Chapter 601 Rong Zhen: Ouyang Lianghan, do you teach me how to do things? [8k5 two-in-one, please vote for me!]
What belongs to the empress belongs to the empress, and what belongs to Yuan Jun belongs to Yuan Jun.
After Li Yu said this just now, Rong Nushi and Lao Yangtou were silent for a moment.
Then a trace of murderous intent suddenly rose in Rong Zhen's eyes, which were full of doubts and confusion.
Rong Zhen didn't understand why Li Yu, who had always abided by the law and was a good citizen of Zhou Dynasty, did this.
Even if Li Yu told her that he supported Li Zhengyan's rebels under the banner of Kuang Fu Li Gan, it would be better than being "inexplicable" like now.
At least Rong Zhen can understand a little bit and feels better.
Because according to the logic of this classical era, if the king is really unruly and the people are unlucky, it does mean that the divine power of the king has been lost, the country is in decline, the situation is precarious, the Jiuding can be left aside, and the destiny of heaven is no longer there.
But there will be a new destiny, a new dynasty, and a new emperor.
In the eyes of the two men, who were born in the violent organs of the Zhou Dynasty and had long been blessed with divine grace, the current emperor is the representative of the divine right of kings.
The monarch is the representative and supreme leader of the country and has supreme power.
Theocratic and royal power were combined together into an almost unbreakable feudal imperial power.
But this so-called "Yuanjun" belief can say "no" to it...
So this is one of the reasons why Ouyang Rong stepped forward and rescued Li Yu.
He is curious.
I am curious about what kind of faith this Yuanjun has. There are so many potential believers in the hometown of Wuyue, who can fight against the feudal imperial power of the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
He even said something like, "What belongs to the Empress belongs to the Empress, and what belongs to Yuan Jun belongs to Yuan Jun."
Ouyang Rong sighed softly.
This Li Yu was a little surprise he encountered today...
"Ouyang Lianghan, I don't understand, what are you doing?"
"Didn't I just say it in the water prison? I am trying my best to see if I can save the people under my control and let the lost sheep find their way back."
"I have already tried it, but it doesn't work."
"Standing by and watching with nothing to do with yourself, a lowly official can't do anything."
Inside the state prison, there is a dark, narrow, and smelly corridor.
After Ouyang Rong pulled Li Yu ashore from the puddle, he temporarily left the water prison and went straight to the prison cell.
Rong Zhen also caught up and asked the handsome young man who was walking in front of him with a carefree and unrestrained pace, his pretty face looked a little confused.
The figures of the two are one behind the other.
After a while, Rong Zhen took the initiative and asked:
"Do you have any objections to my actions?"
"No."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
"That means... when you just watched the waterboarding, you also felt compassion?"
Rong Zhen said in a cold tone:
"I tell you, it's useless. I used to be the same as you, with some compassion, but now I see that the poor people must be hateful. Don't waste your efforts. In the end, you will still be the same as me. deal with."
Ouyang Rong looked calm:
"No, I don't want to correct him, I just want to have a chat. If possible, it's better to take the last ride and have a few drinks or something, than to die in this dark water prison."
"Is it meaningful? It's not taking up your time."
"Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. But if you don't do it, there definitely won't be."
Rong Zhen fell silent.
At this time, the two came to the cell where the jailers were.
The jailers were in an extremely serious state today. Those on duty straightened their backs, and the jailers who walked to deliver meals also roared loudly.
Everyone performs their duties diligently.
Facing Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen who passed by them, these jailers looked intently and focused on their sacred mission.
Ouyang Rong looked around, walked forward, and patted the shoulder of a jailer on duty who was concentrating on browsing the roster.
He asked pleasantly: "Sorry to bother you, where are Li Yu's clothes and other items?"
"Ah...oh, sir, wait a moment."
The jailer nodded quickly, and before leaving, he looked at Rong Zhen for instructions. The latter lowered his eyes and remained silent. The jailer trotted away to get the clothes of the felon at the end of the cell.
Speaking of which, compared to these jailers, today is truly unprecedented, as there are still people who can stand out from that water prison where there is no life or death.
In the past, people who went in would come out lying down.
"Thanks."
After getting a small baggage containing Li Yu's clothes and personal belongings, Ouyang Rong said goodbye gently.
