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Chapter 267: In the Capital, Kings Meet Kings

Ji Zichang looked at the young Taoist priest with a gentle smile, and his brain was stuck for a moment, because the turbulent changes in the world, and even the future direction of the world, all rested on his shoulders.

He was only in his thirties and had been sitting there doing nothing for days. As a descendant of the royal family and the king of Zhongzhou, from his position, he should choose the first imperial edict to patch up this broken world and maintain its dignity as much as possible.

But there seemed to be a fire in his heart.

A sharp air burned his liver and lungs, making him feel uncomfortable. He wanted to tear apart the ropes that were binding him more and more and making it almost impossible for him to breathe, so he wrote the second imperial edict.

He was struggling between the two imperial edicts.

I originally wanted to ask King Gongyang Su.

He had already walked to the door of King Gongyang Su, but he laughed at himself: "This is just to throw the responsibility of making decisions and bringing consequences to the person who made the suggestion."

"Only I can make the decision on matters like this."

"At this time when the world is changing."

"The king should not listen to the opinions of others. I am the only one who is qualified to bear the blame for the possible destruction of the country."

The world seemed to be divided into two directions in front of the Chixiao Sword. One part would keep Qin Wuhou. Qin Wuhou would definitely not listen to it and would leave here, completely breaking off relations with Zhongzhou. However, Qin Wuhou, who had lost the name of Zhongzhou, would face a period of hardship.

But he should rise again.

The decline of Zhongzhou will be delayed by several years than it is now.

The second imperial edict would give Qin Wuhou what he lacked the most, the title of Grand Marshal of the Army of the World. In Zhongzhou's hands, this title was empty and could not provide any support. However, in this world, the weight of title was enormous.

The general who controls all the troops in the world.

The legend of the Red Emperor has not completely disappeared. With this name, Li Guanyi, who comes from an ordinary family, will have the legitimacy to punish all disobedients. Students all over the world cannot denounce him, and people from all directions should strongly recommend him.

The troops of Chen and Ying should nominally be under his control!
With this title, Li Guanyi will become an unconquerable target in the hearts of people all over the world, and attacking him will represent rebellion.

In this chaotic world, Li Guanyi and his Jiangnan will become an attack target that cannot be selected in a short period of time.

Even the heroes, overlords and famous generals of Chen and Ying would not be restricted by this title, but the ordinary soldiers and captains under their command would bear the pressure of having no just cause.

The Qilin Army will have the terrifying positive morale bonus of [attack the disobedient and suppress the rebellion]. The remaining power of the Red Emperor eight hundred years ago will turn into an invisible but inevitable prestige.

This is an invisible but huge force of public opinion.

However, according to the records in history, all the warlords and generals who reached this point all rebelled. Even if they themselves did not rebel, they would be swept up by the general trend of the world and control the government and depose and enthrone emperors.

But this can give dignity to the Red Emperor's lineage.

Let the world be in chaos, let the last great marshal of the Red Emperor's lineage conquer the world, defeat the State of Chen, defeat the State of Ying, and then let the eight hundred years of legend burn itself out in a spectacular manner.

The legend of the Red Emperor begins with a sword and ends with fire.

But even if one has such a heroic spirit in his heart, the decision to take this step is something that ordinary people can never do.

Just when Ji Zichang was feeling melancholy about this, he met Li Guanyi.

Ji Zichang even suspected at first that the young man came to find him on purpose. As an emperor, he had seen many such things, but he reacted immediately.

He recognized Li Guanyi, but Li Guanyi didn't recognize him.

When Li Guanyi became famous, his portrait was sent to the Zhongzhou Palace.

However, no painter in the world dared to spread the portrait of the Emperor of Zhongzhou.

Even if you have a fortune in front of you and a beautiful woman by your side, it is useless.

The relationship between the painter and the nine clans should not be underestimated.

Moreover, even if one were to paint a portrait of the emperor, the characteristics of the real person would be lost, and instead the emperor's sacred and majestic side would be displayed. There would still be a big gap between the real person and the real person. What's more, Ji Zichang, who had been sitting for seven or eight days due to tremendous pressure, was quite unkempt.

