Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 458 On the River

"...I should have sent you to be reincarnated."

"We'll send you to the Qin state, and then help you rise through the ranks until you become the prime minister of Western Qin!"

“‘The Marker’ paired with ‘Horus’, what a wonderful thing that would be!”

One day during my free time,
He Bo then came over and harassed Ximen Bao, who was handling some business.

The latter showed no reaction to the words of the ghosts and gods, but calmly took out a food box, scooped out the soup inside, and took a sip.

"what is this?"

He Bo looked over warily, worried that Ximen Bao would eat good food in front of him but not share it with him.

He was prepared to rebuke him for "disloyalty"!

Fortunately, Ximen Bao said:
"This is the Forget-Me-Not Water that my wife prepared for me. It is the product of diluting the Forget-Love Water many times."

"Is it tasty?"

He Bo craned his neck to look at the bowl of soup that was shimmering with an inexplicable green light.

"Unappetizing."

Ximen Bao told him, "My wife just told me that if I encounter troubles that I can't resolve, I can drink a little to avoid keeping them bottled up inside."

The problem cannot be solved.

If you can't solve the problem by addressing the person who caused it,

Then just forget about it!

Being in a low mood is not conducive to handling government affairs!
Hearing this,

He Bo frowned, feeling that he was being indirectly insulted.

But he didn't find any fault with this old devil.
The potion of forgetfulness worked its magic, restarting Ximen Bao's memory to the moment before he was harassed by He Bo.

He calmly nodded to He Bo, and without pausing, put away the food box and opened a new document.

obviously,
Although I lost a trivial memory,

But given that there have been too many similar incidents in the past...
Ximen Bao was already used to it, and he could deduce about things that were already true with a high degree of accuracy.

But he wasn't really curious.

He Bo stopped dwelling on the offense.

He walked behind Ximen Bao, casually flipping through the documents he had already processed, and then uttered sarcastic remarks characteristic of a leader:
"Why are there so many problems in the local area?"

"Are those guys just taking my salary for nothing and doing things that are deceiving and covering up for me?"

Ximen Bao looked up at him, and then had the intention of "forgetting his worries and relieving his sorrows" again.

But thinking that drinking too much of that stuff would be bad for memory, I held back.

He simply said, "The situation in the mortal world is very complicated now. Moreover, the matter of using the Ji River to disperse the floodwaters and alleviate the disaster requires long-term preparation and cannot be taken lightly."

"In addition, with the establishment of new city gods, water palaces, and mountain temples in various places, subordinate officials all have the desire to make contributions and seek rewards, so they naturally have more to do."

He Bo nodded and said, "That's true."

"Then I won't bother you anymore."

For many things,

The mighty God, in truth, knows very well what is happening.

But that didn't stop him from going up to his friends and saying strange things to them.

"I'd better hurry up and catch that seagull that's perched on the Ji River!"

As the natural cycle of heaven and earth continues,
More and more silt is accumulating in the Yellow River.

Furthermore, the Han Dynasty is now following the same path as the Xia Dynasty.

Under the leadership of that weak and Confucian emperor, they became obsessed with debating various classics and indulging in the beauty of the past, while neglecting practical matters.

This resulted in many water conservancy projects not being repaired in a timely manner.
In the middle and upper reaches of the river, nobles were acquiring land and logging to build increasingly luxurious and grand mansions for themselves.

So many years ago,

The merciful and loving God then told His subjects:
"Be careful of the rain and the tides."

"The river is about to flow!"

His subjects were terrified, fearing that the waters of the river would flow into too many homes.

Fortunately,

The God of the Chinese people must be different from those "Gods" from other lands who are said to have used the "Great Flood to eliminate evil."

He restrained himself and planned to divert the raging river water into the Ji River, thus alleviating the disaster for the people on both banks by sacrificing this tributary.

"But it is impossible to completely eliminate the problem of overabundance."

He Bo, standing behind, said to his subordinates, "Some things, when they are meant to come, will eventually come."

"A gentle mother river cannot nurture a brilliant civilization!"

"Children should still be disciplined if they need to be disciplined."

This,

This is also one of the reasons why God bestowed some authority and appointed some gods and earth deities to govern a region.

after all,

Such "micro-management" that lasts for a long time and covers a wide area is really exhausting.

People who overthink and fantasize, whose minds are never still, are bound to develop some kind of problem.

Let alone a god?
Therefore, it's perfectly normal to use rewards like oxen and horses to alleviate some of the pressure on oneself!
Everyone was pleased with this, and no one complained.

The subjects felt nothing but gratitude.

Having obtained the seal, and thus possessing the ability to wield some authority...
The ghost officials, who transformed directly from oxen and horses into the "millstone" itself, did indeed enhance their "work enthusiasm."

Although there are numerous, extremely strict regulations that restrain them, preventing them from acting recklessly and disobeying God's commands.

However, the way to "govern" has always been that there are always countermeasures to policies from above.

