This is the first time in the history books that the matter of cutting down mountains and destroying temples has been recorded, and many kings have followed suit.

This point has also become a rare chaos in Zhu Xiang's records. Some people praised him, while others scolded him for being too cruel and hurting many innocent people.

Zhu Xiang couldn't hear the evaluation of him by later generations, but he could guess what later generations would say about him.

Because he personally participated in this felling of mountains and temples, he saw with his own eyes how many blinded civilians regarded him as an enemy and constantly cursed him.

Among them are old people, children, and victimized women who have been tied up to be the bride of the gods.

They are all scolding Zhu Xiang, and they are all defending their gods and maintaining their traditions of sacrificing to gods.

These people all fell under the Qin army's soldiers.

Chapter 95: Blood in the Divine Cup

"Blood sacrifice" has existed since ancient times, and now the sacrifices of the Seven Kingdoms and the Zhou royal family are also continuing the "blood sacrifice" in a broad sense.

"Zhou Li, Chunguan, Dazongbo" said, "Worship Haotian God with Zhen, worship the sun, moon and stars with real firewood, and worship Sizhong, Si Ming, Feng Shi, and Yu Shi with a cannon." Sacrifice with blood, sacrifice Sheji, five rituals, and five mountains. Sacrifice mountains, forests, rivers and rivers with Shen, and sacrifice all things from all directions. ”

In ancient times, it was believed that "qi" led to the soul. Sacrifice is to use various "qi" to create an atmosphere and communicate with the gods. The same is true of blood, wine, and fire.

Since the Zhou Dynasty, the blood sacrifice of the state sacrifice has been changed from human sacrifice to livestock. Although there were signs of a resurgence of human sacrifice during the Warring States period, most of the world regarded it as a symbol of brutality, and the large-scale human sacrifice of non-slaves and prisoners of war was even more despised. The state of Qin once declined because of the "martyrdom of Sanliang".

But as long as the heavy blood sacrifice, there will always be people who think of using a higher level of "blood sacrifice", human sacrifice.

When humans demand too much from the gods, or when the gods are slow to reply to them, they offer a better sacrifice – the humans themselves.

With the advent of the feudal era, the common people became the common people, which was the main source of national tax revenue and military service, and "the people can overturn the boat" became a reality, and people of insight regarded human life as more precious, and the sacrificial rituals gradually changed.

The "qi" of sacrifice has gradually shifted from the abundance of sacrifice to the respect and virtue of the deacon, and has changed from "flesh and blood" to "virtue".

This change began in the spring and autumn period. Confucianism was transformed by the ceremonial officials who were in charge of the sacrifice, who studied the sacrifice most thoroughly and were the first to propose the virtue of sacrifice.

According to the "Zuo Chuan", Suihou believed that the sacrifice should have "fat and abundant animals", while Ji Liang believed that "the people, the lord of the gods", and the meaning of the abundance of sacrifices is not the sacrifice itself, but to show that the people of Li are doing well.

"Shangshu" also said, "There is no water prison, but a civil prison." Sacrifice is through the process of preparing sacrifices, reporting to heaven that the people are doing well, and using sacrifices to accumulate people's hearts.

If the sacrifice harms the people, it is putting the cart before the horse.

Zhu Xiang wrote this point in the war book, integrating the various thoughts on the changes in sacrifice in this era, telling everyone that the people's heart is the heart of heaven, and the ghosts and gods rely on the people's hearts to turn their backs.

In other words, ghosts and gods that are not good for the people are not allowed to exist.

It was precisely because he already had the above ideas during the Warring States period that Zhu Xiang dared to propose cutting down mountains and destroying temples, and he was sure that as long as he had sufficient reasons, the king of Qin would agree to his letter, and the people of the world would also stand on his side and work with him to find ways to prevent folk sacrifices and bad customs.

But Zhu Xiang's war book can make Qin Bing understand his heart, let the people of the world understand his heart, and let the monarch of the Seven Kingdoms understand his heart, but the villagers he wants to save now can't.

These scriptures, these impassioned words, in the eyes of the villagers, are not as good as the sacrificial dances that the sorcerers dance with no meaning.

Qin Bing's "suppression of bandits" does not care about the life or death of the villagers. If the villagers resist, then the villagers are bandits, and they will not hesitate to cut off the heads of the villagers to earn military merits.

Even Zhu Xiang can't change this.

Zhu Xiang could only use the way of pretending to be a god and playing ghosts, more like a wizard than a wizard, to break the authority of the wizard and make the villagers put down the weapons of resistance in their hands.

