As night fell, a full moon hung in the sky, and the silvery moonlight shone on the mountain path.

As if because of this full moon, because of this silver white, this night... Add a touch of mystery.

The sound of horses' hooves resounded...

The horses pulled the carriage and drove slowly down the mountain road, driving back to the smelting mill in Sifang Mountain, the sound of the wheels pressing on the stone road was crisp and melodious, echoing in the deep valley.

Gradually, gradually, all around the carriage was silent, except for the night breeze gently blowing the leaves, making a soft rustling sound, as if telling the story of the night.

But inside the carriage, it was a different story.

Wang Cang sat in the carriage, although he was sitting upright, his face looked very pale, and his eyes were different deep and complex.

At this moment, his thoughts fluctuated like waves, and he couldn't calm down.

An hour ago... Cao Pi's words especially floated in his heart.

- "Zhong Xuan, today there is only Cao Pi who has a severed head, or Wang Cang, who helps Cao Pi."

——『… Zhong Xuan, how to choose... In you! In you!'

For the first time, Wang Cang felt that he... A literati, a small person in the middle of the era, but at this moment, the weight he bears is completely powerful.

He especially remembered that in the face of Cao Pi's "one of the two" proposed, his state of mind at that time was full of doubts, struggles and contradictions, as if there was a mess entangled, which made him unable to sort out his head.

But in the end...

"Whew..."

With a faint sigh, Wang Cang put his hand on the window of the carriage, and through the window, he raised his head... Look out at the starry sky.

Just now, the picture of him making the final choice in front of Cao Pi appeared in front of him again.

“… Zhongxuan, how to choose? In you! In you! ”

Cao Pi's speed of speech was gentle, but word by word, sonorous and powerful between the words, and his longing eyes, it was difficult to be unmoved.

Ultimately... With the blessing of his best friends, poetry friends, and general memories, Wang Cang's heart was horizontal, "The virtuous minister does not serve the second master, but I have served the second master, not the virtuous minister... But if he rebels again, he will inevitably leave a suspicion of being in this world, two-faced and three-faced... Therefore, Zihuan... I... I can't help you, and I can't help you... Take 10,000 steps back and say, even if I want to help you, there are only two people in the refining workshop who know the white phosphorus refining method, Guan Lin and Jiang Gan! I... Never got the recipe! ”

This...

Wang Can's words made Cao Pi's eyes widen in shock, and he muttered secretly in his heart.

- "Zhong Xuan, is this a rejection of me?"

Just when Cao Pi's eyes were lowered, and an emotion of "all thoughts are lost" was about to come to his heart, Wang Can's next words were like a beam of light in the darkness.

"I can't help, I can't help you, but... Zihuan, I have known you for several years, and your ambition and expectations are also one of the reasons why I am fascinated by you. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, hesitating in clothes. I've been hesitating for a long time, and the white dew touches my clothes. ’”

"Under these superficial poems, there is your unwillingness and arrogance... Once upon a time, I was willing to be with you, side by side with you... Stand behind you and look down on the top of this Great Wei... Is that your vision? Isn't it my expectation? Even if I can't rebel anymore because of my reputation, but... Do my best, I'm willing to help you return to Great Wei, I'm willing to help you... At least, the competition for the position of the son of this world can't exclude you! ”

Yes...

Cao Pi raised his eyes in astonishment, his eyes became hot again, and his mood instantly went from the bottom to the peak.

"Zhong... Zhong Xuan..."

Cao Pi had just chanted Wang Cang's words, and Wang Cang had already blurted out his plan, "The refinery has recently produced a large amount of white phosphorus, which was originally intended to be sold to Jiaozhou to help it recover Shanyue in the territory and help it subdue the land of Nanyue..."

Wang Cangwei recounted, "Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty pacified the Nanyue Kingdom, the Nanyue Kingdom has almost always been under the control of the Han Dynasty for a hundred years, but during this period, they launched two rebellions, resulting in the Han Dynasty briefly losing the rule of the Nanyue Kingdom... It was called the 'Northern Period' by the South Vietnamese... The prince of Yunqi wants to solve the problem of South Vietnam once and for all, and support the Shixie family of Jiaozhou to take charge of South Vietnam... Because of this, recently... He will arrange for a large amount of white phosphorus to be sold to Jiaozhou..."

