Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 159 I've heard that Beigong Boyu and Xubu are skilled dancers?

In the spring of the seventh year of Guanghe (1278), the year was Wuwu, on the 26th day of the third month, the day of Grain Rain.

The Grand Astrologer divined that the heavens presented auspicious signs, indicating great fortune for long journeys and military campaigns; it was an exceptionally auspicious day!

In the south, the Grain Rain season signifies the approaching rains that nourish the grains, while in the area north of the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River, it means the end of frost.

With the frost ceasing in the north and temperatures gradually warming up, this favorable weather not only facilitates the army's march but also allows military supplies and equipment to be transported via waterways in some sections of the route, greatly simplifying logistical support.

Six li north of Luoyang Valley Gate, there is a North Suburban Altar.

The crown prince, dressed in his imperial robes, with a solemn and dignified expression, led civil and military officials to the altar in the northern suburbs to perform a sacrificial ceremony.

Outside the altar, the Northern Army, the Imperial Guards, the Tiger Guards, and the Crown Prince's guards stood guard on all sides. Ten thousand good men were also stationed in the northern suburbs, armed with weapons and clad in armor, ready to go into battle at any time. The air seemed to be filled with an atmosphere of impending doom.

The Empress and all the civil and military officials strictly followed the ancient rites, bathing and fasting for three days. Then they gathered at the foot of the altar, their eyes all focused on the Crown Prince, dressed in his imperial robes, watching him slowly ascend the square altar in the northern suburbs.

The southern suburbs were used for offering sacrifices to Heaven, while the northern suburbs were used for offering sacrifices to Earth. Since Heaven is round and Earth is square, the altar in the northern suburbs was square in shape.

However, the sacrificial ceremony in the northern suburbs is usually not held at this time. According to custom, it should be held here on the summer solstice to worship the earth and on the winter solstice to welcome winter.

However, if needed, a temporary sacrificial ceremony may be held in the northern suburbs.

The purpose of this sacrificial ceremony in the northern suburbs was to boost the morale of the more than 100,000 troops who were about to set off for war.

The earth god worshipped in the northern suburbs is Houtu Mushen, who is revered as the Earth Mother.

During the Later Han Dynasty, Houtu held multiple divine roles, serving not only as the central deity and the Earth Mother, but also as the god of the land and grain, the god of agriculture, and the god of cereals, all derived from the Earth Mother.

Furthermore, before the mythological system introduced by Buddhism entered China, the underworld in China was called "Youdu". Due to the concept that "all things grow on the earth and return to the earth", the Earth Goddess Houtu was also regarded as the deity who ruled "Youdu" and was in charge of the world of the dead.

The worship of this Earth Goddess serves two purposes: first, to pray for her protection of the Han Dynasty, ensuring favorable weather and abundant harvests, and guaranteeing the army's logistical needs; and second, to pray for her protection of every soldier who sacrifices their life for the stability of the country, so that they may rest in peace and live in harmony in the afterlife.

Those who live will be rewarded, and those who die will find peace. It is only natural that soldiers would fight to the death for their country!
Zheng Xuan, newly appointed as the Grand Sacrificer, was dressed in sacrificial robes and looked devout and respectful. Upon seeing the Crown Prince ascend the altar in the northern suburbs, he immediately bowed and paid his respects.

After the Crown Prince nodded slightly in acknowledgment, Zheng Xuan gently unfolded the prepared sacrificial text with both hands, raised his arms slightly, and recited it aloud, uttering each word clearly and forcefully.

"We humbly beseech the earth to nurture all things, and the mountains and rivers to protect the borders, ensuring the eternal stability of the state. Now, the barbarians have invaded our borders, and our royal army is about to launch a campaign. We humbly pray that the earth will bestow blessings, protecting our armies and amplifying the might of heaven. May the Five Sacred Mountains stand majestically, and the Four Rivers surge with power, clearing away the border dust and sweeping away the insolence. Empress Lü, who assisted Emperor Gaozu in establishing the dynasty and securing the Liu family's rule from peril, is worthy of being enshrined in the altar. We humbly pray that all the gods will accept this bright offering, protecting our Han banners wherever they point, ensuring our military advance is unimpeded and that victory is soon reported. Your humble servant respectfully offers this sacrifice of jade, silk, and rice, hoping that the gods will witness and accept it!"

This is a very ordinary sacrificial text with nothing unusual about it. The language is elegant and follows the usual practice of praying to the gods of the earth, the five sacred mountains and four rivers, and the gods of mountains and rivers to protect the Han Dynasty. At the end of the text, it also hopes that the Empress Gaozu of Han, who is worshipped alongside the emperor, will protect the descendants of the Han Dynasty.

As Xun Shuang, who was temporarily in charge of music, gently waved his hand, the music of "Yun Qiao" began to play. After Zheng Xuan finished reciting the sacrificial text, he shouted, "First offering!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince held a red agate and a red silk cloth, which he offered before the shrine of the Earth Goddess. Then, from a lacquer tray held by Lu Zhi, who was temporarily serving as the Grand Minister, he took a red wine cup with both hands and offered it before the shrine of the Earth Goddess. He slowly bent his knees, solemnly knelt and kowtowed, his forehead touching the ground, and remained kneeling for a long time, showing his piety.

According to ritual, when worshipping the Earth Goddess, one should offer earth-yellow offerings representing the virtue of earth. However, the Han dynasty inherited the virtue of fire, and since fire generates earth, red offerings were used instead, which also shows respect.

"Ya Xian!" Zheng Xuan saw that the Crown Prince's demeanor was standard and his movements were skillful, obviously after many rehearsals. A faint look of approval appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly to show his praise.

