Chapter 768 There is always a wind or two in the world
Xie Zhan was the first to arrive at the pavilion on the high platform. He looked down at Lu Songli who was approaching slowly.
This was the first time they met again three years after they parted in Qingzhou.
After she came up, Xie Zhan said, "Lv Songli, you're here. You're really brave."
Lu Songli smiled slightly, "You can't get a tiger cub without learning the tiger's acupoints. If I don't come, wouldn't it be a waste of all your arrangements?" You can lose anything but not your momentum.
Xie Zhan smiled and asked, "Aren't you afraid that Fuling will become your burial place?"
"I'm afraid, but everyone has their own ways and their own limitations. Besides, Pingzhou is full of talented people, and the four Qin brothers are no mediocre people. There are plenty of people who can succeed me!" After saying that, Lu Songli changed the subject and asked him, "I wonder if there is anyone in the Xie family who can take over your position as Grand Commander, Xie Zhan?"
Lu Songli always believes in one sentence: when two brave men meet on a narrow road, the braver one wins.
Xie Zhan wanted to use words to find out what she was thinking, so she just answered him half-heartedly.
Make the empty appear real, and make the real appear empty. Make it difficult for the enemy to distinguish between the real and the fake.
Xie Zhan's smile paused.
After a verbal exchange, Lu Songli asked directly, "Where is Qin Sheng?"
Xie Zhan asked her, "You only care about Qin Sheng? Don't you care about the safety of 300,000 people in Fengdu, Fuling?"
"You won't do it." Lu Songli said with certainty, "Of course, if you're not afraid, go ahead and do it. If you're not afraid of the Xie family being wiped out."
Xie Zhan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Do you think I care?"
Lu Songli was quickly analyzing in her mind, was Xie Zhan trying to trick her, or did he really not care about the Xie family anymore?
She shook her head and said, "What a pity! After you, the clan leader, came to power, your entire Xie family has suffered a lot because of you. In the end, your entire clan might even die because of you."
"Lv Songli, I've already sent someone to bring Qin Sheng here. As for the rest, don't try to probe my attitude."
In reality, Xie Zhan no longer cared. Before his exile, he had always prioritized his family, striving for its eternal survival.
However, after realizing that Lu Songli was plotting to rule the world, he changed his mentality from that of a counselor to that of a monarch.
Everything he did later was to get results, prove that his path was right, and pass on his spirit. Now it is clear that his path is no longer viable.
"You and I are both rare smart people in the world. We both know that the current situation in the world is all in Pingzhou. I want to know why I lost? Where did I lose?" Xie Zhan looked at Lu Songli and asked the doubts buried in his heart.
Sometimes Xie Zhan didn't understand. He had devoted himself wholeheartedly to his career, completely forsaking all ties of affection. He worked so hard, but why couldn't he succeed? He wasn't like others who wanted everything, who wanted to balance everything: love, family, friendship...
Also, sometimes the policies he formulates are indeed beneficial to the country and the people, but why is it that he fails to get the desired result even though he implements them against all odds?
Out of the corner of her eye, Lu Songli caught a glimpse of the gesture made by the person arranged by Qin Heng, which meant that she should delay time as much as possible.
Seeing this gesture, Lu Songli decided to chat with him.
"The reason you lose is because you have no love in your heart."
"What you call benevolence towards the people is just your deception of the people, saying that you want to build a world where 'there are no corrupt officials, no local tyrants, no gambling, no prostitution, no forced marriages, and no beggars'?" Xie Zhan asked.
"These are just some judgments that can be standardized. Pingzhou is committed to building a civilized society where the weak are not afraid, the strong are not arrogant, and the powerful are not overbearing. We will make society fairer, where the wicked will be afraid to do evil, and where the good can live in peace."
"What you promised is impossible to achieve. You are just deceiving those fools."
“But the people believe it.”
Xie Zhan was choked by Lu Songli's words.
She thought to herself, this is the Yan'an style. Just because you can't achieve it doesn't mean others can't. Of course, she may not be able to achieve it either.
At this point, Lu Songli struck him again, "The life you describe to the common people is predictable, and it's what all previous emperors have promised. There's nothing new or appealing about it."
"Do you know why you lost? You have no compassion in your heart. You only care about the results, but you don't notice how many people suffer and feel uncomfortable when your strategy for governing the country is implemented in a big way."
