"Govern by inaction? What is inaction? What constitutes an action?" Zhang Beichen said, "I think that action and inaction are relative!"
"When woodcutters cut wood, they do it with the axe, but they do nothing with the wood. When the boatman rows the boat, he does it with the oars, but not with the water. They are both action and inaction at the same time, but they have all achieved their goals, which are to cut wood and ferry people."
"It's the same principle in governing a country. When a monarch governs a country, he takes action with his subjects, but not with the people! In other words, the monarch only needs to manage his subjects well, and does not need to manage the people in all aspects! This way, we can still achieve the effect of governing the whole country."
"It's human nature to pursue material and individual interests. The citizens are unable to truly seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, nor are they able to make the most beneficial choices. Therefore, if a country has no laws, and there are no regulations when doing things, the world will be in chaos!"
"Whether it's the laws of Kingdom Qin or the other kingdoms, as well as my 'order to cultivate grass', they are all for the people to do whatever they want. This is the Dao that is in line with nature!"
"With strict laws, the farmers can farm in peace. The workers would be able to create standardized products, and the merchants would be able to come and go. Soldiers can fight, and everything is in order."
"Therefore, 'governing by inaction' should be the monarch governing by inaction while the officials take action! As officials, we should follow the law and share the monarch's worries! The monarch should only need to use the officials well and it would become great governance! This is the true meaning of 'Govern By Inaction'!"
Part of Zhang Beichen's views came from the Daoist sage Zhuangzi of the parallel space and time, while the other part came from the legalist sage Han Feizi's views.
As soon as he finished speaking, there seemed to be a sound coming from the sky. The power of heaven and earth fell into the hall and entered the body of the black bird. There seemed to be a Dao sound twining around the bird. It let out a long cry and sent a bundle of pure spiritual energy into Zhang Beichen's body.
Seeing this, all the officials and scholars were dumbfounded.
"The sound of Dao, the cry of the black bird, the blessing of national destiny, and the spiritual energy quenching his body!"
"This... Zhang Beichen is even more enlightened than Daoist disciples!"
"This Dao sound came from the heavenly palace above, and after hearing it, it was as if my body and mind had been baptized! This is too terrifying. If Zhang Beichen were to become a Daoist, he would definitely become a grand cultivator!"
"The monarch governs by inaction while the officials take action? The monarch governs by inaction meaning that the monarch does not take action with the citizens but instead takes action with the officials! This... Is this the true meaning of governing by inaction?" Feng Yi was shocked when he heard Zhang Beichen's words. "Did I misunderstand everything?"
"Have I gone astray?" Thinking of this, Feng Yi's face suddenly twisted and he started to foam at the mouth.
Seeing this, Jing Ping exclaimed, "He's been possessed by the devil!"
"Feng Yi has been refuted, he has really been refuted!" When the scholars saw this, they looked at Zhang Beichen with respect and fear.
"Feng Yi's spell has been broken. If he can't walk out of it, he might not be able to take another step in this life!"
"Since he dares to debate, he should be prepared to fail!"
"Feng Yi is really useless. I let him deal with Zhang Beichen, but he broke his own spell!" Xi Qiming and Bai Jiayi cursed inwardly. They had thought that this move would be able to control Ying Yiren and Zhang Beichen, but who would have thought that Feng Yi would be defeated so quickly?!
"The plan that I've been planning for many days is going to be ruined today!" The old clans were unsatisfied. If no one came out to argue against Zhang Beichen, then Kingdom Qin's reform would become a certainty!
Zhang Beichen stood in the middle of the hall. After he passed the debate, his body was cleansed, and his legalism cultivation rose. He went from the mid of Dao-pursuing realm to the late stage.
"Who else wants to debate?" Zhang Beichen looked at the crowd.
The courtiers looked at Meng Yuan, but he lowered his eyes and pretended not to see them. Those scholars were all silent. They thought that their national policies were not as good as Zhang Beichen's, so they naturally wouldn't ask for trouble.
Just as Ying Yiren was about to finalize the national policy, another person walked out from the group of scholars.
The man was wearing a Confucian robe and had a smile on his face. He first bowed respectfully to Ying Yiren and then introduced himself, "I am Gongliang Huai'an, a disciple of the School of Confucianism."
"What's your national policy?" Kuai Yiren asked.
Gongliang Huai'an shook his head and replied, "I don't have any national policies. However, I do have a piece of opinion on Kingdom Qin to offer."
As he spoke, he took out the bamboo scroll that he always carried with him.
On the bamboo scroll, words appeared in the air and flickered with black light.
"Hmm?" Just as everyone sensed that something was wrong, Gongliang Huai'an had already started to recite.
""Opinion On Evil Qin": The evil of Kingdom Qin - the military tactics! Kingdom Qin went to war year after year. The past monarchs did not empathize with the people, causing them to live in misery and grief! It's truly a great evil!"