But before leaving, he pointed to the roster in the hand of the jailer on duty and said in a somewhat embarrassed tone:
"Um, you held the book upside down."
Guard on duty:……
After a while, Ouyang Rong left the red-faced jailer on duty and returned to the water cell with Rong Zhen carrying a small bundle.
On the way, Ouyang Rong asked:
"By the way, Rong Nu Shi sent Li Yu to prison and put him in a water cell. What will happen to his family?"
On the way back, Rong Zhen stopped following Ouyang Rong and walked forward without looking back:
"How do you think I will handle it?"
Ouyang Rong leaned back slightly and made a diagonal slashing gesture with his palms in front of him.
When Rong Zhenzhen looked back, his chest couldn't help but rise and fall.
"Okay, you'd better not fall into my hands. I'll follow your instructions next time."
Ouyang Rong blinked:
"Rong Nu Shi misunderstood. What I meant was that he secretly split their shackles. They are innocent. Let him go quietly without making any big fanfare. Well, he only dealt with Li Yu and ignored them."
Rong Zhen has a straight face:
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Ouyang Rong said seriously: "How dare you."
Rong Zhen was silent for a moment.
After a while, her somewhat deep voice sounded in the dim corridor echoing the two people's footsteps.
"This time it's Li Yu's fault and his deceased wife's fault. The rest of the Li family didn't know that these distinguished guests from Yun Mengze invited by their master would be traitors.
"They are not even considered accomplices. They are causing harm to Chiyu... Although the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty stipulate that they must be sent to the Jiaofang Department and confiscated as slaves..."
Ouyang Rong sighed: "It's true, it's really hard to get along these days. Even relatives and friends who are beyond reach may be wiped out by the nine tribes together without knowing it..."
"Don't ask. Anyway, I will arrange it properly. Just don't worry. If you directly write to them to plead for mercy, the matter will become bigger and harder to deal with."
"It makes sense. Rong Nu Shi has experience."
"It's selfish."
Rong Zhen corrected.
"This is the selfless selfishness of great love. Not selfish, Rong Nu Shi is loving."
"Love?" Rong Zhen frowned slightly: "What a strange word, what does it mean?"
"It means... Rong Nushi has a cold face and a warm heart."
Rong Zhen, who was walking in front, seemed to have his head lowered a little.
"Ouyang Lianghan, don't talk nonsense. I have noticed that you have been pushing your limits a bit recently. Did you know that?"
"Okay, I will definitely change it."
Ouyang Rong was serious.
When Rong Zhen heard this, he felt angry.
This guy always promised, did he really listen?
The two of them walked in silence for a while.
Rong Zhen suddenly spoke, his tone was stiff, and he was a thousand miles away:
"Ouyang Lianghan, I find that you seem to have no respect for me now, as before. This is not okay, it must not be okay."
Ouyang Rong was helpless: "Maybe it's because I'm more familiar with it, so I can't help but speak more relaxedly. In addition, isn't Rong Nu Shi the same way with her subordinates? We need to change it together."
Rong Zhen suddenly stopped talking.
After a while, a soft voice came from between the teeth:
"You, don't go too far."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and asked proactively:
"What do you think about Yuanjun? Didn't you say that this Yue virgin is the successor of Yuanjun? In the eyes of most people in Wuyue land, he is half Yuanjun. He has a distinguished status and is half a godhead.
"In this situation, if you really catch her and the news spreads, people like Li Yu may come to make trouble. How will we deal with it then?"
Rong Zhen frowned:
"If he is really a god, he can be caught by us. He is just pretending to be a god. You southerners are superstitious about ghosts and gods, but I don't believe it."
After a pause, she added:
"When we go back and catch this girl, those people really dare to make trouble. Just let them see what is going on with the so-called god. We have to let them know that the so-called Yue Virgin, the first heir to Yuan Jun is just an ordinary girl.
"Maybe this can also eliminate some of the superstitious things about ghosts and gods in your hometown of Wuyue."
Ouyang Rong shook his head gently:
"The power of Yuanjun does not lie in the presence or absence of divine power. You are wrong. You don't see it that way."
Rong Zhen frowned and immediately turned back:
"What do you think?"
