We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chaoyang City, Law Enforcement Department.

As Fengguo's violent law enforcement agency, the structure of the Law Enforcement Department is not separated from the military.

Most of its personnel came from the Fengtian Army, and were basically disabled retired veterans and reservists who failed to pass the new recruit selection.

There are currently two law enforcement agencies in Chaoyang City, one is Li Che’s personal guard, and the other is the Law Enforcement Department.

As the king's personal soldiers, the Royal Guards enforce military law and are responsible for eliminating traitors, corrupt officials, and spies.

Fortunately, the politics of Feng State is still relatively clear nowadays, and the Royal Guards have not enforced the law many times.

The law enforcement team faces the people and is responsible for maintaining public security, patrolling, searching, etc.

The person in charge of the Law Enforcement Department is also an old acquaintance, Wang Sanchun’s younger brother, Wang Laosi.

Wang Laosi is a strange person in the army. Although he is also considered a veteran of the Fengtian Army, he is good at literature but not martial arts, and his ability to lead troops is mediocre.

He is not good at military tactics, but is very good at handling malicious incidents such as fraud and deception, so being in charge of the Law Enforcement Department is a suitable profession for him.

When a group of soldiers escorted Tao Qian and others into the lobby of the Law Enforcement Department, Wang Laosi was sitting behind a desk, reading a book with great interest:

"Nothing is more visible than the hidden, and nothing is more apparent than the subtle. Therefore, the gentleman is truly alone."

An old voice came from below: "Be careful."

Wang Laosi raised his head slightly, but saw an old man who looked like an ordinary farmer, looking at him with a frown.

"What did you say?" asked Wang Laosi.

The old man shook his head and said, "Nothing is more hidden than what is hidden, and nothing is more obvious than what is subtle. Therefore, a gentleman should be cautious when he is alone."

"The meaning of this sentence is: Don't relax your standards when others can't see you, and don't be careless about trivial matters. A gentleman should be cautious when alone. Even when alone and no one is paying attention, he should be careful with his words and actions."

Wang Laosi's face suddenly showed enlightenment: "So that's how it is. No wonder I never understood its meaning."

Putting down the book, Wang Laosi's face showed a little more respect: "My father-in-law is a scholar?"

Tao Qian stroked his beard and nodded slightly: "I have read a few books."

"That's great. I still have a few questions, and I wonder if you can help me clear them up."

Seeing that Wang Laosi and Tao Qian were chatting, the sergeant beside them quickly said:

"Commander Wang, this man might not be a good citizen. He was sneaking around in the fields gathering intelligence and was caught by the people and brought here."

Wang Laosi frowned slightly: "Do you suspect that he is a spy?"

Even when facing a high-ranking official like Wang Laosi, the soldier was not afraid at all and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner:

"These people are unknown, and they're asking questions of the people. If they're not Khitan spies, what are they?"

Wang Laosi looked at Tao Qian, who had a calm expression on his face, then looked at the disciples behind him, and then said with a smile:

"The people are worrying too much. The Khitans are barbaric and crude. How could they send a scholar as a spy?"

Wang Laosi looked at Tao Qian with scrutiny and respect: "Old man, are you from Daqing?"

Tao Qian showed admiration: "This commander has good judgment. I have long heard of the great name of Prince Feng, and have come from Daqing to serve His Majesty."

"Is that so?" Wang Laosi's respect grew even stronger upon hearing this. "Sir, your righteousness is great. Please accept my respect."

After saying this, he actually stood up and bowed to Tao Qian seriously.

This time, the admiration on Tao Qian's face turned into surprise.

A warrior who couldn't even read the "Book of Rites" could be so respectful to others.

From this we can see that this King Feng was not only loved by the people and had some knowledge of farming, but he was also very good at identifying and employing people.

"Sir, please wait here for a moment. I will consult His Highness and have you brought to the palace to see the Emperor as soon as possible."

Tao Qian had no objection and said politely, "Thank you very much, Commander."

"Please tell me your name, sir, so I can mention it to His Highness."

Tao Qian smiled faintly and said, "My surname is Tao, my given name is Qian, and I am from Jiangzhou."

Wang Laosi was shocked. He quickly stood up and walked to Tao Qian, asking nervously, "But is this the master of the Taoyuan School, Master Tao Qian?"

"I am an old man with no talent, yet I have this undeserved reputation."

"Oh my!" Wang Laosi stepped forward in surprise and supported Tao Qian. "It's Master Tao in person. I'm so blind and have treated you so badly."

"Your Highness has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Taoyuan Sect's top disciple for a long time. I never expected that you would come in person."

Wang Laosi looked at everyone and asked, "Are you all top disciples of the Taoyuan Sect?"

Huan Haoran intervened and bowed, "I don't deserve this honor. We are worried about you, Master, so we will serve you."

"Okay, okay!" Wang Laosi was overjoyed. "I'll go tell His Highness right away... No! Everyone, follow me. I'll go see His Highness right now!"

Seeing that Wang Laosi took him so seriously, Tao Qian was a little overwhelmed: "I should inform him, what if His Royal Highness Feng Wang is busy?"

"That's all right, that's all right." Wang Laosi smiled and waved his hand. "Others should tell His Highness in advance that Master Tao has arrived. The sooner His Highness knows, the better."

