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

Chapter 226 Destiny
As the sun sets and the mountain wind blows cold, Mount Li is shrouded in mist and clouds, making its towering main peak seem to float in the sky.

The observatory is square, surrounded by parapets as high as the city walls, with colorful flags flying on the crenellations. To the north are three stone houses, enough to withstand any wind and rain.

The two astrological masters occupied one room for regulating their vital energy, Liu Che occupied another room, and the other room served as a washroom for Liu Che to bathe and cleanse himself.

As dusk settled, Dong Zhongshu and Wuqiu Shouwang, who were waiting in front of the washroom, listened to the sounds of His Majesty and Lady Li laughing and joking coming from inside. They felt a strange mix of emotions.

This is a place to revere Heaven and honor ancestors, to pray for divine secrets; yet His Majesty's energy remains frighteningly vigorous.

“My esteemed teacher,” Wuqiu Shouwang suddenly spoke.

Dong Zhongshu looked at him, "Hmm?"

Their eyes met, and Wuqiu Shouwang asked, "Does my teacher still remember how Qu Xue A Shi felt when he returned to the capital from Jiaoxi Kingdom and was summoned by His Majesty, and saw His Majesty and Lady Wang in the inner palace?"

Dong Zhongshu was stunned.

He couldn't help but recall that in order to escape the ridiculous assassination attempt by Liu Duan, the King of Jiaoxi, and to leave the Jiaoxi Kingdom, he had to find the unshakable legal principle for the Crown Prince's position in the Spring and Autumn Annals. That was the first time he "sold his knowledge" and became a person like Gongsun Hong who twisted his learning to flatter the world.

The Emperor trusted Gongsun Hong, and soon after, he was "demoted back to the capital." Then, there was a change in the court, and the Grand Master Zhuang Zhu risked his life to recommend him. The Emperor set up a "test" in the inner palace.

Watching His Majesty and Lady Wang play together.

He will probably never forget that feeling of having a fishbone stuck in his throat, a thorn in his back, or feeling like he's standing on pins and needles.

Unwilling to be "enslaved" by imperial power, he fled the inner palace before His Majesty finished his business. Afterwards, His Majesty granted him the seemingly important position of Imperial Censor, one of the Three Dukes of the Outer Court.

When was he enslaved by imperial power?

Perhaps it was during the Northern Army when the Emperor exposed his secret instigation of Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, to commit suicide at the execution ground, revealing his plot for a "Confucian Empire," and mocking him as a villain. As the future Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, he indicated that he did not support the rise of Confucianism, such as the Guliang School and the Gongyang School.

Ironically, Liu Sheng's suicide, the emperor's apology, and the young ruler's ascension to the throne were all part of a scheme he orchestrated to better implement his plans, but they turned into the beginning of a period of suffering for the entire Confucian school.

The ruler's wisdom borders on the supernatural, and with the old scoundrel Gongsun Hong assisting him, not only have all his schemes come to naught, but they have also always developed in the worst possible direction, leading to the situation we have today.

The greatest Confucian scholar of his time, Dong Zhongshu, followed Confucius's teaching of "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits." Perhaps it was because he was standing on this platform that reached the heavens, so close to the heavens, that Dong Zhongshu suddenly felt the power of destiny.

Since Confucius founded Confucianism, this dynasty can be considered the best era for Confucianism.

The unification under the Qin and Han dynasties ensured the safety of Confucianism's development and prevented Confucian scholars from being killed by angry members of other schools of thought when they tried to steal ideas from them.

As you may recall, during the period of shared merit, members of the Hundred Schools of Thought plundered everything belonging to the Confucianists, but due to the majesty of the laws of the Han Dynasty, they could only try to starve the Confucian scholars to death, rather than directly killing them.

If this happened during the Spring and Autumn or Warring States period, the actions of Confucian scholars would have condemned them to death eight hundred times over. Of course, even in chaotic times, Confucian scholars would not have acted in such a way.

In short, the unified China provided fertile ground for the rapid development of Confucianism, which fertilized itself with the wisdom of various schools of thought.

