To Four Thousand Years Later

The team watching the execution shouted loudly, boiling up.

On the way, new people are constantly joining in, engulfed in the flow of people. As time passed, the flow of people gradually merged into an irresistible wave, surrounded by the soldiers escorting the five priests, and flowed out of the city.

The soldiers who originally held swords and therefore had the right to speak, looked a little embarrassed under the flow of people hundreds of times their own.

Gone was the dexterity and determination with which they had captured the priests in the first place. Now they are like sheep being driven.

"...Is this what you mean by the power of the masses?"

Marshal Binayah, who was watching all this from a height with Solomon, had mixed feelings.

Obviously these soldiers are the ones holding weapons.

In normal times, it only takes one or two soldiers to show their weapons, and they can disperse civilians dozens or even a hundred times larger than themselves. But when these civilians became fanatical, they were able to push more than a dozen soldiers to where they wanted to go. Those with weapons are at a disadvantage—even if they can easily slaughter hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians.

"That's because these soldiers are also part of the crowd."

Solomon said flatly: "They are also part of the group, so they will naturally be infected by other people's opinions."

"infect?"

Benaya asked blankly, "Is that a kind of plague?"

"Well, yes. The voice that prevails among the masses is indeed a plague...an invisible, spiritually-based plague. Imitation is a necessity for man, for imitation is always easy thing."

"When people see someone shouting, they have to shout. Because they know that those who don't shout are guilty, so no one wants to be a minority who offends the majority. If someone gets excited, they also want to imitate... because that Imitation is simple, and what does not imitate is heterogeneous."

Solomon pointed to a man in the crowd: "Look, Benaiah...you know that man."

"Huh? That person is...Emos?!"

Benaya looked intently and was startled: "Isn't he the inner guard of your royal city? Why is he in the crowd—"

"I let him go, Benaya. Because these are the only people I can trust and control completely."

Solomon smiled and said, "But that's enough. Only a mediocre monarch would try to control everyone."

"I let him shout among the people, and people will follow him shouting... When the number reaches a certain level, those who did not shout will also shout. I only need to control a few people, and they will naturally control others for me, and others will Controlling others will eventually form a wave that cannot be stopped by one's own strength. My will will be a boat in the turbulence."

"...That's too dangerous, my king!"

Benaya was shocked when he heard the words, with cold sweat running down his back: "What if one day, they are not targeting these hateful and corrupt priests, but targeting your words..."

He wasn't very smart, but he wasn't stupid either. Otherwise, relying on force and piety alone, he would not have prestige in the army and become the guard of the young Solomon back then.

Solomon said this, like a dangerous demonic spell. They are all too dangerous and easy to get into trouble.

But Solomon just smiled and corrected, "Wrong, Benaiah. They won't...because they love me."

"I let their stomachs be full, their bodies warm, the weapons in their hands sharper and stronger, and their lives happier. They are content with the status quo and love me. Although the people are dull and unwise, their emotions are simple. unpretentious. They know what's good for them and what's bad for them."

Solomon smiled and said peacefully: "And if one day, they rise up out of righteous indignation and point this terrible and uncontrollable power at a certain future king of Israel...it means that that king has lost his god. favor. For he has committed a great sin by looking with haughty eyes on his brothers among his own people."

"—and until then, he is not worthy to be king."

Under Benaiah's gaze, Solomon calmly said words that shocked him: "God will take back his authority and give it to someone or some people among the people. Because they can make the people happy, Blessed are you. Well...Abigail, you record these words of mine to warn the kings of future generations. Let it be recorded as...a book of prophecy."

"yes."

Baimon, who was accompanying Solomon, responded in a cold voice: "I have written everything down."

Now that the clerks in Jerusalem are assigned to various places as governors, Baimon is the new clerk accompanying Solomon and concurrently serves as the first great clerk.

Watching people crowding around, fanatically pushing the priest who had his tongue cut off to the execution platform. Another priest blew the trumpet, and the atmosphere was as frenzied as sacrificing animals, and Benaiah felt a chill down his back.

"My king, these people seem to be crazy..."

"They are indeed crazy."

Solomon chuckled, looked around and nodded: "Because they finally realized that they no longer need to worship priests, just like worshiping gods. The burden on their shoulders has been lightened... They are cheering for this, not to punish this Several priests."

"—they're just a symbol."

Solomon asserted: "Except for the very beginning, I want them to arouse people's righteous indignation, the later ones have nothing to do with their identities. Because what people remember will not be their names, but the names of the 'priests'." identity."

"From then on, people no longer need to worship gods, obey priests and kings. Their masters are reduced. Because their kings can punish priests at will, just like gods—"

Speaking of this, Solomon glanced at Benaiah: "Do you understand what I mean, Benaiah?"

Benaiah panicked and knelt down to Solomon: "I—I will always obey you, my king Solomon."

"Don't be afraid, my brother! I won't hurt you."

Solomon laughed immediately, helped Benaya stand up, hugged him and patted his back as a sign of comfort: "Think about the good. Think about it, if our people unite into such a force, Even the Egyptians tremble."

"... They, probably won't?"

Benaiah asked tentatively: "They also have their king and their priests. They don't take our scolding seriously because they have their laws..."

"You are so clever, Benaya!"

Solomon laughed suddenly: "I used to think that Zadok was the smartest, but I didn't expect that you, who are silent and silent, are the smartest among the Israelites!"

"However, you can rest assured. One day, they will all come to me for wisdom."

Solomon watched the five priests being hoisted by ropes, kicking the air desperately, and gradually losing their breath. After a short pause, Solomon continued: "Their youngest sons will be taught by me, just like they were taught by their father. They Will write our words, sing the songs I wrote, take my words as proverbs, love those I love, scold those I scold..."

Before he finished speaking, he took a last look at the people who were praising or commenting on the execution ground outside the city, and patted Benaya on the shoulder: "You wait here for Zadu to come back, and then you and Zadu come to me .”

"I need the most loyal, most pious, most wise men in Israel to sit with me on this matter - because that will be the basis of everything I say above."

"Yes, my king."

Benaya bowed down respectfully.