Chapter 285 Leaving the Xia Dynasty and Traveling Around the World

"What? I haven't seen you for so many years, so you don't recognize me?"

Gu Dan's expression did not change at all.

His disguise skills were at the pinnacle, especially his medical skills. I'm afraid no one in the world could match him. His understanding and knowledge of the human body was also far beyond that of people of this era.

So making small changes looks extremely natural.

Of course, he didn't do anything too outrageous. He just had a few more wrinkles on his face and his hair was a little grayer.

Although at first glance he doesn't look as young as before, he is not really that old.

"No, no."

Wang Mang shook his head repeatedly, staring at Gu Dan's cheek and circling his hair several times. The expression on his face was full of mixed feelings, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Did Brother Gu also age? Ever since Gu Dan was promoted to Grandmaster, his appearance had remained almost constant. After so many years of getting along with him, everyone had gradually gotten used to it and even accepted it.

Even the masters cannot stop aging, they just age much slower than normal people. However, in Gu Dan, this slow change has never been seen.

Only when he saw himself aging in the bronze mirror did he suddenly realize that time seemed to have not passed on his life.

Now, seeing such a big change in Gu Dan, Wang Mang was naturally shocked.

He once thought that Gu Dan's appearance would not change at all until he passed away.

"You came back by yourself?"

Wang Mang, not knowing what to say, asked subconsciously.

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I wanted to slap myself.

It was really because Gu Dan was so surprised by the changes that a normal person would have experienced that he didn't even have time to think before speaking.

"Um."

Gu Dan nodded slightly.

"The Prime Minister is too tired. It would be good for him to take a rest."

Wang Mang tried hard to force a smile on his face. There was sadness, but not much.

Because he also felt that his body was becoming increasingly unable to cope with the situation.

At that time, he could sleep only two hours a day, and even review memorials all night long, and still be full of energy the next day.

However, when I am now handling my official duties normally, I occasionally feel troubled.

He is almost eighty years old.

It is rare for a person to live to be seventy years old. How many people can live to be a hundred years old?

Even if a martial artist has mastered internal organ training and cannot break the clear yet invisible and intangible boundary, his lifespan will not be much different from that of an ordinary person. It's just that he may be in better spirits, but it does not mean he will live longer.

Wang Mang knew that his end was probably not far away.

Time never kills with a sharp knife, it only strikes hard on every little trace.

"In the years since you left, Xun Ke has also done a lot of things, and Xiaoying is now in charge of the overall affairs of the Xia Dynasty Medical Clinic."

Wang Mang sat opposite the stone table and, as if reporting on work, told Gu Dan about the changes that he had not witnessed over the years.

Overall, the Xia Dynasty was stable and improving, the people's lives became more and more prosperous, and their living conditions were steadily improving.

Although Gu Dan is not in the government, we can get some clues from the fact that ordinary people have the leisure and spare money to participate in various festivals - during the big month, such celebrations have always been the playthings of only a small group of people.

If people can't even get enough food to eat, no one will care no matter what meaning you give to the festival.

Only after ensuring their own livelihood can most people have the leisure and mood to find some joy in their lives.

Gu Dan listened silently. Wang Mang never talked about himself, but only talked about the achievements of others.

But among the people, the name of the Holy King has already been praised.

"Sage King" is Xun Ke's highest praise for the emperor, not a specific one.

But it is also a remarkable thing that people can spontaneously give themselves such a title.

At least in Gu Dan's memory, the last person who achieved this level was called Mo Qiu.

But what great things did Wang Mang do?

No.

The Xia Dynasty has lasted for forty-eight years, and apart from the distribution of land tax, there is not a single thing worth writing about.

Even the distribution of land tax based on land use was strongly demanded by Gu Dan.

If this incident is removed, one will be surprised to find that there are almost no traces of Emperor Wang Mang in the Xia Dynasty.

In other words, the only trace of him is the appointment of so-and-so as a matter of course.

Isn't this the function that an emperor should have? But his strength lies in his ability to subtly place people in the right positions.

Over the years, Gu Dan had never heard of Wang Mang's extraordinary deeds among the people.

Some of the words of praise are nothing more than the ones that one's ears are tired of hearing: hardworking and caring for the people, working hard to govern the country, living a simple life, building water conservancy projects, and so on, a bunch of random and featureless praise.

