xuán jīng chéng ， zhuàng yuán lóu 。
玄京城，状元楼。
Xuanjing City,top scholar Tower.
yī zhòng shū shēng jù zài yì qǐ ， guān kàn jìn rì yǐn qǐ tiān xià zhèn dòng de nà jǐ juǎn gǔ jí 。
一众书生聚在一起，观看近日引起天下震动的那几卷古籍。
A group of scholars gathered together to view the ancient texts that had recently caused a stir throughout the land.
zì cóng qián xiē rì zi gǔ jí xiàn shì hòu ， chéng zhōng shū fāng biàn yī kè bù tíng de jiā yìn 。 ráo shì rú cǐ ， kān fā de shū jí yě shì gōng bù yìng qiú 。 zhè xiē shū shēng yě shì jīn rì hǎo bù róng yì cái mǎi dào jǐ juǎn ， gù yāo le yī zhòng hǎo yǒu ， lái cǐ gòng shǎng 。
自从前些日子古籍现世后，城中书坊便一刻不停的加印。饶是如此，刊发的书籍也是供不应求。这些书生也是今日好不容易才买到几卷，故邀了一众好友，来此共赏。
Since the appearance of these ancient texts several days ago, bookstores in the city had been printing them non-stop. Despite this, demand far outstripped supply. These scholars managed to purchase a few scrolls today and invited their friends to share in the excitement.
“ shàng shàn ruò shuǐ ， shuǐ lì wàn wù ér bù zhēng 。 miào ， miào a ！”
“上善若水，水利万物而不争。妙，妙啊！”
"Superior virtue is like water; it benefits all things without contention. Marvelous! Marvelous!"
“ dào shēng yī ， yī shēng èr ， èr shēng sān ， sān shēng wàn wù 。 liáo liáo jǐ zì ， dú zhī dùn jué wú qióng xuán miào ， cǐ jīng zhēn shì bù fán ！”
“道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。寥寥几字，读之顿觉无穷玄妙，此经真是不凡！”
"The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and from three come myriad things. Just a few words, but upon reading them, one feels an infinite profundity. This scripture truly stands out!"
“ yī wǒ kàn ， zhī cǐ sān qiān yán ， biàn dǐ de shàng wǒ zhī qián suǒ yǒu dú guò wén zhāng ！”
“依我看，只此三千言，便抵得上我之前所有读过文章！”
"In my opinion, these three thousand characters alone surpass all the articles I have read before."
“ wǒ yì yǒu cǐ gǎn ！”
“我亦有此感！”
"I feel the same way!"
“ bù bù bù ， zài wǒ kàn lái ， nà juǎn 《 yì 》 de jīng miào chéng dù ， hái yào zài 《 dào dé 》 zhī shàng 。 suī rán wén zì huì sè jiān shēn ， dàn shì zì zì zhū jī ， fǎng fú bāo hán tiān dì zhì lǐ 。”
“不不不，在我看来，那卷《易》的精妙程度，还要在《道德》之上。虽然文字晦涩艰深，但是字字珠玑，仿佛包含天地至理。”
"No, no, in my view, the text of The Book of Changes is even more ingenious than The Dao De Jing. Although the words are obscure and profound, each one seems to contain the essence of heaven and earth's fundamental principles."
“ zhèng shì rú cǐ ， tiān xíng jiàn ， jūn zǐ yǐ zì qiáng bù xī ！ dào chū wǒ bèi xīn shēng ！”
“正是如此，天行健，君子以自强不息！道出我辈心声！”
"Exactly so! Heaven’s ways are strong; gentlemen should strive unceasingly!" This resonated with their hearts!
shū shēng men qī zuǐ bā shé de rè liè tǎo lùn zhe ， yī fù chén zuì qí zhōng de yàng zi 。
书生们七嘴八舌的热烈讨论着，一副沉醉其中的样子。
The scholars chatted excitedly, clearly immersed in their discussion.
