People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 366, The Covenant Between Heaven and Man and the Hundred Schools of Thought
Just as the Yin-Yang School was developing an interest in Xu Qing, Gongyang Ru, far away in the State of Qi, also began to take action.

The Gongyang Confucian Academy in the State of Qi.

A middle-aged man dressed in a Confucian robe walked quickly through the Gongyang Confucian disciples who were organizing their luggage and entered the innermost courtyard of the academy.

"Clang~"

After pushing open the door, the middle-aged man straightened his clothes and entered the room. What came into view were rows of memorial tablets, and an old man with a white beard was bowing devoutly in front of the tablet table.

This room is the place of worship for Gongyang Ru, and the memorial tablets that are visited include those of the heads of Gongyang Ru in successive generations, as well as the most outstanding disciples of Gongyang Ru in each generation.

"Father, are you really going to lead Gongyang Ru away from Qi to Qin?"

The middle-aged man asked with a solemn expression and a heavy voice.

The old man was the contemporary leader of the Gongyang School of Confucianism and the head of the Gongyang family, Gongyang Di. The middle-aged man was his son, Gongyang Gan, the next leader of the Gongyang School of Confucianism.

After respectfully bowing to the memorial tablet and rising, Gongyang Di looked at Gongyang Gan and said...
"As you can see."

Gongyang Gan was taken aback upon hearing this. On his way here, he had naturally seen Gongyang Ru's disciples packing up their belongings from the school and loading them onto carriages. The decision to move from Qi to Qin was already irreversible.

"But do you really trust that Xu Qing? Isn't it too risky to gamble the future of our Gongyang Confucianism on him? Besides, none of our Confucian schools have announced their entry into Qin. If we do, it will surely arouse public anger and make our already bad situation even worse."

Gongyang Gan's eyes were filled with worry, and he spoke urgently.

Great Confucian scholars do not enter Qin; this is an unspoken rule within Confucianism. Anyone who breaks this rule will surely incur public wrath. Even though many within the Confucian school desire to enter Qin, no one dares to voice their opinion.

Even if Gongyang Ru started this trend, when internal Confucianism causes trouble, these people will not speak up for Gongyang Ru.

Gongyang Di glanced at the worried and anxious Gongyang Gan. He had naturally considered the things the other was worried about. He turned to look at the first memorial tablet at the bottom of the table, a trace of regret and emotion flashing in his eyes.

This row of memorial tablets was prepared for this generation of Gongyang Confucian scholars. Logically, as the leader, he should occupy the first tablet, but now the first tablet has the three characters "Shen Zhichun" written on it.

This was his most valued disciple, and also the disciple who assassinated Ji Wuye in the name of Gongyang Ru.

“I don’t trust Xu Qing, but I trust Xun Kuang. I believe his judgment is sound,” Gongyang Di said in a deep voice.

He had never met Xu Qing, let alone knew or trusted him. "What one sees may differ from what one hears," a saying well-known to all Confucian scholars. Therefore, he only believed a fraction of the rumors circulating about Xu Qing.

However, the fact that Xu Qing could become a close friend of Xunzi despite their age difference, and that Xunzi praised him highly, is enough to demonstrate his talent.

Gongyang Gan was taken aback by what he heard. His expression was somewhat complicated. He wanted to speak again several times, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know how to say them.

If you don't believe in Xu Qing, don't you believe in Xunzi? This simple statement is more persuasive than a thousand words.

"Do you really think that entering Qin was my idea alone? Back then, we had a conflict with the Meng family Confucianists, and the two sides argued all the way to Xiaoshengxianzhuang. In the end, it was Xun Kuang who stepped in to settle things."

“When I spoke with him privately, he was full of praise for Xu Qing, and even said that the other’s ambition was something that South Korea could not bear, and that only the whole world was the stage for him to perform.”

Gongyang looked at the memorial tablet and spoke to himself.

Gongyang's eyes flickered, and he quickly understood the meaning of Gongyang's words, saying with some surprise,

"Are you saying that the plan to enter Qin was a scheme by Master Xun, designed to open the way for us Gongyang Confucian scholars to enter Qin? And that you only went along with it because of Master Xun?"

A hint of relief appeared in Gongyang's eyes. His son was talented and learned, but he was short-tempered and impatient, and not calm enough when faced with problems.

"That's right, he wasn't content with being alone either. Since Lanling returned to Xiaoshengxianzhuang, he seemed disheartened and no longer concerned himself with the affairs of various countries. But even though he knew that the theory of the inherent evil of human nature was bound to fail, he still initiated two debates at Jixia Academy."

"He is a stubborn man, or you could say he is unwilling to admit defeat. How could he willingly close his eyes if he didn't see his ideas being applied to governing the country? However, he has a stubborn and unyielding temper, so how could he possibly have the nerve to go back to Qin?"

"Now that I've met like-minded and promising young people, some of my old ideas have been rekindled."

