Chapter 124: New Learning of the Hundred Schools, Writing Books and Establishing Traditions

Cold wind blew in gusts outside the window.

The room was filled with the aroma of wine.

Pushing open the door, a mix of wine fumes and heat rushed into one's nose.

It made one want to stomp their feet to warm up.

It would be best to have two taels of "Roasted Knife" liquor, paired with a dish of kidney beans; that taste would be absolutely wonderful.

Li Xiang walked in and looked around.

The small tavern was already scattered with quite a few people, sitting in twos and threes, drinking, playing finger-guessing games, and chatting idly.

Most of the guests who came here were dressed simply, at most wearing a clean cotton coat.

These people were mostly city workers, small vendors, and some disciples of the Hundred Schools who had come to support the city's construction recently.

As for the wealthier masters, rich households, and Confucian scholars, they would absolutely never come here.

Such a noisy place would disturb their peace.

After searching a bit, Li Xiang saw Lu Ban and Bian Que sitting in the northeast corner of the room.

Li Xiang walked over himself, and just as he approached, he heard the two seemingly arguing about something.

"It's too outrageous."

"These Confucian scholars are too outrageous. They clearly don't understand anything, yet they are here meddling and giving random orders."

"Brother Lu, calm your anger, Brother Lu, calm your anger."

"They are all people who only talk on paper. I really don't know what the Prefecture Governor is thinking by sending them here?"

"Could it be that he couldn't stand them saying 'zhi, hu, zhe, ye' in his ears all day, causing his ears to grow calluses?"

"Hahahaha, interesting, interesting. The Prefecture Governor is probably annoyed to death by them too."

The two argued while laughing at the same time.

When they reached a happy point, they even picked up their wine cups and drank with a few kidney beans; it was truly satisfying.

Li Xiang listened carefully from the side.

It seemed that more Confucian scholars had arrived in the county. These scholars from the prefecture city were very arrogant and looked down upon the actions of Lu Ban and the other Hundred Schools disciples, pointing fingers and causing Lu Ban to fly into a rage.

"Brother Lu, why bother getting angry over these trifles?"

"Now that Confucianism is powerful, we should just endure it for now. Wait for the coming days, and you will see, this world will inevitably be the world of our Hundred Schools."

"These pedantic people will eventually be left behind by the era."

Bian Que picked up his wine cup and sighed longly.

"It's just a pity, I don't know if our generation will be able to see that day."

"Why think so much? Today, Brother Lu, you broke through to the Seventh Grade; it is a cause for celebration, we should drink a big cup!"

"Come, come, fill it up, fill it up!"

As they were exchanging cups and drinking, the two were talking.

Suddenly, they saw Li Xiang beside them, which actually gave Lu Ban a fright, causing the kidney bean in his mouth to fly out.

"Good lad, why didn't you say anything when you came?"

"I didn't even feel you arrive, strange, strange."

"Come, come, sit down, sit down. Today is a celebration; do you want to have a cup of wine too?"

As he spoke, Lu Ban picked Li Xiang up from the side, placed him on a stool, and pushed a dish of kidney beans toward him.

"Hahahaha, Brother Lu, don't tease the child!"

"Come, come, drink, drink!"

Bian Que said, while calling the waiter to bring a jar of "Apricot Red" from the back.

This was a specialty of the Yao Family Tavern; it was said that the ones who brewed the wine were teenage girls who picked apricot blossoms and put them into the grain to brew.

If one smelled carefully, one could even seem to smell the body scent of a woman.

Of course, the fact that there were no women in the Yao Family Tavern was a mystery.

"No, no, if I drink too much, I'll miss work hours tomorrow."

"Then those Confucian scholars will find an excuse again, and I don't know how they will criticize you and me."

Lu Ban drank the last cup and said somewhat angrily.

"Heh, sooner or later, I'll make that guy understand who is the mainstream."

Listening to the two arguing.

Li Xiang spoke softly, asking the question that had troubled him for a long time.

"Master Lu, Mr. Bian, what exactly is the difference between the Hundred Schools and Confucianism?"

"Why have I never been able to figure it out?"

Looking at the little guy.

Bian Que smiled and brought over a plate of kidney beans.

"Hey!"

"Good lad, come, let me test you."

"Do you know Confucianism? What does Confucianism cultivate?"

Li Xiang thought for a moment.

"Naturally, it is reading the teachings of the sages, understanding the principles of heaven and earth, comprehending the Great Dao, and comprehending the sages of old."

Bian Que nodded.

"Naturally, that is correct."

"But do you know where the power of Confucianism comes from?"

"From the Human Race itself?"

"Ah? How do you know?"

Bian Que was stunned for a moment, and the wine cup he was holding hung in the air.

He was very surprised; how could a child say the core key of Confucianism?

"Hehe, when I was with my teacher before, the teacher talked about it a bit."

Li Xiang prevaricated.

In his mind, however, he recalled the appearance of Bai Ze. At that time, observing Bai Ze's cultivation, it seemed very close to the Confucian Dao, but it was terribly broken.

