Chapter 177 — Knowing and Doing in Equal Measure
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Shen Mu's mind was greatly shaken. He walked into the courtyard and said, "The Imperial Preceptor's visit today cannot have been only to tell amusing tales.
Ling'er, see to the tea.
" Snow Fox said hurriedly, "Young Master, we have no tea in this house.
You do not drink tea.
" Shen Mu laughed aloud.
"Then from now on buy a few ounces and keep some. Since there is no tea, then bring a seat.
" "The Scholars' Lodge has only a few broken stools. Where is there a seat to bring? " the little fox grumbled. Shen Mu felt somewhat embarrassed.
The Imperial Preceptor waved a hand and said with a smile, "No need to busy yourself on my account. I will stand and speak a few words with the Cult Master, then be on my way. " Shen Mu's gaze settled on his face.
This Imperial Preceptor, who awed the world and had long borne the name of the foremost man beneath the gods, could not be called handsome; at most he was ordinary. Yet his face held an indescribable something, the kind that grew the more agreeable the longer one looked.
His eyes were the most brilliant part of him, eyes brimming with wisdom, seeming to carry motes of spiritual light, able to gather all things under heaven into their view and render the wisest judgment.
Toward this Imperial Preceptor, Shen Mu felt considerable fondness, and his heart was full of reverence for this pioneer, this breaker of deadlocks. That Jingping should have come to what it is today owes more to the Imperial Preceptor than to the emperor. Presiding over reform, reshaping the military and the government, breaking down the barriers between sects, breaking the estrangement among the three great schools, establishing the elementary schools, the great schools, and the Grand Academy, instituting the system of scholars — this Imperial Preceptor had made the age extraordinarily splendid.
Yet admiration though it was, Shen Mu also had no small criticism of him.
The Imperial Preceptor was not only a heaven-gifted genius; he was likewise ruthless and vicious.
He had campaigned against the Desolate Wastes, and though he withdrew when he saw the difficulty, that did not necessarily mean there would be no next time.
He had chastised the various states and swallowed them whole. To root out dissent, he feigned grave wounds of his own, luring those sects that had already submitted into uprising and rebellion, and the people were plunged into misery.
This was not a perfect man.
Shen Mu had never been able to see what this man before him was pursuing. His mind was broad; plainly he had a heart that could embrace the whole world, yet he would also exterminate other states and seize the Desolate Wastes to give Jingping more territory. Plainly he had no greed for power, yet to root out dissent he did not scruple to raise a storm of blood.
In Shen Mu's eyes, the Imperial Preceptor was a bundle of contradictions. What his true thoughts were was very hard to guess.
The Imperial Preceptor was likewise taking his measure. After a moment he said, in a gentle voice, "The Holy Cult Master of the Heaven-Sage Cult is younger than I expected.
When word reached me that the Holy Cult Master should turn out to be a Grand Academy Doctor of my own Grand Academy, I too was startled. Seeing me, you do not seem to find it strange? " Shen Mu said, "The Heaven-Sage Cult makes no distinction of kind in its teaching, and every sort of faction exists within it, so it is only natural that the Imperial Preceptor could plant a few people among the Heaven-Sage Cult's high ranks. That the Imperial Preceptor discovered my identity so quickly is nothing for me to be surprised at.
" The Imperial Preceptor nodded. "The Holy Cult Master of the Heaven-Sage Cult ought to possess such wisdom. But why is it that when you saw me, you had not the slightest alarm?