It's not like Du Wei didn't let innocent people die... He even did such a thing himself.
But at this moment, looking at the innocent tailor in front of him, seeing the tears in this man's eyes, the helpless shouting, the sadness of being unable to control his own destiny... Suddenly, Du Wei felt that he could not say a word.
.
What can I say?
Am I telling him that he is sacrificing his ego for the sake of the overall situation? In order to prevent the royal family and the church from falling out, and in order to prevent the evil religious forces from continuing to expand, if the church overwhelms the majesty of the emperor, then the church will be in trouble in the future.
Will it further make the central government unable to hold its head high? Or should I tell him that killing him alone can avoid more bloodshed and friction?
Yes, this is a great principle. Even for a period of time, Du Wei has even become accustomed to standing on a "high position" and looking down at the people below, and then using these "great principles" to judge and measure, and then make some decisions that he thinks
A very noble decision: deciding who will be sacrificed and who will be left to be preserved.
Yes, sometimes Du Wei struggled, hesitated, and had conflicts. But afterwards he gradually became numb, and he convinced himself in his heart: These are all right! I am "taking the overall situation into consideration."
But……
Now looking at Groom in front of him, looking at the tears of this innocent tailor, he suddenly felt that the so-called "taking into account the overall situation" was really difficult to express.
Groom's words were actually very simple and straightforward, without any depth at all. But it was this depth that made Du Wei unable to answer or even say a word:
"I don't understand. I'm a good person. I haven't done anything wrong. I devote myself to my work. I love my family... But why do I have to die inexplicably? Yes, I am a little person, a bird.
I am a small ant, but my life can be taken away at will?"
Just because I am a nobody and an ant, I have to be sacrificed?
Can my life be taken away at will?
Why?
Who gave you the right to decide who to sacrifice and who not to sacrifice?
Who gave you this power?
When this idea flashed through Du Wei's mind, he suddenly broke into a cold sweat!!
Looking at the tears of the tailor in front of me, the despair and anger of being unable to struggle...
Du Wei couldn't help but ask himself: Who am I to judge and decide a person's fate so casually?
What is the difference between this kind of me, this kind of Prince Chen, this kind of us... and that bitch of the goddess of light?
Yes, we are high above, looking down at all living beings, and deciding the fate of these ants below based on what we think is the "big truth".
But what are we? Are we gods? Do we really have the power to take away anyone’s life?
Considering the overall situation? So sacrifice? But what about the wishes of the person being sacrificed? Can it be ignored?
So what about a so-called "little guy" like Groom? From his standpoint, he just wants to live his own life in peace and preserve his humble life... Where did he go wrong?
All along, even Du Wei himself had clearly felt that his heart was gradually getting colder, harder, cold-blooded, and cruel.
But similarly, Du Wei has always felt that there is nothing wrong with this. The world is like this, if you don't eat people, then you are waiting to be eaten by others. There are many things. If you are soft-hearted, then what awaits you will be even more miserable.
ending.
Therefore, when he sent that beautiful woman to the grassland, his eyes as bright as the bright moon never made Du Wei soft-hearted. Although he struggled inwardly afterwards, he still strongly encouraged himself: This is a last resort, this is
That’s right!
Perhaps, today, meeting a more mediocre and innocent person like Grum suddenly restored a trace of warmth to Du Wei's already cold heart.
Yes... that girl from the beginning went without hesitation. She did not refuse, but went with a sacrificial mentality... So, Du Wei didn't seem to have thought so deeply.
But, what about Grum? He was forced! He was forced. He couldn't go, he didn't want to die, but he had to die.
This time, although the decision-maker was not Du Wei, he was a loyal executor.
"It seems I'm still not hard-hearted enough." After appeasing the poor tailor, Du Wei walked out of the hall. The day's efforts were not in vain, at least Du Wei was full of confidence in the banquet the day after tomorrow.
But with the night wind blowing on his face, he couldn't feel any relief.
Yes, you have softened your heart...
Even Du Wei himself couldn't tell what he was thinking at the moment. Maybe it was just a moment of pity.
He looked up at the sky, quickened his pace, and decided to go back to the room to change clothes first, and then he would go back to the Duke's Mansion tonight, because he had already sent the guard Elder Yan to invite Mr. Lan Haiyue.
But when Du Wei returned to his temporary residence in the palace, he suddenly slowed down as soon as he entered the courtyard!
A glimmer of light flashed through his originally squinted eyes. He subconsciously looked at the two palace waiters in the courtyard. Two young waiters were holding brooms to clean the fallen snow in the courtyard. He saw Du Wei walking in from a distance.
They quickly bowed and saluted. Their expressions were as usual and there was no change.
Du Wei, on the other hand, stared closely at his bedroom.
I turned around and looked around. The palace guards outside the courtyard were also very calm...
An imperceptible smile appeared on Du Wei's face, and he walked over slowly, waving to the two waiters: "Everyone, please go out. Don't let anyone enter the courtyard without my order."
After saying that, he strode to the door of his room, opened the door and walked in.
In the dark room, Du Wei walked to the wall and lit the fireplace. Under the blazing fire, he turned around and said with a leisurely smile: "I originally wanted to rush over to see you.
