May 23rd, a water channel outside Fuzhou City. Early in the morning, people gathered, pointing and whispering towards the muddy ground beside the channel. Some, after a glance, exclaimed in shock and covered their faces, hurrying away.

Two constables, one old and one young, arrived quickly. They pushed through the pointing crowd and saw the corpse stuffed in a burlap sack beside the channel.

The corpse was horribly mutilated. The sack was stained with dark red blood. The village head, who had arrived earlier, dared not approach and stood aside, trembling. The old constable, however, was more experienced. He waved his hand and shouted to the surrounding crowd, "Disperse, disperse! What's there to see? Don't you find it disgusting?" He then went down with the young constable.

The body must have been dumped in the early hours of the morning. The rope on the sack had come loose. Someone had thrown the body from the roadside, crushing the grass and trees on the channel's slope. From the opened sack, gruesome entrails could be seen. The person's death was quite tragic. Even the old constable frowned slightly after a few glances. The young one was even worse, squatting aside and almost vomiting.

But having been in the job for some time, the young man had accumulated some experience. After recovering slightly, he found the old constable, who was talking to the village head, "The sack opening was deliberately opened. The body is in bad shape, but the head and face are okay. Boss, this section of the place is..."

He stopped there, not continuing. The old constable nodded, instructing the village head to quickly call the funeral home to collect and process the body. Only then did he take the young constable towards one end of the channel.

This section of the channel, connected to the moat, was not short. About a hundred *zhang* away from the dumping site, there was a dilapidated house. A lame old man was sitting under a tree next to the house, selling tea. He was also looking towards the commotion. The old constable went over, ordered two cups of tea, and exchanged a few pleasantries with him.

"Old Zhang, did you see anyone?"

"I didn't see anything last night... They dumped it when I was in my deepest sleep this morning."

"Alright. One less score to settle in the *jianghu*... Let us know if you remember anything else."

The old constable paid for the tea, and the obligatory inquiry came to an end. This section of the channel outside the city was different from other places. It wasn't next to the busiest commercial road. Because there was a busier official road as an alternative, the daily traffic here was generally low. Since some unknown time, people occasionally dumped bodies here.

The bodies dumped here mostly came from *jianghu* vendettas. More precisely, it was often the kind of deal where someone placed an order and someone did the work. The employer who placed the order couldn't directly confirm the progress, so after the "collector" did the job, they would leave the body in a conspicuous place outside the city, indicating that the job had been done. This also made it easier for the employer to confirm the result.

For these kinds of matters in the greenwood, the yamen basically adopted a "no lawsuit, no investigation" attitude. In other words, the constable's investigation basically depended on whether someone reported the case. If someone died and no one reported it, it mostly meant that the person deserved to die. It wasn't that the court wouldn't investigate, but the priority would definitely be the lowest. But if someone reported the case, the matter would be put into the regular process.

After the court entered Fuzhou, under the control of Tie Tianying and others, the Ministry of Justice strengthened some control over *jianghu* affairs. Therefore, these kinds of matters had a few more steps. Currently, no one had beaten the drum to report the case. The old constable made a brief inquiry, and the body was taken to the funeral home. Then, he let some well-informed informants from the greenwood come over to identify the body. After that, it would be filed. As for what happened next, it fell into the category of manageable or unmanageable.

The weather in Fuzhou was hot, and recently, the atmosphere had been tense due to the new emperor's selection of consorts. The yamen had a lot of things to do. By May 25th, when the body was beginning to decompose, an informant finally identified the body.

"Tiger Shark" Zhan Yunhai.

This was a young fugitive who was active in Putian. It was unknown why he came to Fuzhou and was killed here by hired assassins.

Since Chen Shuangran, Pu Xingui, and other bandits began to become active in April, and various powerful clans responded, figures from the greenwood in Fujian gradually began to gather in Fuzhou. However, there were many cases of these fugitives killing each other, but fewer cases of hiring assassins specifically to deal with someone. The matter was suspicious, but currently, there was no urgency to investigate.

In the afternoon, the young constable listed the matter in the daily report and submitted it.

……

May 26th, a little rain fell in the morning.

