Chapter 362 Street Abduction
Ningxin Garden.
Ever since Jiaren An Ning gave birth to their child, Ningxin Garden has been extremely lively every day.
During this year, Li Nuo changed many government offices. His colleagues from the Ministry of Rites, the Honglu Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Secretariat all came to present him with congratulatory gifts.
In the past two days, all major martial arts sects have also sent representatives to offer congratulations.
Since the last martial arts conference, many martial arts sects have set up offices in Chang'an. The Huashan Sect and Hengshan Sect, which are closer to Chang'an, have all their leaders and elders there, and those that are farther away have also sent representatives.
Although the Sanqing Sect is thousands of miles away, the two senior sisters also came all the way to Chang'an to congratulate.
Having just seen off several guests from the Zhao State delegation, Li Nuo finally got a moment of leisure.
Jiaren and An Ning recovered well, or rather, there was nothing to recover at all.
On the third day after giving birth, the beauty picked up the sword again.
Yiren became a Grandmaster before her, but she still couldn't let it go.
Yiren’s practice was equally hard.
In recent days, she has challenged An Ning several times, but each time ended in failure.
It's not that the master of legalism is better than the master of martial arts, but when Li Nuo was revising the laws of Daxia, she was together with An Ning. Yiren broke through later than her and her progress was not as fast as her, so she was always suppressed by An Ning.
Li Nuo went to the baby room to check on the three little ones and found that Mu'er and Ning'er were squatting at the end of Li Yan's bed, looking at something curiously.
Mu'er looked up at Li Nuo and asked curiously, "Brother Li Nuo, why is Li Yan's thing different from ours?"
Li Nuo didn't know how to answer this question from an eight-year-old girl, so he could only say, "You will know later..."
Just then, his mother-in-law came in and Li Nuo took the opportunity to slip away.
He has been at home for the past half month. Taking advantage of today's free time, he plans to visit the Ministry of Justice and the Secretariat.
No serious cases occurred in Chang'an during the past half month. After Li Nuo dealt with some files accumulated during these days, his life span increased by about two months.
After the law was thoroughly revised, the increase in life expectancy for the same cases as before increased several times.
After walking out of the gate of the Ministry of Justice, Li Nuo was about to go to the Secretariat, but his steps paused slightly.
"Calculate marriage and fortune!"
"Ten cents a time, no refunds!"
"Take a look!"
Li Nuo's gaze was directed towards a street diagonally opposite the Ministry of Justice.
The familiar fortune-telling stall, the familiar grandpa and grandson.
When in the State of Zhao, Yiren met the grandfather and grandson in the capital, and asked him to tell two divinations for her, both of which later came true.
Unexpectedly, after Li Nuo and Yi Ren came back, they also came to Chang'an.
Li Nuo hesitated for a moment, but still walked across the street, clasped his fists to the old man, and said, "Senior, nice to see you again."
The girl with some baby fat on her face smiled at him and said, "Brother, it's you!"
Li Nuo was slightly stunned: "Someone outside of fate?"
At this time, the fortune-teller who had closed his eyes slowly opened his eyes and asked, "Boy, what is it?"
Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "Fortune telling."
The old man looked at Li Nuo, stretched out his right hand, moved his fingers, and said, "You are young, you still have at least 30 years to live."
The remaining lifespan according to Li Nuo's Code is more than twelve thousand days, which is just over thirty years.
Of course, with his cultivation level of the sixth realm, it is not surprising that he can calculate these.
Li Nuo thought about it and said, "Then let's calculate our marriage fate."
The old man glanced at him and said, "You have already had five marriages, and you are still not satisfied?"
Li Nuo was stunned for a moment and asked unsurely: "Five sections?"
Including Yiren and Fenghuang, there are only four sections. Where does the fifth section come from?
The fortune teller did not explain, and said, "Twenty cents."
Li Nuo left a silver ingot, and the old man said, "It's too much."
Li Nuo said: "The extra money can be considered as a thank you gift from the younger generation to the older generation."
If it weren't for him, Jia and An Ning wouldn't have accepted Yi and Fenghuang so easily. Although he might not have done it on purpose, he was indeed the matchmaker between Li Nuo and them.
Li Nuo did not stay long. After paying the fee, he said goodbye and left.
After he left, the girl couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, didn't you say before that we should stay away from people who are not destined to be with us? Why did we return to Chang'an?"
The fortune-teller stroked his long beard and whispered, "A person who is not destined to be born may also be the one with destiny. The closer you are to him, the more likely you are to see the truth..."
…
After leaving the Ministry of Justice, Li Nuo entered the palace and came to the Secretariat.
Although the Left Prime Minister gave him the privilege of working from home, he still had to visit the government office from time to time.
"Congratulations, Mr. Li!"
"Congratulations to Lord Li for having a baby!"
In the Secretariat, officials of all ranks saw Li Nuo and clasped their fists to congratulate him.
