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

Chapter 436, Difficulties and Bloodshed: Someone Always Has to Bear the Burden.

"If we must make people bear the burden of this bloodshed and sins, I would rather our generation bear it than pass this heavy burden on to future generations."

Xu Qing tilted his head slightly, his gaze firm, which shimmered slightly with the light. He spoke with a rhythmic cadence, his voice filled with an unprecedented determination.

He was not a saint, and he didn't even consider himself a good person. The reason he was so determined to serve the Qin state was simply because of certain principles he held dear.

He has witnessed true prosperity and peace, and he has seen times when people lived in peace and contentment, and were able to truly have enough to eat.

Faced with a world now rife with war, famine, and disease, he wanted to change it, even if it was just a small part of it. That way, he wouldn't have wasted what he had learned in his previous life, and he would have lived a worthwhile life in this world.

Although it's difficult to change all of this, he's determined to try, even if he fails in the end, he won't regret it.

"It is true that the Qin state was brutal, but we cannot deny its brutality just because it advocated force and the rule of law. The King of Qin was a capable ruler, and most of the ministers in the Qin state were also virtuous. I believe that as long as we bring the respect for life and the compassion of physicians to the Qin state, we can change the Qin state and make the Qin state treat the people of the world kindly."

Hearing Xu Qing's slightly trembling voice, Nian Duan, Old Master Lu, the medical staff, and even Duanmu Rong's expressions changed.

They felt that doing something knowing it was impossible was exactly what they were talking about, and that perfectly described Xu Qing.

To change a country, to change the world, the hardships and difficulties are self-evident. Yet Xu Qing still resolutely chose this most difficult path, which is both admirable and touching.

"Therefore, I implore you all to help me; please come with me to Qin!"

Xu Qing bowed to everyone again.

Mr. Lu and the other doctors looked at Nian Duan, but Nian Duan avoided their gazes and looked away, a look of reminiscence and emotion on his face, as if he were thinking of something from the past.

Seeing this, everyone glanced at Xu Qing, then looked at the others, and the hesitation in their eyes gradually turned into determination.

Their abilities are not as good as Xu Qing's, but since Xu Qing is the deputy head of their medical family, they, as his disciples, certainly cannot let him walk alone on such a treacherous path. They cannot help Xu Qing much, but at the very least, they cannot let him bear everything alone.

"We are willing to go to Qin to save the lives of the people, as ordered by the Deputy Head of the Clan!" Elder Lu and the physicians said in unison, cupping their hands in respect.

Hearing what everyone said, Xu Qing's expression relaxed. Some of these people might be studying medicine for fame and fortune, but he believed that most of them did so because they had a kind heart.

"Thank you all. Today, I, Xu Qing, point to Mount Taiyi and swear to the ancestral master of medicine that I will never forget my original aspiration in this life, and lead the medical community to cure the world's stubborn diseases and eradicate the sores, and to create a good remedy for the world's suffering."

Xu Qing pointed to the top of Mount Taiyi and said righteously.

Seeing Xu Qing make such a vow, everyone looked at him with even greater respect. They believed that Xu Qing would be able to lead them to achieve the medical school's century-old goal, bring peace to the world, and ensure that all people could receive medical treatment.

"We swear to follow the deputy patriarch to the death!" the crowd shouted in unison.

Nian Duan looked at Xu Qing, who had successfully won over the medical community, a glint of light in her eyes, and a genuine smile appeared on her usually indifferent face.

She was right about him; Xu Qing was the one who could achieve the medical family's goals.

“Since none of you have any objections, I hereby announce that I will donate all the medical books passed down by the medical family to the medical academy that Xu Qing mentioned, free of charge,” Nian Duan said, standing up.

Xu Qing and the others looked surprised upon hearing this.

“Mr. Nian Duan, are you sure? This is the most precious inheritance of my family’s medical tradition.” A doctor asked.

"Are the lives of ordinary people less important than the legacy of medicine? As Xu Qing said, from the very beginning, medicine has never intended to keep its medical skills to itself. Only by opening its doors and passing on its skills can the way of medicine spread far and wide, and can it truly save the lives of ordinary people."

"Once the Medical Academy is established, I will personally go there to teach."

Nian Duan looked at everyone and said in a deep voice.

"On behalf of the Qin state and its people, I thank Mr. Nian Duan," Xu Qing said, bowing respectfully before anyone else could speak.

It's rare that Nian Duan was willing to give up his goal of practicing medicine throughout the world to teach at the Medical Academy. How could he possibly give the other party and the others a chance to back out?

Although Xu Qing understood that Nian Duan probably wouldn't stay in Qin for long, having such a true head of a medical family in charge would make teaching medical skills and cultivating medical ethics much more effective.

Seeing this, the others naturally didn't say anything. After all, they were also going to Qin. With Nian Duan and Xu Qing leading them, the medical community could unite as one and avoid infighting or being bullied by others.

"I just don't know how we should enter Qin in the future? What are the procedures?" asked Mr. Lu.

"I will write a letter shortly and send someone to Xianyang to deliver it to the King. As for my fellow disciples, if you wish to go to Xianyang now, I will arrange for Tianzong disciples to escort you."