Not...

Cao Pi's eyes narrowed quickly, and he held his chin.

It's like... He was thinking about it, Guan Lin sold white phosphorus to Jiaozhou, subdued the Nanyue Kingdom and fought with him to return to the Great Wei Shizi... What's at stake?

Wang Cang's words continued, "Since it is a transaction, then there is no storage, no land transportation, no water transportation, and many links... Although I can't steal the refining blueprints of white phosphorus, these links are always accessible to me, and all I can do is to tell you about a place outside Anlu City where white phosphorus is stored. Can you smoothly transfer this white phosphorus to Dawei, that... It's your creation! ”

Got it...

As Wang Cang told the whole plan, Cao Pi understood it thoroughly.

Originally... Even if Wang Cang is the deputy head of the refining workshop, he does not have the refining drawings of white phosphorus, he wants to use another way...

It can be called - teach a man to fish!

Although it is not as good as teaching people to fish, they will always master the refining method of "white phosphorus".

But... This is enough, enough for him to make meritorious contributions, and enough for him to return to the track of competing for the son of the world.

He couldn't help but hurriedly arch his hand, his waist bent down like an arched bridge, his eyes filled with tears when he looked at Wang Cang, and his words became stumbling.

"Zhong... Zhong Xuan..."

Who would have thought...

Without waiting for him to speak, Wang Cang's eyes closed, he turned around and said solemnly: "This time I helped you for the sake of you and my love in the past, but after this time, the mountains are high and the road is far away, you and I are our own masters, goodbye to the rivers and lakes——"

Don't know why...

When Wang Cang chanted the eight words "the mountains are high and the road is far away, the rivers and lakes are goodbye", his tone was particularly dignified.

Cao Pi didn't speak, he understood... This is the so-called integrity of the literati!

He understands better the importance that literati attach to reputation.

- "Zhong Xuan's ability to do this is the limit..."

Thinking so in his heart, Cao Pi could only bend more deeply, bow his hand more heavily, "Zhong Xuan... I'm thanking you—"

All the memories here... Stop it.

The night was like a rock, and the only sound of horses' hooves in the hollow valley kept echoing.

Wang Cang sighed softly, he raised his eyes to look at the dark night sky, he couldn't help but shake his head... Shaking his head, he pulled out a piece of paper from under the futon sitting in the carriage.

The vigorous and powerful pen left a straight word on this letterhead.

And the first column of these words is a remarkable six words:

- "My son Zhongxuan is in love?"

This letter is Wang Cang's father, and now Wang Qian, who is an official in the Great Wei Dynasty... Do everything possible to send it secretly.

There is no sigh from father and son, no thought to persuade the child to surrender, and there is only one father, no... To be precise, it is the patriarch of a family, and he should take on the mission of extending the family.

Look at the words on it...

At this moment, Wang Cang took a deep breath again, he let his thoughts slowly settle down, and he once again set his eyes on the letter.

- "After a farewell, my father misses me very much... However, in today's world, although my Shanyang Gaoping Wang clan has survived in this troubled era, although they have survived with their lives... Struggling, struggling for his father and power, meditating and pondering... My Shanyang Gaoping Wang clan should learn from the Langya Zhuge clan!"

- "King Wei and Uncle Huang are fighting for the unification of the world, and my Shanyang Gaoping Wang clan is fighting for the survival and prosperity of the family... On top of this, the Langya Zhuge clan's style of action and strategic coordination can be a model for our clan to follow... His eldest son Zhuge Jin devoted himself to Eastern Wu, for Sun Quan's humerus, and the second son Zhuge Liang devoted himself to the emperor's uncle, entrusted with important tasks. The Langya Zhuge clan is already invincible!"

