Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 520 In Yinzhou

"By now, the original body should have received the gift I prepared for him, right?"

The distant Xinxiang of Yinzhou
A yellow-billed magpie, perched on a dense tree, watched the sacrificial ceremony not far away and thought to itself.

Humph,
Let that guy live a carefree life on the Divine Continent, without caring about me toiling away in Yinzhou!
The magpie pecked out a crispy roasted meat from under its wing and swallowed it whole.

He smacked his lips, savoring the lingering taste of chicken, and muttered to himself:
"Ugh!"

"So many years!"

"Those guys have no idea what kind of life I lead in Yinzhou!"

Yinzhou is separated by vast oceans and is not connected to the mainland of China, which has been cultivated and matured by the virtuous people of the Xia Dynasty.

Especially the Northern Yin Continent!

For over a thousand years, the Northern Yin Continent remained a wild and untamed place.

The indigenous people who lived there often met the same fate as invaders from another ocean, who "pushed their horses forward, threw out a rope, captured them, scalped them, and made them into a pair of boots."

This shows that

The living environment here
Just how cruel is it?

During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, the gentry of the various states that established themselves on this land, even if they disregarded their moral character and wanted to do cruel things, could hardly find any suitable targets.

They could only toil away, farming and working hard to increase their population and livestock, thus supporting the nation of Xinxiang to continue moving forward.

But behind the scenes,
People in Xinxiang have repeatedly marveled at the foresight of their ancestors in choosing this site, how they were able to find a piece of land in the barren and wild Beiyinzhou that provided shelter from the fierce winds and snowstorms of the north, with suitable water and heat.

It is this same spirit, also named "He Bo," whose face is often that of a magpie, who has made contributions to Xinxiang with his wisdom and hard work!
"There has been less rain this year and the weather has been hot, so we should eat more insects."

Drought breeds locusts.

Locusts, which devour crops, are something farmers dread.
Sometimes, in order to drive away locusts and save their hard-won food, farmers would even worship the locust god.

Just like dealing with those tyrannical and greedy carnivores, they try to beg the carnivores to spare their lives by adopting a submissive posture.

But unfortunately,

Whether locusts or carnivores,
None of them are sentient beings.

Greed will not disappear because of kneeling and bowing.

However, when faced with those who prey on the flesh, the common people still have the possibility of rising up, reclaiming their own flesh and blood, and venting their inner grief and indignation.

But when faced with locusts that hide underground as larvae and grow extremely rapidly, able to gather into a terrifying cloud within a few days, even with the best efforts of human strength, there will inevitably be oversights.

And at this time of year
It's the magpie's turn!

"Every year we have to dig out all sorts of insects from the soil to eat..."

"Last time I rolled around in the threshing ground, I almost got caught and taken back by someone who mistook me for a chicken that had run out of its enclosure."

When the orders of the spirit were conveyed to the many cattle and horses under its command, a dead ghost who imitated the spirit and also transformed himself into the shape of a bird couldn't help but complain.

The dead man next to him sneered, pointing at his plump figure and saying it was a real shame he wasn't a prostitute.

The dead man was very dissatisfied and pointed to the surrounding area, saying to his companions who were in charge of the farmland:
"Why are you laughing at me? Haven't you had enough of those crunchy treats every year?"

"I'm speechless. Every year at this time of year, we get bloated into round balls by the bugs!"

The vast mountainous region where Xinxiang is located has a climate similar to that of Rome.

This forces locusts to become active in accordance with their nature every summer and autumn.

"Alright, there's no need to argue over such a trivial matter."

Another ghost, which had been caught by the ghost and instantly transformed into a bird that eats insects in season, flew over and said with its plump belly, "The ghost is looking for someone to accompany it in its game of throwing birds at walls."

"I already gave myself away last year, so you guys hurry up and draw lots to choose seven new unlucky guys!"

Hearing this,

Those fat chickens, whose ruffled feathers only made them look even more fluffy, immediately let out a wail.

But they could not resist the "favor" of the spirits and could only go and play with them.

of course,

It was added as a "toy".

……

In the mortal world,

Under the bright sunshine, the flags stood erect and fluttered in the wind, and people dressed in traditional Chinese robes stood at the foot of the flagpoles.

Although the conditions in Yinzhou are not yet sufficient for the people of Xinxiang to dye their cloth in bright and beautiful colors like those in other countries of compatriots, the ancient rituals and long-standing cultural heritage still give their ceremonies a sense of solemnity.

Compared to the remnants of the Shang Dynasty in the south, who had degenerated into a primitive, unclothed lifestyle, rarely wearing clothes and only wearing animal skin skirts when traveling the world, this situation is quite different.

Xinxiang is so much more advanced.

Therefore,
When the remnants of the Shang Dynasty, drawn by their bloodline and pressured by attacks from other tribes, decided to board the ships of the Xinxiang people and stumble along the coastline to the north to join this country, they were shocked by this scene and felt a strange sense of inferiority and emotion. This is understandable.

