A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 200 Return
The autumn wind is bleak.

Dong Zhongshu's deeply lined face was full of worries and anxieties from years of hardship; even in his sixties, he showed no signs of composure.

Wuqiu Shouwang was stunned for a moment, thinking that the Kong family's westward escape had shaken the Confucian sage in people's hearts and aroused Dong Zhongshu's dissatisfaction. Or perhaps Dong Zhongshu was worried that the arrival of the Kong family would affect his position in the emperor's heart. He tactfully advised, "Teacher, the Kong family members are also human beings and must live."

The Confucius family never left Qufu. If the disciples of the Hundred Schools of Thought attacked, the outcome would probably not be much better than that of the Er family or the Dong family.

The Zhisheng family was a large clan with several thousand members. If they relied on begging and charity to survive, it would be easy for people to starve to death.

By abandoning the capital and hunting westward in advance, thus avoiding being plundered by the disciples of various schools of thought, he preserved the dignity of the Supreme Sage's family and also maintained the possibility of making a comeback. In his view, there was nothing wrong with this.

Dong Zhongshu knew his student had misunderstood, but he didn't explain. Instead, he said, "No one from the Kong family will survive outside Qufu!"

"Teacher, where should I begin?"

Wuqiu Shouwang was very puzzled, but Dong Zhongshu pointed to the sky and continued, "The Supreme Ruler can make the Kong family die, but if the Supreme Ruler wants the Kong family to die, whether in Qufu or not, the Kong family will not survive."

In this world, if a ruler wants someone to live, he may not be able to do so completely, but if he wants someone to die, he simply cannot bring them back to life.

Take teachers as an example. They can only survive by staying by His Majesty's side and relying on the protection of the Azure Dragon.

Wuqiu Shouwang said with a sigh, "Your Majesty has never targeted Confucianism, much less would you slaughter thousands of descendants of the sages in order to suppress Confucianism. Teacher, you are overthinking it."

Although they were “enemies,” he had to admit that the ruler always presented himself as benevolent and forgiving. At times, he felt that the ruler’s benevolence and forgivingness was almost weakness. How could such a sage and virtuous ruler possibly order the slaughter of the most holy family?
"If the ruler won't do something, can't others do it too?"

"If the teacher is referring to the Crown Prince's ministers, then it's even more impossible. The experience in history books is there; the mistakes of subordinates will always be attributed to their lord. I believe that His Majesty would not resort to such self-deception."

"madness!"

Dong Zhongshu's old face flushed slightly, but his anger overshadowed it. "Does my Confucian school have no other enemies?"

The whole world is an enemy.

This was originally the Confucian understanding of other existences. The Confucian school was determined to defeat all existences and create a "Confucian world," and for hundreds of years, the Confucian school has been doing just that.

Suppressing other ideas, killing other disciples, integrating and absorbing the essence of other schools of thought... This is how Confucianism views the world, and the world naturally views Confucianism in the same way. The world is an enemy, and it is mutual.

Even during the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, Confucianism was not at such a disadvantage, so there was no need to worry about what the enemies would do. Now it's different; nothing is easier than kicking someone when they're down.

Dong Zhongshu was ashamed and annoyed that his disciples did not have a clear understanding of the current situation of Confucianism, and he could not even leave a fig leaf for himself.

"The Hundred Schools of Thought?"

Wuqiu Shouwang's heart tightened and then relaxed. He shook his head and said, "The Supreme Sage Family's westward hunt was very swift and extremely secretive. By the time the various schools of thought reacted, they had already arrived in Nanyang. In the land of the Crouching Dragon, who would dare to act rashly?"

The Confucius family deliberately chose to travel along side roads, never stopping for a moment. They could travel 120 li in a day and night, almost at the speed of a forced march. They could reach Wan in ten days. This time difference meant that the other schools of thought would not have enough time to retaliate.

"If Zhang Tang weren't in the court."

"If Zhang were not in the court..."