When Tao Qian heard this, although he knew that Wang Laosi's words were meant to win him over, he still felt warm in his heart.

After years of wandering around in Daqing and dealing with various heroes and rebel kings, Tao Qian encountered too many obstacles.

It's okay if you give in. People just treat you to good food and drinks because of their reputation, but don't listen to your opinions.

It is common to encounter tough opponents and be beaten and scolded. When will someone treat you so politely?

It seems that this King Feng is really eager to seek talented people and has the potential to be a wise ruler.

Wang Laosi acted decisively and immediately ordered a law enforcement team to escort the Taoyuan Sect members to the palace.

Along the way, Tao Qian saw people with smiles on their faces trading freely in the market, children playing and fighting on the streets, and old people sitting in the shade of trees playing chess leisurely.

He couldn't help but sigh to Wang Laosi, "I've been traveling north, passing through various cities in Daqing. Everywhere I look, I see people's lives in decline. Although they're not completely destitute, the people are looking pale."

"I never imagined that the people of Chaoyang City, located just outside the Great Wall, could live and work in such peace and contentment, as if they were in a paradise. Only a wise ruler could achieve such a scene."

Wang Laosi sneered. He was also from a poor family, so he naturally understood the plight of the people.

If the government was not incompetent and indifferent to people's livelihood, why would he run to the mountains to become a bandit?

"Those officials are so high and mighty, how could they be willing to lower their heads and look at the people?"

"My prince is different. He treats the people very well. He often tells us that the ruler is like a boat and the people are like water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it."

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it," Tao Qian repeated silently, his eyes brightening. "This is a brilliant statement, implicitly in line with Mencius's maxim that 'the people are more important than the ruler.' Your Highness is truly wise."

Not every theory can win people's hearts. Different readers have different opinions.

For example, Li Shimin's idea that "water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it" is a continuation of Mencius's thought, which tends to be people-oriented.

But Zhu Yuanzhang did not like this idea.

He felt that this was not something a minister should say, and even deleted this sentence from "Mencius", and removed Mencius from the Confucius Temple.

Tao Qian advocated an agriculture-based economy, and naturally he fully agreed with this theory, and he became more and more excited.

Could it be that in his old age, he would meet a monarch who truly agreed with his theories?

Before Tao Qian could think too much, everyone had already arrived at the gate of the palace.

There was a figure waiting anxiously at the door. After seeing Tao Qian, the man immediately stepped forward excitedly and bowed to the ground.

"Student...Student Wang Xizheng, I pay my respects to my teacher."

Wang Xizheng was a man of pure character. When he saw that his teacher had come to Fengguo in person, he was so moved that he burst into tears.

"Fool, get up quickly, get up quickly."

When Tao Qian saw his most beloved little disciple, he felt very distressed.

When the master and the disciple meet, they express their true feelings.

Wang Laosi saw this scene and nodded slightly, only then did he truly let down his guard.

Although he respected literati, he was not a fool. He naturally found Wang Xizheng for the purpose of distinguishing the authenticity of Tao Qian.

Tao Qian just said he was Tao Qian? What if these people were really spies and took the opportunity to assassinate His Highness?

Bringing the Taoyuan Sect to His Highness is a merit, but bringing a group of assassins to the palace would be a crime.

Among all the generals, Wang Laosi has the most clever ideas, so he naturally would not make such a low-level mistake.

Feeling that the time was almost up, Wang Laosi put on a smile and stepped forward to help Wang Xizheng up: "Wang Sinong, get up quickly. It's a good thing for the master and disciple to be reunited. Don't cry. His Highness is still waiting."

Wang Xizheng finally wiped his tears and looked at Tao Qian: "Teacher, please come into the mansion quickly. His Highness has been thinking about you day and night and has been looking forward to seeing you for a long time."

When Tao Qian and others arrived at the gate of the palace, Li Che was preparing seafood.

The last time they ate the seafood sent from Huludao, Li Che and Fengguo officials praised it highly.

Zhou Ling, the commander of the Huludao Corps, was also a sensible man. From then on, he continuously sent seafood to Chaoyang City.

Li Che did not prohibit this matter, but asked the palace to purchase part of it and transport the other part to the market to sell to the people.

When his personal guards came to report, Li Che was happily brushing the oysters in his hand with a small brush.

Hearing the guard's words, he was stunned for a moment, then stood up in surprise: "Everyone is here? Even Tao Qian himself is here?"

The guard replied, "I don't know whether Tao Qian has come, but there is indeed an old man among them."

"Hahaha! That must be Tao Qian!" Li Che threw the oysters to the ground, and instantly an orange and black figure rushed over and took the oysters away.

Lord Tiger attacks, wooo!

Li Che naturally had no time to care about this stupid tiger, and quickly ordered his guards:

"Quick, open the middle gate, I will go to greet you personally!"

"Yes."

Li Che put his hands into the basin beside him to wash them, and then rushed to the door impatiently.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, thought for a moment, and threw off the two shoes on his feet.

She ruffled her hair a little more, wrinkled her clothes a few times, and then ran out the door.

As Tao Qian stepped onto the steps, he heard a burst of hearty laughter coming from the palace.

Then, he saw a disheveled, barefoot young man running towards him with an excited look on his face:

"But Master Tao is here in person? How come you came so late, keeping me waiting for so long?"