The emperor and his ministers in Xinxiang noticed their subtle expressions and couldn't help but feel pleased.

The new emperor whispered to his ministers, "I have heard that Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, once said, 'To not return home in glory is like traveling in the dark.'"

"Now that I've encountered something similar, I understand how the Overlord felt back then."

Although Xinxiang is not as good as his own relatives, he can still get a sense of superiority from those distant relatives in the south.

"They were lucky, as their naturalization coincided with my autumn ancestral worship and religious ceremonies."

"The seeds that were brought from the State of Qi a few days ago have been successfully delivered, resulting in a bumper harvest for both the people and the grain in the country."

"Otherwise, how could they have witnessed such a lively scene so quickly?"

Xinxiang is a tough place.

Our ancestors braved countless storms and endured countless hardships to raise the large population we have today on this extremely desolate ancient land of Yinzhou, where wild beasts roamed freely. They built roads connecting various cities and cultivated vast stretches of farmland.

Therefore, their descendants must not forget.

Farmland can also be barren and drought-stricken.
There were times when the treasury was depleted.
There are times when plagues occur in dwellings.
How can they be so complacent about the "eternal stability of the state" and content to be mere meat-eaters who cannot plan for the future?

Such a ceremony,
It celebrates the reward of their hard work throughout the year.

It also represents their gratitude to their ancestors and the gods who protected them.

Simultaneously,

This is also to tell those new seeds who have just arrived in Yinzhou, yet still can't help but look back on the path they came from:
This is still the land of the Chinese people.
People, both old and new, share the same blood.

Their customs and writing system are still in use here.

"But……"

"Why aren't our gods here?"

The Yin tribal leader, who came from the south and whose barbaric air could not be concealed even after donning the attire of the Xia people, carefully looked around before questioning the minister of the new state who had guided him to join the celebration.

Perhaps it was because they still missed their old life that they were unable to change their mindset and subconsciously asked questions upon seeing the altar;

Perhaps it was a naive belief that if the people of Xinxiang accepted him, they would also accept his customs and habits;
Perhaps he harbored a strange idea, wanting to maintain his status in Xinxiang by elevating his family's original deity.

Even after his physical body had fully entered the territory of the various Xia states, his undying beast-like mentality still left a trace of the southern jungle deep in his mind.

But for wild animals living in the jungle,

Showcase your uniqueness
Show your strength
Only then can they ensure that they will not be targeted by more powerful predators and become their food.

unfortunately,

The gentlemen of the Chinese nation are not wild beasts.

They possess a deeper wisdom.
On certain important matters, they possess a determination more unwavering than that of wild beasts.

So the minister frowned and immediately said to the leader, “Now that you have been assimilated into the Chinese civilization and become people of our new country, you should be prepared for your new life.”

Why say such foolish things at this time?

On the land of the Xia people,

The rules of the Chinese are naturally the most important!
How can one respect another's gods, conform to another's customs, and prioritize another's interests? Otherwise,

Is this still the land of the Chinese?

"If you still wish to bow before the idols, seek inner peace, and understand the teachings of your ancestors, then you should abandon the lewd gods of the jungle and return to the embrace of the Black Bird!"

The minister raised his hand and pointed to the bird statues placed on the altar, speaking to the descendants of the Yin people in front of him.

The Heavenly Mandate of the Black Bird descended and gave birth to the Shang Dynasty.

This is recorded in the ancient texts of the Xia dynasty.

It was after the origins of the Yin people were determined that the Confucian scholars of the Xia Dynasty continuously instilled these ideas in them.

after all,

When it comes to "recognizing relatives," one cannot be enthusiastic about both sides.

Now that the gentlemen have gathered here, regardless of whether the group of survivors dressed in animal skins and tattooed have any objections, they must accept the origins and ancestors that the gentlemen have designated for them.

In order to get to the bottom of things
The virtuous men even brought out the black bird of the Yin and Shang dynasties and incorporated it into their "educational" content!
As for now?

Now that you have seen the black bird, why do you not bow down?
The other person looked in the direction he pointed, and then asked, "Why does the black bird look just like a magpie?"

The minister immediately replied, "Never mind that!"

"Do you understand the Yin-Shang Dynasty better than I do?"

They had even forgotten their ancestral origins. If it weren't for the help of the virtuous men, even if they hadn't been attacked and killed by other tribes, they would have had to stay in the southern jungle as savages.

They actually want to compete with the gentleman for the right to define "Black Bird"?
The Qin people across the sea didn't say a word!
Anyway, in Xinxiang,
In order to better educate their distant relatives in the south, they have already designated the appearance of the Black Bird.

Why can't the magpies, which fly in flocks every year to precisely peck away the hidden pests in their fields, become the revered Black Birds and receive the worship of the Yinzhou people?

