Chapter 424

Liu Zhao saw that Zong Ce made Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan unhappy, so he changed the subject and asked:

"Niece, what are you looking for us for this time?"

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan asked:

"Uncle, have you ever told anyone about Wang Yang taking care of things in prison?"

"Never said—"

Zong Ce immediately said:

"How have you never said it? You even told me!"

Liu Zhao:???

"We knew it together! What does it have to do with me telling you—"

"Lady Xie girl asked 'have you ever told anyone,' am I not a person?"

"You—"

Zong Ce waved his hand disdainfully:

"I won't argue with you, you're like a child every day." Then he said to Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan:

"Lady Xie girl, you ask me, look at how I answer!"

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan had to repeat the question:

"Uncle Zong, have you ever told anyone about Wang Yang taking care of—"

Zong Ce grabbed the answer, pointed at Liu Zhao, and said righteously:

"Said it! It was to him that I said it!"

Liu Zhao:...

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan couldn't laugh or cry:

"Besides Uncle Liu?"

"Then no more. I know the importance; this time is sensitive. If I say how Wang Yang took care of things, isn't that pushing him out and confirming the fact of rebellion? It's best to take advantage of the fact that the discussion hasn't started yet and let it pass. If it causes public opinion, it will be bad."

Liu Zhao's expression was solemn:

"It can't be let pass..."

Zong Ce disagreed:

"How can it not be let pass? The city is quite quiet now. Although there are occasional gossip, none of them are climate, and overall, Wang Yang's popularity is still good!"

Liu Zhao became even heavier:

"This is not a problem that popularity can solve..."

"Didn't say it could be solved, but at least this is a good thing! With the weight of the three words 'Wang Zhiyan' in Jingzhou, as long as the reputation is not bad, there is always room for maneuver. Even if the imperial court disposes of it, it has to take into account public opinion, right? Lady Xie girl, what do you say?"

Zong Ce looked at Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan.

The girl's eyebrows were clear, her expression quiet, and she nodded slightly to Liu Zhao:

"Uncle Liu is right."

Zong Ce frowned, and his beard shook!

But he saw Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's star eyes smiling, and she nodded gently to him again:

"Uncle Zong is also right."

Zong Ce laughed:

"Lady Xie girl is the smartest! But it's this time, don't play that game of not offending either side."

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's expression was serious:

"I'm not trying not to offend either side, but indeed each has its own truth. Uncle Liu said 'it can't be let pass,' this sentence is extremely—"

Zong Ce was about to speak to refute, but Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan said:

"The reason why the city is calm now is not because everyone has forgotten Wang Yang's rebellion, but because first, Jiangling has just been restored and everyone is busy; second, the Prince of Badong's army is still there, and the situation is not settled, so no one wants to say anything final; third, many people in Jiangling were coerced by the Prince of Badong, and Wang Yi wants to appease people's hearts and defend the city together, so they avoid talking about right and wrong; fourth, Wang Yi is now in power, and those who want to criticize Wang Yang, even if they are not afraid of the Prince of Badong returning, must also take into account the weight of Wang Yang, this uncle.

With these four points, the criticism of Wang Yang has not formed a trend.

And once the rebel king is pacified and the imperial court discusses the crime, public opinion will inevitably boil, and slander will rise like bees!

Don't you see the previous matter of the Ever-Normal Granary?

Wang Yang just did business and collected goods, collecting some silk, and it led to everyone attacking him, and the group discussion was noisy!

Today's matter involves right and wrong; once it starts, the intensity will be several times greater than before!

Uncle Zong is right, 'even if the imperial court disposes of it, it has to take into account public opinion.' If Wang Yang's name is ruined before his crime is discussed, even if the imperial court wants to be lenient, it will be difficult to handle."

Zong Ce and Liu Zhao both listened solemnly, and Zong Ce sighed:

"Lady Xie girl's words are thorough; the Lady Xie family's gate indeed has different insights. If I'm not mistaken, you are looking for the two of us this time to clear Wang Yang's name, right?"

Liu Zhao frowned.

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan said frankly:

"Exactly."

Zong Ce swung his big sleeves:

"I'll do this! But don't look for your Uncle Liu; their Confucian school talks about loyalty, so it's not easy to speak for rebels."

Liu Zhao was furious:

"Do you think I'm a corrupt Confucian?!

I frowned not because I said I'm unwilling to help Zhiyan! It's because you used the wrong words!

