Chapter 367

Chapter 367

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingdoms, Unification of the World Chapter 367: The Voice of Justice

This decision is very dangerous.

Even Guo Jia thought that showing goodwill to the noble families amidst the current rumors was a suitable choice, but Qiao Yan chose to go against the grain.

What made this situation even more perilous was Zhong Changtong’s age.

If Zhong Changtong were a renowned scholar with established works, using “The Voice of Justice” as a timely publication might not be an issue. But what if Zhong Changtong, who just turned eighteen, is the one behind it?

True geniuses do not confine themselves to the limitations of their era, and it is precisely because of their youth that they are unbound in their speech. However, this also means that if Qiao Yan were to push his various statements to the forefront, he would face far more criticism than anyone else.

“Perhaps they will think that every word in this book was dictated by me, not written by you word by word. Or perhaps they will think that by choosing to publish such shocking statements on my behalf, you have disgraced your scholarly reputation and betrayed your foundational stance. Even so, do you still insist on agreeing to my decision to publish ‘The Voice of Justice’ at this time?”

Before Qiao Yan handed the manuscript over to the printing workshop, she posed this question to Zhong Changtong once more.

Several years ago, Xi Zhicai had once met him at Leping Academy. At that time, “The Voice of Justice” existed only in fragments. But last year, when “The Urgent Chapters” was published, the book had already taken shape through Zhong Changtong’s travels over the years. After another year, the book, having traveled with Zhong Changtong from Chang’an to Luoyang, observing the plight of the Luoyang people in the fourth year of Jian’an, underwent further refinement in its wording, becoming the version Qiao Yan handed to Guo Jia yesterday.

Zhong Changtong replied, “Allow me to address this point by point. Your Lordship worries that someone might question whether the words were written by me, but I, Zhong Changtong, am not a coward. I have no issue sitting down to debate with them. Your Lordship once made a name for herself in Luoyang’s Dingzhong Temple with the theory of the Provincial Governor. Why can’t I follow suit? Though we still need to repair and organize that place first.”

Luoyang had fallen into disrepair years ago, and Dingzhong Temple was no longer a gathering place for renowned scholars. After years of weathering, it had become a dilapidated ruin. Even with Qiao Yan stationed in Luoyang, she hadn’t immediately thought of the place.

Hearing this place mentioned suddenly by Zhong Changtong, she couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

But her thoughts quickly returned to his words.

Zhong Changtong was not a coward—this was not the arrogance of a genius, but a fact.

If anyone else were to write such statements about “human affairs outweighing heavenly principles,” they wouldn’t dare to start the “Chapter on Order and Chaos” with such a line.

He said, “Those heroes who claim to be destined by heaven have never truly possessed the mandate of heaven. Without the mandate of heaven, wars naturally break out. In such times, they falsely claim divine authority and seize territories…”

This statement was like a knife stabbing right into the hearts of past emperors.

Translated, it means that those heroes who were said to be “destined by heaven” to become the Son of Heaven did not actually possess the mandate of heaven. Therefore, there was no divinely ordained Son of Heaven, and naturally, everyone believed they could become the Son of Heaven and vie for the world. In such times of rising heroes, each falsely claimed divine authority to dominate their regions.

If the “wars breaking out” referred to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, then the Han Dynasty’s founding emperor slaying the serpent was also such a destiny.

Even though he later stated that Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Guangwu of Han were “sagely rulers who received the mandate,” it was hard to ignore the shock caused by that opening statement.

He was not just fearless—he was downright audacious!

Zhong Changtong, however, clearly did not think there was anything inappropriate about the words he wrote to express his thoughts. And Qiao Yan, standing before him, was clearly not someone who would be bound by Confucian teachings and restrict his speech.

So he continued without hesitation.

“Your Lordship also worries that someone might suspect me of betraying my scholarly stance. But all words in the world come from people’s mouths. Scholars are merely those who can embellish their speech with literary flourishes and classical references to make their arguments sound more reasonable.”

