The team continued their journey under the sun. After hearing this, Zhuge Jing sighed slightly: "The situation is different now, Zi Huang should endure for now."
There's been a saying in Wuchang City recently, don't know if you, Zi Huang, have heard of it?
Quan Cong furrowed his brow: "What kind of saying?"
Zhuge Jing hummed lightly: "It is said that the most useful person in front of the current supreme ruler is the four people, namely Hu, Lu, Ge, and Yi."
Quan Zong shook his head: "As for Hu Wei, he's manageable; he is a trusted and important minister of the supreme ruler. Ge Xuan and Yan Fan are a Taoist and a defector, both are people working to establish great achievements for the supreme ruler."
"However, the one in charge of affairs, Lv Yi, is the most annoying!"
Just when Quan Zong was expressing his discontent, the Prime Minister Gu Yong, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned half his body, frowned and looked at Quan Zong for a moment before continuing forward.
So Quan Zong dared not say more.
The Western Mountain is about five li away from Wuchang City, and it also requires climbing a section of mountain path. After all the officials arranged themselves in the open space in front of Dongxuan Observatory, Sun Quan only then signaled Lv Yi to approach and knock on the mountain gate of Dongxuan Observatory.
It was clear that this was all a well-rehearsed act.
Just as Lv Yi was about to knock on the door, the mountain gate of Dongxuan Observatory suddenly opened, and Ge Xuan, the Ge Tianzhi, came out from inside. Ge Xuan's beard and hair were slightly white, and he was wearing a robe with a pattern of the eight trigrams, walking quickly to Sun Quan's front and bowing respectfully.
"Worship the supreme ruler for a tour! I have been waiting here for a long time. Please enter the observatory."
Sun Quan nodded slightly, "Please go ahead, Master."
Upon hearing Sun Quan's polite words, Ge Xuan only led half a step forward, turning sideways to guide Sun Quan into the temple and walked in. The two then climbed many steps again before entering the main hall and bowing three times.
As for the following officials, they also entered the main hall step by step. Fortunately, the hole of Xuan observatory is so wide that it is similar to the main hall of Wu King Palace, and officials can finally hide from the heat.
The young disciples handed out mats to the ministers one by one, and after everyone sat down, their eyes were all focused on the two sitting opposite each other in the front row, Sun Quan and Ge Xuan. Those who were seated at the back and could not see them also perked up their ears.
Ge Xuan bent to bow once, then said: "I am grateful for the supreme ruler's kindness, allowing this small observatory to be completed. It is truly a fortunate act. Now that the supreme ruler is on tour here, I have recently gained some insights and wish to report them to you."
Sun Quan nodded slightly: "Please go ahead, Master."
Ge Xuan flicked his whisk, and it was unclear whether it was the resonance in his chest or some kind of amplification method in the hall, but his voice became unusually loud:
"Wuchang is a place with an imperial atmosphere. The Han Dynasty is in decline, and there should be a king born here!"
Sun Quan was apparently startled by Ge Xuan's volume for a moment, with an unreadable expression and asked: "Master, what does this mean?"
Ge Xuan spoke slowly and steadily, "I have three things to say!"
"Please say, Master."
Ge Xuan looked at the array of ministers of Wu:
"Mount Wuchang actually dominates the strategic position at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. The two mountains, Guishan and She Shan, straddle the Yangtze River, controlling Jingzhang to the west and Chaisang to the east. At the point where the dragon veins intersect, the dragon vein of the Han River has shifted to the Yangtze River. Observing celestial phenomena and detecting earthly qi, it is said that a son of heaven will emerge from Wuchang! This is one point!"
"The star of Wuchang divides the wings of the Phoenix and Zhen. The Taiyi Pavilion overlooks the western gate of the Taiyi Palace, and the Xingming Star moves backwards while the Zǐqì flows through the sky, exactly corresponding to a son of heaven's rise! This is another point!"
"This year, both Huanglong and Fenghuang appeared in Shikou and Wuchang. Auspicious signs and virtuous actions have emerged. The so-called son of heaven is the most virtuous person in the world. Huanglong and Fenghuang's auspicious signs indicate the prosperity of the imperial enterprise! This is the third point!"
Sitting on his mat in the hall, Quan Zong watched Ge Xuan's scholarly and ethereal demeanor as he recounted the omens, and he really felt intrigued. Curiosity then followed.
