Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 296 The Chu Royal Family
When Zhao Ming first heard about Lu Zheng's ambitions and ideas, he thought that Lu Zheng was too young and ignorant.

But after hearing what Lu Zheng said, he even thought of the demise of all the countries in the world. It was obvious that this was not a momentary impulse, but a true insight into the rise and fall of the world.

At this moment, Zhao Ming's sleeves shook and a scroll flew out.

The scroll unfolded in mid-air, shining brightly, and a portrait of a person appeared before the eyes.

The people in the painting are lifelike, wearing luxurious and colorful robes, with dignified faces and full of charm.

But then ripples appeared on the scroll, and the figure in it stepped out, emitting a powerful divine aura.

Seeing this, Zhao Ming said respectfully, "Lord City God!"

Mi Gu looked at Lu Zheng, his eyes flickering with a strange light. "As expected of a scholar blessed by the Holy Spirit, you are so young yet you can think so much and think so thoroughly. It's really rare..."

Mi Gu heard the conversation between Lu Zheng and Zhao Ming just now clearly, which inevitably gave him a deeper understanding of Lu Zheng.

Although Lu Zheng mentioned that the State of Chu would bring about its own destruction, Mi Gu did not care.

After all, their Chu State is now thriving. How could it really be destroyed because of Lu Zheng's words?

Mi Gu looked at Lu Zheng, his eyes full of approval.

Lu Zheng's expression remained calm as he bowed and said, "Greetings to the City God of Yongzhou."

Mi Gu folded his hands behind his back and said quietly, "It's a good thing for young people to have great ambitions, but they still need to be realistic. You want to jump outside the rules, are you trying to imitate those reclusive scholars and establish new theories? You are wholeheartedly serving the people, but the people of the world are governed by people. If you don't have something to rely on, how can you govern them? Even if you can establish a theory, won't it be just empty talk?"

There are many scholars in the world who have left the court and written books and founded schools of thought.

However, if those literati wanted to spread their ideas without the permission of the rulers, they would not be able to flourish and would only grow in their own circle.

Lu Zheng thought that what he wanted to do was not as simple as establishing a theory, and it was impossible to get the support of all the countries in the world, so he did not expect to rely on anyone.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "What the City God said is not without reason. However, I think it is better to rely on oneself than on others. When you reach the mountain, there will always be a way."

Mi Gu shook his head upon hearing this. "You've thought things through and you know the truth, yet you're still so stubborn? If you follow me now, you can do whatever you want in Yongzhou. I can help you realize your ambitions..."

Mi Gu couldn't understand Lu Zheng's stubbornness, but that didn't stop him from admiring Lu Zheng. If he could really win over Lu Zheng, he would probably become famous in both countries.

"Anything is fine." Lu Zheng looked at Mi Gu.

Mi Gu felt puzzled when he was looked at, and quickly added: "Of course, as long as it doesn't affect my incense offerings."

Lu Zheng was from Anguo and did not believe in gods. Mi Gu was afraid that he would demolish the temples all over Yongzhou.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I'm grateful for your appreciation, Mi City God. However, I'm still young and don't want to be confined to one place. I also plan to travel around the world and see all that the world has to offer. This will be more helpful to my cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Mi Gu sighed, "That's the good thing about being young. You're free and unfettered. Unlike me, I can't even visit other countries... Never mind, never mind. Nothing should be forced. Since you don't want to, I won't force you."

Having said that, Mi Gu did not mention recruiting Lu Zheng for the time being.

He didn't think he could convince Lu Zheng all at once. Some things couldn't be rushed and had to be done step by step.

Mi Gu smiled and said, "I've heard about you before. If you come to Chu, at least in Yongzhou, as long as you don't violate the laws of Chu, I will protect you..."

"If you want to slay wild gods, demons, or any righteous gods you dislike, you can do whatever you want..."

Hearing this, Lu Zheng couldn't help but reveal a strange look. What did this mean? Mi Gu actually supported him in such a matter?
Sensing Lu Zheng's subtle expression, Mi Gu whispered, "You're a smart man, so I won't beat around the bush with you... I've been the City God of Yongzhou for so long, and the incense I receive is getting worse year by year. How can I not know what the morals of those gods below are like?"

"But, they are all old acquaintances and old subordinates, so some things are difficult for me to handle!"

"If I punish them, they won't take it seriously if it's too light, but I won't be able to do it if it's too heavy."

"It's actually better for you, an outsider, to do this kind of thing. After all, you're a scholar from Anguo, and you've even received divine grace... As the City God of Yongzhou, I can't do anything to you just because my subordinates make mistakes, right? So, there are some things you can do with confidence!"

"You help me clean up some unruly gods, and you can also make a name for yourself through this. It's mutually beneficial!"

Lu Zheng blinked. This long-lived god in his mind was like an old fox, with many tricks in his head. He actually wanted to use him, an outsider, as a gun.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Master City God, aren't you afraid that you'll receive even less incense in the future?"

Mi Gu said leisurely, "There are so many people who want to become gods. When one group dies, a new group will come in. The new ones work harder, so how can there be less worship?"

Mi Gu originally wanted to replace some gods, but he couldn't find any good reason to remove the original priests. Now that Lu Zheng has come, he can take the opportunity to make trouble.

