Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 211 Ode to Righteousness!

Master Yan's words captivated Chen Ye; this method of cultivation was indeed unconventional.

It seeks nothing from external things, nor does it train its muscles and bones; it only cultivates its heart.

Transforming abstract moral character into tangible power is practically an idealistic cultivation method.

"Teacher," a student stood up and asked, "I have a question. If what you say is true, does that mean only sages can cultivate a righteous spirit? We ordinary people are bound by emotions and desires, and it's inevitable that we will sometimes go astray. How should we conduct ourselves in such situations?"

"A good question." Master Yan nodded approvingly. "No one is perfect. The goal of Confucianism and Taoism is not to become a flawless saint, but to uphold one's true self in the mundane world and to correct one's mistakes."

"You should know that every time you restrain your desires, every time you overcome your inner demons, and every time you choose to do good, you are actually cultivating your righteous spirit."

"It's like polishing a piece of raw jade, day after day, year after year, until it finally shines brightly."

Master Yan looked at the student who asked the question and continued, "As for the seven emotions and six desires you mentioned, these are human nature, not monsters! Confucianism and Taoism do not seek to sever emotions and desires, but rather to let emotions arise and be restrained by propriety! Use reason and morality to control your emotions and desires, instead of becoming their slaves."

The lecture hall was quiet, and all the students were deep in thought.

Chen Ye was also thinking.

He was pondering what the so-called "right" standard was.
Who gets to define what is right?

If I firmly believe that everything I do is right and for a righteous purpose, does that count as righteousness?
For example, if I kill corrupt officials for the sake of the people, is that considered righteous?

I use schemes and tricks to deal with those treacherous villains. Is that considered righteous?

As Chen Ye thought about this, his mind began to wander, and all sorts of ideas came to mind.

And just then, the class ended.

After the students dispersed, Master Yan walked up to Chen Ye.

"How was it? Did you gain any insights?"

Chen Ye came to his senses, cupped his hands and said, "This has broadened my horizons and I have benefited greatly."

"But..." Chen Ye paused, then voiced his question, "Master, since this righteous spirit arises from the morality in one's heart, if two people firmly believe that their morality is correct, but their morality conflicts with each other, how can one determine the winner when they fight?"

This question made Master Yan's eyes light up. "The fact that you can ask this question shows that you have indeed listened attentively and thought about it carefully."

Instead of answering directly, Master Yan asked in return, "Tell me your thoughts first."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Ye said, "I think it's not about whose morality is more noble, but about whose belief is more steadfast."

"Go on."

"Since both people believe they are right, when faced with a life-or-death decision or the temptation of profit, one of them will always waver first."

Chen Ye looked at Master Yan and said, "Once he wavers, the spirit in his heart may dissipate."

Master Yan clapped his hands and laughed: "Well said! Though not quite right, it's not far off."

He led Chen Ye out of the lecture hall and they walked slowly along the tree-lined path of the academy.

"The belief you mentioned is indeed one of the key factors, but the difference in the level of righteousness depends on something else."

"What is it?"

“It is an achievement,” Master Yan said slowly. “Is the righteousness you uphold acceptable to Heaven and Earth, and is it what all people aspire to?”

"Having only beliefs but working in isolation will only produce a hollow spirit, like a tree without roots or water without a source; it will ultimately be a minor path."

"Only by applying what you have learned to serve the people and establish unparalleled achievements can you gain the recognition of heaven and earth and all people. This recognition will in turn strengthen your noble spirit, making it ever-growing and more powerful."

"Therefore, we Confucian scholars emphasize the three immortalities of 'establishing one's mind, establishing one's words, and establishing one's virtue.' This is not only about pursuing posthumous fame, but also a method for our self-cultivation."

Chen Ye finally understood.

To put it bluntly, Confucian and Taoist cultivation involves simultaneously brainwashing oneself and strengthening one's beliefs while going out to do good deeds and build up reputation.

The higher one's reputation, the more achievements one obtains, and the stronger one becomes.

So isn't this just another way of collecting faith power?
"Thank you for your enlightening words, Master. I am now completely enlightened." Chen Ye bowed sincerely.

Master Yan waved his hand: "You are not a member of my school, so it is an exception for me to tell you these things today. As for how much you can understand and what path you can take, that depends on your own destiny."

