Huainan, Yangzhou City.

A magnificent royal palace was recently built in the north of Yangzhou City. It covers a vast area and has a majestic palace, which is only slightly inferior to the Chang'an Palace in terms of scale. The government offices built on the south side of the palace together form an extraordinary urban area.

In order to distinguish it from the Yangzhou city in the past, people at that time named it Zicheng and called Nancheng Luocheng.

The reason for building this palace was of course to echo Gao Pian's identity as "King of Wu" - after Li Maozhen held the emperor hostage, and in order to appease all the princes and establish his own authority, he used the hands of Emperor Li Yan to confer the princes of the world, and Gao Pian was named King of Wu.

There is an area on the west side of the Palace of Wu, with a unique architectural style. In addition to the pavilion, loft, the main building is a platform that is as high as nine feet tall, which is enough to overlook the entire city. A formation that is different from the ordinary magic array is engraved on the platform, and there are many tool-type buildings with different shapes.

This place is called the Star Observatory, which is only one word different from the Star Picking Platform in the Imperial Heaven Supervision of Chang'an City.

The Star Picking Platform is a place where monks of the Imperial Heaven Supervisory Taoist Sect watch the star signs at night, interpret the will of heaven, and predict the good and bad fortune. The role of the Star Picking Platform is generally similar to that, and the only difference is that the monks stationed here are all Confucian scholars.

It was night, the stars were like the sea, and the night breeze was slightly cool.

There was a man holding a book on the observatory, holding his head and looking up at the night sky. He said that he had not moved for a long time, and there was no sound at all. He could only hear the slight rustling sound of the night wind blowing his clothes.

This person is Wang Zaifeng, one of the four sages of Confucianism.

I don’t know how long it took, Wang Zaifeng took a long sigh and closed the book in his hand. A clear light flashed in his deep and intelligent eyes, and he slowly walked down from the platform.

Gao Pian and several of his confidants had been waiting in front of the observatory for a long time. Seeing Wang Zaifeng coming down the steps, he couldn't help but feel in his heart. He stepped over and asked with concern: "How?"

Wang Zaifeng stroked his long gray beard and said in an unfathomable tone: "God's will is hard to predict, and I dare not say that I can interpret it all... But what is certain is that we do have the opportunity to change the world."

Hearing the four words "change the world", Gao Pian couldn't help but look excited and asked quickly: "The rule of the Taoist Immortal Court over heaven and earth is indeed about to be subverted? Who will become the next lord of heaven and earth? Is it Li Ye and the demon clan, or the Lone King and the Confucian Sect?"

Wang Zaifeng pondered for a moment, "The former is just a chance, and the latter is even more impossible to be able to overcome."

Gao Pian was suddenly disappointed.

He said anxiously: "King An has occupied the Central Plains, and Zhu Wen has fled Kunlun. Judging from the current situation, if the orthodox status of the Taoist Immortal Court is overturned, it is the time when King An and the demon clan will succeed! Is the final result that they will have the world?"

Wang Zaifeng glanced at Gao Pian and said quietly: "Have you forgotten that I have said before that the mortal things should be the mortal people? The demon clan does not belong to the mortal world, how can they accomplish things in the mortal world?"

Gao Pian quickly realized that the so-called mortal affairs and mortal principles were naturally not said out of thin air before, but it was probably a result of the destiny of heaven.

The so-called will of heaven is naturally the meaning of the way of heaven and the evolution of the way.

Gao Pian's eyes widened a little: "So, will King An fail?"

Wang Zaifeng sighed, but did not answer immediately. He came to a pavilion next to him, sat down after a small case that had been prepared, and took a sip of hot tea to moisten the mulberry.

When Gao Pian sat down, he looked at him with anticipation.

Wang Zaifeng said calmly: "King An led the monks of the demon clan to fight with the Taoist soldiers in Kunlun. The will of heaven indicates that the rule of the Taoist Immortal Court will be overturned, so King An and the demon clan will not be defeated in this battle, but the demon clan cannot interfere in the mortal world, which means that King An and the demon clan will not succeed in this battle. This statement seems contradictory, but in fact, what is contained in it is the opportunity of our Confucian sect - and the opportunity of His Highness."

