Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 481 The Miraculous Branch of the Way of Peace
Why did the Taoist priest suddenly think of Rome?

Just as Zhao Shen, the Great Teacher of Western Qin, accompanied Qin Ming to his residence for a temporary stay...

The two disciples he brought with him were also ordered to go out and bring money to the street to purchase supplies.

Since we're already staying at someone else's house, if we have to rely on them for food and drink, we'll have to worry about the "Hey, come and eat" problem.

While looking around the streets, picking and choosing, the young man named Zeng Yi, whose tribal name was Joseph, approached his fiancée and asked her a question.

Because we are in Rome

And because of their obviously foreign appearance,

To make things more convenient,

The girl who walked using only the name "Mary" told him, "Of course, it's about obeying God's guidance!"

She recalled before she set off
When that amiable deity descended to earth again to spread the gospel, he had a conversation with Zhao Shen, the great and wise teacher—

"Old Zhao, when are you going to do something big?"

The bird that had been seen before landed lightly on the earthen wall of Zhao Shen's residence in Longxi County, and loudly questioned Zhao Shen in a tone that was elegant to Ye Rong.

At that time,

Her teacher was drying herbs in the courtyard when she heard the noisy birdsong. Without even looking up, she replied:
"The Mandate of Heaven for Qin shows no signs of ending. I can only try my best to spread the ideals of the Way of Great Peace, and I cannot force people onto that unpredictable and difficult path for my own desires."

The gentlemen of the Xia people were adept at resistance.

But they are also good at patience.

Not driven to the brink of despair

Who would be willing to take such a risk?

When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in rebellion, it was because the situation had reached a point where "death is inevitable, and so is taking on a great cause." They could not retreat any further and could only try to ignite the withered destiny of the Qin Dynasty with the sparks of passion in their hearts.

And now, in Western Qin,

Despite constant internal and external troubles,
But with the sudden death of the old emperor and the ascension of the new monarch, the situation gradually stabilized.

of course,

This does not mean that the Qin state has embarked on the path of quelling the turmoil and restoring its previous unity and stability.

It was only because local warlords rose up everywhere, and there was no one among the feudal lords and warlords who could sweep across the world with their own power like Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu, that a strange balance of power emerged.

The thirteenth prince, who bypassed his father and ascended the throne directly in Jade Wall City with the support of thousands of soldiers after repelling the Roman invasion, was not militarily ambitious, but he made considerable achievements in stabilizing the foundation and maintaining the crumbling state.

Relying on the rich Beidi Commandery and the fortified Yubi City, and connecting with Afang in the east and Longxi in the south by sea, he managed to create a new "Central Land" that was different from the Mesopotamian Plain.

As long as no single warlord emerges from the chaos of warlord conflicts, surpassing his peers and capable of challenging the Qin imperial family, the emperor can still stand tall, issue orders to the world, and restrain the runaway warlords.

Yes,

The flames of war that would overthrow the Qin dynasty have not yet been lit.

"How is this any different from the Zhou emperor managing the feudal lords under his command?"

The bird, the incarnation of the deity, raised its claws in front of Ye Rong and, with remarkable agility, scratched its broad, feathered chest. Then, it laughed heartily and said:
“Perfectly, the destiny of Ying Qin comes from Ji Zhou.”

"And the land of Zongzhou is located in the northwest of all the states in the world."

more importantly,
After the Western Zhou Dynasty was destroyed by the Quanrong,

King Ping of Zhou, who moved the capital eastward, directly granted the northwest region of Zongzhou to the Qin people, putting them in direct contact with the surging waves of barbarian tribes from the west and north.

"It's so similar!"

"Indeed, many things go around in circles and eventually come to a point where they seem to be right but are not."

Subsequently,

The embodiment of God muttered again, "But judging from this, the Liu family still doesn't have a chance to outmaneuver the Ying family..."

"Am I going to lose this bet?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Rong thought to herself:
Huh?
Does anyone dare to bet with God?
Is he yet another one who "wrestles with God"?

unfortunately,

God did not answer her question.