Inside the Fuzhou Military Academy, the classrooms were orderly. In a classroom on the second floor, Li Pin was writing chalk characters on the blackboard.

"...Regarding this world, Confucius and Mencius spoke of *Ren*, the Southwest speaks of Man... You see, *Ren* is two men, why emphasize two men? Because people are different from each other. Some hear the Way earlier, and some specialize in different skills. Therefore, when it comes to matters between people, Confucius and Mencius said that the benevolent love others, the benevolent act for others. Those who hear the Way first should help those who hear it later, and those with strong abilities should help those with weak abilities... For two thousand years, the world has been moving forward, and what scholars have been doing is the benevolent love others. What you are learning today is also for the sake of the benevolent love others..."

"...And why does the Southwest emphasize Man? This is a beautiful wish... Our Confucian school has been talking about a utopian society for two thousand years. As for what the utopia is, everyone has their own ideas, just as Dai Sheng of the Western Han Dynasty said, 'When the Great Way prevails, the world is for all. Select the virtuous and capable, promote good faith and harmony. Therefore, people do not only love their own parents, nor only care for their own children, so that the elderly are provided for, the strong are employed, the young are nurtured, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, disabled, and sick are all taken care of...' For such a society, we say, is a kind of utopia..."

"...And Ning Yi of the Southwest said that sitting idly by and watching the differences between people is not utopia. Why does he emphasize Man instead of two men? Because he believes that increasing education and making everyone equal is the true utopia. Since people are equal, there is naturally no need to emphasize two men. So what the Southwest speaks of is human rights, people's livelihood, and people's intelligence..."

"...It cannot be said that his utopia and equality are wrong. This world develops, and in short, it will be a process from *Ren* to Man. Moreover, he is not just talking empty words. He advocates the study of *Gewu*, vigorously developing papermaking. In his Southwest, he promotes all children to attend elementary school, even girls have to learn to read. This is of course a remarkable effort. He said that Confucian learning has begun to obscure people, hoping to draw rules and regulations for people to follow for a lifetime, pursuing such a so-called utopia. This statement is quite sharp..."

"...But at the same time? Letting everyone study, does that mean the benevolent don't need to love others? Is there no order of who hears the Way first? This is clearly lying with your eyes open... Furthermore, the *Book of Rites* also says: 'Those who are fatherless in their youth are called orphans, those who are childless in old age are called lonely, those who are wifeless in old age are called widowers, and those who are husbandless in old age are called widows...' Even if one day everyone is knowledgeable, can it bring fathers to fatherless children? Can it give children to those who are childless in old age? You, the widows, orphans, lonely, disabled, and sick, still need the benevolent to love them..."

"...Those who hear the Way first help those who hear it later, those with strength help those without strength, this will always be an unchanging gentleman's virtue... Just like you are studying here, and you will become such a benevolent person next. And even if the Southwest promotes reading, isn't what Ning Yi is doing a benevolent thing? Don't the people under him have different levels of ability and virtue? So, learning is not about fighting back and forth, it's about where to find the right measure for abandoning things..."

After the rain, a slight cool breeze blew through. As Li Pin spoke eloquently, all the young people in the classroom listened attentively.

They were "progressive thinkers" recruited by the academy. Because the main requirement for selection was not old morality and articles, but "identifying with the imperial court, caring about the people, thinking clearly, and being lively," their attainments in Confucian learning varied greatly. Of course, compared to the Southwest, these people could still be regarded as orthodox Confucian disciples. Li Pin's lectures were therefore more vivid.

While the class was in progress, at the front of the classroom near the door, there was also a separate desk, where a Daoist nun in gray robes was sitting. This was Luo Shouwei, the "Qingyi Zhenren", who had been assigned by the Princess Manor to care for Li Pin's safety. These days, she had been following Li Pin to class and back, listening attentively to Li Pin's lectures. Sometimes, she would also show a thoughtful expression, her eyes fluctuating.

The Military Academy was considered the new emperor's core position. Even though Li Pin had his own career and students, he would come over every other day to lecture for half a day. Halfway through the class that day, a man in his thirties with glasses and squinting eyes passed by, listened outside the window for a while. When the class was over and the bell rang, Li Pin smiled at him. The man also came over to greet him.

