Chapter 182: Convincing others with reason, therefore being unreasonable

Zhou Tieyi put away the inkstone, raised the spear in his hand again, and pointed it at Wang Qixing.

Being pointed at by the dragon-patterned wooden steel gun, Wang Qixing felt the hairs on his body stand up. It had been a long time... no, it should be said that he had not faced the threat of death so directly since he was a child.

Tianjing is a place of all virtues.

The various major forces are intertwined and throwing a stone may hit a fourth-rank official.

Even though these children of officials are arrogant and domineering on weekdays, they also know how to act according to the circumstances.

Generally speaking, when seeing an opponent with a Taoist heritage behind him, people will be wary of each other. You can use the life and death of your followers as a tool to gamble and fight, but who would personally go out to fight for their life and death?

On the contrary, it was this freak Zhou Tieyi who taught them a hard lesson in the past two months.

Now the political situation has changed suddenly, the emperor has become a Taoist, and the world is on the verge of chaos. Even those of them who are the orthodox descendants of Taoism may lose their lives if they are not careful.

Wang Qixing knew that running away at this time would be the stupidest thing to do...

He thought for a moment, then bowed respectfully to Zhou Tieyi. When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head, even if you are the son of the Minister of the Elephant Department!
Zhou Tieyi smiled triumphantly, but he was not prepared to kill Wang Qixing, the son of the Minister of the Elephant Department.

Killing is a means, not an end.

The killing of Qiao Yongen was a well-planned move. On the one hand, he wanted to use Qiao Yongen to establish his authority so that novelists would not dare to stop him from publishing the Tianjing News. On the other hand, he was preparing to split the novelists and weaken the Confucian discourse power.

This is the real reason why things happen!

This is what His Majesty wants to see, and this is also the biggest rule in Tianjing.

That's why I went to Tianjing Guard to get the document of challenge before I came to your house, just to let Your Majesty know that I will weaken the Confucian discourse power according to your request, and I will do it openly and will definitely not break the rules you set.

He would not bite people indiscriminately like a mad dog, causing the situation, which was already like a powder keg, to get out of control. Instead, he would use a blunt knife to cut the flesh and slowly reduce the authority of Confucianism.

There are many people who can do one of the above two points.

But the only one who can do both of these at the same time is me, Zhou Tieyi.

This is exactly why the emperor favors this jester so much!
As for the reasons on the surface...

Because this peerless genius was scolded by the novelist, he went to Qiao Yongen to challenge him to a duel. In the end, he defeated the novelist's direct descendant, showing the heroic spirit of a young man.

This is a reason for the people to see it, to let the people of the world have an interesting and satisfying story to listen to. Why bother to explain politics to them?

Zhou Tieyi locked onto Wang Qixing's mind and said, "Tell the novelist that if you want to scold me, you'll have to pay the price!"

Wang Qixing realized that Zhou Tieyi would not attack him immediately, and the sense of crisis in his heart subsided. He gritted his teeth and bowed again and replied, "I will take this message back."

He knew that if he bowed to Zhou Tieyi today, he would definitely be looked down upon by other Confucian scholars in the future, but compared with his life, reputation did not seem that important now.

After Wang Qixing had this realization, he suddenly felt that his realm, which had been stagnant for a long time, had actually made some progress.

After letting Wang Qixing pass on the message, Zhou Tieyi made a handsome gun flower in the air, carried it on his shoulder, and walked towards the carriage while laughing loudly, "I, Zhou Tieyi, always convince people with reason!"

After Zhou Tieyi got on the carriage, Jueying let out a neigh and pulled the carriage towards the largest restaurant in Zhuque City. The Zhou guards followed closely behind like a long dragon. The crowd of onlookers watched a good show and naturally dispersed, waiting to tell about the show to people they knew with relish later.

In the crowd, there was an old monk of medium build, with a huge string of Buddhist beads hanging around his neck, who watched the entire battle with a serious expression.

This person was none other than Kūkai, the head monk of the Arhat Hall at Hokke-ji Temple.

The main purpose of his coming to Tianjing was to see Zhou Tieyi, a genius who could comprehend the "Buddha Kingdom in the Palm" in one month.

Although the story of Fengyu Lake had spread throughout Tianjing a long time ago, seeing is believing.

Although because of the distraction of several other third-grade masters, we didn’t see how Zhou Tieyi defeated Qiao Yongen in the dream.

But in the struggle of the real world, when Zhou Tieyi used that strange "Dharma image" to display the "Buddha Kingdom in the Palm", Konghai had already made up his mind.

