Confucian and Taoist scholar

The demon guard skillfully explained some key points to Gongyang Ming and then handed over a number of application forms.

"Since there are so many of you, you must all be heading to the city. Please fill out this form..."

"You've come at just the right time. We're holding a conference here today, and we'll be having a banquet later. You're welcome to attend; after all, you're guests. But you must follow the rules."

Gongyang Ming nodded slightly after hearing the demon guard's explanation. "Thank you."

Gongyang Ming took a stack of application forms and went to the group of students and their entourage.

A student looked at the inscription on the monument and clicked his tongue, saying, "These are the rules set by that Lu student? Besides all sorts of regulations, there are just some straightforward sentences... Why aren't the words of our Confucian sages engraved on these monuments?"

Upon hearing this, everyone had different expressions. In fact, they had seen all sorts of novel slogans here, but they had never seen any words of wisdom from a sage.

Gongyang Ming said leisurely, "This content is for everyone to see, so it's naturally better to be simple and clear. Do you really think that when sages speak to ordinary people, they also carefully choose their words and quote scriptures to preach some profound truths?"

At first, Gongyang Ming was also a little surprised by the style of those eye-catching and straightforward slogans.

Upon further reflection, I realized there was a significant purpose behind it.

Such straightforward and catchy statements are more likely to resonate with people and leave a lasting impression.

"Master!"

"Master."

"The Master is right!"

When everyone saw Gongyang Ming's assessment, they all agreed and felt that his words made sense.

Gongyang Ming waved his hand, indicating that everyone should continue learning about the situation here, and distributed the application forms to everyone as well.

After waiting outside the city for a while, the group of people took the application forms and went to the city gate.

The demon guards stationed in the city took the application form and glanced through it.

"People from Qi? They're all traveling for study? You've really gone far..."

They were all from the Great Dynasty, but they did not reveal their specific identities or origins, and the demon guards did not ask any further questions.

He put away the application forms, took out a few redwood plaques, stamped them, and distributed them to Gongyang Ming and the others.

"This is our pass here; it's best to wear it in a conspicuous place around your waist..."

"This is a temporary ID card, valid for only one month. If you want to stay here after it expires, you'll need to apply again and undergo relevant assessments. For specific details, you can consult the temporary residence office for migrant workers in the city..."

One student, upon hearing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Are the government offices here divided into such detailed categories?"

"yamen?"

The demon guard said, "Oh, you mean the government office? We don't have any officials here."

Someone asked in surprise, "Without officials, how do you govern the area?"

The demon guard calmly said, "We have many organizational departments here, all of which are staff members who work for the collective and cannot be considered officials."

"In Mr. Lu's words, this is democracy, everyone has power, and everyone is in charge!"

"You'll understand once you stay a few more days. This place isn't like your great country..."

Zhang Mu's eyes brightened. "The world belongs to all, and a harmonious society reigns supreme?"

Before he came, he thought Lu Zheng wanted to find someone to practice the sages' theories together, but it turned out that the other party had already achieved some results?
The demon guard looked at Zhang Mu and said, "You guys seem to know quite a bit, Confucian scholars from Qi?"

Zhang Mu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. He had only said a few words, yet this monster had already made such a guess. Clearly, it was quite knowledgeable about Confucianism.

Cheng Li, who was standing to the side, asked, "Is the Mr. Lu you mentioned a human Confucian scholar named Lu Zheng?"

The demon guard smiled and said, "Who else could it be? You all came here because you heard of Mr. Lu's reputation?"

Someone asked in confusion, "Wow, a lot of people come here?"

The demon guard narrowed his eyes. "Well, I don't know the specifics either. I've just heard that some people have come looking for Mr. Lu, some good and some bad... Don't ask me where Mr. Lu is. His schedule is unpredictable. You can ask our acting city lord here."

Someone asked curiously, "Acting city lord? Don't you have any officials here?"