zhèng zài cǐ shí ， qí zhōng yī rén hū de cháng tàn dào ：“ xiǎng bú dào rú cǐ jīng miào jué lún de wén zì ， jìng rán shēn mái yú dì xià shù qiān nián ér wú rén dé zhī 。 měi měi niàn jí cǐ chù ， wǒ jiù tòng xīn jí shǒu ！”
正在此时，其中一人忽的长叹道：“想不到如此精妙绝伦的文字，竟然深埋于地下数千年而无人得知。每每念及此处，我就痛心疾首！”
At that moment, one of them suddenly sighed deeply. "Who would have thought such exquisite words were buried underground for thousands of years and remained unknown? Every time I think about it, my heart aches!"
cǐ huà yě shì yǐn qǐ le zhòng rén de fù hè 。
此话也是引起了众人的附和。
This remark garnered the others' agreement.
“ shì a ， xiān shī shēng qián zuì ài dú shū 。 ruò shì tā néng dú dào cǐ jǐ juǎn jīng shū ， bù zhī yòu huì yǒu duō kuài wèi 。”
“是啊，先师生前最爱读书。若是他能读到此几卷经书，不知又会有多快慰。”
"Indeed, our teacher loved reading most. If he could read these few scrolls, imagine how pleased he would be."
“ guò wǎng tiān xià dú shū rén ， bù néng wén cǐ jīng shū ， jiē shì bù xìng a ！”
“过往天下读书人，不能闻此经书，皆是不幸啊！”
"The misfortune of past scholars who couldn't hear this scripture is beyond measure!"
“ kě shì ， zhè xiē jīng shū zhēn shì qián rén suǒ shū ， yīn zhàn luàn ér yí shī ， zhǐ dé cán juàn zài gǔ mù zhōng bǎo cún ？ wǒ guān 《 nán huá 》、《 lún yǔ 》， qí zhōng rén shì wù ， jiē wú jì zǎi yú shǐ shū zhī zhōng 。” zhòng rén zhī zhōng ， yī dào shēng yīn yǒu xiē tū wù 。
“可是，这些经书真是前人所书，因战乱而遗失，只得残卷在古墓中保存？我观《南华》、《论语》，其中人事物，皆无记载于史书之中。”众人之中，一道声音有些突兀。
"But can these scriptures truly have been written by ancient sages and lost due to wars? I've noticed that the people and events in The Southern Classic and The Analects are not recorded in history." A voice among them sounded out of place.
zhòng rén xiān shì yī jìng ， suí hòu biàn zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì xià liǎo jié lùn 。
众人先是一静，随后便斩钉截铁地下了结论。
The others fell silent for a moment before reaching a firm conclusion.
“ dìng shì rú cǐ 。 rú cǐ wén zì ， jué wú jīn rén wěi zào kě néng 。 xiàn cún shǐ shū ， zhǐ dé jìn sān qiān nián lì shǐ 。 sān qiān nián zhī qián ， biàn jī běn wú xiáng xì jì zǎi 。 xiǎng lái zhè xiē jīng diǎn ， biàn shì nà shí hòu de chǎn wù 。”
“定是如此。如此文字，绝无今人伪造可能。现存史书，只得近三千年历史。三千年之前，便基本无详细记载。想来这些经典，便是那时候的产物。”
"Of course, it must be so. Such texts could never have been forged by modern hands. Current historical records only go back three thousand years. Before that, there were no detailed accounts. These classics must have originated from that era."
“ wǒ tīng wén ， nà fǎng gǔ xué pài miàn shèng shí céng yán ， shàng gǔ zhī shí ， yǒu bǎi jiā zhēng míng ， suǒ dàn shēng de jīng diǎn ， zhēn rú tiān shàng fán xīng ， bù kě shèng shǔ 。 rú jīn wǒ men suǒ dú de zhè jǐ juǎn jīng shū ， bù guò shì qí zhōng wēi bù zú dào de yī bù fèn 。”
“我听闻，那访古学派面圣时曾言，上古之时，有百家争鸣，所诞生的经典，真如天上繁星，不可胜数。如今我们所读的这几卷经书，不过是其中微不足道的一部分。”
"I've heard that the antiquarians spoke to the emperor about how in ancient times, a hundred schools of thought thrived, producing countless scriptures like stars in the sky. The few scrolls we read today are but a tiny fraction of them."
cǐ yán yī chū ， dùn shí yǐn qǐ jiǔ lóu nèi yī zhèn jīng hū 。
此言一出，顿时引起酒楼内一阵惊呼。
This statement caused an uproar in the tavern.