For a long time, Li Xiang had been puzzled.

Immortal Dao cultivates truth, Martial Dao tempers blood and Qi.

Only the Confucian Dao was very magical.

Reading books and understanding principles could draw Haoran Qi into the body, gaining the blessing of Confucian cultivation.

It was truly very strange.

It was said to trigger the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao is unkind, treating all things as straw dogs, so it is impartial; why would it favor the Human Race?

Especially as Bai Ze said, in ancient times, the Human Race was almost exterminated, and that era had never heard of the Confucian Dao.

Therefore, Li Xiang speculated that the so-called Confucian Dao should be the Dao of the Human Race itself, which could be considered the power of Humanity, the power of living beings.

Confucian Dao understands principles, and its actions are mostly beneficial to the Human Race.

This Dao must be the Dao of living beings!

Sure enough, Bian Que soon told him about the origin of the Confucian Dao.

This was originally a special power triggered by being beneficial to the Human Race, and later, in order to greatly flourish the Confucian Dao.

Three Confucian scholars covered the sky with one hand and forcibly hammered the concept of the existence of the Confucian Dao into the Heavenly Dao, which led to the flourishing of the Confucian Dao.

Even after cultivating Haoran Qi, one could suppress all spirits and obliterate evil spirits; it was simply domineering.

It's just that now Humanity is gradually declining, and the Confucian Dao has also fallen a lot.

"We've strayed too far, strayed too far."

"Little guy."

"Didn't you ask where the difference between the Hundred Schools and Confucianism lies?"

Bian Que stretched out his hand, and a pale cyan Qi floated in his palm.

Leaning his head to look, one could even seem to smell the fresh fragrance of grass and trees from it.

"Look, what is the difference between this and Haoran Qi?"

"It seems similar, but it feels very different."

"It seems, it seems it doesn't rely on the Heavenly Dao?"

Li Xiang spoke softly, which surprised Bian Que, his gaze changing repeatedly.

"Whose disciple is this, how so intelligent."

"Do you have a master? If not, come to my Grass Hall and study the Medicine Canon with me."

As he spoke, Bian Que wanted to take Li Xiang's hand, two rays of light falling from his eyes, not a trace of drunkenness to be seen.

At this age, to be able to understand the essence of the Confucian Dao and point out the difference between his own power and Haoran Qi.

Bian Que was shocked!

This was too outrageous.

A heaven-sent talent!

This child is fated with me!!

"Uh uh, I, I have a teacher."

"Sor, sorry!"

In an instant.

Bian Que's gaze petrified, his entire aura plummeted, which made Lu Ban beside him laugh uncontrollably.

Sure enough, this pain could not be borne by him alone.

Seeing the pain of not being able to take in such a heaven-sent talent, you should also feel it well, my dear friend!

Idle talk aside, after some noise.

The two mocked each other a few times, and after finishing a few dishes of wine, the topic was finally brought back.

"The theory of the Hundred Schools is more like a new learning."

"Now that Humanity is weak, the cultivation of the Confucian Dao is not as smooth as before; just reading books and chanting scriptures is already very difficult to obtain feedback from the Heavenly Dao."

"It is more about entering the world and making contributions to the Human Race."

"Our current Hundred Schools actually simplify the 'questioning the heart' of Confucian cultivation and are more inclined to obtain power by making contributions to the Human Race."

"It is closer to the original Dao of living beings."

Bian Que explained concisely.

Now that the saints are not appearing, the Confucian Dao is increasingly declining, and there must be reforms to revitalize this Dao.

Do you not see that major dynasties are now encouraging the cultivation of the Confucian Dao, and Confucian scholars can even be exempted from taxes and corvée labor, receiving grace from the imperial court?

However, within the Confucian Dao, there are still not many Great Confucians born.

It can be seen how difficult the cultivation of the Confucian Dao is now.

In such an environment, there should be reforms!

When poor, change; when changed, pass through; when passed through, last long.

The Hundred Schools are the product of the present, abandoning the 'questioning the heart' cultivation of Confucianism, opening the Dao, starting from the grassroots, and benefiting all people to obtain power.

It is just that such actions have aroused the indignation of many orthodox Confucian cultivators, who bluntly say that rites have collapsed and music has been ruined, and the Dao and Dharma have been lost.

What the Hundred Schools cultivate is closer to the people, not as high-brow as the Confucian Dao, so it is inevitable that they will be ridiculed by others.

But no matter how they ridicule.

The trend of reform has already risen, and the Qingyun Wengong has already nodded.

Just seeking to re-enact the trend of the Hundred Schools Contention, pushing through the old to bring forth the new, no matter who is right or wrong, let time verify it.

It would be best to use this collision of trends to walk out a saint.

However, reform is still difficult; the traditional Confucian forces are really too large, deep-rooted, and difficult to shake.

Even heaven-sent talents like Lu Ban and Bian Que can only start from these border towns.

As they spoke, it turned from explanation into complaint.

Everyone seems to only support their reform verbally.