- "Today, the situation is unpredictable and ever-changing. No one dared to think that Soochow would be wiped out overnight! No one dares to judge, the confrontation between the north and the south... Will it be Wei Yitong in the end? Is it also the three prosperity of the Han Dynasty? In this situation, the survival of the family is already difficult, the rise and fall of survival is tied to a thought, my Shanyang Gaoping Wang family has a false title in this troubled era, but the situation is like a rootless duckweed, and the only scholar who can be a scholar is the Langya Zhuge family... Because fate will meet, the sky will be beautiful... Father from Wei, son from Han, no matter who wins or loses in the north and south? Regardless of Wei's unity? Hanzhongxing? I, Shanyang, Gaoping, and the Wang clan can follow the example of the Langya Zhuge family... Be undefeated, regardless of the prosperity of the family, but seek the continuation of the family..."

If it is said that the patriarch of a family racked his brains for the prosperity and continuation of the family, the true elaboration is true!

So... Next, it is a father's heartfelt expectation for his son.

- "Cang'er, the drama you compiled is all watched by my father, and I am like a human being, and my father knows that my son is the instrument of Guan Sigongzi, and I am very happy for my father... My Shanyang Gaoping Wang was an official to Taiwei, Sikong, in the father's generation of silence, my son must remember that Guan Sigongzi is a general person, the emperor's uncle is also a benevolent and virtuous king, and my son assists... If the Han family prospers, my son can prosper again at home...... My son, my son... Thousands of words, think twice before acting, don't think of being a father, so that you can do it yourself!'

Backbite... Tick!

The carriage continued to drive along the mountain road,

When this heartfelt letter, word by word, word by word, resurfaced in front of Wang Cang's eyes, his thoughts began to move slowly with the rotation of the wheel.

He knew that this night was destined to be a sleepless night!

He also knows what choice he should make in the face of the friendship of his best friends and poets and the continuation and prosperity of his family!

It's never a hard choice...

Any heir of a big family in troubled times will make exactly the same choice.

Finally...

Wang Cang couldn't hold back any longer, and with the falling teardrops, he bit his lower lip lightly, and then sighed deeply.

"Zihuan, you are my brother, but this time... For the sake of the family, I can't help you! And take advantage of you! ”

"Zihuan, after this time, you and I will be our own masters, and when we meet again, I am afraid that we will be regarded as the same enemy... It's still a long way to go, don't say goodbye! ”

For a talented son like Wang Cang, such a scholar.

The things that give him peace of mind have always been clans!

For the sake of the development and survival of the clan, they can betray everything, they can take risks, and they can use all their best friends and comrades.

In this day and age, there is nothing more important than making the family prosperous and sustainable!

…

…

- "To the conscience..."

- "Conscience is the Tao, and the Tao is conscience." If you let it go, you will make up for it, and if you retreat, you will complete it. ”

- "Conscience is the heart, reason, and nature. Everything is made by the mind, and everything is clear when the heart is clear. ”

On the outskirts of Anlu City, across the distance... I saw an old man with a fairy wind and bones constantly chanting this sentence...

Seems... These sentences gave him a new understanding, opened the door to a new world, and made him reborn.

This immortal wind bone is naturally Zuo Ci.

Last night, Zuo Ci listened to Guan Lin's flickering, and a large number of unheard of, unseen "Dao" came into his mind...

At that time, he only remembered that the mask Taoist mentioned the most was "peace of mind"... It is the general lack of things in this era that allow them to "live with peace of mind".

For this reason, Zuo Ci also pondered for a night...

- "What is this thing that makes a life safe?"

- "The Way... Can you achieve this thing of peace of mind?'

It was also when he was pondering the topic of "peace of mind" that Zuo Ci suddenly thought of another one, which was proposed by the Taoist in the mask... But there is no one that has been elaborated on in great detail.

- To the conscience!

People are afraid of pondering, and the more Zuo Ci ponders... The more suddenly I realized something.

Based on this, "to conscience" and "peace of mind".

Is there a possibility that the "To the Conscience" mentioned by the Mask Taoist is to solve the problem in this troubled world... Something that people live in!

"This..."

Zuo Ci couldn't help but fall into deep thought...

Ge Xuan on the side asked curiously: "The master has been mentioning conscience again, so... Disciple doesn't understand? The scope of conscience is vast! What is conscience? ”

Facing Ge Xuan's question...

