the enlightener says

Qin Ke was terrified when he saw it. Although Qin Ke admired Sun Qing's strength, his actions were stern. Whether he was dealing with soldiers or men in white, his attitude was as if he was looking at an animal that was allowed to be killed by him. Livestock in general.

If Gao Changgong's temperament is self-confidence, it is Mount Tai that collapses in front of him without changing his color, while Sun Qing stands on Mount Tai and sees that all living beings are insignificant, aloof, and self-conscious as gods.

Qin Ke frowned, feeling somewhat repelled inexplicably.But no matter what, Sun Qing was their savior after all, and he tried to maintain a little friendliness towards Sun Qing.

The man in white fainted, and the blind old man had disappeared without a trace. The soldiers who were at the absolute advantage turned into a group of pitiful lambs at this moment. and these three practitioners are not weak, what can they do?

The infantry commander did not expect this kind of thing to happen, and the uninvited guests came one after another.He looked at Taixuetang, and cursed in a low voice. Ever since he received the signal and rushed over, seeing that they were in this position, they already had a bad feeling.

Taixuetang is a place of right and wrong. Although it seems to be just a place of study, at least half of the students here have cultivation qualifications. In addition, Zhuge Wanling himself is not a corrupt scholar. , shoot, drive, book, and count", approaching such a place is not intentionally causing trouble for oneself.

Sun Qing slowly shifted his eyes and landed on him. With a heavy expression on his face, he raised his hand and said, "Mr. Sun...we..."

Just as he was about to say something, he heard the sound of fighting from the eaves.Qin Ke Abu raised his head, those infantry soldiers who were standing on the eaves holding bows and crossbows, looking at the audience, were defeated by three men in full suits, holding daggers and covering their faces with white cloth. Either he was beaten so weak that he couldn't get up, or he was beaten so neatly that he was dizzy and rolled down from the eaves. He probably was disabled even if he didn't die.

The streets are full of the sound of armor colliding while running, as if a whole army is running in an orderly manner.

"Run!" The infantry commander gave an order almost at the same time he saw those people on the roof.It's just that the army pouring out of the street is faster than them!

This is a majestic army. This majesty does not only come from the thunder stripes on their all-black armor or the sharp spears in their hands, but also from their solemn expressions and supercilious eyes.

What is somewhat surprising is that many of these people are missing an arm, or have sword scars on their faces, and quite a few are blind in one eye.

But despite this, their aura is heavier than the soldiers who just attacked Qin Ke and others.

The soldiers in the first row were holding heavy shields in their hands. When they neatly hit the shields on the ground, the entire army was like an iron wall, blocking all the nearby exits and blocking the remaining eight soldiers. room.

Chapter 74 Strong Army, Documents, Prime Minister

"Lei Jun!" The infantry commander's face froze. He recognized this army, or in other words, no one in Jianye City did not recognize this army that had faced the test of life and death on the frontal battlefield.Jingwu has two strong armies, one is Qingzhou ghost cavalry, which is good at long-distance raids. Back then, this army was famous because it followed Gao Changgong to attack the city, and many people only remembered this army.

But in fact, if this Lei army hadn't been in the frontier defense and resisted the large-scale invasion of the Tang State back then, it would have been impossible for Gao Changgong to take advantage of the vacancy and enter the city.

After that battle, many soldiers had to retreat due to serious injuries, and Zhuge Wanling left behind those who were willing to stay for those who were less injured, and asked them to guard Jianye City and participate in daily defense.

Everyone who can wear this armor is a veteran returning from life and death, a survivor.

The infantry commander was desperate. He never thought that Lei Jun would arrive here so fast, but when they stopped hiding their voices, he had already become the prey in the army's cage.

Sun Qing walked up to Abu and Qin Ke, and Qin Ke and Abu bowed their hands at the same time to express their gratitude.Probably because Sun Qing had sent someone to inform Lei Jun in advance, which led to the current scene.

"Thank you." Abu said.

Sun Qing just looked at the two of them coldly. He had never seen Qin Ke before, so his eyes stayed on Qin Ke for a while.