The bird flapped its wings, seemingly designating the route for its envoy, and declared, "So be it!"

"Sun Chong of the Han Dynasty was heading east to gather firewood for a grand bonfire performance."

"Since you have nothing better to do here, why don't you go to Rome and spread Chinese culture to all peoples?"

Zhao Shen didn't speak, only nodded casually, and continued to turn over the herbs in his hands.

Not long after,

He packed his bags, took a few disciples, and, relying on the Taiping Dao's amazing network of connections, boarded a smuggling ship bound for Rome.

Ye Rong naturally and firmly followed her teacher.

Her fiancé, Joseph, who had also received the blessings of the Way of Peace and thus been educated and joined the Mohist school, also firmly followed Ye Rong.

"So it was God's will!"

"No wonder the Great Teacher of Wisdom would take the unconventional route and come to Rome!"

Joseph, having received the answer, exclaimed "Oh!" in sudden realization.

Regarding God,

Since he became a disciple of the Mohist school, he must have some understanding of it.

After all, the Mohist traditions of "enlightening ghosts" and "heavenly will" were not suppressed after Qin Mo followed Ying Qin to the Western Sea.

It has also been further developed because of the wide variety of religious sects and beliefs that exist outside the region.

This is also the main reason why the Way of Peace was able to successfully merge with the Mohist school of Western Qin after it spread westward.

"Then I pray to God for blessings, I pray to O Messiah for blessings!"

Young and honest Joseph quietly clasped his hands together and chanted the name of the god he had created:
"May we find peace and safety in Rome, free from danger."

Hearing him say that, Maria said to him somewhat angrily:
"Don't make up jokes about gods!"

Although God is full of mercy and has selfless love for all living beings,
But this is not the reason why mortals who know of its existence would make jokes about it.

Because of his benevolence,

Therefore, we should respect Him even more!

Joseph shrank back timidly, but still insisted on saying:
“I have asked the Great Teacher, and this is fine.”

"Moreover, can't a wise man like Mozi, who understands the connection between gods and humans, be considered a messiah who saves the world?"

When Joseph was very young,
His father then sent him to town to learn the craft from an old carpenter.

Afterwards, civil strife broke out, and Joseph and his master were conscripted by local officials to repair the city walls and forge weapons.

There is no problem with this original intention.

However, the officials broke their promises made during the conscription, delayed paying the workers the wages they were supposed to receive, and disregarded the lives of the craftsmen. Just like the First Emperor of Qin when he embarked on massive construction projects, they whipped the craftsmen and laborers, set deadlines, and demanded that they do things that were impossible to accomplish, causing too many people to cry out in despair.

The Way of Peace (Taipingdao) originated from this.

With their expanded network and power gained after joining forces with Qin Mo, they liberated the suffering villagers.

Because Joseph was young and had been injured while serving his corvée labor, he was taken in by the Way of Peace for a period of time and was not sent back to his hometown directly.

And it was during this period
He learned about the Mohist school from the kind and generous Taoist priest, and learned about "God" and "Mozi".

Joseph was immediately deeply moved.

He believed that the sage from four hundred years ago possessed unparalleled wisdom, extraordinary courage and compassion, understood the relationship between God and man, and steadfastly followed God's "Way"...

Just like the "Messiah" in the priests' mouths!
Joseph thought this to himself at the time.

Later on,

Thanks to the help of the Way of Peace, the lives of Joseph's family and others improved, and they even enjoyed a rare period of peace in this chaotic world.
He became even more convinced of this idea.

After all, according to the legends of the tribe,
They can only enjoy peace and tranquility under the guidance of the Messiah!
Mozi of the Mohist school,
His ideas have benefited so many people, and he is revered as one of the founders of the Taiping Dao (Way of Great Peace).

Why can't this be considered a "messiah"?

Moreover, when Joseph was learning carpentry from his Mohist teacher, he would often see the teacher, after accidentally making a mistake, frantically grabbing a chisel and plane, correcting it while wailing, "Oh, Mozi above! Don't ruin this wood!"

