The Great Seminary

Chapter 223 Towards Power
With the deliberate return of reason.

In the mysterious realm, Zhang Gui pioneered a "new path to civilization" based on the element of "capital".

It began to draw upon the authority of the 'judiciary,' giving rise to 'legal' elements unprecedented in this world.

And on this basis, we can build an ideological superstructure on the foundation of a new civilization.

The only pity is that, unlike the last time when the 'capital' element was conceived, it was not achieved in one fell swoop due to the power legacy of the ancient gods of the Western Continent.

Creating the elements of the 'rule of law' on Zhang Gui's own will require a long period of gestation.

Even with the rapid shaping bonus during the Enlightenment period, it only meant mastering the first element of the rule: 'punishment'.

“Don’t keep spouting high-sounding rhetoric about how the essence of the ‘rule of law’ is ‘everything not prohibited by law is permitted’.”

It's useless to 'protect' instead of punish.

How could the 'rule of law' derived from power not have deterrent 'punishment' as its primary characteristic?

Even the second rule shouldn't be 'protection,' but rather 'equality.'

Or, if the elements of the 'rule of law' are not constructed using mysterious forces in a supernatural world, then 'equality' should be the primary characteristic of the rule of law.

Moreover, this 'equality' should be an equality where the 'strong' yields to the 'weak'.

Overjoyed, Zhang Gui couldn't help but have a flurry of thoughts.

At the same time, he sensed something in the unseen realm, that the ancient rituals had bestowed upon him authority.

It has begun to advance from the most restricted regional theocracy among the three levels from bottom to top—'regional, powerful, and unique'—to 'powerful theocracy'.

Although it is still unknown how long it will take to complete this promotion.

But now that the promotion has begun and is on the right track...

Zhang Gui's trip to Yuanshan has already yielded a thousandfold, even ten thousandfold, return!

And Zhen Ciyun, who was sitting next to him, having finished eating fish and drinking warm wine, was no ordinary person either.

Sensing the subtle transformation in Zhang Gui's 'body, mind, and spirit,' she momentarily forgot her gentle demeanor and stared wide-eyed.

"What's wrong with you? We were just eating fish, drinking wine, and chatting peacefully together."

Why has your aura suddenly become so mysterious?

What did you do?

"No, what 'mystery'? I don't understand."

Zhang Gui looked bewildered and blatantly lied:

“Miss Zhen, your cultivation of the ‘Five Senses’ supernatural power may make your senses overly sensitive to the outside world…”

"If you don't want to talk, then let's just leave. Don't try to fool others."

Even while treating me to a banquet, I haven't forgotten to multitask and maintain my cultivation.

You deserve your enlightenment after such ascetic practices.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui stopped lying and smiled as he poured himself a drink without saying a word.

Only after all the evolution of 'body, mind, and spirit' had settled down did he speak:

"The most important reason I came to 'Giant Wolf Capital' this time is because I'm afraid something might happen in Jiujiang."

Is he still at 'Xianhezhai'?

"exist.

However, your good partner is not as flexible and quick-witted as you.

Unable to bear the fact that Mr. Huaihe had closed the gates of the Ming and Song dynasty's "Qingdou Academy" but had instead come to the enemy country's Yuanshan to open the "Xianhe Study".

He locked himself in a dark, secluded room, unkempt and listless, wasting his time in a daze.

I feel like I've gone a bit crazy.

I don't want to hide anything from you; I'll only say the good things.

Although Senior Brother Jiujiang is a good person, his talent is only 'average' even among ordinary people.

"You can't see through me, but I can figure it out with a little thought..."

"That is because he is naturally simple and honest, and able to uphold justice, which is a rare virtue."

If everyone in the world were 'smart' like us, then the righteous path of humanity would be lost! Zhang Gui himself could call his friends 'stupid,' but he couldn't tolerate others giving him 'bad reviews.'

Zhen Ciyun smiled helplessly upon hearing this, but instead of refuting it, she showed a hint of appreciation.

"Alright, I misspoke."

"Let's go back to 'Xianhezhai' together in a bit, and I'll take you to see him."

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Ciyun."

By the way, are you now free to return to Ming and Song?

Mr. Huaihe refused to let us leave, citing the reason that "one should not easily leave the study."

"Has this old bastard become so shameless?"

“In the past, when we studied at Qingdou Academy, we would only travel with the teachers sent by the academy.”

Otherwise, I can only go home once a year during the "Spring Festival break" in the first month of the lunar calendar.

Therefore, there is a historical precedent to follow.

Moreover, many people received secret messages at their homes, telling them to stay in Big Wolf City with peace of mind.

They even used the excuse of taking care of them to move their family members and servants here to set up businesses.

To be honest, that's how it is in my family.

"The tree hasn't even fallen yet, and the monkeys are already scattering."

Zhang Gui made a comment, finished his drinks with Zhen Ciyun, paid the bill, and left 'Bai Xian Lou'.

The two returned to the foot of Tianyuan Mountain.

Suddenly, a watchman in the distance started beating his waist drum and shouted loudly:
"Great victory! Great victory!"
Our Yuanshan army has been invincible in a hundred battles, winning ten consecutive victories, and has already captured Yanjing, the capital of the Ming-Song Kingdom!
Great victory! Great victory! My Yuanshan army... has captured Yanjing, the capital of the Ming-Song state...

Even though the Yuanshan Empire had been winning battles for decades and conquering countless territories, it was still a success.

But there has never been a glorious achievement of conquering the capitals of several major powers in Dongsheng Continent within three years!

In no time, the entire Big Wolf was in an uproar!
The night sky was covered by colorful fireworks, which were even more dazzling than the sun during the day.

Under the fireworks.

Zhang Gui and Zhen Ciyun looked at each other, unsure of how to react.

"Did the Ming and Song dynasties really perish like that?"

After an unknown amount of time, Zhen Ciyun finally came to her senses.

"After all, the Ming and Song dynasties were great empires that had been 'established' for hundreds of years. Even if the country was in disarray, it would not have been overthrown so easily."

The most likely scenario is that Yuanshan did indeed capture Yanjing.

But Emperor Hezheng had already gone to "escape the summer heat" before.

The destination was either Zhenchuan Province, the most stable and easily defensible region in the north, or the Jinling capital region in the south.

"We've become neighbors with the Zhen family of Huayu."

Zhen Ciyun thought about it and nodded in agreement.
"That makes sense. It's impossible for the Ming and Song dynasties to have been destroyed so quietly."

Let's go. We can't possibly celebrate the Yuanshan people's great victory. Let's just do what we need to do.

Zhang Gui had no objection to this.

In fact, for him, the founding emperor of the True Dragon Kingdom, the Ming and Song dynasties were theoretically also rivals.

From an emotional perspective, whether Emperor Hezheng lived or died, or whether the Ming-Song state perished, was utterly meaningless.

But Zhen Ciyun is different.

Although she came from a prestigious family with a long history, where "the clan was more important than the country".

However, before Emperor Hezheng took office, the Ming and Song dynasties were powerful empires showing signs of revival.

No one could have imagined that the next emperor would squander the legacy of his ancestors so quickly.

Furthermore, the sons of wealthy and powerful families have always been proud of the country since birth.

In this situation, one's steps involuntarily falter.

(End of this chapter)