Sometimes Zhu Xiang can succeed, but most of the time, the villagers regard the ghosts and gods they sacrifice as ancestors, and even the bloody gods they sacrifice themselves are integrated into the concept of ancestor worship, and the Qin soldiers broke the temple to destroy their ancestors to sacrifice incense.

They fought to the death with the Qin soldiers.

Once the Qin soldiers' front was activated, it was like a galloping chariot, and it was impossible to stop. Li Mu subdued Yun Mengze and killed as many people as Zhu Xiang in this "religious" war.

When Li Mu learned of this, he hurried back from Hubei and scolded Zhu Xiang: "Those people really deserve to die, can't you write to me to come back and start a war?" What battlefield are you on! ”

Zhu Xiang said: "I'm fine......"

Li Mu said angrily: "You're okay, fart!" ”

Zhang Ruo tried to persuade: "General Li, cutting down mountains and destroying temples is also suppressing bandits, this is a military merit......"

"He doesn't need military merit!" Li Mu didn't give this veteran of Qin State face at all, pointed to Zhu Xiang's hair and said, "You don't know him, when he was in Zhao State, in order to give him military merits and let him go to the battlefield, Lian Gong didn't do anything, and he was not happy to be chased and beaten by Lian Gong." ”

In Zhu Xiang's view, people's lives are above all else, whether it is his own people or enemies, he can't bear to harm his life, so he is unwilling to go to the battlefield. Zhao Ren volunteered to save him, and his hair turned gray. ”

"Now he's on the battlefield...... Actually on the battlefield! Li Mu clenched his fists and slammed it on the table, "Zhu Xiang, don't you trust me?" I said I wouldn't let you go to war, and I would do it! It's just cutting down mountains and destroying temples, you tell me, can't I capture a few broken temples?! ”

Zhang Ruo looked at Li Mu's painful appearance, and then looked at Zhu Xiang's white hair, and was speechless for a while.

He found that he thought he knew Zhu Xiang, but he may not know enough about Zhu Xiang.

He only knew that Zhu Xiang had a white head from Zhao to Qin overnight, but he didn't know that Zhu Xiang's gray hair gradually grew and left his homeland, but had something to do with Zhao Min.

Zhu Xiang loves the people, not an empty evaluation. Could it be that Zhu Xiang's people also include those ignorant commoners who hold sharp weapons?

When Li Mu's hand smashed on the wooden table, it smashed a corner of the wooden table, and his palm was punctured by the wooden thorns, and blood was dripping.

Zhu Xiang hurriedly asked people to bring the filtered wine and prepared herbs to bandage Li Mu's hands.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that this incident started because of me, and it was I who asked to cut down the mountain and destroy the temple, so I should stand on this battlefield." Zhu Xiang explained, "I have issued a war letter to the gods of the mountains and fields, do you want me to stand behind you and enjoy the reputation of breaking human sacrifice, and the price behind the reputation will be handed over to you and Zhang Gong?" Li Mu, although I am cowardly, I am not so despicable. ”

Li Mu glared at Zhu Xiang angrily: "You and I are like brothers, I am a general, and I have killed countless people, and I should have taken action this time to cut down mountains and destroy temples." At what cost, at what cost, what reputation, why do you think so much? ”

Zhu Xiang said: "The world really doesn't care, but I do." Zi said, the gentleman is not guilty of introspection. To the world, to my friends, I ask for one that is worthy of my heart. ”

Li Mu panted like an angry bull, but in the end, he slapped his knee heavily with his bandaged hand, gritted his teeth, and did not continue to argue with Zhu Xiang.

Zhu Xiang said that he wanted to "be worthy of his heart", and Li Mu would not be able to debate with him.

"Even if your hands are stained with blood, you are not ashamed?" In the end, Li Mu only asked.

Zhu Xiang was in a trance for a moment, and then said with a firm expression: "The obscene shrine and evil cults must not be kept, and I am worthy of my heart." ”

"That's good, you have to remember what you're saying now." Li Mu said, "What you did was right, and you are worthy of it." ”

Zhu Xiang sighed and said with a wry smile: "Okay, I will remember." ”

Li Mudao: "I don't know how painful it should be for Lin Li and other friends to learn about this?" Xun Gong and Lian Gong will also be very sad. They will blame me for not taking a good look at you. ”

Zhu Xiang: "...... You've overprotected me. ”

Li Mu didn't speak.

It's not that they want to overprotect Zhu Xiang, it's really a gentleman like jade, but jade is noble and fragile.

"Leave it to me next, and you go and rest." Li Mudao.

Zhu Xiang refused: "Eyi is very important, you should go and guard Eyi." I have Zhang Gong, I don't need you. ”

Zhang Ruo: "......" suddenly wanted to leave this place of right and wrong.

