Letting Be

There is a place called the armory in the imperial palace of Chang'an City.

The name of the armory is simple, and its function is also simple.

This place not only houses the world's hidden weapons, Law Treasure, and armor, but also the secret manuals of many schools of thought.

Just as Dong Zhongshu had previously heard Shi Wudao recite 'Yu' and 'Zhou' to represent time and space, there are also 'Dao' and 'Yu' in the Huang-Lao School, 'Jiu' and 'Yu' in the School of Mohists, and 'Da Yi' and 'Xiao Yi' in the School of Names.

Each school of thought has a different definition, which leads to differences in the content of their doctrines and makes it difficult to read them all.

The acupoint in this school of thought can be called the "Shenting acupoint," while another school calls it the "Hairline acupoint." The acupoint is the same, but it is embedded in the text, making it extremely difficult for people to understand. The different definitions throughout the text are like Zhang Xuezhou and others reading foreign literature, which would leave them completely bewildered.

Furthermore, the inclusion of regional scripts and ancient scripts further complicates the reading of classical texts.

Most people who entered the Secret Pavilion chose to study the doctrines of their own familiar schools of thought. Few people, like Dong Zhongshu, ventured into classical texts from other disciplines. Even other great Confucian School scholars did not do the same.

"I'll read, you remember!"

The secret manuals in the armory must not be taken away. Although there is no time limit for viewing them in the armory, people still need to eat and drink, and studying these contents is particularly mentally taxing, so most people do not spend a long time there.

Dong Zhongshu was no exception.

But he was fortunate that some people are born with special abilities.

Dong Zhongshu could quickly memorize content he could understand, while Zhang Xuezhou could truly memorize by rote.

Regardless of whether he understands the content, Zhang Xuezhou can memorize it, and Zhang Xuezhou can memorize complex and diverse content.

This was a fact personally verified by Dong Zhongshu at the Wenying Pavilion in Huainan, which is why Dong Zhongshu was extremely confident in letting Zhang Xuezhou record it.

Once he leaves the Secret Pavilion, he can obtain the complete contents of the Secret Manual by having Zhang Xuezhou dictate it to him.

Dong Zhongshu was not greedy, but he wanted to get what he needed.

"Master, you're making me memorize all this stuff, but I don't understand it at all. What kind of benefit is this?"

Having memorized a book of scriptures, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but feel that he had remembered some strange and unusual content.

While the books in the Wenying Pavilion underwent revisions, rewriting, and translation, the books in the Wuku Secret Pavilion remained in their original state.

This may explain the differences between Emperor Jing's "Tomb Classic" and the "Tomb Classic" of the Wenying Pavilion.

This allows one to learn the most authentic content, but it also presents an extremely high learning difficulty.

After Zhang Xuezhou finished reciting, he had no idea what he had memorized at all.

"We don't understand it now, but we will one day," Dong Zhongshu said. "You should memorize it well, and I'll read it to you later!"

"All you do is make empty promises!"

Zhang Xuezhou knew before he arrived that his luck was perfectly stable, and that he would only be able to gain any benefits by having a blind benefactor give him something.

Upon arriving at the Secret Pavilion, he couldn't help but have a knowing look on his face.

"You seem somewhat interested in magic arts, and this book I happen to have is one of them. Would you like to memorize it?"

The secret chamber contained a large number of bamboo slips, as well as secret texts cast from bronze, iron, gold, and silver, and also records written on old animal hides.

Dong Zhongshu searched for a long time before finally choosing a thick bronze plate that was two meters long and one meter wide. He then gestured with his hand to point to the inscription on the plaque.

"What is this?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"This is the Imperial Learning within the Huang-Lao school of thought, called 'Zaiyou'," Dong Zhongshu said. "It is said that this is the art of movement learned by the Yellow Emperor."

"That sounds interesting!"

The benefits Dong Zhongshu offered certainly piqued Zhang Xuezhou's interest; whether he understood them or not, he just needed to remember them.

Dong Zhongshu was knowledgeable and wouldn't make recommendations blindly.

Understanding it thoroughly is for later, but remembering it is for the present moment.

The Imperial Secretariat was not a place that just anyone was qualified to visit. Unless Dong Zhongshu was in dire straits, even someone like Zhang Xuezhou, who was there to help him, would not have been allowed to accompany him.

Although the gains are unclear and uncertain, and if one cannot understand them, it can be considered a zero gain, it is indeed a rare fortuitous opportunity for ordinary people. Even Dong Zhongshu rarely came to these secret pavilions.

The key held by Dong Zhongshu could only open the secret chambers containing the Huang-Lao school and the Legalist school, and thus could only view the classics of these two major schools.

"I've got it, and you've got it too. Whether I can turn my life around, and whether you can have good fortune from now on, all depends on this trip," Dong Zhongshu whispered.

With the Nine-Turn Qi-Harmonizing Technique of the medical school at his disposal, the Huang-Lao method of health preservation was merely incidental, while the Legalist school of thought was a future continuation of the integration of Technique Method. What Dong Zhongshu truly needed was also "Zaiyou".

This is the best time to practice martial arts, and also the opportunity for Dong Zhongshu to reach great heights.

Dong Zhongshu didn't know if non-emperors could succeed in cultivating cultivation techniques, but he had to try.

Expelled from Chang'an City by Shen Peigong, Dong Zhongshu's fortunes were cut short by the new emperor's good luck, leaving Dong Zhongshu no choice but to seek another way out.

If he looks for it, there won't be any problems; if he doesn't, he can only wait for things to continue to fall into ruin.

Human wisdom and ability can bring many things, but they cannot bring good fortune.

Most people are equal in ability, but their circumstances vary greatly, with many people lacking just a little bit of 'luck'.

Even a pig can take flight if it's in the right place at the right time.

Even a human emperor worshipped by thousands can perish in times of misfortune.

Dong Zhongshu did not believe in fate, but he had no choice but to believe in destiny.

He had enjoyed smooth sailing for over thirty years, but in just a few years his fortunes plummeted as if he had been cursed. If he continues to decline, he will become a figure of pity in the eyes of others.

As time goes by, people like them become like a drop of water in the long river of history, no longer able to make a ripple.

This is not the future that Dong Zhongshu desired.

He tried hard to recall the many ancient characters he had learned, and kept reciting them in a low voice, entrusting all of this to Zhang Xuezhou to recite and memorize.

Zhang Xuezhou not only memorized what he said, but he could even remember every word he pointed to.

This meant that even if Dong Zhongshu misread something, he could still correct it in the future.

"Master, the 'Zaiyou' chapter seems to be about the strategies of emperors. Can we learn it?"

Zhang Xuezhou was lacking in some aspects, but he had some basic knowledge of 'movement techniques'.

He found it difficult to understand the content of "Zaiyou," but he had basic discernment and recognized that this set of techniques belonged to the study of emperors.

This technique requires many conditions that only emperors possess, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to learn.

"There is no technique in this world that only certain people can specialize in," Dong Zhongshu said in a low voice. "That doesn't align with the origin of any technique, nor with the workings of the celestial cycles!"

"But what are the conditions for these practices?"

"Conditions are created by people, and naturally, they can also be changed by people!"

Compared to Zhang Xuezhou's cautious approach in seeking to expand his knowledge, Dong Zhongshu clearly had greater confidence in the face of the unknown.

Even if "Zaiyou" doesn't suit his cultivation, he can slowly correct it until he can truly cultivate this set of imperial techniques.