If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1461 Even Sages Have an Expiration Date

Master Fuqiu's words were clear, straightforward, and extremely frank. After hearing them, the heroes of the land had no more doubts.

Only Liu Ji was deeply conflicted.

Fuqiu Gong noticed something and looked directly at him, saying, "If you have any questions, you can ask them directly."

Liu Ji asked, "Has the court's benevolent governance and efforts to win the hearts of the people been effective?"
They always did something and won over some people's hearts.

Fuqiu Gongdao said: "The great principle of cause and effect is eternal. As long as you plant a 'cause,' you will reap a 'effect.'"

Plant good seeds and reap good fruit; plant bad seeds and reap bad fruit.

Although Yu Fengxian's actions were very utilitarian, it was certainly better for the Qin Dynasty to promote benevolent governance than to continue doing evil.

Of course, the "good" here refers to the Ying royal family and the ministers of the Qin Dynasty, as it allows them to accumulate some merit.

But for the world as a whole, it may not necessarily be a good thing.

The reason why Heaven bestows its mandate is because humanity needs to undergo transformation.

The great calamity that claimed so many lives is the price of change.

Her meddling will still kill people, perhaps even more, and the reforms may be hampered.

If Grand Tutor Yu heard this, he would definitely spit on him.

Unfortunately, Grand Tutor Yu did not come along.

After leaving Xiaoyoudongtian, she felt there was no need to eavesdrop anymore.

Grand Tutor Yu did not spit on him. Liu Ji and some of the heroes of China were also people with normal thinking. They also felt that Fuqiu Gong's words conflicted with their own understanding.

“Great Immortal, as the Grand Tutor of the Qin Dynasty, if she does not strive to protect the Qin Dynasty and save the Ying clan from their fate, but instead ‘follows the will of Heaven’ and actively promotes the demise of the Qin Dynasty, wouldn’t she become a treacherous minister who is despised by everyone and violates human ethics?”

I once heard a fortune teller say that the "original, normal destiny" should have been that Hu Hai, under the instigation of Zhao Gao, slaughtered all the pillars of the Qin Dynasty.

"Could it be that in the Great Immortal's heart, Zhao Gao has actually done great deeds for humanity and should be praised?" Liu Ji asked.

Fuqiu Gongdao said, "I am a Taoist immortal, and I seek the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

As human beings, you should abide by human ethics.

I've said this before.

It's perfectly normal for you to feel indignant and unable to understand from a humanitarian perspective.

Now, from the perspective of the will of Heaven, I tell you that Zhao Gao was indeed a man chosen by Heaven, just like you, sent by Heaven to destroy Qin.

The things this kind of person does are in accordance with fate.

In the past, he could have been deified, just like You Hun and Fei Zhong.

Of course, now that Zhao Gao has been forced to take the 'Ancestral Dragon Qi Pill' by Yu Fengxian, his original destiny has been completely destroyed.

You Hun and Fei Zhong were treacherous and wicked men around King Zhou during the Investiture of the Gods period. They were similar to Zhao Gao in their role of bringing disaster to the country and its people.

However, in terms of "achievements", Zhao Gao had long surpassed his predecessors, and even the two predecessors combined could not match him.

In this lifetime, Zhao Gao and You Hun Fei Zhong shared some similarities in their fates.

You Hun and Fei Zhong had the opportunity to wreak havoc on the court, entirely because Grand Tutor Wen was not in court.

When Grand Tutor Wen returned, he immediately ordered the execution of the two villains. Although King Zhou dissuaded him, Grand Tutor Wen did not let them go. He sent the two court officials to the army and ordered them to lead troops to fight Jiang Ziya to the death.

Once Grand Tutor Yu ascended to power, he indirectly deposed Zhao Gao without even speaking directly. He didn't kill Zhao Gao either, but instead sent him to the front lines to supervise the Eastern Navy Marquis and local military leaders on behalf of Hu Hai.

"This is utterly unreasonable!" Liu Ji exclaimed excitedly. "Zhao Gao brought disaster to the country and its people, murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, yet he was deified; Grand Tutor Yu worked tirelessly day and night, knowing full well that the task was futile, yet he was made a sinner?"

"Liu Ji, don't forget your place!" Tian Rong frowned and said, "We are chosen by Heaven, and Grand Tutor Yu is defying our destiny. If she is not a sinner, then are we the sinners?"

