bdsm-fiction Chapter 198 Legalism Respects
Chapter 198 Legalism Respects
That man was indeed a master swordsman, and an outstanding young talent among the Confucian scholars. Yet he was cut down with a single sword strike, cleanly and decisively, without any chance to retaliate.
Lin Tian steadied himself, raising his longsword once more. The tip of the sword, like a hawk locking onto its prey, slowly swept across the assembled scholars. His gaze was icy, his voice like cold iron: "Those who dare not accept the challenge are spineless cowards! You scholars, besides barking, do you dare to draw your swords and step forward to fight me in a real battle?!"
This is clearly a public challenge and a challenge to the enemy!
The people of Qin have always revered strength and courage, and the entire country established itself through martial prowess and warfare—otherwise, where would the iron-blooded warriors who later swept across the six kingdoms have come from?
The people of Qin were known for their fierce and unyielding nature. In the eyes of the six states of Shandong in the early years, they were simply a group of unruly, barefoot, and uncivilized border people.
Lin Tian was arrogant from the moment he appeared. In the blink of an eye, he killed another person without changing his expression. Then he faced the students of the Hundred Schools and questioned them sharply. Such courage and sharpness warmed the hearts of the elders of Xianyang who were watching, and they felt a sense of closeness to him.
They seemed to see again the former king who had defeated Zhao, and General Bai Qi, who struck fear into the hearts of the feudal lords.
"This person's methods are so ruthless... I really miscalculated." Lü Buwei's eyelids twitched, staring at Lin Tian in disbelief.
Although Li Si was slightly taken aback, he quickly said in a deep voice, "He is just a valiant warrior; Prime Minister Lü need not worry about him."
Lu Buwei nodded slightly in agreement, but a hint of worry quietly rose in his heart, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, the ripples silent but lingering for a long time.
Lin Tian's gaze swept over the flushed and retreating faces in front of the Recruitment Hall. Seeing that everyone was silent as cicadas in fear, he couldn't help but sneer.
Suddenly, a man stepped forward from the crowd, his voice clear and sharp as tearing silk: "Hmph! To kill someone in broad daylight in the street, does the Grand Preceptor disregard the Qin Laws? Has the law of Qin become nothing more than a piece of empty paper?!"
Lin Tian's gaze sharpened, piercing the man: "State your name! If you have the guts, step forward and answer! Hiding like a coward, what kind of upright man are you?"
He listened carefully to these words—after all, it involved the Qin Law, and as the Grand Tutor, he had to uphold this bottom line for Ying Zheng.
"Wei Wu, a Legalist!" Although the young man was dressed in Confucian robes, his brows revealed a heroic spirit honed on the battlefield. His posture was as straight as a javelin, like a sharp soldier who had just stepped out of the military camp.
"Wei Wu, this man insulted the Imperial Preceptor appointed by the King himself, violating the law. I executed him according to the law. Do you know your mistake?"
Arguing, nitpicking, and beating around the bush—Lin Tian, a transmigrator, has never been afraid of anyone.
With a flick of his wrist, the sword traced a silver arc, then he held the sword behind his back, head held high, looking down arrogantly at all living beings.
Wei Wu hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and asked again, "Grand Preceptor, don't distort the truth! Killing someone in the street, you are the one who broke the Qin law!"
"Just what I wanted!" Lin Tian sneered inwardly, but suddenly raised his voice: "The country has laws and regulations, so tell me—does the law protect the emperor? The ministers? Or you bunch of talkative scholars?"
Wei Wu blurted out, "What we are protecting is the emperor and the state, what we are protecting are the common people!"
Lin Tian nodded, then his voice boomed like thunder: "Since he protects the king, then isn't his insulting of the imperial advisor personally appointed by the king a blatant disregard for royal orders and a trampling of the fundamental principles of morality? What else can such a disloyal and unfilial person be but a traitor? Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. As subjects of the king, how dare they deceive their superiors and defy their dignity? Wei Wu, if you speak up for him today, do you also harbor thoughts of disrespecting the king and the imperial advisor? The crime of deceiving the king will implicate nine generations of your family. Have you thought this through?!"
