Without turning their heads, Meng Qi and the others could naturally sense the appearance of the approaching person.
He was around forty, with a yellowish complexion and no beard, dressed like a retainer, a sword hanging at his waist, his aura connected with heaven and earth—he was clearly an Outer View expert.
“Esteemed sir, what urgent matter brings you here?” Meng Qi asked, puzzled.
The yellow-faced, beardless man chuckled. “I am Zhao Bai, a retainer of Lord Bo Le’s estate.”
He briefly introduced himself, then clasped his hands and said, “Earlier, while on duty outside the hall, I overheard your profound words and felt deeply moved, so I came especially to pay my respects.”
“Brother Zhao, are you from a humble background?” Zhao Heng, standing beside Meng Qi, interjected.
Qi Zhengyan was not skilled in conversation, while Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu disliked debate. Thus, they had previously agreed that Meng Qi and Zhao Heng would handle all verbal exchanges.
Zhao Bai nodded and sighed. “I was a commoner from the Qin lands. I had a rare chance encounter that led to my current cultivation, but in Qin, the social hierarchy is rigid, and the nobility is corrupt. There was no hope for advancement. Later, I heard that Lord Bo Le welcomes retainers without regard for background, treating all equally. Thus, I traveled thousands of miles to Han, which is why I deeply resonate with Master Su’s advocacy of meritocracy.”
In an era where rulers selected ministers and ministers chose rulers, it was indeed an age of collapsing rites and morality…Meng Qi nodded slightly. However, this was favorable for their teachings, as the idea of “valuing talent” had already taken root in the minds of many noble lords with vision.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhao Bai warmly said, “I still have many friends who share similar experiences. I sincerely invite Master Su to my humble home for further guidance.”
He displayed a deep yearning for wisdom and insight.
This surprised Meng Qi. Within Lord Bo Le’s estate, he had merely spoken casually about the current ills and the importance of meritocracy, without even introducing their core doctrines. Yet why was he now being treated like a virtuous sage?
Seeing their hesitation, Zhao Bai urged, “The ills of the world have persisted for too long. The people cannot survive, and scholars cannot thrive. Though we see these problems, we are like blind men on a road, unable to find our way. Even preserving ourselves is difficult. Today, your words have greatly enlightened me, and I sensed that you had more to say, hence my bold request for guidance.”
For this social class, this was indeed a time of confusion and uncertainty. Though Lord Bo Le welcomed retainers without regard for background, and his reputation spread far and wide, he was not a king, and circumstances could change at any moment, leaving Zhao Bai with a sense of instability and pessimism about the future and the state of the world.
They had repeatedly tried to change this situation, but limited by their understanding, they could only rely on martial prowess to curry favor with the nobility. After countless failed attempts and repeated disappointments, even the slightest spark or glimmer of hope was enough for them to grasp tightly. Thus, even though Meng Qi had only spoken briefly about meritocracy, frugality, and modest burials, Zhao Bai felt deeply inspired and hurriedly came to seek guidance.
Meng Qi exchanged glances with Jiang Zhiwei and others. They could all faintly understand the situation and current mindset of Zhao Bai and his companions. Thus, with a barely perceptible nod, they decided to give it a try, to learn more about reality—just as they had persuaded Lord Bo Le earlier—to prepare for future attempts to persuade the smaller states.
From the beginning, the three-month time limit had led them to target smaller, more remote states that lacked the strength to attack others!
After all, we possess secret treasures. What do we have to fear from traps? Meng Qi thought to himself. He turned to Zhao Bai and said, “Lead the way, Brother Zhao.”
Based on Zhao Bai’s current demonstrated strength, even without using secret treasures, Meng Qi was confident that he and Jiang Zhiwei could easily defeat him. His companions could not possibly all be Outer View experts; otherwise, they would already be a significant force within Lord Bo Le’s estate.
Zhao Bai’s face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly led the way, descending from the rammed-earth platform, turning through several alleys, and entering a large house.
He asked Meng Qi and the others to wait briefly outside the hall while he went in to gather his companions. Soon, he reappeared, now wearing loose robes, and bowed. “Esteemed sirs, please come in. Everyone is waiting for you.”
Meng Qi’s expression remained unchanged as he slowly stepped inside. The hall was carpeted with straw mats, and on either side knelt about twenty to thirty people. Besides Zhao Bai, there were two Outer View experts: one in a black robe, cold and holding a sword across his knees; the other with a short beard, his face filled with sorrow, his clothes worn and old.
Upon seeing Meng Qi and the others enter, they all bowed respectfully.
