Chapter 807: Breakthrough (5800-word supplement)

Imperial Palace.

Daqing Hall.

The current Son of Heaven of the Great Song is in his forties, with a scholarly appearance; he excels at meticulous bird-and-flower painting and has a penchant for Taoism.

At this time, the morning audience had already concluded, and he specifically kept a few people behind to go to the rear hall to discuss matters.

"The northern barbarians are raiding the border again..."

"There is a great drought in the Zhongyuan, and the disaster relief funds have actually been embezzled to the last cent..."

Wumingzi felt conflicted inside, but his face showed nothing; he handed an invitation to Aaron and said with a smile, "I have been busy with official business these past few days and have neglected you, fellow Daoist. Please do not take offense!"

Aaron accepted the invitation with a smile and performed a Daoist salute, appearing as if he knew nothing of what had happened.

Aaron looked at the old Daoist following behind Wumingzi and suddenly sneered.

This is also a unique skill of the Bureaucratic Group for dealing with orders from above: either delay and ignore... or add layers of requirements...

"You are a standout of our sect... If you had reminded me earlier, could the next person to ascend to the rank of Zhenren not have been you?"

But after Sizong ascended the throne, he could not wait to purge the Eunuchs and replace the Prime Ministers... The most critical thing was that he was too impatient, changing morning orders by evening, and replacing Prime Ministers as if he were just passing through; the result was that the national situation plummeted, and he ultimately became a monarch of a fallen state!

In history books, those mediocre rulers are instead able to be monarchs who maintain the status quo, while the radicals mostly suffer great defeats with only a small portion achieving great victories; it is truly ironic.

"Where did you go wrong?"

When the Emperor was young, he was also full of ambition, thinking that after ascending the throne, he would reform the government and become a monarch of restoration.

It is already well-known that Civil Officials are like this, and there is an ancestral instruction not to punish outspoken officials so as not to block the channels of remonstrance.

"You... are you comparing Us to country farmers and their wives?"

Tong Jing stepped out of the ranks at this time; his skin was as dark as iron, and he was tall and imposing, not looking like someone of Eunuch origin. He said loudly at this time: "Monks and Daoists are lowly people and should not stand in the Imperial Court; there are precedents for this in every dynasty. The Emperor is a sage and must absolutely not be deceived..."

Within the Chongming Dao, there is one Grandmaster and five Zhenren, so naturally, there are factions.

At this time, after discussing with several high-ranking officials in purple and green robes, the Emperor waved his hand: "... I heard that a Tiger-Riding Daoist has arrived in Jingcheng?"

Alas... the heart is willing to kill the bandits, but there is no strength to turn the tide!

To tell the truth, the previous several Prime Ministers were also brilliant talents of their time and proposed many feasible policies, but once they reached the lower levels, the officials had plenty of ways to misinterpret them.

Even though the Emperor at this time knew that the Imperial Court was deeply entrenched in problems, like a person with a chronic and weak constitution, he could not use strong medicine and could only proceed slowly.

"We dare not."

After Huoyunzi admitted his mistake, he asked with some reluctance.

Wumingzi chatted with him for a few more sentences before taking leave with his attendants.

In the previous dynasty, the Great Ming, during the time of Xizong, although there were border troubles, the Imperial Court could still manage to get by with repairs and patches.

Wumingzi and the old Daoist walked a bit further and then boarded a carriage.

Although the Emperor had some interest in that Xulingzi before, the other party only revealed the ability to ride a tiger and was of no great use; since the voices of opposition were loud, it was fine not to see him.

If Huoyunzi were not from his own faction, he would not have rushed over to clean up the mess.

The Emperor smiled slightly and settled the matter.

Alas... the other party did not think much of him.

Jia Yan was actually speaking on behalf of the Emperor; once he opened his mouth, the assembled officials knew that it could not be stopped!

"May the Emperor listen to this old minister's words!"

More importantly, he actually practiced Daoism!

How could this be?

"That Xulingzi..."

When the old Daoist said this, his expression also carried confusion: "I cannot see through him, I truly cannot see through him..."

The old Daoist with a face full of vicissitudes sat cross-legged, a faint clear Qi seeming to linger around his body, and asked coldly.