“ jìng yǒu cǐ shì ！”
“竟有此事！”
"Such news! Just thinking of all these hidden classics buried underground, unseen by humans, makes me heartbroken and unable to sleep!"
“ yī xiǎng dào hái yǒu zhè me duō jīng diǎn wén zhāng shēn mái dì xià ， bú jiàn rén jiān ， wǒ jiù wú bǐ xīn tòng 、 yè bù néng mèi ！”
“一想到还有这么多经典文章深埋地下，不见人间，我就无比心痛、夜不能寐！”
"What must those other classics be like?"
“ bù zhī qí yú jīng diǎn ， yòu shì hé děng mú yàng 。”
“不知其余经典，又是何等模样。”
...
……
……
"But after all, these ancient texts are deeply hidden within various tombs. The antiquarians' claim that they excavate tombs for preservation rather than destruction is hard to accept."
“ kě bì jìng zhè xiē gǔ jí shì shēn cáng yú gè gè gǔ mù zhī zhōng 。 fǎng gǔ xué pài suǒ yán dà sì fā jué gǔ mù ， xún zhǎo yí shī jīng diǎn yī shì ， shí zài yǒu wéi rén lún 。”
“可毕竟这些古籍是深藏于各个古墓之中。访古学派所言大肆发掘古墓，寻找遗失经典一事，实在有违人伦。”
The scholars instinctively wanted to agree but hesitated when thinking of the countless undiscovered classics waiting to be unearthed.
zhòng shū shēng běn néng de xiǎng chū shēng fù hè ， dàn shì yī xiǎng dào nà wú shù jīng diǎn wén zhāng hái dài zài dì xià děng dài fā jué ， tā men de yǔ qì jiù biàn dé bù zài nà me jiān jué le 。
众书生本能的想出声附和，但是一想到那无数经典文章还待在地下等待发掘，他们的语气就变得不再那么坚决了。
"That's what the leader of the antiquarians said, protecting and salvaging, not destroying,"
“ nà fǎng gǔ xué pài lǐng xiù bú shì shuō le me ， tā men xíng de shì bǎo hù zhī shì ， qiǎng jiù xìng fā jué 。 bú shì xíng pò huài zhī jǔ 。”
“那访古学派领袖不是说了么，他们行的是保护之事，抢救性发掘。不是行破坏之举。”
"Correct. I've heard that they carefully remove all items from each tomb without damaging them, storing them properly. If any damage occurs, there are specialists who repair them."
“ bù cuò ， wǒ tīng wén tā men měi fā jué yī chù gǔ mù ， bù shì yǐ wǎng dào mù zéi yì bān dà sì pò huài ， zhǐ qǔ jīn yín 。 ér shì xiǎo xīn jiāng qí zhōng wù jiàn jìn shù qǔ chū ， yī yī tuǒ shàn bǎo cún 。 ruò yǒu sǔn huài ， hái yǒu zhuān rén fù zé xiū fù 。”
“不错，我听闻他们每发掘一处古墓，不似以往盗墓贼一般大肆破坏，只取金银。而是小心将其中物件尽数取出，一一妥善保存。若有损坏，还有专人负责修复。”
"It is true; we cannot simply equate them with grave robbers."
“ dí què ， bù néng jiǎn dān de jiāng qí hé dào mù zéi xiāng tí bìng lùn 。”
“的确，不能简单的将其和盗墓贼相提并论。”
However, many still held opposing views.
bù guò ， zhòng rén zhōng yī rán hái yǒu bù shǎo rén chí fǎn duì yì jiàn 。
不过，众人中依然还有不少人持反对意见。
"But it's just a pretense. What difference does it make? Who among us doesn't have ancestors? How would you feel if your ancestor’s tomb were excavated like this?"