Not to mention Li Guanyi, who had never seen him before, even the officials who attended the court and those who were standing at the back probably wouldn't recognize him. They immediately smiled and said, "Yes, brother, are you also a disciple of the academy?"

He raised the wine jug in his hand and said, "Would you like some? Excellent fruit wine."

This kind of wine tastes like alcohol, but it is not easy to get drunk.

Ji Zichang didn't even have the qualifications to get drunk.

Just being polite.

However, Li Guanyi, who had wandered around the world with Murong Qiu Shui when he was young, did not know what politeness was. Since someone invited him, he would not be restrained. He sat down next to Ji Zichang, stretched out his hand to grab the expensive wine pot, tilted his head back, and poured it out.

A line of wine flew out and went into the throat.

Li Guanyi's eyes lit up.

Hiss...Hey, this wine!
It’s much better than Lei Laomeng’s monkey wine!

He took a big sip, wiped the corner of his mouth, and noticed that the unshaven, unkempt old man was sitting there blankly, his hand still stretched out, as if to hand over the wine jug.

Ji Zichang's thoughts froze.

No, I'm just being polite.

You really drink!

Li Guanyi stuffed the wine pot back into Ji Zichang's hand and said boldly, "Good wine. I'll give you a pot someday. Today..." Li Guanyi glanced at the wine pot on his waist and looked away, "Today, it's not convenient."

"I am a disciple of the academy, Pharmacist Li, and who are you, brother?"

Ji Zichang looked at the wine jug and felt a little uncomfortable.

Since he was a child, he was not used to using the same wine jug or eating utensils as others.

This kind of thing has happened for more than 30 years, and it has long become a habit that is imprinted in the instinct. Even if Li Guanyi drinks with his neck tilted back and does not touch it, there is still a knot in his heart. Hearing this, he smiled and said:
"My name is Chang Wen, a student of the academy, nice to meet you, brother."

He took the wine jug back, hid it aside, and wiped it silently with his hand.

There was a moment of silence, then he handed over the wine jug.

Li Guanyi was curious: "What's wrong?"

Ji Zichang smiled warmly: "I have always been able to help others achieve their goals."

"Since Brother Li likes this wine, I will give it to Brother Li as a meeting gift."

Li Guanyi felt that the people in the academy and Qilin were so particular about this. When the old Qilin met, and the uncle-like Chang Wen with a beard, they both gave gifts first. Li Guanyi said, "Then I would be disrespectful to refuse."

"If I have the chance someday, I'll give you a return gift."

Li Guanyi looked at the wine pot and exclaimed: "It is so exquisite, I think it must be very expensive."

Ji Zichang's mouth twitched.

What is a wine jug?
The wine inside is more expensive!
This guy is indeed the same as in the legend, just of commoner origin. If a child of a noble family with a discerning eye, he can tell at a glance that this thing is a tribute from the emperor. It is a wine pot formed by hammering a whole piece of silver, with patterns on it, which is extremely exquisite.

Such mellow wines are the best tribute wines.

Li Guanyi took the wine pot from the emperor without hesitation, and then put it on his waist, saying: "I have received your gift. Although I cannot give a return gift immediately, I cannot sit idly by and do nothing either."

"I saw you sitting here just now, sighing. Did you run into any trouble?"

There is still some rough and heroic side to Li Guanyi's character.

The main reason is that I have taken a debt from someone else and I can’t just walk away.

Ji Zichang was silent. He looked at the sixteen-year-old boy in front of him. Seeing his raised eyebrows, he sighed in his heart.

What else could it be?
Isn't it because of you?
But it cannot be said like that, and the king's education made Ji Zichang somewhat shrewd and his heart changed slightly. He seemed to be thinking about something. The world is so big, and when you meet this person, let you decide your own destiny.

Ji Zichang said in a gentle voice, "I did encounter some confusion."

