People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 103 Great Prophecy

Join the religion?

Xu Chen's question made Zhang Zhongjing silent. This was the second time Xu Chen tried to recruit him since the forest, but his state of mind was completely different from the original one.

Is Xu Chen's natural way a wild way? From the perspective of the universe and worldview alone, it is difficult for Zhang Zhongjing to find something more reliable than the natural way.

Even though the core of Xu Chen's cosmic worldview is essentially just a methodology for studying natural problems, this methodology is feasible, as evidenced by his initial observation of the ash flying in the charcoal stove and his final success in sending humans into the sky.

Human beings do have a clear method to seek the truth of the world.

The person who provided this method is by no means a wild one, but a person of great wisdom.

This worldview is totally worthy of promotion, and only by promotion can its value be truly reflected.

He now realized that Xu Chen's words about the wisdom of the crowd were correct. There were too many issues in this world worth studying. Only by getting more people involved could the process of human understanding of the world be accelerated.

Just one look at the charcoal stove can send people to heaven. If more truths are discovered, it is hard to imagine what human beings can achieve.

In this way, Zhang Zhongjing was indeed tempted to join the religion. He knew that Xu Chen was right, and the pursuit of truth was indeed a great merit of human civilization and history. He was very motivated to promote the spread of this methodology.

However, Zirandao's current identity was too embarrassing, which made it difficult for him to make up his mind.

Seeing his hesitant look, Xu Chen was not disappointed but rather happy. The hesitation was because Zhang Zhongjing was shaken, and the hesitation meant that success was not far away.

"As the saying goes, if you can hear the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening. Doesn't Zhongjing want to work hard to help the human community understand the truth of all things?"

As Xu Chen spoke, he quietly gestured to the people around him, sending Wang and the others out. Then he took Zhang Zhongjing's hand and walked into the lobby of the government office.

The two of them sat at the same table. Xu Chen poured him some water and then continued to persuade him patiently.

He looked at Zhang Zhongjing, pondered for a moment, and suddenly thought of a method, then laughed: "Zhongjing, if you are willing to join our sect to carry out the great cause, after you join the sect, our sect will give you a gift to help you observe the microscopic world!"

"What!" The bait given by Xu Chen accurately hit Zhang Zhongjing's desire, which made Zhang Zhongjing stand up in shock: "Are you serious, the microscopic world?"

Xu Chen nodded with a smile. Although he didn't say anything, his confident and calm attitude made Zhang Zhongjing breathe faster.

The temptation was too great. He wanted to prove whether what Xu Chen said about the microscopic world was correct. He wanted to know how rot and mold occurred. He wanted to know what bacteria looked like. He wanted to know why allicin could inhibit ulcers!

If these questions could be answered, medicine would usher in a groundbreaking innovation, but all progress was stuck in the process of observing the microscopic world. Even if he opened his eyes wide, he could not see these things.

As long as you can break through the shackles and directly observe the microscopic world, all questions will be answered!
So when he heard Xu Chen's words, he almost agreed and almost blurted out "I really want to join the church."

He was really just about to say it out loud, but in the end his face changed, and after struggling for a long time, he gritted his teeth and sat back, then kept his head down and said nothing.

Xu Chen felt a little discouraged when he saw that he had thrown out all his trump cards but was still short of one breath.

If this doesn't work, then I really have no other options.

The atmosphere in the lobby was a little awkward for a moment, and Xu Chen had no choice but to drink the water in silence.

He saw that Zhang Zhongjing had a frown on his face, and was obviously struggling violently. Perhaps if he made a little more effort, he could make Zhang Zhongjing devote himself completely to the natural way. However, he didn't know how to give him this chance.

He originally wanted to let Zhang Zhongjing make his own decision, but when he thought about how Liu Bei had visited him three times at his cottage, and how could he not be able to match Liu Bei's perseverance and vision when he wanted to achieve great things?
So, when Zhang Zhongjing was thinking, Xu Chen also began to think.

I didn't know how to make up for it, so I put myself in Zhang Zhongjing's shoes. After putting myself in Zhang Zhongjing's shoes, Xu Chen did feel many problems.

Although as a person of later generations, I know the direction of history and have confidence in my own path, but in the eyes of contemporary people like Zhang Zhongjing, it is a completely different feeling.

If the Yellow Turbans really have become powerful enough to swallow up the world, then no matter what route the Yellow Turbans take, the aristocratic families will take the initiative to curry favor with them in order to survive. Even if the Yellow Turbans' policies will deal a heavy blow to the aristocratic families, they will have no choice but to cut off their power in order to survive.

Therefore, if you want people to come to you and get close to you, you must first consider how strong you are. If you are not strong enough, at least you must let people see the possibility of career success.

Now, from Zhang Zhongjing's perspective, the Yellow Turbans only occupied the territories of these four counties and could not even make a wave in the Han Dynasty. Their routes had offended many powerful families in the world, and now they were labeled as traitors.

No matter how you look at it, this situation looks like it will end at any moment, and there is no hope of career success at all.

