Chapter 775 The Art of Slaying Dragons
After Ouyang Rong finished speaking, Xie Lingjiang and Li Xian's family waited for a while.
He didn't say anything more.
That's all.
Offering the tripod and sword.
This best strategy, just three short words, silenced everyone.
Sometimes, the simplest things are the most powerful.
This applies to words, and it also applies to strategies.
This best strategy perfectly illustrates this point and aligns with the principle that the greatest truths are the simplest.
Among the crowd, not everyone had considered the "Presenting the Tripod Sword".
But no one has ever mentioned it, not even the slightest hint of it.
Previously, Xie Lingjiang and her daughter Xie Xun had kept the mythical sword in Ouyang Rong's possession strictly confidential, as had the Li Xian family, who tacitly kept it a secret from him.
Although the Li family members each have their own temperaments and minor flaws, they are all very clear-headed about the big picture and understand one thing very well:
This "craftsmanship" does not belong to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion; it belongs entirely to Ouyang Rong, whom he risked his life to obtain in Longcheng.
Ouyang Rong even rescued their family on Dagushan Mountain. Not to mention that Ouyang Rong later joined their staff as an advisor and helped them present auspicious omens, which transformed the "Su Mansion" and gave it the prestigious status of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion today.
Not only are we not at fault, but we are also deeply indebted to them.
Therefore, even though Ouyang Rong entered the manor as the military advisor "Tanlang", even though everyone had gone through life and death together and had a very good relationship with each other after leaving Longcheng, even though Li Dalang and Ouyang Rong were close friends... the whole family, from Li Xian to Li Guo'er, never regarded the [Craftsmanship] as anything belonging to the royal manor.
It belongs to Danlang. They don't interfere with how Danlang uses it, and they keep it strictly confidential.
Of course, this may also be related to the family traditions of the Li royal family.
For the Li royal family, the mythical cauldron and sword were not some rare or unusual objects of worship.
It is indeed a powerful instrument, yet it is also "as light as a feather".
Speaking of this, we must mention the "ancestral laws" of the Li family, which were established by Emperor Taizong.
Later generations of the Li family were forbidden from casting tripods and swords.
This is one.
Although there is no strict rule stating that men of the Li clan cannot use the mythical cauldron sword, this ancestral law implicitly contains a tacit consensus:
The tripod is light, but the people are precious.
In the past, when we made great strides, this was a fundamental aspect of national development.
The basis for this conclusion is harder and more unshakeable than a rock:
Emperor Taizong conquered the empire on horseback, risking his life in countless battles, without relying on any mythical sword or cauldron.
The items belonging to Emperor Wen were all seized later and were sealed in the secret treasury of the Tian Ce Mansion. They were never used until the founding of the Great Gan Dynasty.
Even in his later years, Emperor Taizong had a prime minister who praised him, saying that "Emperor Wen" had not lost his true name; on the contrary, he was known to every household, but his name had been tarnished.
Ironically, the Da Sui royal family frantically forged the cauldrons and swords, while the Da Gan Li clan scoffed at them.
Even though the former possessed several mythical swords and cauldrons, they still couldn't hold onto their kingdom, while the Da Gan Li clan, without a single sword or cauldron in hand, seized the world.
From this perspective, when it comes to the legitimacy of a nation's rule, looking back five hundred years, there is no one who can surpass Da Gan, and looking forward, there are probably few as well.
Their achievements are comparable to those of the Han Dynasty five hundred years ago.
After all, when the Red Emperor beheaded the White Emperor and rose in rebellion, and a commoner seized the world, didn't he follow the path of the First Emperor, continuing to forge tripods and swords to proclaim the Mandate of Heaven? Indeed, it aligns with the historical record's ambiguous statement, "He can be replaced."
The Daqianli clan valued the common people more than the imperial tripod, which can be considered a profound lesson learned from the three hundred years of struggle for the tripod during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
Throughout the Northern and Southern Dynasties, mythical swords and tripods were a game for a small group of people, such as aristocratic families, kings, and generals, not for the poor and common people.