Wuqiu Shouwang subconsciously repeated Dong Zhongshu's words, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

No matter how well the Kong family disguised themselves or how secretive their route was, as long as they didn't travel entirely through mountains and rivers, they would be noticed. With the ability of the Imperial Censor to directly investigate, a little investigation would reveal the whole story, and a message would be sent to the capital.

As a legal official, Zhang Tang could not possibly give up this opportunity to "expose the sage." Even if he didn't take action himself, he could get the various schools of thought to do so.

King Wuqiu Shou's forehead was covered in sweat.

Seeing that his disciple understood, Dong Zhongshu asked directly, "Where is the carriage?" "Here."

Wuqiu Shouwang produced a map, which was sent by the Kong family with a letter. The starting point and the destination were certain, but there were several routes. Even the Kong family themselves could not determine which way they would go, but Dong Zhongshu noticed a serious problem.

In order to reach their destination as quickly as possible, the Kong family's routes were basically all from Lu to Yu. What's more, there was a common intersection point before entering Wan.

Chen Cai!

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius was invited by King Zhao of Chu to go to Chu. When he and his disciples passed through the border between the states of Chen and Cai, they were besieged. Confucius and his disciples were trapped in the wilderness for seven days. During this time, their food supplies ran out, and many of his disciples fell ill and could not get up.

Confucian scholars refer to this as "the famine in Chen and Cai" or "the calamity in Chen".

Whether out of mourning for their ancestors or due to a momentary oversight, the Kong family made the route between Chen and Cai an unavoidable passage.

"How many days has the Kong family been on their westward hunt?"

"Eight days..."

Wuqiu Shouwang's face was pale.

If the timing is correct, the Kong family's caravan is currently located between Chen and Cai.

"Teacher, should we send someone to rescue them?"

"That's too late."

Dong Zhongshu sighed, "Let's see what fate holds for the Kong family. May the sage protect them."

Like Gongsun Hong, Dong Zhongshu, who worked hard to make the Gongyang School a prominent school of thought, did not pay much attention to his "own school." Although he tried to elevate Confucius to the highest position and strived for the legend that "if Heaven had not given birth to Confucius, the world would have been in darkness forever," the Confucius family was always seen as a lucky charm in their eyes.

Now, the mascot may be dying!
It would be a lie to say that Dong Zhongshu wasn't upset, but what was even more upsetting was that the mascot had abandoned the "holy land" ahead of time.

If the mascot can survive this ordeal, there is still a possibility of rebuilding this sacred place in Nanyang. If not... from now on, Confucian scholars will have no home.

Dong Zhongshu lamented, "Why do people with little intelligence always like to be hyperactive?"

With the system of shared merit, the Western Hunt of the Holy Clan... and with this bunch of fools, when will we ever be able to revitalize Confucianism?

……

As the sun set, the Kong family's caravan rumbled past the Xiange Terrace. In their haste, the Kong family members didn't even get off the cars. Kong Yannian, Kong Anguo, and others stood on the cars and bowed several times towards the place where their ancestors had suffered, praying for their ancestors' blessings. As they did so, tears streamed down their faces.

"The rites and music have collapsed, and the earthenware pots are resounding with thunder."

High banks become valleys, and deep valleys become hills.
My people are filled with sorrow; cries of grief are heard everywhere.

Thinking of my Great Harmony, it seems like a grand dream.
Where does destiny lead? A wanderer adrift on the four seas.

As they entered the nameless valley, Kong Anguo danced with his sword on the mule cart, his sleeves fluttering and the sword gleaming. Then he sang a long song, a song filled with tragic disillusionment.

The members of the Confucius family stood solemnly, chanting in a low, desolate voice: "Where does Heaven's mandate lead? We drift aimlessly across the four seas..."

On the mountainside, the Mohists and other righteous individuals gathered, and upon hearing the song, declared, "Now we will send you to your deaths!"

Logs and boulders surged down the steep hillside like a tidal wave, while iron arrowheads whistled sharply as they rained down like a torrential downpour.

Such debates on scholarship have always been like this!
(End of this chapter)