After guiding Meng Qi and the others to their seats, Zhao Bai repeated his earlier words to set the topic, then concluded, “We all agree with Master Su’s advocacy of meritocracy, but in various states, rulers or nobles who can disregard social status and value talent are very rare. First, the hierarchy is rigid, and they look down upon the lower classes. Second, selecting talent from the common people is costly, often requiring the education of thousands to produce a single success. Master Su, do you have any guidance for us?”
Earlier, Meng Qi had been interrupted by Lord Bo Le just as he was beginning to discuss frugality and modest burials, so Zhao Bai was eager to hear the continuation.
Meng Qi paused thoughtfully before saying, “First, practice frugality and modest burials. The nobility indulges in grand construction projects and extravagant palaces, spending vast sums that could educate thousands. Moreover, in pursuit of eternal life after death, they build tombs as luxurious as their palaces, squandering treasures even more extravagantly than palaces. Yet throughout history, how many have returned from death or become immortals or gods? If these two areas could be restrained, where would the funds for education come from?”
He considered that there were no nobles present here, so he temporarily refrained from altering the doctrine of modest burials.
At this moment, the man with the short beard bowed and said, “Master Su, the idea of ghosts and gods is not baseless. The rulers and nobles of various states may be descendants of immortals or offspring of deities. After death, they can ascend to heaven. Asking them to practice modest burials is as difficult as climbing to the sky!”
This was the difference between the world of Fengshen and Meng Qi’s previous life during the Spring and Autumn or Warring States periods…
Meng Qi’s thoughts churned as he spoke slowly, “Throughout history, how many have ascended to become immortals or gods? Some obtained profound cultivation methods and diligently practiced to transcend the mortal realm, while others performed great deeds to benefit the world and were rewarded and enshrined by immortals, sages, spirits, and deities. In ancient times, when King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang, he created a group of gods—ancestors of many present-day rulers and nobles.”
“Thus, it is clear that following heaven’s will and being watched by ghosts and gods, to ascend to heaven after death and become immortal or divine, one does not build grand tombs but accumulates merit and follows heaven’s will!”
“If the rulers and nobles value grand burials and neglect the people, they violate heaven’s benevolent nature. Seeking eternal existence after death while ignoring the people is like wanting to go south but driving north.”
Such arguments had never been heard before. Zhao Bai and others listened in stunned silence, feeling both shocked and deeply reflective, as if this was indeed the correct path, the principle of heaven and earth!
Otherwise, if one neglects diligent cultivation and commits evil deeds, as long as one can build a luxurious tomb, one can become a god and live eternally after death?
Just thinking about it contradicted ancient notions of good and evil!
“Benefiting the world…following heaven’s will, respecting ghosts and gods…” the man with the short beard murmured, while the others wore expressions of deep thought.
Meng Qi exhaled, seeing Jiang Zhiwei’s thumbs-up and Ruan Yushu’s nod, acknowledging his improvisation.
So far, his interpretation of Mohist thought had better adapted to a world where ghosts and gods exist. However, Meng Qi didn’t know that his ideas were increasingly aligning with the views of the ancient Sage of Artifacts rather than being a simple explanation.
Before they could ask again, Meng Qi continued, “Second, the cost of selecting commoners is actually not high.”
“Eh?” Zhao Bai looked at Meng Qi in surprise.
“If cultivation methods are openly taught, and for those below the Outer View, no rare treasures are needed. As long as the population is sufficient and the harvests are good, and herbs are adequately cultivated, the nation and fiefdoms will prosper. The cost of selecting and training commoners would not be too great… and those who pass the initial selection to receive cultivation methods would not be as rare as one in ten thousand.” Meng Qi fully treated this as a rehearsal.
“Selection…openly teaching cultivation methods…” these unfamiliar terms were completely new to Zhao Bai and others, making them feel as if a new door had just opened before their eyes.
In an era where talent was mainly recommended and discovered at the grassroots level, the idea of examination and selection was almost heretical! The black-robed swordsman mused silently. In the south, in the state of Wu, something similar seemed to be happening…
At this moment, the man with the short beard spoke solemnly, “The struggle among rulers is the source of chaos in the world, and what they fight for is nothing but hegemony, fiefdoms, and population. According to your words, wouldn’t this lead to even more conflict?”
He subtly revealed a sense of concern for the nation and its people.
Here comes the main point…Meng Qi straightened his back and said, “Cease warfare, promote agriculture, avoid unjust wars, and prevent the people from dying needlessly. Why would the nation not prosper? Why would there be a need to plunder other states?”
