Lin, and at the age of thirty-three, he was already the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. If he really didn't have any skill or ability, could he have done it?

"That's how it is. I know there are some things you can't say, so I talked with Anmus for a long time yesterday. I told him that this matter needs to be prioritized, with cases from humble backgrounds handled less seriously, cases from aristocratic families handled more seriously, cases from the military handled less seriously, and cases from the imperial court handled more urgently. Ordinary people should be punished as equals, with minor punishments to serve as a warning. Aristocratic scions should be punished as equals, to make an example of them. Don't be afraid of killing, be afraid of not eradicating the root of the problem."

"You've got him killed."

Xia Lin tapped the table: "He will suffer the backlash."

"Do you think he doesn't understand?" Old Zhang's gaze sharpened at this moment: "Ten years ago, he had already prepared to use his body to cultivate the law. I'm not harming him, I'm helping him achieve his goal. Even forging a sword requires human blood, but forging a law? He told me that he was fully prepared to die for his cause, to create eternal glory with his own strength, and to write a codex with his blood, which would make his journey worthwhile."

“This bastard…” Xia Lin looked up: “It was my oversight.”

"Not negligent? How can this be negligent? This is fulfillment, fulfillment! Anzi has kept this in mind his whole life. Perhaps in the future, when people talk about Legalism, they will not only mention Guan Zhong, Shi Gai, Zi Chan, Li Kui, Wu Qi, Shang Yang, Shen Dao, Shen Buhai, Yue Yi, and Han Fei, but also Anzi. At that time, Anzi will not be pronounced lightly. Teachers in schools will teach students to emphasize the word 'zi' when reading Anzi. How is that not worth it? It is extremely worth it."

"Oh, right." Old Zhang suddenly tapped the table: "Anzi asked me to pass on a message to you."

"explain."

At this moment, Old Zhang cleared his throat: "I have heard that the law is the cornerstone of the nation, like the North Star and the constellations. Although it turns from light to darkness, its course cannot be changed. Now, I sacrifice myself for the cause, not only to face boiling water and razor blades, but also to use my liver and gall as an epitaph and my blood to inscribe the law. Even if the sky collapses and the earth falls, my spine will stand firm; even if my body perishes and my form vanishes, the lineage of the law will live on forever."

Listen, my friend: When Shang Yang moved the log to establish trust, he had already forged the backbone of the Qin people; when Han Yu wrote his book to clarify the law, he had already foreseen the world becoming clear and bright. I emulate the sages of old, cutting my hair and tearing my clothes, preferring to be struck by lightning rather than allow even the slightest transgression of the law. If one day I hear the mournful sound of bells and tripods, it will not be my death—this is a sign of the revival of the law, a sign that the whole land will rejoice.

"That blockhead!" Xia Lin slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "I'm going to fire him!"

"Let him be," Old Zhang laughed. "Rebuilding the Shenzhou's structure isn't about your intelligence; it's about people like him, one after another, sacrificing themselves. Those who change the world are those who give their lives. Aren't you always prepared to sacrifice yourself? What? You're allowed to do it, but others aren't?"

Xia Lin half-closed his eyes. He didn't even need to think about what would happen to An Zi. If he really did that, he would surely die when the aristocratic families launched their second counterattack. No one could protect him. But if he didn't die, the aristocratic families' restoration would truly succeed. Only when he died, and blood flowed into people's hearts, could the first shot of resistance be truly fired.

The colossal trees rooted in the land of Kyushu can only be felled by battle axes forged with blood; they cannot be killed outright.

"Ouch..." Xia Lin covered his forehead: "One of the few gentlemen in the world."

“That’s what a gentleman is for,” Old Zhang reminded him. “Only the death of a gentleman is truly meaningful. You and I, who are just petty and despicable people, are simply gone when we die. What we can do is make sure he doesn’t die in vain and that no one throws mud at him.”

The atmosphere became heavy, and even the sizzling pork belly couldn't spark any banter between the two. They drank cup after cup of warm wine in silence.

The heavy snow made the world seem desolate. Xia Lin leaned against the window frame, his ears flushed red from the hot wine. Old Zhang had already fallen asleep at the table.

The house was quiet, save for the crackling of snow breaking thin bamboo and the soft patter of snowflakes hitting the roof. He racked his brains for over 1,200 ways to save Anzi, but none of them could. If something really happened to Anzi, Xia Lin would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

It's even possible that Anzi will be assassinated halfway through the process.

"It's over." Xia Lin clutched her hair, filled with regret. "Why did I choose him..."

But Anzi wasn't idle at the moment. He was drafting a code that would never take effect before he died. It was a code that restricted hereditary succession and the system of succession by substitution. Once this code was enacted, he didn't care what happened in private, but hereditary succession would become illegal in the system.

Perhaps some people will still find loopholes to climb the ladder, but they certainly won't be like those who rise through bloodlines now, daring to openly mock those who rise through hard work.

This is a huge chain reaction, pushing what was originally reasonable and legal into illegality, which then becomes a reason for enemies to attack. It shifts from high-profile to low-profile, and may not disappear, but it is like cutting a major artery.

Anzi knew that this law would kill him, and kill him horribly, but it didn't matter. Only if he died could the law be implemented. Legalism would never be extinguished, and Legalists would never die out. Principles and justice could be ignored, but they would always exist.

However, the Legalist sword is double-edged, so it can kill both others and itself, leaving no other way.

The next day, as the rooster crowed at dawn, the first batch of people to be thoroughly investigated had already been arrested for various reasons, and the entire city of Jinling was filled with panic.

There's a war going on outside, and arrests are happening inside. Who wouldn't tremble at the sight of that?

Today is the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter).

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, a thousand miles away, Li Jiancheng had already deployed two thousand axemen around the palace, waiting for Li Shimin and San Niang to come and pay their respects to Li Yuan today.

At this moment, Li Jiancheng was already somewhat insane. If Li Shimin hadn't returned, he might have been even worse off. But he actually came back, and appeared with his sister. In the past few days, rumors have been circulating in the city that Li Shimin intends to use his military achievements to force Li Yuan to pass the throne to him.

This made him sense a crisis, and at the same time led him down the path he least wanted to take.

He couldn't wait for the throne; he wanted it today.

Li Yuan was fond of raising Gu gu, wasn't he? What if there was only one viper left in the Gu gu? Who could he choose?

Therefore, taking advantage of his position as crown prince, he planted two thousand men to ambush around the palace. As soon as the whistle blew, the two thousand men would appear and kill Li Shimin and others. He wanted to carry the corpses of his younger brother and sister-in-law to see Li Yuan and tell his father that there was only one crown prince in Chang'an and there could only be one crown prince.

Today, Chang'an is sunny and warm, though there is a chill in the wind.

Li Shimin, along with his third sister and several accompanying military officers, entered the palace to report to Li Yuan on the situation in various places over the past few days. However, when they arrived near the palace, their sixth sense, honed from years of fighting on the battlefield, told them that something was amiss.

murderous look!
Li Shimin and his sister exchanged a glance, and the two of them tightened their grip on the reins in tacit agreement, but they did not stop, but continued to walk forward.

"Erfeng, will it really happen today?"

"Don't you understand your elder brother?" Li Shimin smiled bitterly. "Sister, do you still feel sorry for your elder brother right now?"

(End of this chapter)