What makes a person human is...
That lies in their wisdom and initiative!

of course,

The control of the Divine Court and the Underworld
It must be far beyond the mortal world.

No one dared to gamble with complete annihilation, so indulgence was limited to certain areas. How could they dare to act recklessly like those in the mortal world who relied on the emperor's inability to kill them?

just,

All these things, one after another, will ultimately cause some suffering for the "Seal Holder," the sovereign of God.

Even that old devil Xi,

They would use their former identities and advanced age to stare at the towering mountains of books with pure, clear eyes, in order to escape this terrible torment.

"Handling paperwork is still too difficult for me."

"I'd rather go farm in Xinxia!"

Although he was the longest-serving retainer of the spirits,
He once said to the spirits, "I would do anything for you."

But the old ghost likes to use his experience of the past few hundred years to say—

Studying and working
It's really too much of a burden for the elderly.

If conditions permit,
Let's ask a tall person to take over!

As the Central Plains and the new Xia lands converged and merged under the power of spirits and deities...
It has become much easier for the dead from both places to communicate.
The Weak Water, which flows freely across the underworld, can carry the dead to distant places.

If they reach a place where water veins are scarce and mountains are abundant, the dead can ride on paper horses burned down from the mortal world by their descendants.
Or use materials found locally.
They capture the souls of dead horses from the desolate and dark "Underworld Grassland" and use them as mounts.

Anyway, the dead guy doesn't need to worry about being kicked to death by a wild horse.

As long as they could catch up, climb onto the horse's back, and hold on tight, they wouldn't let go.
Finally, you can sit on it and let out a silly "hehehe" laugh.

If all else fails,

You can still insist on walking on your own.

However, the mountains in the underworld, like the towering peaks in the mortal world, are not easy to climb.

If we say,
Weak water will erode the soul.

It makes the dead feel pain that goes deep into their bones.

Once you've climbed a mountain and reached a certain height...

The chilling winds sweeping across it will mercilessly make the dead feel the "death by a thousand cuts" treatment that only a very small number of people in the mortal world can enjoy.

Moreover, the gale will not only sever the soul, but also blow away the emotions that are preserved by the integrity of the soul.

Therefore,

For the dead, climbing high mountains was an extremely risky undertaking. Compared to such danger,

It would be better to go to that underworld land, which is called "Aihara" by the dead because only dull and withered gray grass can grow there, and be a horse-taming man!
of course,

As an elder of the underworld, Lao Guixi also became the "Grand Minister of Agriculture" of the underworld because he wore a seal. He had the authority to inspect the vast land of the underworld, including the souls of birds and beasts and the growth of plants and trees, so he could naturally reach the other side more easily and quickly.

“I had heard about the fertility of the land of New Xia long ago, and I knew about the gentleness of the Ganges.”

"But at that time, the two places were not connected, and I didn't want to cause trouble for the ghosts and gods, so I never set off."

"Now that the roads are open, I can travel quickly between many places thanks to my position bestowed by the gods... so I can't help but want to go and appreciate the people and scenery there."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Bao simply said to him, "Xinxia has returned to peace, and the Sui Dynasty's national power is flourishing."

“You can definitely go there and take a look.”

The Central Plains Ghost Kingdom is naturally the central government.

It is only right and proper for the central government to inspect local areas, observe their conditions, and examine their customs.

There's nothing Ximen Bao needs to stop.

"As long as we can return to the Central Plains before the world descends into chaos, that will be fine."

In today's world,

The "sage emperor" ruled by doing nothing.

Compared to the Han emperors of previous dynasties who governed the country with the philosophy of "Huang-Lao and non-action" at the beginning of their reigns, they trusted their subordinates, officials, and the common people.

He was completely immersed in Confucianism, believing that benevolence and tolerance could bring stability and prosperity to the country.

The powerful and wealthy genuinely believed that the Han dynasty would last forever and would never decline.

But just like that rushing river,
Human hearts cannot alter the laws of nature.
It flows downhill, responding to the call of the sea.

"Even a raging river can be brought under control."

"But once people's hearts are in turmoil, how can they be easily pacified?"

No wonder the gods and spirits say: "Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins cannot be escaped."

For the gentlemen of the Xia people,
Natural disasters
As long as one has done their best,

Even if it ends tragically, it is understandable, and can even be celebrated and commemorated by future generations.

But human error

Not only do they show no remorse, but they also allow it to continue unchecked.

How can one expect to be forgiven?
Therefore,
Although ten years ago,

The world was still basking in the prosperity brought by Emperor Xuan.

But the wise men in the underworld, who were farsighted and had witnessed the decline of the Xia Kingdom, did not believe that this lingering light would protect the country for long.

"As long as I can outlive Ying Qin, that's all that matters!"

When Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, heard these views, he was not angry at all. He simply lay on the ground with his head propped up and enjoyed the sweet fruit.

"Before the Ying family moved to the West Sea, they always disliked me and even made bets in private, guessing how long the ancestral temple I, as the head of the village, could stand firm without being eroded by wind and rain."