Xie Zhan said, "The Dali kingdom has been passed down for seven or eight generations, and some of it has become corrupt. I believe that the corrupt parts should be discarded, and the intact parts should be preserved. Furthermore, resources from the corrupt areas should be allocated to the intact areas. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"From your perspective, that's quite right. But who would be willing to be abandoned?" Lu Songli asked him. "As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels a thousand miles. You've caused the people pain, so they don't trust you."
Xie Zhan's expression froze. Is it his fault that he can't speak?
"In fact, the biggest problem of the Dali court is that it is imprisoned by the idea of imperial power."
"The truth is not discussed, so real solutions cannot be formed."
"You need to discuss openly and build consensus, face difficulties head-on, reveal the real situation, and choose a rational path. Solve the root causes and provide fundamental impetus to people's livelihood and economy." Only in this way can the people live a good life.
"Everything you do is like adding fuel to a fire. It will only accelerate the decline of the economy and livelihoods in other places, exacerbating Dali's problems. But you don't realize that the very thing sucking your blood from it is the root cause of the local decay."
After Lu Songli finished speaking, he kept silent.
Lu Songli's three sentences directly pointed out the problems of the Dali court, and also let Xie Zhan know where he failed.
Xie Zhan lowered his head and thought deeply for a while before speaking, "You really have the ability to bring people back to life and turn bones into flesh and bones when it comes to the local people's livelihood and economy. I am far inferior to you."
Lu Songlixin said that they have different views on local governance and ruling lines.
She told him so much, just to buy time as much as possible. Although she was very sure that Xie Zhan would not let the explosives explode, what if? She needed to take full control of the situation.
Xie Zhan looked at her. It seemed that ever since they decided to cancel the engagement, the two of them had been on guard against and scheming against each other.
He knew she was stalling for time, and so was he.
And he didn't care. He felt that Lu Songli had helped him solve his doubts, so he had gained something. As the saying goes, if you hear the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening.
At this time, Xie Zhan didn't know that their conversation was read out through a telescope by Chen Yue, who could lip read, and was recorded by the historian of Pingzhou.
At this time, Qin Heng came in person to report, "General, if we hold on a little longer, we will be able to dispose of the explosives buried by Dali."
Qin Heng asked, "How long will it take?"
"Two quarters of an hour! At least two quarters of an hour."
Qin Heng looked towards Lumingtai, unable to hide his worry.
At this moment, the sound of galloping horses came from far away.
The soldiers looked towards the source of the voice, and the elite soldiers holding binoculars had already seen the face of the person coming clearly.
"General, it's Sixth Master!"
"Sixth Master is here!"
"General, do you want to stop him?" Zhou Da asked from the side.
If we let Sixth Master break in like this, something big will happen.
Qin Heng only stared in thought for a moment, then looked at the two people on the Luming Terrace. He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't stop him. Let the archer get ready."
"yes!"
Qin Sheng rode his horse, hurrying as fast as he could, and finally arrived.
At this time, his body was covered in blood.
The neighing of the horse attracted the attention of Lu Songli and Xie Zhan.
As he appeared, several sharp arrows from the Dali side shot towards his vital points. At the same time, several sharp arrows were also fired from the territory where the Pingzhou army was stationed. Almost immediately, they collided directly with the Dali arrows or broke them in half.
The archers from Dali and Pingzhou both took action, and it was obvious that the Pingzhou side had a slight advantage, so Qin Sheng was unharmed.
Qin Sheng ignored everything around him and stared at Lu Songli and Xie Zhan on the Luming Stage.
Xie Zhan was not surprised by his appearance.
Lu Songli stared at Qin Sheng intently.
"Lv Songli, he is not as good as me--" Qin Sheng still looks like a boy who has never grown up, very naive.
"If there is an afterlife—" Is there an afterlife? They were engaged before.
Xie Zhan didn't ask this question.
He was interrupted by Lu Songli, "There is no afterlife!"
Xie Zhan looked at her deeply, but didn't ask why.
Lu Songli understood, but she didn't say anything.
At this moment, the arrow shot at Qin Sheng had just been shot down, and Xie Zhan said, "Qin Sheng, you're here?"
"Qin Sheng, if you don't want Lu Songli to die, then listen to me--" Xie Zhan stretched out his hand and aimed the quiver at Lu Songli.
"Are you sure you want to talk like this?" Lu Songli asked him back.