Even though the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties cast a bronze cauldron sword called "Han Shi" (meaning "Humble Scholar"), it seems quite ironic now.
Regardless of whether this coincides with the prevailing trend of "the swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people," which Ouyang Rong once whispered to Xie Lingjiang.
That's exactly what the Da Ganli clan did.
It is unknown whether Emperor Taizong had any experts skilled in dragon-slaying techniques by his side back then.
From Ouyang Rong's perspective, looking back, the so-called myth is actually fading away.
The ancient mythological era, in which there were legendary immortals, has faded into obscurity and disappeared into the distance.
The golden age of pre-Qin alchemists and the rise of various schools of thought can now only be glimpsed in the withered bamboo tubes on the bookshelves of the small building.
Myths have died out.
The sword and cauldron, symbolizing the continuation of the Nine Cauldrons, are among the few and rarest "mythical objects".
The nine mythical lineages also began to descend and simplify, merging into the secular world below the mountain, transforming into a mixed and chaotic martial arts world, accessible to the general public, and gradually losing their once lofty and mysterious aura.
The legendary top three ranks have been lost, and the Celestial Beings of the Divine Land have not appeared for a long time.
All the top Qi cultivators who had attained enlightenment went up the mountain.
The most obvious example of this is actually the "Hidden Sect".
Top sects that consider themselves the orthodox lineages of various mythological traditions, such as Yunmeng Sword Marsh, have long since retreated into seclusion.
The Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist schools that remained were prominent in the world, along with the Mohist, military, and Yin-Yang schools... They took the opposite path, actively embracing the world and getting involved in secular affairs, but were also assimilated by the secular masses.
Myths are disappearing, and the cauldron and sword are no exception. The general trend is that, like bright pearls hidden in a dark room, they are all covered in dust and disappear into obscurity.
It's possible that Ouyang Rong wasn't the only discerning person who understood this trend. Emperor Taizong and the experts around him also calmly saw through it, and thus left behind the ancestral precept of "not forging swords."
This not only made the country's development extremely legitimate, but also aligned with the general trend.
No wonder that when the Cloud Dream Goddess entered the palace at night, the Emperor was able to calmly talk with her by candlelight and establish a new agreement.
Myths are myths, Yuanjun is Yuanjun, and Dagan is Dagan.
No wonder that in the current Wei Zhou Dynasty, there are still so many scholars who secretly yearn for Daqian, and old officials are everywhere in the court and the countryside, sympathizing with the Li clan.
The tripod is of least importance, the people are of most important, and the state is secondary.
All heroes and commoners alike are within my grasp.
This legacy was left by Emperor Taizong to the descendants of the Li family.
This is the art of slaying dragons.
Therefore, the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed, at least not in the present moment.
This was true of Emperor Gaozong, and it was also true of Li Xian, Li Dalang, and other men of the Li clan.
However, it is clear that not everyone has a good ancestor. The ancestral precepts of Emperor Taizong have no binding force on the current Wei clan of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
To avoid public criticism, the Prince of Wei's Mansion and the Prince of Liang's Mansion secretly supported the Liu family of Longcheng in forging the new Ding Sword, behind the backs of the entire court.
This led to the creation of the "craftsmanship" style.
But what is intriguing is whether the current emperor was fully aware of the truth, and whether he knew that the two kings of the Wei clan had secretly forged the cauldron and sword.
The change of the dynasty name to Zhou was not a complete change of dynasty; it was still the same old regime, so it couldn't really be considered a change of ownership.
Therefore, the principle of "the people being more important than the tripod" remains a generally accepted foundation of the nation.
It was accepted as a continuation of the previous practice.
Although the emperor never reiterated this ancestral instruction of "not forging swords" in any public setting.
But she was, after all, Emperor Taizong's daughter-in-law.
Legally speaking, it is "abandoning family members".
Although she occupied her "husband" Gojong's house, it could still be explained as her temporarily guarding the family business for her "spendthrift sons".
But all of this is still predicated on the fact that she has to be "away from her family".
