Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 15: Canal Opening

"There's no need to make the sacrifice too grand."

"Three animal sacrifices can be used during festivals, but it's better to keep it simple at other times."

"I don't like human food very much. After the sacrifice, I'll give it to the villagers."

He Bo said calmly, "Since I want to do good deeds, I shouldn't make people run around too much."

"As long as the divine fire is burning in front of the temple, it means you are serving me."

more importantly,
He Bo had no use for those sacrificial items.

And with the current trend of worshipping ghosts and gods, there are few behaviors like those of later generations.

Specifically refers to placing the "sacrifice" in front of the statue or shrine for a while, and then taking it away and eating it by oneself.

More often than not, people would wait until the offerings were cold and about to go bad, then burn them into ashes or bury them in the ground, hoping that the gods and ghosts in heaven and on earth would take them away.

Of course, there were also people who ate tributes secretly.

However, when He Bo really appeared before people, this act of stealing food would most likely cause believers to bury both the person and the sacrifice together.

When people offer sacrifices to ghosts and gods, they will use the best things if possible.

If it is too flooded,

That would be contrary to He Bo's original intention.

So he hoped that Ximen Bao could make some preparations in advance.

After all, when it comes to talking to others, who can compare with the disciples of Confucianism?

Ximen Bao said with emotion, "He Bo loves people. This is a blessing for the world."

Thinking in this way, those who persecute human lives under the banner of ghosts and gods are even more hateful.

He Bo smiled without saying anything. After giving the instructions, he sent the person out of the dream.

After Ximen Bao woke up, the delicious taste of the cakes in his dream still lingered in his mouth, but what he remembered most was He Bo's "kindness".

“…Ghosts and gods also have benevolence. As expected, the benevolence that the ancient sages talked about is the truth of heaven and earth.”

He sighed, then mustered up his energy and called together the villagers of Ye County.

"Open the channel!"

……

The villagers are actually quite looking forward to the canal digging.

After all, this canal was dug out with great effort by them, over such a long period of time and with such hard work in digging the earth. Thanks to the guards brought by Ximen Bao and the money he gave to the villagers to appease them, they did not go on strike.

The canal, which took more than a month and required the conscription of hundreds of people, was finally going to show its effectiveness. Although the villagers were a little confused by the county magistrate's sudden announcement of opening the canal ahead of schedule, they still came to watch the excitement.

Only the gentry were still mumbling to Ximen Bao, "The day for digging the canal was set by divination in front of the River God. Will the gods be unhappy if it is suddenly brought forward?"

Ximen Bao smiled and twirled his beard, "It's okay. I only acted this way after asking He Bo."

"Don't worry, there will be something big to show you besides digging the canal!"

The gentry were confused by Ximen Bao, but knowing that the magistrate of Ye was appreciated by the gods and ghosts, they dared not say much. They just followed Ximen Bao and other officials of Ye County to the bank of Zhang River.

On the shore, the ceremony before digging the canal was completed.

A bonfire was lit, and then shamans sang and danced around it, just like the celebration of the completion of the temple, but on a smaller scale and with fewer procedures.

As the host of the ceremony and the person in charge of ordering the construction of the canal, Ximen Bao bowed and waited solemnly for the witch to finish singing and dancing, then took out a sacrificial text written on silk from his long sleeves -

Nowadays, silk is precious.

As for the documents used for offering sacrifices to ghosts and gods, the more precious the carrier is, the more solemn it appears.

Ximen Bao placed the silk cloth on the flame and waited quietly for it to be completely engulfed.

Just when everyone was finally waiting for the ceremony to end and Ximen Bao turned around to announce "opening the canal", they saw a wisp of green smoke rising straight up, without drifting or dispersing at all, and flying towards the river surface!

The flame, which had been gradually shrinking as the ceremony came to an end, suddenly perked up and leaped violently above the remaining firewood.

The flames made crackling sounds, and the scorching temperature even forced Ximen Bao, who was standing nearby, to step back a few steps.

"Look!"

"Look at that smoke!"

"It's heading towards the Zhang River!"

"Fire... Why did the fire suddenly get so big!?"

Seeing this situation that was beyond common sense, everyone was amazed.

The witch with untied hair was so excited that she waved the long and gorgeous pheasant feathers in her hand.

