My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 158 Mission
Seeing Li Xuanba sitting there, everyone immediately became a little reserved.

Li Xuanba asked with a smile, "Who was it that just asked whether the teachings of the sages could bring rain and ward off evil?"

One of them instantly turned terrified and hurriedly begged for forgiveness, "My lord! Spare me! I didn't know it was wrong to say that, I really didn't know!"

"Don't be alarmed, that's an excellent question."

Li Xuanba shook his head and explained, "Let me answer your question. Xunzi once said, 'The course of Heaven is constant; it does not exist for Yao, nor does it perish for Jie.' That is exactly what he was answering your question."

Everyone was still confused, so Li Xuanba continued to explain: "What he meant was very simple. He said that rain, drought, and all kinds of natural and man-made disasters are not something that people can control, and they will not change because of the status of the person in power. Even people like Yao and Shun will encounter misfortune, and even people like Jie and Zhou will not be punished for it. It is a matter that is not subject to human interference."

Therefore, the principles of sages cannot be used to pray for rain and ward off evil.

The laborers looked at each other in bewilderment. Li Xuanba continued, "However, by learning the principles of the sages, one can understand right and wrong, cultivate morality, and although one cannot avoid natural disasters, one can still strengthen one's resolve, withstand them, and know good fortune and misfortune, choosing auspicious times and avoiding calamity."

Unlike the previous man, Li Xuanba did not immediately begin lecturing on the Spring and Autumn Annals. After answering the laborer, he spoke of the most fundamental virtue of benevolence and the many moral principles of Confucianism. He cited examples from ancient times and recounted some interesting anecdotes with hidden meanings.

He spoke in very simple language, so the laborers could all understand what he was saying.

When talking about benevolence, he would talk about several benevolent and righteous rulers in ancient times; when talking about malevolence, he would talk about people like Jie and Zhou.

Everyone listened with great interest, as if it were a story.

Zhang Du and the others, standing some distance away, fell silent. The person who had been giving the lecture shook his head and muttered to Zhang Du, "This is hardly the wisdom of a sage. It's just anecdotes. What can one possibly learn from it?"

Zhang Du seemed to be deep in thought and did not answer him.

After Li Xuanba recounted several stories of benevolence and injustice, someone suddenly asked, "My lord, the sages all said that frequent corvée labor is an unjust act, so why is there such frequent corvée labor now? Don't they listen to the sages?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Qiusheng turned pale with fright. He quickly looked at Zhang Du, signaling Zhang Du to stop him.

Zhang Du ignored him, just standing there without saying a word.

Li Xuanba replied, "The teachings of the sages are not something that everyone can understand, nor can they all be said to be correct. As I just mentioned, there have always been many unrighteous people throughout history, but they usually do not have a good ending."

"Excessive corvée labor and harsh taxes are merely the most basic forms of inhumanity. In addition, there is the indiscriminate killing of virtuous officials, the favoritism towards sycophants, the chaos in officialdom, the rampant spread of treacherous officials, the widespread suffering of the people, and the desolation of nine out of ten households."

At that moment, Li Xuanba seemed to be possessed by Liu Xuan, and began to frantically criticize 'inhumanity'. He described the specific manifestations of inhumanity from multiple perspectives, and talked about the fate of those who had done such things in ancient times.

At this moment, the laborers stopped whispering and their previously smiling eyes changed.

Some clenched their fists, some silently shed tears, and some were clearly filled with resentment.

The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, with only Li Xuanba's voice growing louder.

Zhang Du and the others looked at him, and in a daze, it seemed as if they saw their teacher again. Back then, when they listened to Liu Xuan's crazy criticism, they felt indescribable anger, indescribable repression, and indescribable pain.

To their surprise, these illiterate commoners, who couldn't even write their own names, were now just like they had been back then. Their expressions and emotions showed anger and pain.
Even Qu Qiusheng, who had always felt fear, was now experiencing a rapid heartbeat.

He dared not listen to these things, and several times he was so frightened that he wanted to cover his ears. But Li Xuanba's words seemed to have a penetrating power, constantly drilling into his heart. Especially when he heard Li Xuanba say that "in the local areas, corrupt officials are in power and prey on the people, and in the passes, bandits guard the land and plunder merchants", he felt the same way.

