“There are three things to be careful about. First, don’t let merchants deduct workers’ wages. Second, don’t let them sell inferior goods. Third, be careful of them making false or concealed reports. Jiang Tang, you must personally oversee these three matters and not be careless.” While thinking, Li Jun naturally gave Jiang Tang his orders. Jiang Tang felt that Li Jun’s seemingly absent-minded words contained an irresistible authority, so he couldn’t help but suppress his smile and replied, “Yes.”
His response went unnoticed by Li Jun, whose thoughts drifted back to the initiation ceremony the following day. Tomorrow's ceremony would not only be a major publicity stunt for him in valuing talent, but also allow Mo Rong and Ji Su to attend...
He was startled. Whenever he read history and saw ancient kings lose their kingdoms because of women, he was puzzled. He thought to himself that he was not such a person who did not know the importance of things. But why was he thinking about important military and national affairs, but in the end he still had to focus on women?
He glanced at Lei Hun, whose face was cold. Beneath that cold face and unfathomable gaze, did Lei Hun also harbor a heart that stirred with some kind of emotion, just like his own?
three,
The ceremony of ascending the altar to pay homage to the emperor was not Li Jun's invention in Shenzhou; it had existed since ancient times. However, in Yuzhou, which had been ravaged by war, it was rarely performed. Even in the entire Shenzhou, there had been no such grand event in the past hundred years. Therefore, the people of Kuanglan City eagerly anticipated this ceremony. On this day, most of the people gathered in the city's cemetery square, and the usually bustling streets were deserted. Looking down from the tall altar, all that could be seen were figures dressed in plain silk robes, with the occasional merchant who happened to arrive, but they were also submerged in this sea of white.
"It's truly spectacular." Mo Rong, who enjoys watching a good show, couldn't help but exclaim as she looked down at the hundreds of thousands of people on the stage. Although she knew that the population of Kuanglan City had increased dramatically, she never imagined that such a large number of people would live in the city that she had designed.
“Indeed, standing on this high platform and looking down at the people, it’s easy to get lost in the magnificent scenery. You must be careful.” Feng Jiutian said, half-jokingly and half-seriously. His words were not entirely for Mo Rong and Ji Su to hear.
Li Jun silently observed the spectators below the altar. Because of the Peace Army soldiers maintaining order, they couldn't approach the altar. But their gazes were fixed on him with fervor, and spontaneous shouts of "Long live! Long live!" occasionally rang out from the crowd. In such circumstances, it's easy for someone to be misled, to believe they truly are immortal.
Li Jun was extremely relieved that he hadn't been blinded by the enthusiasm of the crowd. Feng Jiutian's reminder came at just the right time. No matter how eagerly he studied during the war, he was still just a young man. Young people are prone to complacency and easily blinded by the worshipful gaze of the masses. This is precisely the crucial dividing line between success and failure for many talented young people.
He then shifted his gaze to Mo Rong's face beside him. Naturally fond of lively gatherings, she seemed somewhat distracted by the scene before her, her complexion slightly pale and sallow. Standing between Li Jun and Lei Hun, she appeared lost in her own thoughts.
Lei Hun's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant. Although Mo Rong had only arrived that morning, the way she inadvertently glanced at Li Jun, and the fluctuations in Li Jun's spiritual energy when he saw her, could not have escaped his notice. The joy of reuniting with an old friend was immediately replaced by an inexplicable awkwardness between the three of them.
"If that's the case, then it's not a bad ending." Lei Hun was the first to break free from this strange atmosphere. He raised his head to the sky, and the gods in the sky should understand his helplessness the most. Since he had embarked on the path of "the saint of the three religions", any worldly romantic feelings were a great taboo for him.
"The auspicious time has arrived—" The master of ceremonies, dressed in a plain silk robe and dressed in an extremely ancient style, called out in a drawn-out tone. The onlookers gradually quieted down. First, a thunderous drumbeat was deafening. As the drumbeat faded into the distance, the powerful and mournful sound of a bull's horn rang out. When the sound of the bull's horn was also gradually reduced to only lingering echoes, the sound of string and wind instruments began to play.
Li Jun's face held a composure beyond his years, his deep, ocean-like gaze solemn as he slowly walked up to the altar, followed closely by Feng Jiutian, Meng Yuan, and a group of civil and military officials. Lei Hun, as an observer, did not need to leave; he watched Li Jun's every move, a strange expression gradually appearing on his face.
"He already has the aura of a king." He thought to himself. As a saint of the three religions, he was well-versed in the Taoist Yin-Yang Qi observation technique. Compared with the somewhat rough and cold barbaric mercenary he first met a few years ago, Li Jun was now worlds apart. This difference was partly due to Li Jun's persistent practice of the Qi cultivation technique "Vast Heaven and Earth" taught by Lei Hun over the years, and partly due to the guidance he received from Lu Xiang and the many important events he had experienced.