According to ancestral rules, a woman takes her husband's surname, so this sage's surname was actually Li, not Wei.
As members of the Li family, should they abide by the ancestral precept of Emperor Taizong of the Li clan, which forbade the forging of swords?
Therefore, the secret forging of tripods and swords by the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Liang was a grave taboo. It would be fine if they had an excuse to cover it up, since the swords would only weigh a few pounds when weighed. But once it was exposed and weighed in front of the whole world, the swords would weigh more than ten thousand pounds.
The power struggle between Li and Gan in the capital city and among the common people is bound to intensify.
Li Xian and the others have always been aware of this.
This newly cast "craftsmanship" has a sensitive origin and involves a great deal of controversy.
However, none of them had ever mentioned using its origins to attack the Wei clan before.
Because it belonged to Ouyang Rong.
Everyone kept quiet about it, keeping it a secret and covering for him.
In fact, a certain attitude is already quite clear.
But today, Ouyang Rong took the initiative to offer the "Ding Sword," even listing it as the best strategy.
Xie Lingjiang clutched the sword case tightly, glanced at it, and frowned deeply.
The Li family remained silent for a long time.
Li Guo'er was the first to ask, her tone unusually gentle:
“Ouyang Lianghan, are you afraid that Rongzhen and Weiwu already know that you are the master of Butterfly Love Flower and that you have the Ding Sword? Are you afraid that they will make false accusations before the emperor and distort the truth in front of the sage, thus implicating us?”
"So we thought, let's present it first, expose the Wei family, and gain merit in return?"
Ouyang Rong glanced at Li Guo'er.
The stunning young woman, her shoulders wrapped in a black blanket, continued her analysis for him:
"Actually, there's no need for such a sacrifice. I think the middle strategy is fine. This cauldron sword is yours; you can't sacrifice it for us."
"As for the exposure of the Dingjian, there is no need to worry too much. On the contrary, I think the Wei family is unlikely to do such a stupid thing. Even if they know that the Dingjian is with us, they are very likely not to dare to make a fuss, and they will not even dare to reveal your identity as the master of the Butterfly Love Flower. Of course, the premise is that we successfully carry out your middle strategy and let Father enter the palace."
"As long as you stay in front of the Emperor and in the capital, it will be difficult for them to act first and report later to smear you. Once your identity as the sword wielder is revealed, and the craftsmanship is exposed, we can bring it out in front of the entire court and let the Emperor investigate to see who is harming the foundation of the country and stealing the casting of the bronze sword."
"The Wei family is definitely more guilty about this than we are."
Li Dalang immediately nodded in agreement:
“That’s right, Tanlang, you are the one who wields the sword. How can you do without the Ding Sword? This great opportunity is hard to come by and we can’t give it away for nothing. Even if we can get the credit, Father will feel guilty taking it.”
Li Xian reached out and patted Ouyang Rong's sleeve:
"Indeed, I appreciate your noble sentiments, but this is absolutely unacceptable."
Wei Mei took her husband's arm and said gently to Ouyang Rong:
"Yes, although we treat Tanlang as family, there are some things that must be distinguished. Public and private matters cannot be mixed up. The Dingjian is yours, Tanlang, and it cannot be taken lightly. Although it sounds very tempting, to put it bluntly, this great favor is too hard to repay. Tanlang, just think of it as thinking of Qilang and don't put too much pressure on him."
Towards the end, the woman made a half-joking remark.
Xie Lingjiang gripped Ouyang Rong's sleeve tightly, her expression serene as she said:
"Senior Brother, there's one more thing you shouldn't forget. The senior sisters of the Embroiderer haven't made their move yet. That Great Queen has a fiery temper, and the fact that she's been able to endure this long must mean there's some unknown reason. Their move this time might be unfathomable. Now that the Xunyang Grottoes are closed, those who know your identity as the Swordholder can't get out. What if the Buddha is destroyed later, and they can't get out alive either?"
"By then, there will be no way to prove it. So, let's not rush to think too far ahead. Implementing the middle strategy is fine. In my opinion, this middle strategy is the best strategy. Senior Brother's strategy is excellent."
