Han Khan

Chapter 12, Faith in One God, Haotian
But all this has changed with the resurrection of Zhang Sheng.

The prince, who had died in battle and was already in a coffin, was reborn in the light.

Cao Yijin, who was ready to surrender and his scattered followers, reunited in the light and Zhang Sheng's resurrection, and gathered fanatically under Zhang Sheng's command.

Then, the originally plain tents and flags became huge and solemn in the second light.

These miraculous things are so overwhelming that people are confused and dazed. It is really because the situation is urgent and no one has time to think. Now when they think about it carefully, it is really...

Zhang Sheng glanced at everyone and saw their expectant eyes.

He knew that people were in urgent need of a new sense of identity, one that transcended the inherent identities of Dunhuang people, Guiyi Army, Han people, and Hu people. Religion was a good way to unite and manage different ethnic groups and shape cultural identity.

However, this religion must transcend the scope of multiple beliefs in gods such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism. At the same time, it must be consistent with and close to the customs and habits of Eastern religions and have a mysterious quality that has a strong appeal to tribal people.

Polytheism often leads to a lack of cohesion and easily leads to division. If beliefs and rituals lack mystery, it is difficult to form a strong attraction.

Since the more than 2,000 cavalrymen under Zhang Sheng and their families came from different ethnic groups and each worshipped a variety of gods, the situation was too chaotic.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new sense of common identity that should be integrated into Zhang Sheng’s current troops and deeply rooted in their hearts. Only in this way can these more than 2,000 soldiers and their families be united into a strong community.

This sense of identity must not only originate from tradition, but must also transcend the traditional boundaries between tribes, clans, Han people and Hu people, and become the common sense of identity - belief - of all subordinates.

Based on this, he decided to absorb the characteristics and rituals of Western monotheism and construct a belief system that respects one God and integrates various Eastern cultural customs.

At this time, the Lord of Heaven, who had a long history and had been worshipped and sacrificed by the emperors of the Xia Dynasty for generations, came into his sight...

“When I died, during my coma, I seemed to be in a magnificent palace. No, it was not a palace, it was a huge world. I was surrounded by fairy mist, as if I had entered another world.

Seeing the auspicious clouds covering the beautiful buildings, the splendor makes people hold their breath involuntarily. There are rippling blue waves, green grass, and various fruits are fragrant, which makes people feel very quiet and peaceful.

Moreover, there are celestial beings flying, and the palaces and houses there are shining, exquisite and beautiful, unlike the houses on earth which are dull. There are also many beautiful women with long jade-like hair, elegant fairy postures, and faces as pretty as flowers.

It is such a relaxing place! It makes people forget the troubles of the world and immerse themselves in beauty and tranquility.

The sky with dancing fairy birds and the garden with lush flowers and plants make people feel extremely amazed and admired. No matter the singing of the fairy birds or the fragrance of the flowers and plants, they all make people intoxicated and linger.

Magnificent palaces stand before your eyes. The walls of the palaces are made of golden glazed tiles, sparkling like gems. The roofs of the palaces are inlaid with countless sparkling gems, like stars.

There were many jade, gold and silver tables in the hall, filled with delicacies and fine wines. There was simply too much to eat and drink. "At this point, Zhang Sheng stopped, and seeing the people being attracted, he felt nervous.

"What happened next, Your Highness?" Zhang Zhongxian, who once served as a doctor of Dunhuang classics, asked immediately. He was also attracted.

"Later, I saw a brilliant old man dressed in white with white hair and beard. I couldn't see him clearly, but he said to me lovingly, 'I know everything about you, my beloved creation.'

I didn't know who he was, so I asked him his name. He didn't answer me, but told me that it was where he and his favorite lived. Then he took me to see a grand, shocking and suffocating thing. "Zhang Sheng stopped talking here.

He was waiting because he saw Zhang Zhongxian writing furiously on paper. Zhang Zhongxian was recording what Zhang Sheng said.

What a smart man he was. Perhaps he already knew what Zhang Sheng was talking about, so he nodded to Zhang Zhongxian to show his approval.

