Entering the Palace

Zhang Xuezhou returned to Chang'an City earlier than usual.

News is always delayed; for Zhang Xuezhou and others, news from more than ten days ago was something many people were only just learning about.

The fall of Shanggu County City had a tremendous impact. From the city gate to the Imperial City District, countless people were discussing the matter with solemn expressions, while some were also eager to rush to Shanggu County City to fight the enemy. Some cultivators even formed groups of three or five to agree to go on a long journey to fight.

It's hard to say what role these small groups can play, but Zhang Xuezhou has been in the Great Han Dynasty for over twenty years, and this is the first time he's seen something like this.

Society seems to be slowly changing, with less of the previous antagonism and apathy, and more of a sense of belonging.

The situation in Chang'an City is definitely not an isolated case. If Zhang Xuezhou can see this kind of situation in Chang'an City, the situation in other cities will be more or less similar.

This trend is related to the guidance of the imperial court. If the court had acted like a coward when faced with an invasion and had sought peace and avoided war, it would have been met with condemnation from many. But it was precisely because the court stood up straight that many people in the Great Han changed.

Confucius once said, "Repay kindness with kindness, and repay injustice with justice!"

As they traveled in the carriage, constantly observing the surroundings, Dong Zhongshu murmured something to himself.

"The sword is straight," Zhang Xuezhou replied.

"A sword is only straight if it pierces the opponent's body!"

Dong Zhongshu took a deep breath and responded.

Zhang Xuezhou's attitude leaned towards war, which made Dong Zhongshu feel somewhat relieved.

The top-tier combat power in the Northern Kuru Continent includes Daojun, Zhu Jiuyin, and Nine Spirits Primal Sage, while the secondary combat power includes dozens of demon kings and hundreds of human great cultivators.

Among the top combat forces of the Great Han Dynasty, only Li Guang was truly renowned. Leaders of various schools of thought, such as Dong Zhongshu, were considered to be of secondary caliber, and cultivators, who were not adept at long-range raids, were largely ignored.

Winning a war is a difficult task; even a great monk can only serve as a flank support and cannot determine the outcome of a war.

If the new emperor's summons to Chang'an City this time is not related to the sudden death of the Prince of Jiangdu, then it must be for war.

Dong Zhongshu needed to provide a feasible suggestion, or even participate in the process.

The new emperor cannot afford to lose, and neither can the opposing side.

I'll need to bother you for a few days!

The carriage finally stopped in front of Zhang Xuezhou's residence.

Having been confirmed dead by the Nine Spirits Primal Sage, Zhang Xuezhou felt reassured and returned to his residence.

His residence was unassuming, without even a plaque. If one did not investigate carefully, or if Hongku came to his door in person, it would be difficult to find him.

Zhang Xuezhou jumped off the carriage, while Dong Zhongshu cupped his hands in greeting, indicating that he needed to go to the palace first.

"You can stay a little longer," Zhang Xuezhou returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "We recently obtained a permit that allows us to fetch food from the palace every day, so we no longer need to worry about food here!"

"The conditions here have really improved a lot!"

Dong Zhongshu rarely praised him.

Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou was very enthusiastic, but he practiced Grain Avoidance Technique, and his wife worked in the palace and was paid by the government, so the family had to eat whatever they could get by.

Gongsun Hong often went hungry here, but he didn't have much money and couldn't afford the high cost of living in Chang'an City. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and get by, and he often mentioned borrowing money to buy food in his messages to Dong Zhongshu.

See you later!

Zhang Xuezhou knocked on the door, and Dou Shisan and the others quickly pushed it open.

Watching Zhang Xuezhou go inside, Dong Zhongshu shook his head slightly, then quickly walked forward.

In just a hundred meters, you enter the Sima Gate of the Imperial Palace.

Dong Zhongshu obtained his waist token and applied for permission; in a very short time, he was granted entry into the palace.

"Prime Minister Dong, this way please. His Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Garden!"

The Imperial Garden was close to Sima Gate, but Dong Zhongshu vaguely sensed that it wasn't just a matter of distance. The Imperial Garden was full of flowers, which likely corresponded to an extreme murderous intent.

If Dong Zhongshu hadn't intercepted Zhang Xuezhou to find out the situation, he might have truly thought that this scene was directed at him.

"Dong Qing, I remember you telling me two years ago that the world needed to 'suppress all other schools of thought and promote the Six Classics'?"

