Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sexual Sacrifice and Evil Sacrifice
Zhang Jiao wore a piece of cloth to face the saint, and the process was naturally chaotic and complicated.
Even Zhang Jiao, who was nominally invited, didn't feel too good about it. There were even some officials who didn't care about supernatural beings. They just thought that the yellow-robed Taoist priest in front of them was just another magician pretending to be a magician, just like those who deceived Qin Shihuang back then.
He even secretly asked for bribes.
Zhang Jue just pretended not to understand, but fortunately he was the person the emperor wanted to see anyway, and more people were in awe of him amid the colorful visions. These guys didn't dare to really make trouble at this time. After all, after the court meeting, Zhang Jiao was led by an official whose position he did not know, and walked through the prosperous and majestic palace, passing by countless ministers who cast strange glances, and arrived at the main hall.
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was sitting on the jade throne, and Zhang Jiao was at the bottom. The distance between the two was extremely far.
The palace was not empty. The guards and eunuchs were all performing their duties, and they were accompanied by several officials and officials wearing official crowns, which made Zhang Jiao not feel lonely standing in the palace.
"I have met His Majesty."
Because he didn't know what kind of salute he should do, Zhang Jiao simply bowed. Since he was wearing a Taoist robe, everyone present didn't think there was anything wrong.
Liu Hong had chubby cheeks and a soft beard. After seeing Zhang Jiao, his expression changed from impatient to interested. He smiled and said: "Great Master, I heard that you can create food out of thin air, right?" p>
Zhang Jiao knew that was the only reason why he came here, so he was not surprised that the emperor got straight to the point and bowed: "Yes, Your Majesty. But this is not Taoism. It was given by Si Chen."
"Si Chen? What kind of god is this? Don't you believe in Taiping Taiyi?" Liu Hong showed doubts.
Zhang Jiao was a little surprised. Although he had been preaching for several years, he did not expect that the emperor could tell a thing or two about Taiping Dao.
Obviously, I just learned about it when I came here.
The emperor's initiative to learn about Taiping Dao made Zhang Jiao feel hot in his heart.
With the most humble attitude in his life, he respectfully said: "Exactly, the reason why Taiping Dao believes in Zhonghuang Taiyi is because it pursues a peaceful and prosperous age under the rule of the sages, just like Confucian scholars worship the Duke of Zhou."
"And Si Chen... is the only righteous god in the world who can show his true deeds!"
As soon as these words came out, there was a buzz of whispers in the hall, and there were even a few sneers.
Liu Hong didn't take it seriously. A eunuch next to him stepped forward and said with a smile: "In that case...Why don't the great sage and good master let the true god show up, and then create ten months of money and grain for the drought-stricken people in Nanyang?"
/p>
Another eunuch also came out and said with a smile: "It's not that we don't believe it, it's actually related to the people's livelihood. If it can be accomplished, with the merits of countless living people, it is possible to be ranked among the immortals in the future?"
Since this is not a court meeting, but a meeting with commoners, the eunuchs, who are not allowed to speak in court, are much more relaxed.
More importantly, they are the famous Shi Changshi, the only knives that Han Ling Emperor trusts, and everyone present has long been accustomed to such behavior.
Zhang Jiao frowned slightly and said: "The power of the gods is indescribable, and the grace of the gods is unpredictable. Whenever Si Chen appears, he will disappear into the world within a few days. He can help the people for a while, but he cannot help them for a lifetime."
As he spoke, he raised his head, looked at Liu Hong, his eyes were bright, and he said sincerely: "Zhuan Xu's Jedi Heavenly Passage was to separate the human and divine worlds from interfering with each other. This trace of crisis can be attributed to cause and effect to alleviate the situation.
, God’s grace is already overwhelming.”
"What we should do is not to entrust all responsibilities to Si Chen. We should use Huang Lao's learning to help the victims, collect less taxes, reduce corvee, and rest with the people. Only then can we achieve a truly peaceful and prosperous age!" p>
As soon as these words came out, Liu Hong's originally interested expression immediately changed.
His brows furrowed, thinking that it was all these old-fashioned things again, this great virtuous teacher was not as smart as he looked.
Don’t I want to use Huang Lao’s teachings? The key is that all the people in the court are Confucian scholars from aristocratic families, so I’m not using it!
Besides, is Huang Lao's study really good? I have never read a book? The so-called resting with the people and collecting less taxes is just to hand over the money and grain to the hands of local gentry families for no reason. Not only does it not have any effect,
We can’t even maintain the status quo!
Since the mud-legged people at the bottom have to pay for their food, why can't they be paid for by me?
Although Wenjing's rule is tempting, but in a world where people's hearts are old and rituals have collapsed, music and music are ruined. If you believe in this Taoist priest's evil deeds, your country will be destroyed within two days!
It’s not because of the constant natural disasters! If the weather can be smooth every year, I can also be a wise king!
With these thoughts in his mind, Liu Hong's attitude of having fun meeting Zhang Jiao immediately turned into as impatient as facing the chaos of a court meeting.