Lei Hun stared blankly at the sky again. He had chosen Li Junhe as his assistant to seize the Immortal's Staff because he saw that Li Junhe would have extraordinary good fortune in the future. It seemed that his intentional actions had indeed borne fruit.
“A kingly aura alone is not enough. I fear that destiny will not be on Li Jun’s side. In the past, when predicting the will of heaven, it was always said that destiny should be near the Heng Kingdom in the south. Even now, according to the calculations, destiny is still not on Li Jun’s side.” Lei Hun’s pale face was filled with complex emotions. His attention was no longer on the ancient, solemn, yet somewhat complicated ceremony on the altar. This change in destiny would not only determine Li Jun’s success or failure, but also the life and death of millions of people…
"Why would I care about the life and death of millions of people? The path to immortality and sainthood requires me to abandon this mortal world. Although the saints of the three religions throughout history have the responsibility to maintain the balance of this world and prevent the underworld from succeeding, there is no precedent for them to intervene in human conflicts. Whether Li Jun succeeds or fails, whether people live or die, whether there is war or peace in the Divine Continent, what does it have to do with me, a person outside the world?" He couldn't help but ask himself. Although he had shared life and death with Li Jun, in the eyes of a cultivator, it was just a momentary coincidence. Seventy years in the mortal world is just a blink of an eye. What does a short month spent together count for?
"What's wrong?" A gentle voice rang out, and what met the voice was Mo Rong's sincere and earnest gaze. That gaze was as clear as autumn water, deep yet timid, and he could not forget it even after ten reincarnations.
“So that’s how it is…” Fragments of ten reincarnations flashed by like lightning. In the past, Lei Hun was somewhat afraid of Mo Rong’s gaze, worried that he would be unable to extricate himself from it and ruin his cultivation. Now that he had made up his mind, he could calmly meet her gaze and see more from it.
"If it's a debt from a past life, I must repay it in this one." Lei Hun nodded slightly to Mo Rong, indicating that he was alright, but continued to think to himself, "So what I find hard to let go of isn't the reality of this world, but the past life buried in the soil. If that's the case, even if Li Jun doesn't have a destiny, I will make sure he does!"
Seeing his expression gradually return to normal, Mo Rong's worries about his health began to resurface, replaced by anxieties about the delicate relationship between herself, Lei Hun, and Li Jun. "Whom do I side with more?" she wondered to herself. "What should I do? If only one of them were a Yue person..."
The grand ceremony concluded, and Lu Yuan, the protagonist, was moved by the solemn scene. When he received the banner symbolizing trust and appreciation from Li Jun, he couldn't help but perform the nine-bow ceremony reserved only for royalty. However, on his fourth bow, Li Jun disregarded Feng Jiutian's hint and avoided it, meaning six of the nine bows were directed towards the altars of the deceased in the mausoleum. This was initially an unintentional coincidence, but it became an unwritten rule thereafter: only those who died for their country were entitled to the six-bow ceremony; for the living, only the most solemn occasions required the three-bow ceremony. Afterwards came the magnificent military parade. By the time Kuanglan City returned to tranquility from the echoes of the ceremonies, night had fallen.
"Brother Lei has been a great help this time. I haven't thanked you yet," Li Jun said earnestly in the brightly lit tent. Apart from the five friends who had fought the dragon together, only Feng Jiutian and Meng Yuan were there to keep them company. Lu Yuan, who had been excited all day, had already gone to rest.
"No need." Lei Hun coldly uttered two words. He would avoid saying things that were unnecessary if possible; that was his principle.
Li Jun was already used to his eccentric personality. He smiled slightly and said, "Brother Lei, I have a request for you. I wonder if you can grant it?"
“I will stay and help you.” Lei Hun waved his hand to stop him from offering his prepared invitation. His deep gaze was very calm. “I will be there when you need me.”
Li Jun, who had initially thought it would take half a day to persuade Lei Hun and had even given up hope of succeeding, suddenly perked up. Although Lei Hun's response was still brief, Li Jun felt that it was enough.
"So, what does Brother Lei need?"
"I don't want anything, I'm going to the Magic Academy." It was still the briefest answer he could give, rejecting Li Jun's offer. Li Jun smiled slightly. If Lei Hun accepted his arrangement, it would mean that the two would establish a master-servant relationship. Given Lei Hun's pride, he never intended to think that way.
"I'm tired." Lei Hun stood up and walked out of the tent with his head held high, leaving everyone inside. After he left, for some reason, everyone in the tent quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I've read your memorial, sir." Li Jun changed the subject with a wry smile, trying to avoid Feng Jiutian's slightly mocking gaze. "In your opinion, sir, what should be prioritized in Yu Prefecture today?"