“ bù guò shuō de hǎo tīng bà le 。 yǒu shén me bù tóng ？ zài zuò de gè wèi shuí rén méi yǒu zǔ zōng ？ ruò shì nǐ jiā zǔ zōng zhī mù bèi rú cǐ fā jué ， nǐ yòu huì zuò hé gǎn xiǎng ？”
“不过说的好听罢了。有什么不同？在座的各位谁人没有祖宗？若是你家祖宗之墓被如此发掘，你又会作何感想？”
"We must not open this precedent or else it will bring endless trouble. We should try to dissuade them."
“ cǐ shì xiān hé wàn wàn bù kě kāi ， fǒu zé yí huò wú qióng 。 wǒ děng dāng jìn lì quàn zǔ 。”
“此事先河万万不可开，否则遗祸无穷。我等当尽力劝阻。”
"Exactly so."
“ zhèng shì rú cǐ 。“
“正是如此。“
...
……
……
Some remained silent, acting as mediators.
hái yǒu yī xiē rén méi yǒu fā biǎo zì jǐ de yì jiàn ， chōng dāng zhe hé shì lǎo 。
还有一些人没有发表自己的意见，充当着和事佬。
"This matter is surely already decided by the emperor and his ministers. There's no need for us to worry too much."
“ cǐ shì shèng shàng yǔ cháo zhōng dà chén dìng rán zǎo yǒu lùn duàn ， wǒ děng dào yě bù bì guò fèn cāo xīn 。”
“此事圣上与朝中大臣定然早有论断，我等倒也不必过分操心。”
"Just watch and see."
“ gū qiě guān zhī ， gū qiě guān zhī 。”
“姑且观之，姑且观之。”
...
……
……
As The Dao spread across Great Xuan, intense debates erupted in various regions.
suí zhe 《 dào dé 》 jǐ jīng chuán biàn tiān xià ， dà xuán gè dì dōu bào fā chū le jī liè de zhēng lùn 。
随着《道德》几经传遍天下，大玄各地都爆发出了激烈的争论。
Scenes like those at thetop scholar Tower were repeated countless times.
lèi sì yú jīn rì zhuàng yuán lóu nèi de chǎng jǐng ， bù zhī fán jǐ 。
类似于今日状元楼内的场景，不知凡几。
Li Fan knew that it would be impossible to change everyone's minds quickly.
lǐ fán zhī dào ， xiǎng yào zài duǎn shí jiān nèi jiù niǔ zhuǎn tiān xià rén de sī xiǎng ， dìng rán shì xíng bù tōng de 。
李凡知道，想要在短时间内就扭转天下人的思想，定然是行不通的。
The groundwork had just begun.
xiàn rú jīn ， zhǐ bù guò shì kāi le tóu ér yǐ 。
现如今，只不过是开了头而已。
But Li Fan was not worried about the outcome. In this world, those who held sway over public opinion were scholars.
dàn lǐ fán yì diǎn dōu bù dān xīn shì qíng bàn bù chéng 。
但李凡一点都不担心事情办不成。
With countless classics as bait, Li Fan did not fear these scholars' compliance.
dāng xià tiān xià ， zhǎng wò huà yǔ quán de bì jìng shì dú shū rén 。
当下天下，掌握话语权的毕竟是读书人。
Moreover, he did not need their support; he only needed them to remain silent.
yǒu zhe wú shù jīng diǎn zuò wéi yòu ěr ， lǐ fán bù pà zhè xiē dú shū rén bù jiù fàn 。
有着无数经典作为诱饵，李凡不怕这些读书人不就范。
...
gèng hé kuàng ， lǐ fán yě bù qiú zhè xiē rén de zhī chí ， zhǐ yào tā men bù tiào chū lái fǎn duì jiù xíng 。
更何况，李凡也不求这些人的支持，只要他们不跳出来反对就行。
While secretly plotting his rise to power, Li Fan was also gradually increasing the influence of the antiquarians in secular society.
