"Is Li Heng so easily discouraged when he has such great potential?"

Ning Yi had not previously discussed his desire to leave with everyone. Now that he had brought it up, Yao Zunian, Jueming, Wenren Bu'er, and the others were somewhat surprised.

Among the Qin household, Yao Zunian was advanced in age and had seen the ups and downs of officialdom. Jueming was a member of the royal family before becoming a monk. On the surface, he was a wealthy idler who mediated and smoothed things over. Even if the situation became turbulent, he could always return to his idle life, at most being more cautious in the future and unable to contribute further. However, as a member of the Zhou family, he could never give up on this dynasty. As for Wenren Bu'er, he was one of Qin Siyuan's direct disciples and was deeply involved, so not many people came to persuade him to defect.

Relatively speaking, Ning Yi had much more room to maneuver. Tong Guan and Cai Jing had both shown him favor. Even if he suffered some displeasure now, he could go anywhere in the world next. Although the Qin family's enterprises were being suppressed, they wouldn't just give up after suffering setbacks.

Of course, everyone had seen many young officials who gave up after suffering setbacks over the years. However, Ning Yi was both highly capable and different from ordinary people, so his desire to withdraw was a pity.

Ning Yi shook his head, "A long time ago, when I was reading fantastical novels, I came across a story about... a small gangster from a Yangzhou brothel who went to the capital and accomplished great things for the country and its people..."

At this time, the atmosphere outside during the wake was filled with grief. The people here felt indignant, but since they were sitting and chatting, there were occasional smiles. Ning Yi's smile carried a hint of mockery and weariness. Everyone waited for him to continue, and he paused.

"... This small gangster was a cunning fellow in Yangzhou, who loved listening to storytellers and admired the deeds of the heroes in the books. One day, he actually encountered rebel bandits..."

Ning Yi calmly narrated the story, naturally only in general terms, saying that the small gangster became entangled with the rebels, and then became sworn brothers with them. Although the rebels looked down on him, they eventually brought him to the capital to meet someone and start an uprising. Unexpectedly, he encountered a deeply hidden old eunuch from the palace.

"... In this way, he took the place of the small eunuch, and the old eunuch was blind, so he couldn't recognize him. He plotted day and night in the palace to figure out how to get out, but the palace was heavily guarded, so it wasn't that simple... One day, the managing eunuch of the palace told him to clean the study, and he saw a dozen small eunuchs fighting..."

"... By a stroke of luck, he became like brothers with the young emperor. Later, with the support of the young emperor, he was invincible..."

He told the story simply, and everyone understood his meaning. Yao Zunian said, "The idea behind this story is quite interesting." Jueming laughed, "It's not that simple. Throughout history, there have been cases where the affection between royals was like brothers, or even greater than brothers... Heh, to be more precise, like Dong Xian of the Han Dynasty, if one has great ambitions, one might be able to accomplish great things."

Jueming's laughter in the latter half was somewhat frivolous. Dong Xian of the Han Dynasty was the protagonist of the phrase "broken sleeves," referring to Emperor Ai of Han's affection for him. He was greatly favored, and the two were inseparable, sharing the same bed. One day, Emperor Ai woke up with something to do, but found that his sleeve was being pressed down by the other person. He was worried that pulling the sleeve away would disturb his lover's sleep, so he cut off the sleeve with a knife. In addition, Emperor Ai bestowed countless rewards on Dong Xian, and even said to him, "I want to emulate Yao and Shun in abdication, what do you think?" He even wanted to give him the emperor's throne.

A few years after Emperor Ai's death, Wang Mang usurped the throne.

Jueming spoke provocatively, and Yao Zunian, Wenren, and others smiled slightly.

Ning Yi also smiled, "But if success requires this, then doing things becomes meaningless."

The group fell silent for a moment. Yao Zunian looked at Qin Siyuan, "When His Majesty ascended the throne, he also valued and favored Old Qin in the same way, otherwise, it would have been difficult to have the plan to conquer Liao."

Yao Zunian's mention of this matter caused Qin Siyuan to sigh slightly, "In fact, when His Majesty first ascended the throne, he wanted to be vigorous and make progress, and I often acted decisively, so I suited His Majesty's tastes. This is one time, that is another. His Majesty also has... has more considerations in his heart. However, I have dragged you all into this, and I failed to discern the Holy Will, leading to step-by-step mistakes. Shaohe's death can be considered... a punishment for me."

Speaking of Qin Shaohe's death in such a tone, the old man's tone in the latter half became even more difficult. Yao Zunian shook his head, "His Majesty's thoughts in recent years... Alas, no one expected it, you can't be blamed."