"I'm alone and it's hard for me to think clearly. I happened to meet a brother. You might as well give me some advice so that I can make a decision."

Li Guan smiled and said, "Okay, but I'm only good at wielding swords and knives."

"I'm afraid the suggestions put forward are unlikely to be of any use."

"Even so, please tell me. I can still be a listener."

Ji Zichang smiled faintly. He sat under the shade of the tree, cross-legged with his back straight, looking quite elegant and graceful. The young man leaned against a rock at one side, sitting in the sun with his legs casually raised and his hands resting behind his head.

Ji Zichang said: "I am a descendant of an aristocratic family."

Li Guan nodded and said, "I can see that."

Ji Zichang asked: "Where did you see it?"

Li Guanyi pointed at his posture and said, "You have been taught good manners. Even at this time, when no one is watching you, you will maintain this posture."

"And you're rich!"

Ji Zichang's mood was interrupted. He curled his lips helplessly, and said in a gentle voice: "Students of the academy should know that a gentleman should be cautious when alone."

“The more you are alone, the more you can see your self-cultivation.”

Li Guanyi praised: "Great!"

Ji Zichang looked at the young man's serious admiration and felt that he could not have that kind of atmosphere. He still sat upright and said:
"I am a descendant of an aristocratic family, and now it is my turn to be the head of the family. However, even an aristocratic family cannot prosper forever."

"After a hundred or eighty years, my family is finally starting to decline."

"The descendants of two old friends who helped my grandfather build the family have gradually lost touch with our family. They plan to take over our shop and real estate. The old people in the family only know how to show off."

Ji Zichang compared the Red Emperor's world to a family, and shortened the time so that Li Guanyi wouldn't notice anything, and then said:
"Now, the descendants of the two old friends are also running their shops, and our family's business is getting smaller and smaller. At this time, another young shopkeeper emerged in my family's business."

"This young shopkeeper is very capable. Although the underground industry is still small, at this age, he has built his business from scratch and is considered to be the best among the younger generation. It's a pity that he is still a little young, so it's still difficult for him to compete with the older generation."

Li Guanyi: "So?"

Ji Zichang looked at the guy in front of him and said, "So."

"what should I do?"

"I have two ideas. The first idea is to follow the ideas of the uncles in the family and bring this young shopkeeper back to the main line of the family and marry the daughter of the family to him."

"Then we control him. On the one hand, we prevent him from becoming too powerful and wanting to swallow up my family's property like the descendants of the old friends before. On the other hand, we use this person to fight against the descendants of the two old friends and maintain the face of our family."

Li Guanyi was dumbfounded, and then cursed without hesitation:

"How stupid!"

Ji Zichang paused. He felt that these four words expressed his feelings towards those so-called great-uncles and uncles, but he subconsciously defended them, "The elders of the family also have their own ideas."

Li Guanyi said: "He is an idiot."

"It has come to this point, and they still need to establish checks and balances from above. I think these old guys need to be punished."

On the one hand, Ji Zichang agreed with this statement, but on the other hand, he sighed as if thinking about something.

Even though Li Guanyi did not guess who this so-called noble family and shopkeeper referred to, because his current situation was similar, he subconsciously put himself in the situation and empathized with the young shopkeeper.

So you think the elders' decision is unfavorable and say this? If you say this, you are a natural born politician and a powerful official.

Ji Zichang said in a gentle voice: "Then just regard them as short-sighted."

He chose a name that didn't sound so harsh, and then said, "So, I have thought of another choice, which is to completely delegate power."

Ji Zichang took a deep breath and looked at Li Guanyi:

"Go and give the title of head shopkeeper to the young shopkeeper."

"Let him grow stronger, let him compete with the other two shopkeepers for the property, and support him. Even if my family is destroyed, it will be swallowed up by its own shopkeeper, and will not fall into the hands of others. This can be considered as keeping our dignity."

He laughed at himself in his heart and looked at Li Guanyi, but he saw that the young man looked at him as if he was a fool. His heart stagnated. Li Guanyi smiled and said, "So that's how it is. You are a bit stupid too, brother."