This was also the reason why he had allowed the gods from all over the place to encounter Lu Zheng before. If anything happened, they could handle it themselves. He did not want to come forward to protect certain gods.

Ginger is still spicy with age! Lu Zheng muttered in his heart.

Lu Zheng even suspected that this was what Mi Gu wanted to talk about. Zhao Ming's previous attempt might have been to test whether he had the ability.

Mi Gu continued, "Of course you have your own plans. I'm not forcing you to do anything. I just want to tell you that as long as you stay within Yongzhou and don't do anything out of line, this god will protect you!"

"The City God is so kind." Lu Zheng couldn't help but reply.

Lu Zheng did not refuse immediately, nor did he agree immediately.

He didn't want to be told what to do, but it was hard to say whether he would encounter some unreasonable gods in the future.

"Well, we each get what we need." Mi Gu's eyes were dim. "Don't think too highly of me. Young people should be more cautious when they go out. Mi loves talents, of course, also for the sake of gaining benefits for himself."

Lu Zheng nodded upon hearing this.

Mi Gu looked at Zhao Ming beside him and asked, "Where are the gifts you brought?"

Zhao Ming quickly took out two gift boxes and presented them to Lu Zheng.

Mi Gu said with a chuckle, "You two have come from afar and are honored guests, so I've prepared two small gifts for you. Don't refuse! I'm not giving them away for free either. I like to collect calligraphy and paintings. How about you exchange one of your own handwritten works for me?"

Lu Zheng thought for a moment and asked, "What does the City God of Mi want?"

Mi Gu said: "Whatever you write will do."

Upon seeing this, Lu Zheng took out a piece of cultural treasure and unfolded the paper, revealing four large characters on it: Evil cannot prevail over good!

Even though they were at a distance, Mi Gu and Zhao Ming could both feel the vast aura contained in it.

"What a great example of good prevailing over evil!"

Mi Gu's eyes sparkled as he exclaimed in admiration, "Not bad, not bad, pure righteousness! Judge Zhao, this calligraphy is better than yours, haha, put it away for me!"

Mi Gu has collected many calligraphy and paintings by literati, but there are very few cultural treasures like this one that possess pure and upright spirit.

Zhao Ming looked at the four big characters and felt that he couldn't write them.

He waved his hand, and a long wooden box flew out from his sleeve. Then the wooden box opened and put a piece of treasure inside.

Then, the wooden box returned to Zhao Ming's sleeve.

Mi Gu then ordered, "Open the gift box."

Zhao Ming opened the two gift boxes. Inside each box was a thumb-sized round spirit bead, one azure blue and the other fiery red.

Mi Gu explained slowly, "This is a blue spiritual pearl from the East China Sea. Wearing it has the effect of warming the soul and also protects against water. This is a fire-avoiding pearl from the Wei Kingdom. They have similar effects and are not worth much, so keep them for now!"

Mi Gu knew that the gift he prepared was too expensive and Lu Zheng might not accept it, so he took two rare and inexpensive gems.

Lu Zheng felt that the quality of the two spirit beads was indeed not high, so he nodded and took them, and shared one with Qing Wan.

Seeing Lu Zheng accept the gift, Mi Gu was very happy. "Great! By the way, next month on the ninth day of the ninth month, the Double Ninth Festival, I will lead my subordinates to ascend the heavens to offer sacrifices. You can come to the outside of Yongzhou City to pay your respects."

The Double Ninth Festival on September 9th is a festival celebrated in all countries, but the way of celebration varies from place to place.

In Anguo, people would worship their ancestors, officials would take a day off, and some festivals would be held, such as climbing mountains and appreciating chrysanthemums. As for ceremonies to worship the sky, there were very few, and most of them were sacrifices to the Confucian Temple.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is the City God of Mi going to personally ascend the heights to offer sacrifices to the heavens?"

Mi Gu smiled and said, "Yes, there is a ceremony to worship the heaven every year, and not everyone is qualified to watch. If we are lucky and there is a rain or auspicious signs from heaven, it will also benefit us."

"Good luck?" Lu Zheng was a little surprised when he heard that.

Mi Gu said quietly, "The laws of nature are ever-changing. Even gods like us cannot predict them. Even if we offer sincere sacrifices to the heavens, we will not always receive a response from the heavens."

Lu Zheng understood a little and nodded slightly, "Just like the common people offering sacrifices to the gods?"

"Uh..." Mi Gu didn't know how to respond after hearing that.

Lu Zheng looked up at the sky and asked curiously, "The City God of Mi must have offered sacrifices to the heaven many times. Does anyone know if the heaven has thoughts?"

Mi Gu shook his head and said, "How can the heavens have thoughts? Sometimes the heavens respond because they accidentally touch upon some rules... But how can we, the creatures of this world, see through the various rules of the heavens?"

Lu Zheng asked, "A country carries the destiny of heaven and earth. Doesn't that require the approval of heaven and earth?"

Mi Gu smiled and said, "The so-called recognition is actually just a statement we impose. For example, everyone says that retribution will come, but the laws of heaven and earth don't care about the lives of ordinary people. There are many evil people, demons and ghosts in the world, but I have never seen anyone get struck by lightning for no reason. Either the thunder happened to be brewing and was triggered, or someone else brought the thunder on..."

(End of this chapter)