Only then did Xie Zhan realize that Lu Songli was holding a strange-looking thing in his right hand.
This is a shotgun.
Lu Songli put her index finger on the trigger and pointed it at him. "Which do you think is faster, your rifle or the musket in my hand?"
A musket? Xie Zhan smiled. "It doesn't matter. I invited you here without even thinking I'd survive. But having you as a scapegoat is a win."
madman!
The moment the two men drew their weapons, the hearts of the people around them, whether from Dali or Pingzhou, were in their throats.
"How long will it take?" Qin Heng asked.
"General, it will take a while!"
At this time, Qin Sheng said, "Wait, Xie Zhan, what do you want me to do?"
Xie Zhan: "Suicide!"
Lu Songli's philosophy of governing the country is better than his.
There cannot be two voices in one force.
Lu Songli, if you don’t make a choice, I will make the choice for you.
Qin Sheng: "Okay. I'll kill myself, and you don't hurt her."
Lu Songli: "No!"
"Lili, take care of yourself." Qin Sheng looked at her with lingering eyes and was about to raise the knife.
Xie Zhan estimated the distance, one, two, three!
Lu Songli gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
At the same time, Xie Zhan also took action, and countless arrows shot at Lu Songli.
To be honest, Xie Zhan was surprised when Lu Songli took action in advance for Qin Sheng.
From the moment the explosives he had obtained with great difficulty were suppressed, he knew he had lost.
The conversation he had with Lu Songli just now made him decide to take Qin Sheng with him before he died.
He spent his entire life fighting for his family and to realize his ambitions. He gave up many things, and in the end, even gave up himself. His ideals died in comparison with Lu Songli's ideals, so he made such a decision.
Xie Zhan felt that in essence, Lu Songli was the same person as him. Always love yourself, love someone, and never love more than yourself. He didn't expect——
The two were very close to each other, and before Lu Songli could react, she was hugged by someone, and all the arrows penetrated into Qin Sheng's back.
Lu Songli reached out, hugged his waist and supported him, "Asheng, hold on!" Then, she flipped her hand, took out a hemostatic pill and fed it to him.
At this moment, a mountain torrent broke out, and the rumbling sound of water rushed towards where they were. However, whether it was Lu Songli, Xie Zhan or Qin Sheng, they all turned a deaf ear to it.
Qin Heng was worried that Dali would see the situation and start a war.
And it was just as he thought. Among the people Xie Zhan arranged to start the fire was someone bribed by the Empress Dowager. When they saw that the situation was not right, they wanted to start the fire, but after the fire was lit, nothing happened.
"Cough cough——" Xie Zhan was shot and blood flowed out of his mouth and nose.
The mountain torrents were controlled due to human intervention, and did not submerge Lumingtai.
Xie Zhan and her people were rushing towards Lumingtai.
While waiting for rescue, Lu Songli let Qin Sheng lean on her. She lowered her eyes to glance at Qin Sheng, then said lightly, "Xie Zhan, didn't you want to ask why just now?"
"Um."
Both parties knew what she was referring to.
"I can tell you that between you and him, I will always choose him."
"Why?" Xie Zhan asked silently.
"It's all just because it's suitable. With him, I can trust him with all my heart. He won't let me lose. If I lose, it must be because he's dead and gone."
She is his lover, his faith.
At this time Xie Zhan smiled, in fact, he could do it too.
Lu Songli understood, but shook her head, "Do you know what the biggest difference between you two is?"
"You go ahead." Xie Zhan said he was all ears.
Lu Songli said, "The mark of an immature man is that he is willing to die heroically for a cause, to live towards death, like him."
"The sign of a mature man is that he is willing to live humbly for a cause, like you."
“In this life, we must always live for something invisible, for something that transcends our limitations.”
"Have you ever heard of this saying? There is always a little wind in the world that can fill my hundreds of thousands of dreams."
She is too used to weighing the pros and cons, and another one like this won't do.
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhan first smiled, then burst into laughter, laughing until tears came out.
"There is always a little bit of wind in the world, filling my hundreds of thousands of dreams. This sentence is really well said."
When Xie Zhan stopped laughing, he fell into the rolling mountain torrent behind him with a smile on his face.
The Dali soldiers who were rushing here desperately were horrified when they saw this scene.
"The Regent!"
Only Lu Songli, holding Qin Sheng with one hand, watched the scene indifferently.
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