He changed Tiwat

Generation after generation of scholars of the "Minglun School" were lost in self-doubt until five hundred years ago, when Azhar's master, the great sage Messodi, took over the council after the death of the Great Tree King.

"The art of the world, as seen in the chessboard, lies in the interplay of strategic maneuvering." — This is a famous quote from the great sage Maxodie.

This greatest chess grandmaster in the history of Sumeru put forward an astonishing hypothesis: if the "Seat of Destiny" stores the "destiny code" of mankind, then does the "Heart of God" possessed by the gods also contain a similar "destiny code"?

Does deciphering these "codes" mean deciphering the "fate" of the gods?

The Great Sage Messodi firmly believed that humanity could unravel the mysteries of the stars, including... the secrets of the gods, through calculation, much like a game of chess.

Although this violates the "Six Root Sins," the loss of Sumeru, the god of wisdom, requires mortals to exhaust their wisdom to make up for this loss.

For this "purpose", anyone can become a "means", or rather, a "cost".

So, five hundred years ago, the great sage Messodi, relying on the "void" left behind by the Great Tree King, began a "secret project".

This "secret project" was passed down from generation to generation of great sages of the Church for five hundred years, until Hazard took office. Years ago, Hazard received unexpected assistance and finally gathered all the conditions to complete the "secret project".

Now, the "secret project" is only one step away from completion, and Hazard will not allow anyone to stand in his way at this time.

Regardless of who that person is.

"People are the end, not the means," which can be put into plain language as "people-oriented."

The "Life Theory" within the Institution of the Church has never lacked such compassionate scholars. Their construction of "Houses of Health" and provision of "free medical care" to people all over the world is a practice of this ideal.

For the sake of others' health, the "life-oriented" medical practitioners disregard any cost and do not even actively accept any compensation, which can be described as "utterly selfless and dedicated to benefiting others".

Admittedly, this is a great idea, but the more lofty and righteous an idea is, the more impractical it becomes. Doctors need to eat, and medicines require raw materials to make. If they don't charge patients, where does the money to support "Health Home" come from?

The answer is, of course, the Order of the Fathers.

A significant portion of the Academy's tax revenue, as well as the "patent fees" earned from various scientific research achievements, was allocated to the "House of Health."

—Without the special funding from the Ministry of Education, "Health Home" would have collapsed long ago, so what's the point of talking about "people as ends, not means"?

Not only from the perspective of "healthy home", but also from the perspective of "debate", Hazard could come up with countless ways to refute.

For example, the hunters living in the forest of Dawson make a living by hunting. These hunters are accurate archers and have a good harvest every time they hunt. There are also some hunters who are not very good at archery, but they have a pair of skillful tools. Instead of participating in the hunt themselves, they make bows, arrows and traps and exchange their tools with skilled archers for their catch. They get much more than they do by hunting themselves.

In this example, the hunter skilled in making tools and the hunter skilled in hunting are each other's "means".

In real life, there are countless examples like this.

In Hazard's view, the idea that "people are ends in themselves, not means to an end" is nothing but empty talk from an idealist, which he can easily refute.

But the trap that Han Fulai set for him was right here.

Hazard cannot deny this statement.

Because this statement is the "political correctness" of Mount Sumeru, and is one of the "three virtues" left by the Great Compassion Tree King:

"'Ingenuity' is the vein of the kingdom of wisdom, born from good intentions. 'A poisonous tree does not bear good fruit.' Only good and firm intentions can nurture ingenious and thoughtful plans, so as not to tarnish the name of wisdom. 'Ingenuity' guides upright speech, ensuring that words spoken do not deviate from the right path of well-being. 'Ingenuity' is formed by harmonious character. Actions give thought a perfect form. The mutual confirmation of thought, speech, and action is the faithful foundation for the tree of wisdom to blossom."

The Great Tree King believed that all wisdom arises from "good intentions," while Han Fulai repackaged this statement and transformed it into his own argument.

To deny this statement is tantamount to denying the concept of the Great Compassion Tree King and the Great Compassion Tree King's compassion.

In other words, Hazard's denial of this view is tantamount to denying the foundation of the Church's rule.