“Zhong Changtong, though untalented, has taken the courtesy name ‘Gongli’ (Justice). I stand on the foundation laid by Your Lordship to debate with the ignorant!”

As he finished speaking, he bowed deeply to Qiao Yan.

When he rose and met her gaze, it was clear to her that her firm stance against compromising with the noble families was matched by Zhong Changtong’s resolute determination to print “The Voice of Justice” to counter the rumors of the “red qi piercing the Purple Palace” celestial omen.

Justice, justice—this was indeed the most fitting courtesy name for him!

“When I made this decision yesterday, Xun Wenruo came to see me once,” Qiao Yan continued.

If Guo Jia’s suggestion to Qiao Yan to choose the noble families’ classical works for the fourth round of printing was to gain allies, then Xun Yu’s attempt to dissuade her from publishing “The Voice of Justice” was due to his own stance.

“I asked him a question—after witnessing the reconstruction of Luoyang, does Wenruo wish to keep the people ignorant for self-preservation, or to enlighten them for collective progress?”

Zhong Changtong, having long heard of Xun Yu’s talents, asked, “What did Master Xun say?”

Qiao Yan smiled, “He said he hopes you can give him an answer.”

But before Zhong Changtong faced the criticisms from all sides and showed Xun Yu a different possibility, what appeared before the world was still the book “The Voice of Justice.”

At the beginning of the eleventh month of the fourth year of Jian’an, Chang’an was still immersed in the undercurrents stirred by the recent celestial omens, and Qiao Yan remained in Luoyang, not yet returned. Yet on this ordinary morning, the city’s bookstores were filled with newly printed books.

First, there was the literacy book “The Urgent Chapters,” then the geographical atlas “Records of Mountains and Rivers,” followed by the third round of printing of miscellaneous books on agriculture, industry, and medicine, paving the way for the rise of these fields. The common people had not thought that after enduring this year’s drought, the appearance of new books would be an issue.

But when the literate opened this book, they suddenly realized that this was not the same as the previous educational books.

This was a book of discourse!

The dissemination of such discourse through thousands of printed copies was equivalent to the Grand Marshal shoving this statement, which she deemed necessary at this time, in front of everyone.

“What does she mean by this?” Liu Yang’s expression changed as he flipped through the book.

The recent celestial omens and the rumors he had spread in Chang’an made him realize that in the face of immense利益, many wished to see Qiao Yan overthrown. Even if not everyone could sit face-to-face with him to plot assassinations, there were still many who could be drawn to his aid, previously unconsidered.

But before he could turn these rumors into a tangible blow against Qiao Yan, or enjoy this seemingly heaven-sent success for long, he was suddenly met with this counterattack.

Everyone knew how much Qiao Yan’s previous book printing efforts, under the guise of seeking survival for the people, had expanded the literate population and increased the number of people willing to spend money on books.

Once this book was published, it would undoubtedly spread across the world in a very short time.

And when it contained accusations against certain people, it was undoubtedly a sharp knife, striking back when least expected.

Indeed, in Liu Yang’s eyes, this was an accusation.

Because following the earth-shattering statement about “heroes claiming destiny” to found nations was the matter of dynastic collapse.

Printed clearly in black and white was this passage:

“Those foolish rulers who succeeded, seeing that no one dared to oppose them, believed themselves as eternal as heaven and earth. They indulged their private desires, gave free rein to their evil lusts, and both ruler and minister engaged in debauchery, sharing in the same wickedness…”

“Thus, they drained the fat of the world, hacked at the marrow of the living, bred resentment and despair, and calamities arose together. The central plains were thrown into chaos, the barbarians invaded and rebelled, and the state crumbled and disintegrated, vanishing in a single day.”

Liu Yang was furious upon reading this: “Who is this referring to?”

If this was about Emperor Ling of Han, who cast bronze statues, favored eunuchs, imposed heavy taxes, and indulged in pleasures, leading to the Yellow Turban Rebellion and sowing the seeds for Dong Zhuo’s rebellion, it seemed accurate.