Ji Zichang only felt a surge of anger.

He already has such awareness and heroism, but Li Guanyi said this.

Another thing is that the emperor always gets angry when he is scolded.

Ji Zichang couldn't help but sneer, losing his previous gentleness, and said:

"Then tell me, what are you going to do!"

Li Guanyi wiped the wine flask that Ji Zichang had just drunk from with his sleeve, tilted his head back and took a sip of the wine, saying, "Sure enough, it's much better than Lei Laomeng's monkey wine."

Then he said, "I'm just curious. Since you have already made this decision, why do you just let others do it? Haven't you ever thought about rising up yourself?"

Rise up.

Ji Zichang remained silent, thinking about his past struggles, and sighed: "It's too late."

Then he heard the young man say, "Who told you it was late?"

Ji Zichang saw Li Guanyi smile, and the latter shook the wine pot and said, "You have the so-called situation of maintaining the family's face. How can you support others and destroy yourself? If you really want to do this, shouldn't you do it yourself?"

“Even if I fail, I can still proudly say that I have tried my best.”

Ji Zichang subconsciously refused: "I'm not good enough."

Li Guanyi said: "You haven't tried it yet."

Ji Zichang said: "Then tell me, what should I do?!"

Li Guanyi:
"Eliminate the interference of the elders in the clan and the various families and sects, take the power of the family and the industry into your own hands, then reform, remove the redundant ones, use more talents to innovate the industry, and finally fight against the descendants of the two old friends."

Li Guan smiled and said, "I know this is a school. You are here for no reason, no business, no industry."

Ji Zichang's heart tightened.

Li Guanyi said: "You should be an official."

Ji Zichang was speechless. Li Guanyi said proudly, "I can still guess this. As for whether to do it or not, why do you give up? Why do you expect others to give your family face?"

He looked at Ji Zichang: "Are you scared?"

"Are you afraid to confront the opponents of your father's generation?"

Ji Zichang clenched his fists and said silently: "I am not a hero like my ancestors."

Li Guanyi: "What is a hero?"

Ji Zichang couldn't answer.

Li Guanyi said: "I have heard of a so-called hero mentioned by an ancient person."

The young Taoist sat cross-legged and pointed at the sky. At the end of summer, the clouds in the sky were thick and it seemed that something was circling in it. Li Guan said:
"The dragon is comparable to the heroes of the world."

"A dragon can be big or small, can rise or hide. When it is big, it can create clouds and mist, and when it is small, it can hide its shape. When it rises, it soars in the universe, and when it hides, it lurks in the waves. At this time, the dragon changes with the times, just like a man who can travel across the world when he is successful."

"But those who move with the wind and smoke are heroes, and those who hide themselves are also heroes."

Ji Zichang was fascinated by the description and said absentmindedly:

"Such a hero."

“Who in the world can handle this?”

Li Guan paused.

Without changing his expression, he replied with a frank smile: "I am just a Taoist priest."

"I do not know."

"But, do you feel better now, brother?"

Ji Zichang looked at Li Guanyi.

Ji Zichang originally thought that Li Guanyi would encourage him to choose the second option because he brought his own situation into the picture, but he did not expect that the young man in front of him would directly give him the third option.

Rise up, am I afraid...

So that's how it is. Is this the same heroic spirit as our ancestors?
If Li Guanyi recommended him to choose the second decision, he was a natural politician and a powerful official. But now he directly proposed the third choice. What kind of person is he? Didn't this person even consider his own situation?
Ji Zichang couldn't help but sigh.

What kind of person is this? Did those 'silly' guys in ancient times actually exist?

Li Guan drank a small portion of the wine and planned to take the rest back to his great-grandfather.

Then he looked at Ji Zichang and said, "Brother, do you feel better now?"

Ji Zichang said gently: "Yes."

"After hearing what you said, I have gained something. I should make a decision later." His smile was gentle and peaceful. It was already afternoon and it would probably be dark by the time he returned. Tomorrow would be the banquet that would decide the direction of the world.

