Seeing the emperor order him to withdraw, Guan Lü, in a state of urgency, shouted loudly, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The divination I have performed is not empty talk!"
After Guan Lü spoke up, everyone in the hall turned their gaze towards the emperor.
Cao Rui frowned slightly: "Although I don't punish you, I can't put up with your lying repeatedly in front of me."
"What do you have to say?"
Guan Lu bowed deeply and said: "Your Majesty, the humble servant has already divined! The main jing is Xun He Huan, and the change jing is Kun Dui Ling!"
With this statement, the situation in the hall immediately polarized.
Among the officials who were received today, most of them do not have a very deep understanding of the I Ching, even Guan Cheng's own father, Guan Cheng, was also like this. Among the officials, such as Man Chong, people also felt confused.
The fact that Man Chong does not specialize in academic studies does not mean that others are equally ignorant.
Cao Rui sat at the highest seat in the hall and his expression abruptly turned cold. Sima Yi's sharp, eagle-like eyes fixed directly on Guan Lu, while Lu Yu, Xu Shu, Mai Qiu Jian and others all showed serious expressions in response.
It's no wonder, the two guas that Guan Lu divined are too abnormal.
The main jing is Xun He Huan, and the change jing is Kun Dui Ling.
If I explain the principle of I Ching divination in a very simple way, the main jing represents the starting state of things, the change jing represents the development of things, and the inter-j ing represents the end result.
According to what Guan Lu just said, the Huan hexagram is the main jing, and the Lin hexagram is the change jing.
Guan Lu only mentioned the main jing and the change jing, but did not mention the inter-j ing.
With the main jing and change jing, it is a matter of course to deduce the inter-j ing.
Looking at the confused ministers, Emperor Cao Rui sighed lightly and said, "The Son of Heaven has no personal affairs. Today, I summoned you all, and you have heard the words of divination."
"Lu Zhenzhong, explain to everyone for a moment."
The moment Guan Lu spoke, he knew that the situation was beyond repair. However, with Guan Lu's unconventional personality, how could he keep his words from coming out?
The emperor did not allow the diviner himself to explain, but instead asked the court minister to explain. The dissatisfaction was very apparent in this.
Lu Yu took a deep breath and said, "Your servant will comply."
"Change the Huan jing to Lin jing, and the inter-j ing to Xia Guo jing."
"The three lines move together, and we should explain it with the fourth line of the Huan jing, which is the sixth line in the fourth position."
After saying that, Lu Yu swallowed hard and looked at the emperor: "Your Majesty, should the divination also be explained by your servant?"
Cao Rui frowned and waved his hand: "Military affairs are the most important matter in the world, involving the well-being and misfortunes of tens of thousands of people. How can a diviner's words, a few sticks, or turtle shells determine such matters?"
"Since Guan Lu has already announced it in public, Lu Qing should also interpret the hexagram in public! So that you won't go out of my palace gate and seek out those spiritual and ghostly people for explanations."
"Lu Qing, explain it publicly!"
Lu Yu has been beside the emperor for more than a year and a half, and he is very familiar with the emperor's personality. Like Wu Di, he is generous and open-minded; like Emperor Wen, he is not bound by conventions.
But when it comes to major events, the current emperor has never shown any fear. In the past, during the campaign against Huaiyang and the campaign against Shu, he personally led the central army to face danger, and this has fully demonstrated his point.
At the moment, there are no other ministers speaking out against it, and Lu Yu has no choice but to follow the emperor's intention and speak up.
"Jing Huan represents flood, and the hexagram says 'Benevolence brings good fortune. The king attends the shrine, and it is advantageous to cross great rivers and is propitious for steadfastness.' The king goes to the shrine to worship the spirits of ancestors, which is advantageous for crossing great rivers and is easy to succeed."
"The third line of the sixth position of the Huan jing, 'Pure Good Fortune, Huan has mountains, not what can be imagined,' means that both parties are in a passive situation."
Lu Yu paused for a moment and glanced sideways at the emperor's expression. The emperor sat upright in the hall without any movement, while previously confused people such as Man Chong and others, turned pale all together.
The divination Guan Lu performed concerns military affairs in the Liaodong region.
