Seeing that the opinion in favor of accepting the Imperial Edict of Appointment had gained the upper hand, Yin Zhiping's faction grew anxious. Li Zhichang hurriedly rose and said, "Senior Brother, you are mistaken!"
Zhang Zhiguang glared at him. "Senior Brother is esteemed for his virtue and respected by all. How could he be mistaken?" His words were clearly insincere. That white-haired, white-bearded Daoist was merely the oldest; everyone gave him face on the surface, but in truth, all knew he was hopelessly pedantic, and no one took him seriously.
Li Zhichang naturally knew Zhang Zhiguang was trying to kill with a borrowed knife. But matters had reached this point, and he could only argue his case, even if it offended his senior brother. "Senior Brother says that those who have left the secular world should cherish compassion, and that saving even one more commoner helps fulfill Heaven's virtue of cherishing life. I agree with that. But when Senior Brother says that, if we accept the Jin Emperor's Imperial Edict of Appointment, we can do our utmost to dissuade Jin officials and soldiers from wanton slaughter, I cannot agree in the slightest."
"Oh? Junior Brother... Junior Brother, what... what advice do you have?" the white-haired Daoist stammered. He was mild-tempered and had no intention of becoming angry.
Li Zhichang said, "Does everyone know that the current Jin Emperor, Wanyan Dan, has an unpredictable temper and casually orders princes and ministers executed? Over the past two years, dozens of high-ranking officials have been put to death without cause. If such an emperor does not even care about the lives of Jurchen nobles, why would a few words of persuasion from us make him care about the lives of ordinary people?"
Everyone present cultivated the Dao, and most knew little of court