Li Nuo returned the gifts one by one and came to his own yamen. Not long after, Zhou Yu walked in from outside, bowed and said with a smile: "Congratulations, Brother Li."
The duty of the Chief Secretary of the Secretariat is to assist the Sheren of the Secretariat in completing some miscellaneous tasks and clerical work. He is considered to be the Sheren of the Secretariat's secretary. Not long after Li Nuo came to the Secretariat, Zhou Yu became his exclusive secretary.
Through Zhou Yu, Li Nuo learned about recent court affairs.
Patrolling censors, the Imperial Sword, the additional imperial examinations... Li Nuo's three consecutive actions without explanation had significant effects. Judging from the feedback from various places, the Ministry of Revenue's tax revenue this year could be several times that of previous years.
This is just a crackdown on the middle-level landlords. Above them are the aristocratic families.
Li Nuo had never thought of solving the problem once and for all through violence. To be honest, the aristocratic families are still unshakable by the imperial court.
However, the promotion of medical reform has not been so smooth.
The imperial court passed legislation to limit the price of medicinal materials, and medical clinics in various states simply closed down. Rich people still had access to medical treatment, but ordinary people had no access to medical treatment, or had to pay higher prices to buy the same medicinal materials as before. In anger, they began to curse the imperial court.
After countless disturbances, local governments could only turn a blind eye to this decree.
No wonder his medical skills were stuck at the peak of the fourth level. He was just a little bit away from reaching the peak, but he just couldn’t break through.
As he was talking, a figure walked into the government office. Zhou Yu looked back and immediately bowed, saying respectfully, "Meet the Left Prime Minister."
Then, he bowed to Li Nuo and said, "I will take my leave first. Lord Li has something to tell you."
After Zhou Yu left, Zuo Xiang smiled at Li Nuo and said, "Congratulations. How does it feel to be a father for the first time?"
Li Nuo's feelings these days are complicated, including joy, confusion and uneasiness, but more of it is responsibility.
The left prime minister patted his shoulder and subconsciously used his righteousness to check his body. A hint of joy appeared in his eyes, and he asked, "Are you at the third level of Confucianism?"
Li Nuo nodded.
Zuo Xiang seemed to have thought of something, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes, and he whispered: "He was also at the third level of Confucianism back then..."
Li Nuo asked: "He is..."
The left prime minister said, "Your father."
Li Nuo knew that his father had great righteousness in his past, but he did not know that, at such a young age, he had already reached the third level of cultivation, just like himself.
Li Nuo knew very well how he gained his skills.
All his Confucian accomplishments were gained through various reforms and changes that benefited the people. He was a practical man.
Confucianism is different from Legalism. Legalism focuses on external cultivation and is a pure practitioner who only considers whether the punishment is fair.
Confucianism advocates both internal and external cultivation, and cultivating the mind is more important than practice.
Li Nuo thought that in just a few months in the court, his contribution to the people had surpassed that of the Left Prime Minister.
But Zuo Xiang has the fifth realm, but he only has the third realm.
An important reason is that he did not spend as much time practicing as Zuo Xiang, but what is more important is his inner practice.
A great scholar like Zuo Xiang must have already put his own life and death aside. For the sake of justice, he can sacrifice himself and his family at any time, and he can give up everything he has.
Li Nuo couldn't do this.
He has always believed that he should do as much as he can.
Knowing that he did not have the ability, he did not touch the aristocratic families at all in this tax reform.
But another part of Confucian disciples, including the Left Prime Minister, with their righteous spirit, dared to challenge such giants as the powerful and the aristocratic families without regard for the consequences when their strength was still very weak.
My father was able to advance to the third level of Confucianism without doing much, which shows how firm his beliefs were back then.
Li Nuo admires them but will not imitate them.
Strictly speaking, he is not a true Confucian, nor a true Legalist. People often call those who practice more than three kinds of power as eclectics. Li Nuo has ten kinds of power in his body. I am afraid that throughout history, no one has practiced as many as he does.
Fortunately, although he is not as good as them in cultivating his mind, he can make up for it in practice.
Zuo Xiang quickly woke up from his memories and said to Li Nuo earnestly: "Establish virtue, establish merit, and establish words. You have already achieved the first two, and you can gradually start to establish words."
Cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world are the Confucian principles of self-cultivation.
Establishing virtue, making achievements, and making statements are the ways to realize this program, and are also what Confucian disciples pursue throughout their lives.
Among them, establishing virtue means setting a perfect moral example and influencing future generations with noble virtues, which is also called self-cultivation.
To make meritorious contributions means to establish great achievements and bring practical benefits to the country and the people. Li Nuo has already achieved this through various reforms.
The earliest meaning of "making statements" was to put forward speeches or write works that were insightful and could be passed down to later generations to inspire and guide future generations.
In terms of establishing words, the predecessors of Confucianism have already achieved the ultimate. Most of the current Confucian disciples are inheritors of the thoughts of the predecessors, and it is difficult for them to have groundbreaking theories. Today's establishment of words refers to teaching and passing on the words of the predecessors.
