The waiter was a little angry when he heard the scholar's question, but seeing that the scholar seemed to know nothing about it, he suppressed his unhappiness and patiently explained:
"The Emperor of Wei is very different from the monarchs of other countries. He never considers himself a high and mighty ruler, but rather treats ordinary people like his own family. I remember once witnessing his majesty personally paying respects and paying respects to the ordinary soldiers who had died in battle at the burial site. His majesty's gesture deeply moved everyone present."
When the scholar heard this, he was deeply shocked. Since ancient times, scholars have always looked down on soldiers who only knew how to wield swords and guns. However, the Wei emperor's behavior completely overturned his traditional understanding of soldiers and imperial power.
The waiter noticed the scholar's puzzled expression and explained, "If you truly wish to understand all this, why not visit the Martyrs' Cemetery next to the Imperial Mausoleum? There, you'll find not only the soldiers' tombstones, but also the eulogy inscribed by the Emperor himself. Once you witness this with your own eyes, I'm sure you'll understand many things you didn't understand before. All you need to do now is get up and leave, and don't delay our teahouse's business any further."
The scholar slowly stood up, still confused, and asked his final question: "You clearly knew that young man was the Emperor. Why didn't you show the slightest reverence or fear? And why didn't anyone come forward to tell His Majesty about their experiences and needs?"
The waiter replied, "We didn't surround Your Majesty because we didn't want to give potential assassins any chance to kill you. Furthermore, if the people of Wei could live and work in peace, why would they complain? Even if they truly encountered difficulties, they could report the situation to the local officials, and they would do their best to help resolve it."
After all, in the current Wei State, no official dares to openly oppress the people. Recalling the astonishing number of corrupt officials executed by His Majesty, it's precisely because of this that we have the peace we enjoy today. His Majesty has good intentions, and we naturally cherish this hard-earned peace and do not want to cause him any trouble.
After hearing this, the scholar bowed slightly to the waiter to express his gratitude, and then said, "Thank you very much for your detailed information, brother. I have indeed benefited a lot from it. I am sorry for disturbing you just now. I will take my leave now."
After conversing with the waiter, the scholar quickly set off towards the Martyrs' Cemetery, his heart filled with emotion. In the past, he would never have been so polite and considerate to an ordinary waiter. After all, he was a well-read scholar with a prestigious academic title, and he considered himself fundamentally different from the ordinary people.
But after witnessing the charisma of the Wei Emperor, he came to realize that social status was illusory. True wisdom and virtue were reflected in a person's ability to care about the world and treat everyone equally.
But when he recalled what Chu Fan had said to him, the scholar couldn't help laughing at himself. Which emperor would personally encourage someone he met for the first time to rebel?
When the scholar finally arrived at the Martyrs' Cemetery, the sunlight shone on the tombstones, making the entire cemetery appear particularly solemn and dignified. When he saw the elegiac couplet written by His Majesty the Emperor himself at the cemetery gate, as well as the names of the buried and their heroic deeds, he couldn't help but feel an indescribable respect and emotion.
Even more astonishing was the fact that next to the Martyrs' Cemetery were the tombs of successive Wei emperors. The scholar simply couldn't believe it; if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have imagined that a monarch would honor every soldier who sacrificed their lives for the country so much, allowing these ordinary people to be buried in the same place as the emperor.
Under the setting sun, the cemetery was peaceful, with only a gentle breeze whispering the stories of those who had sacrificed their lives. The scholar had spent the entire day in the cemetery, and as the sun slowly set, he stood up.
At this moment, the scholar no longer had the previous confusion. Instead, he was filled with anger towards the rulers of his own country and a strong desire - he wanted to establish an equal and benevolent country like Wei in his own country.
In the scholar's heart, what he desires most is actually to hope that his country can have a wise ruler like the Emperor of Wei who has a broad mind and treats everyone equally, and bring true peace and happiness to the people.
As for himself, the scholar knew very well that he could never reach the greatness of the Wei emperor, because he knew that once he gained power, he would be unable to resist the temptation of power, and he understood his own inner weakness.
After all, he had failed the imperial examinations several times. Upon learning that the state of Wei was undergoing educational reforms, he arrived without hesitation, seeking new opportunities. He harbored both resentment and ambition. If he truly seized power, he would likely become like those corrupt officials, lost in their lust for power.
Standing at the entrance of the Martyrs' Cemetery, the scholar once again turned his head, gazing deeply at the towering monument to the heroes. A firm thought welled up in his mind: after conquering the country with his own hands, he would incorporate it into the territory of the Wei State.
After all, his country is adjacent to Wei State. In this way, Wei State will be able to manage this land more conveniently in the future and ensure that the people here can enjoy a better life.
He imagined that under the benevolent rule of the Wei emperor, the people of his country would live an equal and happy life. And if he himself were to die one day, perhaps he would be able to rest in peace in this martyrs' cemetery, his name engraved on a stone tablet, his deeds passed down through generations. It would be the perfect culmination of his lifelong pursuit of ideals.
The last rays of the setting sun, like a golden veil, gently reflected on his determined and hopeful face. The scholar took firm steps and embarked on his journey home, the flame burning for his ideal in his heart becoming more and more intense.
Every step seems to be paving the way for future changes. He knows that this road is full of thorns, but the belief in his heart is as solid as a rock. He vows to seek welfare for the people and change for the country, so that his country can usher in a new life.
In order to say goodbye to his past completely, the scholar decided to change his name to "Huang Chao", which means breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly, welcoming a new life.
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