Zuo Ci replied according to his understanding: "It's just that some things should be done, and some things should not be done!" Everyone should have a minimum sense of right and wrong... Do it according to your own heart, your nature... 'Conscience is the Word, and the Word is the Conscience'... Of course, the exposition of the teacher may not be accurate, but there is no doubt... This kind of thinking... More advanced than our Taoist original thoughts, perhaps... It is also more suitable for this era. ”

Zuo Ci used what he had realized to explain to his disciple Ge Xuan.

To sum up... It is the literal "conscience", the "minimum view of right and wrong"...

It's Ge Xuan... He was a smart and thoughtful disciple, and following the master's analysis, he couldn't help but ask, "That master... We helped the King of Wei steal the manufacturing map of white phosphorus, so that the King of Wei used this white phosphorus to burn all the people in the world and slaughter thousands of Li Shu... Finally unified! At the cost of this, my Taoist Danding faction became orthodox and became the state religion... Where does the conscience and the concept of right and wrong exist? If it's according to what the master just said... Everything we do is against our conscience, and we don't have a minimum concept of right and wrong! ”

This...

Undoubtedly, Ge Xuan's rhetorical question completely stabilized Zuo Ci.

This made him frown and ponder...

Oh, yes...

What is conscience? Maybe... is extensive, but aiding the abusive action, undoubtedly... It is contrary to "conscience".

So the question arises again?

On the path of helping his so-called Daomen become orthodox, how should he Zuo Ci view his conscience... What is the thing that makes him feel at ease?

Time...

Zuo Ci has too many questions, too many places to explore, too many places to solve...

He couldn't help but squint his eyes, and said secretly in his heart:

"It seems... These answers can only be answered tonight, and then listen to the words of the master... So that's it!'

At the time when Zuo Ci was thinking like this.

"Master... Master..."A disciple of the Daomen hurriedly came, and when he saw Zuo Ci and Ge Xuan, he made a Taoist salute, and then said respectfully, "Sifang Mountain... There is finally a breakthrough in the matter of white phosphorus! ”

"What breakthrough?"

Hearing that it was white phosphorus, Ge Xuan asked rhetorically in a complicated tone.

And Zuo Ci... It's because of this sensitive topic that his expression has become more dignified!

It seems, in solving... Before the question of "to conscience" and "to live in peace"...

White phosphorus, the world's thousands of Li Shu's big killers, he has a wait-and-see attitude, holding... Take it easy!

Than this... His mind was more focused on the "morality" of the masked Taoist and on the problems he had to and urgently solve.

The voice of the Dao disciple groaned again...

"Master, Master... Speaking of which, in order to complete this task of the King of Wei, the disciples have thought of countless methods, either to infiltrate the Sifang Mountain, or to infiltrate it by pretending to be vegetable farmers and cooks, or to secretly steal the refining drawings of the white phosphorus, or to win over some key people to rebel... But in the end, nothing came of it... Seeing that the actions explained by King Wei were about to be stillborn, the mood of the disciples became more and more depressed... Who would have thought that there is no endless road... Just when the disciples were about to give up, when it came, it really made us wait for a turnaround! ”

Ge Xuan's tone suddenly cheered up, "There is a businessman who took the initiative to contact us and said that he could get white phosphorus... It's just a lot of money... At first, the disciples thought that this merchant was just talking nonsense, and they didn't take it seriously, so they said that they should let him try to get some... I never thought that today... This merchant really sent white phosphorus, a hundred bags... The disciples have checked it, and it's true! ”

Not...

The words of this disciple made Ge Xuan and Zuo Ci surprised.

Even, Zuo Ci subconsciously asked: "What you said is true?" The merchant... Did you really send white phosphorus? ”

"It's true... All carefully stored in a nearby lake! ”

The tone of this disciple's reply was categorical...

So, Ge Xuan could only look at Zuo Ci, at this time, it was this master of the Danding faction who could really make up his mind!

"Master... Let's..."

"Either way, this merchant... See you seer! ”

With Zuo Ci's words... The disciples of the Daomen retreated first, and Zuo Ci put on a Taoist robe and planned to go out.

Who would have thought that at this time... Ge Xuan asked again, it was still the same question.

