Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 297 I have a plan

After hearing Mi Gu's explanation, Lu Zheng couldn't help but agree. Heaven and earth are not kind and would not care about anything in the world.

Even if there are occasional auspicious signs from heaven and earth, it is because someone has accidentally violated the rules of heaven and earth.

Lu Zheng then asked, "I've heard that after a saint dies, their will remains between heaven and earth. Does the City God of Mi know this?"

Mi Gu touched his chin and said, "There is such a saying, but I have never felt it. Such things are illusory and vague. I am afraid that few people in the world can personally feel the will of the saint."

Mi Gu didn't know why Lu Zheng asked these questions, but he didn't hide anything and told him everything he knew.

Lu Zheng’s mind was turning. The will of all living beings, the will of saints, heaven and earth... perhaps there was some connection between them.

Mi Gu stroked his beard and said leisurely, "You are still young, don't think about these profound things. When your cultivation level reaches a higher level, your understanding of the world will naturally become clearer."

Lu Zheng looked at Mi Gu and asked curiously, "I wonder what level Mi City God is in now?"

Upon hearing this, Mi Gu's expression became a little unnatural, and he sighed, "I'm at the peak of the fourth realm of the Divine Dao, but it's not easy to enter the fifth realm..."

What is important in Shinto practice is not talent, but the good fortune gained from the incense.

Mi Gu was the city god of a state. Even though he had a place in the Chudu Temple, it was difficult for him to reach the fifth level of the Shinto.

Even if he managed to reach the fifth level of the Shinto realm by force, without the huge support of incense, he would fall back to his original state.

The peak of the four realms of the divine way is the realm that Mi Gu can now maintain stably.

Seeing that Mi Gu had a worried look on his face, Lu Zheng thought that the gods in the eyes of the common people were not so high and mighty, and they also had many troubles.

To put it bluntly, these gods are just beings with slightly more powerful cultivation.

Lu Zheng smiled slightly and said, "It's actually not difficult for the City God of Mi to seek more incense."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Mi Gu's expression changed slightly. "You're not asking me to think more about the people, are you? Even if I do more, the people will only remember my kindness for a short time, but they won't remember it for long, and I won't get much worship from them."

When it comes to managing the people under his rule, Mi Gu feels that he knows better than Lu Zheng.

These gods need incense, but we cannot use An Guo’s methods. Otherwise, the people will live a comfortable life, and who will go to the temple to pray to the gods?
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, "That only means that Mi Cheng Huang hasn't done a good enough job and hasn't gained widespread popularity. If the people could constantly praise Mi Cheng Huang's virtues, there wouldn't be a shortage of incense offerings."

Seeing Lu Zheng say this, with a look of having a plan in mind, Mi Gu couldn't help but feel curious, "Hmm? Do you really have a plan? Please tell me in detail. If it really works, I will reward you handsomely."

Lu Zheng said slowly, "It is said that food is the most important thing for the people. As long as the people have enough to eat, they will be grateful."

Mi Gu felt puzzled. If the people had enough to eat, why would they still care about these gods?

Lu Zheng paused, then continued, "I have a plan. Mi City God could invest his own money to build water conservancy projects throughout Yongzhou to benefit the people. The canals he build would be named Mi Gu Canal, and the ponds he build would be named Mi Gu Pond... Once these water conservancy projects are completed, they will increase the people's income and benefit future generations. And since they're named after Mi City God, how could the people of Yongzhou forget his kindness?"

"In addition, the Mi City God can also allow people to cultivate good varieties. For example, the excellent rice is named Mi Gu rice, and the wheat variety is named Mi Gu wheat..."

"Of course, it's best for the City God to pay for these things himself. If the common people suffer, the gains will be more than the losses."

"When the time comes, it will be easier for each region to erect statues of the Mi City God than to have local gods or wild gods try to collect offerings."

Mi Gu's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he slapped his thigh excitedly and said, "Oh, why didn't I think it could be so simple..."

The method Lu Zheng mentioned is very feasible and not difficult to implement.

When he said this, Mi Gu wondered if he had been stupid for so many years that he couldn't even think of such a simple method.

Mi Gu couldn't help but look at Zhao Ming and said, "Look, this is what a scholar is! Normally, when I ask you for an idea, you can't even come up with a single word!"

Zhao Ming stood aside and endured it silently.

Lu Zheng thought to himself that Mi Gu had never thought of such a thing. He was not born noble, so how could he really care about the people? Therefore, he was at a loss as to what to do.

As for Mi Gu's subordinates, it is hard to say whether they really didn't know or were pretending to be ignorant.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say, "This method is simple and easy, but the people of Yongzhou, and even the people outside of Yongzhou, may think more of the good things about Mi City God and not care about other gods."

His method can indeed increase the popularity of Mi Gu, but if the people only think well of Mi Gu, the other gods may not be happy.

After all, there are only so many incense sticks in a state. If Mi Gu takes them all, will the other gods still be able to survive?

Even if Mi Gu would distribute incense to other gods, then we would have to depend on Mi Gu's mood in the future.

"Ok?"

Mi Gu's expression froze when he heard this, "That's not without reason..."

Although he is the city god of a state, there are many temples in Yongzhou, and some of them are righteous gods that he cannot afford to offend.