As Dong Zhongshu stepped into the Imperial Garden, his gaze had barely landed on the head adorned with the imperial crown when the new emperor's voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, the disputes between schools of thought have waned, and guiding Confucianism is now urgent," Dong Zhongshu said, bowing respectfully. "The simple unification of the northern Xiong State with their people and horses has crushed the diverse schools of thought in our Great Han Dynasty. The chaos of our Great Han needs unification. Only the schools of thought that survive are qualified to talk about development. This is also the agreement reached at the very beginning of the Hundred Schools of Thought disputes!"

"Are you sure promoting Confucianism can defeat the Xiong State?" the new emperor asked.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty thinks it's acceptable!"

Dong Zhongshu couldn't guarantee such a thing, but he had to agree to the request; otherwise, nothing would get out of hand.

"Since Zhongshu said it's possible, then it must be possible," the new emperor murmured, then added, "Confucianism isn't bad, is it!"

"Confucianism is very strong," Dong Zhongshu nodded.

"Being strong is a good thing," the new emperor replied. "I'd love to see the power of Confucianism!"

"Does Your Majesty wish for me to perform magic in the Imperial Garden?" Dong Zhongshu bowed and inquired. "I possess the power to summon clouds and rain..."

"No, no, no, you don't need to perform magic in the Imperial Garden!"

Before Dong Zhongshu could finish his question, the new emperor interrupted Dong Zhongshu.

"Only actual combat can verify the strength of Technique Method," the new emperor declared.

"Real combat?"

Dong Zhongshu felt a sudden unease, sensing that things were getting a little worse.

Those skilled in warfare have gone to lead troops into battle, while those skilled in city defense have gone to garrison the prefectural city!

The new emperor rose and faced Dong Zhongshu, leaving the rest of his words to Dong Zhongshu.

"Those skilled in Technique Method certainly need to engage in magical duels... I wonder, Your Majesty, who do you require me to duel with?" Dong Zhongshu asked, forcing himself to speak.

You'll know when the time comes!

The new emperor fixed his gaze on Dong Zhongshu.

In the Battle of Mayi, besides Zhang Xuezhou, who was piloting the Sky Shuttle and keeping up with the pace, Tian Fen was also riding the Sky Shuttle. Among the remaining Technique Method users, only Dong Zhongshu participated in time and used Technique Method to control the field.

Those skilled in Technique Method who can keep up with the pace of war are extremely rare. Apart from pulling Zhang Xuezhou, Dong Zhongshu is the new emperor's only option.

The idea of 'suppressing all other schools of thought and promoting the Six Classics' is unimportant; what matters is getting Dong Zhongshu to serve the Great Han Dynasty and contribute his time and effort.

The new emperor doesn't care about the future; he only wants to win in the present.

The imperial court dispatched four cavalry regiments; this small test of strength must yield results.

"I heard you say that Confucian School is inclusive of all schools of thought, and that the school is extremely adept at imitating the strengths of others to make up for its own weaknesses. If I wanted a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand swords like this, could you, Minister Dong, imitate them?"

After Dong Zhongshu agreed to the matter, the new emperor slowly pointed to the sword in his hand and asked a question.

"I cannot!"

"Oh?"

"If Your Majesty can be open and honest, and is willing to give others a chance, then the people of the world can transform into a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand swords, charging forward wherever Your Majesty's sword points!"

The new emperor had barely frowned when Dong Zhongshu responded with a statement.

This response is unrealistic. What the new emperor needs are truly skilled cultivators, not just people from all over the world to make up the numbers.

The new emperor was clearly very dissatisfied with this answer.

"I am open and honest with you, and I am willing to give you a chance, but when will you be able to produce these ten thousand swords, Dong Qing?" the new emperor asked.

"This..."

One year? Two years? Three years? Five years? Or ten years?

"This..."

"Is Confucian School merely empty talk, or does it truly possess the ability to fulfill my wishes?"

The new emperor trained his troops in the Shanglin Garden, and the soldiers were instructed by the corresponding captains based on their strengths, thus promoting development through a one-to-one approach.

Nearly ten years have passed, and the military training has not reached the level the new emperor envisioned.

He couldn't help but place his hopes on Confucianism.

Dong Zhongshu once spoke at length about the benefits of widely promoting Confucianism, and the new emperor hoped that the effect would be one or two tenths of what Dong Zhongshu had said.

If the standards are met, Confucianism will become the national art of the Great Han Dynasty.

He stared intently at Dong Zhongshu, clearly wanting to get a definite answer from Dong Zhongshu.