At this time, the two of them happened to arrive at the water prison.
Ouyang Rong was silent
At the entrance of the water prison, Old Yangtou was sitting under an oil lamp at the door. He moved a bench, the one Ouyang Rong had just sat on in the water prison.
Ouyang Rong saw a book with a blue cover spread out between Old Yang's head and knees. Under the dim light, his only remaining eye narrowed slightly and fell on the book.
He seemed to be concentrating.
After the sound of Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen's returning footsteps was heard, Lao Yangtou immediately put away the book and stuffed it into his sleeve.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the cover page of this book, which seemed to have the word "Fu Xing" written on it. Ouyang Rong had some impression that it should be a Legalist classic, which is relatively niche.
But the niche and the masses are not the key, the key is...
The style of painting is a bit strange.
A one-eyed old man who is proficient in waterboarding and likes to torture prisoners with perverted methods. He is suspected to have been a cold-blooded and ruthless cruel official. He likes to read sages' books in private after execution?
No, you all have to take the postgraduate entrance examination today, right?
Ouyang Rongduo glanced at the expressionless one-eyed old man who stood up at the door to greet them silently.
He shook his head slightly.
Ouyang Rong suddenly continued:
"Rong Nu Shi, if I talk about it in a more practical and popular way, what makes Yuan Jun so powerful is the huge power that comes with her identity."
"that power?"
"Well, it's power, not her own divine power. The former comes from others, from the consensus of thousands of people."
"What does it mean?"
"How does Rong Nu Shi think the power of the imperial court, or in other words, the power we have in our hands now, compares to hers?"
"How can the unorthodox southerly worship of minor gods be compared with the important weapons of the country?"
"No, no, no, when comparing power, you can't just look at the range, but also the depth. After all, we are now standing in the hometown of Wu and Yue."
The three of them did not enter the water prison and stopped in front of the door.
Rong Zhen, Lao Yangtou saw Ouyang Rong raise a finger, waved it gently, looked at them, and said in a leisurely tone:
"There are three types of power. I think it can be divided into three levels, from outside to inside.
"The most superficial power is what we have. This kind of power is based on a clear set of legal provisions. The people's obedience is due to their recognition and fear of the imperial power and national laws. It is only maintained by... simple and crude punishments.
, is mandatory.”
"The power our official positions have is just like this, it's just a hat, and the exercise of this power relies on the law on paper.
"This kind of superficial right can be easily circumvented, because any rule written on paper can be exploited reasonably. So it is not the most powerful."
"The second level of power is more powerful. It is based on some ancient traditions or default rules. It is difficult to create it, but the cost of maintaining it is very low, so it is suitable for once and for all.
"They are some unwritten rules, such as some unwritten rules of officialdom. Everyone knows that they exist, but no one dares to say that they exist. Since it is invisible, it is more powerful, because those who have this power have control over everything.
The final right of interpretation.
"It's not like a rule written on paper. Everyone is afraid of its intangibility and the consequences of being the first to break it.
"The punishment is unpredictable, and the power is unpredictable. That's what I mean...but the third kind is more powerful than it."
Ouyang Rong whispered, and stopped here, looking at the torch hanging on the wall, wondering what he was thinking.
Rong Zhen was fascinated by what he heard and asked eagerly:
"What is the third one? You haven't said it yet."
Ouyang Rong uttered two words:
"Sage, and... Yuanjun."
Rong Zhen frowned and saw him turn around:
"Rong Nu Shi, do you still say it too much? Following the principle that the intangible is more powerful than the tangible, the power built by faith and worship is naturally the most powerful.
"Explanation is very troublesome. I will only talk about one of the special features of this kind of power... The first two powers are mandatory after all, but the third kind of power is not mandatory. They influence or control people's thoughts in a subtle way.
concept.
"The most difficult thing in the world is to put your thoughts into other people's heads and let others accept your own truth from the bottom of their hearts. It is said that it is difficult to reason, and it is difficult to reason. In fact, many people have not put their thoughts into their heads.
The right to get into other people's heads.
"There are only a handful of existences with this power in the world, and Rong Nu Shi must have heard of them... They have become sages, kings, and monarchs. Because they have this power, they are who they are.