"Now that Taiyuan has been lost, it's too late to say these things if the Jurchens come again." Ning Yi took a sip of ginseng tea, "Let's put aside the matter of playing both sides, I'll return to Jiangning, or seek some friends to take care of me, reopen Zhuji, and become a wealthy man, a local tyrant, or pack up my bags and go further south. I don't want to get involved in the affairs of Bianliang anymore. Although I'm not a small gangster, I'm a Son-in-Law. I've done my best here in the affairs of this world, and that's enough."

"Since it's the affairs of the world, and Li Heng is a person of the world, where can he escape to?" Yao Zunian sighed, "If the Jurchens come again one day, Li Heng also knows that it will surely be a time of great suffering. If you just leave, what will happen to the common people? Although this matter is chilling and hateful, we Confucian scholars should stay here and fight for a glimmer of hope. Being a Son-in-Law is just a small matter, and shedding that identity is easy. Li Heng is a great talent and shouldn't leave."

"Amitabha." Jueming also said, "After this matter, it will be difficult for this monk to play any role in the capital. Li Heng is different, and this monk would also like to ask Li Heng to think again. If you leave like this, the capital will be in great danger."

"Even if I'm here, I'm afraid the capital will be in great danger. This is a great disaster for the Wu Dynasty, not just the capital."

"It's always one more bit of strength. Earlier, Li Heng said that he went north to do things because he saw the suffering of the people and had compassion in his heart. If you leave like this, how will you soothe your compassionate heart?"

"A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen. Seeing their life, he cannot bear their death; hearing their cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh. I do have compassion in my heart, but that is only my personal compassion. In reality, Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. If tens of millions of people in the Wu Dynasty are to be slaughtered, that is the sin and karma of tens of millions of people together. When external adversity comes, what is needed is the resistance of tens of millions of people together. I have done my best. Cai and Tong and their like in the capital are not trustworthy. If the Jurchens descend to the south of the Yangtze River, I will naturally resist. As for the death of tens of millions of people, let them die."

Jueming frowned, "But how can the old people, women, and children in the capital have the strength to resist?"

"However, Heaven and Earth are ruthless, would they spare you just because you are an old person, woman, or child?" Ning Yi's gaze did not change, "Because I am in it, I have to contribute a bit of strength, and so do you all. However, you are contributing for the sake of the common people, and I am contributing for the sake of my own compassion. In terms of reason, regardless of whether they are old people, women, or children, being in this world, besides resisting on their own, what other way is there to protect themselves? They are violated, and my heart is uneasy, but even if it is uneasy, perhaps it will end here."

Then he smiled bitterly, "Of course, I'm mainly referring to those other than them. Hundreds of thousands of scholars, a million-strong court, if they do something wrong, everyone will naturally be beaten. Then let them be beaten, let them escape... I have done my best, and I have risked my life. Perhaps I have left behind illnesses from injuries, which will be difficult to cure in this life. Now that the situation is like this, I have no choice but to escape. Even if there are more deaths, even if I cannot bear it in my heart, I can only treat them as deserving."

His words were cold, and everyone fell silent. After a while, Jueming also sighed, "Amitabha. This monk is reminded of those things that Li Heng did in Hangzhou. Although it seems inhumane, if everyone had the will to resist, if everyone could truly understand this meaning, the world could be at peace for a long time."

Ning Yi laughed, "Master Jueming, you keep talking about resistance, you don't sound like a monk."

"Li Heng's thoughts are different from ours." Yao Zunian said, "That's also good. In the future, if you can write books and pass them down, it won't be a small academic achievement."

Although Ning Yi's statement was cold, Yao Zunian, Jueming, and others were not ordinary people. One person can save tens of millions of people because of compassion, but tens of millions of people should not wait for one or a few people to save them, otherwise they deserve to die. What kind of noble and unyielding will is revealed behind this concept? It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is the true meaning of the ruthlessness of Heaven and Earth.

He originally owed nothing to this world.

Ning Yi shook his head, "Writing and the like are your affairs. When I go to the south, I will operate Zhuji again, and I am interested in running bookshops and private schools. I will print out Prime Minister's collection of books, and if Master Nian and Master have any writings, you can let me earn some money. In fact, this world is the world of the people of the world. I leave, and you retire, how do you know that others cannot support it? Perhaps we are too arrogant."

"May it be so." Yao Zunian smiled, "At that time, even if I am just an idle family elder, my heart will be at peace."

