Chapter Twenty-Five: The Transmission of Political Platforms
an City has had to face since its founding.”After Sun Heng took office as the city lord, he diligently governed and actively cultivated talents. Finally, two years ago, he raised a team and launched a...The topic changed too suddenly, Jiang Wang was a little caught off guard.
He thought to himself, even the strongest person is bound to have an accident or something...
But of course, he wouldn't dare say it out loud. He didn't want to leave Chang Le Palace lying down either.
"He replied, 'Jiang is dull-witted and truly doesn't know.'"
Then Jiang Wuhua sat back and said, "Let's get back to business."
...
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He discovered that although the Crown Prince was known for his broad-mindedness and simplicity, he was actually a bit "naughty"!
Jiang WuHua continued, "Officialdom is a two-sided coin. When you perform your duties well, your popularity increases; when you fail, it decreases. Take Wai Lou as an example. If the people are content and peaceful under your rule, you will be able to anchor yourself in the present world. But if the people suffer and are discontent, their energy will pull at you, entangling you in karmic debts, and lead you further astray!"
In other words, if one performs their duties as an official well, the path of governance becomes a boon for spiritual cultivation. Conversely, if one performs poorly, the path of governance will hinder a cultivator's progress.
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Jiang Wang wouldn't be foolish enough to proactively inquire about the emperor's affairs. He pondered and said, "In that case, shouldn't officials in this world not exist"
Jiang Wuhua smiled and said, "This again involves talent. The scope of talent is very broad. Some people have the talent for cultivation but not the talent for holding office. Some people are capable officials, but they are clumsy on the path of cultivation. It's not that you want to be a good official, you can do it well."
His words were laced with a confident smile, as if he was saying outright - "My talent in cultivation may not be extraordinary, but my talent for being a prince is excellent!"
"An official road attracts people and resources. Sometimes popularity and resources are at odds with each other." Jiang Wuhu asked, "Have you had experiences in Qingyang Town that make you understand"
“I can understand that.”
That makes sense.
For example, when Jiang Wang was in Qingyang Town, he could plunder resources for his own use. This would alienate the people and dissipate the official path's so-called "public favor." However, he did not take even a single coin from the common people, instead providing them with many necessities. Though this meant fewer resources, he gained the hearts of the people and was able to obtain "public favor."
“For those with great potential, naturally, one should cultivate them diligently, striving for a steady and enduring progress, like a gentle stream flowing into the vast ocean. For those with arduous paths, even exhausting oneself to the brink is normal. Public opinion can help dispel ignorance, and accumulated resources can also reach a certain level.” Jiang Wu-hua said: “Therefore, cultivators have both diligent and fallen ones, officials have both virtuous and corrupt ones, it's all like this.”
Although it is said that exhausting resources for personal gain is undesirable, for those in power, it is indeed the most effective way to reap the greatest rewards.
The official path is also a kind of practice. At the beginning, every practitioner definitely wants to move forward. But due to time or fate, different people will make different choices as they go along. Ordinary practitioners like Ge Heng from Hu's Mine and officials like Shi Jing, the successor city lord of Jiacheng, are essentially the same kind of people.
Promising official cultivators naturally walk on two legs, needing both more resources and greater public support. When their path is obstructed, they may have to make some unsightly choices.
Listening to the Crown Prince's explanation of officialdom, coupled with my own experiences, I feel as if a veil has been lifted.
“Jiang Wang learned his lesson.”
Moreover, Jiang Wu-hua continued, “Qi arises from the hearts of people, but it is not solely determined by them. The true weight of officialdom lies in ‘achievements,’ so even treacherous individuals can become capable officials, and wicked people can accomplish virtuous deeds.”
At this point, he smiled and said, "Actually, matters of good and evil are not so easy to define, are they"
Jiang Wang sighed and said, "Indeed."
Jiang Wuhua continued, "From a small town or city to a large county or country. When outside the Lou (referring to a specific place), one's achievements are reflected in their popularity; with sufficient popularity, one won't be lost. After encountering the Divine Presence, one's achievements are reflected in the Dao. Holding an official position is also about expounding the Dao. If people leave or politics cease due to the path of the official position, they will also retreat because of this path. Therefore, the transmission of political guidelines resembles the transmission of the Dao lineage. When political views differ, there are often situations where life and death become feuds!"
Jiang Wang still doesn't know what the Crown Prince wanted to tell him. But the Crown Prince's words on the path of officialdom were truly insightful, the path of officialdom is also a kind of cultivation!
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No wonder many powerful officials in the imperial court find someone to inherit their political legacy before they retire, it is actually a way to protect their cultivation!