What clearing the name?!

A name is a public instrument of the world and cannot be changed recklessly!

Wang Yang's rebellion is a fact; since there is a fact, how can it be said that there is none?

Forcibly turning it over is deceiving the world's eyes and ears, and also cutting off public opinion!

If you clear the name, how can Wang Yang escape the crime!

This is not called clearing the name, it's called distinguishing the traces! It's called clarifying the situation! It's called tracing the heart!

Although the traces are the same, the situations are myriad;

Although the matter is one, the heart has curves and straightness!

Some people rebel to seek profit from disaster, some rebel because they are coerced by power, and some rebel because they have no choice but their hearts remain loyal! How can they be treated the same?!

Confucianism talks about loyalty, but loyalty is not just loyalty to the monarch! Confucius said: 'Be respectful in handling affairs, and loyal to others.' Mencius said: 'Teaching people to be good is called loyalty.' *Shuowen* explains the word loyalty as "from heart, middle sound." Although this is a shape-sound explanation, it can also be a meaning training! Loyalty is the heart above, middle, and below, from the sound of the heart! If you are not loyal to your heart, how can you talk about other loyalty? Therefore, the ancient meaning of loyalty can also be trained as 'straight'! If the heart is not straight, serving the monarch must be flattering! Serving friends must be deceitful! Serving the country must be false! Therefore, the foundation of loyalty lies in the straightness of the heart!

You yourself are empty in learning, unclear in classical meaning, and you love to speculate on Confucianism the most! Shallow and reckless! And you say I'm unwilling to speak for Zhiyan, it's simply ridiculous!"

Zong Ce was scolded by Liu Zhao, but instead of being angry, he laughed loudly, pointing at Liu Zhao, very excited, and said to Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan:

"See?! What is 'Confucians disrupting the law with literature'? This is 'Confucians disrupting the law with literature'!!

Don't look at him usually talking about monarchs and ministers, when it really comes to it, he can also play tricks!"

"What playing tricks! This is a Confucian exercising power! You know a—you're talking nonsense!"

Liu Zhao was so angry he almost broke out a dirty word, but remembering that Lady Xie niece was on the side, he forcibly braked.

Zong Ce was radiant:

"I can't talk nonsense more than you! You look upright with your 'the Master said' and 'poetry says'! Actually, you can talk on both sides! Wang Yang is even more magical; he can say eight heads out of two heads! I don't serve anyone, I only serve him! Lady Xie girl, otherwise just wait for Wang Yang to be caught and let him argue for himself; this mouth of his is more powerful than all of us combined!"

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's eyes were cautious:

"No. Some words are better said by others than by oneself. Some truths are better spoken early than late."

Zong Ce said:

"Understood. Seize the opportunity. Then like this, I will hold a few pure conversations to talk about this truth. As for Mingyang—"

Liu Zhao interface said:

"I can lecture on great righteousness and small righteousness in the county school, hold debates, and also write more letters to explain for Wang Yang."

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan shook her head:

"Pure conversation is not allowed. First, the current situation is not suitable for pure conversation. Second, the topic is too taboo and does not fit the purpose of pure conversation. Third, the time is not right; speaking of right and wrong early is easy to be counterproductive. Debates and letters are the same; you can debate and write letters, but not now.

A name cannot be cleared suddenly, and slander cannot be eliminated quickly.

People's hearts are easy to move gradually, but difficult to break by force.

Those who are good at guiding public opinion do not fight for their arguments first, but cultivate their momentum first; they do not clarify their statements first, but move their hearts first.

If we say 'not a rebel' directly now, people will reject it first; if we argue about right and wrong directly, people will doubt it first.

It is better to do it slowly, so that people are familiar with his goodness and respect his virtue in their hearts. When the wind and momentum have been formed and people's hearts have turned, then start the end and clarify the statement, and everyone will feel that it is logical and clear without argument!

At that time, one word will be better than a thousand words today!

In the way of public opinion, the one who enters first is the master, and the one who fights later is trapped.

As long as we act early and pave the way sufficiently, so that public opinion has a direction, even if someone wants to raise slander later, it will be nothing more than raising dust against the wind, and it will be extinguished by turning the hand!"

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan is dressed as a scholar today, originally bringing a clear and heroic spirit, and at this moment, with a turn of her plain hands, she shows even more of the free and easy spirit of setting the situation in conversation!