Liu Ji said, "I haven't forgotten my position, but let's stick to the facts."

Did the King of Jiaozhou hope that all the ministers of Qi would be like Zhao Gao?
Or would you dare say that to your own subordinates?

Tian Rong's expression froze, and he really couldn't continue speaking.

"Brother Ji, actually, the Tian family is Zhao Gao of the Jiang family in the Great Qi!" Lu Wan muttered softly.

The ancestors of the Tian family were members of the royal family of the Chen state. When Tian Rong's ancestors could no longer make a living in the Chen state, they fled to the Qi state, where they were taken in by the ruler of Qi and granted the title of "minister".

At that time, the system of "hereditary official positions" still existed, and only members of noble families could become high-ranking officials.

Only by obtaining the rank of minister could the Tian family maintain its aristocratic status.

We can use Confucius's family as a comparison.

Confucius' ancestors were also a fallen noble family who fled from the State of Song to the State of Lu. For generations, they worked desperately but failed to obtain the rank of "minister," remaining only as "scholars."

What does "supporting scholars" mean? It means that scholars can only rely on ministers and let them support them.

By the time of Confucius, people had fallen so low that when they went to a nobleman's house for a banquet, they would be turned away by the "gatekeeper".

This shows how valuable the "Qingwei" position was and how much favor the Jiang family of Qi had done for the Tian family.

Finally, the Tian family used the method of "small measures for entry and large measures for exit" to win over the people's hearts, plotted to usurp the throne, destroyed the Jiang family, and seized the State of Qi from Jiang Taigong.

"Hmph~~" Xiang Yu gave Tian Rong a disdainful glance.

Although Lu Wan's voice was soft, everyone there possessed profound internal strength and keen hearing and eyesight.

"Hehe~~" Ying Xie, Wei Jiu, Han Xin (of the Ji clan, Han family) and other distinguished guests chuckled softly.

"Everyone in the world knows how your ancestors divided Jin into three states. How dare you laugh at me here?" Tian Rong said angrily.

Wei Jiu and the others blushed and stammered, "The King of Jin is unrighteous and unjust. The ancestral temple of Jin has always been there. Wei, Zhao, and Han can only be considered to have established themselves, not to have usurped the throne."

Compared to the Tian family, the Wei, Zhao, and Han families could only be considered slightly more respectable.

He left a city to the royal family of Jin, and many years later, he "quietly" let the King of Jin die unexpectedly.

The Tian family publicly banished the former King of Qi to the seaside to live like a savage, where he starved to death – a brutal act.

"Hmph~~" Xiang Yu gave the Wei, Zhao and Han families disdainful looks, straightened his back even more, and exuded an air of pride that said, "Look over here, the truly loyal and virtuous families are here."

The Xiang family certainly had the right to show off in front of Ying Xie, Wei Jiu, Han Xin, and Tian Rong.

Because the Xiang family's situation was initially similar to theirs.

The Xiang family were originally descendants of the royal family of the Xiang state. Their ancestor was the son of King Wen and belonged to a minor branch of the Ji clan. After the Xiang state was destroyed, the Xiang family fled to the Chu state and were enfeoffed as a noble clan, serving the Xiong clan until their deaths.

Wasn't Xiang Yan the one who devoted himself to the state of Chu until his dying breath?
Tian Rong smiled and said, "Xiang Liang has been loyal to the Xiong family for generations. After returning to Kuaiji County, is he perhaps looking for a descendant of the King of Chu to help him rebuild the Great Chu?"

—What's there for your Xiang family to be so arrogant about? The reason you didn't rebel before was simply because you lacked the ability.

Given the circumstances in the State of Chu, how could outsiders possibly rebel?

Now that you've raised an army to rebel against the Qin Dynasty, I haven't seen you remain loyal. Of your three hundred time travels before, did you ever assist the Xiong family in ascending the throne? You always became king yourself.

The succession to the throne in Chu was even more bloody and brutal than that in the Central Plains states.

Fathers killing sons, sons killing fathers, uncles killing nephews—this happens in almost every generation.

However, the chaos surrounding the succession to the Chu throne was an internal strife within the Xiong clan. The entire Xiong clan was locked in fierce infighting, a bloody and vibrant energy that prevented outsiders from having the opportunity to usurp the throne.

"My Xiang family has done our utmost for the Great Chu. After the fall of Chu, the relationship between the ruler and his subjects will end."