The demon guard explained, "It's an abbreviation. She's temporarily acting as the main person in charge of the construction and development of our Nan'an City and the surrounding areas. Her title is too long, so let's just call her by her usual name."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned strange. At first glance, it seemed that being a city lord was not an easy job, and that one had to bear some kind of responsibility.
"Let's go."

Gongyang Ming suddenly spoke up. He had vaguely heard some noises in the city and wanted to go in and see what was going on.

Instead of constantly asking the gatekeeper here, you should walk around and take a look.

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly followed Gongyang Ming into the city.

A student casually took out some silver coins, wanting to reward the demon guard.

The demon guards at the city gate immediately frowned upon seeing this.

"What are you doing? Are you testing us with this? Is this a bribe or a reward? Bribes are illegal, and rewards are beneath us; we dare not accept them!"

In the past, they would have accepted any offer of help in this situation.

But now that they have received a different kind of civilized education, how can they be corrupted by others?
Moreover, now that they've received money, they'll probably all be sent to do heavy labor today.

The student immediately looked embarrassed and awkward.

Seeing that the others ignored him and entered the city, he also blushed and walked away.

"Hey, even Confucian and Taoist scholars like to play these games. No wonder some people say that it's hard for Confucian scholars to produce gentlemen these days. This shows just how it is..."

Behind them, a group of city guards whispered among themselves.

The student walked up to Gongyang Ming and said awkwardly, "Master, I really just wanted to thank them, I didn't mean anything else."

He had never encountered this situation before when tipping people, but now he had lost face in front of the academy's teacher and wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Gongyang Ming said calmly, "They answered some of our questions, which was simply part of their job. Your act of offering money as a token of gratitude is not thanks, but rather a display of your wealth and a sign of disrespect. This is not Qi; you should correct some of your bad habits."

The student's expression changed, and he quickly replied, "Yes, Master."

Gongyang Ming continued, "Since you're here, make the best of it and abide by the rules. Did you see everything you saw outside the city for so long just now, only to have it all vanish like smoke?"

Gongyang Ming clearly remembered all the laws and regulations here.

Some of the novel regulations even made him think deeply, feeling that they were quite in line with the moral standards of a prosperous era as envisioned by sages.

Zhang Mu and the others immediately took this as a warning and hurriedly recalled the contents of the stone tablet to avoid making a fool of themselves by suddenly committing any of the offenses.

Suddenly, one of the servants whispered, "Hey, why is there hardly anyone on the street?"

The group looked around and found that the street was wide and clean, with brand-new houses and shops on both sides, but many shops were closed and there were hardly any pedestrians.

Gongyang Ming said, "They're having a meeting. Let's go take a look."

Gongyang Ming led the way, and the group passed through several main streets.

Soon they discovered that the street ahead was crowded with people, many of whom were queuing up in an orderly fashion.

Gongyang Ming and others also went over to line up.

Ahead lay a large square, teeming with people, numbering no less than 100,000.

Those who arrived first were already sitting on the small stools that had been set out, eagerly anticipating their arrival, creating a lively atmosphere.

Gongyang Ming and his group quickly found their seats and sat side by side, almost shoulder to shoulder, leg to leg.

"This is way too crowded!"

One of the students muttered to himself.

But seeing that Gongyang Ming didn't seem to care, the others didn't feel comfortable complaining.

What? If the teachers of Jixia Academy can sit here, why can't a few students sit here?

This isn't a place for them to put on airs.

There are also law enforcement teams patrolling nearby.

To Gongyang Ming's left sat a half-demon boy, flipping through a notebook filled with notes, the handwriting crooked and messy, making him look like a beginner.

Some of the content made Gongyang Ming uneasy.

No monarchy, we want democracy!

Gongyang Ming's eyes flickered; he had never even considered such a thing.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Who taught you all this?"

Upon hearing this, the boy glanced at Gongyang Ming, then quickly closed his notebook, asking warily, "An outsider?"

Gongyang Ming smiled and said, "Am I that obvious?"

The boy said, "Your clothes don't look like what we're dressed in. And people here wouldn't ask you the kind of question you just asked."

