Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 449 The Emperor, God
"Whether living or dead."

"No matter when or where,"

"Human nature always seems quite resilient..."

After dismissing the many ghost officials, He Bo addressed the remaining dead ghosts, including Ximen Bao, in this way.

The latter nodded in agreement.

Although after death, through the protection of spirits and the remembrance of descendants, one can linger in the underworld for a long time, enjoying a leisurely time that was never experienced in life,
But just as the remaining traces in the corners of the underworld represent—

Such a life is not permanent.

Only ghosts and gods can act recklessly and ignore all temptations throughout the long years.

therefore,

There are always some dead souls who can neither escape the traces of their past lives nor want to be reincarnated and start a new life. So they follow the path drawn by their nature in the afterlife and keep running along.

As the system of the underworld became increasingly sophisticated,

The laws of heaven and earth are increasingly understood and utilized by spirits and deities.
Some of the customs and traditions of human relationships are inevitably transplanted from the mortal world to the underworld by countless dead ghosts.

As the saying goes:
Where there are people, there is the world!

Moreover, to some extent, many dead people cannot live without the offerings and sacrifices from their descendants, which makes them value the connection and intimacy between clans even more after death.

The Confucian concept of "kinship"
The dead were given further reinstatement.

Then,
Under the influence of various factors,
It is inevitable that some ghost officials, who possess magical powers and can do things that ordinary ghosts cannot, will step on the red lines drawn by the underworld system to do some "harmless things" for others or for themselves.

Based on emotion and reason,

There's no problem with that.

However, once the loophole of abusing the grace of gods and spirits is opened, it will inevitably be exploited wider and wider, and the more it is exploited, the darker it becomes.

Ximen Bao had previously tried to deal with the situation, but was met with a self-righteous retort:
Have I violated any established laws?

Ximen Bao shook his head.

"What I did only affected a few ordinary people. Would that affect the course of human life?"

Ximen Bao remained silent.

Then the other person said, moved, "How can all living beings in this world be saints, completely selfless and impartial?"

Ximen Bao sighed.

after that,

Upon hearing these events, He Bo not only did not blame the official in charge, but also asked Ximen Bao, "Whose fault is this?"

Physician Ximen prostrated himself and said, "It is my fault for not establishing proper laws and regulations, and for not guiding my subordinates properly."

After all, ghosts and spirits are notorious for abandoning their responsibilities.

As for responsibility, it should naturally fall on the court officials.

He Bo didn't blame the old man; instead, he laughed at him, saying, "A system set up by people and managed and controlled by people, which can run for ten years without any problems, can be considered qualified."

"A device that can operate for fifty years without any problems can be considered good."

"I have never seen anything in the world that has run for a hundred years without any problems."

"Therefore, reform and change are very necessary."

"Go back and make up for your shortcomings, and improve the system and laws!"

Ximen Bao agreed, then raised his head and asked the spirit, "Now that you know about this situation, are you not going to do anything about it?"

He Bo slammed his hand on the table and told him, "They've taken advantage of your weakness, and you expect me, the 'sage emperor' who governs by inaction, to solve it?"

"Humph!"

"Ugly as she is, she has a lot of beautiful ideas!"

For this,

Ximen Bao simply touched his sparse hair and messy beard, and silently withdrew.

When he got home, he poured out his troubles to his wife.

His wife comforted him, saying, "You're not a saint, how can you be perfect in every way?"

"As for the ghosts and gods saying you're ugly?" Madam Ximen began to hum with her arms crossed.

Ximen Bao worried that she might get so angry that she would argue with ghosts and gods to save face, emphasizing how handsome and dashing she was in her youth.

result,

The old lady simply turned around and brought out a bowl of medicine laced with the potion of forgetfulness, and made him drink it.

"Although it's the truth, you should forget about it."

"I'll just bear this pain in silence!"

Ximen Bao held the bowl and remained silent for a long time.

……

"So, can we use these seals to investigate where and when the officials of the underworld used their magical powers?"

"Yes!"

"By utilizing the power and authority inherent within, one can more easily discern people's hearts, manipulate mountains, rivers, ghosts, and other things, thus becoming a local deity?"

"Yes!"

"If we punish it and take back the seal, we can make it fall from grace, returning to where it came from?" "Yes!"

He Bo raised his neck proudly and said, "In this way, supervision will be more convenient, and your efficiency in handling affairs will also be greatly improved."

Oxen and horses grind millstones.

It relies on external animal power.
If it is done by running the privilege...