He stopped, took out a thin booklet from his sleeve, and handed it to Chen Ye.

"This is a rubbing of the Ode to Righteousness, a posthumous work of the great Confucian scholar Wenshan of the previous dynasty. Although he was imprisoned, he had the world in his heart and wrote this immortal chapter with his righteous spirit. In the end, he moved heaven and earth and became a saint."

"Therefore, this rubbing retains a trace of Mr. Wenshan's spirit. Take it back and read it often in your spare time; it may inspire you."

Chen Ye took the booklet and immediately felt a warm yet upright aura.

"Master, this item is far too valuable..."

“Take it.” Master Yan interrupted him. “That demoness has already set her sights on you, so it’s always good for you to have more power to protect yourself. Although our academy does not easily interfere in court affairs, it is our duty to slay demons and eliminate evil.”

Having said that, Chen Ye stopped refusing.

"Then this junior will accept the offer without being impolite."

After Chen Ye left, a young man dressed as a Confucian scholar entered the room and sighed slightly, saying, "Senior brother, this man is a lackey of the imperial court and is full of hostility. Why did you explain the great principles of Confucianism to him and even give him a rubbing of Wenshan's calligraphy?"

Master Yan shook his head, picked up the scroll on the table, and said in a deep voice, "Because this world is not only for scholars."

This young man was named Lu Huaizhou, and he was Yan Hui's junior fellow disciple.

The academy was not a monolithic entity; Confucianism, as a prominent school of thought, had many internal schools of thought.

There is the Confucianism of Mind, which advocates the inherent goodness of human nature and emphasizes inner sagehood; there is also the Confucianism of Ritual, which focuses on external kingship and emphasizes the order of rites and laws; in addition, there are many other branches such as Neo-Confucianism, the School of Mind, and Practical Learning, which often have debates with each other, arguing about whose way is the true way of the sage.

Master Yan is the representative figure of the school of thought of Confucianism in the academy today. Although his junior brother Lu Huaizhou came from the same school, his ideas were more radical and pure, which is why the question just now came about.

Seeing his junior brother's puzzled expression, Master Yan couldn't help but sigh and say, "I know that you and many others have grand visions in their hearts: to establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations."

"But to fulfill this grand ambition, one must first learn to love specific people, not empty slogans; otherwise, one will become a pedant in the eyes of the world."

In fact, Master Yan's words were not only spoken to his junior brother, but also pointed out the biggest drawback of the academy today.

That is, there are some people who are keen on empty talk, always talking about the country and the world, about the great cause of all people, but they forget that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and they must take it one step at a time.

Otherwise, they will all become castles in the air.

Lu Huaizhou stood there blankly, because he suddenly remembered a saying: "Unity of knowledge and action."

At the time, I thought I had succeeded, but in reality, I had not met the requirements at all.

Thinking of this, a deep sense of shame welled up in Lu Huaizhou's heart. He felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped hard.

It turns out that the one who was truly confused wasn't my senior brother, but myself.

Seeing the ever-changing expression on Lu Huaizhou's face, Master Yan knew that he had taken his words to heart.

Master Yan was very pleased with this.

My junior brother is exceptionally intelligent and has a high level of comprehension. He is a genius that is rare in the lineage of Confucianism, and given time, his achievements will surely surpass mine.

But he also had the common flaw of all geniuses: pride.

He felt superior to others when he read the books of sages and virtuous men; he felt the world was corrupt and filthy when he cultivated his noble spirit.

He had a heart dedicated to serving the people, but lacked the eyes to see clearly the mundane world.

In Lu Huaizhou's eyes, the world is black and white.

Good people should be pure and flawless, and bad people should be utterly wicked. In particular, people like Chen Ye, who live in a gray area, are the ones he can least understand and instinctively reject.

This black-and-white view is fine for academic pursuits in the study, but it's absolutely unacceptable for governing the world and benefiting the people.

Because the real world is never black and white, but is made up of countless shades of gray.

"Senior brother, what does it mean to love a specific person?" Lu Huaizhou quickly adjusted his mindset and humbly asked for guidance.