"Your Highness, what happened next? What did you see?" everyone asked eagerly, looking forward to what would happen next, to add some fun to the boring night. After adding firewood to the bonfire, everyone straightened their posture and looked at Zhang Sheng with sharp eyes.

“This loving and ineffable One took me through time and space and showed me the age of chaos. In the chaos, He created the universe, the sun, the moon, and the numerous stars. In the chaos, there was dazzling light and brightness.

Then I knew that this benevolent and ineffable being was the creator of all things in the universe." Zhang Sheng looked at the crowd, and everyone had already held their breath, quietly waiting for his story. "Then, this benevolent creator created a sphere full of water. With a wave of his hand, land rose from the sea, and then clouds, wind, thunder, rain, and snow appeared alternately on this huge blue sphere, with cold and warmth.

Forests and grasslands, deserts, seas, lakes and rivers, as well as a variety of animals, began to appear.

I don't know how long it took, but it seemed to me very fast. This loving creator used clay to mold human-like figures in his own image, and then with a wave of his hand, the clay figures all came to life and became the first humans. "At this point, Zhang Sheng stopped again.

He looked at the crowd. Many generals were already kneeling in front of Zhang Sheng with their heads on the ground.

Their excitement caused their bodies to tremble almost uncontrollably, and they muttered to themselves words like "The living Holy Lord! The representative of the gods on earth! The Son of Heaven, Tengri Gutu (Son of Heaven)."

Zhang Zhongxian, who was taking notes, revealed his uneasy heart with his trembling pen.

They witnessed their lord's death in battle, and then made up their minds: either surrender and live in shame, or flee Dunhuang and find a new way out.

However, what happened next shocked them terribly—His Highness actually sat up slowly from the coffin!
At that moment, golden light was shining brightly and time seemed to stand still. Everyone stared at the tent in the golden light with wide eyes, looking at the wonderful sight before them in disbelief.

The originally dead silent air was instantly filled with tension and suspicion. No one dared to move easily, for fear of breaking this weird and mysterious atmosphere.

When I entered the tent, I saw His Highness sitting up from the coffin...

How could they remain indifferent when they saw the dead and healthy master talking here? Their hearts were filled with fear and shock, but they could not help but continue to listen to the master talking about sacred things.

Seeing that no one was urging him, Zhang Sheng said calmly, "I saw those early humans there, living in the beautiful world He created. Under the protection and inspiration of the Creator, they lived together in tribes and survived. They also created simple weapons and defeated the beasts."

Among these people, one received inspiration from the Creator. He led humans to build simple houses in forests and on trees by rivers. As the human population gradually increased, later generations called him Youchao to commemorate his wisdom.

In this vast world, human beings are still rare compared to all other creatures, but the Creator seems to have a special liking for humans.

So, he once again brought enlightenment to a member of the human race, who obtained fire by drilling wood together. From then on, humans finally bid farewell to the era of eating raw meat and drinking blood, and were able to drive away wild beasts.

This person was called Suirenshi or Suihuang and was remembered by later generations.

The number of humans grew faster and faster. I saw a pleased smile on His face, and I understood more and more that He loved humans so deeply.

At this point, everyone must have understood that these clay figures made by the Creator are the ancestors of our species and our common ancestors. We were created by God! That Creator is our God!"

The generals in the tent had heard many Han myths since childhood, such as Fuxi and Nuwa, Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs, and the legend of Huangdi. Now, after hearing what Zhang Sheng said, they were already shaken.

Doctor of Confucian classics Zhang Zhongxian did not stop listening to Zhang Sheng's story. He continued to write furiously, trying to record every word Zhang Sheng said without missing a word.

“It was not then that this Supreme, Great Spirit, this First and Last Eternal One, the One and Only Being, came to an end.

Continue to reveal to the best among mankind, and let those saints and prophets among mankind serve as monarchs and mentors of the ancestors of mankind.

The God of Heaven sent down revelations to Emperor Xi, who, based on the revelations, taught humans how to raise livestock, divide regions and appoint officials, and also created writing.

Revelations were given to Shennong, and based on the revelations, Shennong made plows, planted grains, set up markets, developed trade, tried various herbs, and cured the sick.

There are also Xuanyuan, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, King Wen, Duke of Zhou, Confucius...

(End of this chapter)