At this point, he laughed and kicked his legs, but embarrassingly failed to get up.

then,

Emperor Taizu of Han simply rolled over in his previous position and rolled towards the table full of fine wine.

He took out a wine jug, sat on the ground, and started drinking.

"The results of it!"

"The Liu family's ancestral temple is even more luxurious and magnificent than the Ying family's, and my family's descendants are much more harmonious than theirs!"

Emperor Xuan, who had some understanding of the current Qin emperor, nodded in agreement, but still said with concern:
"What if he falls down even faster than Ying Qin?"

"That's just fate; we can't blame anyone else!"

Liu Laosan swept up many delicacies on the table, ran over to his friends, put his arm around their shoulders, and started singing folk songs from his hometown of Fengpei.

"The fact that you, sir, obtained the world by wielding a three-foot sword was due to the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people."

"If what you gain is ultimately to be lost, then it is the will of Heaven and the will of the people!"

"Why do you care so much?"

Emperor Taizu Gao left these words behind, and he and his old brothers, reeking of alcohol, staggered away.

Emperor Xuan was left sitting there, unable to be as carefree as his ancestors, pondering how to punish his son's "benevolence" after he died.

This kid,

It just means I'm getting beaten up less!

If I had known he was so unable to distinguish right from wrong and so ignorant of the wickedness of people, I should have teamed up with the Empress to give him a double beating from a young age!
Put pressure on him.
Let him learn the principles of checks and balances in the midst of hardship and danger!

just,

This reminds me of the Qin emperor who grew up under his father's strict discipline and had to endure competition from his ambitious brothers, finally unleashing his full potential nearly ten years after ascending the throne.
Emperor Xuan was having another headache.

in those days,
The reason he chose to treat his offspring gently was...
Aside from his affection for the Empress, and therefore extending that affection to everything related to her,
This was also due to Emperor Wu's childhood experiences.

His great-grandfather, who was also deeply loved by his parents, lived a life of high spirits for most of his life.

Can anyone think of,

Similar growth environment,
But they came up with completely different results?

"That's why being a parent is tough!"

"Even if you do your best and even try to learn from the experiences of others to raise your own child, you still don't know what kind of child they will grow up to be, given their different natures."

After a period of pursuit,
He Bo said this after finally catching the white bird in the Ji River.

He sat on the vast plateau,
White birds soared in the air, curiously observing the scenery that was completely different from the land of Qilu.

Are you talking about yourself, this "filial son who killed his father and married his mother"?

A bird circled above the body's head.

Taking advantage of the fact that the latter couldn't hit him, he made sarcastic remarks without any restraint.

He Bo was immediately enraged, "This is a Greek tradition!"

"I'm not that kind of person!"

He turned around and began to argue, quoting classical texts, saying things like "It's normal for children to grow up to surpass their parents," and "The Greek literary style has corrupted the gentlemen of China; it's a bad thing," and so on, without any clear meaning.

"all in all!"

"The mountains and rivers of the world belong to those of virtue!"

He Bo, overwhelmed with emotion, stroked his chest, his feet firmly planted on the soil on either side of the Yangtze River's source, and said with self-admiration:
"How many people in the world possess virtues and a broad mind like mine?"

"It must be absolutely unparalleled!"

Asuka gave him a disdainful look and decided not to get entangled with the main body on this issue.

otherwise,

This guy can boast about himself for days and nights in nine different ways.

Where are you planning to dump me?

According to He Bo's calculations,
In another ten or twenty years, the river will follow the natural law of ebb and flow, and, given its own nature, will begin to roam freely.

Since the Ji River has been chosen as the place for the great river to release its stress... no, it is the place for the great river to release its stress.

Even if it still exists afterward
It also gets slowly filled with mud and sand, revealing a completely ruined appearance.

therefore,

He Bo then intended to designate the Ji River as "directly governed" and manage it under his own control, while relocating Fei Niao to other places to become the master of Shuibo Mountain.

The birds lamented this.
He felt that he had ultimately failed to escape the fate of being released by the original body to become a wild ghost in the outer realms.

"Go to Central and Southern China!"

He Bo told him, "The number of mountains and rivers in Central and Southern China is truly complex."

"Although the cockroach knights could cross the Ailao Mountains and enter the Yuanjiang River, the Ailao Mountains are extremely high, and the Pearl River itself is not an easy river to navigate."

"If he wants to master these vast mountains and rivers, it will definitely take him a lot of time."

"I don't want to wait for him to slowly expand my territory like a mouse moving house. I'd rather just throw you over there and speed things up."

He Bo pointed to the source of the Lancang River next to him and continued, "The Yangtze River is already on track. In just a few more years, we will be able to tame this shrew."

"So you should go and settle down in the lower reaches of the Lancang River in advance, so that I can prepare for controlling these three great rivers that share the same source in the future."

As soon as he finished speaking,
He then reached out his hand towards the bird.

The bird immediately let out a whimper, then was grabbed by the main body and instantly refined into the jar.

(End of this chapter)