"This power is completely invisible. Scholars in ancient and modern times, courtiers in the Manchu Dynasty, common people in the world, and the children of Wu and Yue today, no one forces them, they just naturally accept the concepts of sages, kings, and monarchs. These existences do not need to say too much.
, believers will help them debate the scriptures, and their minds, which have been subtly influenced, will spontaneously come up with explanations.
"Like the good water in the mouth of Taoist ancestors, it takes shape when it encounters objects and encompasses everything... No, even further, it is invisible energy. Everyone breathes as usual and sees it as normal... Rong Nushi, today I met Li
Yu, are you sure you still want to underestimate Yuan Jun and the female nuns Yunmeng? Are you going to underestimate a hidden sect that has been preaching in the land of Wuyue for thousands of years and has a lifespan longer than all the secular dynasties after the pre-Qin period combined?"
The girl in palace clothes had her eyes widened at some point, staring at his indifferent face.
Can this kind of "expensive knowledge" involving the nature of power be told in such a dark and damp dungeon?
But looking at Ouyang Lianghan's expression, it seemed that he was speaking smoothly without any taboos. His expression was so casual that he seemed to find the old saying boring.
Not only was Rong Zhen shocked, but Old Yang, who had only one eye left on his side, was staring at Ouyang Rong intently.
Ouyang Rong waved his hand, said no more, and walked into the water prison.
After a while, Li Yu was brought out without anyone stopping him.
Before leaving, Old Yangtou suddenly said:
"Little Bachelor Ouyang, have you ever served in Dragon City? Is there a Butterfly Creek there and a Dickong Gate upstream?"
"That's right, how do you know, you've been there before?"
Ouyang Rong nodded.
Old Yang didn't answer and asked again:
"I heard that a folding-wing canal has been built there now? The Dickong Gate has also been demolished, right?"
"Um."
Ouyang Rong said in a gentle tone:
"It seems that you should have been there before. Now you have the opportunity to revisit the old place. Dragon City is different now. Everyone who goes there will like it."
Old Yangtou's expression was a little dazed, and he didn't know whether he heard it or not.
Ouyang Rong didn't care and took Li Yu away.
Looking at his back, Rong Zhen hesitated to speak.
Old Yangtou suddenly said:
"Let the young maester try it."
"You believe him so much?"
Rong Zhen asked.
Old Yangtou whispered:
"He is different from us. My punishment and Rong Nushi's violence, in his words, are just to maintain the first level of power.
"This little bachelor is very bad. He didn't tell you, Rong Nu Shi, what level of power he has. Anyway, he is definitely different from us. This little bachelor looks very much like my wife back then."
"Master Di?"
Old Yang nodded.
Rong Zhen frowned and asked:
"Does it look like Master? What do you think..."
Old Yangtou suddenly said:
"Master used to often ask me what I thought.
"How can I see? As an executioner who only knows how to execute people, I don't know how to see, but Master just likes to ask me.
"Over the years in Jinling, I read some books and thought about some things before I could really take a look."
Rong Zhen glanced sideways: "Are you familiar with Master Di?"
"Yes. When the master was demoted, I and my colleagues escorted him. We met on the road."
"As the escorting officers, shouldn't you be... supervising his imprisonment?"
"Yes, so he is the master."
The old man recalled with his eyes open:
"In the beginning, my impression of him was just an old-style Confucian scholar who only showed off his power and was pedantic and observant of etiquette.
"There are many old officials like this in the imperial court. They like to talk to us about moral principles and call us notorious cruel officials. From now on, it will be difficult to write down the history of this dynasty... We don't know how many of these people we have in our hands during that time.
of blood.
"My master is very honest and cooperates with us from the beginning to the end. At that time, some colleagues in the escort team laughed in public at him as a cowardly old dog, but his expression remained as usual.
"I only had a general impression of him, because I knew that this person could indeed do some practical things. It can be seen from the fact that the saint did not kill him like he did to other Li Qian old ministers, so I just left a hint at that time.
"When I first sent my master to Longcheng, I thought he would be disheartened. I heard that this was the place where Tao Yuanming, a hermit in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, had his pastoral home hundreds of years ago.
"If you throw a powerful prime minister who wants to do something into such a small place, it would be hard for anyone not to feel frustrated by such a gap.
