Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

Zhuang Weiyang condensed two jade stones, one representing wind and the other fire, in her hand, and lazily sat down next to Ying Zheng, a smug look on her face.

"How should I put it? You could say it's like an old woman blowing her nose."

"What does that mean?"

"Hold it tight!"

"Ugh—Brother Weiyang's words are really irritating!" Influenced by Zhuang Weiyang, Ying Zheng's unpleasantness from the day in Zhao vanished, and he asked curiously:

"Brother, where does your path of cultivation lie? Is it in slaying demons or in gaining the favor of the human king?"

In classical texts, Zhuang Weiyang's cultivation methods are mostly mentioned only briefly.

In later generations, very few people were able to cultivate the "Way of Change".

"Hehe, more or less! Under the King's favor, develop an army and lead troops to kill demons. In this way, you can improve your cultivation."

Ying Zheng couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

Most things in the world are like viewing flowers through a fog. They look beautiful from afar, but up close they're nothing special.

Could it be that the famous Wei Yang brother is also like this?

Suppressing a hint of disappointment, Ying Zheng offered his congratulations:

"Congratulations on finding the path of cultivation, Brother He! I never expected that King Fuchai of Wu would be such a discerning man, fully supporting Brother Weiyang's cultivation. This is truly a joyous occasion."

"No, there are three things."

Ying Zheng: "?"

Zhuang Weiyang stretched her body, her left hand constantly fiddling with two jade stones, and said calmly:

"If the King of Wu knew about my cultivation, he would probably kill me first! I used wild people to develop the army, so that they could have a way to rise in society and not be trapped in the fields for their whole lives! Leading troops to kill demons is for the purpose of protecting the territory and the people, and has nothing to do with my beloved King of Wu."

"What?! Brother Weiyang actually associates with the great Qin merchants..."

"What is it?" Zhuang Weiyang asked curiously when Ying Zheng blurted out the name Qin.

Shang Yang was a figure from more than a hundred years later. One of the reforms he implemented was that commoners could join the army.

How did Zhao Qin know this?

Ying Zheng remained unfazed and laughed, "There was a madman in Qin named Shang who also wanted to promote the idea of ​​recruiting commoners into the army. When the king found out, he expelled him from the country."

Zhuang Weiyang nodded, seemingly agreeing with this explanation. Ying Zheng then tacitly changed the subject, continuing to ask:

"Ahem, Brother Weiyang, what are the benefits of a commoner joining the army?"

"Commoners joining the army..." Zhuang Weiyang's gaze was deep, as if he was deep in thought, or as if he was organizing his thoughts.

"The common people now have room to rise. As human beings, they are no longer destined to be farm tools for their entire lives, at the bottom of the country!"

"Brother Qin, think about it. If I were to announce this decree, would the common people be afraid to die when facing evil spirits?"

"Absolutely not!" Zhao Qin shook his head decisively. "The Master said: 'Human nature is similar to habits but distant from them. When an opportunity arises, one will go even if it means taking up a whip.' However, the essence lies in 'seeking within oneself'—not worrying about not having a position, but worrying about how to establish oneself."

If a savage had the chance to enter a high-ranking household, or even gain an official position, would he value his life? Absolutely not!

Zhuang Weiyang nodded and continued to follow Ying Zheng's words: "If commoners join the army, then the army will not fear death!"

Moreover, with more soldiers, wouldn't it be easier for military cultivators to advance in rank? And wouldn't a nation become stronger with more military cultivators?

Ying Zheng pondered, slowly digesting Zhuang Weiyang's words.

Shang Yang proposed a similar theory, and all the military leaders of Qin, starting with his ancestor Duke Xiao, followed this policy.

But for Ying Zheng, who was only a teenager, he only knew what happened but not why.

Upon hearing Zhuang Weiyang's answer, I suddenly felt enlightened.

"Brother Weiyang is absolutely right! Qin, I have learned a great deal!"

Ying Zheng rose and bowed respectfully, having made up his mind.

The military meritocracy is the foundation of the Qin Dynasty! If I can return to Qin, I will definitely advise the ruler to vigorously develop this policy!