"Hello, Mr. Li."

"Why do you have time to come over today, Wenxuan?"

The person who came was Zuo Wenxuan, the core figure cultivated by the Zuo family and handed over to the Southwest. As the core of the team designated by Ning Yi, the outside world generally believed that he had a relatively introverted personality and was good at planning and calculating, but did not interact smoothly with outsiders. Therefore, he often gave the task of being the face representative to the deputy group leader, Zuo Wenhuai. He also did not teach in the Military Academy, so others did not see him often.

At this time, after the two sides greeted each other, Zuo Wenxuan adjusted his glasses, thought for a moment, "There are some things... I came over to discuss with Wenhuai, and accidentally passed by, listening to Mr. Li's lectures, I thought of some things."

"Oh? What do you think, Wenxuan?"

"Mr. Li... you are avoiding the important and dwelling on the trivial."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The core of Confucius and Mencius is *Ren*, but the difference between the Southwest and Confucianism is not in the benevolent loving others." Zuo Wenxuan paused, "...in the interaction between Heaven and Man."

Zuo Wenxuan's words were not fast, often giving people a feeling of carefully considering each word. The words "interaction between Heaven and Man" came out lightly, but Li Pin's face also sank slightly, and his eyes became somewhat gloomy. He was silent for a moment before saying, "...Continue."

Zuo Wenxuan thought for a moment.

"The things of the world, at the highest level, are all about the correctness of law and reason. Why are there rules, why is there morality, why can officials use the people, why is the emperor's word law? To ordinary people, it seems to be the result of violence, and the statements are more like excuses. But only when you truly reach a high place can you know that only this statement truly determines whether the world is stable and whether ambitious people can restrain their desires..."

"Confucius and Mencius were born in the Spring and Autumn period, and are just one family's words, saying some ideas about the great rule of the Spring and Autumn period. It was Dong Zhongshu's interaction between Heaven and Man that truly laid the foundation for it for generations. He said that Heaven has a will, Heaven is always right, and Heaven has great benevolence. Therefore, he governs the world in the name of the emperor. Mr. Li, it is precisely because Heaven has a will that all correctness comes from Heaven. Even if you have doubts about certain things, it is unquestionable because of the hierarchy. And with the existence of this truth, the world can truly explain everything in the world from learning."

Zuo Wenxuan spoke slowly, without much expression on his face.

"But according to the Southwest's statement, the baseness of Confucianism in the world comes from this. Mr. Li, let's not talk about whether Heaven and Earth have a will, how can we truly know the will of Heaven and Earth? The rules and regulations of the Ministry of Rites, the mystification of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, are like the shamanic dances of witchcraft. We all know that it is just a performance. Dong Zhongshu's interaction between Heaven and Man uses a statement to confirm the emperor's legal right to act on behalf of Heaven, and then uses this legal right to drive violence to clear out all those who question this matter. But if we are all speaking for ourselves in the name of Heaven and Earth, where does everything deduced from here stand?"

He said here, Li Pin nodded, without showing too much excitement, "But in this way, the world can still obtain hundreds of years of peace. If in all dynasties and generations, the emperors said that they were not Heaven, Wenxuan, what would happen?"

"So the Southwest believes that Confucianism is a relatively successful, even very successful model."

"Then why can't they run in parallel? Just incorporate the study of *Gewu*..."

"It is precisely the study of *Gewu* that is not easy to incorporate right now." Zuo Wenxuan said, "The foundation of the study of *Gewu* is small things, things that are expedient. It says that at a certain time and moment, limited by our means, we have such an observation result on a certain thing, so we infer that it has such a law, and we then think about what kind of changes can occur based on this law. *Gewu* strives to seek short-term truths from small places, places that can be controlled, and then uses these truths to build a building, and finally goes to peek at Heaven and Earth. But Confucianism has set a big 'truth' from the beginning. One wants to explain the world from small to large, and one from large to small. They will collide sooner or later."

Li Pin said: "Wouldn't it be good to let them run in parallel for a while?"