The two ministers on the left and right have many disciples, and it can be said that their students are all over the world. Under their guidance, many disciples have possessed the righteousness, and as teachers, their cultivation can also be improved.
These three points are the necessary path for Confucian practice.
In order to establish his own reputation, Li Nuo did not necessarily have to recruit a large number of disciples like the left and right prime ministers.
Teaching in a college is also one way.
In their early years, both prime ministers were teachers at the four major academies and taught countless students.
But it was different from what Li Nuo did in Zhao State.
What the Confucianists teach is not calligraphy, painting, or riding and archery, but Confucian thought. The more students are influenced by their thoughts and cultivate a sense of righteousness, the more their own cultivation will be improved.
The left prime minister looked at Li Nuo and said in detail: "When selecting students, it is best to choose children from poor families. They have suffered a lot when they were young and can sympathize with the difficulties of ordinary people. Some children from poor families, or children of merchants, gentry landlords, and small nobles are also acceptable. Although they live a comfortable life, they are often oppressed by the upper class and their thoughts are easy to change. The thoughts of children from big families are already deeply rooted and difficult to change. There is no need to waste time on them..."
He passed on his experience of "establishing words" to Li Nuo without reservation.
Twenty years ago, he had high hopes for Li Xuanjing.
Twenty years later, he passed this hope on to his son.
Finally, he brought Li Nuo to the government office, handed him several books, and said: "This is what I have learned in my life, and I am giving it all to you. I hope you can carry forward Confucianism, and I also hope that my Great Xia will have a Confucian saint in the future..."
Li Nuo accepted the books, nodded, and said solemnly: "I will work hard."
The books given by the Left Prime Minister were not heavy, but Li Nuo felt heavy in his heart.
It is not a problem for him to reform medical care, agriculture, and Mohism. But how can he change other people's thoughts, and let those rich kids who have lived a life of luxury since childhood understand the difficulties of the common people, endure hardships without any effort, and betray their own class?
After walking out of the Secretariat, Li Nuo suddenly stopped.
Hmm…
He really has this ability.
He cultivated so many different things that he almost forgot that he was still a strategist at the peak of the fourth realm.
The most powerful ability of a strategist is his ability to influence other people's thoughts.
The greater the difference in cultivation, the easier it is to change other people's minds.
He couldn't change the thoughts of high-level practitioners with his current cultivation level, but when facing those ordinary students who couldn't even be considered practitioners, they had no control over what they were thinking...
Li Nuo suddenly sensed something and turned to look in a certain direction.
At the gate of a government office, a figure stood there, with his hands behind his back, looking at him from afar.
Li Nuo nodded politely to the right prime minister and continued walking towards the palace gate.
The Right Prime Minister looked at his back, a strange look in his eyes, and said softly: "The third realm..."
…
After leaving the palace, Li Nuo went to the Sinong Temple.
After several months of trials, the yield of some crops such as wheat and rice has increased slightly, and Sinong Temple is looking for ways to promote it on a large scale.
When leaving Sinong Temple, Li Nuo had a few peaches in his arms.
During this period, there has never been a shortage of fruit at home. These are the best fruits from the farmers, and Mu'er and Ning'er are almost tired of eating them.
Li Nuo did not go home directly, but took a detour and passed by the entrance of the criminal department.
The fortune-telling stall is still there.
But the old fortune teller was gone, and only the young girl was sitting there.
There were no customers in front of the fortune-telling stall, so Li Nuo walked up and asked, "Girl, where is your grandfather?"
The girl looked up at him and said, "Grandpa asked me to tell your fortune here by myself. If you want to tell your fortune, you have to wait until grandpa comes tomorrow. My cultivation is not high enough to tell your fate."
Li Nuo waved his hand and said, "I'm not here to tell fortunes."
He took out a peach from his arms, handed it to her, and said, "This is for you."
The girl wanted to refuse, but when she smelled the refreshing fruity fragrance, she swallowed back the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She swallowed silently, reached out to take the peach that Li Nuo handed over, took a bite, and exclaimed: "What a delicious peach!"
Li Nuo smiled and said, "I have a lot of delicious fruits at home. Do you want to come to my house? The food my chef cooks is also delicious..."
The girl was moved, but a little hesitant, and said: "But, I still want to tell fortunes here."
Li Nuo said: "I have some ancient books on Yin-Yang magic at home, you can take a look at them..."
The girl neatly put away the fortune-telling flag and said happily, "Let's go!"
Li Nuo asked tentatively: "Your grandfather won't be angry if you go to my house, right?"
The girl waved her hands and said, "No, he used to let me do fortune-telling alone. I often sneaked out to play by myself, and he never punished me. He and I are the only ones left in our Dongfang family, and he still expects me to take care of him in his old age and see him to the end of his life..."
(End of this chapter)
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