What kind of situation is this when the divination predicts floods and the passive situation of both parties?
Lu Yu sighed lightly in his heart and continued: "The change jing is Lin jing, 'Yuan Hen Li Zhen, up to the eighth month there will be disaster.' The situation progresses smoothly, but there will be danger in the eighth month."
"Lin jing has a water element in the lower hexagram and earth element in the upper hexagram, indicating a water disaster."
Lu Yu took a deep breath and continued to speak: "The inter-j ing Xia Guo jing, beneficial in being firm and steadfast, can deal with small matters but not with large ones."
After speaking, Lu Yu bowed deeply to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I have explained all the hexagrams divined by Guan Lu."
Cao Rui originally had an expressionless face, but suddenly revealed a smile. He laughed a few times and pointed to the crowd: "What's wrong with all of you?"
"The Huan jing, Lin jing, and Xia Guo jing, all three of these hexagrams are beneficial in being firm and steadfast. How can you all look so serious, as if you have received an ominous hexagram?"
Sima Yi couldn't help but mutter in frustration in his heart.
"You asked Guan Lu to divinate, you were the first to show a stern face, and now you are smiling."
This is truly the Cao dynasty descendants, Wu Di-like figures!
As a member of the Grand Secretariat, Sima Yi should be the one to speak. Another member of the Grand Secretariat, Man Chong, has no understanding of the I Ching either. It's precisely the moment for Sima Yi to speak up.
Sima Yi bowed his hands: "Your Majesty, diviner Guan Lu's divination is propitious. The main jing, change jing, and inter-j ing are all beneficial in being firm and steadfast, which is just right for going to war!"
With Sima Yi, the Grand Master of Great Wei, leading the way, Man Chong, Lu Yu, Xu Shu, and the other officials summoned today, as well as the various ministers present, all bowed in congratulations.
Guan Lu, the actual performer of this divination, stood among the crowd as they bowed together, feeling quite confused and at a loss.
The Huan jing represents floods, and the Lin jing means that there will be flooding in August.
What is a flood when going to war, and what could be considered good about it?
Guan Lu understands divination, the I Ching, and numerology. However, this young man of twenty, who has early intelligence, is still in a state of total ignorance about politics and people's hearts.
In politics, it is common to make merry even during funerals. As for the three hexagrams and the two words 'benevolence' and 'rectitude' in their hexagram interpretations, this is enough to explain a good result!
After hearing the cheers from the crowd, Cao Rui smiled at Guan Lu: "Guan Lu, you live in the wild but have achieved such proficiency in the I Ching and divination. This is truly not easy. You should accompany the emperor back to Luoyang and study and inherit it properly."
"To ensure that the countryside will not leave behind any outstanding talents, Your Majesty, I will now recruit you as an academician of the Chongwen Pavilion, with a salary of one thousand chuan."
"Guan Qing, are you willing to accept?"
Behind Guan Lu, his father Guan Cheng's eyes were almost as wide as they could get, full of expectation. He kept signaling his son with mental messages to quickly accept this post.
Guan Lu stood in front and could not see his father's gestures. He slightly moved his right hand that was still in his sleeve, fingers pointing at a little fortune, indicating a satisfactory answer. Finally, Guan Lu's heart relaxed.
As a diviner, Guan Lu is still firmly convinced of these mystical things.
Guan Lu bowed deeply: "Minister Guan Lu thanks the emperor for his kindness and is willing to serve the sovereign!"
"Good, very good." Cao Rui smiled and pointed at Guan Lu: "Guan Qing, go back and pack your things. Go to seek Xuan Chi Zhengbao Du Wu in three days to report to the emperor, and wait at the emperor's side with my scattering horsemen. Be ready to be called at any time."
"Ministers, today's audience with the emperor is over. All of you may go back!"
The assembly in the hall bowed in unison and then slowly left the hall.
Cao Rui waved his hand to let everyone leave, leaving only Sima Yi and Man Chong, two members of the Grand Secretariat, as well as Xu Shu and Lu Yu, two court ministers.
Cao Rui's smile from before had vanished, and he looked at the group coldly, "Diviner's words may not be entirely trustworthy, but as a warning from heaven, they are worth paying attention to."