Especially the description of indulging private desires and evil lusts, which fit the actions of Emperors Huan and Ling perfectly.

But one must know that such words could not be spoken by Qiao Yan, and Zhong Changtong, who had her approval to publish the book, could not use this statement to accuse Emperor Ling of Han.








The Emperor, after all, her initial regent’s title was granted by Emperor Ling of Han.

Liu Yu certainly does not fit this description.

Everyone knows that this Son of Heaven, though perhaps less capable in terms of military prowess compared to the Grand Marshal who gallops across the land, is a genuinely benevolent ruler, with no flaws in his moral conduct.

So, in Liu Yang’s view, there is only one person who could fit this role—himself!

The so-called foolish ruler of later generations, the one who caused the dynasty to “collapse and vanish overnight,” is precisely the label Qiao Yan used to counterattack Liu Yang after receiving baseless accusations due to celestial phenomena.

Once Liu Yang entertained this speculation, he couldn’t break free from it.

His gaze lingered on the phrase “invasion and rebellion from the four barbarians” for a long time, and he subconsciously thought of Chang’an’s current situation, surrounded on all sides. It felt like a true reflection, or rather, a blatant threat from Qiao Yan.

Just as Chunyu Jia arrived for a visit, he heard Liu Yang suddenly exclaim, “How dare she be so insolent!”

“Why do you say she’s being insolent?” Chunyu Jia immediately responded. “She’s clearly very clever.”

Liu Yang turned to Chunyu Jia, puzzled, and asked, “Why are you still praising her?”

Chunyu Jia shook his head. “I’m not praising her, I’m stating a fact. This ‘Changyan,’ if you read the later arguments, you’ll see it’s not a reckless act of desperation after being provoked, but a well-structured rebuttal.”

It really seemed as Qiao Yan had guessed. When Chunyu Jia and others first got their hands on “Changyan,” they felt it was Qiao Yan expressing her views through Zhong Changtong’s mouth.

But whether these were Zhong Changtong’s words or Qiao Yan’s, it was indeed a highly organized rebuttal to the rumors.

Following the suspicion that the imperial throne often falsely claims divine mandate, it then discusses the true origin of the Han’s “Sage Lord,” leading to the assertion that “human affairs are fundamental, while heavenly ways are secondary.”

“The cleverness lies in shifting from the ruler to the people,” Chunyu Jia sighed. “Your Highness, think about it. While most who can read this book thoroughly are from the upper class, who is the largest group among those who get their hands on it?”

Liu Yang didn’t respond, but he already had the answer in his heart.

It was the masses who had been enlightened by “Jijiu Pian,” “The Book of Songs,” and the Leping Monthly Report.

He continued reading following Chunyu Jia’s words.

In the subsequent discussion of “heavenly ways being secondary,” it was indeed written to resonate with the habits of the common people.

What does it mean that human affairs are fundamental? Let’s start with the “methods of longevity.”

For people living amidst disasters and diseases, almost no one doesn’t want to live longer.

But as Xi Zhicai once wrote when he first met Zhong Changtong—

“Digging nine ren deep to fetch water, chiseling a hundred steps into a mountain to mine metal, cutting wood in the forest without choosing an auspicious day, harvesting grass in the wild without selecting the right time—yet when it comes to building a house or making tools, they worry about omens. Isn’t that delusional?”

“Neglecting ancestral rites, defying the seasons, going against the natural order, yet seeking blessings from inauspicious things and trusting the foolish—isn’t that a mistake?”

To maintain health and smooth career paths, one should harmonize their vital energy, clear their mind, moderate their diet, and control their desires.

If unfortunately struck by illness, one should never seek talisman water from the likes of the Yellow Turban Bandits, but instead seek medical help from the established clinics, while maintaining proper conduct, loving virtue, practicing righteousness, and staying upright. This is the so-called “auspicious method.”