Before Wang Zaifeng could continue to follow, Gao Pian could not hold back.

He leaned forward and said, "Sir, we can reap the benefits of both of us when we lose both sides?"

Wang Zaifeng was stunned for a moment.

He lowered his head and was speechless for a long time.

When he arrived, Wang Zaifeng said slowly with a very unfamiliar expression and tone: "Rectify one's mind, cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, and pacify the world are the goals that every Confucian scholar pursues throughout his life. We Confucian scholars may not be perfect, but we take family and country as our responsibility, and if we are poor, we will be able to protect ourselves. If we are prosperous, we will help the world and strive for great governance in the world. This is a mission that we have never forgotten. If the immortal court is not eliminated, the Confucian scholars will not prosper, and the people will not be blessed."

Gao Pian was stunned.

He immediately said: "The ambition of the Confucian Sect is naturally clear and has always admired it very much. Because of this, Huainan is the Confucian Sect's place..."

Before Gao Pian finished speaking, Wang Zaifeng suddenly interrupted him: "No, Your Highness doesn't know!"

Gao Pian was surprised and looked at Wang Zaifeng for a moment and his face became embarrassing and ugly.

Wang Zaifeng sighed: "I wonder if your highness remembers that I once used food as a temptation to teach a group of little beggars to read the books of sages on the streets? That incident made both the Confucian clan and His Highness famous. But who remembers those little beggars afterwards? Did anyone care about their next fate?"

Gao Pian frowned and said in a low voice: "What is the intention of mentioning this matter at this time?"

Seeing that Gao Pian was just ashamed and angry, but without self-reflection, a look of disappointment flashed through Wang Zaifeng's eyes.

He sighed, "With my ability, I can indeed change the fate of those beggars, and at the least I can accept them into the school and make them disciples of Confucianism. But I didn't do that, can you tell me why?"

Gao Pian didn't speak.

Wang Zaifeng continued to say to himself: "In the turbulent times, there are more than tens of millions of displaced people in the world. The Confucian scholars want to save everyone, not these three or five! It is easy to change the fate of these three or five beggars, but what will happen? It is just to make us feel at ease."

"I saved three or five people today, and three or five people tomorrow. How many people can our school house accommodate at best? The fate of hundreds or thousands of people is exchanged for the complacency of Confucian scholars? In exchange for the praise of all the people in the world to praise us for our kindness and righteousness? Let us think we are noble and virtuous?"

"This is not true benevolence and righteousness, this is just self-deception, and it is even more deceiving the world!"

Gao Pian frowned.

He didn't know what Wang Zaifeng was talking about.

Wang Zaifeng did not stop.

He looked at Gao Pian seriously, "It is easy for Confucian scholars to be officials in Huainan, but His Highness nods, but it is difficult to realize Confucian ambitions, because it will violate very touching interests. Over the years, Confucian scholars have wanted to implement benevolent government, but they are always blocked. His Highness supports it on the surface, but in fact he refuses to really implement many major policies. Why is this?"

Without waiting for Gao Pian to answer, Wang Zaifeng had already given the answer: "Because Your Highness is worried that the new policy will make the wealthy landlords dissatisfied and lose their support, causing unstable local areas in Huainan and affecting his own great achievements!"

Gao Pian was angry.

He said: "As the lord of one side, the Lord naturally has to take care of the interests of all parties. How can he win everyone's support if he doesn't do this? How can he make Huainan stable and powerful if he doesn't do this?"

Wang Zaifeng sneered, full of contempt.

He fought against each other: "If so, the name of King Wu will be the pinnacle of His Highness's achievements."

Gao Pian was furious.

He almost wanted to turn the table over and left.

Since Wang Zaifeng arrived in Yangzhou, there has not been such a conflict between them.

Gao Pian couldn't even understand why Wang Zaifeng had such excessive remarks tonight.