Du Zhou Tieyi returned to Fahua Temple.

Just relying on a copy of a Buddha painting by Shenxiu, he was able to open up a new path for the first-class Buddhism. If Zhou Tieyi really saw the complete [Buddha Kingdom in the Palm], then...

Thinking of this, Kūkai’s Zen heart became restless.

There are only four big characters.

The Buddha's kingdom is coming.

Saving just one person is equivalent to saving tens of millions of people!

The only question now is how to spend it?
Thinking of this, even Kūkai, the head of the Arhat Hall of the Hokke-ji Temple, could not help but sigh in his heart, recite a Buddhist mantra, and then strode forward towards Yujing Mountain.

With Konghai's magical powers, he arrived in front of the plaque of the twelfth floor in less than half an incense stick. Konghai first glanced at the kneeling Mei Qingchen, and sighed again in his heart, this is also a person who can be saved, but unfortunately it is also difficult to save.

Everyone says that Buddhism does not save people, but how do we know that there are people who cannot be saved by Buddhism?

Kūkai did not go forward to talk to Mei Qingchen. Instead, he came to the side door in front of the Zhengwu Gate, handed his Buddhist disc to the eunuch, and asked him to go in and inform the Queen of Heaven.

The eunuch knew that Kūkai's Buddhist disc belonged to a top-three-rank monk, so he did not dare to neglect it and rushed in to report. After a while, Shi Haijun, the chief eunuch of the Tianhou Palace, came out in person to greet him.

"I have met Master Kukai."

Kong Hai returned the greeting seriously, "Meeting General Shi."

Following Shi Haijun to the Yongning Palace of the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother was writing an article at her desk. The Tianjing News was about to be published. Even though she was the Queen Mother, she was urged by Zhou Tieyi to submit the manuscript.

"I have met the Queen Mother of Heaven. I wish her good health."

Kūkai raised his palms in salute.

The Queen put down the pen in her hand, sat on the throne, and said with a smile, "Master Kukai, there is no need to be polite. Please take a seat."

Shi Haijun personally brought a chair, and after Konghai thanked him, he sat down calmly.

The status of a third-rank practitioner is extraordinary, and it is almost a rule for them to be granted a seat in the imperial presence.

Kong Hai went straight to the point and recounted what he had seen when he went to watch the game today.

The Queen listened carefully and then said with a smile, "It seems that Fahua Temple really wants to accept him as an abbot."

Kūkai came to see me today, so of course he wouldn't do it without a purpose.

Zhou Tieyi is now so deeply involved and the power behind him is so great that even the Fahua Temple, one of the four holy sites of Buddhism, needs to think again.

If he wants to convert Zhou Tieyi to Taoism, it is definitely not a matter of converting one person alone. He needs to gain the consent of all forces and finally join forces to force the Taoists to surrender, just like he imprisoned his mother Zhou Yulong in Tianjing.

Without waiting for Kukai to answer, the Queen said frankly, "The time is not right yet."

Kūkai was not disappointed with this answer, but instead had joy in his eyes.

If the time has not come yet, then it means that the Queen has seen the possible opportunity tomorrow!
After getting a relatively satisfactory answer, Kong Hai thought of another thing and said, "Shen Xiu has been upset because of Zhou Tieyi's matter. I originally used the orthodoxy to help him calm his mind, hoping that he would be able to win the gambling fight in a dozen days. But today, seeing the Buddhist teachings that Zhou Tieyi has realized, I am really happy and worried."

Zhou Tieyi was able to comprehend the [Buddha Kingdom in the Palm], and he had obviously found a new way. So with his instruction, Zhou Tiege, who had the same father and mother, would also have a high probability of comprehending it.

He did not have any luck in this matter, because recent events have proved that he must not take any chances in matters related to Zhou Tieyi.
Even if Zhou Tiege is not as amazing as Zhou Tieyi, he is still good enough for Shenxiu.

This is naturally a matter of both joy and worry.

The Queen thought about it seriously and said, "If it is really a rough jade, how can it not experience the wind and frost?"

Then she looked at Kong Hai, "Zhou Tiege and Zhou Tieyi are both people that His Majesty wants to use. You in Fahua Temple are not planning to bring both of them in, right?"

Even though they belong to the same Buddhist camp, Tianhou and Fahua Temple do not agree on certain issues.

Hearing the knock of the Queen of Heaven, Kong Hai felt bitter inside, his joy faded, and he quickly stood up and replied, "I dare not."

······
Suzaku City, Baiwei Tower.