As Zheng Xuan called out, Grand Commandant Yang Ci, Minister of Works Yuan Kui, and Minister of Agriculture Zhang Ji, all three of whom happened to be ill, though slightly haggard and weak, still mustered their spirits and, though their steps were somewhat slow, remained dignified, offering the same sacrifices to the gods of the Five Sacred Mountains and the Four Rivers on behalf of the Crown Prince.

"Final offering!" Zheng Xuan took a deep breath and shouted. He, the Grand Sacrificer, personally held the sacrificial offerings, his expression solemn and dignified, and slowly walked step by step toward the sacrificial seat of Empress Gaozu of Han, who was accompanying him in the sacrifice.

Then, Grand Minister Lu Zhi personally offered a grand feast and millet to each deity. The Grand Music Master then ordered musicians to play the "Song of the Earth Deities." The dance was performed by 384 people in eight rows and eight columns, with the dancers holding shields and axes and performing the "Martial Virtue Dance" created by Emperor Gaozu, symbolizing the world's joy in using martial arts to eliminate chaos.

Liu Bian gazed at the bare-chested dancers wielding axes and shields, their movements powerful, bold, and majestic. Among them were many people he knew well.

The Great Music Law stipulates that the offspring of people of low status are not allowed to participate in sacrificial dances during sacrificial activities, unless their father is an official with a rank of 600 shi or above, or a rank of Wudaifu or Guanneihou.

Besides the requirement of their parents' status and position, the dancers in the sacrificial dance must be between twelve and thirty years old, over five feet tall, have regular facial features, and be free from physical disabilities in order to participate in the sacrificial dance.

Among the dancers were Yuan Huan, the nineteen-year-old son of Yuan Pang, the Grand Master of Ceremonies; Yuan Shu, the thirty-year-old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning); Xun Yu, Chen Qun, Chen Deng, and Liu Fan, Liu Dan, Liu Mao, and Liu Zhang, the four sons of Liu Yan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies; Liu He, the son of Liu Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Clan; and Liu Qi, the son of Liu Biao, the Gentleman of the Palace.

Being selected as a dancer in the sacrificial dance is not only an affirmation of one's status and position, but also a special honor. It is a prayer for the Earth Goddess to bless these people, and also a disguised commendation of their fathers or families.

The dancers for the sacrificial dance were mainly members of the imperial family, followed by sons of powerful and wealthy families, and then members of Liu Bian's princeling faction. This list of dancers was also carefully selected by Liu Bian.

Needless to say, the imperial clan members were still trustworthy and reliable people when the Han Dynasty still held sway and its revival was in sight. Through the sacrificial dance, these imperial clan members also sent their offspring into his hands, giving him the opportunity to bestow favors and win them over. At the same time, Liu Bian also hoped to keep these young people under his control.

It wasn't that he wanted to take them hostage, but rather that Liu Bian hoped to influence their own beliefs by exerting influence on their heirs, including the scions of powerful and wealthy families.

After the sacrificial ceremony in the northern suburbs was completed, the two armies set off under the orders of their generals and officers, marching towards Liangzhou and Bingzhou respectively.

Huangfu Song and Dong Zhuo, as the commanders of their respective armies, stood on the left and right sides of the altar in the northern suburbs, each holding a fine horse tightly, waiting for the crown prince.

Before long, Liu Bian, dressed in a royal robe, rode his horse to this place. It seemed that because of the inconvenience of the robe, he dismounted in too haste and almost slipped off his horse.

Fortunately, Dong Zhuo reacted quickly, stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and steadily placed the crown prince's feet on his palms, allowing the prince to land safely.

Huangfu Song slowly bowed and said solemnly, "Your Highness, we are about to be ordered by Your Highness to punish the disloyal. I wonder if Your Highness has any instructions?"

Dong Zhuo dusted off his hands, straightened his robes, and bowed.

According to custom, the Crown Prince should have encouraged them at this time and expressed his trust in the generals who led the troops out to war. However, Liu Bian did not follow this custom. Instead, he smiled gently and said, "To presume to give instructions in front of the Left and Right Generals would be too presumptuous of me. The two generals have their own methods for deploying troops, and I will not interfere arbitrarily."

As a young ruler, Liu Bian seemed to be a carbon copy of a certain emperor when facing foreign enemies. Moreover, he did not have the same martial virtue as Emperor Taizong. However, as a descendant of the Liu family, he had the advantage inherited from Emperor Taizu Gao – the ability to recognize and appoint capable people!
"With ample troops and provisions in the rear, I will ensure that the Left and Right Generals have no worries about their rear," Liu Bian said with a smile, giving Huangfu Song and Dong Zhuo a guarantee. He then changed the subject, saying, "However, I also have a small request."

"I have heard that the tribes of the grasslands are skilled in singing and dancing. If the Left General and Right General have the time, please capture Beigong Boyu and Xubu and bring them back to me in the Jiade Palace to dance for me, the Emperor, the Empress, and all the civil and military officials!"

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song and Dong Zhuo exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of surprise in their eyes. Their eyebrows rose slightly, as if they were taken aback by the Crown Prince's unusual request.

Beigong Boyu was the leader of the Qiang and Hu rebels, while Xubu was the new Chanyu who was established by the Southern Xiongnu rebels after they attacked and killed Qiangqu Chanyu.

Previously, the Han dynasty considered it an honor to seal the wolf's lair and to inscribe the Yanran Mountain, and to kill enemies and behead them as merits. However, they never thought of capturing these foreign leaders alive and bringing them back to Luoyang to make them dance for their amusement.

If the two of them can truly accomplish this, they will surely be remembered in history in the "Han Ji".

(2861 words)
(End of this chapter)