Feng Jiutian narrowed his eyes. His appearance, which had previously seemed somewhat disheveled, now appeared sharp and capable: "The art of war says, 'An army marches on its stomach.' One cannot fight a war unprepared, and the same principle applies to governing a country. In Yuzhou today, the priority should be to enrich the nation and strengthen its military. Currently, heroes are rising up all over the world. The Su Kingdom is harming Lu Xiang, the Heng Kingdom is driving away Liu Guang, and the Chen Kingdom has stirred up the Lotus Law Rebellion. I predict that within a few years, chaos will be inevitable in the Divine Continent. Although chaos has arisen now, the time is not yet ripe. We should cultivate our civil and military talents internally, and unite with heroes externally, filling the treasury for wartime preparations and recruiting capable people for future needs."
“It’s not easy to become rich. The money we’ve painstakingly earned through business has been used up in just six months,” Jiang Tang muttered discontentedly, casting a reproachful glance at Li Jun.
Li Jun scratched his head and frowned. When it came to economics, he occasionally had some clever ideas, but it was by no means his forte. Therefore, he said to Feng Jiutian again, "Sir, you wish to enrich the country and strengthen the army. I have my own ideas on strengthening the army, but I would like to ask you to teach me the strategy for enriching the country."
"There have been two strategies for enriching a nation in the past. One is to cultivate the fundamentals and suppress the secondary ones. This has been the strategy followed by various countries in China for a long time. The most important things in the world are food and clothing, and both food and clothing come from agriculture. Therefore, all countries regard agriculture as the foundation and industry and commerce as the secondary ones, believing that the prosperity of agriculture leads to the prosperity of the nation, and the wealth of agriculture leads to the wealth of the nation. Thus, they teach farming and encourage agriculture, while suppressing commerce and industry."
"No, no!" Jiang Tang exclaimed hastily. It was precisely because of this policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce in ordinary people's countries that the Yi people, who loved to travel the world, became synonymous with merchants. Although there were merchants among ordinary people, and many of them were very wealthy, once they had money, they would buy up thousands of acres of fertile land, preferring to be "grain-loving elders" rather than becoming rich. For Jiang Tang, this was definitely not a good idea.
Feng Jiutian laughed heartily, all the solemnity on his face vanishing. "This strategy is indeed not the best one. Agriculture is the foundation of the country, which is true, but compared to agriculture, industry and commerce can absorb more labor and promote trade and exchange. It is not a 'twig'. Such a bias may not be immediately apparent, but in the long run, it will surely cause trouble."
Li Jun nodded. The reason Feng Jiutian brought up the policy of prioritizing agriculture and suppressing commerce first was to make him realize the mistakes in the national policies of various countries over the past thousand years. Feng Jiutian further asked, "Why do you think the various countries of Shenzhou have been unable to unify for thousands of years, Commander?"
"I have thought about this matter. Throughout the millennia, countless heroes have emerged in China, with many whose talents far surpass ours. Many ambitious and talented rulers have aspired to unify China, yet they have all failed, which is puzzling."
"The reason lies in this policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce!" Feng Jiutian's words were startling. Although emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce had its flaws, Li Jun and the others never imagined that this would be the root cause of the division and chaos in the Divine Continent. Even Lei Hun, who had returned to his camp and was already sitting cross-legged on his couch, couldn't help but be stunned. His "Heavenly Hearing and Earthly Seeing" technique allowed him to clearly hear the voices in Li Jun's tent.
"Agriculture is based on land and prioritizes soil. In ancient times, the world was a wild wilderness. Our ancestors cultivated land by slash and burn to gain a foothold. Later, as arable land expanded and the population grew, those with arable land could control the lives of those without, while those without land had to depend on those with land. Thus, everyone saw land as profitable, leading to mutual encroachment and the strong bullying the weak. Those who seized a piece of land built stone cities and earthen walls to defend against other powerful forces. As a result, small states sprang up, and the land was divided. The so-called rulers of these states were nothing more than the most powerful bandits and robbers in the world." "That's it. Under such invasions and plunders, the countries eventually became wary of each other, each protecting themselves with city walls and blocking the way with checkpoints, with sentries every three steps and checkpoints every five steps. How can the world be unified under such circumstances?" Feng Jiutian showed no respect for the rulers of the various countries. On the contrary, he called these monarchs, who were written in history as incredibly heroic and intelligent, "the most powerful group of robbers and bandits." The shock and disbelief were so great that everyone in the tent couldn't help but nod in agreement. The monarchs, big and small, who seized and plundered by trickery and force, were no different from those robbers and bandits.
“So that’s how it is…” Li Jun’s eyes gleamed. “After Marshal Lu died, I questioned the heavens about why good people rarely get good rewards while evil people go unpunished. It turns out that the way of heaven is that the strong oppress the weak, and if they don’t, they will be abandoned by heaven! Since heaven is so unfair, I, Li Jun, have the character “Jun” in my name, and I will make justice for heaven!”
These were words that had been bottled up in his heart for a long time, and now he couldn't help but blurt them out. Feng Jiutian couldn't help but applaud and say, "What ambition! Heaven is unfair, so the commander will set an example for Heaven!"