"Alas! Every place has its own degenerates and dregs; we shouldn't vent our anger at those bad people onto all Confucian disciples."
...
All sorts of voices of repentance rose from the crowd, as if the ones calling to strike down the Confucians just moments before weren't them at all.
Li Zhirui, in the inn, took in the whole performance.
Indeed, in his eyes, it was nothing but a performance, and the Great Confucian's acting was hardly remarkable; the disgust and humiliation in his eyes couldn't have been more obvious.
Perhaps only these pure and kind-hearted, easily deceived commoners would truly believe what he said.
Yet one must admit, the Confucian method was effective, quickly dissolving the people's hostility and wrath.
And afterward, as long as they made a token effort, they could readily regain the people's support.
But this was all predicated on the absence of interference!
