Freedom and democracy?

This kind of thinking didn't exist in ancient times, and Zhao Huan, even after being reborn into this world, didn't adopt this kind of thinking.

This was clearly Li Wenzheng's doing.

Zhao Huan keenly sensed that Li Wenzheng might be staying in the capital city of Tokyo.

He immediately summoned He Liming to the palace.

Next, the Imperial Palace Guard began a secret investigation in Tokyo into the origins of this freedom and democracy.

Half a month later, Zhao Huan arrived at the prison of the Imperial City Guard.

He Liming set the table and prepared pastries and tea.

Zhao Huan sat down, and Zhao Shen sat to the side.

A woman was brought up; she had been tortured beyond recognition.

It's clear that she was originally very beautiful.

Zhao Shen was slightly startled and said, "You are Lu Wanqing!"

Zhao Huan glanced at Zhao Shen and asked, "Yuan Yong, do you know her?"

"Your Majesty, it was this woman who instigated the Prince of Liao to rebel."

Zhao Huan's expression changed visibly, but his tone remained calm: "Speak, what exactly is your purpose?"

Lu Wanqing hung her head, blood still trickling from the corner of her mouth, but a strange smile graced her face: "Hahaha, you dog emperor, even if you kill me today, so what? She is everywhere! Freedom will live forever!"

He Liming lashed out with his whip: "How dare you act so disrespectfully before His Majesty the Emperor!"

Zhao Huan said, "Stop."

He put down his teacup and said, "Freedom endures forever? Did Li Wenzheng tell you that?"

"So what if it is!"

"How long did it take him to get you all so convinced?"

"Truth doesn't take long to come out, you dog emperor, you tyrant, your hands are stained with too much blood, you will be punished."

Zhao Huan wasn't in a hurry. He said, "The records here show that you come from a collateral branch of the Lu family of Qinghe. You grew up in poverty, and your parents starved to death. Is that correct?"

Lu Wanqing remained silent.

"If you become a beggar and commit a crime on the street, no one will be willing to give you food, because everyone is starving and has no surplus food."

Lu Wanqing then raised her head, a cruel smile on her face: "There is no warmth in this world. When I was ten, I sold myself to a scholar. That scholar was hypocritical. After buying me, the only thing he did was torture me. But no matter how he tortured me, I survived because I had food to eat and water to drink. I had to survive!"

“When I was twelve, the Jin army marched south, and the Central Plains were in chaos. I saw for the first time how soldiers with broadswords slaughtered civilians. On a night when he had violated me for the umpteenth time, while he was asleep, I used a vegetable knife to cut off his head. The blood opened up a new world for me.”

"I fled. The city had been captured by the Jin army. No one would investigate the death of a scholar. It was a snowy day when I met her. She told me that there was no warmth in this world, that human nature is inherently evil, and that they, who hold power, are high above and can trample on life at will!"

"They can exterminate an entire family as they please! Have they ever thought about the infants in their swaddling clothes? They are innocent!"

“She’s right. Power is a beast that drives people mad! Your son, the Prince of Liao, is a living example! Do you think I killed him?”

"No, no, no!" Lu Wanqing's voice was unusually calm, yet incredibly penetrating. "He has a beast dwelling within him; he simply unleashed it himself!"

"This world doesn't need emperors. Everyone is equal and free, and everyone has the right to choose their own life!"

"How dare you!" Zhao Shen shouted, about to retort, but was stopped by Zhao Huan.

"Tell me, where is Li Wenzheng?"

"I've already said it, she's everywhere!"

"Don't try to be mysterious. He only told you about freedom and democracy. He didn't tell you that the economic base determines the superstructure, nor did he tell you that practice is the only way to find the truth, nor did he tell you that science and technology are the primary productive forces, and that economic and political forms interact with each other. In primitive economic conditions, when people couldn't even get enough to eat, talking about freedom in theory is poison for the country."

"When you were struggling on the brink of death, was freedom what you longed for most? No, what you longed for most was a meal. When you were humiliated by that scholar, was freedom what you needed most? No! What you needed most was the law to protect you!"

"You say that the King of Liao has a beast living in his heart, but he didn't tell you the meaning and value of morality."

"The world needs balance, namely, a balance between economics and politics."

Tell me, where is he?

The emperor spoke at length, which Lu Wanqing seemed to understand only partially, but some of his words seemed to touch her heart and deeply moved her.

She murmured, "Practice makes perfect...the balance between economics and politics..."

Zhao Shen, standing to one side, said, "Talking about freedom in vain is no different from talking about morality in vain. People need to eat, and the weak need to be protected. Broadly speaking, the development of commerce needs to be compatible with the bureaucratic system."

"All things in the world return to the balance of Yin and Yang."

Lu Wanqing was silent for a moment before saying, "She is at the University of Tokyo. She is a woman who teaches at the University of Tokyo."

Zhao Huan and Zhao Shen exchanged a glance, and Zhao Huan's heart was immediately filled with turbulent emotions!

He now knew who Li Wenzheng was!

Zhao Huan said to He Liming, "Go quickly to Tokyo University. No one is allowed to leave without permission!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, what should be done with her?"

"Change her to a cleaner, tidier cell."

"yes."

That evening, the Imperial Palace surrounded Tokyo University.

Zhao Huan alighted from the imperial carriage and, surrounded by the Imperial Guards, entered Tokyo University.

At that time, many students at the University of Tokyo were still reading under the streetlights.

Some students even discussed philosophy on the paths.

When they saw the Imperial Guards in their uniforms, all their eyes turned to them.

Zhao Huan strode towards Qingyue Pavilion at the back: "Don't disturb the students."

"yes!"

Zhao Huan went up to the pavilion, where a woman was sitting.

Her figure appeared somewhat lonely.

Zhao Huan was slightly taken aback, feeling a little nervous.

He always thought he was the only one who had traveled to this world, never expecting there to be a second person.

His feelings at that moment were complicated.

Zhao Huan sat opposite him, with an incense burner on the table.

Zhao Huan said calmly, "We've finally met."

His thoughts were suddenly pulled back to his past life, and only then did he truly realize that he was a person from the 21st century.

Li Qingzhao said, "We have met after all."

"I never imagined that you would be reborn in Li Qingzhao's body."

The person opposite said, "I never expected that you would be reborn in the body of Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan."

"So, all these years, you've been secretly spreading your ideas among the people?"

"You are in the halls of power, while I am in the countryside."

At this moment, Zhao Huan completely shed his imperial persona, as if he had become Tang Zhe from his previous life again. He asked, "What did you do before?"