His tone became colder and he said directly: "You think I don't know about these problems? But the Great Master only considers the people at the bottom, so why has he ever considered my difficulties?"
Zhang Jiao was stunned by these words.
Is the emperor still in trouble?
Liu Hong stood up, not bothering to talk nonsense with this little Taoist priest who had a mud-legged background. He had never seen the world at all, his head was empty, and it was useless to talk.
He said bluntly: "If a great sage and good teacher can summon tens of thousands of grains of food, he can solve the urgent needs of the government and the public, and save tens of millions of refugees in the world. This policy of governing the country should be corrected one by one by the great virtuous and good teacher."
"If it can't be done, then all the officials in the dynasty will be very knowledgeable and rich, so there will be no need to bother with great teachers."
As soon as these words came out, there was a hint of snickering in the court, and everyone looked at Zhang Jiao as if they were watching a comedy.
At a time when knowledge is dominated by aristocratic families, Zhang Jiao, who has only read a few enlightenment books and the Taiping Jing, showed his timidity among these civil servants and generals who have read poetry and books.
Such an action also made Zhang Jiao no longer mysterious in the eyes of everyone, and suddenly no one believed in his feat of summoning grain from Yecheng.
After all, magicians have been doing magic tricks for hundreds of years from the Qin Dynasty to the present. There are countless chariots and battles. Although some people do know some small magic, ordinary black dog blood and rooster blood can be broken with just one prick, which is of no use at all.
Zhang Jiao remained silent, bearing the naked gaze of everyone.
After all, we still have to turn food into food ourselves.
But Zhang Jiao was really unwilling to stand up at the altar and disturb Si Chen just to prove himself.
He secretly clenched his fists and suddenly spoke out again: "In that case, if a poor man can summon tens of thousands of grains of food, can your Majesty distribute them to the victims of the disaster everywhere? This merit is shared by Si Chen and your Majesty.
In this way, all the people of the world will inherit Your Majesty’s kindness.”
Talk back?
Liu Hong raised his eyebrows, but he no longer believed Zhang Jiao, so he didn't bother to lie and said jokingly: "If you can really summon tens of thousands of grains, why not just put them in Luoyang and pay taxes this year."
Zhang Jue's breathing became a little heavier, and his whole body trembled slightly.
The old Taoist disturbed Si Chen's rest and conjured up tens of thousands of shi of grain just to pay you taxes for a year?
Then what am I planning!
It's better to distribute food by yourself in one place!
He was extremely disappointed in his heart, and finally gave up his hands and said in a stiff voice: "In that case, I hope your Majesty will take care of himself and forgive the common people for resigning."
After saying that, without any regard for etiquette, he turned around and wanted to leave.
But the guard directly raised his halberd and crossed it, blocking Zhang Jiao's way.
The eunuch who was the first to speak said coldly: "Wait a minute, how can the palace allow you and other alchemists to come and leave as they please?"
Another eunuch said quietly: "If you can't summon up that mountain of rice as the prefect of Yecheng said, according to the story of the young man who communicated with ghosts, I will punish you for the crime of deceiving the king and cut off the city!"
Liu Hong stood on the high platform and said nothing. He looked coldly at the yellow-robed Taoist priest below, as if he was looking at a cricket that was overwhelmed by its own abilities and fell into despair after its leather was blown.
A minister below shook his head and sighed: "When Ximen Leopard ruled Ye, there was also a story about He Bo marrying a wife. How could the prefect of Yecheng be deceived by you? What a corpse!"
After saying this, another minister snorted coldly: "Humph, I don't know which name of Mao Shen was used, Si Chen? Another obscene sacrifice to you!"
This last sentence completely ignited the anger in Zhang Jiao's heart.
He doesn't care if he is laughed at, and he can allow himself to be slandered... but he will never allow anyone to dare to blaspheme the only god who has mercy on the world and saves the world.
What courage, confidence, and dignity do these people have to dare to point fingers at God and talk dirty words?!
Zhang Jue turned around in an instant, furious, his eyes wide open, his fingers together like swords, and said sternly: "Stop!"
Such a violent reaction and shouting curses did not cause much reaction from others, but it shocked Liu Hong, who was above him.
Then he became angry from embarrassment and said coldly: "You are shouting and yelling in the court hall, how arrogant! Come on, take down this evil way!"
Zhang Jiao didn't show any signs of weakness, he just took out the talisman from his arms and was about to break out.
Then, Zhang Jiao's expression changed, and he was shocked to find that the talisman in his hand could not activate the aura of heaven and earth at all in the palace.
This is... the national destiny of the Han Dynasty?
Seeing that the guards were about to attack with weapons, Zhang Jiao kept thinking about countermeasures in his mind, but he was at his wits' end.
Suddenly, everyone's actions stopped.
A sigh sounded simultaneously in the ears of the common people and ministers from all over the world, all over the world, inside and outside the world, up and down the government and the public.