"This remote Longcheng County is three thousand miles away from Beijing.
"But the Master told us at that time that it was just the right time for him to come back.
"I could tell that he was really happy when he looked at the thatched cottages on both sides of Butterfly Creek.
"I'm very confused. What's the benefit of having a prime minister serve as the magistrate of a small county?
"Master, seriously, everyone says that he is from Dounan, but to be ashamed, he has spent most of his life in the south, but he has spent most of his life in the north, in Chang'an and Luoyang, and in the south for a long time.
I haven’t come back. It’s good to come back now...
"But at that time, I didn't stay too long. Two days later, I heard that the flooding was serious, and the master started to get busy. The last time I saw him before leaving, his face was also sad and tired, so I said goodbye in a hurry and left.
"Speaking of which, we had bad intentions during the few days we stayed. When we came here, some important figures in the Prison Department warned us privately that if the master did not keep to himself, what would happen on the way or after he arrived?
Complain, then within a few days, a new accusation will appear on the saint's desk..."
Old Yangtou straightened his clothes and sat upright, as if he had returned to his youth:
"On the day my master was rehabilitated and returned to Kyoto, I was the one who came to pick him up.
"The streets of Longcheng are deserted, and the people have been sent away for miles and miles. Let's not talk about the situation of leaving office that sounds cliche.
"Before getting on the horse and leaving, the master said with regret that he really didn't have much time, so he only had time to build a sluice, which was treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.
"The floods in Jiangnan will not be solved in a short time. I really hope that someone can help him dismantle the sluice in the future.
"I'm curious, won't floods occur if the gate is demolished? What should I do if I demolish it properly?
"I remember that at that time, the Master said in a very humble and ordinary tone.
"Those who dare to demolish must have the courage to control floods better, or have already done so.
"And what can be better than Dee Gongzha, who has brought the road to cure the symptoms to the end, can only be a cure for the root cause.
"If not, even if it collapses, Dickong Gate will be rebuilt again and again. Future generations will always rely on the old successful path. As long as it can still be used, what about patching it up? Well, this is not called the ancestral method.
Change... At this point, the Master seemed to smile.
"So it is certainly better to demolish the Dickong Gate than to stick to it.
"The master also said that he hoped that this gate would be demolished in his lifetime.
"Although most of us thought it was impossible after hearing it at the time, at least it would be impossible in our lifetime.
"But now, you also know what happened in Longcheng County, Rong Nu Shi."
Old Yangtou's tone was very emotional.
Rong Zhen was somewhat silent and isolated.
Old Yang touched his sparse hair and his one eye:
"On the way back, I curiously asked Master, don't you blame the saint for appointing us cruel officials? He killed so many of his colleagues, including some like-minded political allies.
"The Master said without thinking that troubled times require the use of heavy codes, and a kind heart cannot help the country.
"I asked curiously, where are the troubled times? It's just that the name of the country has been changed, and the country is still there.
"Master smiled and said nothing. I don't know if he was afraid that we were making excuses, but that's not the case. I just asked out of curiosity.
"Not long after, that is, after dark that day, the Master suddenly said something to me.
"He said, yes, thanks to the saints, the country is still there, it's still there...
"I don't quite understand his lost expression at that time. It was strange. He was feeling happy, sad and a little hopeful...
"Later, we sent him to the capital. Before returning to the Prime Minister's Palace, when we were getting off the bus, the master said another word to the cruel officials we were escorting.
"He said that in troubled times, we need to use heavy laws. In fact, there is another sentence behind it, which is that in prosperous times, we need to use moral governance."
Having said this, Old Yang paused for a moment, as if to give the silent Rong Zhen time to digest.
"Then what?" Rong Zhen asked, frowning.
"Then...then naturally most people didn't listen.
"But from that day on, I took the initiative to be sent to the south. At that time, the Prison Department was in full swing. It was considered its last heyday. It even switched from supervising central officials to inspecting local officials in order to expand its staff.
"I was assigned to the newly established Prison Division of the Jinling Supervisory Office to supervise local officials. Although I also had a lot of power, Luo Jing's companions looked at me as if they were an idiot.
"Because just by raiding the house of an honorable official, you can make a lot of money, and you can even get promoted and make a fortune. Why not live in such a good life?