It seems that no single word can fully describe the achievements of Emperor Xia.

He had a little bit of each, but each one was so insignificant that it was often overlooked, and people even forgot that there was such an Emperor Xia in the Xia Dynasty.

If we freeze the history of the Xia Dynasty today, the first half of the Xia Dynasty must be Mo Qiu and Mohism, and the second half is Mohism and Confucianism. There is no place for the emperor in between! As an emperor, Wang Mang seems to have no sense of existence.

This is a very remarkable thing.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish.

Although a raging fire is intense and fierce, it cannot possibly last long.

A steady stream of water flows gently and silently, but it can accumulate quietly and grow healthily.

The national policy adopted by Emperor Otsuki Muneaki was called "ruling by inaction", but his inaction was only for his own benefit.

Wang Mang's method was somewhat similar to that of Emperor Zong Ming, the difference being that he completely let go of himself.

It's not an easy thing to do, especially in that position.

The emperor is the king of the land! Who wouldn't want to do something great in this position?

Who doesn't want to have their name recorded in history and passed down by future generations? Some people would like to do something big every year, and make a ceremonial offering to the gods of heaven and earth so that future generations can recite and remember their merits, but in the end, they just fall into the dust and decay.

Over the years, the Xia Dynasty had indeed grown increasingly powerful, and had even become the strongest country in the surrounding area a decade or two earlier. But even to this day, Gu Dan had never heard of any well-known auspicious signs appearing in the Xia Dynasty.

The Mohists talked about the will of heaven and the knowledge of ghosts.

The will of heaven is to understand the natural laws of all things, and to understand ghosts is the rewards and punishments that fall upon the human world in the changing operation of the supreme rules.

Wang Mang implemented this point very well.

Although he supported Confucianism, he always held himself to the standards of Mohism, but he was not as extreme as others.

In this silent persistence, in the nearly fifty years that have passed, the people are ultimately neither blind nor foolish.

The emperor no longer sought a sense of existence for himself, but instead began to be remembered and recited by people.

There was no need for complicated ceremonies or grand and righteous enthronement. He silently protected his people, and his people began to appreciate his kindness.

Gu Dan looked at the already aging Wang Mang and listened to him praising others. His eyes seemed to penetrate through the heavy curtains and saw him working silently behind the scenes.

"You are a good emperor."

When Wang Mang had almost finished speaking and was about to pick up the tea to drink, Gu Dan said.

"What?"

Wang Mang was stunned, and the tea in his hand rippled a little, splashing onto the ground and raising drops of dust.

"You are a good emperor."

Gu Dan repeated.

"ah?"

Wang Mang seemed quite surprised. Why did Brother Gu suddenly say this? But his reaction was not deceiving. The corners of his mouth turned up at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even the wrinkles on his face piled up together, like small mountains composed of layers of ravines, rising and falling like waves, and condensed into a smile.

"It will be praised by the people and become a role model for future generations."

After going around Cang, Gu Dan began to give everyone affirmation, "You did a great job."

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

"ah."

Wang Mang's face was almost smiling like a flower, his eyes were narrowed into slits, his gray hair was trembling constantly, and his head was shaking.

Is this the feeling of being praised by a great master? It's like becoming an immortal! This kind of happiness is unimaginable to ordinary people! "Anything else? Anything else? Say a few more words!"

Wang Mang urged.

“.”

After a brief silence, Gu Dan pointed to the door and said, "Get lost."

"Okay."

Wang Mang actually got down from the stone bench, rolled on the ground, and was covered in dust, but he didn't care. He looked up to the sky and laughed, then walked out.

Looking at the crazy Wang Mang, Gu Dan's mouth twitched slightly, "This old guy!"

Shaking his head helplessly, Gu Dan poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp.

He stared at the empty yard and listened to the continuous chirping of cicadas.

There was no movement for a long time.

A few days after Wang Mang left, Qin Lisheng visited the Gu family courtyard.

"What a rare guest!"

When he saw Qin Lisheng, whose skin was even darker than Mo Qiu's, Gu Dan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Gong Shangguo was always so busy that he had no time to rest, but this guy was amazing. He couldn't find anyone.

There were nine provinces in the Xia Dynasty. This great Mohist leader led his Mohists to measure the morality of the world with his footsteps. He never had a day off. Even when Wang Mang summoned him, he could only let the Mohists notify him.

