Telling Old Tales
At this moment, not only Guo Jing, but everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
They don't know much, only the most basic comparisons.
The Six Eccentrics had witnessed the Mongols's fighting style and their ferocity.
Qiu Chuji and Yang Tiexin, on the other hand, thought of the Jingkang Incident.
They believed that since the Mongols were stronger than the Jin Kingdom, the Central Plains would suffer even more.
Looking at the magnificent landscape before him, and the fertile fields faintly visible on both sides of the Yangtze River, Guo Jing's forehead was already covered in cold sweat. He couldn't bear to see the devastation everywhere.
"Let me tell you a story from the past."
The crowd stood on the banks of the Yangtze River, listening to Ji Boying tell stories.
"During the pre-Qin period, there was a King Fuchai of Wu. They were relatives of King Wen of Zhou, and their families had been virtuous for generations. Fuchai's father died on the battlefield in a war against the Yue State, so he worked hard to govern the country. Every day before entering the palace, he would have someone remind him not to forget his father's revenge. He finally defeated Goujian and made him his servant. He was a very capable king, and his power made even the largest Jin State wary."
"But after he defeated the Yue State, he changed. He became arrogant and indulged in pleasure. He drove away the good ministers around him and finally fell to Goujian, losing his life and his country."
"What's even more ridiculous is that Goujian strengthened the Yue State, but due to power struggles, his loyal ministers either died or fled, Yue State did not have a good ending either."
After listening to Ji Boying finish recounting this ancient story, and then hearing him tell the story of Li Cunxu before the Song Dynasty, everyone was struck by how similar he was to Fuchai.
"Guo Jing, let me ask you, is there any power struggle around Temüjin?"
Ji Boying's words were somewhat meant to deceive Guo Jing. What power in the world doesn't have a struggle for power?
But Guo Jing was already frightened by Ji Boying.
The power struggles around Temüjin were naturally fierce, involving his sworn brothers, his adoptive father, and even his sons.
Could Temüjin also become as incompetent as the emperors mentioned above?
Guo Jing had already been led into the ditch by Ji Boying.
"You see, the Jin Kingdom today are all bad people, but you don't know how similar the Jin Kingdom were to the Mongols back then."
"Back then, the north was still under the Liao Dynasty, and the Jin Kingdom was just a small tribe that was bullied by the Liao Dynasty. Isn't that similar to Temüjin? Later, they worked hard to rebuild their strength and fought back, defeating the Liao Dynasty, this old and powerful behemoth. Guo Jing, don't you think this is similar to the Mongols?"
"I don't need to elaborate on what happened in the Central Plains afterward, and you have always felt deeply ashamed of it. History is a cycle; from Fuchai to Li Cunxu, from the Jin to the Mongols, later generations lament but fail to learn from them, thus causing future generations to lament again..."
The river water laps against both banks, shattering the frost and snow that blanketed the land.
No one expected that a man of the martial arts world like Ji Boying would have such far-sighted insight.
They were all immersed in the magnificent and profound river of history.
They understood Ji Boying's meaning: he was not only saying that there were many problems within Temüjin's own ranks, but that Temüjin would not treat the Mongols and the people of the Central Plains equally in terms of choosing interests.
It also implies that while Temüjin is currently wise and powerful, things will still change in the future.
These are some of the personal agendas that Ji Boying secretly included.
While everyone was still pondering, Ji Boying looked at the flowing water in front of him and continued to speak.
"People in the desert live by herding, and it is unknown how many miles of grassland are needed to support a Mongols. People in the Central Plains, on the other hand, mainly farm, and a few dozen acres of land can support their family."
"If the Mongols were to conquer the Central Plains but retain their original style and traditions instead of learning from the Jin Kingdom and promoting Confucianism, millions of fertile fields would be turned into pastures, and tens of thousands of acres of fine crops would be trampled to pieces by horses' hooves. How many people would starve to death then? Bones would be exposed in the wild, and starving corpses would be abandoned in the wasteland. Guo Jing, have you ever imagined such a tragic scene?"
Guo Jing remained silent, but his dark face turned deathly pale; his face had never been this pale in the eighteen years he had lived.
"Let them learn from the Jin Kingdom and actively integrate into the Central Plains. Who among the horsemen who grew up in the desert, seeing this beautiful land and gentle countryside, can remain calm in the face of readily available wealth? Will they become new corrupt officials, exploiting the people, indulging in food and drink, leaving the people with no way to express their suffering, just waiting for another Mongols to appear in the Northern Desert, and for the tragedy to happen again?"
Ji Boying was speaking, he suddenly shouted sharply.
"Guo Jing!"
Guo Jing was so startled he jumped!
"Tell me about the people around Temüjin. Who can resist temptation? Who can guarantee that they won't become addicted to the pleasures of the flesh? Who can remain honest and incorruptible, and still loyal and honest?"
"Who!"
Guo Jing's lips moved, sweat poured down his face, and he kept muttering to himself.
"Who...? Who...? Who could..."
Ji Boying continued to press for answers.
"Guo Jing! Can you do it? Can you refrain from coveting power and pleasure, always uphold your integrity and conscience, and cherish the people?"
"I...! I! I can! I will never become a corrupt official! A tyrant who harms the people!"
Guo Jing shouted at the surging Yangtze River, his voice growing louder and louder.
The fear and anxiety on his face disappeared, and he became more and more determined as he shouted.
The more he shouted, the more exhilarated he felt! Facing the surging river, it was as if he were making a vow!
Ji Boying was extremely satisfied.
"Haha! Hahaha!"
Ji Boying burst into laughter, his laughter blending with the roaring river, like the sound of wind and thunder.
Finally, Qiu Chuji, Ma Yu, Liu Guai, Yang Tiexin and the others, who had been completely bewildered, came to their senses.
Huang Rong stood to the side with a strange expression on her face, but she wanted to laugh more than anything.
Seeing her pretty face scrunched up, she finally couldn't help but laugh, pointing her slender, jade-like finger at Guo Jing, that silly boy, and bursting into laughter as well.
Guo Jing was completely bewildered by Huang Rong's laughter.
"Rong'er? What... what are you laughing at?"
Huang Rong, showing her pearly teeth, looked at the silly boy with a shake of her head.
"What am I laughing at? I'm laughing because someone wants a silly boy to be emperor, Brother Jing, isn't that funny?"
Although Guo Jing didn't really want to laugh, he hadn't quite grasped the situation.
But when he saw Huang Rong smile, he also chuckled foolishly.
"Funny, funny."
These words drew a burst of laughter, and Yang Tiexin and the others also laughed.
"Silly boy, what a silly boy."
Zhu Cong waved his tattered fan, patted the back of Guo Jing's head, and looked utterly helpless.
Guo Jing lowered his head, a hint of grievance on his honest face, and held the back of his head.
"Second Master, I've never been very smart since I was little."
Everyone laughed again.
Guo Jing was completely bewildered by the laughter.
I just feel increasingly confused and disoriented.
With a worried look on his face, he chased after the crowd and asked what they were laughing about.
It took me a while to get the answer.
Guo Jing's eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth remained agape for a long time.
"What!!!!"
"Make me emperor!!!"