From beginning to end, we have never wronged the Xiong family in the slightest.

"Now that the Mandate of Heaven is with my uncle, my Xiang family no longer needs to find a master for ourselves," Xiang Yu declared loudly.

Xiang Liang tugged at his sleeve and frowned, saying, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Then he bowed and apologized to the others, "My Yu'er is young and impetuous, with a bad temper. You are all elders, please forgive him." —Damn it, he's traveled through three hundred worlds and still calls himself young? Have you no shame?
Several veteran members of the royal family muttered to themselves, giving Xiang Liang a cold look, but said nothing more.

Tian Rong, however, was unwilling to accept this and wanted to argue for his ancestor, saying, "Have you not heard the story of 'Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors'?"
My family, the Tian family, was also loyal to the Jiang family.

Jiang used two rotten peaches to cause my ancestor to die a miserable and aggrieved death.

"The hatred between blood relatives is irreconcilable; the Tian family has done nothing wrong to the Jiang family!"

While there's an element of sophistry involved, there's also some truth to it.

The "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" conspiracy is definitely one of the most disastrous in history.

To publicly kill a meritorious official without any reason is a grave taboo for a ruler.

After the story of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors," the State of Qi began its decline.

However, his intention to incite infighting among his subordinates was too obvious. After the failure, they would unite against a common enemy and kill the king.

Then Tian Rong turned his attention to Liu Laosan, the instigator, saying, "Liu Ji, you have spoken out for Grand Tutor Yu, even to the point of disregarding your own position. This shows that you are a truly magnanimous and tolerant ruler!"

Liu Ji's expression changed slightly, and he quickly waved his hand, saying, "I just empathize with him. I have a different stance from Grand Tutor Yu, but we share the same beliefs!"
Just like the wise minister 'Grand Tutor Wen' from the Investiture of the Gods period.

How could he not agree with Grand Tutor Yu's approach?
He also knew the destiny of Fengming Qishan, and that even the Dao Ancestor supported Xiqi.

Grand Tutor Ke Wen made the same choice as Grand Tutor Yu.

You Hun and Fei Zhong were only appointed as ordinary minor gods, while Grand Tutor Wen was the number one god of the Thunder Department.

It is clear that Heaven favors loyal subjects.

Therefore, I have some doubts about what Master Fuqiu said.

—I do not desire a loyal minister like Grand Tutor Yu as a monarch. I myself am a "wise minister of ancient times" who is loyal to his ruler and disregards fate!

The rebel kings understood his unspoken meaning, and their eyes looked at him with tenderness that seemed to drip with water.

To criticize Grand Tutor Yu is to take the stance of a traitor.

The monarch's stance was to yearn for a minister like Grand Tutor Yu who would disregard everything to assist the court.

Grand Tutor Yu could not possibly submit to them. Although Liu Ji, who compared himself to "Grand Tutor Yu of Pei County," had become much more destitute, he was ultimately a loyal and virtuous minister!

Fuqiu Gong said calmly, "You Hun Fei Zhong was able to be granted the title of god because he benefited from the ancient times."

Humanity is flourishing, and the ethics and morality of the human race are developing rapidly, which has also raised the standards for gods and immortals.

If Zhao Gao were in the era of the Investiture of the Gods, he would definitely have been deified.

Now I mean, according to the original destiny, he should have fallen into Fengdu Hell after his death, never to be reborn.

Because he has accorded himself to the will of Heaven, some of his sins will be reduced. He will still fall into the underworld, but he will have a chance for redemption. Perhaps someone will offer a divine merit to help him redeem himself in the underworld of Mount Tai.

It's not impossible that one could enter the path of immortality in the next life and become an immortal.

Heaven's mandate is supreme!
The Way of Heaven encompasses everything; the Way of Humanity, the Way of Demons, the Way of Ghosts, and so on, are all part of the Way of Heaven.

The Way of Heaven encompasses the Way of Humanity, and nature is superior to the Way of Humanity.

When not involving destiny, the judgments of good and evil in the divine way, and the good deeds and sins in the immortal way, almost entirely follow the ethics and morality of the human way.

To act in accordance with human morality is to do good and to receive divine merit; to act against human morality is to do evil and to incur sin.

But when it comes to destiny, humanity must yield to the will of Heaven.