At this moment, Ji Zichang felt his arm tighten. He subconsciously raised his head and saw that the young man standing in the sun suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed his arm. His palm was so strong that he seemed to be able to feel the pulse and the beating of his heart.

Li Guanyi said: "From your expression, it doesn't seem like that."

"Besides, I'm just drinking here, and I have to go back before anything happens."

"You are the head of a noble family. Your job is too tiring and too frustrating."

"I've thought of a way to repay you."

Ji Zichang said: "I..."

The young man smiled and exerted force.

Ji Zichang, sitting under a dense tree, resisted instinctively.

But as an emperor of the fourth level of heaven, he had to rely on his family heirlooms to use the Red Dragon Dharma Image. How could he be a match for the brave and famous generals fighting on the battlefield?

This old tree was planted by Emperor Chi himself when he established the academy eight hundred years ago. As a result, it has been well taken care of by successive students. Now it is not only tall and majestic, but also extremely lush. Even the midsummer sun shines down on it without a single drop of sunlight falling on it.

Just like a king's canopy.

Ji Zichang was pulled up and staggered out of the shadows. He staggered two steps and walked into the sunlight.

Li Guanyi laughed and said, "It just so happens that I see you have some free time at the moment."

"It just so happens that I have some free time and some money."

"It's very lively outside. Come on, come on, come out for a drink. I'll treat you to a meal as a reward for your wine."

Ji Zichang said: "No, I mean..."

He paused, smiled and said, "My wine is very expensive."

"One meal may not be enough."

Li Guan laughed: "That's more reasonable."

He pulled the unshaven bearded uncle and started walking. Li Guanyi's physique combined the strengths of military strategy and Buddhism, and finally integrated them into one, and walked towards Zhang Ziyong's legendary path. Seeing that the uncle was not happy at all, he simply pulled him hard.

Ji Zichang was almost pulled up by the young man and ran out of the academy.

King Gongyang Su and the leader of the Mohist school walked out side by side.

The Mohist master said, "What he discusses in the future may determine the future of Guanyi's Jiangnan and the Qilin Army. Ying and Chen have deep foundations, and Jiangnan is powerful, but they will only rise for a year. But I don't think you are worried at all."

King Gongyangsu said: "A gentleman has no worries."

The great master sighed and said, "You keep everything to yourself, but appear to be friendly on the surface. That's why I hate you Confucians."

"Old thing!"

"Why did you come to see me today and stay at my place?"

The old man in black Confucian robe scratched his ears, his expression unchanged:
"Old Qilin takes care of that little guy."

"The screams were too intense. A gentleman stays away from the kitchen. This means that a gentleman cannot bear to see tragic things. But the kitchen is about food and drink, which is the right thing to do."

"Although it is correct, I still feel sympathy after hearing and seeing it."

The Mohist master asked, "So what?"

King Gongyang Su smiled and said:
"So just stay away, don't look, don't listen, don't think."

"Don't listen to what is indecent, don't look at what is indecent, don't think what is indecent."

The Mohist master shook his head. "Is this what it means to follow one's heart and not go beyond the rules?"

King Gongyang Su laughed and said, "No!"

He teased, "It's just that you hear screams too much, so it's easy for your ears to hallucinate..."

At this moment, they felt Li Guanyi's presence rushing over. The two elders stopped and waited for this young man they valued. Looking back, they heard the young man's high-spirited voice:

"King Su, Ju Zi, two seniors, how are you today?"

King Gongyang Su smiled and said, "That's good..."

The leader of the Mohist School was much more generous and said, "Finally you are here, but you didn't come to visit me, an old man. I..."

Su Wang, the giant looked back.

I saw Li Guanyi and the pendant in his hand.

Gongyang Suwang of Confucianism.

The first great figure of Mohist school.

The two old men fell into a dead silence.

The happy laughter just now came to an abrupt end.

"Um??!!!"

(End of this chapter)