……
……
In the sixth year, the emperor suddenly fell ill and lay bedridden. The court physicians were at a loss. Just as despair set in, the antiquarians presented an elixir to the emperor. They claimed it had been found in a tomb and might have miraculous powers to revive the dead or heal bones. It could potentially save his life.
zài àn zhōng móu qiú tiān xià de tóng shí ， lǐ fán yě zài zhú bù tuī jìn fǎng gǔ xué pài zài shì sú jiān de yǐng xiǎng chéng dù 。
在暗中谋求天下的同时，李凡也在逐步推进访古学派在世俗间的影响程度。
Initially, the emperor ignored them, but as his condition worsened daily, he finally took the elixir out of desperation.
máo dìng liù nián ， tiān zi tū huàn zhòng jí ， wò bìng zài chuáng 。 zhòng tài yī jūn wú jì kě shī 。 jiù zài cǐ shí ， fǎng gǔ xué pài chí yī dān yào miàn shèng 。 yán cǐ dān nǎi shì cóng yī gǔ mù zhōng xún dé ， yí shì xiān rén suǒ liú ， yǒu huó sǐ rén ròu bái gǔ zhī xiào 。 fú zhī huò kě jiě wēi 。
锚定六年，天子突患重疾，卧病在床。众太医均无计可施。就在此时，访古学派持一丹药面圣。言此丹乃是从一古墓中寻得，疑是仙人所留，有活死人肉白骨之效。服之或可解危。
Miraculously, the elixir worked wonders. Within just a few days, the emperor recovered fully.
tiān zi xiān shì méi yǒu lǐ cǎi ， kě suí zhe tā de shēn zi yī rì bù rú yī rì ， yǎn kàn jiù yào xíng jiāng jiù mù ， tā hái shì bào zhe sǐ mǎ dāng huó mǎ yī de xīn tài ， jiāng dān yào fú xià 。
天子先是没有理睬，可随着他的身子一日不如一日，眼看就要行将就木，他还是抱着死马当活马医的心态，将丹药服下。
The entire court was in an uproar, and ministers debated intensely.
shuí céng xiǎng dān yào guǒ rán yǒu shén xiào ， bù guò jǐ rì ， tiān zi jiù huī fù rú chū 。
谁曾想丹药果然有神效，不过几日，天子就恢复如初。
The emperor summoned the leader of the antiquarians to the palace for several days without attending court, questioning him about the sages' existence.
cháo yě zhèn dòng ， qún chén yì lùn fēn fēn 。
朝野震动，群臣议论纷纷。
From then on, the emperor firmly believed in the existence of sages. He secretly instructed trusted military officials to cooperate with the antiquarians in searching ancient tombs for signs of sages.
huáng dì gèng shì yè zhào fǎng gǔ xué pài lǐng xiù jìn gōng ， xì wèn xiān rén zhī shì ， yī lián shù rì mò yǒu shàng cháo 。
皇帝更是夜诏访古学派领袖进宫，细问仙人之事，一连数日没有上朝。
In the ninth year, an excavation team from the Jianghai Prefecture uncovered a major tomb-raiding case involving over one hundred people. They had excavated numerous tombs in the mountains, causing incalculable damage.
zì cǐ zhī hòu ， huáng dì biàn dǔ xìn xiān rén zhī cún zài 。 àn zhōng shòu yì jūn zhōng xīn fù ， pèi hé fǎng gǔ xué pài ， yú gǔ mù zhōng xún zhǎo xiān rén hén jì 。
自此之后，皇帝便笃信仙人之存在。暗中授意军中心腹，配合访古学派，于古墓中寻找仙人痕迹。
According to law, all should have been executed. However, with so many involved and widespread connections, the prefect of Jianghai Prefecture, Li Fan, dared not act on his own and sent a hurried petition to Xuanjing City for imperial decision.