Han Fulai first provoked him into agreeing to the debate by using the name of the Great Compassion Tree King, then deliberately angered him with those vile words, and finally posed a flawed argument to lure him into refuting it...

If Hazard loses his composure in anger, he will fall into Han Fulai's trap and only dig his own grave.

...This Deputy Minister Han is truly cunning!

There will be fewer updates in September.

I mentioned this in the author's notes at the end of the chapter before, but some people may not have seen it, so I'm making a separate chapter to talk about it here.

Because this year marks the 10th anniversary of the victory against Japan, and National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival happen to be consecutive, the local government attaches great importance to these celebrations and has raised the standards for them. We will be hosting many leaders... so we have started preparing for the October event now. And since I have many talents and can be useful wherever needed, I've been busy with rehearsals and practice for various cultural performances, often from morning till night.

Writing requires a lot of focus and large blocks of free time. My time is currently too tight, and I can only find time every few days, which means I'm completely unable to maintain daily updates this month. I can only write updates whenever I have free time.

I can only apologize to everyone here. I hope you can understand. Thank you! ?(?ω?)?

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Carrying the Tree King Against the Tree King [4k]

Now that he knew where the trap was, Hazard naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to jump right in.

He sneered inwardly, but spoke with utmost sincerity: "Vice Minister Han is well-versed in classical texts and possesses profound wisdom, which is truly admirable. However, the wisdom and grace left by the Tree King contain many subtle and profound meanings. We scholars study them every day, and we always find something new to learn. To this day, no one dares to claim that they fully understand the wisdom of the gods."

"The statement by Vice Minister Han that 'people are the end, not the means' seems to come from the 'clever idea' of the 'Three Virtues'. However, taking it out of context and taking its meaning out of context will inevitably lead to a biased view."

"It should be known that the three virtues are inseparable, and after clever thinking, we must practice diligently."

The Tree King said: "'Diligent practice' is the root of the land of wisdom, originating from clear truth and tireless practice. It is the only way for all wisdom to be revealed in the end. 'Diligent practice' confirms straightforward speech. All thoughts and actions are for good. Wisdom is born in action."

"The Instruction Council has always upheld the compassionate teachings of the Tree King, and all its actions have followed the 'good will.' Since Vice Minister Han knows that 'people are the end,' he should also know that in order to achieve the 'end,' 'means' must be used."

"For example, the students of my Academy study with the goal of approaching wisdom. However, in order to achieve this goal, they must learn from the sages and teachers. At this time, the teachers become the means for the students. At the same time, the teachers of the Academy help the students approach wisdom with the goal of teaching. The teachers themselves also constantly refine their knowledge in the teaching process. Thus, the students also become the means for the teachers."

"The two encourage and promote each other, relentlessly pursuing wisdom through 'teaching and learning from each other.' Teachers and students are each other's 'means,' but ultimately they lead to the same 'end.' Doesn't this perfectly illustrate the true meaning of 'human beings are the end'?"

"Therefore, Vice Minister Han's statement should be changed to: 'People are ends in themselves, not merely means to an end.'"

If Han Fulai's understanding of the scriptures was sufficient to qualify him as an "Imam," then Azhar, as a great sage of the Abhidharma Council, was a "Grand Imam"—he had debated scriptures in the Abhidharma Council for decades and was not only good at debating scriptures but also at writing them.

The Order of the Fathers has done many things that have violated the teachings of the Tree King over the years, but it has always done them with a clear conscience. Why? Of course, it is because "scriptures are dead, but people are alive."

The scriptures left by the Tree King do not support the actions of the Canon? No problem, the sages can "reinterpret" the scriptures and then "make the illegitimate legal."

"Carrying the King of Trees against the King of Trees" is something Hazard is also very familiar with.

Han Fulai can say that "Liyue coins are a national policy left by the Geo Archon," and Azhar can certainly say that "the art ban is a national policy left by the Great Tree King"—the Geo Archon only "passed away" at the beginning of this year, while the Great Tree King has been a "harmless statue" for five hundred years...

Hazard's gaze swept past Han Fulai and looked at the crowd below the stage, a hint of "compassion" appearing on his face.