"Confucianism has already been running for two thousand years." Zuo Wenxuan said, "Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, Teacher, Confucianism, from large to small, has already begun to explain everything in the world. When Qin Gong Siyuan annotated the Four Books, and引人欲驱天理, it was actually a very great consideration. He wanted to use the name of Heaven and Earth to think that there was a kind of duty that the people of the world had to abide by, and then let the world follow this duty to live, so that there would be no great chaos in the world. Regarding his duty to the people of the world, we think of course that it is a benevolent arrangement, but does Heaven really admit it? Does it really have this arrangement for the world? What if Qin Gong's calculation is just the conjecture of an old man who seems to understand the world? Heaven is ruthless and treats all things like straw dogs, who knows how much trouble his arrangement will cause."

Zuo Wenxuan paused here, then arched his hands again: "Of course, I respect Qin Gong's hard work and good intentions very much, and everything in the world was originally based on the summary of many people who understood the world. But at least in the study of *Gewu*, Mr. Li, they have already collided, just like where the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants comes from? In the beginning, of course, it was also out of good intentions. Now, Mr. Li, you see that papermaking has developed, and you just admit its correctness. But if it weren't for Mr. Ning's promotion, how much could it have developed?"

He said: "Since ancient times, it has been said that ingenuity encourages people to be lazy, and that gentlemen are poor, and money is not a good thing. Because of the so-called 'Heavenly Reason', we have given a tendency to everything in the world from the beginning. Mr. Li, it is so correct to say that people should not be lazy or greedy for money, but Confucianism considers it a Heavenly Reason. But in the study of *Gewu*, Heaven and Earth are ruthless, and all things have spirits. The Southwest only believes that there are laws in everything in the world. The laws are neither good nor bad, impartial and unbiased. We can only use the most calm attitude to understand the laws, and then it is possible to get good results in the end."

"Mr. Li. In the Southwest, they make telescopes to look at the moon... Although it doesn't look very clear, you can also perceive that the moon is a huge stone ball. They also observe the earth and find that we are also standing on a huge round ball, you know?" Zuo Wenxuan stamped his feet, "We live on a very large ball."

Li Pin smiled: "I heard it earlier a few years ago."

"In this world, there is a boundless universe." Zuo Wenxuan also smiled, "The universe is empty on all sides, and there are large and small balls everywhere, some are stone balls, and some are still burning with flames. We are just a coincidence on one of the stone balls. We imagine that Heaven and Earth have a will, and that Heaven and Man interact, but in reality, there is nothing..."

"But if the world knew about this," Li Pin said, "how would they live?"

"...Well said." This time, Zuo Wenxuan waited for a long time before slowly saying these four words, and then he was silent for a while, as if he was weighing his words, "But I think they will always have their own way. Mr. Li, the real problem is, no matter whether Confucianism wants to accommodate *Gewu*, or *Gewu* wants to be compatible with Confucianism, the so-called Neo-Confucianism must always explain the conflict between seeking truth from facts and the interaction between Heaven and Man. What should we do about this?"

When the two said this, Li Pin looked at the other party's slightly tired eyes. At this time, he also thought for a while, and then said: "Wenxuan today, it seems that you didn't just come over to debate on a whim?"

Zuo Wenxuan smiled reservedly.

"I often heard people talk about Mr. Li's theory of Neo-Confucianism when I first came from the Southwest. At first, I was a little puzzled, but now I can probably understand the intentions of the Mr. Saying these words today is not intended to argue, but... seeking truth from facts and the interaction between Heaven and Man, these are things at the root. No matter what the final result is, the things at the root of this kind of learning will always have a fight. Mr. should understand this."

Li Pin nodded, and he also weighed it for a moment, patted Zuo Wenxuan on the shoulder, and the two walked forward along the corridor: "What Wenxuan is saying is about politics, about governing people. Speaking from here, it is indeed correct. The Way of Confucius and Mencius is the study of being human, and it does not have the ability to exclude all schools of thought. It was Dong Sheng who said the interaction between Heaven and Man that made Heaven and Earth and the King the basis of all legal reason, and then there was the prosperity of Confucianism."