Qin Ke only felt that there was a knife scraping on his face, which might pierce the skin at any time, and he was a little frightened.

Soon, Sun Qing turned his gaze back to Abu again.

"It's not for you." Sun Qing turned and left, "I just don't want you to embarrass the prime minister and the school."

Qin Ke raised his head slightly, looked at Sun Qing's leaving back, and said to Abu, "Who is he? So proud."

"It's...my classmate?" Abu shook his head, thinking that he had really humiliated Zhuge Wanling, but he never thought that it was Sun Qing who came to save him, "But we don't have a good relationship."

Qin Ke snorted and said, "Those who don't know think we owe him money, and it won't be nice for anyone to see his face."

royal palace.

"Don't look around, follow me..." Listening to Abu's cautious voice, Qin Ke's heart was beating inexplicably. It's not dark, it even feels bright.

The palace is very big, so big that even though it is night now, Qin Ke only feels a little dazzled by the big and heavy palace gate before, the extremely wide square after that, and the promenade with nine bends and eighteen bends. It is he who lives in this court, and nine times out of ten he will get lost.

From time to time, eunuchs or maids passed by on the road, and Qin Ke greeted them warmly, but these people seemed to not see him at all, they just bent slightly, lowered their heads, and held lanterns in their hands or something fast with both hands. Walked by, and soon disappeared around the corner.

Qin Ke finally remembered what was missing in this palace, the lack of human touch. Although there were countless majestic halls and a square that was so wide that he couldn't believe it, everything revealed a cold feeling in the dark. smell.

"Just like that person?" Qin Ke thought of Zhuge Wanling, and whispered to himself.

After walking for about half a quarter, Abu's footsteps finally stopped. At this moment, the two of them were already standing in front of a tall hall.The door of the hall was painted with vermilion lacquer, and there were countless delicate carvings on it. Qin Ke saw the gods, but Abu coughed twice: "Don't look around."

Qin Ke turned around and said in a low voice: "Is everyone in this palace like this? It feels like you haven't even turned your neck since you entered the palace."

Abu also replied in a low voice: "The rules in the palace are strict, especially here. It's better to watch less. The last time a foreign minister met the Queen Mother on the way into the palace, he just took a few extra glances. He was punished for a big crime of disrespect and exiled to the army."

Qin Ke trembled in fright, shivered, and immediately strangled and buried his curiosity to death. He didn't want to be sent to the army. He just wanted to hide as far away as possible when it came to fighting.

"It's here. You go in. I'll wait for you outside." Abu slowly pushed the door, and the door of the main hall opened, revealing some disturbing darkness. Qin Ke looked at it, not far from the center, A few lights were on, and in the shadows there was a figure writing with a pen on a copybook.

Qin Ke hesitated for a moment, looked at the eunuchs on both sides, raised his legs, crossed the high threshold, and walked towards the light. Zhuge Wanling's face became real. He hadn't seen him for more than two months. He seemed to be a little clearer. , but his eyes are still as calm as an ancient well, and he still feels that he will be trapped in it and cannot escape.

"Sit down." Zhuge Wanling said.

Qin Ke knelt down on the cushion opposite the desk, twisting his legs and buttocks restlessly. It had been a long time since he sat like this, and he was really not used to it.He raised his eyes to look at what Zhuge Wanling wrote. Although he knew all the words, he couldn't understand them together.

"You don't seem... not surprised at all, and you don't care?" Qin Ke looked at Zhuge Wanling and asked inexplicably.

Zhuge Wanling raised his head slightly, stopped the pen in his hand, and continued to write, calmly said: "I knew you would come."

Qin Ke shook his head, thinking that this person is really not suitable for chatting.So he said helplessly: "Okay, okay, I know you're a god, I've seen it last time, so don't show it off in front of me."

As he said that, he suddenly thought of something, patted his forehead and said, "By the way, there is something..." He reached into his bosom, took out the bamboo slip that Master Jiu had given him, and handed it over, "This is the bamboo slip that Jiu Ye gave him." I gave it to you. He..."