Li Mu and Zhu Xiang were at a stalemate. A few days later, the issue was resolved.

Meng Wu threw his baggage behind him and flew forward first to convey the order of the King of Qin.

He arrived at the Eyi wharf from Hanshui, and after learning what Zhu Xiang had done, he threw the flying boat down, and quickly whipped his horse, and came to Zhu Xiang's garrison two days later, and scolded when he met: "Do you dislike that there are not enough generals in the Qin State to lead the troops?" What battlefield are you on! ”

Zhang Ruo, who was about to meet Meng Wu: "......" is a bit familiar.

Zhu Xiang said weakly: "Don't scold, don't scold, Li Mu has already scolded once." ”

Li Mu hugged his arms on the side and said, "When you return to Xianyang, I will hear people scold you a few more times." ”

Zhu Xiang said: "I'm really not that fragile. ”

Li Mudao: "Have you ever looked in the mirror?" The eyes are blue and black, and my cheeks are sunken, and I am afraid that I have not slept well for many days. ”

Meng Wu picked up Zhu Xiang, who was sitting, and looked at it carefully: "Zheng'er and Xue Ji see you like this, I don't know how worried they will be?" Sometimes I really don't know what your inexplicable insistence is for. Since you don't want to go to war, you should never go to war, and don't push yourself for some strange reason. ”

Zhu Xiang patted Meng Wu's hand holding him, shook his head and said, "It's not inexplicable, it's not strange." ”

Meng Wu let go of his hand.

Zhu Xiang said calmly while arranging the folds of his clothes: "I saw that on the altar, the white and lovely children were dismembered into the delicacies of the gods, the delicate women dressed in full costumes were strangled into the maids of the gods, and the young men were cut off their necks and bled to fill wine glasses to toast the gods. ”

"I've cut down more than the mountains in this place, and I've broken more than the temples in this place." Zhu Xiang pointed to his chest, "I want to cut down and destroy those obscene shrines and evil cults in people's hearts." ”

"It's not enough to just write a war book, I need to stand on the battlefield, experience the battle firsthand, and tell everyone about it......"

"Tell everyone that I killed the gods, what can the gods do to me?"

Zhu Xiang took a deep breath and squeezed out a smile.

"It is difficult to enshrine the gods and incorporate folk sacrifices into the management of the imperial court overnight, but I have a way to do it overnight, that is, I am the closest to the gods rumored by the world to be the one who cuts down mountains and destroys temples."

"Only I can do it, neither of you." Zhu Xiang looked at his two friends and repeated, "Only I can do it." ”

Zhu Xiang saw the tragic scene on the altar, and saw the people he originally wanted to save under the sword of Qin Bing, even if he was in two trembling, he had to stand on this battlefield.

There are many injustices and misery in the world, and he can ignore them with peace of mind if he can't see them, and even he can close his eyes and pretend not to see the suffering of the Zhao people in the war now.

But when it came to his eyes, he had seen it, and he had the ability to do something, and he had to do it.

"Li Mu, you go back to Hubei, I will stay here and lead the troops to continue the cleanup." Meng Wu didn't argue with Zhu Xiang again, "Zhu Xiang, you have already gone to the battlefield, and you don't need to come forward again for the follow-up cleaning." Zhang Gong, give me the military power. ”

Zhang Ruochang sighed: "Okay." ”

Meng Wuliang issued an order: "Zhu Xiang received the edict, the King of Qin has an order, if Zhu Xiang sets foot in a dangerous place, he will be detained." ”

Zhu Xiang knelt down to receive the edict, looking at the handwriting of Lin Zhen and Xia Tong on the edict, Meng Wu's signature and drawing, the crown prince pillar and the seal of King Qin, and was silent.

This edict, it seems a little strange?

Chapter 96: Tea on the Table

Zhu Xiang was locked up.

Meng Wu himself was a little incredulous. I'm amazing! And it did!

Li Mu took King Qin's edict and looked at it over and over, and wondered: "Isn't this wording a bit informal?" ”

Meng Wu rubbed his nose and said embarrassedly: "This, there are very complicated reasons. ”

He made a promise that he was drunk and drunk, and was coaxed by Lin Zhen and Gongzi Chu to sign and detain, and that Prince Zhu and King Qin were involved.

"I really didn't expect this edict to be used." Meng Wudao, "Zhu Xiang is really restless. Even the king couldn't help but worry about him. ”

The corners of Li Mu's mouth twitched slightly: "Indeed." ”

Zhu Xiang can let King Qin worry about him, it is really too worrying.