"Those who cultivate the official path find their cultivation easier. However, the official path has two sides. Those who cultivate it are also bound by it. If there is continuity in governance, they can free themselves and gradually shed the shackles of the official path, returning their cultivation to themselves. At that time, even if political affairs cease, it will be nothing to worry about."
If there is no continuation of the political platform, it cannot be said otherwise than "the way disappears".
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang couldn't help but think, this is probably the difference between the national system and the sect!
Relying on officialdom for cultivation will speed up your progress. However, pure sect cultivators will be free from the constraints of officialdom.
It's difficult to say which is superior, but the current landscape is already apparent. Besides those top-tier major sects, truly, there is nowhere in the world that cannot become a country.
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There is no doubt that under a national system, stronger entities are more likely to emerge. This is why since the revival of Daoli, countries have risen in unison!
History flows like a surging river, with countless waves crashing.
The human race is also constantly evolving, with many changes occurring.
From the rise of numerous sects to the flourishing of powerful nations.
>Looking back, one can only sigh, "That's how it is."
But if he had been born at that time and place, who knows what earth-shattering changes would have occurred.
The changes in this "road," the sweeping tide of humanity, one only needs to think about it to feel its grandeur!
"...even a real person..."
The prince seemed to become more and more interested as he spoke, and suddenly asked, “Do you know Emperor Yong of the Han Dynasty, Han Yin”
Jiang Wang's heart moved slightly, and he countered, "The Taishang Huang of Yongguo"
He is a prime example.
Jiang WuHua chuckled, stroking his palms and saying: "He relied on the imperial position of Yong Emperor to secure his status as a true person, and he even aspired for further advancement. However, limited by time or circumstances, his total strength was insufficient, unable to make Yong Country advance an inch. Instead, he burdened Yong Country. Although forced by pressure, he passed the throne to Han Xu, but he still held onto power tightly, being the actual ruler of Yong. This is because his current cultivation as a true person requires constant absorption of Yong Country's national fortune to maintain it. If Yong Country can continuously prosper, this would be like water that doesn't stagnate, and when he absorbs the national fortune, his cultivation will increase and also benefit the national strength in return. If Yong Country stagnates, then he becomes the biggest parasite of Yong Country, destined to be punished sooner or later!"
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...I see.
Ah, I see!
Jiang Wuhu did not dare to be truly arrogant and talk about why the Holy Emperor established a heir.
But in explaining the official path, by alluding to Han Yin's case lightly, it has already made itself clear.
The emperor's way also lies within the national system.
Today, the reigning monarch of Qi possesses unparalleled cultivation and leads his nation to become the dominant power in the eastern region, achieving extraordinary feats. However, on the path of officialdom, further advancement is exceedingly difficult.
>
There are only two paths before someone standing before the Son of Heaven. The first is to sweep across the six realms and unify the world. With such an achievement, one would naturally be unparalleled, surpassing all others and reaching the highest peak.The second path is to attempt to break free from the constraints of the official path. However, just like other cultivators on the official path, someone must inherit the achievements of the Supreme Ruler. If he abdicates, and Qi State declines, not only will he be unable to escape the official path and bring his supreme cultivation back to himself, but he will instead be dragged down by the decaying nation.
So, whether from the perspective of the meaning of asceticism, or from the personal emotions and achievements, the Son of Heaven needs a successor who can inherit his legacy and at least maintain Qi State's hegemony!
That's why it is necessary to establish reserves!
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When the divine presence has passed five hundred years, and a true person lives for over one thousand years.
But few monarchs rule for a hundred years. This is because, as the highest authority in the system, there is nowhere for them to progress. Once the country stagnates, they need to constantly draw on national fortune to strengthen their cultivation, becoming a detriment to the nation themselves.
Either wait to be overthrown, or drag the country down with you.
Such as Han Yin, who is neither able to advance on the official path nor has the courage to leave the national system. Ruling for over three hundred years, he actually dragged Yong Nation into decay together. He used the fortunes of Yong Nation to continue his own cultivation as a mortal being.
It is no wonder that the waning sun of the Yong Nation sets in the west. It is no wonder that Zhuang Gao admired Du Ruhui, a loyal minister who dared to launch a war against a stronger enemy with a weaker force.
In reality, the strong are actually hollow inside!
> Jiang Wang felt that the more he pondered, the more profound his feelings became.
Many things that I couldn't understand before are now clear, as if I have seen a new world.
As expected of the "official path" forged by a hundred schools, it's no wonder that in less than four thousand years since the Daoist canon was established, it has become the mainstream belief today.
What a vast and boundless world of cultivation!
Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! I'm happy to help.out, one connected to Yu Heng Star, the most closely with the marks of the creatures in the Sen Hai Yuan Realm, and the other is the most stable mark of the mortals. When these two paths converge… He...