, I didn’t expect you to come here first.”
When he turned around, behind him, on a soft bench, Lan Haiyue looked at Du Wei with a smile. His old body was wrapped in a blanket and huddled in the soft chair.
Du Wei lit the fireplace, and the old man stretched his neck towards the warm flames, sighed, and said slowly: "It's better to light the fire to keep it warm. Alas, as people get older, their health just doesn't work anymore."
"I didn't expect you to come to see me first." Du Wei turned his head and thought: "Didn't I ask you to wait for me in my Duke's Mansion?"
Lan Haiyue blinked: "But, Lord Duke, didn't you write the word 'urgent' on the visitor's palm? Since it is an urgent matter, I have nothing to do anyway, so I came here first. And you, but
He is an important minister of the country who handles many things on a day-to-day basis."
Du Wei snorted and snapped. He unscrewed a wine bottle and gestured to Lan Haiyue. The old man shook his head: "I'm old, and wine is not suitable for me."
Du Wei raised his head and took a big sip himself, and then he finally breathed a sigh of relief. As if he wanted to exhale all the depression in his heart with this breath, he glanced at the old man: "When you came in, no one noticed?"
Lan Haiyue smiled slightly: "I'm afraid there is no strong person in the palace who can detect my whereabouts."
Du Wei nodded: "That's true."
With Lan Haiyue's ability, one of the three major disciples of Daxue Mountain, the people in the world who are better than him can be counted on a few fingers. In the entire imperial capital, maybe there are people in the temple who can make Lan Haiyue fearful, but in the palace
Now there is not even a single holy rank.
"I have a long, long story to tell you, sir." Du Wei put down the bottle and said with a wry smile: "I need some wise advice now, or... guidance. I can't think of anything else.
Who can possess wisdom as deep as the ocean like you?"
Lan Haiyue smiled peacefully, and his eyes, which did not match his age, were as bright as stars.
Du Wei was not polite to this great scholar, and without even the slightest hint of caution, he started to speak straightforwardly.
He first started to tell about the sinners in the north, and then said that the Dragon Clan's sacred mountain had fallen. The huge sinners would invade in the near future...
When he finished speaking this paragraph, he paid attention to Lan Haiyue's expression, but the old man's face was very calm, as if he didn't have any surprise at all.
"You... know?" Du Wei frowned.
"Should I act surprised?" Lan Haiyue said in a calm voice: "I know some ancient legends, and there are some ancient records on the Snowy Mountains. Moreover, in recent years, the empire has suddenly changed from its previous procrastination and used thunderous means.
First, they wiped out the Northwest Army, stabilized the interior, and then spent a lot of money to expand the army. They also used money to build a "Kaspersky Line of Defense" in the north regardless of the cost. Oh, by the way, this name is from your place of origin, right?
, it’s really ugly. Well, no matter what, smart people can see that you have put so much effort in the north, so you are naturally preparing to deal with someone. Think about those legends again... It is not difficult to guess the answer.
.And, don’t forget, Philip is my student.”
Du Wei shrugged: "I knew it."
"I only have three years." Du Wei said with a wry smile: "Of course, more than half of the three years have passed now. I must be prepared in the shortest possible time. The more fully prepared the better! I must be ready in the shortest possible time.
Within the time limit, we must remove all possible unstable factors! Therefore, I must adopt some unconventional methods in the way of doing things..."
"You mean some despicable, dirty and cruel methods?" Lan Haiyue asked nonchalantly.
"..." Du Wei was stunned for a moment and nodded: "But that's what I said."
Afterwards, Du Wei quickly told Lan Haiyue the sudden death of the old emperor and the difficulties he was currently facing without concealing it.
When he mentioned that Prince Chen had conspired with him to prepare a substitute to hide his identity at the banquet the day after tomorrow, he also mentioned the poor tailor named Grum and how he couldn't bear it.
"When he said 'unfair', I really felt something strange." Du Wei sighed: "I suddenly couldn't understand what I was doing. Even...I had some doubts. Well, you
Do you understand what I mean?"
"I probably understand a little bit." Lan Haiyue's tone suddenly contained a hint of ridicule: "A sudden discovery of conscience, is that it?"
"...So be it." Du Wei heard the other party's mocking tone, but he didn't pay attention.
He looked at the wise old man in front of him, his eyes full of expectation.
After a long time, Lan Haiyue moved his body and moved closer to the stove. Then he looked at the flames in the fireplace, sighed, and said softly in a disdainful tone:
"What a pity, what a pity... Du Wei, I thought you had transformed into a real leader now. I was once pleased and appreciative of your progress. But... hum, from what you said today
It seems that you are still far away!! Compared with Prince Chen, you are simply a child with no hair. I really want to advise you, if you are really like this, you are not as good as
While you are still favored, Prince Xiang Chen resigns your position as lord of the northwest, hands over military power, and then moves your family to a small city in the south to live the life of a mediocre farmer. Because... you are not worthy!"
Du Wei was stunned by these harsh words.
He stared at Lan Haiyue and asked in surprise: "Did I hear you correctly? Mr. Lan Haiyue, I asked you for some guidance, but you scolded me? I don't deserve it?"