Zong Ce sighed:

"Good fellow! You have a bit of Wang Yang's meaning!"

Liu Zhao was speechless that Zong Ce was making random connections again, and just as he was about to blame Zong Ce again, Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan smiled softly, with the ease and elegance of a lady from a big family, and also hiding a little shyness:

"The part about people's hearts moving gradually and cultivating momentum first was indeed heard from Wang Yang."

At that time, regarding the great debate caused by the Ever-Normal Granary, Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan also participated anonymously, pushing the momentum for the positive side, and fought many pen battles with others. Later, although she gained a great advantage with the article *Proof of Not Speaking*, it also triggered her thinking about the orientation of public opinion. She asked Wang Yang, if he were to play this game, how would he play it?

Wang Yang didn't say how he would play it, but told her this passage about "people's hearts are easy to move gradually." She was most impressed by the last paragraph, where he said: "The rise of wind and waves must have signs. The wise observe the subtle, the foolish wait for the obvious. If the momentum is formed before the wind moves, then one word can determine the hearing of the crowd; if the momentum is not formed and the words are too urgent, then a hundred arguments will breed group suspicion. Therefore, arguments can be made later, but the momentum cannot be managed first."

Now that you are not here, then, I will observe the subtle for you, and I will manage the momentum for you!

As for why I didn't tell Liu and Zong uncles your last words?

Because that was what you said to me, how could I tell everyone! ╮(￣︶￣)╭

Zong Ce slapped his thigh:

"I said it! Cultivating momentum and discussing the heart is Wang Yang's style! Since you have been taught the Longzhong Plan, you must have had a plan long ago. Then the two of us will support you as the commander-in-chief! Listen to your dispatch! How to act, just issue military orders!"

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan smiled:

"I don't dare to be the commander-in-chief, but I can be a liaison in the middle."

Zong Ce said excitedly:

"Liaison? So, it's not just us two old generals?"

"Of course! When Wang Yang was the military secretary in Jingzhou, there were many people who helped him. I just came from the Yu family, and Mr. Yu is willing to help!"

Zong Ce clapped and laughed:

"With this great general Seeing Yu Yi, we have won three points before the battle!"

Liu Zhao was far from being so optimistic, and said worriedly:

"Even if we win, but this crime of rebellion..."

Zong Ce couldn't laugh when he heard this.

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan said calmly:

"Not necessarily."

Both looked at Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan.

Zong Ce suddenly remembered that when Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan first came, Liu Zhao was saying Wang Yang rebelled, and Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan said "that's not necessarily true"!

The more he thought about it, the more he felt there was a play, so he leaned forward, lowered his voice, and the fire of gossip burned in his eyes:

"Girl, tell me, do you know any inside information?"

Liu Zhao also looked at Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan nervously!

Little Lady Xie didn't know any inside information, but she just felt something was wrong! When the city was seized, Seeing Yu Yi was the main force, and Lady Le was the liaison, but how did they know that Wang Yi and Director Liu Tan Tan would defeat Kong Kong Zhangyu? Kong Kong Zhangyu was also strange; he didn't guard Jingzhou well, but went to Wenyang to supervise the army. Did he know in advance that something would happen in Wenyang? But if he knew, why did he lose?

How did Wang Yi and Director Liu Tan Tan summon the barbarian soldiers? The Jing barbarians have never been submissive. During this internal chaos, instead of looting, they wanted to submit? Is this a change of nature? As for Seeing Yu Yi, he said at first that he was sick and inconvenient to see guests. But as soon as he heard about Wang Yang, he came out immediately with high spirits! He didn't even pretend! He seemed to care more about Wang Yang than his own son. Is this right?

She didn't say the doubts and analysis in her heart, but said calmly:

"I don't know any inside information, but the day Wang Yang came to my house to eat roast rabbit, he left a sentence before leaving, which I haven't figured out yet."

"Wang Yang went to your house to eat roast rabbit?"

"Which sentence?"

Zong Ce and Liu Zhao asked almost at the same time!

Zong Ce felt something was wrong after asking, pointed at Liu Zhao, and laughed:

"Answer his first."

Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan imitated Wang Yang's appearance at the time, put two fingers together, raised his thumb, lifted it up, then blew on his fingertips, and the corners of his mouth picked up a spirited smile:

"Let the bullets fly for a while."

Liu and Zong:???????

After being stunned for a long time, Liu Zhao came back to his senses and asked murmuringly:

"Where is the classic from?"