máo dìng jiǔ nián ， fǎng gǔ xué pài yú xuán jīng chéng zhōng jǔ xíng le yī cì zhǎn lǎn ， yāo qǐng cháo zhōng dà chén yǔ jīng zhōng wáng gōng guì zú guān kàn 。
锚定九年，访古学派于玄京城中举行了一次展览，邀请朝中大臣与京中王公贵族观看。
A minister was outraged and petitioned for immediate execution.
suī rán zhè xiē rén yě shì fù guì fēi cháng 、 jiàn duō shí guǎng ， dàn kàn dào le zhǎn lǎn zhōng yī jiàn jiàn xī shì zhēn bǎo zhī hòu ， yě quán dōu shì chén jìn qí zhōng ， liú lián wàng fǎn 。
虽然这些人也是富贵非常、见多识广，但看到了展览中一件件稀世珍宝之后，也全都是沉浸其中，流连忘返。
However, most officials remained silent.
zhè zhī hòu ， fǎng gǔ xué pài gèng shì fàng kāi xiàn zhì ， xún cháng bǎi xìng zhǐ yào gòu mǎi mén piào ， biàn kě jìn rù qí zhōng yī guān 。
这之后，访古学派更是放开限制，寻常百姓只要购买门票，便可进入其中一观。
The emperor kept all petitions under review without making any statements.
xuán jīng chéng dùn shí hōng dòng 。
玄京城顿时轰动。
It took a month before the emperor's edict finally arrived.
wú shù rén pái zhe duì ， xiǎng yào jìn rù zhǎn lǎn zhōng yī kuī bǎo wù 。 rén shù zhī duō ， jìng rán yǐn dé jīng shī dào lù dǔ sè 。 xìng de shèng shàng fā lìng ， yǒu shù wèi yíng chí jiǎ wéi chí zhì xù ， cái méi yǒu yǐn qǐ gèng dà de sāo luàn 。
无数人排着队，想要进入展览中一窥宝物。人数之多，竟然引得京师道路堵塞。幸得圣上发令，有戍卫营持甲维持秩序，才没有引起更大的骚乱。
No extreme punishment was issued; instead, they were sentenced to be sold into slavery in Xianyang.
shèng kuàng yì zhí chí xù le dà bàn gè yuè 。
盛况一直持续了大半个月。
Few ministers dared to protest.
zhè zhī hòu ， zhǎn lǎn fēi dàn méi yǒu tíng zhǐ ， fǎn ér kāi shǐ xún yóu gè dì ， zài dà xuán gè chù yī yī zhǎn kāi 。
这之后，展览非但没有停止，反而开始巡游各地，在大玄各处一一展开。
Seeing the edict, Li Fan smiled faintly, knowing that the tide had turned.
Xuanjing City,top scholar Tower.
A group of scholars gathered together to view the ancient texts that had recently caused a stir throughout the land.
Since the appearance of these ancient texts several days ago, bookstores in the city had been printing them non-stop. Despite this, demand far outstripped supply. These scholars managed to purchase a few scrolls today and invited their friends to share in the excitement.
"Superior virtue is like water; it benefits all things without contention. Marvelous! Marvelous!"
"The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and from three come myriad things. Just a few words, but upon reading them, one feels an infinite profundity. This scripture truly stands out!"
"In my opinion, these three thousand characters alone surpass all the articles I have read before."
"I feel the same way!"
"No, no, in my view, the text of The Book of Changes is even more ingenious than The Dao De Jing. Although the words are obscure and profound, each one seems to contain the essence of heaven and earth's fundamental principles."
"Exactly so! Heaven’s ways are strong; gentlemen should strive unceasingly!" This resonated with their hearts!
The scholars chatted excitedly, clearly immersed in their discussion.
At that moment, one of them suddenly sighed deeply. "Who would have thought such exquisite words were buried underground for thousands of years and remained unknown? Every time I think about it, my heart aches!"
This remark garnered the others' agreement.
