I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 397 Stealing the Emperor's Job?
Liu Miao, holding a plate of green and white walnuts that had somehow ended up on the table, asked Li Hui, "Are there really that many people in Shu who believe in the Five Pecks of Rice sect?"

"They valued fasting and rituals, praying for blessings and warding off disasters, exorcising evil spirits, and performing rituals to help the deceased pass on... The key point is that after Zhang Lu occupied Hanzhong, he also reformed the system, that is, believers who joined the Five Pecks of Rice sect only needed to pay five pecks of rice, and he also established charitable houses, which were filled with rice and meat, and provided free of charge to travelers. Therefore, the people still had a lot of faith in him."

It's more than just being convinced.
According to Li Hui, many people in Shu had secretly crossed the Micang Mountains to Hanzhong to pay homage to Zhang Lu. Even many scholars from powerful families believed in the Five Pecks of Rice sect. Therefore, Zhang Lu's status was far beyond what could be summarized as "Prefect of Hanzhong"!

Zhang Daoling, Zhang Heng, Zhang Lu.

After three generations of hard work, especially with Zhang Lu gaining control of secular power, the Five Pecks of Rice sect had essentially achieved theocracy in Hanzhong. Therefore, Li Hui did not believe that they should distance themselves from Zhang Lu at this time!
Liu Miao then asked, "Why do the people so devoted to the Five Pecks of Rice sect?"

"Forehead……"

Li Hui wasn't unaware of the answer to this question; it was simply that the question was too embarrassing for these officials and scholars under the rule of Confucianism.

Why would ordinary people believe in the Way of Peace and the Five Pecks of Rice sect? Isn't it simply because the government can no longer be trusted?
Zhang Jiao once used the method of "kneeling and bowing, using talismans and incantations" to cure diseases.

Regardless of whether this thing is actually useful or not.

At least the Taiping followers at that time could actually boil some hot water or even cook some herbs for sick people!
The same commoner can have a bowl of hot water at the Taiping Religion, but if he just glances at the government officials, he'll be beaten and driven away by those officials who are "too kind-hearted and can't stand the poor." If you were in their shoes, who would you choose?

The same applies to the transmission of Taoist teachings by Zhang Daoling.

As for Zhang Lu, he even used five pecks of rice to build a charitable shelter! He truly allowed those people who were about to starve to have a full meal!
Li Hui's face flushed, but in the end he could only say, "They are probably no different from the Yellow Turban followers of the past."

Upon hearing this, Liu Miao immediately nodded: "I understand."

"I will go to bathe and change my clothes now, and tell Zhang Wei to give me a proper lecture on the scriptures."

Upon hearing Liu Miao's instructions, Li Hui breathed a sigh of relief!

Since Liu Miao has this attitude, it is clear that he would not go against the Dao!
In other words... his own words should have been quite to Liu Miao's liking!
……

Li Hui went to invite Zhang Wei over. When Zhang Wei heard that Liu Miao actually wanted to listen to his lecture, his breathing immediately became rapid!

The current emperor of the Han Dynasty is notoriously averse to Confucian classics! He hasn't even established a Confucian classics professorship in the central government, yet now he's willing to listen to his lectures…

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Wei's mind in an instant! Each thought filled him with both excitement and anticipation!

Could it be that... Taoism could rise again after suffering such a devastating blow from the Taiping Taoism?
Zhang Wei was extremely uneasy as he followed Li Hui to a side hall with several oil lamps burning.

"His Majesty is still bathing, please wait a moment."

"Nature! Natural!"

Zhang Wei hurriedly reviewed the Taoist classics in his mind, afraid that he might mispronounce a single word and cause Liu Miao to misunderstand Taoism.

The candlelight flickered uneasily, illuminating the faces of everyone in the hall.

Zhang Wei became increasingly nervous.

Li Hui, trying to calm his mind.

Zhou Tai, who had nothing to do.

Chen Wu remained vigilant at all times.

There were also Lü Meng and Lu Yi, whose clear eyes had been temporarily dragged in to attend the lecture...