"It is common knowledge that the graduation thesis requirements of the Faculty of Teachings are extremely strict. Many students are unable to graduate for more than ten years because they cannot meet the requirements. As the Dean of the Ritual of Teachings, I often see students sighing and looking worried in the study rooms of the Palace of Wisdom. They are tormented by failed experiments and suffer from the disproven theories. Every year, quite a few students drop out of school because they cannot bear the pressure..."

"As a teacher, I also feel heartache and regret for my students, but I also know the principle that 'strict teachers produce outstanding students.' In order to help students better approach 'wisdom,' teachers sometimes have to harden their hearts and strictly demand of them. It is precisely because of the high standards and strict requirements of the Academy that this holy land for seekers of knowledge has stood for thousands of years, nurturing countless outstanding scholars, who in turn have created countless fruits of wisdom for the world."

"Similarly, the Church of England's 'art ban' in the Grand Bazaar is also intended to help those who have strayed from the right path return to the right track. Singing, dancing, celebrations... these activities may bring temporary physical and mental pleasure, but they are of no help in the pursuit of 'wisdom.' Friends, please use this meaningless time for learning. Getting close to reason is the path to wisdom."

"In the name of the Great Sage of the Faith Academy, I hereby announce to everyone in the Grand Bazaar that starting next year, each school of the Faith Academy will establish its own 'Continuing Education Academy,' relax the age limit for admission, and change the 'Flora Festival' to the day of the academy's entrance examination. Instead of expressing your love for the God of Wisdom here with songs and dances, why don't you go directly to the temple left behind by the God of Wisdom?"

"As long as you follow the Tree King's path of 'perseverance' and dedicate yourselves to learning, everyone will have the opportunity to enter the sacred land of wisdom. The gates of the Faculty will always be open to all who seek reason and wisdom!"

A single stone stirs up a thousand ripples; Azar's words immediately generated a huge reaction among the people of the Grand Bazaar.

Sumeru is a "land of wisdom," and relatively high-ranking positions, such as religious officials and disciplinary officials, all require a background in religious academy education. The reason why the people of the Grand Bazaar have fallen to the "lower class" is because they failed to pass the religious academy entrance exams when they were young, thus losing their path to upward social mobility.

In ancient China, there was a saying: "Thirty years old is old for a scholar who has mastered the classics, fifty years old is young for a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations." This also applies to Mount Sumeru. There are many scholars who have not yet obtained the title of "Heban Tu" by the age of fifty, but if they cannot become "Tuosata" before the age of thirty, they basically have no hope for the future.

The students admitted to the College of the Church, known as "Tereyas," are generally teenagers under the age of twenty. Those renowned scholars are almost all child prodigies who entered the College of the Church at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

Sages like Azhar, Kavaja, Saidaf, and Setare, along with other Habanathans such as Elhesen, Tinari, and Sharif, were all prodigies who entered the Faculty of the Church at a young age. Sharif was even extremely disappointed that Anaye passed the Faculty of the Church's exams when she was almost an adult, and he felt pressured by comparing his daughter to someone else's child, Kavi, who entered the Faculty of the Church at less than fifteen years old, and who had entered first place...

Similarly, academic foundation awards such as the "Outstanding Young Scientists Award," "Distinguished Young Scientists Award," and "Kapikushi Award" are also aimed at young scholars.

In the eyes of the Sumeru people, "successful people" all have similar life trajectories—entering the Chancellery before the age of eighteen and becoming a "Tiriyasit"; passing the thesis review around the age of twenty-five and becoming a formal "Tasata"; being awarded the title of "Outstanding Young Person" at the age of thirty, the title of "Distinguished Young Person" at the age of thirty-five, and receiving the "Kapikushi Award" before the age of forty, and being nominated for the "Hapandha"...

However, these "successes" are all based on getting into the Order of the Church. The common people in the Grand Bazaar who have not even entered the gate have no other thoughts except to go home every day to teach their children to be successful.

And now, Hazard is saying that the doors of the Church of Jesus are open to them again!?

Faced with the suddenly appearing broad avenue, few people would think of continuing to walk the narrow bridge, and a considerable number of Grand Bazaar residents began to waver.

