The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 270 - 133 Yin Yang Dao, Purple Mansion Primordial Sect (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 270: Chapter 133 Yin Yang Dao, Purple Mansion Primordial Sect (Please Subscribe)

"Please execute Xu Qing."

Cheng Guang’s words caused the Grand Secretary’s expression to change slightly, and he said sternly: "Do you wish to follow the example of Gongshu Cuo?"

During the Warring States period, Gongshu Cuo knew that Shang Yang was talented when he was young, but before he had the chance to recommend him to King Hui of Wei, Gongshu Cuo fell seriously ill.

King Hui of Wei personally visited Gongshu Cuo and said: "If your illness takes a turn for the worse, what will become of Jiangshan and its altars of the soil and grain?" Gongshu Cuo replied: "Although Gongsun Yang, the middle official’s son, is young, he possesses remarkable talent. I hope Your Majesty will entrust all national affairs to him and let him govern."

King Hui of Wei remained silent. Just as King Hui was about to leave, Gongshu Cuo dismissed his attendants and said: "If Your Majesty does not employ Gongsun Yang, then you must kill him and not allow him to leave Wei State."

King Hui of Wei did not agree, and said to his ministers after leaving: "Is it not lamentable? With Gongshu Cuo’s wisdom, he told me to follow Gongsun Yang’s lead in national affairs. Isn’t that absurd?"

After King Hui of Wei left, Gongshu Cuo summoned Gongsun Yang and apologized to him: "Today the king asked me about candidates for the position of Prime Minister, and I recommended you. Judging by the king’s expression, he did not agree with me. I ought to observe the loyalty to the ruler first, then fulfill the duty of a subject, and should have told the King to either employ Gongsun Yang or kill him. The king agreed with my suggestion. You should leave quickly, otherwise, you will be captured."

Gongsun Yang replied: "If King Wei won’t heed your advice to employ me, how could he heed your advice to kill me?" Gongsun Yang refused to leave regardless.

Not long after, Gongshu Cuo died. At that time, Gongsun Yang learned that Duke Xiao of Qin was seeking talents. So, after burying Gongshu Cuo, he journeyed west to Qin State and was heavily utilized by Duke Xiao of Qin, initiating the famous Shang Yang Reform.

Although Shang Yang met a grim end eventually, his reform is one of the rare successful examples of reform since ancient times.

Cheng Guang’s imitation of the ancients showed that he held Xu Qing in very high regard.

He faced the Grand Secretary’s wrath and said: "Does the Prime Minister think that I rate Xu Qing too highly?"

The Grand Secretary said: "Although Xu Gongming is talented, he is young, how can he be compared with Lord Shang?"

Since ancient times, opinions of Shang Yang have been mixed, but in the eyes of a reformist like the Grand Secretary, Shang Yang is undoubtedly a success. For a reformist, the continuous implementation of their politics after their death is perhaps their greatest pursuit.

As for one’s own life and death, honor and disgrace, those are less important.

After all, if the laws remain, they live on after death, and their political life continues.

Cheng Guang stated decidedly: "In my view, when it comes to understanding reforms, the Prime Minister is not as good as Xu Qing."

Chen Fu, listening by the side, couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

He wondered if Cheng Guang had become senile.

Although Chen Fu, after understanding Xu Qing, thought that he indeed deserved the world’s praise, he believed that Xu Qing still needed to undergo extensive trials to become a true talent of the country. The current Xu Qing was too rough and vehement in his dealings.

Luckily it was only a big stir in Jiangning Prefecture. If it extended to South Zhili or across multiple provinces nationwide, even the Grand Secretary would not be able to protect him.

The Grand Secretary, after hearing Cheng Guang belittle himself, did not show anger but spoke indifferently: "How is my understanding of reform inferior to that of Xu Qing?"

Cheng Guang spoke confidently: "In this regard, the Prime Minister you are inferior in three ways. Firstly, Xu Qing was raised in a Government Official’s family, and understands the affairs of the lower levels of the County Government far better than the Prime Minister, thus less likely to be deceived by Clerks. Since ancient times, the most difficult part of reform is to implement one’s own will to the grassroots level and to decentralize Imperial Power to the local communities. In Jiangning Prefecture, Xu Qing has already done this.

Secondly, Xu Qing understands the hearts of scholars at the grassroots level. Since the Middle Ages, the widespread use of papermaking and printing technology allowed ordinary scholars to access the classics, which broke down the monopoly over interpretation of the classics by Aristocratic Families. Xu Qing rose from the grassroots, won the hearts of ordinary scholars, therefore he does not have to rely on Imperial Examination Aristocratic Families. With such a wide base and through his operation of the Recovery Society, once he rises to power, he will immediately have a large number of scholars deeply rooted in the grassroots, whose words and actions can have a deeper influence in the local communities than the Grand Secretary. With this, the people’s understanding of reform deepens, and the difficulty of implementing governmental decrees decreases.

Thirdly, Xu Qing can directly address the essence of problems. Although this time he made a big commotion, he is very clear that land surveying is not the Prime Minister’s goal. Seek the higher and you’ll receive the middle, seek the middle and you’ll receive the lower. The bigger the issue, the more advantageous for him. If the issue remains small, the pressure will all be on him."

The Grand Secretary calmly said: "I do not agree with the third point. If I didn’t take the pressure off him, could he still be as relaxed?"

Cheng Guang sighed: "May I ask the Prime Minister, can you not take the pressure off him?"

The Grand Secretary smiled upon hearing this: "Teacher Cheng speaks indeed every word with reason."

Chen Fu beside him could no longer figure out the Grand Secretary’s thoughts.

Why was the Grand Secretary so pleased when Cheng Guang’s words were so unpleasant?

Seeing this, Cheng Guang bowed and said: "It seems I have spoken inappropriately, the Prime Minister knows these matters better than I do."

The Grand Secretary: "Teacher Cheng, you still have things left unsaid. Xu Qing is accomplished in both literature and martial arts, and he is not yet sixteen years old. Such a person, a Government Official could not have raised. Either he received a secret transmission from an amazing Teacher, or he is the reincarnation of a Ghost Immortal with innate wisdom. Remaining in the local area will allow him to grow extensively and develop the might of a dragon. It would be better to let him enter the Capital, to assimilate with us."

Cheng Guang bowed again.

This indeed was what he implied.

Xu Qing entering the Capital could certainly come close to the seat of power, but it was also equivalent to the phoenix entering a golden cage, where his talents could be utilized without incurring harm.

Allowing him to remain local is like letting such a person like a dragon enter the sea, with free rein.

Moreover, with such a character, nurturing him, there is hope to continue Reform in the future.

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