"It's Habaek!"

"It must be the spirit of He Bo appearing!"

There was no wind in the sky and no waves on the river. How could the smoke float so high and the fire burn so brightly? The ghosts and gods must have known about their affairs and came to show their attitude!
The villagers in Ye, who already believed in He Bo, could not help but kneel down facing the river. They watched the green smoke drift to the center of the river, then suddenly fall vertically and be swallowed by a whirlpool that suddenly appeared in the river.

"This must be the document that He Bo received from Ye Ling!"

"It seems that Ye Ling is still a capable gentleman. I have never seen such a scene before! When Ye Ling came this time, the ghosts and gods lowered their eyes!"

"Yes, it seems that the construction of this canal did not make He Bo angry... maybe he is even very happy!"

"...In my opinion, maybe it was Ye Ling who threw the witch down to make He Bo happy!"

"Every year, the old witch sends women down, but there is never such a scene... It seems that He Bo still likes her to serve directly!"

As they were talking, someone started talking about the way He Bo looked at people.

but,

They truly believed that the witch was a spirit and that the magistrate of Ye threw the man into the river at the order of the River God.

Afterwards, he felt sorry for the women who were thrown into the river.

When He Bo learned of their thoughts, he almost laughed out of anger.

go and go,

That witch actually became a real person who could communicate with ghosts and gods?
"Ugh……"

"never mind!"

"I don't need to worry about these things. I'll let Ximen Bao explain them clearly later!"

He Bo originally wanted to make a few waves to let those guys who misunderstood him know that the ghosts and gods were dissatisfied, but he decided to get back to his business.

He opened his hand, and a soft and thin document appeared in the ghost's hand. It was the sacrificial text written by Ximen Bao.

It stated the reason for building the canal and requested the River God to lend water to feed the people of Ye County. Afterwards, Ye County would offer sacrifices every day and sacrifice three animals every year.

"Can!"

He Bo merged the silk book into the Zhang River, then used his magic power to make a magnificent sound that resounded through heaven and earth.

The voice was full of majesty, shaking the Zhang River and causing waves to crash against the shore.

The burning flames once again defied common sense and cheered above the wood that was almost reduced to ashes.

The people on the shore,
The sound almost deafened my ears and frightened me.

"Hebaek!"

"This is the decree from He Bo!"

The witch, who had performed sacrificial dances for ghosts and gods all his life, was the first to lie on the ground with his whole body prostrated.

The others finally reacted and kowtowed to the ground, not daring to look at the river again.

There is something sacred in that river that cannot be noticed by mortals!
"Hebaek!"

"Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your love for us!"

The local gentry and nobles kowtowed even more excitedly, fearing that a sudden wave would roll them into the Zhang River and they would be forever surrounded by ghosts and gods.

Although this servant is good,
But how can we give up the wealth and glory in this world so easily?

For a moment, smoke and dust flew on the shore, accompanied by various human voices, like a herd of horses galloping.

Ximen Bao looked at this scene and didn't know what to feel.

The ghost said only one word.

Those who had complained about the hard work of digging the canal began to sing praises, attributing everything to the will of ghosts and gods, and no longer had any complaints.

……

"Open the gate!"

The flames went out along with the voices, and a wave suddenly rolled over the huge rocks on the shore, sweeping away the remaining ashes, leaving only a piece of wood that was clearly placed in the fire but never burned.

Simon Bao turned around,
He raised his hands to the villagers.

The gate was pulled by several pullers.
The waterwheel that had been installed on the shore long ago began to lift river water and pour it into the channel continuously along with the rushing river.

The clear river water began to flow along the channels to the long-dry and barren land of Ye County.

Afterwards, Ximen Bao picked up the dry, slender wooden stick that was emitting a burning flame, and like a messenger holding a staff, he walked towards the fields of Ye County step by step, following the flow of the river in the canal.

When he came,
The water just flows out of the main channel and disperses into smaller channels surrounding the fields.

obviously,
After the dispersion, the water flow was no longer sufficient.

So Ximen Bao stuck the stick into the ground again and backed away.

The villagers seemed to have sensed something, but did not ask any questions. They just looked at the place where the wooden stick stood in awe.

(End of this chapter)