Regarding Xu Jin, Fang Jue's feelings are quite complicated.

On the one hand, the first person I met in Jiangling was Xu Jin. Xu Jin admired him very much. He also believed that an official like Xu Jin could be regarded as a role model for Dahao's middle-level officials: he had sincerity in his heart and thoughts of worrying about the country and the people, but his methods were sophisticated that he was not a pure nerd.

With more such officials, the world will gradually improve. Even if there are any changes, such people can reduce the damage by the lightest even if they gather together.

Not to mention that Xu Jin helped him a lot afterwards.

He had just entered the Jiangling Prefecture prison. If Xu Jin had not sent the housekeeper, no one would know how things would have developed later. Later, he learned that Xu Jin would have turned against Qian Jingsu directly for this case.

Of course, it cannot be said that Xu Jin is entirely for himself, but no matter what, Fang Jue recognizes this favor.

On the other hand, Xu Jin did not agree with Fang Jue's use of the monk's methods to kill people with one sword.

Even though he himself practiced Taoism.

This is a standard concept upheld by orthodox intellectuals: the Tao should not disrupt politics.

This is by no means a few words. Some friendships can be touched and changed. It is precisely because we can stick to our own ideas that Fang Jue still has a respect for Xu Jin until this time.

"I am a teacher, it's true. People say he is cautious, but I know that what he recognizes is to sacrifice his life and persevere. This is what I respect for my teacher!"

Bai Hao said seriously: "The court is really quarreling about the matters of practicing Taoism and government affairs. On the surface, people who practice Taoism, whether they are refining alchemy, refining weapons, or supernatural powers, have outstanding features. If they can use it with the people, government affairs, and even military and military power, it is actually very helpful."

"This time I passed by Jiangling and watched the military camp from afar, I could feel that there seemed to be people who practice Taoism in the military camp."

Fang Jue nodded: "And I read history books. There are some very special equipment in the imperial army, which seems to be used to practice Taoism and refine weapons."

"That's right." Bai Hao nodded: "Zi Ming probably doesn't know. If you don't say anything else, my county magistrate's seal is actually a contribution to the refining of weapons."

As he said that, he looked at Bai Jin'er who was eating inside, and showed the previously unscrupulous expression of Pili Yangqiu, and laughed in a low voice: "It is said that it can ward off evil spirits."

Fang Jue was stunned, then laughed speechlessly,

No wonder Bai Jin'er was the first to seek revenge on her, not Bai Hao.

In addition to being fair and clean, it looks delicious, there is also this reason.

This actually makes sense. Local officials like Bai Hao are all ordinary people. They do not have super strength, but they are in charge of a county and are the cornerstone of the court.

If he had no ability to protect himself, he could kill him with any monster. Dahao still claimed that he was respectful of humanity, and the court would have collapsed long ago.

"Back to the point, this is actually a matter of art and Tao."

Bai Hao picked up the wine pot, poured a glass of wine for Fang Jue, recalled something back then, and said, "I remember the teacher asked me a question back then, but I still don't know how to answer it."

"Oh? Brother Peiran, please speak." Fang Jue said curiously.

"If I am old and weak, then there is a choice to die in front of me, and if I live for one year, will I do it?"

Before Fang Jue could speak, Bai Hao answered himself: "I refused flatly. Then the teacher asked again, if a hundred people die, I will increase my life by ten years. If a hundred years is added, will I do it? If a hundred years is gone, if a hundred years is added, if a hundred years is added, will I do it?"

Fang Jue's heart moved and he faintly understood the true meaning of Xu Jin's questions.

Bai Hao sighed: "These questions point directly to the greatest desires and horrors of life, and directly tear open the mask of so-called benevolence, righteousness and morality. I still remember that if I really put them in front of me and let me make a decision, I am afraid I will go crazy. Whether I do it or not, I dare not say it, but the court...haha..."

Haha's meaning is very clear.

In history, there are so-called wise kings and saints who count one. If they can prolong their life, don’t say anything about five hundred years, one thousand years, even if it is only fifty years or one hundred years, it will cost millions of people in the world, and you will definitely not blink and you will not hesitate.

The so-called wise ruler does not "love" the people from the bottom of his heart.

Can the Zhang San family have enough food? Li Si's son cannot marry a wife and has nothing to do with the emperor.

A wise monarch loves the people, but what he loves is actually making achievements and leaving a name in history.

It is the imperial achievement to be able to rule these people well, to make them have enough food and clothing, and to have a strong country.

For the sake of achievements, the people need to live and work in peace and contentment, then the wise ruler will let the people live and work in peace and contentment, and whoever is blocking the road will kill;

For the sake of achievements, millions of people need to die, and they will let the people die without hesitation.

What's more, is it your own life span?

"With the talent of the son, I naturally understand the key."

Bai Hao saw Fang Jue pondering and sighed: "They can do it, will the officials, wealthy families and wealthy businessmen do it? Of course, they will, even the people themselves, will harm each other in order to get benefits."

"After the interests exceed a certain limit, the current morality is not enough to restrain people's hearts." Fang Jue said.

"That's what you said!"

Bai Hao slapped his thigh: "What the court discusses and disputes is not whether it is good or bad to practice Taoism, right or wrong, but how can we restrain the Tao? If we do not find this constraint, we can only rely on the court to suppress it. Otherwise, the world will inevitably be in chaos, and the people at the bottom will not be able to be pigs and dogs. At that time, the world will only become a purgatory."

"But the benefits that those who practice Taoism can bring are really tempting. Not to mention anything else, just elixirs that prolong life and equipment to strengthen the army are enough for the imperial chiefs and even His Majesty to be moved."

Fang Jue smiled and said, "Since you want other people's benefits, you must give them certain power. The more you want, the more you give. The court is becoming more and more dependent on the practitioners, and the practitioners are becoming more and more powerful. So a group of people in the court began to worry. Is this what it means?"

“That’s exactly that.”

Bai Hao nodded: "It's still Ziming's words that were said thoroughly just now, and there must be constraints. If you cannot practice Taoism, you will not have a great man, and you will have a life of your life and a poverty of manpower. The court relies on benevolence, righteousness, morality, and the principles of the common good and famous teachings to educate people's hearts. Relying on the yamen and army to suppress disobedience, it will still work. But once the Taoist practitioners are too capable and the court cannot control it, then they will do whatever they want..."

As he said that, he glanced at Fang Jue: "Zi Ming, you killed the prefect with one sword. I don't know if it's right, but this is exactly the concern of people like my teacher in the court. If you can kill the prefect today, you can kill the cabinet ministers and the Grand Secretary tomorrow? If you kill the general the next day, then later, will it not be..."

"Isn't it possible for even Your Majesty to kill?" Fang Jue said with a smile.

"Zi Ming has seen the Taoist sect now, and his confidence in speaking is indeed different."

Bai Hao also smiled: "That's right. I've gotten into you and know your character and will not kill innocent people indiscriminately. But not every person who practices Taoism is like this. Just like the strange man from the southern barbarian you met, you can do whatever you want to practice Taoism."

"My character is not necessarily as good as you said."

Fang Jue thought for a while and said lightly: "For example, I can't answer the question asked by Lord Xu now."

If tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people die, irrelevant people can make themselves live long or enter the Tao, Fang Jue is indeed not sure what he will choose.

All the guys in Guodong County, including Bai Hao, his sister-in-law and Bai Jin'er, died all of them. They became the number one person in the world to practice Taoism, with boundless magic power and overwhelming power?

Change or not?

It's hard to say.
Chapter completed!