Is it the fate of officials like ourselves, who gather at the side of a king like Wu Wang, to accomplish such great achievements, or is the imperial enterprise bestowed upon the king by heaven? Should Wu Wang naturally be destined to achieve this?"
This question was obviously not clear at the moment.
As Ge Xuan was lecturing Wu Wang on those profound Taoist theories in front, Quan Zong did not understand very well and felt bored, even slightly drowsy.
However, when Quan Zong saw Lv Yi standing on the side, as if a chancellor of a temple, inspecting the hall from side to side, his dislike deepened.
Let these people be audacious for a while first!
...
Outside the Wuchang City on August 1st, the sun blazed down fiercely, and the autumn tiger remained mercilessly hot. However, further north in the Yang State's Yingchuan County, thunder rumbled and torrential rain poured down as if from a deluge.
The people had long been arranged to take shelter inside, while Sima Zhao and Shan Tao stood under the eaves, gazing fixedly at the pouring rain.
Sima Zhao swallowed hard: "Yuanyuan brother, the weather records of Xuanchang in recent years, compiled and sent down to the county, we both saw it."
"In the past few years, there hasn't been such a heavy rain! It's noon right now, and you see the sky is as dark as ink, with little light to be seen. This is unusual!"
Shan Tao sighed: "There hasn't been such heavy rain in the past few years. But how far back?"
"Going further back?" Sima Zhao drew a breath of cold air: "Yuanyuan brother is referring to the heavy rain in Huangchi's fourth year? At that time, I was still young, and I can't remember it too clearly, only that it seemed to have been raining for a whole summer, and the city also flooded."
Shan Tao nodded: "Shangzi, weren't you in Luoyang at that time?"
"Yes."
"I was in my home in Henan, and the rain fell continuously for nearly three months. The Yellow River, Yi River, and Luo River all overflowed, and Luoyang was even worse off." Shan Tao chattered on: "I heard that the flood level in Luoyang city was as high as four zhang and five chi!"
Sima Zhao nodded, "I remember now! In the poetry collection distributed by Chongwen Palace, do you remember one about Yongqiu King?"
Shan Tao asked: "Is the Yi River wide and deep?"
"Yes," Sima Zhao replied, "The Yi River is wide and deep, but there is no bridge to cross it. Boating across the great waves, I complain about the long distance on the eastern road."
"I have some impression of this poem," Shan Tao continued, "And as for the weather records of Yingchuan County, it is written clearly that heavy rain fell for ten consecutive days, a rare event in history. Moreover, the records say that the walls and palaces of Xuchang City were destroyed by the flood."
Sima Zhao sighed, "Could it be that this T'ai Hsing year will also flood like Huangchi's fourth year? Or is it because the word 'shi' is taboo? Why does it have to be like this?"
Shan Tao sighed, "In those days, we didn't understand the importance of building embankments. Today, we know how crucial they are. We were in charge of the paddy fields in Yingchuan County, and only then did we realize how difficult it is to manage the world's affairs!"
Sima Zhao leaned against the root of the wall and sat on the ground, muttering, "It's not surprising. Agriculture is hard, all industries are hard, and national affairs are hard. After years of good weather, it seems like floodwaters are coming."
"Yuanyuan brother, I have only just realized how hard the court is. We are just two of us in Yingchuan, and we are already in a difficult situation with the rain and ditches. The entire court has so many counties, covering such a vast area. It is impossible to oversee all of them. How could it be even more difficult?"
Shan Tao looked at Sima Zhao: "Then it's all the more necessary for your distinguished father, such a great talent, to assist in state affairs."
"That is natural," Sima Zhao replied: "My father is a three-term official, serving the king in the cabinet and in the army, while my uncle is the governorship of Yanchuan and my cousin is in charge of important affairs as a nine-rank official. My elder brother is an assistant in Yangzhou, working diligently. I wonder when I can reach their level."
Shan Tao fell silent for a moment: "Shangzi, as a noble descendant with such scholarly talents, you are destined to be a pillar of the state one day!"
As he finished speaking, Shan Tao seemed to see a blurry shadow in the distance moving towards them, and he quickly elbowed Sima Zhao.
After a half-hour, they finally saw a carriage procession. As the carriage drew closer, Shan Tao and Sima Zhao realized in a panic that it was the carriage of Yuchi Prefect Huang Quan! (Chapter complete)