Xu Chen thought about it and realized that if he were Zhang Zhongjing, he would probably not be willing to follow the Yellow Turbans to die. The same reason probably held true for those stubborn captives who were unwilling to surrender.

The views and feelings of people who know the direction of history and people of the time on the world situation are completely different. Xu Chen gradually understood, and he was no longer distressed, but became calm, and the topic suddenly jumped to another place: "If I say that the fate of the Han Dynasty has ended, Zhongjing is willing to believe it?"

Zhang Zhongjing, who was struggling, was suddenly interrupted.

But this question made him a little dazed, and then he shook his head silently without thinking.

The world situation is a bit chaotic now, but it is not the case that the destiny is cut off.

The hearts of the scholars all over the world are still towards the Han Dynasty. Although there are constant invasions by Hu people from outside, it is not a particularly big problem. As for internal unrest, there are heroes in various places, and the central government can suppress it after it has recovered. It is far from the point of national destruction.

For example, although Beigong Boyu and the Black Mountain bandits, Qingxu and Huangjin are causing great trouble now, I am afraid no one thinks that the Han Dynasty cannot deal with them, and no one thinks that the Han Dynasty is doomed.

This is actually the biggest reason why Zhang Zhongjing and the captives were unwilling to surrender. The Han court could still hold on, so who would be willing to be a rebel?

Zhang Zhongjing's reaction was completely within Xu Chen's expectations, and this time, Xu Chen planned to do something that suited his status, so he might have to play some tricks.

Xu Chen turned around and walked to the desk. Then he took out a few bamboo sticks and wrote something on them.

Ignoring Zhang Zhongjing's puzzled look, Xu Chen took out some cloth strips to wrap the bamboo sticks one by one, and then tied them up tightly with a thin rope. It took him a while to finish all this before he returned to the seat and sat opposite Zhang Zhongjing again.

Then he took out the wrapped bamboo sticks, placed them on the table, and looked up at Zhang Zhongjing.

"Among the captives of my sect, only three are to my liking. Among them, Zhongjing is the most prominent. The others are Ju Shou and Fu Xie. Today, I have taken the prophecy of destiny and sealed it in this lot and will share it with the three of you.

Just wait for the weather to change in four years, then you can untie the rope and read the contents. If the prophecy comes true, then destiny will come true.

At that time, whether you will follow the will of heaven or go against it is up to you to decide. If you still want to leave, I will not try to stop you!"

After that, Xu Chen pushed the three wrapped bamboo sticks in front of Zhang Zhongjing and said, "Zhongjing, you can give the other two to them. This is a gentleman's agreement. I believe you will not open them privately and peek at them."

Zhang Zhongjing looked at Xu Chen in a daze, then looked down at the bamboo stick.

He naturally knew about this situation. This was what Xu Chen predicted would happen four years later. However, Xu Chen was so sure of it that it was difficult for him to understand.

The contents of the bamboo sticks are written in advance and kept by oneself, so there is no possibility of change. If what is predicted four years later comes true, it will really come true, and that means the prediction is truly successful.

Things like prophecy are much more mysterious than manned space missions. After all, the latter has logic to rely on, while the former is completely inexplicable.

However, since Xu Chen dared to take the initiative to propose such an incredible thing as prophecy, why shouldn't I be afraid to accept it? It's just a matter of waiting and seeing the results in four years. If Xu Chen can really do it, then I have nothing to say.

After bowing to Xu Chen, Zhang Zhongjing took the three bamboo sticks in his hand.

At this time, he had a strong curiosity and wanted to see what was written inside, but taking the bamboo stick meant accepting Xu Chen's gentleman's agreement, so he naturally could not go back on his promise.

Zhang Zhongjing put away the three bamboo sticks and said, "In this case, I will go to the labor camp and hand over the other two bamboo sticks to Ju Shou and Fu Xie."

Xu Chen nodded, then smiled and said, "The gift that our sect mentioned before is still valid. After it is completed in a few days, it will be presented to Zhongjing."

Zhang Zhongjing's eyes lit up when he heard this. He looked at Xu Chen and wanted to say something, but he just sighed in shame: "Thank you, Taoist priest!"

After watching Zhang Zhongjing say goodbye and leave, Xu Chen sat down and drank some water.

Doing this kind of thing is really helpless. At present, the Han Dynasty has not yet reached the point of complete collapse. Any scholar with a firm will is unlikely to surrender to the rebels.

Therefore, if the time is not right, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain.

It is impossible not to make use of the old group of scholars. At least in the process of conquering the world, the talents trained by oneself will definitely not be enough. Therefore, what we are doing today is very necessary.

On the other side, when Zhang Zhongjing found Ju Shou and Fu Xie and handed them the bamboo sticks, both of them were a little stunned.

They didn't expect that the Yellow Turban leader had already noticed them, and they didn't know whether they should be flattered or not.

As for the bamboo sticks, they all accepted them.

Isn’t it just a bet? The person who makes the prediction is right, so why should we be afraid?
No matter what, Xu Chen promised them that they would be free in four years, so there was no reason for them not to accept it.

(End of this chapter)