"I didn't care about this. When I went to Jinling, I started to have time to read some of the books recommended by Confucius while chatting on the road. I was really itchy at first...
"But what happened later, Rong Nushi also knew. The Imperial Prison Department was downsized and cut, almost existing in name only. Naturally, the Imperial Prison Department branch in Jinling was also cancelled.
"Fortunately, maybe because I had been away for a long time, or maybe because my official position was not big enough, I didn't attract much attention, so I was directly assigned to the nearby Jinling State Prison to sit on the bench.
"But I have a lot more time. I can read more books. When I encounter something I don't understand, I can write a letter to the Master every once in a while to ask. This kind of life can be considered leisurely. Anyway, I am childless. Maybe
It is because you have done too many immoral things and your moral virtue has been too low.
"Actually, it's not that there aren't smart people among those colleagues. It's not that they didn't expect that the situation would change one day. Not only are those who can join the Prison Recruitment Department very smart, they must be at least sharper and more cunning than ordinary people. Otherwise, they won't be able to capture His Majesty's preferences...
…
"But everyone thought that they could catch the last train, seize the opportunity to get promoted and make a fortune, and have time to go ashore to clean themselves up. However, no one thought that the change between the chaotic times and the prosperous times would be so fast, almost in the blink of an eye.
At that time, the saint took a nap, but when he woke up the next day, the wind direction changed and he couldn't escape.
"Over the years, while on duty at the Jinling Prison and studying in my spare time, I often wrote to the Master.
"He is the prime minister of the country, but he replies to the letter time and time again. Although most of the time he is concise and to the point, he writes it himself. Moreover, I am not a good reader. Some issues really require too much pen and ink. The master points it out to the point every time. Although every time he replies,
, there are only a hundred or so words on the paper, but I have to think about it for a long time. Maybe I have too much time in prison, and I am content..."
The old man suddenly remembered something, turned around and smiled. The one-eyed face full of wrinkles had a scary smile, but the hoarse words were joking:
"When we met in Longcheng before, my husband lost a little weight. We haven't seen him for so many years. I don't know if he has gained weight now. It's not convenient to ask in the letter.
"Have you seen Rong Nu Shi recently?"
He was a little embarrassed and said:
"I... have always had a sense of respect. Even though I have known him for so many years and written so many letters, I have always been strict and rarely exchanged greetings with him.
"Indeed, a person like Master should be at the forefront of everyone. It does not mean that there is an order of superiority and inferiority, but... any beacon that guides the way in the middle of the night must face the deepest night alone, leaving his back to the people behind.
Human.”
Old Yangtou was filled with emotion.
Rong Zhen stood in the dimly lit corridor and listened for a while. She nodded slowly:
"She is a little fat, but... I have little experience in the palace and have never seen Mrs. Di before."
"That means I have gained weight. Before, I just had a fat face, haha."
Old Yang waved his hand:
"Rong Nu Shi, I'm sorry for saying so much, but I seem to have met a young master again today, and I couldn't help but feel deeply... Also, I have spoken so little these years that my voice is almost gone."
Old Yang took out the water bag, raised his head and drank some water to moisten his throat.
He was in a daze for a while, and Rong Zhen also waited in silence for a while, seeming to digest.
At this time, Old Yangtou broke the silence:
"I am inspired by this today. When the Master gave me this sentence, 'In troubled times, use heavy codes, in prosperous times, use virtuous governance.' Today, it can be regarded as a gift to Rong Nu Shi.
"In other words, I gave it to people like us. This kind of saint's confidant, well, in the eyes of others, it is the court eagle dog."
Rong Zhen was silent for a while, then nodded gently.
"Old Yangtou, you were lucky to meet your wife at that time, and I..."
Old Yangtou paused for a moment when he heard this outstanding junior girl who had a future that was many times more promising than his before, and said seriously with a small face:
"And I... am also very lucky."
After saying that, the girl in palace clothes turned and left.
Lao Yangtou silently watched her back walking towards the direction Ouyang Rong had just left.
After a while.
The one-eyed old man sat down again, took out his book, lowered his head and turned the pages slowly.
On the wall, a torch lengthened his shadow.
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(PS: 8k5 burst update, paid one update, and currently owe 17 updates!