Qin Ke choked for a moment, and suddenly didn't know what to say. After calming down, he said, "He's dead. But he asked me to tell you that he doesn't regret it."

"En." Zhuge Wanling just took the bamboo slip gently, which made Qin Ke a little dazed.Unlike the stories about kings he had read, Zhuge Wanling didn't cry bitterly, shouting "Why did you leave before me!"

He was just so calm, as usual, as if this matter was just a small chore to him.

The bamboo slips were placed on the bookcase next to him, and placed together with other bamboo slips, they could no longer be distinguished from each other. In the light of the fire, Qin Ke could see clearly that those bamboo slips had already been covered with some dust, obviously it was not that A frequently read document.

"You..." Qin Ke hesitated, not knowing whether he should ask, but he still asked, "Don't you want to see?"

Zhuge Wanling continued to write an obscure political commentary on the case, and said softly: "No need."

Not knowing where the anger came from, Qin Ke's voice became much heavier: "Should we take a look?"

Zhuge Wanling kept moving his hands, and he didn't know whether he heard Qin Ke's tone or not, he just smiled and shook his head.

Qin Ke couldn't control it anymore, and suddenly slapped the copybook!

With a "pop", the original calm in the hall was broken, the eunuch standing beside Zhuge Wanling's expression changed drastically, but he lowered his head and dared not make a sound.It's just frightening in my heart, no one has ever dared to make a decision in front of the prime minister, who is this young man now, is he crazy?

You know... the last old official who relied on the old man to make a deal and scold him in front of Zhuge Wanling stayed in the dark prison until today just because the lord knew about the subsequent order.

Qin Ke didn't know this kind of rules, nor did he know that there was an eighty-year-old man in the prison who wanted to die again and again because he had no hope in the dark. Fate, just because this bamboo slip can be delivered to you, and the people in the oil shop died without a word. Is that how you treat them?"

Zhuge Wanling finally put down his pen, and the ink reflected a black light on the inkstone.

Chapter 75 Human Lives Matter

He was still calm, showing no signs of getting angry, and it was precisely because of this calmness or indifference that Qin Ke felt extremely frustrated.Like it's none of my business?Qin Ke thought to himself.After all, this is all Jing Wu's internal affairs. As an outsider, even if he is filled with righteous indignation, he has no right to point fingers.

"Go ahead." Zhuge Wanling said, "Say what you want to say. I'll listen."

you listen?I am not your teacher and have to give you lessons.Although you are my master's elder brother... But from this point of view, should you teach me instead?Qin Ke rolled his eyes in his heart, come on, he is different from the master.

"I have nothing to say." Qin Ke said, but quickly overturned his preface, "You shouldn't treat them like this... Even if they are your subordinates, they sacrificed their lives for you after all. Nine Lord...he could have left, but in order to take this bamboo slip, he would rather stay."

"Wait a minute." Zhuge Wanling stopped him softly, the light of the candle flickered in the darkness, he looked around and said, "Go down."

"Yes." There were several responses from the hall, except for the old eunuch who was hunched over beside Zhuge Wanling, six or seven eunuchs walked out of the darkness, slowly pushed open the palace gate and walked out.

Abu watched the eunuchs come out of the palace door one by one, and thought of Qin Ke's unreal quarrel just now, he felt a little nervous: "Your Majesty."

The old eunuch stood at the forefront, and all the eunuchs shrank like mice behind him, without saying a word.The old eunuch himself has gentle eyes, like a lazy cat.

He knew Abu, and a widowed old man like him also had some affection for Abu: "Abu, what's the matter?"

Abu looked at the old eunuch's kind face, smiled, and said worriedly: "What's going on inside?"

The old eunuch shook his head, and didn't ask Abu who the boy who was yelling at Zhuge Wanling was. After decades of experience in the court, he understood the truth of "shut up" early on: "The prime minister himself With his judgment, you also understand the prime minister, so don't worry."