Because of him, the Mohist doctrine is no longer a simple doctrine, but a group of people who practice what they preach are proving that the Mohist requirements can be achieved.

"Mr. Gu, I'm here to say goodbye to you."

After meeting Gu Dan, Qin Lisheng did not exchange pleasantries. He was always like this, straightforward and without reservation.

"Goodbye?"

Gu Dan was slightly stunned. He really didn't expect this.

Why didn't he go to Buzhou Mountain ten years ago? Why did he go there again now? Considering the Grandmaster's life span, it was not impossible, but it seemed quite extravagant.

However, as soon as Qin Lisheng finished speaking, Gu Dan knew that he had misunderstood.

"Yes, the Xia Dynasty is now extremely powerful. Even ordinary people can eat meat every seven days unless it is a disaster year. Even in a disaster year, it is enough to fill their stomachs."

Qin Lisheng continued, "The most basic mission of the Mohists in the Xia Dynasty has been completed, but there are still many areas that require the help of the Mohists."

"You want to travel around the world?"

Gu Dan understood.

This is actually very common, especially among masters. For example, Yang Zhu traveled to the Xia Dynasty, briefly participated in a discussion on Taoism, and then went on to a more distant place.

These people are wandering in the world like duckweed. Everyone has his own reasons or is looking for his own reasons. It shouldn't be surprising.

In any country, as long as the master has not committed an unforgivable sin, he can stay or leave as he pleases.

But the problem is that Qin Lisheng is not an ordinary master, he is also a giant of the Mohist school.

The leader of Mohism is leaving the Xia Dynasty!

Who would have thought of this? Wang Mang had worked hard for the Xia Dynasty for nearly fifty years, and so had Qin Lisheng? As an unknown successor to Mo Qiu, a saint on earth, many people had higher expectations of Qin Lisheng than the emperor.

But Qin Lisheng perfectly inherited the Mohist school with his own abilities and beliefs.

In his hands, no one could say that Mohist was unqualified, even when compared with Mo Qiu.

The only difference is that he did not have as many great deeds as Mo Qiu.

And the key point is that Moqiu is the inheritor of the past and the pioneer of the future. Even if the later ones can do the same thing as Moqiu, they are only successors. It is normal that the pursuers of the sun are always obscured in the glory.

Over the years, it is beyond doubt that he has already deserved the title of Mohist master.

Even the Confucians, who were very incompatible with the Mohists, did not dare to say that there was anything wrong with the Mohists' personal morality. They could only say that the Mohists' requirements were too high and unrealistic.

Many people in the Xia Dynasty had already taken the existence of Mohism for granted, just as there was a court and an emperor, so how could there be no Mohism? And now, Qin Lisheng was leaving.

In other words, he wanted to lead the Mohist school and spread the spirit of Mohism.

"More or less."

Qin Lisheng nodded, "Besides the Xia Dynasty there is Daqi, and outside of Daqi there are other countries. Even if the Grandmaster has been on the road for ten years, there is still a Buzhou Mountain Range there.

If this is the case, how can the Mohist School be confined to one place? Although a pearl is precious, it loses its value if it is hidden in one place. "

Qin Lisheng was still so straightforward and direct. Even when he was praising Mohism, he acted as if it was the way it should be, making it impossible for people to find any reason to question him.

"I thought you would have another discussion with Confucianism."

Gu Dan was a little surprised, but if you were to ask who in the entire Xia Dynasty could most accept the departure of the Mohist School, that person would probably be him.

"Ha. There are many reasons. We have been talking about the morality of Mohism for sixty years. Mohism requires action, not verbal debate."

Qin Lisheng said indifferently: "Confucianism certainly has some praiseworthy aspects, but how can the brilliance of a blade of grass be brighter than the bright moon? We are meant to shine in all directions, not to take root in one place."

Although Mohism suffered some "losses" in the face of Confucianism within the Xia Dynasty, leaving this fact aside, in terms of reputation alone, Confucianism was really a little behind.

This great Mohist master was stubborn and arrogant, but he had the capital to be stubborn and arrogant, which made others feel inferior to him.

"All right."

Gu Dan had no reason to refuse, "But before you leave, I have a gift for you."

"What?"

Qin Lisheng couldn't help but feel a little curious about what kind of thing could be called a gift by Gu Dan.

"Grandmaster."

(End of this chapter)