Gongyang stroked his beard and said with a light laugh.

He and Xunzi were of the same generation and had a good relationship when they were young. He admired Xunzi for daring to challenge Mencius, the leader of Confucianism who had reunited the school of thought, when he first started out. Therefore, he understood Xunzi's thoughts.

Gongyang Gan showed a thoughtful expression and no longer opposed Gongyang Ru's entry into Qin.

If this was Xunzi's plan, using the Gongyang School of Confucianism as a spearhead to pry open the passage into Qin, then Xunzi would certainly have been supporting it from behind.

With Xunzi's support, what were they going to be afraid of? The Gongyang School of Confucianism only had a few dozen members, and it was gradually declining within the Confucian community. Seeking help from the Qin state to save themselves was their only way out.

If they fail, these dozens of people will simply die together. If someone within the Confucian school pushes them too far, they might as well fight to the death.

They can't survive, and they can't let those within the Confucian school have an easy time either.

"We've also received news from Qin in the past few days. Xun Kuang's judgment was correct. Xu Qing is a hidden dragon in the abyss. When the wind and clouds come, he will rise into the sky and soar above the heavens."

"Now that he has escaped the abyss, it's only a matter of time before he transforms into a dragon. If Gongyang Ru seizes this opportunity, then he will no longer need to worry about the issue of succession."

Gongyang looked at Shen Buchun's memorial tablet and said with a solemn expression.

For the sake of Gongyang Ru, his most valued disciple volunteered to die. He had no chance to back down. If anyone dared to stop him, he would definitely drag their entire family down with him.

"Will Xu Qing acknowledge this identity? He's a member of the Taoist Heavenly Sect," Gongyang Gan asked.

"Whether he's willing or not doesn't matter. What's important is that the Qin state needs him to acknowledge it. The Tianzong sect doesn't have anything to say either. Xu Qing himself has admitted that he was enlightened by Confucianism. As for which branch of Confucianism it was, does it matter?"

Gongyang picked up his cane and walked outside, saying as he went.

“I understand, Father. I’ll go help them pack. Should we leave someone behind to take care of the old house? Shouldn’t we leave the ancestral hall and ancestral tablets as well?”

Gongyang asked thoughtfully.

“Your second and third uncles’ families will stay and manage the old house. I will take the ancestral tablet with me. We are not in a hurry to go to Xianyang. Let’s go to Taiyi Mountain first to witness the ceremony of the covenant between heaven and man.”

"The Heavenly Sect and the Human Sect have already extended invitations to all the sects. This Heavenly-Human Alliance will take place in nineteen days, which is the first day of next month."

"As a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, Xu Qing will certainly be present at that time."

Gongyang said as he walked.

Gongyang dared not speak again, but looked at Gongyangdi with complicated eyes, taking away the sacrificial tablet along with it. This showed that Gongyangdi was prepared to die for his cause if he did not succeed.

Gongyang Di walked outside, carefully examining the school and old house that had been passed down through four generations of the Gongyang Confucian school, seemingly trying to memorize every inch of it. Whether he would ever return after this departure, no one knew.

Gongyang dared to silently follow behind Gongyang, accompanying him through every inch of the Gongyang Confucian Academy.

As Gongyang said, with the Tianzong extending the invitation to the Covenant between Heaven and Man, all the Hundred Families who accepted the invitation began to prepare to go to Mount Taiyi to witness the ceremony.

The physician's home, Mirror Lake.

In the Mirror Lake Villa, Duanmu Rong carried the medicine basket on her back and turned to look at her master, Nian Duan, who was waiting nearby.

“Master is all prepared. If nothing unexpected happens, we will be able to make it to the celestial covenant,” Duanmu Rong said.

"Let's go. Have you packed everything I asked you to?" Nian Duan asked in a deep voice.

"I've already brought it."

A hint of unease flashed across Duanmu Rong's face. What Nian Duan was referring to were the letters they needed to send out along the way, to the medical disciples they encountered.

"Master, do we really have to do this?" Duanmu Rong asked hesitantly.

"Now that I have made my choice, there is no turning back. Rather than regretting it for the rest of my life, I might as well give it my all."

Nian Duan reached out and touched Duanmu Rong's head, speaking with a solemn expression.

Duanmu Rong nodded thoughtfully and didn't ask any more questions. In her worldview, Nian Duan was the most powerful person. Since her master was going to do something, he must be right.

"Yes, let's go, Master."

Nian Duan nodded and led Duanmu Rong out of the Mirror Lake Villa.

After the gate to the villa was locked, the two boarded the boat to leave, leaving only the lock slightly rattling.

In the Mo Family's Mechanized City, a red Vermilion Bird soared among the mountains, with Six-Fingered Black Knight and Han Shen, along with more than twenty other Mo Family disciples, riding on its back.

