Han Dao world

He was right, knowledge is power, and these are the most typical examples.

The Taoists only wanted to live forever, but only the Son of Heaven saw the power of destruction in it.

"This matter must be classified as the top secret of the martial arts hall." Among the stunned people, Liu Xie was the most calm one.To him, this experiment was just a big gun battle, nothing more. "Yu Jijiu, please make arrangements, list detailed improvement plans, and make usable samples as soon as possible for testing."

"Wei." Yu Fan bowed his hands and saluted, leading several Taoist priests to retreat. "Boyang, come with me."

Taoist priests Wei Ao, Yu Ji and others bowed to Liu Xie and retreated with Yu.After leaving the door, Wei Ao said in a low voice: "Zhong Xiang, is the Son of Heaven going to use the elixir we refined on the battlefield?"

Yu Fan glanced at him, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "Wouldn't it be a pity not to use such a sharp weapon on the battlefield?"

Wei Ao suddenly panicked, stopped, and grabbed Yu Fan's sleeve. "Zhongxiang, absolutely not. We developed this pill for longevity, not for killing people."

Yu patted him on the shoulder. "Although it is used on the battlefield, it is not only for killing people, but also for saving people. It is also of great merit."

"Obviously it's murder, why is it saving people?"

"Think about it, if such a sharp weapon appears on the battlefield, if it is used for a while, the enemy's courage will be broken and the city will surrender. Isn't that just avoiding innocent casualties? Our soldiers can also avoid a large number of casualties because of this, and how many people have been saved?"

"This..." Wei Ao was at a loss for words for a moment, not knowing how to refute.

Yu Ji, who was on the side, said, "Forgive me for offering a sacrifice to the wine. The world is peaceful, so why bother to lightly start a war? If the two sides can live in harmony, how can there be innocent casualties?"

"Do you think the Son of Heaven is a warlike person?"

Yu Ji shook his head. "Don't dare, we just knew that the Son of Heaven is not warlike and has great benevolence, so we came here to present the prescription. It's just that I didn't expect..." He smiled wryly, hesitating to speak, but the meaning was very clear.

"Soldiers, ominous weapons, sages use them against their will. Medicine can save people, but it can also kill people. Do you think it's better to keep it in the hands of the emperor, or in the hands of others?"

Yu Ji stroked his beard and stopped talking.

Yu Fan said again: "Although this medicine is powerful, its ingredients are not complicated. If you don't offer it, someone will offer it in the future, but not necessarily to the emperor. Take a step back and say, you have studied for so long, but you haven't found anything about this medicine. The essence lies, but the emperor said it out. Do you think the emperor can research it by himself without you?"

Yu Ji and Wei Ao looked at each other without saying anything.

-

Liu Xie went out, walking slowly with his hands behind his back.

Although the power of gunpowder did not exceed his expectations, the possible effects of the advent of gunpowder made him a little excited.

Gunpowder is one of the inventions of Chinese civilization. Together with printing and the compass, it provided the conditions for the development of the West. However, due to the premature civilization, gunpowder itself lost the space for development, and was finally used by Western barbarians to break through the gate of China. It is a tragedy. , is ironic again.

Now, history has given him another choice, and he will never let such a tragedy happen again.

Gunpowder must be vigorously developed, and we must go all out to use it during the Western Expedition, so that those barbarians know what is truly civilized and what is called a teacher of benevolence and righteousness.

A group of robbers, using the technology of our Chinese civilization to kill, burn and loot, to bring disaster to the world, do all kinds of bad things, and they still have the face to call themselves civilized people, and treat the real civilized people as a backward barbaric nation.

In the final analysis, force cannot be given up, and it must be in one's own hands at all times, otherwise the right to define civilization and barbarism will be taken away by others.

"Your Majesty, once this thing comes out, how many people will die?" Yuan Heng said softly, his voice trembling.

Liu Xie turned his head to look at her, and said calmly: "It's never weapons that kill people, but people. If you are born barbaric and murderous, even if you don't have weapons in your hands, you can still kill people."

Yuan Heng hesitated for a moment, and mustered up his courage. "Your Majesty...do you want to kill someone?"

Chapter 1125 Old and Spicy

Liu Xie didn't answer immediately, but turned to look at Yuan Heng.

It seemed that Yuan Heng couldn't hold back after all, and wanted to intercede for Yuan Tan and others.

He can understand this feeling. After all, he is a member of the clan, and his blood is still very close, so there is no reason to refuse to save him.If it was really so cold-blooded, he would find it strange.

The law is nothing more than human feelings.

"I don't want to kill people." Liu Xie said, paused for two breaths, and added another sentence. "But those who should be killed must be killed, otherwise more people will die."

