Chapter 84: Debate on Governing Chaos
February 24, 1:00 PM
Shen Kuo pulled the trigger. The heavy iron arrow was thrown high towards the target. He watched it reach a high point and then fall, hitting the forehead of the man. It was almost exactly the same as the eyebrow shape that he had instructed the horse officer to aim at. Unfortunately, the deputy lieutenant who was proficient in archery had already fled down the city and could not see the greatest achievement of his life. The significance of this shot was no less than the arrow that shot and killed Xiao Taling.
Shen Kuo faced the biting west wind, standing on the top of the city wall and staring at the head, each with a scornful smile on his face, waiting for the other to reveal himself. Perhaps Shen Kuo was a little guilty first, because the arrow seemed to have no effect. Wang Ze's head continued to press towards Shen Kuo with a playful smile, even more hideous and treacherous than before.
He took a half step back, his face a little stiff. Was the effect of the attack not what he imagined? Was the arrow swallowed by the head? He looked around, and only Huang Shang was left by his side. He had already turned pale and collapsed on the ground.
"Master, why hasn't this big-headed ghost been killed yet?"
"Yeah, why is everything okay?"
When Shen Kuo asked himself this question and turned around, he found that the big-headed ghost's head seemed not so big anymore, and he no longer had that frivolous smile on his face. Instead, his whole face was twitching as if in anger.
"No, it's not angry, but it's leaking air? Haha, it's finished." Shen Kuo laughed.
Sure enough, the effect became apparent in the blink of an eye. It changed from a fat, bloated, silly-smiling white-faced demon to a long-faced, skinny, poor evil ghost. The indescribable weird smile also turned into a crooked look of astonishment.
Yu Jing, the bull-headed man who was cheering for victory with his arms open on the stage, also noticed something was wrong . His mask was so heavy that he couldn't lift his head all the time, and it also blocked his hearing, so he didn't notice that an arrow had just pierced through the human head and fell not far behind him. At this moment, he was surprised to find that the thing on his head was deflating and falling towards him.
He thought of the dozens of kilograms of flaming oil hanging under the airbag, which was used to ignite the internal heat. If it splashed on him, it would be bad. He quickly dropped the steel fork and jumped off the Seven Stars Terrace to look for the tunnel. However, the soft head of Wang Ze had already accelerated and fell down, covering him completely. Then the flames ignited the airbag sewn with eyelids, and Yu Jing, who was trapped in it, had nowhere to escape. Today was supposed to be his day of great victory, but it turned out to be his death.
Shen Kuo watched from the top of the city wall, and saw the head falling like a rag, landing right in the middle of the Seven Stars Terrace where it had just risen. It was like it had just risen from hell and now fell back into hell.
The sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang, and a huge stone fell from his heart. Everything was over. After more than a month of prophecy and chaos, it was bound to come to an end with the failure of the ninth prophecy and the demise of the new leader.
He just leaned against the parapet and watched the wooden Seven Stars Platform in front of him burn into a sea of fire. However, another thing grabbed his heart, that is, he didn't know what happened to Xu Chong. Although at the last moment, he saw that only the bull head was dancing on the platform, and Xu Chong was completely invisible. His finger hesitated on the trigger, but rationality made him not hesitate for too long.
Worried about Xu Chong's safety, he quickly turned around and went down the tower. When he arrived at the city gate, it was already crowded with people, both civilians and soldiers. They no longer fled in fear but crowded here. All the fear stopped at the moment the demon fell, and then began to subside. Although most people here were still afraid that something else would come out of the sea of fire, they also clearly saw the destruction of a demon. Although countless questions lingered in their hearts, which might never be answered in their lifetime, the fear itself was dissipating with the wind.
Shen Kuo squeezed through the crowd and arrived outside the city, still barefoot and with disheveled hair, while Huang Shang also squeezed in to follow his uncle. Although he still didn't know what kind of magic and spells his uncle relied on to win, he firmly believed that his uncle was invincible.
Shen Kuo walked to the edge of the fire but couldn't get any closer. The high temperature brought by the west wind forced him back. He sat down on the ground, thinking that Xu Chong must be dead. Either killed by the Minotaur or burned to death. He couldn't help but sigh until a figure limped to the edge of the sea of fire. It seemed to be Xu Chong.
"Brother Xu, is that you?"
He quickly stood up and rushed over.
"Haha, it's me."
Shen Kuo cried with joy and hurried over to help him.
"Did you kill the monster?" Xu Chong asked. He was still in the tunnel when the head fell and did not see the scene. However, he had seen how the thing rose up and did not doubt that it was not a demon. It was lifted up by the hot air and was just a wonder used by the Maitreya sect to scare people.