"Once you all arrive in Xianyang, I believe His Majesty will certainly welcome you with open arms and treat you as honored guests," Xu Qing said with a smile.

Although Ying Zheng had previously issued a decree to recruit talented physicians to Qin, those who came were mostly ordinary doctors. If these renowned physicians had come to Qin, Ying Zheng would certainly have welcomed them with the highest honors.

Not only Ying Zheng, but it's estimated that Lü Buwei would also treat him to lavish meals and drinks for his medical edition of the Lüshi Chunqiu. Seeing this, the medical community members raised their questions about entering Qin, to which Xu Qing naturally answered each one, dispelling their concerns.

Duanmu Rong looked at Xu Qing, who was chatting and laughing with the medical family, and her cold expression softened a lot. Perhaps Xu Qing was not entirely what she thought. At the very least, he had really taken up the banner of the medical family and was helping her master to complete his life's pursuit.

"Although he has poor character and lacks manners, he is indeed a capable person."

Duanmu Rong looked at Xu Qing and made her own assessment in her heart.

After talking for an hour, Xu Qing finally dispelled everyone's doubts. After exchanging a few more polite words with Nian Duan and the others, he was able to leave the medical family's residence.

Walking along the mountain path of Taiyi Mountain, Xu Qing glanced at the sky and stopped.

"It's still early. Since we're already out, why not take the initiative to visit a few more families and try to bring more people from the Hundred Schools of Thought to Qin? Then we can expand the Medical Academy and build the Great Qin Academy, which can rival or even surpass the Jixia Academy."

After this thought came to Xu Qing's mind, a look of determination appeared in his eyes. He turned around and walked towards the Hundred Families' encampment, preparing to visit each of them one by one.

Mount Taiyi, the headquarters of the Mohist school.

Han Shen, carrying his sword, walked into the courtyard of the Six-Fingered Black Knight. Two or three Mohist leaders were chatting and laughing with their disciples. The group sat together without any distinction of rank or status.

Although the Mohist school had strict organizational rules, there was no discord between its disciples and leaders, after all, the Mohist school advocated universal love and equality for all.

"Brother Han Shen is back."

When Dao Zhi saw Han Shen return, he greeted him with a smile.

"Commander Han Shen!"

The disciples also greeted Han Shen.

"Hmm, where's the big boss?"

Han Shen nodded in response and then asked.

"The Grand Prince is talking to the Crown Prince of Yan in the backyard. Didn't the Grand Prince say that we're leaving in the next couple of days? So he wants to say something to the Crown Prince of Yan," Dao Zhi said, scratching his head.

"The Crown Prince of Yan has arrived."

The mere mention of Ji Dan made Han Shen feel uncomfortable; he harbored a great deal of resentment towards Ji Dan.

Although Ji Dan was highly regarded within the Mohist school, given his status as the Crown Prince of Yan, he not only did not discriminate against the Mohist disciples of humble origins, but also treated them with great respect, addressing them as brothers without any airs, embodying the chivalrous spirit of the Mohist school.

However, Han Shen always felt that Ji Dan's behavior was an act, not stemming from her true feelings.

Of course, Han Shen wasn't stupid. From the Six-Fingered Black Knight to the Mo Family disciples, everyone was very close to Ji Dan, so he naturally wouldn't reveal his thoughts and thus stand on the opposite side of everyone.

Instead, they secretly observed Ji Dan, and would immediately intervene to stop him if he did anything to harm the Mo family.

"Yes, Brother Han Shen, weren't you going out to prepare to leave Taiyi Mountain? Why did you suddenly come back?" Dao Zhi asked curiously.

"I heard some news, so I came to report to the Grand Master. You two continue your conversation, I'll go find the Grand Master."

After leaving a message, Han Shen walked towards the backyard.

Dao Zhi and the others didn't think much of it and continued to sit together chatting and laughing.

As Han Shen approached the backyard gate, he overheard the conversation between Six-Fingered Black Knight and Ji Dan inside, and stopped in his tracks.

"So you hope I can help you connect with the Imperial Physician and have him provide you with some protection in Xianyang?"

“If there were no other way, I would not have dared to trouble the Grand Master. Although the King of Qin and I were good friends in Handan, our views were completely opposite. I yearned for the world of universal love and non-aggression advocated by the Mohists, while the King of Qin yearned for the Legalists, believing that only severe punishments and harsh laws could maintain the stability of the country.”

"In Yan, I have always advocated cooperation with the other five states to resist Qin. Now that the King of Qin is willing to pay any price to send me to Qin as a hostage, I fear that this time I am in grave danger."

“I don’t care about my own life or death, but now the Yan state is in power with treacherous officials, the people are suffering, and there are many people who have been displaced.”

"As the crown prince of Yan, Ji Dan was unwilling to die in a foreign land before he could expel the treacherous officials, stabilize the people, and protect the country and its people."

Hearing Ji Dan's words, Han Shen's lips twitched involuntarily. To be able to make being afraid of death sound so noble, he truly deserved to be called the Crown Prince of Yan, who was good at winning people's hearts.

(End of this chapter)