Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 387 Dragon Abyss Prophecy! Have I become a rare commodity? (4000)

Upon hearing Wang Cheng's words, Zhang Taiyue's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"To establish the people as the true people, to truly make them the people, is a groundbreaking and meritorious act, and its power is enough to rebuild the land of China!"
Conferring titles upon an emperor is nothing compared to bestowing titles upon all the people. It far surpasses the countless struggles throughout history, where generations of outstanding figures have fought one after another for the throne!

Only a great hero or a towering figure could possess such magnanimity and courage. I, Zhang, am ashamed of my own inferiority, and this sage should be my teacher.

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Wang Cheng, the "megaphone," not to him, but to the "teacher" behind him.

Only by living in this era can one truly understand the meaning behind Zhang Taiyue's words.

With the saying "One should not compete with the people for profit" and "The emperor and the scholar-officials govern the world, not with the common people," the social registration of the lower classes was confiscated.

In the historical narratives of the literati, only they themselves were the people.

As for the common people? They're nothing more than objects whose names aren't even worthy of being recorded in history books.

Today, the idea of ​​enabling ordinary people to stand tall and live with dignity may not sound as grand or dramatic as supporting a powerful dynasty or creating a new world.

But only reformers like Zhang Taiyue truly understood:
"Only by bestowing titles upon the common people, rather than on the emperor, can we truly change the world. But changing dynasties is easy; changing the world is difficult!"

Before they could shrink back from difficulties, a surge of extraordinary ambition arose in their hearts.

How do you know I can't do it if I haven't tried?

Even if one loses, it's merely death; but if one is fortunate enough to outmaneuver fate and bring great benefit to one's family and country, then studying the sage's writings will not have been in vain.

"Cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world" was Zhang Taiyue's highest ideal and most fundamental obsession.

When the road is uneven, someone will clear it; when things are unfair, someone will take care of them. Instead, things are now so chaotic that right and wrong are indistinguishable.

This is neither the true principle of Confucianism, nor the principle behind the Thunder God's divine power, "Loyal Heart and Unyielding Spirit":

"As long as you do the right thing for the country and the people, you will be blessed by history. You don't even need any talismans or protective objects. You can use your own Confucian knowledge to check and balance the ruler of the country."

Though there be thousands, I will go!

Zhang Taiyue straightened up again, looking intently at Wang Cheng as if examining a rough gem. He adjusted his clothes and asked again:

"It is said that the Prince of Han, son of Emperor Chengzu, once said that the history books are vast and numerous, but between the lines there are only four words: 'Strive to become emperor!'"
Your Highness, to utter the words that bestowing titles upon the common people far surpasses bestowing titles upon the emperor, you must possess profound strategic wisdom. May I ask, what are your ambitions?

After Wang Cheng awakened his innate wisdom, he worked tirelessly to establish a firm foothold and lift the maritime ban. Now, having successfully led the eighth voyage to the Western Ocean, he has seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's indeed time to consider how to proceed with this step.

"If the sea ban is lifted in the future, and the initial goals of the Mountain and Sea Society and the ancestors of the Wang family are achieved, I can enjoy wealth and live a peaceful life as a prince."

impossible.

I have already infiltrated the Guishan Publishing House. Now that I have the opportunity to take down this organization that is determined to change everything and goes against the trend of the times, I will not give up halfway.

As for the Eastern Sea Kingdom, if I leave it alone, the chaos in Yingzhou will end on its own within ten years. Before that, I must take over the Japanese Kingdom and complete the final harvest.

My campaign in Southeast Asia has only just begun. I need to use Yizhou Island, Lusong, and Borneo to complete the first island chain and be ready to deal with the collapse of the Great Wall of Curses at any time.

The Western countries have already made several moves, and I can feel the vibrant energy of the emerging class. Together with the 'Thunder and Fire Industrial Revolution,' they form the foundation of my Shintoism.

My connection with Fuyao is becoming increasingly close. The [Dragon Tiger Yin Yang Pill Method] and the various resources she possesses hold the hope of me transcending the first rank and achieving immortality.
All of this combined is solely for the purpose of realizing my ambition to conquer the world and become the ultimate ruler.

But my goal is to embrace all rivers, unite the world, and become the eternal supreme.

No, not at all!