Yuan Heng said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions, just lowered his head and walked forward silently.

Liu Xie was a little surprised.He originally thought that Yuan Heng would insist on admonishing, at least not so simple.

This little girl looks docile, but she is actually very strong.

But he didn't ask again.

There are some words, just point to the end, there is no need to speak too directly.

As soon as he was about to return to his residence, Yuan Heng suddenly said another sentence. "Your Majesty, can I pass this good news to Ling Shi?"

"Of course." Liu Xie said, then raised his hand. "I'll go tell her myself and lead the way."

The gunpowder test was successful. Although he was not surprised, he was still very happy.Thinking that I haven't seen Cai Yan for several days, I might as well take this opportunity to go.

Yuan Heng smiled, turned around and took Liu Xie to Lantai.

Cai Yan was writing a sacrificial oration, and was somewhat surprised to hear the news of Liu Xie's arrival.She put down her pen, went out to greet him, and first took a look at Yuan Heng.

Yuan Heng squeezed his eyes, turned around to arrange tea and order water.

Liu Xie went to the hall and walked straight into Cai Yan's study room. Seeing that there were pens, ink and paper in front of the desk, and there were still unfinished articles, he asked a casual question.

"What else do you write?"

Cai Yan was a little flustered, took the paper, and wanted to cover the sacrificial text.

Liu Xie glanced at her in surprise.This is not like Cai Yan, every time he comes to see her, if she has a good article, he will take the initiative to show it to her.

"Book from home?"

The last time he asked Cai Yan to recommend some of the clan's children to become officials, he has yet to hear back.

"No." Cai Yan thought for a while, changed his mind, and handed over the article. "funeral oration."

"Sacrifice?" Liu Xie took it and asked, "Sacrifice to your father?"

"Sacrifice to all those who have died since Zhongping."

Liu Xie frowned, didn't say anything, and read the draft again.

The article hasn't been finished yet, but he already understands the purpose.This is to arouse his compassionate heart, let him raise his hands high, and let those who have fled back live.

He put down the article, crossed his hands in front of his stomach, leaned on the bed, and looked at Cai Yan quietly.

Cai Yan was a little embarrassed, wringing his hands together, hesitant to speak several times.

"Is this your own idea, or was it entrusted by others?"

"It is not only entrusted by others, but also voluntary by the minister."

"Who is so capable that he entrusted favors to you?"

"Captain Jia, Mrs. Tang."

Liu Xie was taken aback for a moment, and then slowly said: "It's them, I'm a little surprised. It seems that Sikong is really in a hurry." He waved his hand, motioning Cai Yan to sit closer. "Tell me what you think."

"The minister's thoughts..."

Just as Cai Yan was about to speak, Yuan Heng came in with tea and snacks.After setting them up one by one, she was about to get up and leave when Liu Xie stopped her.

Obviously, Yuan Heng deliberately lured him to meet Cai Yan today, and he was considered an accomplice.

Yuan Heng bowed and saluted. "The minister is waiting for the crime in the corridor."

Liu Xie narrowed his eyes and nodded.

Yuan Heng stood up and left, closing the door behind him.

Cai Yan turned around, took out a neatly folded piece of paper from a side drawer, and placed it in front of Liu Xie.Liu Xie took it, unfolded it, only took a look, and couldn't help laughing.

"This old fox is really old and spicy, and he must hit a shot."

"Your Majesty...has it?"

Liu Xie didn't speak, just folded the paper again and put it in his sleeve.

Strictly speaking, these two sentences written by Jia Xu are not for Cai Yan, but for him.

Because he strictly controlled the spread of Buddhism, the saying "Saving a life is better than building a seven-level pagoda" has not yet spread, but Confucianism also has a Confucian saying that saving lives and accumulating virtue for future generations has always been worthy of praise Great act of kindness.

The most typical example is Yuan An's trial of the King of Chu case, which many people think is the root of Yuan's four generations and three princes.

Cai Yan's father, Cai Yong, was rich in education, unparalleled in loyalty and filial piety, but in the end he had no heirs.If you don't adopt from a side branch, you can only count on her.She chose him and gave up her name, but it also brought a convenience, that is, the child she gave birth to could be named Cai, which could be regarded as a continuation of the bloodline.

Future generations became her only hope.

Similar to her, Mrs. Tang's psychology is actually very similar, and the blessings of future generations are extremely attractive to them.

Jia Xu, an old fox, knows people's hearts well. He used this reason to ask Mrs. Tang and Cai Yan to intercede, so that they could not refuse.

In addition, Jia Xu may also be hinting that if Cai Yan enters the palace in the future, he will support him.

The only thing he can't figure out is what good does this matter do to Jia Xu?

Atonement?

