I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 538 My Father is a Third Duke
The Taoist priest should just give me a proper lecture on "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao"! What are you spouting now?
Cui Yan looked around in confusion.

Seeing that most of the people had the same bewildered look in their eyes, he finally felt relieved.

fortunately.

If the common people of the Han Dynasty could understand what this Taoist priest was saying, what would Hebei have to fight against the Han Dynasty with? They might as well just surrender!

But this did not make Cui Yan feel any better.

in contrast.

He knew that with the current influence of Taoism, combined with the Han government's emphasis on education, the quality of the Han people would be terrifyingly high in the future!
In comparison, he, who had only studied for a few years and followed Zheng Xuan for less than a year, was probably going to be immediately crushed on the beach by the surging tide of the Han people.
"Liu Miao... he's terrifying!"

Isn't he afraid of a rebellion?
Those generals who held imperial power on the border.

Those three leaders were elected spontaneously.

And then there are these Taoist priests who actually managed to share some of the power with the government…

What made Cui Yan even more desperate was that, with Liu Miao's wisdom, couldn't he have guessed that these things would inevitably pose a threat to his power?
However, Liu Miao still chose to do so.

Was it because Liu Miao was too arrogant?
Or was it that Liu Miao cared about something else more than his own power?

Cui Yan couldn't help but think of the edict Liu Miao issued when he ascended the throne—

"The people are chosen by Heaven!"

I initially thought this was just a piece of nonsense Liu Miao found in historical records, something he used and then tossed aside to gather dust in some obscure corner. But now it seems... that might not be the case?
Originally, Cui Yan intended to go to Xiangyang to have in-depth exchanges with those famous scholars and Confucianists.

But seeing the things in the Han Dynasty that were so different from those in Hebei, Cui Yan finally put aside his plans and instead chose to chat with a group of Taoist priests in the temple.

Originally, most of these Taoist priests were unwilling to pay attention to Cui Yan, but when Cui Yan expressed his willingness to donate 100 taels of gold, they all beamed with joy, making Cui Yan's lips twitch.

Sure enough, not all the big men are good...

Why did you decide to become a Taoist priest?

"There's no way out for them!"

These words startled Cui Yan.

"Didn't the Han Dynasty distribute land equally among all its people? Weren't you also given land through this system?"

"They've assigned me to the deep mountains and forests of Jingnan! I don't want to go!"

"..."

Cui Yan was speechless: "Is that even possible? Doesn't the government force you to go?"

"Of course!"

Out of consideration for the hundred gold coins, the Taoist priest was relatively patient with Cui Yan.

"After learning that I was not going, the government gave me a sum of money, saying it was for buying land, and explained to me that the land redistribution would have nothing to do with me anymore."

"That's a lot of money?"

"A pitifully small amount! It was all spent in less than six months!"

"Then why did you..."

Cui Yan didn't understand.

That's the land that so many people dream of! And this person is willing to give it up for a little money?

However, Cui Yan quickly realized what was happening.

What's the difference between this person and myself back then, when I refused to become a soldier?
Cui Yan also felt somewhat guilty.

He previously criticized Shen Pei, saying he was meddling too much.

Now it's my turn, and I'm making the same mistake...

However, Cui Yan was even more curious: "So, people like you have all become Taoist priests?"

The other person shook his head.

“I only heard Master talk about the Tao once, and I found it interesting, so I chose to take refuge.”

"Most of the rest went to Wenchangmen School, and after completing their studies, they went directly to the workshops."

After learning about these people's backgrounds, Cui Yan suddenly understood.

But he still found it strange.

"In the Han Dynasty, are the common people really this undisciplined?"

"What if someone doesn't want to farm, doesn't want to study Taoism, and doesn't want to work in a workshop?"

Upon hearing this question, the Taoist priest in front of him gave a strange look.

Then, pointing to those receiving the porridge, he asked, "You mean them?"

Cui Yan was speechless.

"Isn't this just fostering laziness? With so many useless people, is the government really doing nothing about it?"

"Snapped!"

The other party pulled a scripture from his sleeve with lightning speed and slammed it on the table.

“Benefactor, this is where you are wrong.”

"According to the teachings of the *Tao Te Ching*, all things possess the Tao, and humans are also vessels of the Tao. Since they are the Tao, there is no such thing as usefulness or uselessness." "Moreover..."

The Taoist priest glanced casually at the valuable jade pendant hanging from Cui Yan's waist.

"Why is it that those scions of noble families who never work, only indulging in pleasure and bullying men and women, are not called lazybones?"

"On the other hand, ordinary people not only do not seek pleasure, but also abide by the law. Just because they don't want to work, should we call them lazy or useless?"

"..."

My head hurts so much! I feel like something's growing inside me!
Cui Yan, a scion of a wealthy family who had once sponged off his parents until he was almost thirty, nervously hid his jade pendant before explaining in a less-than-confident tone, "But they still have to survive."

"Aren't we and the government here?"

"I understand the sources of the government's funds and provisions, but where do yours come from?"