As he spoke, his voice reverberated throughout the universe and turned into a black chain of Qi in the air, locking the black bird that was transformed from the illusionary shadow of Kingdom Qin's national destiny. The black Qi spread to the black bird's body and the black bird let out a painful cry!
The spiritual energy on the black bird was absorbed by Gongliang Huai'an through the black chain of Qi!
"It's the rebel Confucian scholar!" Some people had already recognized his identity.
"To think he's a traitor!" Zhang Beichen was also very surprised. He had come to this world and naturally understood some information about it.
The so-called rebels were humans who had betrayed various kingdoms and even betrayed the human race to join the demons.
It was difficult to cultivate with Hundred Schools of Thought. To become a great cultivator, one needed great perseverance, great wisdom, and great opportunities.
On the other hand, one could take a shortcut with the demonic arts, but the price was to turn themselves into an evil demon. For example, the Old Man Bai back in Baiyang County who had turned into a zombie was obviously physically dead, but he was still living on by eating human flesh and blood.
These Confucian rebels were able to strengthen themselves by writing 'dirty articles', and plundering the fate of others or a kingdom's national destiny.
Once they appeared, everyone would shout at them and beat them up. They were rarely seen. Zhang Beichen didn't expect that there would be a Confucian rebel who had mixed with the scholars today and tried to seize the opportunity to plunder the power of Kingdom Qin's national destiny!
"He should be killed!" Che Yang stood up and wanted to draw his sword.
Jing Ping stopped him and said, "Don't be rash. He used slanderous articles to connect his fate with the fate of our Kingdom Qin. If we kill him, then Kingdom Qin's national destiny will also be damaged!"
Gongliang Huai'an laughed evilly and said, "He's right. If you kill me, Kingdom Qin's national destiny will be ruined."
Ying Yiren stood up and coldly said, "Do you think I won't dare to kill you just because of this?"
"You can kill me, but if you don't break my spell, then the "Opinion on Evil Qin" will be spread throughout the world! Kingdom Qin would be criticized by the world! If Kingdom Qin is capable enough, then you all try to break my law and make me die from the backlash!"
"If you're not capable, then just watch obediently!" Gongliang Huai'an laughed out loud. Ying Yiren didn't hide her killing intent at all, but she was afraid of harming Kingdom Qin's national destiny.
Usually, this kind of traitor would not have the ability to shake the kingdom's national destiny. Once they appeared, they would be dispelled by the power of the kingdom's national destiny. It was just that the Kingdom Qin's national policy had not been set today and the kingdom's national destiny was uncertain, which gave the Confucian rebel the opportunity to strike.
Gongliang Huai'an continued to read his slanderous words, "The evil of Kingdom Qin - excessively tolerating Rongdi tribe! The Rongdi tribe had repeatedly invaded the people, but Kingdom Qin not only didn't attack them, they even formed an alliance with the Rongdi tribe! It's truly despicable!"
More black chains of Qi locked the black bird, and it was in even more pain.
"The evil of Kingdom Qin - the sovereign's path is arrogant! The empress of Kingdom Qin did not implement a benevolent policy, but instead used people like Zhang Beichen to carry out cruel and severe laws to poison the kingdom!"
"The evil of Kingdom Qin - the government is not good. Kingdom Qin's official system is chaotic and the conduct of the officials is low, harming the kingdom and the people!"
"The evil of Kingdom Qin - no cultivation of poetry and books. The people of Qin worship martial arts, but they denounce reading and literature. Truly stupid and ignorant!"
When the fifth black chain of Qi bound the shadow of the black bird, the body of the black bird actually began to shrink slowly. It struggled madly in the air but to no avail.
In the sky of Liyang City, the weather had changed, and the dark clouds had blocked the sun. The citizens who were in the capital city had all seen the strange phenomenon in the sky.
"Kingdom Qin's fate has been greatly reduced!"
"D*mn it, who is it? Who's stealing our national destiny?"
"What happened?"
"Isn't today the day to set the national policy? Could there be an unforeseen event?" Everyone in the city was terrified.
...
"The national policy is unstable, causing demons and evil to wreak havoc. Your Highness, I think that we should make a prompt decision!" Meng Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, finally spoke. "Restore the ancestral system, establish the national policy, and stabilize the kingdom's national destiny. Only then can we kill this brat!"
Killing intent flashed across Ying Yiren's eyes. She didn't know if this rebellious Confucian scholar had anything to do with the old clans. If he did, she would get rid of him even if he was an old official of three dynasties!
"Zhang Beichen, this is all your fault!" Bai Jiayi took the opportunity to criticize Zhang Beichen. He continued, "If you didn't want to reform, you wouldn't have attracted this demon! Today, the kingdom's national destiny is damaged. You can't escape the death penalty!"
"Your Highness, please quickly announce the restoration of the ancestral system, stabilize the kingdom's national destiny, and then we can kill this traitor!" The courtiers shouted in unison.