"It's gone."
"So, this fire was started by it falling down?"
There was a burn on his buttocks, and since the head could spit fire from its mouth, there must be something flammable in it.
"That's right. Brother Xu, I just saw you fighting with that minotaur down there, how did you escape?"
"I was hit in the foot by that scoundrel and couldn't escape. I was forced to that side and it was clearly a dead end. But I found a tunnel in the wooden wall that led directly to the river bank."
"To the riverbank?"
"Yeah, I think Yu Jing reserved it for himself to escape."
"Let's go back and find a doctor to treat you."
"Okay! I'm also afraid that I'll be crippled from now on and won't have the money to redeem Jin'er."
"What?" Shen Kuo was also stunned and didn't quite understand the connection.
"Jin'er is related to Xiaoping. If she turns herself in, she will inevitably be sold by the government... I'm afraid she will be sold by that rich family to be a concubine for their stupid son. Then someone will have to save her from the dire straits. If I..." Xu Chong actually made up a lot of weird plots in his mind.
"Why are you still thinking about these irrelevant things?"
"Haha, I'm just thinking about it. I also want to stay in this prosperous capital."
Shen Kuo carried Xu Chong and limped to find a horse, then helped him mount it, and the two returned to the city together. Huang Shang went back to Yuqing Palace without saying anything else.
February 24, noon
After Bao Zheng and Wen Yanbo left the morning court, they came to Laoya Lane together. They first visited Xu Chong. Xu Chong's foot had been bandaged, but he could no longer walk. It was hard to say whether he would be lame or not. However, Bao Zheng brought good news. The emperor cried with joy when he heard the news of the destruction of the evil Maitreya sect in the morning, and said that he would reward him generously. Of course, there were many things that the emperor said on a whim and then forgot.
Then the two of them talked with Shen Kuo and Xu Chong about the burning scene. The Imperial City Department had sent troops to temporarily block the area around the Seven Stars Terrace, but had not yet checked the pile of ashes. The two of them had heard many eyewitness reports from people who were there at the time, confirming that Wang Ze's head suddenly deflated and then burned. However, they just wanted to know what the two eyewitnesses, Shen Kuo and Xu Chong, did last night. The emperor did not dare to announce to the world that the Maitreya Sect had been destroyed, and he also wanted to be a little more cautious.
Xu Chong assured the two that he had seen Yu Jing with his own eyes, and he would recognize this man even if he turned into ashes, although he might have really turned into ashes now, so he had to dig him out from under the ashes to have a look. Old Bao twisted his beard and thought for a while, thinking that Xu Chong was a man who knew the importance of things after all, and rarely made promises on weekdays. What he said today must mean that Yu Jing had been brought to justice.
Then he asked Shen Kuo about how Wang Ze's head rose up like a demon yesterday, but fell and burned in the blink of an eye.
Shen Kuo roughly explained the principle of the rise of the human head. The flying head of Wang Ze was nothing more than a large Kongming lantern. The arrow only pierced its surface, causing it to lose air and unable to float in the air. In fact, all illusions that fool the audience are like this. On the surface, they look strange and spectacular, but in fact, as long as the disguise is pierced, they will lose air and fall.
Old Bao nodded repeatedly, obviously understanding what he said, but Wen Yanbo looked a little unhappy. He had not spoken a word before, but now he seemed to be unable to hold back and hesitated several times. Finally, Old Bao also noticed.
"Prime Minister, as long as we dig out Yu Jing's body from the ashes this afternoon, will this big case be solved?"
Lao Bao used a polite tone to test Wen Yanbo's thoughts.
"Solved? Even though the case has been solved, how can the destruction of the Maitreya Sect be easily resolved?"
"We just need to announce to the world and dismantle all the Maitreya illusions one by one, so that the people know that Wang Ze's head is nothing more than a sky lantern held high by the heat. Not only will this matter be put to an end, but it will also be difficult for the remnants of the Maitreya sect to use these evil methods to deceive people from now on."
"This matter must not end like this." Wen Yanbo shook his head.
"Why?" Bao Zheng asked puzzled.
"Hasn't Bao Xiren heard that people can be made to follow, but not to know... If the method used by Yu Jing and his ilk to cause chaos is indeed a divine secret, it is also the root of disaster. If the world knows about it, treacherous villains will learn such strange and lewd skills and abandon the teachings of the saints. From then on, there will be either giant flying birds, or warships that can swim in the sea, or even chariots that can spit fire. From then on, people in the world will talk about divine skills and strength but will not read the classics of the saints. They will only know how to temper steel and make fire, imitate the great power of heaven and earth, but forget the moral principles of human relations. Gentlemen will lose the way and take advantage of tools, while villains will gain benefits and transcend the hierarchy. Is this a blessing for the country?"