Before Ouyang Rong could speak, everyone nodded and quickly reached a consensus:
"That's right, let's not rush! Let's see how things go first."
Ouyang Rong looked at the group of people who spoke sincerely.
What he really wanted to say was that offering the cauldron sword didn't necessarily mean offering the one they wanted.
However, seeing the Li family's attitude warmed my heart.
Without speaking immediately, Ouyang Rong suddenly reached out and drew the Moonlight Longsword from Xie Lingjiang's waist. After drawing it, he lowered his eyes and examined it.
As he observed the swordplay, the crowd whispered:
"Although the middle strategy is feasible, it is ultimately neither good nor bad. It is a shortcut to return to the capital. We have no merit and lack the merit of the Buddha statue that we had previously expected. The Emperor's attitude towards us may be very subtle. I am afraid that when the news of the destruction of the Donglin Buddha comes, it will drag us down and affect the Emperor's perception of us."
“Offering the cauldron sword is different. It brings immense merit and can make a decisive decision. Most importantly, it binds the cauldron sword to our people, making the sage have to use us to prove our value, just like the two kings of the Wei family.”
Li Guo'er seemed to be thinking of something, and looked at Ouyang Rong.
"Is offering the Ding Sword truly a merit? What if, because of ancestral precepts, the Empress Dowager no longer cares about the Ding Sword?"
Ouyang Rong spoke with absolute certainty:
"Don't care about the Dingjian? Then why did the Wei clan build the Four Directions Buddha Statue and the Great Zhou Praise Heavenly Pivot? They are a grand formation surrounding the 'Emperor Wen.' Understanding this will help you understand the Dingjian's position in the Sage's heart. The Sage covets the power of the Dingjian, so the Wei clan tries every means to use it to please the Sage, to gain merit and seize the throne, just like when the Wei clan instigated the change of Gan to Zhou. On the surface, it is the Wei clan that brings disaster to the country, but in fact, they are doing what the Sage wants... Regardless of all this, if we also offer a Dingjian and present it as an auspicious omen, we will be even more victorious."
Li Guo'er shook her head: "But there's a problem. How do we explain this cauldron sword? Are we just going to say it was newly forged?"
Ouyang Rong examined the Moonlight Longsword and said softly:
"The Great Sui Dynasty's Lost Sword".
Everyone assumed she was referring to "craftsmanship," but Li Guo'er continued, frowning, "..."
“It’s feasible, but the ancestral precepts are still there, and there are many obstacles in the court. Even the Wei family used the Four Directions Buddha statues and the Songde Tianshu to secretly promote Emperor Wen. Grandmother might not be able to openly express her liking for the Dingjian. If we directly present the Dingjian, wouldn’t that be inappropriate? It might be a thankless task, and it would also give Father a reason to criticize us…”
Ouyang Rong suddenly said, "I have a question: who exactly stipulated that the Li family's ancestral precepts must be applicable to the current sage?"
Li Dalang solemnly asked, "What does this mean? Does Tanlang mean... that Grandmother Li isn't considered a member of the Li family? This..."
"Of course not."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand, looked around, and asked in a somewhat strange tone:
"If I remember correctly, Emperor Taizong said that... descendants of the Li family in later generations cannot forge tripods and swords. But the current sage is a woman. Even if she is from the Li family, she is not a descendant of the Li family. Descendants have always referred to men. Who said that she can restrain women from the Li family?"
Everyone was stunned, and Li Guo'er's little face also froze for a moment.
Goodness, this actually works?
The originally serious Li Xian and the others suddenly looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wait, don't tell me, you really shouldn't tell me...
Some people began to realize that this sophistry seemed to help the sage circumvent the legal principle of the Li clan's prohibition against using cauldrons and swords.
Ouyang Rong's smile remained unchanged, while Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and the others' expressions gradually became strange.
The little princess with plum blossom makeup glanced a couple more times at the smiling young man in the scholar's robe, but she remained silent.
(End of this chapter)
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