"Master... If this merchant can really help us get these white phosphorus, will the master hand them over to the King of Wei? This... Isn't it contrary to the 'conscience' that the master just mentioned..."

This...

Ge Xuan's words made Zuo Ci, who had just taken a step, stop immediately.

He groaned, then exhaled heavily, and... He didn't answer Ge Xuan's question, but walked out.

It's just that... His steps were noticeably smaller.

For Taoists, walking is like a state of mind -

…

…

In the dimly lit cavern, the light was so faint that only the outline of the object could be faintly discernible.

Cao Pi sat beside a stone couch and looked at the person lying on the bed with solemn eyes:

His savior - Zhang Fang!

At this moment, Zhang Fangzheng was lying quietly, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep, and there was no sign of waking up at all.

"I envy you..."

Cao Pi couldn't help but sigh, "When I'm asleep, I don't have to think about anything, I don't have to worry about anything, it's not like me..."

"Hehe, now... All the rumors will make me a soldier! Hehe... Perhaps, this is the price that must be borne in order to reach the highest place! ”

With the changes in the current situation and the development of the situation, Cao Pi felt more and more what it means to "wear its crown, you must first bear its weight"...

Obviously, he can't afford to wear such a crown now.

It's too heavy!

Indeed, Cao Pi at this time, as he said, all the rumors can make him a soldier.

The stone in his heart is hanging high... He's waiting, waiting for a message... The "information" provided by Wang Cang is not accurate news.

This is about whether he can return to Great Wei, this is about whether he can stand up again, and this is about whether he is qualified to compete for the position of the son of the world.

It's just that...

The wait is always long.

One hour, two hours...

Half a day, one day!

Time seemed to freeze, and Cao Pi could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears, thumping.

- "It's time for news to be back!"

For a moment, he felt his palms begin to sweat slightly, nervous, anxious, and expectant...... Various emotions intertwined in his heart, forming an indescribable feeling.

That's when ...

"Male... Childe..."

didn't wait for the news to come back, but Cao Pi waited for Zhang Fang's awakening...

Although his eyes were still a little confused, they had regained some of their brilliance.

The prolonged coma made his body extremely weak, and every movement seemed so difficult.

It seems that he still noticed the difference in his body, and he pushed hard to drive his arms, but...

"Ahh

With a cry of pain, he realized... The junction between the big arm and the small arm is a piercing pain! Looking over there hard, Zhang Fang realized that there was nothing in his forearm...

No! Not really!

Even if you have made this preparation in advance, but... But when this scene really came, Zhang Fang's mood was extremely complicated, but soon, he reined in his mind and didn't let his emotions leak out, he knew... He has more important things to do!

"Childe, I... I..."

"Don't be afraid..."Without waiting for Zhang Fang to speak, Cao Pi's face was close to his face, "I, Cao Pi, will not forget your grace of breaking your arm, from now on, my arm is your arm, with my Cao Pi to eat, there must be a bite to eat from your Zhang Fang, you and I share the glory!" ”

Cao Pi originally thought that his words would make Zhang Fang more excited.

Who would have thought, but Zhang Fang replied unceremoniously and directly: "Childe, don't blow it... still share the glory, and there is no shadow of my three houses in Luoyang City? ”

Belch... It's a bit embarrassing.

Cao Pi was going to continue to make bold statements, don't say anything in three places, I will give you thirty places... But when he thought of the current situation, Zhang Fang was right, he better stop bragging!

When the atmosphere of integrity is suddenly awkward...

"Zihuan, Zihuan..."

Suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps, accompanied by loud shouts, it was Zhu Ling...

"Zhu..."

Cao Pi turned his head, but before he could speak, Zhu Ling's words came out first. "Zihuan, it's true... I have sent someone to check, and the place Wang Cang said really has white phosphorus, a large amount of white phosphorus... It's there to the west of Anlu City, not far from Nanyang, if... If General Nanyang Zangba responds, then these white phosphorus... We... We have a great hope to bring back Dawei! This is a great achievement, this is a great achievement for you and me to 'make up for the merits'! ”

It's like...

Zhu Ling was incoherent because of excitement!

At this moment, he was extremely excited!

…

… (End of chapter)