Zhou Tieyi readily packed another layer and let his personal guards share it with him.

Soldiers are the general's confidence.

After today's battle, Zhou Tieyi's understanding of this sentence became even deeper.

The increase in combat power brought by training personal guards is not much slower than practicing day and night, provided that one is able to control the soldiers under his command.

So to train elite soldiers, it is natural for Han Xin to select soldiers, the more the better.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhou Tieyi looked at the several military heroes who were specially summoned today.

He raised his glass and said with a smile, "Brothers, I have a problem and need your help."

Yao Shiqian, the legitimate son of a general with a miscellaneous title, hurriedly said respectfully, "Brother Zhou, just tell us if you have anything to say."

In the Daxia military system, generals are divided into important generals, special generals and miscellaneous generals. Important generals are fixed military positions in the central government, and each important general can theoretically lead a full-scale war.

The Si Bing was also called the General, followed by the Left General, the Right General, the Front General, the Rear General, the Four Expedition Generals, and the Four Town Generals.

It’s just that the position of general is not easily granted even in Daxia. It is usually only held by a second-rank military commander and cannot be passed down to descendants.

Under the important title of general, because the military practice in this world is closely related to the soldiers under his command, the title of general was established.

The so-called "titles" are the names bestowed by Taizu when he divided the legions under his command when Daxia was founded, such as "Tiger Power Army" and "Flying Bear Army".

This is not just a name, but also refers to a military tradition that can be inherited. The military practitioners who hold this tradition, even if they have not reached the second rank, have a much higher possibility of reaching the third rank than ordinary people. This can serve as the foundation for aristocratic families, and therefore they share the same destiny with the country and are invaluable.

To kill a titled general means to completely remove an entire legion from Daxia. For the Emperor of Daxia, this is something that needs to be done with caution.

Therefore, in the 300 years since the founding of Daxia, only four generals with titles were removed from the list.

After them are generals with miscellaneous titles. The weakest of these generals are only fourth rank, while the strongest can be third rank. However, the soldiers under their command are not enough to pass on their ranks, so their ranks rise and fall, and the weaker titled generals are one level higher.

Zhou Tieyi took out a few pieces of paper. These were the remaining documents of the fight from the Tianjing Guards, and the time and place were not yet filled in on them.

"I want you to take this document and help me get hold of the novelist."

He killed a chicken to scare the monkeys today, and the effect of establishing his authority has already been seen.

This power is not only for the enemy to see, but also for the subordinates to see.

No matter how powerful he is, how could he control all the novelists in Tianjing by himself?

Today, because of a surprise attack, one of the novelist's direct descendants was killed directly.

But others are not fools. Even if they can’t beat you, they can always avoid you. They won’t come to you to give themselves up.

There are so many storytelling houses in Tianjing, how many can Zhou Tieyi take care of by himself?

Therefore, this requires the use of the dandy young man among the military merits.

A major characteristic of the so-called dandy boys is that they love to show off.

How can showing off in front of ordinary people be as refreshing and bring more emotional satisfaction as showing off in front of a Taoist sect?

It’s just that in the past, after measuring their own abilities, everyone only dared to show off in front of ordinary people.

But today, Zhou Tieyi opened a new door for them and taught them how to show off their power.

Let them show off in front of the Taoist orthodoxy, and there are people to back them up. They can also get in touch with Zhou Tieyi, the peerless genius. Which playboy would refuse such a good thing?
Seeing the document of challenge on the table, the military heroes and Zhou Tieyi all smiled.

Yao Shiqian and the other playboys looked at each other, and then Yao Shiqian said, "Brother Zhou, what are the specific rules?"

If it was a month or two ago, they would definitely not ask so many questions in such detail, but after Mei Qingchen submitted a "Petition for Apology", everyone had been beaten a lot recently, so naturally they had become smarter.

"Charter?"

Zhou Tieyi picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and then said, "Don't hurt ordinary people, and fight for me, your brother. If you go to trouble the novelists, remember to bring your guards with you, and don't let them step on you. If the young geniuses of the novelists dare to take action, hand over the letter of challenge and let them come to me."

Zhou Tieyi didn't have to consider the situation of the upper third rank taking action. Using the upper third rank to deal with a few dandy warriors with military honors would be truly bullying the weak. This was the rule among the entire upper nine ranks.

It's not impossible to break this rule, but it would require a huge price to be paid. Using it on a few playboys would not hurt Zhou Tieyi at all, so it's really not worth it.

Yao Shiqian immediately nodded and said, "Don't worry, Zhou Ge'er, we know the seriousness of this matter."