The Taoist priest pointed to the hundred taels of gold donated by Cui Yan, the significance of which was self-evident.

"The names of all donors will be engraved in the Taoist temple for people to appreciate and praise!"

Love or fame and fortune?

The Taoist's words nearly made Cui Yanlei burn inside and out.

When I first encountered Taoism, I thought it referred to immortals who were detached from worldly affairs...

But now it seems that this place is the most utilitarian!
but.

If we don't act out of self-interest, how can we afford to provide porridge and feed people?

Money and supplies are the foundation of everything!

As Cui Yan gradually came to realize this, she reaffirmed her belief.

The Han Dynasty did many things well, not because Liu Miao was a saint, nor because the officials of the Han Dynasty were more capable and virtuous than those of Hebei.

Ultimately, the most crucial factor was that the Han Dynasty had money and grain!
But where did the Han Dynasty's money and provisions come from?

During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Cui Yan also traveled to Jingzhou.

But at that time, Jingzhou was no different from Hebei, and was even worse.

Ultimately, it might still be those workshops and the Champa rice that the Iraqi brought back from the south...

With these thoughts in mind, Cui Yan exchanged ideas with many people before setting off again for Xiangyang, the most prosperous place in the Central Plains at that time!
Located north of Hanzhong and Guanzhong, south of Jingnan and Jiaozhi, east of Nanjing, and west of Shu, its unique geographical advantages, along with the large number of Confucian scholars left behind by Liu Biao, directly made it a cultural center that brought together various cultures!
As soon as Cui Yan entered Xiangyang, he felt that the academic atmosphere here was very strong, completely different from other places!

Along both sides of the road, scholars could be seen sitting on the ground, gathering in twos and threes under the shade of trees, just like the sages of the Spring and Autumn period, discussing and debating some remarks that even Cui Yan found astonishing.

The writings of Mencius and Xunzi are profound in reasoning and elegant in language!
The essays by Guan Zhong and Yan Ying are based on concrete facts and refined language!
Lie Yukou's book is magnificent and full of extraordinary style!
Zou Zi's words are extravagant in spirit and grand in style!
Mozi followed the nest, his meaning was clear and his words were simple!
Shi Jiao and Wei Liao were skilled in martial arts but dull in literature!
With its long, flowing crest, it urgently utters profound words!

Guiguzi is elusive, each link containing profound mysteries!
……

Even the "Interaction Between Heaven and Man," which Emperor Liu Miao famously disliked, can be discussed at length here!

Holy Land!

This is absolutely a sacred place for scholars!
At the same time, Cui Yan also vaguely understood why Liu Miao chose to do this in Xiangyang instead of doing it in Jinling.

If this were truly in Nanjing, right under the emperor's nose, how could they have such an open conversation?
At this moment, Cui Yan truly understood what it meant to be "too busy to be in two places at once"!
He now wishes he could be cut into dozens of pieces and go discuss and learn with these scholars!

In Xiangyang, he truly experienced the splendor of the Jixia Academy before the Qin Dynasty!

"Based on this alone, Liu Miao is worthy of being called a sage ruler!"

Consequently, Cui Yan's evaluation of Liu Miao also changed.

Men are just like that! They might be a little lecherous and a little rude!

She's not his wife, and she doesn't sleep with him, so why should she care about his private affairs?
For a time, Cui Yan was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of information and had no idea where to begin learning about the Han Dynasty or Xiangyang.

Fortunately, there were already post stations set up in Xiangyang specifically for scholars like him.

Of course, paying money is unavoidable.

However, in Cui Yan's opinion, it would be worth it to come to such a place, no matter how much money it cost!
Moreover, Cui Yan soon discovered that he was not the only "foreigner" to have come here.

For example, when he was at the same post station, he would introduce himself to everyone he met as a young man who was "a descendant of the Three Dukes of the Han Dynasty".

The current Three Dukes of the Han Dynasty are naturally still Grand Commandant Lu Kang, Minister of Works Chen Yu, and Minister of Education Wang Lang.

Just as Cui Yan was guessing whether the other person's surname was Lu, Chen, or Wang, the other person finally introduced themselves—

"My father, Yang Biao, was once the Grand Commandant of the Han Dynasty! He is currently serving in Chang'an!"

Damn it! The Three Dukes of the Later Han Dynasty are considered Three Dukes?

Cui Yan was speechless for a moment, but at the same time, he also became interested in this young scholar named Yang Xiu, who came from Western Zhao, Guanzhong, and the Hongnong Yang clan.

While at the post station, Yang Xiu would often gather with friends and companions, frequently recounting amusing anecdotes such as "Emperor Liu Miao once ate two hundred of his family's cattle"...

Cui Yan was not interested in these rumors that seemed both true and false.

However, upon hearing Yang Xiu's suggestion to visit the Wenchang Gate Academy, Cui Yan immediately became enthusiastic: "Emperor Dezu, take me with you!"

Yang Xiu looked at the old scholar from the Cui family of Qinghe with suspicion, but in the end he did not refuse.

"In that case, let's count Ji Gui as one!"

(End of this chapter)