"Guan Lu has been recruited by the emperor. Xu Shu, send someone to follow him later and don't let him run away."
Xu Shu didn't dare to be lax and bowed respectfully in reply: "I understand."
Cao Rui turned to Sima Yi and Man Chong: "If there is a flood this summer, does the Ministry of Ceremonies and the Secretariat have any strategies to deal with it?"
Man Chong gritted his teeth, bowing respectfully: "Your Majesty, the Secretariat has not made any special preparations for flood control."
Cao Rui replied with a displeased tone: "If the emperor does not summon Guan Lu today, is the Secretariat completely unprepared? You and Dong Zhao are old ministers. How can something like this be left unprepared?"
"The emperor has been blowing you and praising you every day in Luoyang, but have you two old ministers become foolish?"
"During the Great Flood of 25 years after the founding of the state, Guan Yu also attacked Fancheng by boat! Where were you, General Man? Speak up!"
Man Chong bowed deeply, his head dipping even lower: "At that time, I was inside Fancheng, assisting the late Marshal Cao in defending the city."
"Does the high position make you unable to do anything? Will rain come to Jingzhou and Yuzhou, but will it not rain in Hebei?"
Cao Rui reprimanded, "I give the Secretariat seven days. Within seven days, if there is a flood during war time in the three states of Jizhou, Bingzhou, and Youzhou, present me with your emergency plans!"
"If I cannot obtain your General Man's plan, I will not leave the capital city of Datong!"
Man Chong bowed and said: "Please Your Majesty be assured that I will prepare a plan in five days!"
Cao Rui then turned to Sima Yi: "Lord Sima, what about the Ministry of Ceremonies?"
Sima Yi saw that Man Chong had been scolded by the emperor and felt nervous in his heart. "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Ceremonies has dealt with flood control every year."
Cao Rui interrupted Sima Yi's speech: "What countermesures, have they been changed in the last two years?"
"Is Lord Sima ashamed to speak? Is it the Ministry of Works under your jurisdiction? It's actually worse than General Man Chong who at least agreed to it!"
"Look at the documents presented by the Ministry of Works for their achievements. Huang Quan, Ji Ji, Sun Zi, and He Cha all listed repairing waterways and building dams as their greatest accomplishments."
"Upstream and downstream of the Huai River, how many tributaries have been turned into ponds? What would happen if the flood came, and have you two considered it? And have Fu Xun thought about it?"
Sima Yi dared not reply, and could only nod repeatedly in response.
Cao Rui sighed and said: "The Great Flood of the year 221 during the Yellow Dipper Era, where the people of Henan Province experienced rain for over one hundred days. This was the most rainfall in two hundred years for the Han Dynasty. At that time, you were in Xuchang, weren't you?"
Sima Yi continued to nod: "At that time, I was in Xuchang."
Cao Rui stood up: "There's no need for me to say more. I still require to see the complete responses from the Ministry of Ceremonies and the Secretariat within seven days!"
After saying that, Cao Rui waved his sleeve and left, and the ministers followed him. Only Man Chong and Sima Yi were left standing there, staring at each other.
He became more and more resentful towards Guan Lu. Why did he mention the flood when we were about to attack Yōuzhōu?
On the other side, the father and son, Guan Cheng and Guan Lu, exited the palace gate and walked towards the posthouse.
Seeing no one around, Guan Cheng whispered to his son: "Guan Lu, at the age of twenty, you have obtained the position of a scholar with a salary of one thousand chuan. This is a great good fortune that our ancestors have accumulated."
"I have always known your abilities. What exactly happened when you gave the emperor your fortune-telling just now?"
"What happened?" Guan Lu bitterly smiled: "The blood was my own that I bitten through my tongue and left in my mouth. Delaying the divination to let the blood flow more made me avoid it."
Guan Cheng opened his eyes wide: "What did the emperor look like in the face?"
Guan Lu kept shaking his head: "Lost his mother in childhood, his father in youth, and perished at a prime age. What kind of good fate is that?"
"It's just that after I examined the emperor's face and drew my conclusion, I couldn't recall his appearance. Even if I looked again, it was like mist in the clouds."
"Indeed, what an extraordinary phenomenon!" (This chapter ends)