Those officials were like robbers, constantly demanding things. Every time I passed through a checkpoint, they practically wanted to seize everything. I just wanted to do business peacefully, but they forced me to sell my possessions!

Without realizing it himself, Qu Qiusheng's eyes were also filled with resentment.

When Li Xuanba finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent. He slowly stood up and looked at the crowd. “Gentlemen,” he said, “the sages of ancient times traveled far and wide, learning from wise people and spreading their teachings to others. Although I cannot call myself a sage, I intend to emulate the ancients, to promote morality and educate the countryside. If you are interested, you can come and listen to my teachings in your spare time. There’s no harm in it.”

Li Xuanba led Zhang Du and the others back into the tent, while outside remained silent.

The laborers dispersed, but none of them spoke, and it was unclear what they were thinking.

Li Xuanba returned to his tent and instructed Zhang Du to have all his fellow disciples put down what they were doing and go to the courtyard.

Zhang Du didn't know what the lord meant, but he still did as he was told.

Soon, Li Xuanba received his fellow disciples in the courtyard.

Qu Qiusheng was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or leave, and stood awkwardly a short distance away.

Li Xuanba looked at everyone with a solemn expression. "I thought everyone already knew my good intentions. I asked you all to explain the sage's teachings not only for the sake of the laborers outside, but also for your sake."

"During the Former Han Dynasty, Confucian scholars throughout the land raised the banner of benevolence and righteousness, and aspired to educate and enlighten the world!"

"They either joined the army, governed, or debated; they knew agriculture and sericulture, and military affairs. What they did was all practical. During the Later Han Dynasty, metaphysics arose, and those who studied the classics were high above others, seemingly not eating grains, despising agriculture and sericulture, knowing nothing about commerce, and looking down on those skilled in warfare. They talked all day long, making things more and more mysterious, causing the world to fall into ruin, and there was no longer any ambition like that of the ancients!"

"After the Wei and Jin dynasties, it became even more so. Those who studied the classics drank wine, took medicine, and had nothing to do with the affairs of the world. They were dissolute and rude, thinking it was elegant. They did nothing but talk nonsense and were the scum of Confucianism!"

Li Xuanba cursed aloud, then looked at the crowd and said, "Don't you all want to follow the example of the Former Han Dynasty and take the world as your responsibility?"

"How can you all remain indifferent to such a momentous matter as educating the world?"

"Do you gentlemen not wish to emulate the great Confucian scholars of the Former Han Dynasty, but instead intend to follow the eccentric scholars of the Wei and Jin Dynasties?"

What Li Xuanba was referring to was the sense of mission of Confucian scholars during the Former Han Dynasty. Confucian scholars of that era were born with a sense of mission and honor to educate the world and enlighten it. They did not feel ashamed to work in the fields, nor did they look down on those who were good at fighting. They dared to go on missions to enemy countries and risk their lives to gain the upper hand in battle. They could even talk about business eloquently and write books to discuss it.

He hopes that his fellow students can all pick up this sense of mission and be pioneers for the world!
Zhang Du and the others exchanged glances.

They did not lack this sense of mission; even during the Wei and Jin dynasties, there were still virtuous men with a strong sense of mission.

They suddenly understood some of the lord's thoughts.
The man who had just been lecturing stood up, his eyes resolute, and declared, "I am willing to follow you, my lord, and take the world as my responsibility!"

The rest of the crowd rose to their feet.

"I am willing to take the world as my responsibility!!"

Qu Qiusheng stared at them blankly, his eyes vacant.

Just moments ago, Qu Qiusheng had been inwardly mocking Li Xuanba, thinking him too naive, treating all this as a game. But after hearing what Li Xuanba had said to the laborers, and now to his subordinates, Qu Qiusheng suddenly realized that the Marquis wasn't playing a game. He truly possessed the ambition of the ancients, wanting to genuinely change what was wrong.
Everyone left, leaving only Qu Qiusheng, Zhang Du, and Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba looked at the two of them, his emotions having calmed down considerably.

"This carriage is heading to Shangdang."

"My lord, I will go back and begin preparations. I will first inspect the goods, then determine the required carriages and manpower, and then inform Lord Zhang that we can depart within three days."

Qu Qiusheng replied.

(End of this chapter)