Chapter 816: 813: Too Utilitarian

Chapter 816: Chapter 813: Too Utilitarian

Later, the Emperor of Daliang disregarded the lives of the common people, forcibly seizing medicinal materials from them, and ignoring the soldiers’ bloodshed and sacrifices. Due to personal animosity, he insisted on a life-and-death battle with the Jin Kingdom. It was the Princess of Zhen who saved the dying populace, stationed outside the city for several months without attacking… patiently persuading them to surrender.

The entire wounded soldiers’ camp was like boiling oil meeting hot water, and immediately exploded with activity. The soldiers all knelt down…

The vows to follow the Princess of Zhen to the death were unceasing.

Xiao Rongyan felt an uncontrollable surge in his heart, slowly stood up, and looked at Bai Qingyan, who had a solemn expression and deep eyes. He felt that Bai Qingyan had a bewitching ability to influence people, which was an extremely rare talent for a leader.

He guessed… the reason why the King of Zhen, Bai Weiting, claimed Bai Qingyan was a natural-born leader might be because Bai Qingyan had this talent.

But in Xiao Rongyan’s opinion, Bai Qingyan was not just a natural-born leader. Her vision and knowledge… if she truly became an emperor one day, she would also be a good ruler.

Furthermore, Bai Qingyan did not mention the Jin Kingdom or its emperor in her words, which clearly showed her intention to replace the Jin Kingdom.

Yue Shi, who was stirred by Bai Qingyan’s words and couldn’t help but almost joined the soldiers in shouting “Follow the Princess of Zhen to the death,” secretly glanced at his master, who was smiling, and felt a hidden worry for him.

Originally, Yue Shi thought that when Miss Bai married his master, she would become a fierce general for their Yan Kingdom. But seeing Miss Bai’s demeanor… it seemed she would not join Yan, which left him wondering what to do.

Yue Shi felt that his master seemed a bit carefree, not even noticing that Miss Bai might not easily join Yan in the future, while he himself could see it clearly.

That day, before noon, Bai Qingyan’s words had spread throughout the military camp.

Tens of thousands of soldiers abandoned their former national prejudices, accepting Bai Qingyan’s concept of a united world, and for the first time, truly saw each other as family.

The soldiers who had surrendered to Jin abandoned the guilt of attacking their homeland, willing to fight for a unified world! For the common people of the world!

The atmosphere in the Jin army camp had never been better.

·

The exhausted Bai Qingyan woke up from a deep sleep; it was already late afternoon.

Through the low-hanging bed curtains, Bai Qingyan saw Xiao Rongyan sitting at the desk, reading a bamboo slip by the flickering candlelight, and rubbed her sore temples.

Hearing Bai Qingyan lift the covers and get up, Xiao Rongyan put down the bamboo slip in his hand, “Awake…”

“Yes!” Bai Qingyan had slept very soundly. She rubbed her neck again and asked, “What time is it?”

“Late afternoon, three quarters past.” Xiao Rongyan leisurely poured a cup of hot tea and walked towards the bed.

He lifted the bed curtains, hanging them on the gilt copper hook entwined with floral patterns, sat by the bed, and handed the tea to Bai Qingyan, “Drink some hot water first.”

After drinking a few sips, she looked at Xiao Rongyan and asked, “Weren’t you supposed to meet the King of Xihuai of the Wei Kingdom?”

“I sent Yue Shi…” Xiao Rongyan took the tea cup from Bai Qingyan and placed it on a small stool nearby, quietly gazing at her, “You collapsed as soon as you returned, and I was worried.”

Although Doctor Hong had come and diagnosed that Bai Qingyan was simply exhausted and fell asleep, Xiao Rongyan still couldn’t leave, staying to watch over her.

“Kid…” Xiao Rongyan held Bai Qingyan’s hand, asking, “Do you have aspirations to become emperor?”

Bai Qingyan did not avoid Xiao Rongyan’s gaze, “Do you think it is inappropriate?”

“I don’t think it’s inappropriate. If Kid has aspirations to become emperor, just reading Lord Shang’s book won’t be enough. Lord Shang’s book… talks about the art of governing people, but its methods are too harsh. Qin, respecting it, came to be known as tyranny! My mother once wrote a set of books. She said that those books were not authored by her, but I have read them and they are more applicable than Lord Shang’s writings. The whole book summarizes four words… External Confucianism, Internal Legalism! It’s a secret book of our Yan Kingdom.”

Xiao Rongyan did not keep it to himself, and said to Bai Qingyan, “If Kid is interested, when I return to Yan in the future, I will have someone transcribe the book and send a copy to Kid.”

She had always known that Xiao Rongyan had never underestimated her, but she did not expect that Xiao Rongyan could discuss and exchange ideas with her, even if they might stand on opposing sides in the future.

“Aren’t you afraid that after reading the secret book of Yan Kingdom, I might become an enemy of Yan in the future?” She asked with a smile.

Xiao Rongyan held Bai Qingyan’s hand, rubbing her hand back, “I regard Kid as a treasure, as a friend, as a confidant, and also as a worthy rival. Kid places the military books you authored on the desk for me to peruse… how could I keep anything from you?”

Actually, Bai Qingyan did not only read Lord Shang’s “Shangzi”; she read the articles left by ancient sages, as all contained knowledge. Bai Qingyan did not want to miss anything, so she read them thoroughly.

She did not believe that relying solely on one school’s teachings could govern a country and make it prosperous.

Among the various schools of thought, only Confucianism values righteousness alone, so… Confucianism is highly revered among the schools.

Legalism and Mohism are both too utilitarian, focusing only on immediate development without considering the long term. However, to ensure a country’s long-lasting stability, there needs to be a balance between benefit and righteousness.

Speaking of balance, one cannot but mention Taoism, which left many fragmented chapters and rare books from ancient times. It is not entirely about non-action as modern scholars think…

The Bai family possesses four rare books of Taoism: “Jingfa,” “Sixteen Classics,” “Cheng,” and “Daoyuan.” In “Jingfa,” it is stated that governing a country must rely on the legal system. “Sixteen Classics” discusses political and military strategies. “Cheng” addresses the necessary balance for implementing governance and law. “Daoyuan” speaks of the cosmology.

Bai Qingyan believes that these three books offer practical applications, making governance and law concrete. Although it cannot be fully applied in this era, its essence can be used.

She had read these books before but never studied them thoroughly. Now, she picked up these books again to study them in detail, aiming to take the best of each school, discard the dross, and use the strengths of the Hundred Schools of Thought to create a unified world that benefits the country and people, while balancing authority and people’s rights for long-term governance. This is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, and she feels the days are short and her aspirations long.

Shen Qingzhu entered the room and bowed deeply towards the inner chamber, “Miss Bai, Mr. Xiao, Yue Shi has returned and said that the guest staying in the inn heard that Miss Bai and Mr. Xiao are betrothed and requested to see Miss Bai.”

Xiao Rongyan stood up, tidied his clothes, aware of why the King of Xihuai wanted to see Bai Qingyan, and said to her, “Probably about the Wei Kingdom. If you don’t want to see him, I will go and speak to him.”

“Are you planning to take this esteemed guest with the Jin army or leave first to settle this guest?” Bai Qingyan stood, sat by the bed, and put on soft-soled shoes.