"Go love the farmer who works hard in the fields, go love the vendor who runs around the market, go love the soldier who guards the frontier and is covered in wounds, and even... try to understand why the court's lackey in your eyes has to live like that."

"Only when you truly shift your gaze from the classics of sages and the grand narratives of family, country, and the world, and focus on these specific, vivid individuals with their own emotions, desires, joys, sorrows, and everything in between, can you truly understand what the word 'people' really means."

"Otherwise, the people you speak of will forever remain just a cold symbol, and all you do is merely to satisfy your own sense of moral superiority and indulge in self-gratification. In the end, you will only become a useless scholar in the eyes of the world."

"Empty talk harms the country, while hard work builds it up." This saying is not only for officials in the court, but also for all of us scholars.

Master Yan's words shattered the ivory tower in Lu Huaizhou's heart, a tower built on pride and idealism.

He always thought he cared for all living beings, but in the end, he didn't even know what they looked like. He was just immersed in the world of saints he had constructed, demanding of others and himself the standards of a saint, forgetting that even saints came from being ordinary people.

A tremendous sense of absurdity and powerlessness swept over Lu Huaizhou.

He suddenly felt that all the classical texts he had read over the past ten years had been wasted.

“Senior brother…” Lu Huaizhou’s voice trembled slightly. He stood up and bowed deeply to Master Yan, remaining upright for a long time.

"I...I was wrong."

This bow was not to his senior brother, but to the Dao itself.

He apologized for his past narrow-mindedness, prejudice, and arrogance.

Master Yan looked at him with a relieved smile in his eyes, then reached out and helped Lu Huaizhou up.

"To err is human, to forgive divine. It's not too late for you to understand this." Master Yan patted him on the shoulder. "Today's events are both a setback and an opportunity for you! After this, your mindset will surely reach a higher level."

Lu Huaizhou raised his head, and the stubbornness and arrogance in his eyes dissipated considerably, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and humility.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother." He bowed again, this time with genuine admiration.

……

Meanwhile, Chen Ye had already returned to the Xuanjing Division.

He did not go to his own centurion's quarters, but went directly back to the independent courtyard assigned to him.

"My lord, you're back." Zhao Qi was already waiting at the courtyard gate. As soon as he saw Chen Ye, he immediately greeted him with a big smile and skillfully took the reins of the Snow-Treading Black Steed.

"Hmm." Chen Ye nodded and casually asked, "Things were alright at the station while I was away, weren't they?"

"Reporting to you, sir, everything is fine." Zhao Qi quickly replied, "The brothers are all patrolling their respective areas, and no one dares to slack off. The files you requested have already been sent to your study."

"Well done, you can go now. I'll call you if I need anything."

"Yes, sir, please rest!" Zhao Qi bowed and retreated.

Chen Ye entered the study and closed the door.

He didn't look at the files Zhao Qi had brought, but instead carefully took out the thin booklet from his pocket.

Rubbing of "Ode to Righteousness".

The booklet's cover was made of ordinary blue cloth, and it looked quite old, with slightly yellowed edges.

Chen Ye laid it flat on the desk. As soon as he touched it, he could feel a faint warmth emanating from the booklet, which calmed his mind unconsciously.

He took a deep breath and turned to the first page.

"The heaven and earth have righteous energy, and are mixed and endowed with manifolds. Below are the rivers and mountains, and above are the sun and stars."

What comes into view are two lines of strong and powerful characters.

His handwriting is as graceful as a dragon or phoenix dancing, with strong strokes and powerful lines, each stroke seemingly containing an indomitable will and immense strength.

Just looking at these words, Chen Ye felt an indescribable grand aura emanating from them.

This aura, warm, upright, and vast, seems capable of sweeping away all the gloom in the world.

Chen Ye's attention was instantly drawn in.

He seemed to see a thin figure in a dark, damp dungeon, surrounded by cold walls and with dirty straw underfoot.

He wore heavy shackles and was covered in wounds, but he held his head high, his eyes showing no fear or despair, only clarity and determination.

He picked up a pen, used the heavens and earth as paper, and his heart's blood as ink, and wrote this immortal chapter.

"In man, he is called 'vast and righteous,' overflowing and filling the vast sky. When the imperial road is clear and peaceful, he embraces harmony and illuminates the court. When times are dire, his integrity is revealed, and his deeds are recorded in history..."