The public's reaction was exactly as he had expected. Hazard withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and glanced at Han Fulai.

Like Han Fulai, Hazard is also well aware that "debate is just a means, not an end."

Han Fulai was representing the people of the Grand Bazaar in opposing the Vatican. What Hazard should do is not to win the debate against Han Fulai, but to win over the opponents of the Grand Bazaar.

Since "coercion" is ineffective, let's try "bribery".

To deal with these ignorant people, you only need to win over a portion of them with small favors, which will naturally cause them to split up.

In the Grand Bazaar, only the dancers and those working at the Zubair Theatre make a living entirely through "art"; the rest of the crowd are merely onlookers. While the audience appears vast and enthusiastic, only a small minority truly benefit from it.

Losing one's job due to an "art ban" is ultimately a minority. Most people are simply angry because entertainment activities are prohibited, just like children who are forbidden from playing games by their parents. They will cry, make a fuss, and complain. But if you tell them that sacrificing a useless festival can bring them a bright "financial future," they won't even need to consider which side to choose.

Almost every student who gets into the Faculty of Arts sacrifices their leisure time to get through this, and Hazard knows this all too well.

As long as these people still have a shred of "ambition" in their hearts, the "educational college degree" is the most useful "bait".

Hazard's ability to accurately grasp the "pain points" of the people in the Grand Bazaar is inseparable from the "Void Terminal" consciousness network he spearheaded during his tenure.

—Because of this project, Azhar can almost be considered the greatest sage in the entire history of Sumeru who is most "insightful of people's hearts".

Hazard knew better than anyone how the parents in the Grand Bazaar usually disciplined their children, and how they spanked the kids who skipped school to watch plays at the theater.

After announcing the "new policy," Hazard did not continue speaking. Instead, he gracefully gestured to Han Fulai, handing over the right to speak to his opponent. This was, of course, Hazard's sarcasm. He was also curious to see if Deputy Minister Han had the ability to "turn the tide" under these circumstances.

Ying, Paimon, and Nilu all watched Han Fulai nervously.

They could sense the atmosphere on the scene suddenly shift, and many people who were originally dissatisfied with the Order of the Religion had more hope and eagerness on their faces... Human nature is always driven by self-interest, and they could not blame the wavering public, so they could only place their hopes on Han Fulai.

Han Fulai's expression remained calm.

Not only was he calm, but the corners of his mouth kept turning up, as if he was secretly enjoying himself.

Yes, he was really trying hard to suppress his laughter.

When Secretary Yue Haiting sets traps for people, she never sets more than one.

In Han Fulai's eyes, Hazard jumped over one pit only to fall into another, and was still lying on his back at the bottom of the pit, grinning foolishly.

Who is Han Fulai?

He wielded the power of the Seven Stars of the Celestial Empire, held the Jade Balance to suppress the heavens, lifted up the "Saintess of Mondstadt" with one hand, and created the "Hydra Special District" with the other. As a mere civil official, he stirred up a storm in half of Teyvat. In his eyes, Hazard's little tricks of sowing discord and winning over others were nothing more than watching a monkey play tricks.

Putting everything else aside, just take the "new policy" that Hazard just announced: without a written announcement stamped with the seal of the Church, what kind of decree can it be? It's nothing but an empty promise.

Moreover, this empty promise is made utterly carelessly. It claims to offer the people of the Grand Bazaar an opportunity to enter the Continuing Education College, but what kind of exams are there for this "Continuing Education College"? What are the eligibility requirements? How many places are available? What kind of faculty will the Continuing Education College assign to these students? What is the duration of the program? What are the career prospects after graduation?

Without discussing any specific policies, they only said "there is an opportunity to enter the Order of the Religion," which is nothing more than empty promises.

Entering a vocational college, one hopes for a chance to transfer to a bachelor's program; accepting the assigned major, one hopes for a chance to change majors; if a bachelor's degree isn't enough, one hopes for a chance to take the postgraduate entrance exam to change their fate. Han Fulai has seen this kind of thing many times before... The "opportunity" that Hazard gave is no different from the "opportunity" that a boss gives to his employees to "get promoted, get a raise, become a CEO, and marry a rich and beautiful woman." It's just a way to fool the lower-class people in the Grand Bazaar who are suffering from a lack of upward mobility.

