Chapter 1304: Ideological Storm! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”You! Outrageous!”
”Teacher, the Confucian school's teachings were always meant to create happiness for the people of the world. Right is right and wrong is wrong. The true foundation of these teachings is what can be meaningful to the people of the world. The theories of the King of Foreign Lands are for the sake of the country. Teacher, peace is naturally not bad, but just like the King of Foreign Lands said, peace is won through effort and safeguarded through strength, not through compromise and withdrawal. Teacher, what if Ü-Tsang, the Eastern and Western Turks, Goguryeo, Mengshe Zhao… these countries really are trying to weaken the Great Tang and only feigning peace and disarmament, waiting for the right moment to immediately attack the Great Tang? If that really is the case, Teacher, have you thought about what might happen?”
”Absurd! If everything is as you think, what hope is there left in this world? Peace should be obtained through teaching, through reforming and civilizing the foreigners. Let them understand that peace and prosperity can be obtained through their own hands, not through war. Are not your current views only encouraging the aggressive nature of the foreigners? If we truly follow this theory, what peace will there be to speak of? To think that a student of mine is actually arguing for such a crooked theory! How disgraceful! I hereby announce that you are now expelled from the school, never again to be a disciple of the Confucian school!”
With these final and deafening words, the entire school fell silent. After a long while, someone finally spoke.
”Many thanks, Teacher!”
A figure emerged from the school, its back relaxed and carefree. Father and son, older and younger brother, neighbor and neighbor, teacher and student… such conflicts were taking place in every part of the capital and all across the realm.
From the publishing of 'Might Makes Right' all the way to the devouring of dog by wolf on the stage, only now did Wang Chong finally complete his plan. And only now did concepts like 'the law of the jungle' and 'the strong eat the weak' truly penetrate into the minds of the people; only now did the people accept them and not simply treat them as words on a page.
This was like a storm that was sweeping over the entire empire with incredible speed. Those swelling cries demanding peace and protesting war instantly became much smaller, and one could no longer see crowds marching on the streets. In contrast, the restaurants, tea houses, inns… everyone had gathered in these places to discuss and debate the new ideas proposed in 'Might Makes Right'.
The resultant clash of ideals, each person having their own opinions and stubbornly clinging to them, only fueled the chaos and turmoil.
Like the spring wind, Wang Chong's book was awakening countless people of the empire from a long slumber and causing them to deeply contemplate their understanding of the world.
For the countries around the Great Tang observing all this, this was a terrible development. All these empires felt a sense of great concern over the great debate taking place.
”I underestimated him!”
On the Tibetan Plateau, outside the royal capital, Dalon Trinling closed his eyes and raised his head, allowing the winds to batter against him and make his robe flutter and snap. At this moment, Dalon Trinling's mind was awash with countless thoughts.
The Confucian school had originally held the upper hand in this conflict. Using the general trend of the world and the exhaustion and longing for peace of the people, it had been able to firmly suppress its foe. If this had been allowed to continue, the Great Tang's decline would have been in the foreseeable future.
Not even Dalon Trinling would have been able to think of a way to reverse this sort of trend.
This was a battle of one person against the entire world, one heart against the minds of millions. From the very beginning, there had been no chance of victory, but Wang Chong had actually managed to win, or at the very least, he had showed the ability to change it all. He had started with a book and then used a wolf and dog as a metaphor for the political situation. At the cost of only the lives of a dog and wolf, Wang Chong had forcefully reversed the trend for peace. Even Dalon Trinling had to sigh in admiration at this feat.
”It was for good reason that this person has been called a major threat to our Ü-Tsang,” Dalon Trinling said to himself. Just through this strategy alone, the King of Foreign Lands had placed himself amongst the finest strategists of the world.
The Yarlung Royal Lineage's Great General, Namri Songtian, suddenly spoke, his eyes tinged with deep concern. ”Imperial Minister, what do we do now? From the current situation, we won't be able to alter the state of the Great Tang. Once the Great Tang's militarists return to power, our Ü-Tsang will be in the first wave of assault. Most importantly, we can't afford failure.”
The Ü-Tsang Empire had lost far too many soldiers and officers over the last few wars, and no longer had many soldiers to use. The only factions with any capacity for battle were the Yarlung Royal Lineage and the army of the royal capital. This was also an important reason Ü-Tsang had chosen to compromise with the Confucian Sect.
”Relax! This war is far from reaching that stage. As they say in the Great Tang, only when the coffin is sealed can one make a conclusion. Although the Confucian Sect has suffered a wave of losses, this is a faction that has been able to persist in the Central Plains for one thousand years and possesses its own incredible traits. I am confident that the Confucian Sect has other moves to make. In addition…”
Dalon Trinling suddenly opened his eyes, his right hand extended out of his sleeve to reveal a letter.
”That old friend of mine in the Central Plains who I became acquainted with long ago should be about to make his move. Send off this letter. Once he receives it, he should know what to do.”
Namri Songtian couldn't help but be taken aback by this letter. Just like all the other Great Ministers throughout the generations of Ü-Tsang, whether they were of the Four Royal Lineages or the Imperial Minister, they would almost always spend some time traveling in the Central Plains before ascending to the post. But since they had not made their name at the time, very few people paid them any attention.
”Yes, your subordinate will do so.”
Namri Songtian quickly took the letter and left.
……
”Pass on my order. Have all three armies ready for deployment.”