Taoist temple
In the dim candlelight, a skinny middle-aged man sat in front of the case, his eyes a little dazed.
Zhang Dai is still thinking over and over again.
“Punishment of self-interest has been done for eternity, but punishment of public corruption is unheard of!”
"The failure of the country is due to the collapse of the wind. Is this the corruption of the court and the emperor?"
"Under public corruption, the people's livelihood will be ruined and their careers will wither. Therefore, the discipline of public corruption is more important than private corruption, and the second most important thing is the virtue of all officials!"
"To your Majesty Yao and Shun, please make the customs pure...so it is like this...it is like this..."
"Without public corruption, everything is just trying to save money and putting out fires!"
"Is this the path of the sages?"
"Is this the path of a saint?"
He grew paler and paler.
"Am I wrong?" he asked himself.
No one answered.
He didn't need anyone else to answer.
"I think I have been studying since I was a child, so it's not like I haven't had the idea of having great virtues in the world."
"To King Yao and Shun, we will make our customs pure again. Countless sages have come forward one after another. Although I cannot come, I yearn for it... This wish has been made in my heart since I was a child, but I have never spoken it out, but practiced it in my heart."
He stared blankly at the flickering candlelight.
In the candlelight, it seemed to reflect the scene of him reading under the lamp as a young man more than thirty years ago.
Decades of life have passed by in such a hurry and what has been left behind?
The wish of childhood, the ambition of youth, the lack of regrets in middle age...
"I originally thought that by following this ambition, I would have no regrets even if I died nine times, and I would live up to my original intention until I was buried. But when my grandson came this time, I really started to... regret it a little bit."
Another burst of rain hit his face along the open window, and his clothes revealed his skinny body.
"Have I gone astray in the past few decades?"
"If, thirty years ago, I could have met my grandson, maybe..."
Although he knew it was impossible, Zhang Dai still couldn't help imagining such a scene.
"Maybe I don't have to suffer like this..."
It is easy to lie to others, but difficult to lie to yourself.
Zhang Dai knew that he did regret it and regretted that he could not have known the truth earlier.
In fact, in this life, what he is most proud of is that he can combine knowledge and action and practice Confucianism.
But now, my grandson figured it out, and realized... maybe it was fundamentally wrong.
"I have been studying for decades, but I have not been able to understand the true meaning of the sages, but my grandson has revealed the key to it with just a few words... If my grandson is like this, all the people in this world will be blessed."
Thinking of this, a touch of relief and sadness emerged in his heart.
"Ah...it's a pity that I won't be able to see that day."
"Let me, Zhang Dai, die here. I started with this wish and ended with this wish."
"I'm old, a little tired, tired...and I don't want to change anymore."
He slowly closed his eyes, looked calm, and waited quietly.
"grown ups!"
Suddenly there was a heavy knock on the door: "Sir, let's go!"
It was clearly Fang Xi's voice.
Zhang Dai's heart moved and he opened the door directly.
The young man was all wet and couldn't care about anything else. He just grabbed him and wanted to run away.
"No, no, I can't leave!"
"When I left, there was nothing left!"
Zhang Dai turned around and stared at the young face.
"You don't understand, I can't leave! But you can!"
"You are still young... I have many questions that I want you to answer later."
As he said that, he took a deep look at him. There was still spirit and ideals in it. In a daze, he seemed to see himself decades ago.
They are both so innocent and passionate...so similar...so similar...
He thrust a piece of paper to Fang Xi with a rare hint of earnestness.
"Listen, I am solely responsible for this matter and it has nothing to do with you! Just take care of it!"
"You have a bright future with your grandson. Don't miss it. Don't get involved with me, a sinner!"
"Every year from now on, remember to burn a few envelopes for me, pick out some Sheji affairs, and tell them to me!"
Hearing this explanation of the funeral, Fang Xi was shocked and sad.
"Master Zhang!"
"I do not go!"
Zhang Dai ignored him and shouted decisively: "You guys, take Mr. Fang away quickly!"
Several soldiers and government officials, seeing that the situation was not good, wanted to leave, but then they rushed over and pulled Fang Xi down.
"Master Fang, don't let me down." That was Zhang Dai's servant.
There was another person following him, silently holding a knife to protect him.
"Le San, aren't you leaving?"
Zhang Dai didn't look around him, just smiled and asked.
"Sir, I have been with you for so many years, and if you don't leave, I won't leave either."
He is a warrior who has followed Zhang Dai for decades.
"Don't you regret it? I am an incompetent and incompetent official. I have forced the people to revolt. I am indeed incompetent!"
This warrior is quite honest.
"Sir, I don't quite understand what you're saying. Maybe you did something wrong, but it doesn't matter. I will guard you until the end."
"Okay, okay, okay..."
Zhang Dai stopped talking immediately.
Through the open doorway, a figure holding a knife stumbled in.
Zhang Dai was sitting upright, with a middle-aged warrior guarding him with a sword in front of him.
"I am Zhang Dai." Zhang Dai's tone was as calm as water and he looked at Commissioner Wu.
"You are a disciple of a famous religion? You killed the imperial envoy's honor guard, rushed into the imperial envoy's house, and threatened the imperial envoy with a knife. Do you know what your crime is?"
"me……"
After decades of being honest and upright, Zhang Dai has cultivated a sense of righteousness. Until now, he was still sitting upright, upright, dignified and majestic.
Wu Wu was unwilling at first, but now he even shrank. Facing that look, he almost wanted to drop the knife in his hand and kowtow in apology.
"You dare to retreat?"
Someone behind him bumped his shoulder hard and whispered in his ear.
"Don't forget, you just killed the imperial envoy's guard with your own hands. This is a capital crime. If you retreat, it will be difficult for the entire clan to die!"
"Think about your parents, wife and children, your entire family, your classmates and old friends!"
Wu Wei's heart skipped a beat and he shouted:
"Death to the dog officer!"
The loyal servant stood up with a knife and slashed with it. Wu Wu felt his body fly up.
In mid-air, he vaguely saw more "righteous men" jumping towards them.
The guard's swordsmanship was so superb that he could open and close it in a wide range of ways, but there was no one who could defeat him.
The "righteous men" who rushed in were all chopped down to the ground.
"Heh...heh...hahahaha..."
Falling in a pool of blood, blood seeping out of his abdomen, he looked at all this and felt a little happy.
Good kill!
This bastard deserves to be killed!
After letting the guards finish killing these knife-wielding "righteous men", Zhang Daiwu sat in a daze, waiting for death, but there was noisy outside, but for some reason it gradually became quiet.
"..."
Why didn't the mob come?
Zhang Dai frowned, stood up and looked around, only to see thousands of people, who had already rushed past the armored soldiers, but were now lingering, which was surprising.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Dai suddenly realized and laughed loudly, with tears in his eyes.
"The wind of heaven, the wind of virtue, and the custom of the people, that's how it is!"
"I have truly understood the righteousness of the grandson!"
(End of chapter)
