I was a charlatan in India

Upon hearing this, even Mahata frowned slightly.

He's just relatively kind-hearted, not stupid.

When planning something, a very important indicator is how much resistance it will encounter and how much support it can gain.

Undoubtedly, this will be praised by most of the lower castes, but it will also offend almost all the higher castes.

Does this divine messenger not know what such behavior means?

Mahata stated frankly, "This matter will likely face considerable obstruction from Kshatriyas and Brahmins, after all, it involves breaking down caste barriers..."

It is very difficult to shake tradition, let alone break down caste barriers.

Even if His Majesty Ashoka wanted to promote Buddhism, he still had to consider the many obstacles from the old religious communities.

Besides, you are just a divine messenger.

"Who said we're going to break down caste barriers?"

Shenhe immediately understood the concerns of both of them.

He glanced at Surieh and, taking the other's perspective, spoke solemnly.

"Don't worry, of course we can't let these people at the bottom really have a chance to turn their lives around."

"The saying goes, 'When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.' The rise of every commoner will impact the existing system and cause turmoil, which is not good for the overall situation."

Surrey's expression softened slightly.

Shenhe added, "On the contrary, the system I have designed will keep them firmly pinned to their own social class."

"Forget about making it easier to cross social classes, even the Vaishyas, who used to be so powerful as to overpower the Brahmins, will no longer appear in Varanasi!"

Surrey nodded firmly.

In his view, the Nabu family merchant truly deserved to die.

He's making his fortune on his own turf, yet instead of honestly making money and paying taxes, he's thinking of marrying a Brahmin's daughter and thus rising above his caste!

Good riddance!

This tax applies to any businessman.

If you don't do it, plenty of others will!

Mahata paused slightly, then asked, "Then, where does their hope come from?"

He didn't quite understand at first.

The divine messenger said he would break through their hopelessness, yet he also intended to nail them to their own social class...

Doesn't this just make everything more hopeless?

Shenhe turned to Mahata and explained.

"We can divide the caste into even finer categories, so that even a Dalit can have different levels of status and social standing."

"Simply put, those without faith are the lowest, those who have just come into contact with faith are next, and those who earnestly practice their faith or are exceptionally intelligent will also have a status that matches their words and deeds."

"As long as this logic is solidified, they will continue to compete within their own social class, and no matter how much they try, they will break the existing class structure."

Surrey's eyes lit up: "Isn't this turning faith into another kind of law?"

He's quite perceptive in this regard.

Shenhe nodded: "That's right, except that the means we use to punish those who do not uphold their beliefs have changed from severe torture to their social status."

"Let them know that even a Dalit has the right to boss around another Dalit!"

He took a sip of the honey water and continued.

"And we can also effectively unite the people of high castes."

"As long as we join them in mocking the stupidity of the lower classes harming each other, this sense of superiority will become a natural bond, creating good opportunities for us."

"Then, by binding our interests together, we can solidify this whole situation, and Varanasi will gradually become our ranch!"

Clearly, even with his memories erased, Shenhe is now completely different from the guy he was back then.

"Great! Excellent! Let's do it that way!"

Surrey clicked his tongue in admiration.

"In this way, those untouchables have to work hard and pay taxes for me in order to climb up their own caste. Otherwise, where would they get the motivation to voluntarily fight for status?"

"Brilliant! Let them roll it up themselves, saving me so many lashes!"

Judging from Surya's reaction alone, it is clear that the Shen River route is viable, at least among the high castes.

However, Mahata was somewhat resistant.

He felt that this was not the right path either.

If he could refuse the Buddha back then, it's not impossible for him to refuse Shenhe now.

He frowned and said, "I'm afraid that's not a good idea."

"In this way, the believers are not acting out of genuine faith, but rather being pressured by those around them and forced to join the religious order. I'm afraid..."

Shenhe was well aware of this as well.

But he doesn't care.

Or rather, these believers who do not rely on faith are probably more conducive to consolidating divinity than those who genuinely believe in God!

Because they would not presume to have expectations of the gods.

According to Shenhe, the most terrifying aspect of believers' influence on divinity is that they imagine the deity as the person they need most.

This is normal.

But this is clearly not a good thing for God.

Because the beliefs of believers can gradually change the nature of this deity.

On the contrary, those who became believers later in life...

For example, unlicensed doctors, or some people who casually believe in God while distributing porridge but don't really worship afterwards, don't seem to have much of an impact on themselves.

Simply put, ascetics provide the power for ascetic practice, which they then squander.

Believers who come later in life can alleviate the pressure on believers and bring a relatively stable and neutral divinity.

Only those damned devout believers are the most despicable, fantasizing about gods every day and ruining my divinity.

Wouldn't it be better to use that time to slap yourself twice?

Low pay and lots of work? Bah!

However, to implement the plan now, it is clear that they need to convince Mahata.

Otherwise, Shenhe really wouldn't be able to find a suitable mentor in a short time.

He tentatively asked, "Mahatha, I understand your concerns."

"Actually, we had the same confusion at first."

That's obviously nonsense.

Shenhe wasn't confused at all; he was a pure alarm clock worker from the bottom rungs of society, and he understood human nature all too well.

No matter what rules are set at the top, those below will just grumble and accept them passively.

Even finding enjoyment and pleasure in cracking open the shell, it truly is something ingrained in one's very being...

No, I mean gentle and kind.

"Oh?"

Mahata clasped his hands together and said, "Great Master, I wish to hear the details."

Shenhe thought to himself, "This guy really is planning to retire; he's even started calling himself 'Great Power' now."

You're even unwilling to call me "Divine Messenger" anymore.

Shenhe didn't try to force a familiarity; instead, he went along with the other's aloofness and addressed him by his first name.

"Mahayana, in your opinion, is faith good or bad?"

Mahata pondered for a moment and replied, "Those who believe and follow voluntarily are good; those who are forcibly indoctrinated are not good."

Shenhe nodded.

"Is it good or bad for parents to have children and raise them according to their own ideas?"

Mahata solemnly replied, "That is only natural."

"Parents have no other way; passing on their own thoughts is a natural selection, which is fundamentally different from what the Great Power conceives."

"Furthermore, we have no parental debt to believers."

Shenhe laughed and said, "Look, we even think alike when we question things."

"My teachers once told me that the kindness of parents has nothing to do with teaching, otherwise wouldn't that be teaching by taking advantage of their kindness?"

Of course, there were no predecessors who taught Shenhe at all; it was all made up by him.

Shenhe simply prefers to disguise himself as one of his opponents, so that there will be less resistance when he argues with them.

Mahata paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Indeed."

"However, forcibly instilling faith is ultimately inappropriate."

"Mahatha, is the path you are now practicing exactly the same as the teachings of your master?"

Shenhe continued to fabricate his teacher's story: "Back then, my senior asked me the same question, and my answer was..."

"different."

The voices of Shenhe and Mahata rang out simultaneously.

The two exchanged a glance.

Mahata's gaze was complex.

He had previously doubted Shenhe's so-called "senior" words, and now he felt even more strongly that the divine messenger was not being honest.

These words were clearly a means of persuading himself.

He's not stupid; he can tell.

However, despite his aversion, he eventually listened to Shenhe's charade.

What's worse, his fallacies and heresies actually sound quite reasonable.

Furthermore, Mahata had already anticipated Shenhe's next line of persuasion.

This shows that, at least logically, I've been led astray by this guy.

This divine messenger possessed a Mara-like wisdom.

He is leading himself to depravity.

Sure enough, the next second Shen He said the lines that were expected.