"Indeed, our teacher loved reading most. If he could read these few scrolls, imagine how pleased he would be."
"The misfortune of past scholars who couldn't hear this scripture is beyond measure!"
"But can these scriptures truly have been written by ancient sages and lost due to wars? I've noticed that the people and events in The Southern Classic and The Analects are not recorded in history." A voice among them sounded out of place.
The others fell silent for a moment before reaching a firm conclusion.
"Of course, it must be so. Such texts could never have been forged by modern hands. Current historical records only go back three thousand years. Before that, there were no detailed accounts. These classics must have originated from that era."
"I've heard that the antiquarians spoke to the emperor about how in ancient times, a hundred schools of thought thrived, producing countless scriptures like stars in the sky. The few scrolls we read today are but a tiny fraction of them."
This statement caused an uproar in the tavern.
"Such news! Just thinking of all these hidden classics buried underground, unseen by humans, makes me heartbroken and unable to sleep!"
"What must those other classics be like?"
...
"But after all, these ancient texts are deeply hidden within various tombs. The antiquarians' claim that they excavate tombs for preservation rather than destruction is hard to accept."
The scholars instinctively wanted to agree but hesitated when thinking of the countless undiscovered classics waiting to be unearthed.
"That's what the leader of the antiquarians said, protecting and salvaging, not destroying,"
"Correct. I've heard that they carefully remove all items from each tomb without damaging them, storing them properly. If any damage occurs, there are specialists who repair them."
"It is true; we cannot simply equate them with grave robbers."
However, many still held opposing views.
"But it's just a pretense. What difference does it make? Who among us doesn't have ancestors? How would you feel if your ancestor’s tomb were excavated like this?"
"We must not open this precedent or else it will bring endless trouble. We should try to dissuade them."
"Exactly so."
...
Some remained silent, acting as mediators.
"This matter is surely already decided by the emperor and his ministers. There's no need for us to worry too much."
"Just watch and see."
...
As The Dao spread across Great Xuan, intense debates erupted in various regions.
Scenes like those at thetop scholar Tower were repeated countless times.
Li Fan knew that it would be impossible to change everyone's minds quickly.
The groundwork had just begun.
But Li Fan was not worried about the outcome. In this world, those who held sway over public opinion were scholars.
With countless classics as bait, Li Fan did not fear these scholars' compliance.
Moreover, he did not need their support; he only needed them to remain silent.
...
While secretly plotting his rise to power, Li Fan was also gradually increasing the influence of the antiquarians in secular society.
In the sixth year, the emperor suddenly fell ill and lay bedridden. The court physicians were at a loss. Just as despair set in, the antiquarians presented an elixir to the emperor. They claimed it had been found in a tomb and might have miraculous powers to revive the dead or heal bones. It could potentially save his life.
Initially, the emperor ignored them, but as his condition worsened daily, he finally took the elixir out of desperation.
Miraculously, the elixir worked wonders. Within just a few days, the emperor recovered fully.
The entire court was in an uproar, and ministers debated intensely.
The emperor summoned the leader of the antiquarians to the palace for several days without attending court, questioning him about the sages' existence.
From then on, the emperor firmly believed in the existence of sages. He secretly instructed trusted military officials to cooperate with the antiquarians in searching ancient tombs for signs of sages.
In the ninth year, an excavation team from the Jianghai Prefecture uncovered a major tomb-raiding case involving over one hundred people. They had excavated numerous tombs in the mountains, causing incalculable damage.
According to law, all should have been executed. However, with so many involved and widespread connections, the prefect of Jianghai Prefecture, Li Fan, dared not act on his own and sent a hurried petition to Xuanjing City for imperial decision.
A minister was outraged and petitioned for immediate execution.
However, most officials remained silent.
The emperor kept all petitions under review without making any statements.
It took a month before the emperor's edict finally arrived.
No extreme punishment was issued; instead, they were sentenced to be sold into slavery in Xianyang.
Few ministers dared to protest.
Seeing the edict, Li Fan smiled faintly, knowing that the tide had turned.