Peace Order
Chapter 659 - 61: The Qingpao Changsheng Appears Again, Li Guanyi Observes the Tao and Comprehends the Law

Chapter 659: Chapter 61: The Qingpao Changsheng Appears Again, Li Guanyi Observes the Tao and Comprehends the Law

In the Academy, the change within the Farmer School immediately drew reactions from other schools. Many students felt a sense of astonishment at the departure of the entire Farmer School, quickly followed by snickers.

Some disciples from the Confucian factions thought that the Farmer School’s relevance to the grand trend of the world was insignificant.

It was a school for times of prosperity.

In times of chaos, Legalism enforced strict laws to calm the people’s hearts, Confucianism guided the society with benevolence and righteousness, Zongheng School’s disciples galloped across the states, and the generals and strategists of the Military School could strengthen the forces and boost military morale. The ideas of the Farmer School needed time to bear fruit.

In times of chaos, they were too slow.

Some disciples asked the Palace Masters.

Master Gongyang Su Wang of Confucianism simply laughed it off, "The Academy gathers here for the sake of the Tao in our hearts. Now that the Farmer School has seen where their Tao lies, it is only natural for them to leave this place. Not just to leave, but to do so with such decisiveness."

Taoist initiates, two of the Innate, indifferently answered the disciples’ doubts:

"To pursue the Tao and depart is to seek supreme goodness."

Another disciple asked the old living Buddha from Central Earth, and the old monk said:

"Central State is not a place where the Farmer School can flourish; it is only natural for them to leave here. In the capital of Central Earth, the land is worth its weight in gold. In this place, besides being known as Sect Masters of the Academy, the Farmer School can hardly obtain even a piece of land."

"The number of disciples of the contemporary Farmer School has dwindled by more than half compared to a hundred years ago."

"The students of the world aspire for prominent schools that promise the chance to become marquises and ministers and to fulfill their ambitions; even though the propositions of the Farmer School might be a bit more acceptable than those of the Mo School, it’s only slightly. How many students who come to the Academy are willing to study crops and farming?"

That disciple then asked, "But the Farmer School has an 800-year legacy in the Academy, are they just going to abandon their reputation like this? To throw it away and go to a place like Jiangnan seems too regrettable. Is there no way to have the best of both worlds?"

The old monk had the disciple take a porcelain cup, then picked up the teapot on the table and started pouring water, saying, "Have you let go?"

The disciple said, "I can hold on."

The old monk, looking skeptical, glanced at the steaming teapot and continued to pour tea. The scalding water was already pouring on the disciple’s palm, turning it red, yet he still stood firm, "I will not let go."

The old monk fell silent and asked, "What level have you reached in Thirteen Cross Training?"

The disciple gave a shy smile, "Water and Fire Immunity."

Clang!

The old monk’s iron teapot directly smacked him on the head with a clang.

The old monk beat him up, making the disciple flee while holding his head.

Then the old living Buddha bellowed:

"Have you let go yet?! Have you let go yet?!"

The disciple fled while clutching his head.

The Buddha Master of Central Earth set down the teapot, looking at his own in hand, as the banished old monk reappeared, shouting, "But, living Buddha, the Farmer School in Central State wasn’t oppressed to this extent, were they?"

The old monk replied:

"The Academy of Central Earth is a place for studying, not for practical application in the world; the troubles the Farmer School and Mo School have faced are no less than these. For 800 years, their knowledge has become part of the Academy."

"But hasn’t it been hammered into the disciples themselves, less so? The hammering down on the school has not been lacking."

"If this continues, the Farmer School will be left with nothing but its name."

"I think you, little baldy, also deserve some hammering!"

The old living Buddha grabbed a Buddha statue and swung it around, generating gusts of wind.

Thus, the Buddhist disciple ran away with his face covered.

Contrary to the expectations of the world, all six masters of the schools in the Academy expressed no objections to the departure of the Farmer School. When officials from the royal family came to the Academy to scold it, even the old giant of the Mo School casually stroked his chin whiskers and said readily:

"I wonder if they still need people in Jiangnan?"

"There’s quite a number of my Mo School’s disciples after all."

This scared the royal family’s envoy senseless, leaving them incapable of raising the issue again, only to hear the roaring laughter of the Mo School giant.

Emperor Ji Zichang of Central State wasn’t outraged by this incident, nor did he blame the Academy; even so, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable—

Even if he didn’t believe the teachings of the Academy’s Farmer School were useful, he suffered from the common ailment of royalty.

I may not use you, may not appoint you, but you cannot leave.

I cannot tolerate you leaving my command and my realm.

While playing a game of chess, Emperor Ji Zichang said to Gongyang Su Wang:

"The region of Jiangnan is small and is a strategic point between two nations. After ending more than a decade of war and standoff, the people are exhausted. Even with the support of Marquis Qin Wu, given the style of the Farmer School, it will take several years or even a decade to achieve significant results, and the journey will be tremendously difficult."

"If there is any warfare, their efforts will have gone to waste."

"The Farmer School’s knowledge and legacy might even be in jeopardy of extinction."

Gongyang Su Wang did not respond.

So Ji Zichang continued:

"I heard that there’s a saying in the Confucian School, ’To learn is to rise to office.’"

"There’s no better office than the royal family’s. Is it reasonable for the Farmer School’s Master to abandon Central State and leave?"

Gongyang Su Wang said, "To learn is to rise to office, is merely the words of Master Zixia, a disciple of Confucius."

Ji Zichang asked, "Then, what is Confucius and the Confucian School’s reasoning?"

Gongyang Su Wang placed a piece on the board and replied:

"The reasoning of Confucius cannot be fully explained in a few words, but there is such reasoning in another school."

"The gentleman holds office to act upon principles of righteousness."

"He knows the Tao does not prevail."

The gentleman’s pursuit of office is only to seek righteousness. The difficulty of following the great Tao and realizing one’s wishes are known even before embarking on the task.