"You continue to write the sacrificial oration. I have to think about how to deal with it in the end." Liu Xie scratched the center of his eyebrows with his little finger, showing a look of embarrassment.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cai Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew that letting Liu Xie say this was already the biggest concession.Although Liu Xie never said it, his intention to cleanse the Kanto gentry—especially the Ruying gentry has not changed.This time is a good opportunity, so Zhou Zhong and the others dare not open their mouths to intercede.

This can be regarded as giving face to her and Mrs. Tang, and also to Jia Xu.

"I came today to tell you good news." Liu Xie changed the subject and talked about the successful gunpowder test.

Cai Yan was also surprised.She is no stranger to Taoist alchemy. Cai Yong has a lot of knowledge, and alchemy is one of them. When he was living in the rivers and lakes, he met Yu Ji and Wei Ao and discussed related matters.

"I met Wei Ao when I was a child, and his father, Wei Lang, was a famous party member."

"Really?" Liu Xie was a little surprised.

He only knew that Wei Ao was a son of a wealthy family in Kuaiji, but he didn't know that his father Wei Lang was a member of the party.

But he didn't care, he didn't have the idea of ​​exterminating the party members, and there was no need to ignore Wei Ao because he was the son of the party members.

Now there are many party members in power.

"Unexpectedly, the elixir that the immortal family seeks to seek longevity has become a murderous weapon in the hands of His Majesty." Cai Yan was a little emotional. "I think Wei Ao might regret it at this moment."

Hearing similar words again, Liu Xie was a little emotional.He thought for a while and said, "Zhaoji, there are nine out of ten unsatisfactory things in this world. There are very few things that are completely ideal and moral. How to grasp the middle scale is indeed a difficult problem. But at any time, you should Remember one sentence, survival is the first need of civilization. This sentence may be cruel, but it is an unavoidable fact."

Cai Yan rolled his eyes. "According to His Majesty, people should do whatever they can to survive?"

Liu Xie reached out and pulled Cai Yan over, caressing her cheek. "If you can only survive by using unscrupulous means, then use unscrupulous means. And all I have to do today is to avoid that step. When you have great strength, you are qualified to decide whether to stick to morality and give mercy to the enemy. When you When you have no strength and can only beg for the mercy of your enemies, morality means nothing to you."

Chapter 1126

Cai Yan can understand Liu Xie's words.

She is familiar with historical events, and has even experienced moments of despair. She knows how pale morality is without the support of strength.Maybe I can't fully accept Liu Xie's words emotionally, but I know this is reality rationally.

The reality is cruel, strength is necessary.

Liu Xie shoulders the heavy responsibility of the revival of the Han Dynasty and the well-being of tens of millions of people. It is impossible for Liu Xie to be as naive as a scholar, thinking that morality can solve all problems.

When he has to kill, he will kill without hesitation, even if he bears a bad reputation.

"Does Your Majesty often struggle with this?"

Liu Xie nodded and sighed.

He wasn't a born cold-blooded tyrant, nor was he that cruel.To some extent, he who grew up in a peaceful age has a softer heart than people in this era.It's just that he knows that since he is sitting in this position, sometimes he has to be cold-blooded.

Otherwise, many more people will die because of his weakness.

Now he no longer has to face the enemy on the battlefield, but he cannot avoid facing himself on the moral battlefield.

"Okay, let's not talk about that. I will deal with this matter." Liu Xie held Cai Yan in his arms and patted her on the shoulder lightly. "The same thing, tell Mrs. Tang. She seldom comes to see you recently, and I have no chance to tell her."

"Wei." Cai Yan lay in Liu Xie's arms, his face was hot and his voice was like a gnat.

"It was originally planned for Na Aheng to enter the palace this year, but now it seems that I may have to postpone it." Liu Xie's eyes flickered, and he regained his usual calmness and wisdom. "After the sacrificial oration is finished, you can leave Wancheng and go back to Chenliu's hometown to live for a while. Let Ah Heng accompany you, and the quota for entering the palace this year will be given to the sisters of the Qiao family."

Cai Yan tightened his body, raised his head, and said with some unease: "This matter...what does it have to do with Ah Heng?"

Liu Xie chuckled. "Do you think that without Ah Heng's name on the sacrificial rite, others will think that it has nothing to do with her? That's all right, this matter is settled like this."

"Okay...well." Cai Yan nodded helplessly, relaxed again, and fell obediently in Liu Xie's arms.

Looking at Cai Yan who was as quiet as a kitten, Liu Xie suddenly felt moved. He lowered his head and kissed Cai Yan on the forehead, then leaned into Cai Yan's ear, and said softly, "You can't be idle even when you go home."

"What's your majesty's plan?" Cai Yan glanced at him.