"It's just that the situation in the capital is still unclear, and it won't be easy for Li Heng to withdraw." Jueming instructed, "You are valued by Grand Preceptor Cai and Prince Tong, and it won't be easy to withdraw now. Li Heng, you should be mindful of this."

"I know."

"If this matter is successful, and we have the strength to spare, we will naturally help Li Heng." Jueming said, "Well, if the Way cannot be practiced, I will take a raft and float on the sea. As long as you take care of yourself, there will surely be a time when we meet again."

They chatted about these things and those things for a while. The ups and downs of officialdom and the ebb and flow of power were regrettable, but they were always common occurrences for big figures. With Qin Shaohe's death, the Qin family would not be pressed too hard. Next, even if Qin Siyuan was dismissed and criticized, there would always be an opportunity to rise again. And even if he couldn't rise again, what could they do now besides accepting and digesting this matter? What could they change by cursing the injustice of the upper command and the darkness of the court, and by drowning their sorrows in wine?

After all, these were not the years when powerful ministers could hold sway. There were many forces in the court, and if the emperor wanted to seize Cai Jing's position, Cai Jing could only watch and endure it.

On this day, after the memorial service for Qin Shaohe, the sky was already slightly bright. Ning Yi returned to Zhuji, sat on the roof, and recalled the things that had happened to him along the way. From the spring of Jinghan seven years when he came to this era, to now, it had just been seven years. From an outsider to gradually delving into this era, the atmosphere of this era was actually seeping into his body.

From Jiangning to Hangzhou, from Qian Xiwento Zhou Tong, he went north because of compassion, and originally thought about doing some things. If things were impossible, he would withdraw. With his understanding of the darkness of society, and the resistance he would encounter, it was not without psychological expectations. But when he was in it, he couldn't help but want to do more and better. For this reason, he had indeed put his life and fortune on the line many times, wanting to carve out a path. And in fact, this was already a far greater act than his initial thoughts.

In his initial plan, the things he wanted to do must never endanger his family, and he absolutely did not want to risk his life.

If everything could really be done, that would be a great thing. Recalling these things now, he often thought of the development zone he had messed up in his previous life, the originally bright intention, which ultimately twisted his path. Here, he naturally used many extraordinary methods, but at least the road had not been bent. Even if it was written down, it would be enough to comfort future generations.

If it could be done, that would be a perfect thing.

But of course, life is unsatisfactory eight or nine times out of ten. When Yunzhu was going to do things, he told Yunzhu not to forget her original intention. Looking back now, since he couldn't move forward anymore, it was better to let go. In fact, as early as a few years ago, when he was calculating these things from an outsider's perspective, he had already thought about such a result. It's just that the deeper you get into things, the easier it is to forget those sober admonitions.

It's just that the promise to Hongti has not yet been fulfilled - I'll do it later.

As for this side, let it be Jingkang...

One side loses power, and next, what awaits is the power struggle between the emperor and the court. The following things are complicated, but the direction is set. The Prime Minister's Office may take some self-protective actions, but the whole situation will not be pleasant. Ning Yi and others have already understood this in their hearts. What he needs to do is to preserve as much of Zhuji's truly useful parts as possible during the separation of the Secret Intelligence Division and Zhuji.

Since he had already decided to leave, perhaps it would not be too difficult.

That was how he estimated it.

Historical development is like a rushing torrent. Looking back from the aftermath, if everything at this time was really as Ning Yi, Qin Siyuan, and others had speculated, perhaps the Jin people would still come again after this, or even later, the Mongols would still rise. That demon named Genghis Khan Temujin would still ride iron horses and wield long spears, sweeping across the world, causing the lives of millions of people to fall into hell. But during this period, the fate of the Wu Dynasty might still be slightly different, either extending its life by a few years, or establishing the foundation for resistance.

However, even if the great tide does not change, there are always unexpected waves that collide and rise from the flood. In the third and fourth months of this year, as the situation developed, the emergence of various things still made people feel a little frightened. And just like the dismay brought about by the emperor's sudden change of intention when the Prime Minister's Office was in high spirits, when the signs of certain evil thoughts frequently appeared, Ning Yi and others suddenly realized that the evil thoughts had become so deep and dark, and their previous estimates were still overly simple.

The waves crashed on the reef. The water flowed apart with a roar.

At that moment, the sunset was so dazzling. And then there were the iron hooves galloping, the long spears dancing, the Asura killing, the Azure Dragon splattering blood, the karmic fire spreading, and the long night when millions of living beings in the human world fell into hell...

The disappearance of that last ray of sunlight began with this miscalculation.