As Chen Ye's gaze followed each word, the grand and righteous aura grew stronger and stronger.

He felt as if his spirit had been cleansed by this aura.

The gloom and resentment that had accumulated in his heart from killing and scheming in his daily life dissipated a lot under the wash of this aura, and he felt relaxed and clear-headed.

Chen Ye continued reading.

"In the bamboo slips of the Grand Historian of Qi, in the brush of Dong Hu of Jin, in the dagger of Zhang Liang of Qin, in the integrity of Su Wu of Han..."

The article lists more than a dozen historical anecdotes, each of which tells the story of a loyal and courageous hero who sacrificed his life for righteousness.

Their deeds and their spirit seem to come alive through these words.

Chen Ye felt that he was no longer a bystander, but had personally experienced those magnificent historical moments.

He saw historians holding bamboo slips, fearless of power, writing history with their pens; he saw assassins raising iron hammers, striking with all their might, intending to kill the tyrant; he saw envoys trapped among the Xiongnu, holding Han imperial staffs, refusing to surrender for nineteen years...

A surge of indomitable, loyal, and fierce spirit transcended thousands of years, continuously flowing into Chen Ye's mind through this thin rubbing.

His mind was greatly shocked and shaken.

This rubbing is more than just an article.

It embodies the lifelong beliefs of the great Confucian scholar Wenshan of the previous dynasty, and also embodies the loyal and heroic souls of countless people of virtue and ambition over thousands of years!

This is the true source of righteousness!
It did not come out of thin air, but was nurtured by generations of people with their blood and lives!
Chen Ye felt a deep respect, but at the same time, he understood more profoundly that this path was not suitable for him.

Because both the cultivation methods and the mental requirements are completely different from my own.

However, Chen Ye was not discouraged, because he never intended to follow the path of Confucian cultivation.

He simply wanted to learn from it and understand the nature of this power.

Therefore, Chen Ye carefully put away the rubbing and then took out a file from the bookshelf.

This file contains internal documents from the Xuanjing Division, recording the major cultivation schools in the world.

Chen Ye opened the file and quickly became engrossed in it.

He discovered that the cultivation schools in this world were incredibly diverse, far more numerous than he had imagined.

Besides the Confucianism and the Nine Nether Sect that we have already encountered, there is also the Legalism, which emphasizes the art of punishment and the principles of ruler and subject.

There are those who observe the heavens to understand the changes of time and the principles of Yin and Yang.

There was also the Mohist school, which advocated universal love and non-aggression, frugality, and harmony.

In addition, there were many other schools of thought, such as Buddhism, Taoism, military strategy, and the School of Diplomacy, which can be described as a hundred schools of thought contending.

Moreover, besides human cultivators, there are also demons and monsters roaming the world, and spirits and deities coexisting, making the whole world a world of great strife.

Chen Ye watched with great interest, and his understanding of the world became increasingly clear.

He discovered that although there were many schools of cultivation in this world, there was no unified standard for judging realms.

Each side has its own version of events, but there's a general comparison of their strengths.

For example, the Confucian ideal of establishing one's words is roughly equivalent to the Taoist ideal of the Golden Elixir Master or the Buddhist ideal of the Arhat.

The methods used by different schools are also incredibly diverse and varied.

For example, he saw in the dossier that the Mohist school was prevalent in the far west. This Mohist school did not cultivate the primordial spirit or practice magic power, but specialized in mechanical arts.

The mechanical beings they created possessed immense strength, were impervious to swords and spears, and could fight against a hundred men single-handedly.

The mechanical bird they created could soar through the heavens for seven days without setting, traveling ten thousand miles a day.

There is even a type of war fortress called the Mechanical City, which can move on its own, combining offense and defense, and possesses immense power.

Chen Ye clicked his tongue in amazement. Even though he came from a world with modern civilization, he couldn't help but marvel at these descriptions.

Just as he was engrossed in watching, there was a knock on the door of the duty room.

"Come in."

Zhao Qi pushed open the door and entered, holding a brand-new set of official robes in his hands.

"My lord, your Zhaowu Colonel's uniform has arrived."

(End of this chapter)