……

so various,

This led Joseph to privately venerate Mozi as a deity second only to God, and he even gave him a name.

After getting engaged to Mary

Furthermore, relying on his status as an "outer disciple of the Mohist school,"

Joseph was able to follow Zhao Shen, the great and wise teacher.

Zhao Shen quickly noticed Joseph's actions and his peculiar beliefs.

He didn't say much.

Joseph was somewhat worried, fearing that God's spokesperson would dislike his "impiety."

As a result, Zhao Shen said:
"I don't care about that."

"If you really do something wrong, God will come and slap you in the face."

Joseph immediately gave an expression that said, "I don't understand, but I'm deeply moved." After thinking for a moment, he felt that this meant the Great Teacher had recognized him, so he began to recite even more enthusiastically. Whenever he finished carving or assembling an item, Joseph always liked to praise his "Mozi."

Maria, however, was somewhat unaccustomed to this.

But neither the teacher nor God, who observes all things in the world, said anything. She could only despise Joseph's "unique approach."

"Don't spread this strange thing to others!"

"It's really strange to put Messiah and Mozi, this ancient ancestor, together!"

Carrying large bags and small packages, the betrothed couple politely declined the enthusiastic "slave sales" offered to them by the Roman locals and returned to Zhao Shen's side.

Qin Ming allocated a courtyard to them from this large house built in the style of the Chinese civilization.

And so they stayed in Rome.

However, Zhao Shen did not immediately spread the Taiping Dao's philosophy to the people here.

Because this is the center of Rome, a place where the powerful and wealthy gather.

In a place where a single brick could potentially hit someone from a prominent family,...
The scriptures of the Way of Peace will not be welcomed.

If we follow the Roman custom and go out into the streets to loudly proclaim it...
It was fortunate that he wasn't stabbed to death by a scantily clad Roman soldier.

"Then why did we come here?" Maria asked.

Zhao Shen said, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Rome, due to its terrain limitations,
Also, the population size of the "Roman" ethnic group.
This allows each region to have its own unique charm.

At first glance, it has a strong resemblance to the Qin state's regional separatist regimes at that time.

But it was ultimately different from the Qin state.

Rome is thriving.

The latter, however, gradually declined.

Yes,

Understanding Rome as the central hub and its arrangements for different regions was very helpful for them when they went to preach in various provinces.

Maria said "Oh," and then followed her teacher, quietly learning the Roman language and script.

Until Augustus's order came, inviting Zhao Shen to meet him at his palace.

Zhao Shen followed Qin Ming and met the monarch who ruled Rome.

He bowed to him with neither arrogance nor servility.

The latter also calmly invited Zhao Shen to sit down.

“I heard that you are the leader of a sect in the Qin state.”

"Yes."

Augustus casually rested his hands on the table and said to him in a somewhat hoarse voice, "When I was studying in Jade Wall City, I had never heard of the Way of Peace."

"From this, we can infer that this sect developed over the past forty years."

"And to be able to spread it so rapidly in the Qin state, which rejected licentious worship, you must be a wise man worthy of praise."

otherwise,

Where is the Taiping Road now?

Zhao Shen replied calmly, "I was elected as a great teacher of virtue and wisdom only ten years ago."

"I will not keep the glory of Taiping Dao to myself!"

Augustus then laughed.

He stopped his idle chatter with Zhao Shen and went straight to asking him, "The reason for today's invitation is to seek guidance from a wise man who can communicate with the gods—"

"Which successor should I choose to inherit the throne I have worked so hard to obtain?"

Zhao Shen said, "This is a matter for the monarch to handle alone; it has nothing to do with me."

If you insist on an answer, then I can only tell you:
"You gained the country and the nation, so it's acceptable for you to lose it as well."

As for the civilians who have been harmed by the country's turmoil?

Let's wait until they've been educated before we talk about it!
Before receiving enlightenment and guidance from the virtuous men of the Central Plains, and before demonstrating their qualities as human beings...
The Way of Peace wouldn't indiscriminately extend kindness to a group of humanoids.