【clang!】

A crisp bell rang, followed by a fragrant breeze.

The Emperor of Han Dynasty emerges from his bath!

Zhang Wei's heart, which had calmed down, became uneasy again, but then his voice arrived before he did!
"Practice until your body is as graceful as a crane's, and you can read two volumes of scriptures beneath a thousand pine trees."

"I came to ask the question, but there was nothing more to say; the clouds are in the blue sky, and the water is in the bottle!"

"..."

Liu Miao emerged from behind the palace. The assembled officials, having no time to ponder the meaning of the poem, immediately bowed to Liu Miao.

"Today we will not discuss court affairs, but only classical studies."

Today, Liu Miao deliberately raised his voice, making it difficult even for those close to him to understand his current state, let alone Zhang Wei, who had never met Liu Miao before.

"You are Zhang Daoling's grandson?"

"Your subject is indeed..."

As soon as Liu Miao recited those two cryptic lines of poetry, Zhang Wei's mental defenses, which he had been so determined to defend, instantly collapsed into ruins. He lay flat and waited for Liu Miao's orders.

"What was the foundation of Zhang Daoling's Taoism?"

"My grandfather revered Laozi as the ancestor of Taoism, regarded the 'Laozi Five Thousand Characters' as the highest classic, and took the 'Laozi Xiang'er Commentary' as the foundation."

"I have read Laozi's Tao Te Ching, and you can then explain the Laozi Xiang'er Commentary to me."

"Here!"

At this moment, Zhang Wei didn't seem like a teacher lecturing on scriptures, but rather like a child reciting scriptures in front of a teacher. He wasn't stuttering, but he really lacked confidence.

"The Tao is the origin of all things under heaven. All things contain the essence of the Tao, and they arise together at the beginning of their existence..."

"Heaven and earth resemble the Dao, which is benevolent towards all good and unbenevolent towards all evil. Therefore, it does not love the evil, but regards it as straw or worthless livestock..."

As Zhang Wei lectured on the "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary," he also kept raising his eyes to carefully observe Liu Miao.

But Liu Miao remained motionless, which made Zhang Wei admire Liu Miao's composure. He continued to speak for nearly two hours, his mouth dry, but he dared not drink a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

Zhou Tai couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he carefully poked Liu Miao and said, "Your Majesty! Wake up!"

"Slurp!" Liu Miao slurped up the saliva from the corner of his mouth, then met Zhang Wei's slightly embarrassed gaze...

"cough!"

Liu Miao coughed, immediately urging the others who were drowsy to sit up straight!

"Zhang Wei, let me ask you, what is the meaning of the poem I recited when I first arrived?"

"..."

Zhang Wei immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Your subject is ignorant and does not understand the profound meaning!"

Liu Miao waved his hand and said, "I didn't actually understand what you were saying about the Daoist scriptures. So let me ask you, am I also extremely ignorant?"

brush!
Zhang Wei's back was instantly soaked with sweat!

Visibly, a large amount of sweat condensed on Zhang Wei's head and then slammed heavily onto the ground, like water gushing out of a broken bottle!
For a moment, Zhang Wei stammered and couldn't answer!

It was Li Hui who spoke up and helped Zhang Wei out.

"Just answer whatever Your Majesty asks."

Now that things have come to this point, and Zhang Wei is being asked to preach, how could Liu Miao possibly kill Zhang Wei now?
With Li Hui's guidance, Zhang Wei finally calmed down and answered Liu Miao's question.

"It is not that Your Majesty is foolish, but that I am foolish and cannot make Your Majesty understand."

How could a student make a mistake?
This was especially true when the student was still the emperor!
The only one who could be wrong is the teacher! It's because the teacher didn't understand it properly!

However, Liu Miao was clearly not satisfied with Zhang Wei's answer, and even went so far as to pursue and "kill" Zhang Wei.

"Alright, then tell me slowly and clearly what this Taoist scripture is."

"..."