After all, for these people struggling in the water, entering the Order of the Church is like "getting ashore," and they would desperately grab onto even a straw floating on the water.

However, Han Fulai did not intend to expose Hazard on the spot. Not only did he not expose him, he also went along with what Hazard said.

He gave a thumbs-up, his face full of praise: "The great sage's move is excellent, a blessing for the people! If it is for the happiness of all the people of the Grand Bazaar, I believe Miss Nilu and Mr. Zuber would not object to closing the theater."

"But I have a small question. Since the Great Sage claims that the Council of the Order has always followed the 'good will' left by the Tree King, and is willing to tirelessly seek and 'practice' the Tree King's compassion and wisdom, then... why has this 'good policy' only been promulgated today? Did the Council of the Order not follow the Tree King's 'three good' before today?"

"This……"

Hazard visibly choked for a moment.

He finally realized that he had stepped into another pit.

—The Council of Religious Affairs governs in the name of the Great Compassionate Tree King, and this banner of the Great Compassionate Tree King cannot fall. Since it cannot deny the Great Compassionate Tree King, it can only continue to hold high the great banner of the Great Compassionate Tree King.

Han Fulai questioned the actions of the Order of the Tree King in the name of the Tree King. In order to prove that the Order of the Tree King was the more upright and virtuous representative, he could only choose to show some "sincerity" to shut others up and show that the Order of the Tree King had always been on the right path.

No matter how much "sincerity" he showed, Han Fulai could always retort: ​​"Why didn't you do this before? Are you doing this now to pretend to change your faith and then regret it later?"

Looking back, it seems that Han Fulai had already planned this all along, starting the debate by quoting the teachings of the Tree King...

Caught in a dilemma, Hazard's lips trembled, and he was about to utter a few crude words that were not in keeping with his scholarly demeanor—the "Sukabul" that the winter people spoke of was indeed well-deserved of its name!

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Hazard, Who Do You Think You Are? [4k]

The trap set by Han Fulai was far more insidious than it appeared on the surface.

On the surface, Hazard seems to have many options for rebuttal, such as shifting the blame to the former Great Sage and emphasizing that the "good governance" was only achieved because of his appointment; or claiming that the Council of Religion previously lacked the objective conditions to promote the new policies, and only recently acquired the faculty to build the "Continuing Education College," etc.

However, no matter what reason he uses to defend himself, he must lose one thing, the most valuable asset for politicians and governments—political image.

Han Fulai publicly questioned the Religious Council about why it hadn't implemented "good policies" before, and Hazard would certainly have to give an explanation.

If this "good policy" was only implemented because of Azhar's appointment, and the Church had been defying the Tree King's teachings all along, then the Church is "immoral"; if this "good policy" could not be promoted due to objective conditions and was only implemented now, then the Church is "incompetent".

Regardless of what Hazard chooses, he will ultimately have to choose between being labeled "immoral" and "incompetent."

The Church cannot be "immoral," because they are the Church that upholds the great banner of the Great Compassionate Tree King, inheriting the Tree King's virtues and intending to do good in all things. An "immoral Church" would be a devastating blow to the orthodoxy of the Church. The Church also cannot be "incompetent," because they are the temple left by the God of Wisdom, passing on the wisdom of the gods to educate all people. An "incompetent Church" would be a devastating blow to the foundation of the Church's rule.

Hazard cannot wear either of these hats.

For five hundred years, the Church has maintained an image of "compassion" and "wisdom" in the eyes of the people.

They provide the people with free education and healthcare, and create a sacred place for scholars to study and a temple of wisdom. The scholars, in turn, act as "mentors" for the people, leading them to approach the wisdom of the gods and use that wisdom to create a happier life. Although there are many real inequalities, oppressions, and even discriminations in Sumeru, at least on the surface, the Faith Council has successfully maintained this image.

An image that can represent, or even replace, the gods in ruling Mount Sumeru.

As a government, the Church can be "immoral," "incompetent," or even "both immoral and incompetent"—but the key is that the Church itself cannot admit it.