Even the fundamentalist Mohist concept of "universal love" did not extend to barbarians and other ethnic groups.

Hearing this,

Augustus fell silent.

He finally sighed and said, "I know what to do."

Turn around,
He then made another request to Zhao Shen, saying, “I have heard that the Way of Peace is skilled in medicine and health preservation. Your age, yet you were able to cross the sea and travel in Rome, which proves this point.”

"So, I would like to ask you to take care of my two grandsons so that they can grow up healthy."

"Lifespan is predetermined, and I cannot guarantee that."

"Just do your best."

Augustus was overcome with sadness when he thought of his stepson who had died suddenly from an illness.

"If you are willing to accept this request, I can offer a corresponding reward."

"For example, in the temple of the gods, add another seat for the God of the nations."

This,

This also represents that Augustus made some concessions to the Taiping Dao, which was full of traitorous rhetoric.

If they, like the Xia Kingdom's Taiping Dao, which has been well-trained for a long time, focused more on promoting the ideals of "universal love and non-aggression," and devoted their excess energy to studying the rituals and scriptures used for preaching,

Little did they know that the Qin people had secretly supported the Roman slave revolt, and that even Augustus, who loved creating beautiful scenes in Rome, could tolerate them to some extent.

Zhao Shen blinked after hearing this.

Then he agreed.

the next day,
Augustus' two grandsons then came before Zhao Shen.

They were taught by their maternal grandfather and could speak many words of the Chinese language, but their accents were inevitably thick and they were somewhat casual about some words and phrases.

However, this does not affect the communication between the two parties.

Shortly after that,
Augustus recalled his stepson Tiberius, who had been living in seclusion, and once again entrusted him with important responsibilities.

Tiberius realized the significance of this action, and a hint of surprise inevitably arose in his heart.

He wanted to pay a visit to Qin Ming, who had put a lot of effort into this matter.

But Qin Ming refused to meet him.

then,

Tiberius had to take a detour and eventually found Zhao Shen, the great teacher who was living with Qin Ming.

He saw his two nephews beside Zhao Shen, whose complexions had become quite rosy and healthy, and whose health had also improved significantly. He was very impressed with Zhao Shen's abilities and his desire to get closer to him grew stronger.

He then looked at the two other young men beside Zhao Shen.

"I heard you two are engaged. When do you plan to get married?"

Joseph immediately blushed, "That depends on Mary's opinion..."

“I have always respected her.”

Maria, embarrassed and annoyed, said, "...How would I know that?"

"This guy is clearly a man, but he's been keeping quiet about it... What can I do!"

Their parents had already acquiesced.

The young couple, who had gotten engaged and then followed Zhao Shen around spreading his teachings, were now clearly husband and wife!
Who would have thought that Joseph, who was so bold and quick-witted when he started his own school of thought, would falter at the last hurdle?

Zhao Shen didn't bother to explain, and simply stood by with his hands clasped, secretly observing the two of them.

Fortunately, Tiberius was not an elder like Zhao Shen.

He said directly, "In that case, I hope my wife can be a witness at your wedding."

“If you don’t mind, I can also help you choose a venue and provide funding.”

As an elder, Zhao Shen accepted his overtures.

"It would be good if we could save some money, and then you wouldn't have to drag it out any longer!"

The two young people lowered their heads shyly and obeyed the elder's arrangement.

Tiberius moved very quickly.

A wedding that wasn't grand, but was certainly heartwarming, was successfully held.

At the wedding,
A plump pigeon flew by and dropped a pure white feather as a gift.

Augustus also sent people to witness the young man's happiness.

He even followed the custom of the Chinese, using a brush to write a simple blessing, which he then sent to Joseph and Mary:
May you have a son soon!
"That's fine too!" After staring at the not-so-vigorous calligraphy for a while, Zhao Shen turned to the newlyweds and said, "We'll be staying in Rome for a few more years."

"It's better to have a child while things are stable than to have one randomly afterward due to the chaos."

Mary was so ashamed that she stomped on Joseph's foot.

(End of this chapter)