If he acts in this way, he will inevitably snatch the incense from those great gods.

However, Lu Zheng's method was indeed good, and Mi Gu decided to give it a try. At worst, he could negotiate with some of the gods later. As for the other minor gods and wild gods, there was nothing to say. It would be better if they disappeared, so as to save the incense from being divided.

When the time comes, it won't be impossible for him to break through to the fifth level of the stable divine way.

Mi Gu couldn't help feeling excited when he thought that he could make further progress, and maybe even leave the border state and be promoted to other priestly positions.

After all, he had been in Yongzhou for a long time and was bored. Naturally, he was excited to do something that would benefit himself.

Mi Gu excitedly looked at Zhao Ming beside him and asked, "Did you take note of what Lu Zheng said? You'd better take a pen and write it down!"

Mi Gu present was just a divine thought in the painting, which could not last long. He was afraid that his divine thought would suddenly dissipate and he would forget what he had just said, so he hurriedly urged Zhao Ming next to him to record it.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ming did not dare to procrastinate and quickly took out a pen and paper to write it down.

Mi Gu sighed and said, "You are indeed a great talent. Why don't you come back to Yongzhou City with me? I would like to talk to you more."

"This..." Lu Zheng hesitated as to how to refuse politely.

Seeing this, Mi Gu waved his hands and said, "Forget it, there is no rush. You can come to Yongzhou City later."

Mi Gu paused, then looked at Lu Zheng again, smiling, and said, "Speaking of which, if word gets out that you, a scholar from Anguo, are making these suggestions to me, someone might accuse you of collaborating with the enemy and betraying your country."

Lu Zheng said calmly, "I am thinking about the people. Why should I be afraid of rumors? Besides, even when I was in Anguo, there were always people who spit on me behind my back. Why should I care about these things?"

Lu Zheng didn't care about the rumors at all. Collaboration with the enemy and treason? He had a heart to save the world, and he cared more than just the people of the country.

What he wanted to change was the whole world, including the nine kingdoms and those outside the nine kingdoms.

If you can't even stand a little gossip, how can you accomplish anything?

As long as Mi Gu did so, and the gods in other parts of Chu followed suit, no matter what, it would bring some benefits to the people of Chu, and that would be enough.

Mi Gu was amazed and praised, "You are so young and yet you have such a kind heart. It's rare! Don't worry, no one else will know about what happened today... Since you told me this, I will naturally not repay you with evil and cause you any trouble."

If outsiders knew about Lu Zheng's suggestion, not to mention the attitude of An Guo, some gods of Chu State would cause trouble for Lu Zheng.

Mi Gu was not so stupid as to spread the news and cause trouble for Lu Zheng.

Mi Gu looked at Lu Zheng with a smile and asked, "I've already said that as long as your solution works, I will reward you handsomely. Just tell me what you want, don't be modest!"

Lu Zheng took out a booklet and said, "I published an enlightenment book in Anguo. Does the City God of Mi know about it?"

Mi Gu looked at the small book in Lu Zheng's hand and smiled, "I know about this. Someone in your residence also sent a copy, but it's a printed copy, not the original."

Lu Zheng handed the book to Mi Gu and said, "If it is possible, Mi City God will print and distribute this book."

Mi Gu blinked and couldn't help but ask: "This is a small matter, but what is your purpose in doing this? To become famous in Chu? Or?"

Mi Gu was a little confused about Lu Zheng's thoughts.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Mi City God, just think that I am trying to enlighten the people."

Mi Gu nodded upon hearing this, and gave the book to Zhao Ming to keep. He then sighed, "There aren't many scholars in the world who serve the people like you. Are you really not going to come to our Chu State to become a god? With your style, living as long as the country would be a piece of cake..."

As a member of the royal family of Chu State, it was difficult for Mi Gu to say that his life span would be longer than the life of the country.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I really don't have such an idea."

He even had the opportunity to ask for rewards from Emperor Anguo before, but he didn't care about that kind of thing, let alone Mi Gu's insistence on giving him a god position.

It's just an ordinary deity, not a real god or immortal in myths and legends.

Seeing that Lu Zheng still refused to give in, Mi Gu said sternly, "No matter what, the Chu Kingdom will reserve a place for you. This is my promise!"

He felt that none of his ten subordinates could compare to Lu Zheng.

He felt it would be a pity not to recruit such a talent.

Lu Zheng could only say: "The City God is so kind..."

Mi Gu couldn't help but shake his head and said, "If you really feel this is such a great favor, how could you not agree? Well, I won't say any more, you don't want to hear it! Remember to come to Yongzhou City on September 9th to participate in the Heavenly Sacrifice. I heard that during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you can attract the grace of the saints in Hongzhou. Perhaps this Heavenly Sacrifice will also bring auspicious signs from heaven!"

Lu Zheng said embarrassedly, "Mi City God, you are too kind. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I did not do anything to attract the saint's grace. I don't have that much ability."

Mi Gu raised his eyebrows and said, "Really? Young man, don't be so modest. Didn't you say it was all because of you?"

"Uh……"

Lu Zheng was speechless for a moment. Some things were getting more and more outrageous, and he didn't know how to explain them.

(End of this chapter)