Just because he said he wanted to reap profits and deal with King An?

Whose Confucianism is the Confucianism sect?!

......

Chang'an City, Qi's Mansion.

Unlike Gao Pian, who built a new palace in Yangzhou, Li Maozhen's Qi Palace was just a palace, and it was not called a palace, nor was it a new house, but just an old residence of a fairly large scale.

The only advantage of the Qi Palace is that it is close to the imperial palace.

It is also very close to Prince An's Mansion.

Under the starry night, Li Maozhen, who was as beautiful as a jade-like face, stood in the attic and watched the brightly lit market, leisurely like a carefree commoner. Without the sharp edge of the battlefield, he actually showed a bit of elegance.

With Li Maozhen's appearance as the most powerful and beautiful man, she has a charm that makes people look at each other. In fact, Li Maozhen often compares herself with Song Yu and Pan An in her spare time, and pays great attention to her own makeup instead of dressing up.

At this moment, Li Maozhen, whose eyes were slightly narrowed, chuckled in a narrow tone: "I only know that military strategists are good at fighting formations, but I didn't expect that they also know how to observe the astronomical phenomena."

Zhao Bingkun, who had already returned to Chang'an, said behind him: "Comprehensive understanding of the celestial phenomena is to comprehend the great way. How can military monks be exceptions?"

Li Maozhen did not get into trouble on this issue, shook his feather fan and asked directly: "What is the opinion of the military strategist? Taking advantage of the melee between King An and the Taoist soldiers in Kunlun, we will send troops to attack the Central Plains?"

"The Central Plains naturally want to attack, but not now." Zhao Bingkun said, "How can there be a complete egg in the vast nest? Without overturning the orthodox status of the Immortal Court to heaven and earth, it is impossible to achieve the situation of mortal affairs in the mortal world. To deal with the Immortal Court, King An and the Demon Clan must be unable to meet the strength of King An. Your Highness must also help King An."

Li Maozhen said in a strange tone: "Using the power of the Renhuang Emperor Zhuanxu, it only limits the Kunlun passage. What kind of virtue can I do to help King An?"

Zhao Bingkun said: "The Human Emperor has no secrets, but His Highness and King An have them. Just because His Highness helps King An, it may not be possible to accomplish this. But if the people who have obtained the secrets of heaven take action together, and cooperate with the various schools of thought and gather the power of luck from all directions, they may be able to rebel against the immortals and change their destiny!"

Li Maozhen put away his feather fan and looked back at Zhao Bingkun. His handsome and heroic face was full of teasing. "Gao Pian and Wang Jian will also come to help? Those scholars from the Confucian school who only compete for power and profit and seek fame will also know how to take the overall situation into consideration?"

Zhao Bingkun said: "In fact, Wang Zaifeng, one of the four sages of Confucianism, has sent an envoy to Chang'an, intending to persuade the military to complete this matter."

Li Maozhen unexpectedly raised her slender willow-leaf eyebrows and then laughed lightly, "The Confucian Sect made the right choice this time."

Zhao Bingkun said: "If the immortal court is not removed, there will be no real competition for the Central Plains. The Confucian school still understands this principle."

"How about Wang Jian? This guy is very troubled in Shu. I heard that he has gathered many strange people from the sects, such as the Mohist craftsman masters, the Legalist reformers, the famous eloquents, and the whole family, and he will also come to help?"

"The scattered families themselves are also one of the hundreds... If Wang Jian wants to leave Shu, he must participate in this world event!"

Li Maozhen didn't talk to each other right away.

"I like this statement very much in the world." Li Maozhen slowly looked up, her red lips raised and her smile was charming.

He thought for a while, and suddenly said slowly: "But if it were apart from the Immortal Court, wouldn't the demon clan be another Taoist sect? With their strength, they would be enough to help King An sweep the world."

Zhao Bingkun said in a deep voice: "Under the will of heaven, it is difficult for the demon clan to stay in the mortal world for a long time."

Li Maozhen nodded, and this time he was silent for a longer time.
Chapter completed!