Zhang Wei said nervously, “Heaven and earth have a Dao that is refined. This refined essence is likened to the water in a pool. The body is the dam that seals the pool, and good deeds are the source of the water. If these three are complete, the pool will be completely secure. If the heart is not focused on goodness, and there is no dam to seal it, the water will surely flow away.”

Liu Miao nodded: "What is Dao Jing?"

Zhang Wei: "The Dao is deified; the Dao is Laozi, and Laozi is the Dao."

Liu Miao: "What is the Way?"

Zhang Wei: "Heavens..."

In an instant, Zhang Wei seemed to have been struck by lightning! His pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints!
What is Tao?
Heaven is the Way!
But how can a mere Taoist sect explain the heavens?

If Taoism can explain the heavens, then what is the emperor doing? What is the Confucian school, which advocates the interaction between heaven and humanity, doing?

Isn't this stealing someone else's job?
To explain the Dao is to explain Heaven!
To try to usurp the emperor's authority and seize the right to interpret the heavens is nothing short of courting death.
At this moment, Zhang Wei was trembling so badly that his whole body was shaking like a sieve!

To challenge the emperor's interpretation of Heaven? That's like a beggar suddenly running up to the respected General Yuan Shu and claiming to be the legitimate son of the Yuan family of Runan! It's no wonder Yuan Shu would chop him to pieces!
Zhang Wei's limbs were numb, and his gaze was fixed blankly on Zhou Tai, as if he could see the large knife at Zhou Tai's waist ready to slash at his head at any moment...

"I am asking you! What is the Way?"

Liu Miao seemed determined to drive Zhang Wei to his death, continuing to press him for answers!
Zhang Wei's face turned deathly pale.

If he could, he would want to roll his eyes and faint right now!

Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Zhang Wei made a snap decision: "Heaven is the way!"

As he shouted those words, Zhang Wei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief!
come on!

Kill me!
Anyway, I'm not going to live anymore!

But when faced with Zhang Wei's fearless attitude, Liu Miao chuckled lightly.

When that laughter reached Zhang Wei's ears, it was even more terrifying than the voice of a demon from the deepest hell!
Liu Miao hasn't given up torturing him yet!
As expected, Liu Miao continued his pursuit—

"Then, what is the sky?"

I do not know!
I really don't know!!!
Zhang Wei is going crazy!

It was only then that he realized what Taoism and the Five Pecks of Rice sect were actually doing!
They are vying with the Confucianists! They are vying with the emperor for the right to interpret Heaven!
This is not something they can touch!
Your Majesty! I beg you!
Stab me to death!
Right now! Stab me to death with one sword!

Zhang Wei's eyes were resolute!

All he wanted now was for Liu Miao to give him a quick death so he wouldn't have to suffer like this anymore!

Liu Miao saw Zhang Wei lying on the ground, his eyes rolling back like a dead fish, and immediately felt a little bored.

If Zhang Lu had already achieved the union of politics and religion, he probably wouldn't have acted like this in front of me!

Seeing this, Liu Miao could only offer Zhang Wei a word of advice—

"Dong Zhongshu proposed the concept of the interaction between Heaven and Man, believing that Heaven could influence human affairs and foretell disasters and auspicious omens, and that human behavior could also influence Heaven."

"Based on the Spring and Autumn Annals, the subsequent prophetic and apocryphal theology became increasingly mysterious... But the prophetic and apocryphal teachings have been around for two hundred years, and too many people do not believe in them."

"It is clear that Dong Zhongshu's perception of Heaven was wrong. I originally thought Zhang Daoling knew something, but... alas!"

Faced with Liu Miao's obvious final taunt, Zhang Wei suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as you don't torture yourself or kill yourself, it's perfectly acceptable to curse a few times!
However, after pondering Liu Miao's words, Zhang Wei suddenly looked up, staring at Liu Miao in disbelief.

What does it mean?
Zhang Wei's chest pounded!
Unlike the fear he felt earlier, Zhang Wei was now in a state of complete confusion, overwhelmed by happiness!
A thought suddenly and logically appeared in his mind.

"Could it be that His Majesty intends to use the Dao to explain Heaven?"

(End of this chapter)