Mandate of Heaven comes from the Lord of Heaven and belongs to the Way of Heaven.

Human morality remains valid, but it must yield slightly to destiny.

The extent of concessions is determined by the level of human development.

Humanity during the Investiture of the Gods era was not as good as it is now. You Hun and Fei Zhong were able to be directly deified, but Zhao Gao now has to go to hell.

If humanity flourishes even more in the future, Zhao Gao might still be unable to redeem himself even if he has a divine mandate.

Or the cost of redeeming himself would increase dramatically, something even the immortal wouldn't be willing to pay. Thus, 'Zhao Gao' would be stuck in hell, unable to be reincarnated into the immortal realm.

Fuqiu Gong shifted his gaze from Liu Ji and swept it across the faces of Tian Rong, Wei Jiu, Ying Xie, Han Xin, and others in turn. “You don’t need to be ashamed to mention the past of your ancestors.”

The Tian family's usurpation of the Qi throne was contrary to the ethics and morality of the time, yet it was seen as the will of Heaven!

Must a subject be loyal to his ruler under all circumstances, even if the ruler is immoral, incompetent, stupid, and has done unjust things to his subjects?

If we were to ask the ancient sages of humankind to answer this question, they would say that under any circumstances, insubordination is a grave sin.

However, the occurrence of divine mandates such as "the Tian family replacing Qi" and "the division of Jin into three families" indicates that with the development of humanity, the vast majority of people do not accept the words of the sages.

A monarch has his own moral code and etiquette, and a subject has his own code of conduct. If a monarch fails to behave properly, he is unworthy to be a monarch.

Alas, even immortal techniques become outdated; how can the truths spoken by sages be eternal?

"The words of the sage have enlightened us!" Tian Rong was overjoyed.

—The Mandate of Heaven is supreme, do you hear me? My Tian clan rules Qi, and we have the backing of Heaven; this is the greatest legal basis!

Liu Ji surveyed the assembled heroes, many of whom showed signs of excitement.

To be honest, he was quite happy.

Because he too has a destiny.

The Tian family had the Mandate of Heaven, and could even plot to usurp the throne; Chen Sheng had the Mandate of Heaven, and could rise from a peasant to become the King of Chu.

—Fate is indeed above human ethics and morality!

"If the Mandate of Heaven is supreme, why are the Heavenly Court and all the great immortals wary of Grand Master Yu's Nine Cauldrons and Dragon-Riding Technique?"

Although he was happy, he still had many doubts in his mind.

“You have a destiny, and so does the Great Qin. As long as the Great Qin’s destiny has not ended, the divine and immortal paths will not dare to offend the Xianyang court,” said Fuqiu Gong.

Liu Ji asked in surprise, "Didn't the Qin Dynasty perish after only two generations? How can it still have a mandate from heaven?"

"The fact that the country perished after only two generations does not mean that Hu Hai's reign ended immediately upon ascending the throne. He had a three-year imperial mandate," said Fuqiu Gongdao.

Xiang Liang exclaimed excitedly, "The three-year period is almost up. Before long, will the Great Immortal be able to directly take action against Xingyang? Or will the Heavenly Emperor directly unleash divine punishment and destroy the Xingyang court?"

Fuqiu Gong shook his head and said, "If the Mandate of Heaven is fulfilled, Hu Hai will be destroyed after three years as emperor."

The three-year period has passed, and he is still alive, which means the timeline has changed.

Seeing the heroes looking bewildered, Fuqiu Gong bluntly said, "You bear the mandate of heaven to destroy Qin; you are people of heaven's destiny."

Only you can kill Huhai and destroy the Qin Dynasty.

If you cannot kill Huhai and destroy Qin, it means that Huhai and the Qin dynasty's destiny is not yet over.

"Then Yu Fengxian can continue to control the Nine Cauldrons and manipulate the destiny of humanity, making us all wary."

The heroes had conflicted expressions; they felt that what Fuqiu Gong said made a lot of sense, but they also felt that he was trying to fool them.

How could Fuqiu Gong not understand their thoughts?
He encouraged them again with a confident tone and encouraging eyes, saying, "The destiny is on your shoulders, which means you have faith and potential."

Once potential is realized, destiny will surely follow.

Having traversed three hundred worlds, your potential has been largely fully developed.

Now go back to the Central Plains, and use your potential to fulfill the destiny of the Qin dynasty.

(End of this chapter)