Zhuang Weiyang was quite pleased and helped Ying Zheng up with a smile on her face.

In this world, even close friends like Zhang Zezhong and Zhong Bai need to be tempted with benefits to implement this military strategy.

Zhao Qin, despite his young age, grasped the concepts quickly, which made Zhuang Weiyang feel a sense of kinship with him.

"Brother Qin, there's no need for such formalities. We are brothers! Let's talk things over."

"Yes, Brother Weiyang, what do you plan to do?"

Zhuang Weiyang played with the jade in one hand while discussing with Zhao Qin in the other. Before she knew it, a night had passed.

The next day, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was fully bright.

Ten miles west of the private fields, this place is about to leave the Zuili area, and the "human race's fortune" in this area is only one-tenth of that in the public fields.

Zhuang Weiyang, dressed in dragon scale armor, stood beside Zhong Bai, facing a vast horde of over a thousand wild people.

Zhong Bai looked at the savages in front of him with disgust.

"He's too skinny; how can he help me slay demons and exorcise evil spirits?"

These wild people were mostly in their twenties or thirties, the peak of a person's life.

However, his thin body and sunken cheeks were hardly related to the word "peak".

These people had rosy complexions, and some of the wild people even had nosebleeds—when Zhang Zezhong called the wild people over, he left them a lot of purified demon meat jerky.

Nosebleeds are mostly caused by a deficiency that prevents the body from receiving adequate nourishment.

Most of these savages were trembling with fear, and a few of them looked around, seemingly wanting to flee immediately if anything happened.

Upon seeing this, Zhuang Weiyang's anger flared, and she coughed twice, her voice clearly reaching the ears of all the wild people.

More than a thousand villagers looked up, eager to see what the military officer on the platform had to say.

"Ahem, I am Zhuang Weiyang, and this is Zhong Muli's son—General Zhong Bai!"

"I have summoned you here to announce three things!" The people below the stage began to whisper among themselves. These uncouth people were ignorant of etiquette, but Zhuang Weiyang ignored them and simply raised her voice.

"Firstly, your status as commoners has been removed from my register! From now on, you will be the Zhong family's army, loyal to Zhong Bai and the second prince of Wu!"

"Splash—!" Zhuang Weiyang's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly igniting the emotions of the wild people!

Their only means of production for life was farming; they had to avoid fellow countrymen and could be killed at will...

Can someone like us, with our backgrounds, really join the army, earn merit, and secure a lifetime of wealth and status?!

In the center of the savage population, a tall, thin man, resembling a scarecrow, loudly asked:

"Lord Zhuang, is what you're saying true? We are now soldiers of our nation!?"

Zhuang Weiyang did not answer. Compared to the excitement of the wild people, Zhuang Weiyang's anger was even more volatile.

A glimmer of light in my heart, as if added to kerosene, faintly illuminates my heart.

"Secondly, you must protect your own land! Your private fields are currently barren and need to be fertilized with demon blood!"

"Thirdly..." Zhuang Weiyang felt that after she finished speaking, the Candlelight Realm was completed.

"The county magistrate and other officials have all been replaced, and all the private land in Zuili has been placed under the command of General Zhongbai!"

"If you are not afraid of death and slay the demon, General Zhong will reward you with his private land as appropriate!"

Zhuang Weiyang felt a ringing in her ears, and her heart suddenly ignited!

For ordinary people, spiritual practice is like adding fuel to a fire, nurturing a tiny flame until it becomes a candle flame.

Zhuang Weiyang's cultivation was like adding oil to a raging fire, like a spark igniting a prairie fire!

Zhuang Weiyang held her breath and focused her mind. In just a few breaths, the faint light in her heart illuminated the surroundings like a candle flame.

At the same time, all of Zhuang Weiyang's internal organs were illuminated by the heart fire, and she felt as if her body was a furnace, constantly pounding her flesh and blood essence.

A few breaths later, the flames receded, turning into a faint candlelight that continued to illuminate the internal organs and the surrounding area.

"The Candlelight Realm is complete!"