"Why?" Gongyang Ming wondered.

The young man said unhurriedly, "We have all taken Mr. Lu's classes, and we naturally learned what Mr. Lu taught us. Is there any need to ask?"

Gongyang Ming asked with slight surprise, "He teaches all of you?" The boy replied, "Yes! But there are many of us, and Mr. Lu is very busy. I have only attended his classes twice."

Gongyang Ming asked, "What did he teach you?"

The boy said slowly, "There are many truths! I will study hard and, like Mr. Lu, save more people in the future!"

Gongyang Ming smiled. "Ambitious! Has he saved many people here?"

The boy's eyes gleamed. "There's a lot! You don't know anything, so how did you get here?"

Gongyang Ming said, "That's why I came to see you, so you can explain it to me if you don't know."

He had heard some stories about Lu Zheng in the Northern Region before, but they were all vague rumors and not specific enough.

He wanted to know how the people here viewed Lu Zheng.

The boy asked, "Um... what do you want to know?"

……

Before long, the square had been filled with people from almost the entire city.

A figure in white appeared on the high platform in front of the square.

The once noisy square gradually quieted down.

The boy who was chatting with Gongyang Ming also stopped, sat there looking up at the high platform, and whispered, "That is our city lord of Nan'an City, the person chosen by Mr. Lu."

Gongyang Ming and the others looked at the high platform with a hint of curiosity in their eyes.

Standing on the stage, Su Mei looked at the dense crowd below and felt both nervous and excited.

This was the first time she had faced so many people, to be able to present herself and give a speech in front of so many people.

Su Mei held the draft Qing Wan had written for her in her hand and took a deep breath.

"Cough cough..."

An array was set up on the high platform, allowing Su Mei's voice to travel a great distance.

"As the acting head of the Nan'an region, I am honored to be the first to speak at such a celebration..."

"Today, our Nan'an area has completed the planned infrastructure construction, ensured that the basic living needs of all residents are met, and achieved the required standards for spiritual and cultural development..."

"All of this achievement is inseparable from the efforts of everyone, including those convicts who were willing to reform and work hard without complaint. Let's give a round of applause to everyone."

Instantly, thunderous applause erupted, shaking the heavens and earth, and lasting for a long time.

As the crowd's enthusiasm subsided, Su Mei excitedly announced, "Next, we invite representatives from each organization and team to report on their achievements and future plans."

Soon, one representative after another took to the stage, including but not limited to workshop workers, agricultural personnel, law enforcement officers...

It was the first time that Cheng Li and the others, who were sitting together, had attended such a conference, and their faces were full of curiosity.

Gongyang Ming's thoughts were stirred. He realized that even without a monarchical bureaucracy, local areas could be managed well by delegating power to the people.

Isn't this the ideal country envisioned by the sages?
But could it really last? Gongyang Ming's heart was filled with turmoil, unable to be certain.

After all, once power is in the hands of people, few can remain without selfish motives.

Moreover, it's simply unrealistic to expect dynasties and major powers to delegate power.

It's probably only in this chaotic and disorderly place that people can use it to their advantage.

Just then, another person stepped onto the stage.

The entire audience fell silent for a moment, then stood up and burst into even more enthusiastic applause than before.

Seeing the strong reaction from these people, and recognizing the young man's face on the stage, Cheng Li and the others quickly guessed his identity.

Actually, there's no need to guess; someone has already called out the name.

Seeing the enthusiastic crowd expressing their true feelings, the students and their entourage from Qi were somewhat bewildered.

Even if the emperor of the Great Qi were to travel, it would be difficult to receive such a heartfelt welcome from so many people in the capital.

Looking at those eager eyes, Lu Zheng raised his hand in a gesture of respect.

The scene fell silent instantly.

Lu Zheng said loudly, "The initial construction plans for all areas of our collective have been completed, which is something to be happy and celebrate. But this is only the beginning. We should be more down-to-earth and work hard to create a better tomorrow and benefit our descendants..."

