Confucian and Taoist scholar

Outside a luxurious mansion in Tai'an City.

A carriage slowly came to a stop at the gate, and a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes stepped out.

The middle-aged man looked pale and exhausted.

Today, he finally managed to enter the palace to attend a court meeting, but suddenly he lost half of his family fortune. It was so painful that he still can't bear it.

Now that he's back home, he still has to think about how to hand over half of his assets to the imperial court.

The middle-aged man rubbed his temples and slowly entered the mansion.

"Master is back..."

A beautiful woman came to greet them with a group of servants.

The middle-aged man asked, "Where's Ping'er? Hasn't she returned yet?"

Yesterday, Lu Zheng came to Tai'an City, and his only son also went to see the excitement, but did not return home overnight.

According to the servants who returned early from accompanying him, he was listening to Lu Zheng's lecture and getting answers to his questions, which is why he did not return home that night.

The beautiful woman quickly replied, "They haven't returned yet..."

The middle-aged man frowned and said, "Send someone to look for him and bring him back."

In the past, his son was idle and hung out with the spoiled young men in the capital, and did not excel in his studies.

He had no idea the other person was still listening to a lecture; they were probably listening to music in some brothel.

After giving some instructions, several servants went out to find someone.

The middle-aged man had a simple dinner and then went to his study to organize the account books.

Before long, a young man hurriedly entered the study.

The young man asked anxiously, "Father, I heard you contributed half of the family fortune to the family business?"

The middle-aged man raised his eyelids slightly and sighed, "This is the court's will. If I don't do this, I'm afraid the other half of the family business will also be lost..."

"oops!"

The young man's expression shifted, and he said anxiously, "How can you only donate half? Our family is so wealthy, even if we only contribute 80% or 90%, that's enough for our future livelihood! If we only donate half, how will I face anyone after this..."

The middle-aged man stared at his son, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He thought his son was upset about donating the family fortune, but it turned out he thought it wasn't enough.

Is this still his good-for-nothing son?
Who are you? Get off my son!
The middle-aged man couldn't help but touch the amulet he was wearing.

The young man, both anxious and annoyed, said, "Mr. Lu taught us that everyone has a responsibility for the rise and fall of a nation. Now is the time for Anguo to reform and become prosperous and strong. Everyone should contribute their strength and devote themselves to this great cause. How can Father be stingy with money..."

The middle-aged man looked like he'd seen a ghost. "What kind of grand principles was he spouting the whole time?"

The young man looked puzzled and said, "Yes, where else could I go? But Mr. Lu won't be answering questions tonight. He's worried that many people won't be able to handle it. We'll continue tomorrow at noon..."

The middle-aged man was momentarily bewildered by the fanatical look in his son's eyes.

"In previous years, so many periodicals from Taiping Domain were sold in Tai'an City, and you didn't even glance at them. Now you're telling me that you watched the spectacle for so long and actually listened to all that reasoning?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across the young man's face, but he quickly became serious and said, "Father, people always change! I just hadn't really gotten to know Mr. Lu before..."

The young man's eyes sparkled; he had been deeply moved and inspired by Lu Zheng's profound teachings over the past two days.

The young man continued, “I was a bit mischievous before, but that was because I hadn’t found my true purpose in life. Although my material life is satisfactory, I am spiritually empty! From now on, I will follow in Mr. Lu’s footsteps and dedicate myself to a great cause, for the peace of the world…”

"enough!"

The middle-aged man slammed his hand on the table, interrupting the young man.

He used to be disappointed in his son, but now he feels that his son is even worse than good-for-nothing.

Listen to what these words are! Is this the kind of quality a spoiled brat should have?
Now they are willing to give away their entire fortune.

He didn't even dare to think about what he would do after that.

The middle-aged man's face darkened. "I see you've never experienced hardship, you don't know how tough life is, and you dare to say such things. You think you can do something big like others? Don't ruin our family!"

The young man said, “I haven’t experienced hardship, but many people live in dire straits. Mr. Lu gave us many examples and explained many principles that you have never taught us, nor dared to explain them…”

The middle-aged man said coldly, "Don't tell me that. Just stay home and don't go anywhere."

The young man said, "That won't do. I need to go and reserve a good spot later. If I go tomorrow, there definitely won't be any good spots left."

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and said, "You're not allowed to go."

The young man said unhappily, "Father, you're such a stubborn old man."

The middle-aged man glared, anger rising within him. "What did you say?"

The young man bluntly stated: "Stubborn and conservative, lacking ambition. They are still the exploiting class, oppressing the people to amass wealth while feeling it's their right..."

The middle-aged man was immediately furious, his beard bristling and eyes wide with anger. He had seen these words in some articles before.