But the other side clearly didn't realize the gentlemen's tenderness and consideration.

They felt a little dissatisfied.

at this time,

They were already immersed in the fact that the new country was far richer and more stable than Zhongyinzhou, and no longer felt the confusion they had when they made the decision to migrate. They also selectively forgot the fear and trepidation they felt when their tribe was attacked by enemies, and thus took the initiative to ask the envoy who had just arrived to "become their subjects".

They felt that they had come from afar with utmost sincerity to join the new nation, but had not received the respect they deserved.

Fortunately,

A loud noise promptly interrupted their unrealistic fantasies.

The tall wooden plank that had been erected on the altar suddenly collapsed, and along with the dust that rose into the air was a magpie so plump that even its wings looked extremely small.

The little bird shook its feathers, creating a stark contrast with its fallen target.

Subsequently,

The magpie spat out two surprisingly human-like "pui pui" sounds, expelling the wood chips and pebbles that had accidentally entered its mouth during the collision. Then, flapping its wings, it flew away at a speed far exceeding that of eagles and falcons, to a distant place unseen by ordinary people.

The Yin priests who had migrated with them also shivered at this opportune moment, rolling their eyes, contorting their faces, and began to utter some supernatural and ghostly words.

He claimed that he had suddenly received a revelation from the spirit of all things and felt the presence of his ancestors.

This greatly shocked the Yin people, who selectively retrieved the memories they had selectively forgotten.

Their leader clapped his hands in delight and said:
"This is the call of our ancestors!"

"I have long been a descendant of the Black Bird!"

……

In the underworld of Yinzhou,

Su Guang, who was treated like a toy by ghosts and gods and whose life was turned upside down, saw this scene through the mirror that reflected the world of the living.

So he asked curiously, "Did you make these preparations?"

To make it easier to throw, the magpie, now back in human form, stroked its chin and chuckled, "I guess so."

"It's just something I did on the spur of the moment."

That Yin priest, like most sorcerers of today, had the habit of taking hallucinogenic herbs to strengthen his "connection with the gods."

Upon hearing that the people of Xinxiang were holding a sacrificial ceremony,

This priest, who intended to secure a higher status for the tribe in the subsequent "alliance," wanted to shine in the sacrificial ceremony.

After all, relying on force,

They are clearly inferior to the people of Xinxiang.

Therefore, one must pay close attention to "literary debate"!
In order to better demonstrate his abilities and intimidate the people of Xinxiang, the priest took the "divine medicine" that he had not given up even during his hasty migration.

Such actions were seen by the spirits, and thus that scene occurred.

This moved Su Guang, who was being thrown out.

"Your intelligence is still normal."

"So the reason you captured us to play with you is to create this kind of show to win people over?"

"Oh, this isn't it!"

The ghost, displaying the wicked sense of humor replicated from its original form, held a cup of wine that had just been personally offered by the King of Xinxiang.

"I just wanted to play this game because I was thinking about something fun."

Upon hearing this, Su Guang could only let the long bird feathers on his head droop.

This peculiar head feather, twice the length of the body, was specially created by the ghosts and gods when they transformed the dead ghosts into bird forms.

such,

The spirits could easily use it as a bowstring to pull it up and then throw the birds out.

"never mind!"

"Let's go and receive the new items sent by our descendants first!"

"After resuming exchanges with the Central Plains, they brought over some novel items from there, which they used specifically for today's sacrificial ceremony."

Su Guang's former ministers gathered around, cradled the first monarch of Xinxiang in their hands, and led him out of the entertainment venue of ghosts and gods, back to the dwelling place of the dead.

The spirits continued to toy with the other dead ghosts who used their bodies to please themselves.

But this time,

He did not make the mistake of throwing the "Angry Birds," which should not be seen by mortals and should not be able to touch anything in the mortal world, onto the altar in Xinxiang again.

……

"That damned fellow who served that magpie in Yinzhou probably isn't having an easy time!"

Central Plains

After throwing several bottles containing his "strike power" as a form of revenge into the ocean, He Bo said this to Doctor Simon.

Upon hearing this, the latter only gave him a strange look, "Are you trying to use other people's behavior to highlight your own nobility?"

Where aren't cattle and horses?
Before saying this,
Did this guy even glance at the mountain of documents piled up beside him?
"Besides, you've never been to Yinzhou, so how can you make such a judgment about the situation of the dead there?"

He Bo snorted, "Don't I know what kind of person I am?"

But Ximen Bao still refused to believe it.

He suspected that God had been betrayed by his clone and was deliberately smearing the latter.

Just like what he used to do.

He Bo became even angrier.

He slammed his fist on the table and said, "How can a petty person understand the thoughts of a gentleman?"

He left those words behind.
He turned and left to vent his anger on other dead ghosts.

(End of this chapter)