"Of course I'm not worried about sir, I'm worried about Ake..." Abu said helplessly, but since all the eunuchs have been called out, Qin Ke shouldn't have any problems.

Thinking of this, he bowed his hands respectfully, and said, "Goodbye Wang Gonggong."

The old eunuch smiled, and led the eunuch away slowly, the night shrouded his back, and the heavy pressure in the palace seemed to bend his back a bit, but Abu felt that the slightly bent back It seems that it can carry the whole mountain.

In the hall, after there were no eunuchs on duty, the darkness in the whole room became more and more silent. Of course, Qin Ke had already discovered those eunuchs standing in the darkness, and the art of wind vision brought the beating of their hearts into his ears inside.

But at the moment without these physically handicapped people, Qin Ke was not very happy, but felt a little uncomfortable.

It's too cold in this palace, which makes people feel chilling. If there is no warm blood flowing, everyone will be obliterated by loneliness.

And this person in front of him is just like this who reviews state affairs day after day in the palace and endures endless loneliness?

If he was allowed to sit in front of such a blue lamp every day, I'm afraid he would go crazy soon.

Thinking of this, Qin Ke felt a bit of pity in his heart, but soon, he felt absurd again. People are always different. In his opinion, this is loneliness, and in Zhuge Wanling's opinion, instead, he will feel lonely because of holding a hand. Rejoice in the power of the country?

"Okay." Zhuge Wanling continued, "Go ahead."

Qin Ke didn't know what he should say, in fact, what he wanted to say was just a few words.Looking up at the dark hall, Qin Ke thought for a while, and said a few words to the old master, "The wise kings in ancient times loved loyal ministers very much. They are close to virtuous ministers and distant from villains. Only in this way will there be people who are willing to serve for you." Your allegiance to..."

Speaking of the latter, Qin Ke felt that his mouth was full of the decayed taste of the year, so he shook his head and said no more.

Zhuge Wanling watched him finish speaking, smiled, stretched out his hand to hold the scroll of bamboo slips, put it in front of the desk, and asked, "What is this?"

"Bamboo slips." Qin Ke replied.

Zhuge Wanling didn't speak, but looked at him quietly.

Qin Ke thought for a moment, and then said, "It's a criminal evidence about officials corrupting the law, destroying dikes and flooding fields to defraud disaster relief food."

Zhuge Wanling still looked at him with a smile, as if waiting for another answer from him.

Qin Ke couldn't figure it out, and was agitated in his heart: "What kind of maneuver are you playing?"

Zhuge Wanling smiled and shook his head, just like this, spread out slowly on the table, those names appeared one after another under the light of the candle, as if there were shadows swaying on them.These people who were originally hiding in the shadows are exposed now, and they seem to be panicking, otherwise they wouldn't do something to kill people.

"This is a bamboo slip. It's also a list." Zhuge Wanling found another volume from the dusty bamboo slips on the side, put it on the desk, and slowly spread it out.

Qin Ke looked at the bamboo slips that were spread out in the second volume. There were also some names of people on it, and some of them were also circled with red cinnabar.Some names were very familiar to him, he compared them, and soon found the similarity between the two volumes, that is, some names were actually the same.

If it is said that there are so many people with the same name and surname in Jingwu, perhaps the two lists have nothing to do with each other.But Qin Ke knows that this kind of thing is unlikely, and he naturally understands that these same names actually refer to the same people.

Zhuge Wanling continued: "But it's one life after another."

"Of course. Destruction of dikes and flooding of fields killed many ordinary people. They had to starve to death by the side of the road. It's really... a heinous crime." Qin Ke thought of his hunger when he was young, and thought of the bowl he grew up to understand where it came from. Where is the meat, and thinking of his dead parents, his stomach hurts inexplicably.

"No. I'm not talking about these lives." Zhuge Wanling shook his head, "I'm talking about the lives on this list."

"What do you mean?"

"Since these officials have done these things, according to the law of the country, they may be exiled into the army, or tortured to death. Isn't it human life?"