He never expected his own son to dare speak to him like that; it was utterly infuriating. The middle-aged man, enraged, shouted, "This is outrageous! You unfilial son, kneel down!"

The young man stiffened his neck and swallowed hard.

"Justice will not bow down to power! As Confucius said, 'Fathers should act like fathers, and children should act like children.' Fathers should be reasonable, wholeheartedly good, and serve as role models for their children, rather than using their power to oppress others."

The young man paused, then said, “I did nothing wrong, why should I kneel? Confucius did not tell us to be ignorant and perform filial piety. I am advising my father to correct his behavior and cultivate himself; this is the greatest filial piety.”

The middle-aged man's face darkened upon hearing this. "Good, good, good! You've really made something of yourself, even using the words of a sage to argue with me."

The young man bowed and said, "Father, please reconsider your actions. I have other matters to attend to and must take my leave now."

The young man knew that his father was still angry and that reasoning with him was pointless; staying any longer would only bring him no benefit.

After saying that, the young man turned to leave.

The middle-aged man said coldly, "If you leave this house today, don't ever come back."

The young man paused, then strode out of the room and headed straight outside.

The middle-aged man's vision went black, and he slumped into a chair, clutching his aching chest with one hand.

"The treasonous son, the treasonous son..."

The middle-aged man was listless and didn't understand why things had turned out this way.

On this day, many families in Tai'an City were not at peace, as two different ideas clashed.

……

At the princess's residence, Lu Zheng and An Jing were taking a walk.

Lu Zheng looked around at the buildings, which were all in a very ordinary and simple style.

This mansion used to be very magnificent, but later Anjing had many parts demolished, and the materials were sold to fund the court's expenses. The mansion was then renovated in a simpler way.

This simple lifestyle was something An Jing learned from Lu Zheng.

With a smile, An Jing recounted to Lu Zheng what had happened in the court that day.

"They're not as bold as they used to be. They're worried that someone might do something that terrifies them from the bottom of their hearts."

An Jing looked at someone and chuckled, "I'm a little curious, what would you do if they objected very strongly?"

Previously, Lu Zheng told them that returning to Anguo was to bring about some changes.

But they had no idea what Lu Zheng was planning to do.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "The affairs of the world depend on the people. If they oppose it, they will lose the support of the people. I have given them a dignified opportunity. If they do not choose the dignified option, then I can only call on the people to give them an indecent one."

An Jing smiled as he recalled the discussions and praises he had heard from the people in the city.

"They are indeed unpopular. Despite spending so much money, the people don't sing their praises."

The purpose of issuing donation documents is to publicly commend the donors, but few of them actually gain a good reputation.

Lu Zheng said in a low voice, "The people aren't so easily fooled. They know perfectly well where those people's enormous wealth came from, and that they were forced to donate it..."

Over the years, Lu Zheng's side has used various channels to spread his ideas, allowing ordinary people in various dynasties to access new ideas and information.

The people of the various countries are no longer as ignorant as they used to be.

Lu Zheng came to Tai'an City to plant more seeds of thought and to help those seeds sprout as quickly as possible.

My experience in Tai'an City these past two days seems to have been quite effective.

Regardless of social class, there are always some people who are willing to accept new ideas and question and reflect on various real-world problems.

An Jing nodded, then asked, "Are you going to preach to the people tomorrow?"

Lu Zhengdao said, "It's rare for me to come back, so let's see them more often, see more ordinary people, and let them have hope and dreams."

Lu Zheng stayed in Tai'an City for two reasons: firstly, to teach and enlighten the people, and secondly, to deter some powerful and influential figures.

If the situation and circumstances hadn't prevented it, Lu Zheng would have even considered spending more time traveling to various prefectures and counties in Anguo to deliver a series of speeches.

It seems unnecessary for now; the heat should not be too high.

First, suppress the powerful and influential people in Tai'an City, and then leave the rest to the Anguo court.

Lu Zheng began, “Many of those who come to listen to my lectures do not have any official positions, but some of them are quite talented. Your Highness can recruit talents later… A country that is moving upward, a country that is developing and prospering, still needs more progressive ideas and younger blood.”

An Jing said, "After the national policy was finalized this time, many officials in the court have changed... I'm worried that there won't be enough talented people in the capital and the provinces."

Lu Zhengdao: "Then I'll send some people from the new country?"

An Jing smiled and said, "Just send a few people who are good at management. Oh, and also law enforcement officers, could we borrow a few?"

An Jing knew that the new country had a group of very special law enforcers who possessed integrity, were strict and impartial in enforcing the law, and were pure righteous individuals. (End of Chapter)