None of these things are determined by so-called “celestial phenomena,” but entirely rely on human decisions and actions.

So, why should one be troubled by claims of celestial omens or divine mandates?

“The previous arguments were just the beginning. This is the first real response,” Chunyu Jia commented.

Zhong Changtong’s years of travel under Qiao Yan’s rule were not spent idly. From the moment his arguments were created, they were deeply rooted in the land heavily influenced by Qiao Yan.

He even summarized his points by returning to actions that align with the seasons, allowing the common folk who found the obscure arguments hard to understand to recognize familiar phrases from the monthly reports and daily life, finding a sense of familiarity.

Chunyu Jia was right—this was indeed the first response.

The second response came several chapters later, discussing the way of governance.

This was indeed not something familiar to the common people, but Zhong Changtong used a cunning method to explain it, in Chunyu Jia’s view.

He said that some local officials, to show their integrity, used skinny horses and broken carriages, refused to bring their families to their posts, declined rewards and promotions, and didn’t offer wine or meat to guests. Such behavior was praised as noble and incorruptible.

Take the “Hanging Fish Prefect,” for example—a typical case.

He wasn’t criticizing such behavior but felt it was too extreme, going against human nature.

People praised them because there was no justice in the court before, and they needed a model who didn’t conform to the corrupt norms. But think differently—if the court was just and upright, would it still be necessary to demand such extreme purity?

He wrote—

“Thus, when obtained through the right path, the people do not consider it extravagant; when taken through the right path, the people do not consider it burdensome. When disasters strike, opening the granaries to provide relief—isn’t that benevolent? When food and clothing are abundant, reducing extravagance to distribute to others—isn’t that righteous?”

Just like the much-criticized Grand Marshal, her generals rode fine horses from the Western Regions and wore the latest cotton clothes. Yet, in years of drought, she opened the granaries to quell chaos and kept grain prices affordable for the people. Why accuse her of indulging herself after gaining supreme power?

This was simply another form of benevolence that could only exist under a just system.

He even wrote at the end of the second response—

“Some say: ‘Power lies with one person, and authority is too heavy.’ I say: ‘Talented people are rare—why worry about their authority?'”

“Talented people are rare—why worry about their authority… What a line!” Liu Yang couldn’t help but grit his teeth.

This statement almost explicitly told everyone that the Grand Marshal was the one with the heaviest authority, but she fulfilled all her duties. In a time when talent was scarce, how could anyone think her authority was too great?

In the nine provinces under the Chang’an court’s control, at least half the population, due to two consecutive years of drought, had a very direct understanding of the phrase “opening the granaries to provide relief.”

Such a relatable interpretation was undoubtedly more convincing than the baseless accusation of “red qi piercing the Purple Palace.”

“Your Highness, we’re in big trouble,” Chunyu Jia said, forcing Liu Yang to rein in his simmering anger.

Indeed, rather than being angered by this incisive argument, they should be more concerned about how to counter it.

The rumors hinting at Qiao Yan were only circulating in Chang’an, but this “Changyan” was definitely not limited to Chang’an.

Given the efficiency of Qiao Yan’s printing workshops, even with transportation delays, these books should already be widespread in the north!

As they expected, this wasn’t just an explosive release in Chang’an.

In Leping, Qiao Yan’s true stronghold, the book had already become a must-have for everyone.

From students to teachers, no one was left out.

Even the disciples guarding Xun Shuang’s tomb in the Taihang Mountains were specially sent a copy.

In this thorough dissemination, even before Liu Yang and Chunyu Jia got their hands on “Changyan,” Lu Zhi, whom Wang Yun had suggested Liu Yang approach, had already received the work.

Though he had read “Changyan” three times, Lu Zhi still fell into deep thought over the final passage.

Zhong Changtong wrote—

“Polishing jade, refining gold, showing benevolence to the people, spreading virtue across the world—let us strive together.”

Lu Zhi couldn’t help but murmur, “This is as clear as water, as reflective as a mirror.”