It was just that the opposition was too strong before, such as that Privy Commissioner Tong Jing, who was dressed in a bright red official robe and wearing a black hat with long wings! And Zishi Zhenren and others...

Baowen Pavilion Scholar Jia Yan stepped out and said: "It is rumored that he can subdue fierce tigers, possesses Fire Jujubes, and can cure all diseases! His Daoist name is Xulingzi, and he seems to be someone with true cultivation..."

In short, if the grassroots execution is not good, no matter how good the policy to save the country is, it is useless!

"Reporting to the Emperor, it is indeed true."

At the same time, inside a secret chamber of Dajingang Temple.

"That is very good."

The Emperor was anxious, but there was nothing he could say.

At this time, the treacherous official Jia Yan stood out.

This is why treacherous officials are useful; they can cater to the superior's wishes without bottom lines—which emperor does not like that?

"Not at all, not at all. I must thank you, fellow Daoist, otherwise this matter would not have been accomplished."

There have long been lessons learned in this regard.

Alas, no matter how a feudal dynasty is reorganized, it is actually still rule by man, and it cannot escape the strange cycle of the government ending when the person dies.

"Amitabha... Daoism has manifested in the world; how should the Chongming Dao conduct itself? Since that Xulingzi said the karmic connection has ended, then let it be so," the Abbot said in a low voice.

Curing all diseases and prolonging life—who wouldn't want that?

Huoyunzi lowered his head and sincerely admitted his mistake.

But looking closely, it seemed to have changed; his vitality was flourishing, and the fatal calamity in his fate was gone.

Inside the carriage, Huoyunzi had actually been waiting for a long time, and at this moment, his face was full of shame: "Zhenren... I know I was wrong."

He observed that Xulingzi, who originally had the appearance of an Anti-King, was destined to die a horrible death.

"Your Majesty, as the Thousand Autumn Banquet is approaching, why not summon that Daoist to the palace? The officials and the various Daoist masters of Chongming Dao can also take a look; then, whether it is true or false, will it not be clear at a glance?"

The assembled officials knew it clearly in their hearts; in reality, how could the Emperor, who possessed the secret agents of the Imperial City Department, not know about this matter of Xulingzi?

Although Tong Jing was a Eunuch, in reality, he admired the Confucian school and had always actively leaned toward the civil officials.

……

But at this moment, seeing someone take the lead, other civil officials followed: "Even if Your Majesty wishes to inquire about the scriptures of Taoism... the masters in the palace are sufficient. Rustic Daoists are accustomed to playing god and acting like devils, deceiving foolish men and women..."

"By the Emperor's oral decree, the Daoist master Xulingzi is invited to attend the Thousand Autumn Banquet on the fifteenth of this month!"

The old Daoist was heartbroken.

"I should not have underestimated the people of the world, and even less should I have vainly attempted to monopolize the Hidden Dragon Qi."

How could he not see that the Imperial Court was declining day by day and the national situation was collapsing?

Wushan was also reporting to Abbot Baimei: "Abbot... those Fire Jujubes are indeed as miraculous as described! What should we do?"

Dajingang Temple.

As the discussion went on, a trace of fatigue could not help but appear on the Emperor's face.

And now, after the exposure of the Jiao pears and Fire Jujubes, the situation was vastly different.

After this incident, there would be many twists and turns in the future Daoist path of Huoyunzi.

Therefore, throughout every dynasty and generation, rectifying the administration of officials has been the primary task of the officialdom.

Moreover, because his reputation was so poor and he had weaknesses, dealing with him would be a matter of a single word.

"The person personally selected by the Emperor to attend the Thousand Autumn Banquet has become a fact... as for Daoism?"

But after several blows, he became decadent, caring only for eating, drinking, and pleasure, seeking immortals and inquiring about the Tao.

A group of ministers removed their caps to plead guilty, but what they were thinking inside was truly hard to predict.

Wushan nodded slightly, knowing that Dajingang Temple still held the previous view: to let Xulingzi and Chongming Dao fight it out!

Only, in the heart of this young Buddha Son, a sense of bewilderment arose.

Since Daoism could manifest in Jingcheng, what about the Dharma of Buddha?

(End of this chapter)