Although I cannot, like He Bo, completely control the mountains and rivers, the yin and yang, and all the lands on earth, making them live or die in an instant,

However, through authority, one can also perceive the general situation of the territory under one's jurisdiction and the matters under one's control.

It's like the power source has changed from livestock to wind, water, and electricity.

In modern terms
This is an absolutely great thing that can "liberate productive forces and enhance enthusiasm"!

Other than that,

It could also be known to those in power through the connection between the seals.

In this way, the person being observed will be constantly on guard and dare not act recklessly, remaining cautious and vigilant all day long.

after all,

A monarch in the mortal world cannot see into every aspect of life; even a mortal being must worry about things like "going to a meeting without armor and getting stabbed to death."

Unlike ghosts and gods,
It can use its supreme power to control everything.

Those wise dead always saw it clearly:
They need to rely on ghosts and gods.

It's not that ghosts and gods need them.

They want to use their worldly experience to carry out actions such as "the law does not punish the masses," "networking," and "gathering a crowd to force someone to resign."
It is absolutely impossible to succeed!
Therefore, they often praised the benevolence of the gods and spirits, believing that no human ruler could compare to Him.

Possessing such power,
More often than not, however, it does not use it, respecting the will and habits of "people," and simply sits on its throne, dozing off as a decoration, while going to the river to catch fish or the mountains to hunt...

What tolerance and kindness this is!
"Of course, since their power comes from me, they can naturally be decided by my word."

"But you know me!"

Often praised by the dead, and knowing full well just how good he was, the spirit sat high above, maintaining his benevolent demeanor, telling his subjects, "I don't want to think about too many things, and I'm too lazy to deal with troublesome human relationships."

"If anyone makes me feel disobedient or dissatisfied, the punishment will come as swiftly as lightning!"

"Therefore, your task is to perfect the laws and regulations so that the enfeoffed minor lords of mountains and rivers and the messengers of the underworld will obediently carry them out!"

Ximen Bao and the other dead ghosts readily agreed.

Then, they asked the spirits how to distribute these seals that carried certain powers, and what titles to give to those who would later hold the seals, live up to their names, and take office as deities of a certain place.

He Bo waved his hand and said, "That's your business!"

Distribution of benefits

There's also the option of choosing a string of impressive and prestigious names.

This is incredibly boring for ghosts and spirits.

He wouldn't waste his abundant energy on this!

Anyway, he can take back what he gives away at any time.

The authority derived from these seals is only the size of a county compared to the vast "territory" that He Bo has now expanded to all corners of the land.

"Don't forget to appoint a few to Lingnan, Xinxia, ​​Xihai, and the overseas Qi and Wu regions!"

The various Xia states in the human world have not yet unified.

Indeed, the "Zhu Xia" in the underworld had long been united by ghosts and gods.

The Central Plains Ghost Kingdom was the "residence of the Son of Heaven".
Lands outside the territory and overseas are vassals.

As mentioned in the Analects:
"For example, the North Star remains in its place while all the other stars revolve around it."

Meanwhile, the local officials often clamored for the central government to send some people over to lighten their burden and also to make the central and local governments more integrated.

"...In that case, should we then venerate ghosts and gods as 'empers'?"

The so-called "emperor" is...
In ancient times, it meant "to rule over everything".

Therefore, the Shang people would venerate their deceased ancestors as "Emperors," and the Zhou people continued this practice, venerating "Haotian Shangdi" (the Supreme God of Heaven).

of course,

The title “皇” (huang) often appears alongside “帝” (di) and also carries the meaning of “vastness and brilliance”.

There are many similar phrases in the Book of Songs:
"Oh, God, your presence is awe-inspiring."

He surveyed the four directions, seeking the well-being of the people.

Great and glorious God!

He descended to earth with majestic power, overseeing all corners of the world and caring for the well-being of the people!
Such a description,
Such power,
What difference is there between them and the spirits they serve?

Old Gui swayed his head and said, "No need to overthink it, it's inevitable!"

"After all, the ghosts and gods have never said that He is not the 'Heavenly Emperor'!"

If they can all hold the divine positions of mountain god, water god, earth god, etc., then it would be quite normal for them to have another "heavenly emperor"!

"Then this Minister Ximen will no longer be just from the 'underworld'!"

"Will there be more things to deal with?"

Ximen Bao simply touched his hair and stroked the most exquisite and noble seal, bestowed upon him by the gods.

(End of this chapter)