"Minister, please do not arbitrarily punctuate and misinterpret what the Master said. The Master simply said: 'If the people do not know, it is not right; but they can know it.' Educating the world is our duty. To govern by making the people not know is to go against the righteous teachings of the sages and implement the laws of Shang Yang and Qin. To temper steel and play with fire is not a way to strengthen the army?"
"Brother Xiren has been an official for a long time, don't you know that people's knowledge brings disaster, and people's ignorance easily leads to chaos?"
"This is absurd. Is the way to govern chaos determined by the wisdom and knowledge of the people?"
"Xiren, don't you believe what I said ?"
"Of course I don't believe it." Old Bao shook his sleeves and decided not to give Wen Yanbo face. It was obviously a festive day for the destruction of Maitreya Sect, but the two old men had a quarrel and conflict.
"If you don't believe me, I'll explain it to you."
"Haha, I'm all ears."
"Cun Zhong, how did you break Wang Ze's head yesterday?" Wen Yanbo suddenly asked Shen Kuo, which also made Shen Kuo at a loss for a moment.
"As I just said, I was on top of the city wall and I used powerful crossbows and heavy arrows to break through it."
"Before you shoot that arrow, how can you convince those soldiers guarding the city to serve you?"
"Before that? I...I wrote a spell. I told them that I could break the monster with magic."
"If I didn't write the spell, didn't coax them, but just talked to them about the truth, would it work?"
"I'm afraid not." Shen Kuo answered truthfully. He hesitated for a moment, and his intuition told him that if he told the soldiers that the head was just a steaming, easily broken skin bag, he would not be able to convince them.
"How? If we don't coax them, how can we give them courage?" Wen Yanbo turned to Bao Zheng proudly.
"However……"
"Let me tell you one more thing. Last night, the rumor that a Taoist priest rode a cloud on top of the city and used magic to defeat the demon king with a spell has spread. It will be known to the whole world in a few days. How can you change the above statement? You insist that the rumor is false, and that he actually shot through a skin bag? This is contrary to the world's view and hearing, and can even be called a perverse act."
Wen Yanbo's theory was actually carefully deduced. Last night, Shen Kuo acted in a convenient way, disguising himself as a wizard to eliminate the greatest crisis of the Song Dynasty in one fell swoop, and unexpectedly created a legend and a good story. Shen Kuo must agree with Wen Yanbo's judgment that such a story mixed with supernatural powers must spread very quickly among the people and have the best effect. If you really draw a picture and explain the reason, I'm afraid no one will understand it, let alone be willing to spread it, and the effect will be more than halved.
"So, what does the Prime Minister mean?"
"If you think what I said is wrong, then we can only make the best of it. Since the destiny of the Song Dynasty is with us, no matter what kind of evil magic or tricks he uses, it's still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It's time to strike first."
"How do you say it?"
"The birds and beasts of Maitreya have scattered, this is the first. The Mandate of Heaven still exists in the country, and the people are loyal to it, this is the second. The Maitreya sect's perverse and cunning schemes that brought chaos to the world have been lost, this is the third. How can we not say that it is the right time? Listen to what I have to say, and don't make any more trouble."
Bao Zheng shook his head helplessly, with nothing to say. After all, he was an idealist and did not want to bow to any vulgar opinions, but at this moment he could only give in. Judging from public opinion alone, Wen Yanbo was probably right. Now that the fait accompli has been acknowledged, it is the best solution to eliminate those who should be eliminated and conceal those who should be concealed.
After asking all the questions and having a quick lunch, the four of them went to the ruins outside the west gate to dig for evidence.
At this time, the burning site had been blocked by thousands of imperial guards. Originally, only 200 people were sent, but by noon, it was found that it was far from enough. Since the morning, people came to watch the excitement in an endless stream. They all wanted to see the scene where Wang Ze was reborn and was killed by the gods. Not only ordinary people, but also storytellers and tabloid writers from various villages in the city came here to see the fallen ghost head so that they could go back and make up new stories. There were also those who did not dare to come out last night to miss the excitement, crying and shouting to break through the blockade of the imperial guards so as to spit on Wang Ze, the monster. Everyone wanted to roll up their sleeves to pull Wang Ze out and beat him to death again.
Lao Bao and Wen Yanbo had already set up a parasol over there and were sitting down to drink tea. Xu Chong was sitting on a side chair, unable to get down because of his injured foot. Only Shen Kuo was directing everyone to dig in the ruins. The Seven Stars Terrace was originally made of wood, but it had now been burned to ashes.