Qin Ke frowned: "Isn't it just right to kill people for their lives?"

Zhuge Wanling nodded: "Killing for life is indeed justice. But there are some things that are not justice at all. Where did I, Jing Wu, come from? Gao Changgong's victory against the Tang State was naturally one of them, but If it weren't for the alliance of the big and small gentry in Wu, it would be impossible to have that kind of military power. No matter how strong Gao Changgong is, he is just one person. Even if he can kill 1000, 2000, or 3000 people , it is also impossible for this country of Wu to become the Jing Wu of today."

"What does this have to do with this matter now?" Qin Ke felt a little heavy inexplicably, and asked in a low voice.

"Of course it has something to do with it." Zhuge Wanling looked at the flickering fire, and said softly: "In the past, the appointment of officials relied more on the recommendation of the township and the gentry. Almost everyone has the blood of the nobles on their bodies."

He reached out his hand to touch the names on the bamboo slips one after another: "The name on it seems to be just the name of a person, but behind these people represent the interests of the entire gentry. If killing people pays for their lives, how many people are enough?"

Qin Ke was not convinced and said: "Whoever participated in this matter will be beheaded. Isn't this very clear? Jiu Ye was killed, and the people in the oil shop also died, let alone those who were flooded. Common people, can you get away with being a nobleman?"

"It is true that the gentry cannot escape the law, but the existence of the law is attached to the country and this temple. If I easily raise a knife to kill, it is tantamount to declaring war with the gentry. If Jing and Wu fall into internal fighting, the Canghai Mohists of the Tang Dynasty will definitely not do anything. Watching from the wall, they will also wait for the opportunity to observe. As long as there is a suitable time, they will spread their minions and tear a piece of meat from the rich and prosperous land of Jingwu. At that time, it will be the common people who will suffer." Zhuge Wanling said in a low voice, "If So, to kill or not to kill?"

Chapter 76 Killable

Qin Ke didn't understand these things, but he could hear the seriousness of them. After thinking about it, he said, "Then don't use these gentry people?"

Zhuge Wanling smiled, and said: "The humble scholars who studied hard for ten years once entered the temple, but how many of them really care about the world? It's just to get ahead and sweep away the poverty of the past. It is only a matter of time before such a person colludes with the gentry. Moreover, if the gentry is not used, who should I use? Jingwu needs people to govern, from one county to one county To go to a state or a country requires a large number of people, I don’t use nobles, should I use those poor people who don’t know a single big character and struggle to write their own names?”

"I don't need to look at the names above, I already know who they are. But it's not the time yet." Zhuge Wanling lowered his head and spoke softly, as if talking to himself, "It's not the time."

Qin Ke sat blankly, opened his mouth, and wanted to refute, but found that he couldn't express any different opinions at all.After all, when it comes to governing the country, he only has the few things in the book that say a lot and say a lot. There is a saying that "if you are not in the position, you will not seek his own government." That's right, he is just an outsider. Do you know the reason why Zhuge Wanling does things?

He laughed at himself, lowered his head, and didn't speak, so he looked like a child who was having trouble.

Zhuge Wanling looked at him, but there was a bit of tenderness in his eyes, like an elder caring for his nephew: "You must have suffered a lot on the way to Jingwu. It's my fault for going through things that I shouldn't have gone through."

He raised his head, and said to Abu who was pressing his ear and desperately trying to hear something outside the temple door: "Abu, come in."

Abu was scratching his ears and scratching his cheek. The sound insulation effect of the palace door is really good. Although the partition wall has ears, his ears are really not as sensitive as Qin Ke, let alone hear the words inside clearly.

And Zhuge Wanling raised his voice, he finally heard this sentence clearly, knowing that his eavesdropping behavior had been completely discovered by Zhuge Wanling, immediately, he pushed the door at a loss, and fell down from outside the palace door .

"Ouch." Abu let out a low voice, but ignoring the pain of the fall, he hurriedly got up from the high threshold, trotted all the way to Zhuge Wanling, and cupped his hands with a blushing face, "Mr. call me?"