"Master, are you sure the Imperial Physician will go to Mount Taiyi?" Han Shen asked the Six-Fingered Black Knight.

“Of course, the Heavenly Sect and the Human Sect have invited not only the Hundred Schools but also the Seven Kingdoms. Brother Xu is the Grand Minister of Qin and a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, so naturally he should represent Qin.” Six-Fingered Black Knight said, holding Mo Mei in his arms.

"I just never imagined that the Imperial Physician would end up in the Qin Kingdom. Sigh..."

Han Shen looked sentimental and sighed deeply.

A complex look flashed in the eyes of the Six-Fingered Black Knight. The Mohist school advocated universal love and non-aggression, while the Qin state frequently launched wars. In addition, the existence of Qin Mohism naturally placed the Mohist school and the Qin state on opposite sides.

Upon learning of Ji Wuye's framing of Xu Qing, he immediately sent people to bring Xu Qing to the Mo family, but he was too late.

Xu Qing was sent to the Qin state.

“Brother Xu has his own path to walk. Regardless of his stance, the Mo family will forever remember his kindness,” said Six-Fingered Black Knight.

After Han Shen nodded, he raised another question.

"How should we handle the matter of the Crown Prince of Yan? Should we help him refuse to enter Qin?"

When Ji Dan was mentioned, the Six-Fingered Black Knight's expression, hidden under his cloak, became slightly serious.

"No need. This is a matter for the Yan Kingdom's court and has nothing to do with our Mohist school," Six-Fingered Black Knight said in a deep voice.

"However, in recent years he has frequently recruited disciples of the Mohist school as his retainers and has also allowed disciples of the Mohist school to serve as officials in the imperial court. He himself is also very close to the Mohist school, and many disciples of the Mohist school have a good impression of him and want him to join the Mohist school."

Han Shen's eyes flickered, and his words were full of approval for Ji Dan, but his expression was very calm, as if it were not his true thoughts.

The Six-Fingered Black Knight remained silent. He naturally knew Ji Dan's affinity and yearning for the Mohist school, and Ji Dan himself was a rare talent with both ability and virtue. In particular, as the Crown Prince of Yan, he was naturally willing to let such a talent join the Mohist school.

However, he always felt that Ji Dan was a bit fake. He seemed to be a very sincere and humble gentleman, but some of his behaviors made him seem hypocritical and cunning.

The Six-Fingered Black Knight didn't know if it was his imagination or something else, so he hesitated to agree to let the other party join the Mo family.

"Let's change the itinerary first. If nothing unexpected happens, he should also be going to Taiyi Mountain for the ceremony. Let's take him with us to Jicheng," Six-Fingered Black Knight said slowly.

Han Shen glanced at the solemn-looking Six-Fingered Black Knight, and after thinking for a while, he ultimately decided not to speak his mind. Ji Dan was indeed an opportunity for the Mo family, and he couldn't let his doubts and intuition jeopardize the Mo family's future.

"Alright, I'll inform the disciples in Jicheng first."

After Han Shen finished speaking, he took out a palm-sized cube. After activating the button on it, a sound of gears turning rang out, and the cube transformed into a small Vermilion Bird.

After writing the Six-Fingered Black Knight's orders on a piece of cloth, Han Shen tied it to the leg of the small Vermilion Bird and then activated the small Vermilion Bird, heading towards Ji City.

“Recently, the Farmers have been frequently entering the Yan Kingdom. Keep an eye on their movements when you arrive at Taiyi Mountain. I will also meet with Tian Guang,” Six-Fingered Black Knight said in a deep voice.

"Yes." Han Shen nodded and made a note of it.

South Korea, Qianlong Hall.

Situ Wanli respectfully welcomed Tian Guang and the main members of the six branches of the Farmer's Family into the Qianlong Hall. When he saw a woman dressed in a flamboyant manner among the entourage, a glint flashed in his eyes.

Beside the woman was a young man with a fair complexion, dressed in a light yellow outfit, with a jade pendant around his waist.

Situ Wanli naturally knew the woman's identity, after all, Tian Mi's name was known to everyone in the entire farming family, and the man beside her was also exceptionally famous, Wu Kuang, the sworn brother of Chen Sheng, the future leader of Kuiwei Hall.

Besides this identity, his pursuit of Tian Mi is also widely known.

Upon suddenly seeing two "renowned" people, Situ Wanli took a second look.

"Hall Master Situ, you have managed the Hidden Dragon Hall very well these past two years. Compared to before, the Hidden Dragon Hall is now even better," Tian Guang said to Situ Wanli.

"Thank you for the compliment, Chief Hero. I was just doing what I should do," Situ Wanli said modestly.

When Tian Guang praised Situ Wanli, the people from the six branches of the peasant family had different expressions. The Tian family members looked displeased, while the Zhu family, the leader of the non-family members, smiled and nodded at Situ Wanli.

(End of this chapter)