His tone turned “solemn,” “In the current age, the open struggle among rulers is the source of chaos, but in reality, they only know self-love, not mutual love, lacking compassion and mercy. They pursue their own interests at the expense of others. When nations do not love each other, conflicts persist, the strong oppress the weak, cities are destroyed, villages razed, corpses pile for a thousand miles, and bones fill the fields. When individuals do not love each other, the noble oppress the humble, the cunning deceive the simple, and the people are subjected to excessive taxation and forced labor, unable to survive!”
Seeing the expressions of sorrow and heaviness on the faces of those kneeling in the hall, as if they had all experienced similar feelings, Meng Qi’s heart stirred. “Have any of you had similar experiences?”
While abstract discussions can broaden one’s perspective and provoke thought, to truly touch people’s hearts, more than mere words are needed!
Meng Qi’s sudden question caused a moment of silence and awkwardness, as some reflected on his words while others hesitated to speak.
Fortunately, the man with the short beard was deeply interested in the idea of “universal love.” After a moment of thought, he said, “My name is Bai Song. I was originally from the Tang Kingdom, just a farmer in the fields, with parents and siblings. That year, the Chu Kingdom sought to seize nearby land, gathering many Outer View experts to attack Tang. The collateral damage from the battle spread, causing houses to collapse and fires to burn…”
His expression gradually turned sorrowful as he continued, “Our family was not rich, but we managed to survive, always filled with laughter. One night while we slept, the fire spread, igniting our thatched hut. My parents woke first, grabbed us, and tried to escape, but the flames were too fierce to succeed. Later, my father stripped off his clothes to wrap me, disregarding his own safety, and threw me into a well. At dawn, I struggled to crawl out, only to see four charred corpses. My father was holding my brother and sister, just ten steps from the well…”
The atmosphere in the hall turned bleak, as if everyone had been touched, recalling their own painful pasts.
The black-robed swordsman said, “I am Wang Qi from Wu. I was once noticed by a noble who taught me cultivation methods, making me his subordinate. However, his son was cruel and abused my wife and children. In a fit of anger, I killed him. Later, my parents and family were killed, and I barely escaped, fleeing far away…”
He spoke simply, striving to remain calm, but the deep sorrow and hatred could not be hidden.
As they continued their stories, others gradually opened their hearts, sharing their own experiences. In the more sorrowful parts, some couldn’t help but weep. Don’t be fooled by their current skills and status; each of them had their own share of bitterness and hardship in their early days.
In this era of rigid social hierarchy, it was often at great cost that commoners could rise above their station.
Hearing their sobs and their hatred toward the nobility and the wars caused by personal interests, Meng Qi couldn’t help but look at Jiang Zhiwei and others, who all wore expressions of surprise.
The effect of this “suffering-sharing meeting” exceeded their expectations!
Meng Qi had originally thought that among them, there must be a few with painful experiences, and by sharing their suffering, they could deepen their empathy, enhancing their acceptance of universal love, mutual benefit, and non-aggression. However, he hadn’t expected that seven or eight out of ten experts who had risen from the common people would have complaints, with only a few ambitious individuals seeking to achieve something in this chaotic era. Even these few, however, harbored no less hatred and jealousy toward the nobility and rulers!
No wonder Mohism became a prominent school of thought—it resonated with the hearts of those below the nobility…Meng Qi sighed inwardly.
After they finished sharing their stories, their eyes looked at Meng Qi and the others differently. Someone who could pinpoint the root of the problem and propose solutions seemed to be the hope of this chaotic age, offering a path forward in their confusion!
Don’t be fooled by how simple these concepts and ideas may seem. It’s only because predecessors have explored and summarized them that later generations find them obvious, something anyone could think of. But to those hearing them for the first time and feeling deeply moved, these were profound truths!
As Meng Qi was about to delve deeper into the ideas of “universal love and mutual benefit” and “non-aggression,” Bai Song, the man with the short beard, suddenly knelt and declared, “Master Su, you are a man of great talent, deeply understanding the problems of the world. I am not worthy, but I wish to follow you and bring an end to this chaotic age!”
“I am not worthy, I wish to follow you!” The majority of those in the hall followed suit, kneeling.
“The world has long awaited your talent!” Zhao Bai spoke last.
This was too easy…Meng Qi was slightly stunned, but he could understand the mindset of Zhao Bai, Wang Qi, and others, who had long suffered in this chaotic age, wanting to escape but unable to find a way. Right now, they were like drowning men grasping at a branch, hence their intense reaction.
“I think we should accept them. When persuading the rulers of small states, the stronger our strength, the more help we will have, and the easier it will be to succeed. As long as they can pretend for three months, the mission will be accomplished!” Zhao Heng transmitted mentally.
Meng Qi nodded. This was exactly what he had in mind!
But should we really secretly spread our teachings and develop into a tightly organized group?
But this might arouse suspicion from others, bringing unexpected dangers…
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