Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 500 Seeds of Ideas
"Yunmeng Sect!"

When Lu Zheng mentioned this sect, Wang Meng's expression changed.

Such a top-tier immortal sect has many highly skilled cultivators within it, yet even such people acknowledge Lu Zheng's words.

Lu Zheng spoke with a leisurely expression: "General, you may find these ideas absurd and unrealistic, but perhaps you simply cannot accept them deep down."

Wang Meng's eyes flashed. "Who taught you all this?"

“Many people,” Lu Zheng said calmly, “actually, many truths are in books and in one’s own experiences, but they are not easy to discover.”

Lu Zheng paused for a moment, then said, "If the general cannot understand what I just said, why not try to think about it in another way?"

"What method?" Wang Meng raised an eyebrow.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Don't be a chess piece, don't be a chessboard, and don't be a player. Be an observer."

Upon hearing this, Wang Meng muttered to himself, "Doesn't this imply that Lu Zheng is someone who stands outside the chessboard, observing the grand scheme of things?"

At such a young age, his ideas are bigger than the sky.

Wang Meng was at a loss for words when it came to evaluating Lu Zheng. This person seemed even more extraordinary than any information he had gathered.

I initially thought he was just a relatively outstanding Confucian scholar, but now it seems that Lu Zheng is not as simple as a Confucian scholar.

Wang Meng said quietly, "You have a lot of ideas, but too many ideas."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "As the ancients said, 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations...'"

"I am simply following the path of my predecessors step by step in search of the way to a peaceful and prosperous world. Some of my ideas may be too shocking, but how can I know if they won't work if I don't try?"

Wang Meng's eyes widened in surprise. Who was this ancient person who said these words? He had never heard of them before, but these words did indeed stir his emotions.

As a general of a nation, how could he not wish to usher in a golden age?
Lu Zheng added, "If you think my idea is absurd, then if you meet me again, refute me with words."

Lu Zheng naturally wouldn't give Wang Meng a chance to refute him right now; he wanted Wang Meng to think it over carefully before making a conclusion.

Seeing Lu Zheng's confident demeanor, Wang Meng narrowed his eyes, wondering to himself if this young man really thought those remarks were correct.

Outside the tent, someone came to report; it was a subordinate who had gone out earlier to investigate the abnormality of the river water.

Soon, Lu Zheng learned that a county in a prefecture thousands of miles away had suffered from rain disasters, and the continuous flow of water into the river had caused the river's water level to rise suddenly.

Having learned the general news, Lu Zheng bid farewell to Wang Meng and prepared to go and take a look.

Seeing that Lu Zheng was eager to leave, Wang Meng couldn't insist on keeping him, so he asked his subordinates to see Lu Zheng and the other two off.

After watching Lu Zheng and the other two leave, Wang Meng returned to his tent and sat there in deep thought.

Recalling Lu Zheng's absurd remarks, his mind was filled with thoughts, and he found it difficult to calm down.

Could it be that some of the ideas he mentioned could actually be realized...? A thought inexplicably popped into Wang Meng's mind.

Suddenly, Wang Meng's expression changed, and he whispered, "This kid is really wicked!"

Wang Meng suddenly realized that it would be very dangerous for him, as a general of Shu, to have such thoughts.

As a member of the royal family, does he intend to divide the imperial power among himself, turning the emperor and the royal family into mere figureheads?
"I can't think about it. This kid wants to use me as a pawn!"

Wang Meng couldn't help but mutter to himself, even suspecting that Lu Zheng had told him so much just to change his mind and make him try for that so-called peace.

"He mentioned these things to the Yunmeng Sect. Could it be that he wanted those people to deduce the possibilities... or does the Yunmeng Sect want to get involved in the grand scheme of things..."

Despite saying he wouldn't think about it, Wang Meng suddenly thought of many aspects that forced him to take it seriously.

"No, how could those things be possible? Who would support his ideas? I doubt even the royal family of Anguo would support him..." "It's normal for a young man to have some unrealistic ideas. How much trouble can he possibly stir up?"

Wang Meng muttered to himself in a low voice, his brows furrowed tightly.

……

On the riverbank, Lu Zheng said to several Shu officers, "You can just drop us off here. We'll get there quickly along the river."

One of them said, "The general said he would at least take you to a place or county where it rains."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Your cultivation is too low; you're just wasting time..."

After saying this, Lu Zheng cupped his hands in farewell and then led Qing Wan and Qing Yi into the Yangtze River.

A strange phenomenon of water surging beneath their feet carried the three of them swiftly upstream.

In the blink of an eye, the three disappeared around the bend in the river.

Several Shu officers were stunned by what they saw, not expecting Lu Zheng to have such methods.

One person muttered to himself, "This one seems more powerful than the rumors say. Is he at the fourth realm?"

"Uh, who knows? Never mind, they've all disappeared. Let's go back and report."

They couldn't even catch up with Lu Zheng on horseback, let alone escort him.

Standing beside Lu Zheng, Qing Wan looked down at the surging river below and said softly, "What we're doing is like rowing against the current!"

Qingwan knew very well that if Lu Zheng and Wang Meng had been talking about those things, even a staunch defender of imperial power might not have been able to leave the military camp.

Fortunately, General Wang Meng was reasonable and did not blame him for it.

Lu Zheng chuckled and said, "We are on the right path, how can you say we are going against the current?"

Lu Zheng didn't feel like he was going against the flow; he pointed to the surging river.

"The problem lies in the flooding and muddying of this great river. We should go against the current to find its source and solve the problem..."

Lu Zhengyao looked into the distance, his gaze deep, and said, "The road may not be easy, but the direction is right."

Qingwan thought about it and wholeheartedly agreed.

Xiao Qingyi on the other side didn't quite understand, but thought it sounded very impressive.

Qingwan asked, "Will General Wang agree with your idea?"

Lu Zhengdao said, "It would be best if you agree, but it doesn't matter if you don't. As long as the seeds are sown, they will sprout when the rain falls."

Even if Wang Meng did not agree, the unprecedented changes that followed proved that some of his words were correct.

At that point, Wang Meng will have no choice but to admit it, whether he likes it or not.

A strange phenomenon involving water carried the three of them upstream against the current, at a speed no slower than flying.

As you travel upstream along the river, the water churns more violently the further you go, seemingly on the verge of overflowing.

In the distance, the sky was covered with dark, thick rain clouds, as black as ink, from which torrential rain was pouring down.

Lu Zheng looked closely and confirmed that only that area was experiencing heavy rain, and judging from the size of the rain clouds, it would probably continue to rain for several days and nights.

(End of this chapter)