He said: "It is also because of this that the world also regards Confucian learning as the study of governing people and governing the world. And as Wenxuan said, in this world, people can only become smarter by listening to the experiences summed up by the previous generation. If you are only concerned with your own ideas before the age of twenty, this person will not study well. If you don't have your own ideas after the age of twenty and don't think about why, this person has wasted his studies. This is the right way in the world."

"Calling the experience that everyone has followed for two thousand years the words of the sages and Heavenly Reason can solve many problems. But of course, Li Heng tells us with *Gewu* that these Heavenly Reasons have gone wrong in some places that we can't see, and erased some possibilities that could have been of great use, very complicated, and that we - or even the sages - couldn't see for a while. This is what Li Heng wrote in the Southwest publications... He is almost becoming a saint."

"But Wenxuan ah." Li Pin smiled here: "When you went to the Southwest, you were not young, and you had already passed elementary school. If you were to look at Confucian learning, what kind of learning would you think it was at first glance?"

Zuo Wenxuan frowned slightly: "Probably?"

"Yes." Li Pin nodded, "Give a rough idea, give a simple thought."

"Confucianism is broad and profound, but if you just want to summarize it..." Zuo Wenxuan thought for a moment, "Probably it is... the learning of cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the country, and pacifying the world?"

"Cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the country, and pacifying the world, this is still a statement that was summarized in the *Great Learning*. 'Those who in ancient times wished to manifest their clear virtue to the world, first governed their states. Wishing to govern their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.'" Li Pin smiled, "But if you want to say this, Li Heng's side will probably criticize you again, saying that you are metaphysics. Look, can those who cultivate themselves well really regulate their families? Can those who can regulate their families govern the country? Or in other words, can those who govern the country well necessarily regulate their families? Can those who govern the country well really pacify the world? These words sound very reasonable. It is of course a good pursuit for a person to cultivate himself, regulate his family, govern the country, and pacify the world, but it sounds reasonable, but in reality, there is not much connection. This is what Li Heng has been criticizing for a long time: metaphysics."

He waved his hand: "He is right, many of Confucianism are metaphysics, which are just great-sounding principles that cannot stand the so-called test."

Li Pin said here, Zuo Wenxuan stared, even more confused. He did not expect that Li Pin would first criticize Confucianism at this time. However, it was at this moment that he saw Li Pin's face become serious.

"But Wenxuan, I also have my own ideas about what Confucianism is. As Qian Xiweng Qian Gong once said, he has been studying Confucianism all his life, and he thinks that what Confucian scholars should do most is to protect the Way. I have been reading for nearly fifty years, and I think that Confucianism is the study of the gentleman - it is the study of being human, more than the study of governing people."

His words were extremely calm, just saying quite simple things: "Confucius and Mencius said *Ren*, the benevolent love others, this is the study of being human. Wenxuan, the study of governing people changes with the times, but the study of being human, Li Heng can't change it. The study of *Gewu* pays attention to seeking truth from facts, paying attention to one thing is one thing, so if he gains the world, will there be no need for the benevolent to love others in the future? Adults don't need to take care of children? Teachers don't teach? The strong don't need to help the weak? In our lives, won't we encounter difficult ditches?"

"What is Confucianism? Talking about Confucius and Mencius, talking about Dong Zhongshu, talking about Qin Gong, in reality, it is just some experiences summed up by some old men in the past two thousand years, and everyone uses them fairly well. Wenxuan, these experiences have been fought over and left behind generation after generation. Li Heng has now discovered some problems in the middle. He has sorted out his own ideas and made such achievements in the Southwest, which is remarkable. He wants to fight with Confucianism, which is an inevitable path for new learning. But if we are to abolish all of Confucianism today and let the world start living according to the experience that he alone has thought of in decades, those who don't live well will suffer. Can he, an old man, really beat two thousand years of old men?"

The two were talking while leaving the teaching building, walking outward along a road with trees. Li Pin said it was interesting, and Zuo Wenxuan also smiled: "Mr. Ning is not that old yet."