Wei Wu trembled, his throat bobbed, but he couldn't utter a single word—if he opened his mouth again, he would be branded a "disloyal subject" and doomed forever!
Lin Tian, however, persisted, pressing on relentlessly, his voice lashing out like a whip: "The proper order of ruler and subject, father and son—aren't these the ironclad rules you Confucian scholars constantly preach? He, a disciple of Confucianism, committed rebellious acts, violating moral principles. Taking his life is precisely acting on behalf of Heaven and upholding the law! According to the Qin law—his entire clan should have been exterminated! Tell me, isn't sparing his body a sign of mercy?"
"The Imperial Advisor's lofty theories are nothing but sophistry and sophistry!"
A Confucian scholar could no longer contain himself. His fellow disciple had died tragically before his eyes, and his anger had long since eroded his reason. Yet, fearing the harsh laws of the Qin state, he hesitated to act. Only when he heard Lin Tian's rebuke, and the body was still warm, did he finally draw his sword and step forward.
"You, a student of Confucianism, pays respects to the Imperial Preceptor!" This man knew how to behave properly, first straightening his clothes and then bowing respectfully.
Seeing that he was furrowed in anger and had veins throbbing on his forehead, Lin Tian felt a sense of appreciation for him.
"Solicitation of reason? That's a term that should be returned to you Confucianists! Mencius, the second sage, was a master of rhetoric, debating with the feudal lords, and he was never lacking in 'clever words'! The word 'sophistry' is more fitting when applied to you!"
Ziyou scoffed and questioned sharply, "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher are the Five Cardinal Guides, the foundation of our Confucian school! The Imperial Preceptor uses Confucian rules as a weapon to kill Confucian disciples, and then insists that Huiyan is a heinous criminal—isn't this using empty words as ironclad evidence, using the guise of righteousness to commit murder, and taking pleasure in tyranny? He draws his sword to kill at the slightest disagreement, doesn't he know that such blatant violence will not only harm others but also consume himself? Although the Imperial Preceptor holds a high position, this is no longer the old world where 'rites do not apply to commoners, and punishments do not apply to high officials'!"
Ziyou took another half step forward, his voice suddenly rising: "With such a narrow-minded and cruel nature, I ask you—if you use such a temperament to assist the King of Qin in governing the country, will the people of Qin face a face like yours in the future? Won't the lives of the common people be as precarious as eggs on a shelf?"
He spoke each word deliberately and forcefully.
The surroundings became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, especially the people of Xianyang who were awakened by his words, and they all held their breath.
The previously noisy crowd fell silent, and thoughtful expressions appeared on their faces—Lin Tian, the Imperial Preceptor, was known for taking lives at the drop of a hat and for his fiery temper, yet he sat atop the imperial court and was personally appointed Imperial Preceptor by the Prince of Qin.
A heavy stone weighed on the hearts of the old Qin people.
Lin Tian intended to change the subject and divert attention, but he did not expect that Ziyou had actually learned some of the Confucian skill of "sharp tongue".
He paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the sky and burst into loud laughter, three laughs in a row that echoed through the streets and alleys.
All eyes were immediately drawn to Lin Tian, who pointed directly at Zi You, his laughter still ringing out: "Heh—saying you're empty-headed is really giving you too much credit!"
Ziyou was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly. Suppressing his displeasure, he bowed respectfully and asked, "May I ask, Grand Preceptor, what is the meaning of these words?"
"What kind of knowledge did the Qin state rely on to bring peace and stability to the country?" Lin Tian asked rhetorically.
"Everyone knows that Legalism is the most respected school of thought," Ziyou blurted out.
Lin Tian's gaze was sharp as a blade. He stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder: "Fine! Since we are on Qin soil, let's only abide by Qin law! Subjects serve their rulers, sons respect their fathers, and wives obey their husbands—aren't these the laws and family precepts governing the three cardinal relationships of ruler and subject, father and son, and husband and wife, the ironclad laws of Legalism?!"