When it comes to implementation, there are troubles everywhere.

The imperial decree is like waste paper, only useful within the capital.

Once out of the capital, thousands of Confucian scholars look down on their group of Hundred Schools disciples.

They don't believe they can achieve anything.

Although many figures have emerged from the Hundred Schools in recent years, none of them have been able to truly shake the general trend; they are all just spinning around at the bottom.

Many Third-Grade Great Confucians have emerged.

But, a Saint!

Even a Half-Saint would do!

But there is not the slightest sign.

Thus, it is inevitable that the Hundred Schools will be ridiculed.

Only in Great Liang are the Hundred Schools barely considered prosperous, with the Liang King seeking change, splitting Confucianism, and turning one lineage into a hundred.

But even so, the Hundred Schools still cannot truly compete with Confucianism; outside of Great Liang, the Hundred Schools are still extremely difficult.

"Is there a possibility?"

"I mean, a possibility?"

"That is, we seek change, there is no need to change so thoroughly."

"Take its essence, remove its dross."

"I roughly understand, the Hundred Schools are the new body of Confucianism, the product after reform."

"With serving the Human Race as the core, building the Human Race as much as possible, lighter on culture, and heavier on practice."

"Avoiding the shortcomings of the decline of Humanity and the Heavenly Dao no longer favoring the Human Race, allowing Confucian cultivators to break through cultivation more simply."

"Right?"

Bian Que and Lu Ban nodded.

This kid's comprehension is a bit outrageous.

At this age, to be able to understand the changes in the general trend is very extraordinary.

However, immediately after, Li Xiang spoke again, which directly plunged the two into shock.

"But?"

"Must we change everything?"

"Confucianism has been passed down for ages, and there must be its essence. Questioning the heart and seeking the Dao, bestowing grace on all people—this is an extremely perfect cultivation process."

"Completely abandoning it might be a bit too outrageous."

"All saints have teachings; just blindly working and serving, how is it different from a machine?"

"Could it be that the cultivation of the Hundred Schools, when cultivated to the end, will be cultivated into a stone, a piece of equipment that only knows how to serve the Human Race?"

Li Xiang asked somewhat surprised.

The reform of the Hundred Schools seems to have changed a bit too outrageously.

It has a bit of the flavor of the extreme changes of Zhu-Cheng Neo-Confucianism.

Deviating from the original heart, a bit obsessed.

Hearing what Li Xiang said, the two were suddenly slightly stunned.

It seems it really is so.

Since the two began their cultivation, they have valued practice over culture, not doing homework on the stories of saints, just blindly pushing through the old to bring forth the new, wanting to better perfect the Dao of the Hundred Schools.

After pondering for a while.

Bian Que spoke.

"Little Master, can you elaborate?"

"What is meant by teaching and transformation?"

Li Xiang frowned and began to ponder.

"Confucian classics are all written by predecessors."

"What are they seeking?"

"Naturally, it is to nourish all living beings in the world, to seek enlightenment, to no longer be dull, to no longer eat raw meat and drink blood."

"This is teaching and transformation."

Just hearing what Li Xiang said.

The two frowned again.

"Not so."

"This cannot solve the problems the Hundred Schools are currently encountering."

"Writing books and establishing traditions, bestowing grace and spreading wisdom—the Hundred Schools have not done badly, but the acceptance level of Confucian scholars is too low."

"There are many academies in the capital, where Great Confucians of the Hundred Schools give lectures, but there are few who are willing to listen."

"Although the cultivation of the Hundred Schools is easier to cross the limitations of heaven and earth and ascend to the position of Great Confucian, there are very few willing to follow."

"This is not because they are unwilling to practice the virtue of teaching and transformation, but because teaching and transformation are not accessible."

Lu Ban said.

At this time, he had already had all the wine and food in front of him cleared away.

He and Bian Que no longer treated Li Xiang as a child, but were discussing the current changes of the Hundred Schools with him very formally.

Naturally, there are people in the Hundred Schools who write books and establish traditions, performing the act of teaching and transformation, but the effect is very poor.

Any reform, if one wants to push it, will encounter resistance.

And this behemoth of Confucianism, which has been passed down for countless years, is especially so when it comes to reform; the involvement is unimaginable.

Li Xiang was stunned.

Taking a slight breath, he asked curiously.

"Why do you all think."

"That the act of teaching and transformation can only teach Confucian scholars."

"Could it be that these common people in front of you are not the Human Race, and are not worthy of teaching and transformation?"

As the words fell.

A ray of light flashed in the eyes of Bian Que and Lu Ban at the same time.

In the dark, they seemed to sense their path to becoming Great Confucians.

Not even Seventh Grade, yet they felt the future path of a Great Confucian.

This is simply unimaginable.

Just pondering for a long time, but they couldn't think clearly.

Suddenly, they saw Bian Que actually stand up, shook his clothes on the side, and straightened his clothes and hat.

Then he bowed heavily to Li Xiang.

"Little, Little Master."

"The student is dull, please enlighten me, Master!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 125 =====