Chapter 1, On the Road

Yang Kang curiously surveyed everything around him in the carriage. At this moment, Wanyan Hongxi had already left, and as a prince of the Jin dynasty, it was necessary for him to maintain appearances.

Sitting in the carriage is not as comfortable as one might imagine, especially after leaving the official road, where the jolting becomes quite severe

This time, in order to exert pressure on the various tribes of Mongolia, a well-equipped elite force from the Jin Dynasty was brought along

The ability of a nomadic people on the grasslands to expand their territory into Europe within a few decades, becoming the most powerful empire in the world at that time, is nothing short of a miracle; however, their eventual downfall was precipitated by excessively brutal rule.

They were greeted by Jebe, the eldest son of Genghis Khan. He was a middle-aged man of formidable appearance, embodying the ruggedness and boldness characteristic of the nomadic tribes of the steppes, and spoke in a loud voice

Yang Kang appreciates this teaching method, as true scholars in ancient times were able to teach without discrimination and tailor their instruction to the individual needs of their students. The rote learning approach adopted by later generations is a form of harm to children

Since the battle with Han Tuozhou's Northern Expedition four years ago, the Jin Dynasty has not experienced any major military conflicts. Numerous cases of corruption have emerged within the army, and the phenomenon of noble youths entering the military to seek personal glory has become increasingly common. The overall combat effectiveness of the Jin Dynasty's army has begun to decline

Wanyan Hongxi, riding on horseback, looked around at a group of children curiously observing the Jin soldiers. Feeling pleased, he took out a handful of gold coins from his bosom and tossed them among the children, as a reward for them.

The army of the Jin Dynasty followed the Mongolian army into the territory of the Qiyan tribe, where Temüjin stood by the roadside to greet them.

Yang Kang dismounted from the carriage and followed Wan Yan Hong Lie. As they entered the main tent, he turned back and cast a deep glance at the still shaken child.

Reflecting on the present-day Jin State, one can discern how remarkably similar history is

While feeling depressed, Yang Kang let out a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart; at least he still had time to change everything

Confucianism has endowed this world with rules, yet these rules have dulled the wild nature of humanity, rendering people docile and consequently stripping away their vibrant vitality

Yelü Chucai's lectures were not confined to the content of the text; he often drew on a wide range of references, using historical events to elucidate the meanings of the words, much like telling a story, from which profound insights emerged.

Wanyan Honghe and Tushulie hurriedly stopped Sang Ge, using words to resolve the matter. Since the child was unharmed, it was not considered a major issue. Under the leadership of Temüjin, the two princes of the Jin state were allowed to enter the main tent.

However, Yang Kang felt that it was very good, as it felt very real

The roads of this era are quite rudimentary; it is generally sufficient if one can manage to ride a horse. Not only are they filled with potholes, but they are also irregular, and at times one has to take a longer route

At present, the Jin Dynasty is still in a period of prosperity, but many signs of decline have already emerged

Wanyan Hongxi, filled with anger and humiliation, grabbed the spear of a nearby guard and hurled it towards the child. The spear was about to strike the child's chest when a sharp arrow flew in, deflecting the spear and saving the child.

Such a scenario has appeared in "The Truman Show"

The scenery outside is not as beautiful as imagined; the further north one travels, the more desolate it becomes. It is rare to see groups of merchants or travelers on the road, possibly due to the advance of the army prompting an early retreat.

This does not imply that Confucian culture is flawed, but rather that there is a deviation in the understanding of rules. In a dispute between a person who adheres to rules and one who does not, in a society governed by rules, it is generally the rule-abiding individual who prevails, while the one who disregards rules faces punishment

That child is Guo Jing

This is a power unbound by rules; they are an explosive and unpredictable group, a group that instills fear, as one cannot foresee whether it will suddenly erupt and cause harm

This prince often displayed such behavior in the Jin Kingdom to showcase his extravagance, and the children of the poor would always joyfully scramble for it, expressing their gratitude to the prince

Gazing at the vast grassland and the soaring eagle in the sky, Yang Kang was filled with emotion

In this era, it is not a society governed by rules, but rather a society where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. To avoid being bullied, one must become stronger.

It is said that hunting sometimes also involves killing and arson

He once had a notion in his mind that everything he is currently experiencing is a reality show broadcasted globally by a large film and television company, set against the backdrop of the entire city of Zhongdu, where everyone in the city is an actor, and he is the only main character in it

According to his words, it is to teach a lesson to those barbarians from the northern regions

The army advanced steadily, while Yang Kang greedily gazed at the scenery outside.

The teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts

Yelü Chucai was a responsible teacher, who, even while traveling, did not forget to assign homework to Yang Kang. Wanyan Hongxi had no interest in these studies and even detested them deeply. At such times, he would always leave the carriage, mount his horse, and go out hunting with his soldiers

That's right, it is the surname Ye

If the Mongols are considered barbaric, and the Jurchens are seen as valiant, then the Southern Song can be described as effeminate

At that moment, a child suddenly picked up a few coins from the ground and ran over, throwing them with all his might towards Wanyan Hongxi, one of the coins even hitting Wanyan Hongxi on the head

Perhaps only the Sixth Prince can save the Jin Kingdom

At this moment, the children who could watch were all the offspring of high-ranking generals from the Qiyan tribe, not the children of the poor. No one went to pick up the gold coins on the ground, which somewhat dampened Wanyan Hongxi's spirits, prompting him to scold a few times in Jurchen.

At this moment, leaving the capital city, he truly realized that he had arrived in a different time and space, entering a world akin to that of a novel. He was not the protagonist here, but merely a tragic and villainous character.

The current emperor is no longer as diligent and industrious as he was in his youth. Since suffering a serious illness and experiencing a significant change in his outlook, he may have come to feel that life is short and that he should indulge in pleasures. Consequently, he has become complacent and has sought enjoyment, not only constructing grand palaces and pursuing extravagance but also indulging in beauty by inviting concubines.

Although the Jurchen language and the Mongolian language have regional differences, they belong to the same language family. Even if one does not fully understand, it is still possible to make a rough guess. Immediately, the surrounding Mongolian soldiers wore expressions of indignation, but because they were facing a prince of the Jin dynasty, they could only suppress their feelings.

This is a large tribe, with countless yurts stretching as far as the eye can see, forming the main body of the tribe. The numerous herds of cattle and sheep symbolize wealth, and the herders here all bear a wild demeanor.

As a teacher, merely imparting knowledge is insufficient; moral education is also essential. This is what constitutes a true teacher

The large army moved slowly, without haste, making brief stops in various major cities along the way, and finally entered the vast desert in late autumn

The Jurchens were assimilated into Han culture and began to grow weaker.

While the master and disciple were discussing with each other, distant cries of anguish and weeping could be heard. Ye Liu Chucai sighed; such occurrences happened frequently along the way. The discipline of the Jin army had deteriorated to such an extent that he could not help but feel a sense of concern