"He will have to be an old man sooner or later." Li Pin sighed with a smile, "Of course, the fear of the dispute between learning is that there is a danger of overcorrection, and often, there is a danger of overcorrection. Li Heng said he wanted to destroy Confucianism, which sounds like a fit of pique, but in reality, there is no way. It is a new learning, and it directly points to the root of the interaction between Heaven and Man, so of course, it is better to knock it down first. If you win, you can slowly reflect. If you lose, you have nothing. This dispute between learning is actually no different from a black-hearted gang fight."

"Li Heng has already demonstrated the core of *Gewu* in the Southwest, showing the ultimate vastness of this set of learning. Wenxuan, when I broke with him back then, I disagreed with his statements and practices, but after he made such achievements in the Southwest, if I still close my eyes and pretend I don't see it, then I have wasted so many years of reading and grown a brain in vain. After this, I have to return to the end of the road and think about what Confucianism is and what *Gewu* is. Wenxuan, you say, what exactly are these two things?"

At this moment, Zuo Wenxuan had understood, and adjusted his glasses: "Is it... the experience of a group of old men... and the experience of an old man today?"

"Yes ah." Li Pin smiled and patted the other party on the shoulder, "Confucianism is the usable experience left by a group of old men, with good and bad. Today, another old man comes out and says that what you said is wrong, I am right, so let's have a fight. It is clear that this old man today is very bad and very capable of fighting. Most importantly, his learning is really useful. His Majesty wants *Gewu*, and why don't I want it? I'm not a fool."

"As for Confucianism's methods of governing the country and governing people, they are changing year after year, not unchangeable things. When I guarded Taiyuan with Qin Daren more than ten years ago, the world was unbearable. Didn't I reflect on the limitations of Confucianism's methods of governing people? And as things stand today, although the world occasionally misunderstands, the so-called Neo-Confucianism is not born to confront *Gewu*. What really wants to confront *Gewu* is Mr. Dai Mengwei. Wenxuan, in some respects, Mr. Dai is the real Confucian scholar. He is very firm in Confucian learning and believes that in the time of two to three hundred years, only Confucianism's method of weakening the people can guarantee peace to the greatest extent. As for the study of *Gewu* or the numerous methods of strengthening the people, they may be effective at first, but they will all leave huge hidden dangers, causing a country to not reach two or three hundred years of governance."

"Two to three hundred years of peace, mixed with decades of troubled times. In the eyes of Mr. Dai, this is the limit that the rules of the world can find, so when the troubled times come, he wants to submit to it, hoping to quickly turn chaos into governance. This is the so-called, the sage is not benevolent, and treats the people like straw dogs." Li Pin said this, raising his head and laughing: "Hahaha!"

Zuo Wenxuan thought for a moment: "Does Mr. think so?"

"I don't know." Li Pin shook his head, "I'm not that old yet, not that disheartened, I'm still willing to believe that the heavens are healthy, and the gentleman strives for self-improvement. Although that old thing Ning Yi may refer to the heavens are healthy as metaphysics, I am still willing to believe that the gentleman strives for self-improvement. Just like I am also willing to believe that the gentleman is benevolent, and the benevolent loves others. According to Ning Yi's statement, these ideas belong to all things have spirits. He doesn't need to fight it, but he may indeed knock it down, knocking down everything about Confucianism."

He sighed: "So Neo-Confucianism is actually a disheartened thing. We are preparing with both hands. On the one hand, if there is really a problem with Li Heng, we hope that future Confucianism will not condemn all his ideas as heresies, and will leave all the experience of *Gewu*; on the other hand, if Li Heng... one day really usurps the world, we also hope that he will not overcorrect and sweep away the benevolent love others. This kind of thing often happens in history, but the experience of two thousand years, hundreds of thousands of old men, can be swept away a part. This should also be what Zuo Gong expected back then when he sent you to Xiaocang River..."

When Zuo Wenxuan heard this, he was quiet for a moment, arched his hands and lowered his voice: "Then... the interaction between Heaven and Man..."