The arrival of centralized power provided Confucianism with a vast new horizon, as the traditional Legalist or Daoist approaches to governance could no longer meet the needs of China's development. What truly gave Confucianism a chance to flourish was the emergence of a progressive emperor in the Han Dynasty after Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Empress Lü, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing. His Majesty Liu Che firmly chose Confucianism, undertaking attempts to promote it, and the Gongyang School became a prominent school of thought.

In just twenty years, Confucianism squeezed out most of the other schools of thought, gradually gaining influence and even impersonating the emperor to wield power and recruit numerous disciples.

If it weren't for the saying "a son is not like his father," if the emperor's favor towards the Guliang family hadn't changed, and if there were no emperor and Your Majesty had continued to rule, in another thirty years, even without a "learning empire," Confucianism would still be an unshakeable force.

Centuries later, the Han dynasty may perish, but Confucianism will endure and shine brightly in the history of China.

However, there are no "what ifs." At the most crucial juncture in the rise of Confucianism, the emperor's change of heart instantly turned this dynasty into the worst era for Confucianism.

A single blow devastated the Confucian school, leaving it bankrupt, losing its sacred ground, killing its holy clan, and plunging it into a crisis of survival.

During this period, for his own sake and for the sake of Confucianism, Dong Zhongshu could only go with the flow and get used to the emperor's "way of trusting him".

At this moment, when his student posed a soul-searching question, Dong Zhongshu suddenly felt even more ashamed and indignant than before.

"It seems my mentor still remembers."

Seeing Dong Zhongshu's embarrassment and awkwardness, Wuqiu Shouwang asked softly, "Does my mentor still believe that what he did was right?"

Everyone says that the emperor's civil and military achievements were stolen from His Majesty, but battle reports can lie, but the front lines cannot.

During His Majesty's reign, domestically, the emperor, his ministers, officials, and the people were all united; externally, the victories outweighed the defeats. Overall, it was a "hot land" and a "barbaric" one.

During the reign of a wise ruler, domestically, the relationship between the ruler and his ministers was harmonious, and the relationship between officials and the people was peaceful. Roads were built, bridges were constructed, mountains were cleared, canals were built, and fields were reclaimed... His achievements benefited the present and future generations.

Externally, we achieved victory after victory, annihilating the Western Xiongnu, severely damaging the Han Sea, demolishing the Ten Thousand Mountains, and pacifying the southwestern barbarians... This displayed our national power and is an achievement for all ages.

It is "the field of hope" and "the majesty of the holy king".

It would have been absolutely impossible for Your Majesty to achieve this during the Yuan Shou era, because Your Majesty never showed the world the determination to solve problems; Your Majesty only dealt with those who raised the problems!
"the last time!"

Dong Zhongshu pondered for a moment, looked into the eyes of Wuqiu Shouwang, and slowly recited: "Great was the Duke of Zhou, truly wise and martial. The feudal lords of Lu greatly expanded your domain. Respectfully enlighten your advisors, and be cautious in your demeanor. Many talented men were gathered, and their virtuous hearts were broadened. Protect the east, and the state of Lu will be secure. Restore the domain of the Duke of Zhou, and all the people will be at peace."

This is the "Ode to Lu".

Twenty-four years after Duke Qing of Lu, the entire royal family of Lu fell into ruin and scattered. Confucian scholars shared their grief and vowed to "restore the state of Lu and restore the Zhou rites."

The state of Lu is no longer attainable, but the rites of Lu are what Confucian scholars tirelessly pursue. The state of Han can also be a Lu. Restoring the Zhou rites in the Han dynasty is nothing more than pursuing the great principles.

"I have never forgotten the teachings of the sages. This is the last time. I will leave it to fate. If the plan succeeds, the mandate of heaven rests on Confucianism. If the plan fails, the mandate of heaven does not rest on Confucianism. I am willing to leave the country alone and never return to China in this life. I earnestly hope that Zigan will help me to make this happen!" Dong Zhongshu's eyes revealed a resolute look.

This battle is the final battle!

(End of this chapter)