Chapter 177 — Knowing and Doing in Equal Measure

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?

Are you not afraid I came to kill you? " "If the Imperial Preceptor wished to kill me, alarm would be of no use. " Shen Mu said, "If you do not kill me, the Heaven-Sage Cult will not rebel.

If you kill me, the Heaven-Sage Cult will surely rebel.

My life is not so precious as the Heaven-Sage Cult, and the Imperial Preceptor would not stoop to killing me. So I have no need to be alarmed. " The Imperial Preceptor smiled slightly.

"Do not be so certain. Wisdom is a fine thing, but if you are too sure of yourself, you may guess wrong. Still, what you said just now did indeed move my heart.

You said the Heaven-Sage Cult will not rebel — may I hear the reason?

" Shen Mu said, "Our principles are the same. There is no need to rebel.

" The Imperial Preceptor said, "I have heard that the first thing you did upon becoming Cult Master was to establish the three hundred and sixty-first hall and found a school?

" Shen Mu nodded. "I am imitating the Imperial Preceptor, reforming the Heaven-Sage Cult.

" "The Heaven-Sage Cult was originally a nation wearing the name of a sect. If you imitate me and reform the Heaven-Sage Cult, will it not become a state within my Jingping?

" The Imperial Preceptor said, "In times of peace you will not rise in rebellion, but if the world falls into chaos, why should you not seize the moment, rise up, and claim the orthodox succession? " "The reason my Heaven-Sage Cult does not rebel in this turmoil is not that we do not wish to claim orthodoxy, but that the Jingping of today is itself a Heaven-Sage Cult on a vast scale.

" Shen Mu smiled.

"Why should we rebel against ourselves?

" "Then when will you rebel? " The Imperial Preceptor's interest was roused, and he asked. Shen Mu said gravely, "When the Imperial Preceptor betrays the principles of the Heaven-Sage Cult, no longer walks the way of the sages, and Jingping is no longer the Heaven-Sage Cult — then my Heaven-Sage Cult will surely rebel.

" The Imperial Preceptor glanced at him and praised him: "What a great boldness you have.

" Shen Mu said, "It is not boldness, but that I must speak the truth, for a lie cannot hide itself from the Imperial Preceptor. " The Imperial Preceptor paced slowly to the well in the courtyard and said, neither hurried nor slow, "You come from the Desolate Wastes and have no roots at all in the Heaven-Sage Cult.

I originally meant to take you in hand and let you borrow my strength to establish yourself within the Heaven-Sage Cult. Now I have abandoned that idea. " Shen Mu walked to his side, and heard the Imperial Preceptor continue: "A man like you is exceedingly dangerous. Men who possess principles are often exceedingly dangerous, exceedingly troublesome, and very hard to persuade.

And to persuade a man is the most exhausting of tasks; killing him is easier. To persuade a whole sect is more exhausting still; wiping out the whole clan is easier. The Daoist sects and the Great Thunderclap Temple alike have their own principles and are hard to persuade. So too is the Heaven-Sage Cult. " He was silent a moment, then said, "Fortunately, the principles of the Heaven-Sage Cult do not conflict with Jingping. " Shen Mu asked curiously, "If the Imperial Preceptor will not move against the Heaven-Sage Cult for the time being, what of the Daoist sects and the Great Thunderclap Temple? " "That depends on what they do.

" The Imperial Preceptor said earnestly, "We shall see whether they can achieve the unity of knowing and doing.

If they can carry their principles through and achieve the unity of knowing and doing, I will use every power and every means to destroy them. If they cannot, surviving will not be difficult.

" Shen Mu's heart gave a slight shudder.

He asked, "And what are the Imperial Preceptor's own principles? " The Imperial Preceptor shook his head. "I need not tell you. Do not look at what I say; look at what I do.

My principles will be embodied in what I do — that is the unity of knowing and doing.