Li Pin walked on one side, and also lowered his voice: "His Majesty is considering what kind of constitutional monarchy, the interaction between Heaven and Man, let's just quarrel about it in the future. It's just that learning is learning, Wenxuan, the situation in Fuzhou has reached this level, this matter cannot be discussed for the time being. It's okay for you to talk to me, if those old Confucian officials hear it, the two of us... the crime of beheading."

Li Pin said, laughing and cutting his hand on his neck, Zuo Wenxuan also arched his hands: "Of course I am clear, if I didn't understand some of Mr.'s practices, I wouldn't dare to say these things today."

"I also probably know what Wenxuan's meaning is in opening his mouth today." Li Pin said, "Come sit at my place more when you have time."

The power system of the Fujian court has its own unique circle due to the historical evolution of the past. Due to the influence of Qin Siyuan and Ning Yi, Jun Wu and Zhou Pei are naturally close to some of the past Qin-lineage strategists, such as Cheng Zhouhai, Wenren Buyi, etc. As for Li Pin, because of his friendship with Ning Yi and his friendship with Qin Shaohe, he has always been at the core of this system. But even so, people located in the core circle are not necessarily close to each other by nature.

Zuo Wenxuan returned from the Southwest, and as the leader of the team, he was actually occasionally suspected to a certain extent. The core of this suspicion was nothing more than whether he was loyal to the imperial court or loyal to Ning Yi. Zuo Wenxuan himself also had a restrained nature, and usually let the deputy captain Zuo Wenhuai come forward for most things, and he himself seemed somewhat marginalized. But this time, after observing for a long time, it was the first time that he had an academic discussion with Li Pin.

It seems somewhat unorthodox, even a little reckless. In reality, it can be regarded as a signal that he recognized Li Pin and the "New Confucianism" he advocated.

The two had approached the main gate of the academy. When Li Pin asked Zuo Wenxuan the main reason for coming to the academy, Zuo Wenxuan shook his head: "I just wanted to find Wenhuai to ask some questions."

The main gate of the Military Academy faced a long riverside street inside the city. It was almost noon at this time. Bright sunlight shone through the trees, and the street was filled with traffic and horses. A servant had already led Li Pin's carriage over to this side. Luo Shouwei took two steps forward with a duster in her arms, and to the side, the curtain of a gray carriage parked on the side of the road suddenly swayed.

A cold light flashed!

A cold light flashed in Luo Shouwei's hand, and the soft sword was unsheathed.

The moment the hidden weapon was swung into the sky, a figure burst out of the curtain like a storm, and in the blink of an eye, it flew over and pounced towards Li Pin.

Zuo Wenxuan pulled Li Pin behind him, and in front, the sword light in Luo Shouwei's hand bloomed, and collided with the figure flying at high speed.

The assassin who pounced was extremely fast and his momentum was extremely fierce. Ordinary warriors would find it difficult to block him, but Luo Shouwei's sword was sharp and tricky, stabbing directly at the eyes, throat, lower yin, and other vital points in the first instance. Her body did not retreat at all, and she was already fighting to exchange lives. In the blink of an eye, the sound of clanging became dense, and the two sides collided violently. The assassin could not break through, and collided with Luo Shouwei towards the side.

The two figures unloaded their strength in the collision, and flew out several *zhang* away with palms and swords flying. With a peng sound, the sleeves of the assassin in gray slammed into the tree trunk on the side of the road, and wood chips filled the sky. Luo Shouwei's figure stepped on the tree trunk a few times, as if to fly upside down into the sky, and the soft sword in her hand was still covering the upper body of the other party. Zuo Wenxuan drew out the short gun behind him. On the side, students of the Military Academy who had just finished class had already reacted, picked up the stones on the road and rushed over. In the guard room, soldiers picked up their muskets.

"Hahahahahahaha--"

A burst of blatant laughter rippled through the streets. The assassin's figure retreated, rushed at high speed, and in the blink of an eye, knocked down a student, lifted the stalls on the side of the road, and then threw out several hidden weapons. The hidden weapons roared in various places on the street, exploding into the sky with smoke and dust. The horses pulling the cart on the road were startled, and the crowd shouted, the sound of whistling arrows was loud, and the soldiers rushed out and pulled the musket trigger on the street.

Chaos spread across the long street at noon...