Zhou Tieyi nodded.

His Majesty wants to use me as his henchmen, so aren't these playboys useful henchmen to him?
It may not be possible to let them do the right thing, but as long as you are in an advantageous position, they will be the best hounds, and may even be able to help you distract some of the energy of Confucianism.

After the meal and the wine were full, Zhou Tieyi waited for the playboys to leave, and then he said to Shen Tuyuan alone, "Keep an eye on them. If anyone uses my name to do something secretly and doesn't follow the rules... you know how to deal with them."

Shen Tuyuan showed a knowing smile, "Don't worry, General."

Suzaku City, Yun Palace.

This place is half in the real world and half in a dream.

If necessary, the novelist can also temporarily come here through a secret treasure called "World Monument".

Today's events have far-reaching impacts, so Elder Shan activated the 'World Monument', connecting many storytelling halls throughout Daxia.

One after another figures appeared out of nowhere, shadowy and with different expressions.

Qiao Yongen's "corpse" had been transported back here from Tai'an Garden and placed among the crowd.

The bigwigs of the novelist community examined the body and finally came to the definite conclusion that Qiao Yongen's spirit had been completely shattered and worn out, and what was left was just an empty shell.

"Master Shan, Zhou Tieyi killed someone in broad daylight. Please help us!"

A direct descendant of a novelist was shocked and spoke.

Because of his practice of "seeing the world", he would leave Tianjing and travel around the world from March to April every year.

Now thinking about it, I am really lucky. If I had stayed in Tianjing in March or April this year, the danger would probably be no less than guarding the border at Sunset Pass.

Old Shan pondered in silence.

How to decide this matter?
He looked up at a figure that was descending from the sky, and said with a sigh, "Brother Hong, I am sorry for your loss."

The figure kept his eyes on Qiao Yongen's body. Even when Elder Shan spoke, he took a long while to look away and just hummed lightly.

Anyone who has lost a disciple who inherited the Taoist tradition would not feel good now. The fact that he did not directly call for fighting and killing showed that he was thoughtful.

Old Shan looked at Hong Shigui. Of course he knew how to deal with it.

However, this approach may once again irritate the "loyalty" faction and even cause a split among their fellow novelists.

If this is true, Zhou Tieyi will only take advantage.

Therefore, he couldn't say it out loud. He needed Hong Shigui, or the Confucians behind Hong Shigui, to express their opinions first and come up with a plan.

No matter what plan they come up with, it will be sent by "Zhongyi" to execute, and it has nothing to do with me.

Hong Shigui also knew that Elder Shan was not just asking him to mourn, so he just nodded and paused, causing the entire Yun Palace to fall into a strange silence.

The silence was soon interrupted by someone who brought back a message from outside.

"Everyone, just now a few military meritorious dandies took advantage of the situation to smash several large storytelling buildings, and they also threatened that if we novelists don't give an explanation, then every time we build a storytelling building, they will smash it. Not only Tianjing, but also the storytelling buildings in the main mansions of the forty-nine states, we must not give them a chance to catch us."

The biggest advantage of a dandy is that, compared to other people, he doesn't have to care about his reputation at all and can be unreasonable.

Anyway, before he fights for the right to speak, Zhou Tieyi estimates that his reputation will never improve, so he might as well continue to be a playboy.

Otherwise, being scolded by others for no reason and getting no benefit at all would be a huge loss, wouldn't it?
Such a blatant provocation shocked and angered the novelists present.

"What a beast!"

"It must be that villain behind this!"

"Is there no one in the world who cares about such a heinous thing?"

"Who do they think they are? Please let me sit on the first floor and see who dares to smash it."

"No."

……

In an instant, the entire Yun Palace changed from an eerie silence to a noisy conference hall. Everyone was talking, but no one got to the point.

"All right."

Hong Shigui suddenly spoke and asked everyone to be quiet.

"As for Yong En's matter, he was not as skilled as others. It is also a matter between my lineage and the Zhou family. You must not be implicated."

After Hong Shigui finished speaking, voices of praise and winning over rang out.

"Brother Hong, why do you say that? We novelists are of the same blood and will definitely not let you suffer in vain. Oh, by the way, I happen to have a 'Five-Colored Ganoderma' in my hand..."

"Senior Hong is a righteous man, but now the traitors are in power."

"The name 'Peerless Jester' was indeed not wrong. I think we were too kind to him. We should have called him 'Demon of Troubled Times'!"

If someone has paid a price, everyone will naturally say good things.

(End of this chapter)