Everyone quieted down and listened attentively to Lu Zheng's words.

Lu Zheng continued unhurriedly, "However, recently, I've heard some unpleasant rumors circulating, and some people have even sent ridiculous letters saying that this place won't last long and will eventually be destroyed..."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and they displayed various reactions.

There was unease, but more than that, there was anger.

Most of the people present had suffered oppression in the past. Faced with such intimidation, they would not tolerate it as before. They had learned to be angry and dared to fight against injustice.

Lu Zhengdao: "What I want to tell everyone is, do not be afraid or timid, I will always be with you! Some people say that because they are afraid, afraid that we will live a good life, afraid that we will become strong!"

"This just proves that everything we are doing now is right and just! So we must persevere!"

"The old society turned people into ghosts, and the new era will turn ghosts into people."

"What we are creating is the idyllic paradise envisioned by the saints, a home that truly belongs to us, and no one can destroy it!"

"I can confidently tell you that we are at the forefront of the world, and we are the future of this era!"

"The new era cannot accommodate the corrupt, filthy, and selfish souls of those oppressors; they will surely be buried in history!"

"We will not only strive to protect everything here, but also move forward steadily to liberate more people from suffering and oppression..."

"We are not only good at destroying an old world, we will also be good at building a new world!"

Hearing Lu Zheng's words, everyone present was unable to remain calm.

The people who originally belonged to this area were all excited and unable to contain themselves.

Su Mei's mouth gaped open. Was this some kind of act of defiance against the entire world? Was it really necessary to go to such extremes...?

Is it appropriate to say these things in front of so many people, including some outsiders?

Lu Zheng remained calm and composed, "I dare to challenge the heavens and earth to a new era!"

"We dare to change the world!"

Hundreds of thousands of people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.

Imperceptibly, strands of personal aura converged into a magnificent rainbow, soaring straight to the heavens.

Gongyang Ming noticed a subtle change occurring in the world and couldn't help but show a strange look in his eyes.

A young man, without using any magical powers, but solely through his impassioned words, was able to unite so many people and cause a change in the world. He was astonished and must have the potential to be a sage.

"We dare to change the world!"

Unable to contain himself, Zhang Mu joined the crowd in shouting.

He felt he had come to the right place; this was the place where he could realize his value and ambitions.

As for fame and fortune, they are nothing but dust.

Cheng Li, standing to the side, appeared more composed, his gaze fixed on Lu Zheng on the stage, his mind racing with thoughts.

We are all Confucian and Taoist scholars who have studied the classics, so how come there is such an extraordinary individual?
Gongyang Mingze looked uneasy. The words everyone was chanting were forbidden poems from the Jixia Academy...

Could it be...? Gongyang Ming looked at Lu Zheng and felt that Lu Zheng couldn't possibly be the compiler of the book. At most, he must have learned about the poems and prose from somewhere and then quoted them.

But to dare to shake heaven and earth with such verses, one's ambition is greater than the heavens themselves.

Recalling the contents of the call to action, Gongyang Ming realized that he had greatly underestimated this young man.

Lu Zheng wasn't calling on people to practice any sage's ideals in the Northern Region; he had clearly already succeeded in doing so. He wanted to encourage people to expand their influence and spread the idea to the whole world.

To be honest, even the Jixia Academy today can't cultivate talents with such courage.

After all, no one has dared to challenge imperial power and return power to the people.

Gongyang Ming sighed inwardly, thinking that if Lu Zheng had been born in the chaotic end of the previous dynasty, he might have truly accomplished something great.

However, in today's world, with powerful dynasties having long reigns, it is simply impossible to implement Lu Zheng's management system.

On the stage, Lu Zheng felt the heartfelt shouts of the people and sensed the subtle changes taking place in this world, which brought a smile to his face.

Who says ordinary people are useless? As long as they are united, they can also change the world.

Of course, these changes are not enough to have any significant impact.

But such a start proves the feasibility of something.

The shared aspirations of the people can also be used to pave the way for a great path. (End of Chapter)