Whether they were kings of vassal states, industrial capitalists, or feudal landowners, these were not the true identities of Wang Cheng and the Caishui Wang family.

The Wang family are Tanka people, and even now, Tanka people are the lowest of the low, not even qualified to participate in the imperial examinations of the Great Zhao Dynasty!
Our ancestors went to sea to risk their lives simply to survive.

After the Five Dynasties, the entire Wang family died, and only two of the old father's sworn brothers remained. Even the old father himself died halfway through the liberation of the Tanka people and the lifting of the sea ban.

Having paid such a high price, how could Wang Cheng's goal simply be to repeat the cycle of turning others into those who trample on them, and then into those who trample on others?

"The paths of gods and immortals may both eventually require the resources of the world to support one person, but the right way is to borrow and repay."

It is said that there are no collectives that betray their class, but there are individuals who do.

"If I were to single-handedly seize all the land, minerals, and means of production in the world, I wouldn't mind being a traitor."

So, after a moment's thought, Wang Cheng uttered four words that were the complete opposite of "striving to become emperor":
"Where does our ambition lie? To serve the public good!"

Zhang Taiyue was taken aback at first upon hearing this, then burst into laughter:
"What a wonderful concept of 'the world belongs to all'!"
"Your Highness, you really don't seem like a prince. You're more like the sun that stepped out of the mouth of that great sage!"

Wang Cheng laughed along with him, then asked in return:

"What are your aspirations, sir?"

Zhang Taiyue was old and had pondered this question for many years. Without hesitation, he blurted out:
"Whether you know me or condemn me, I care not! For my family, my country, and the world, I would die a hundred times without regret!"

Wang Cheng immediately became respectful and bowed to him with his hands clasped in greeting.
“Sir, although I am not like a prince, you are like a true Confucian scholar.”

This is not flattery, but a heartfelt statement.

Old Zhang's core reforms, the "Performance Evaluation System" and the "Single Whip System," directly addressed the empire's deep-seated problems and were also a direct attack on vested interests from within.

The "Performance Evaluation System" forced the entire bureaucratic system to operate efficiently with strict performance evaluation standards, which was tantamount to declaring war on the entire civil service group and infringing on the interests of all officials in the country.

The "Single Whip Law" surveyed land and monetized taxes, severely damaging the interests of large landowners, noble families, and even members of the imperial clan.

Since it has affected the interests of countless people, how could such a clever person not see the consequences of his reforms?

But he did it anyway, sacrificing the tragic fate of his entire family starving to death in exchange for extending the empire's life by another 60 years.

Now he seems to have chosen a different path, and the outcome may be different.

Zhang Taiyue naturally had no idea what Wang Cheng was thinking, but he really liked his comment that Wang Cheng was a "true Confucian scholar-official".

"It was quite a coincidence that when the Zhang family, the salt merchants of Guishan Bookstore, and their nine generations of relatives were executed, I suddenly had a premonition and used the divination techniques of the I Ching to make a prediction."

I discovered that a Daoist enemy who would have harmed my entire family and severed my Daoist lineage had died suddenly.

From this day forward, I will be the emperor, the dragon soaring in the sky, and it will be advantageous to meet a great man.

What I have seen and heard today alone is enough to warrant a hearty drink.

After speaking, his expression turned serious, and he solemnly said to Wang Cheng:

"By the way, I am Zhang Taiyue!"
Here is a passage from the "Dragon Abyss Prophecy" that I derived from my reading of the "I Ching," which I present to Your Highness. Whether you listen to it or not is entirely up to you.

The year of Xin-You and the year of Jia-Zi, the star Pivot points east.

The turbulent waves gather strength, marking the beginning of the second thousand eons.

Yin erodes Yang, and the dragon of the Nine Abyss dies.

The universe is in chaos, and a hundred ghosts rise up at night.

Holding the compass and the Big Dipper, one can determine the balance of Heaven and Earth.

Only when the celestial sphere is reversed can the clear sky be seen.

"I wish Your Highness a safe journey. I believe we will meet again soon." After saying this, he handed Wang Cheng a piece of tortoise shell, urging him to advance to the third rank of living ghost god as soon as possible, and then left without lingering.

"What does this old man mean? He only gave me a prophecy?"
It's as if something big is about to happen in the vast ocean; that's about it.

Wang Cheng glanced down at the tortoise shell in his hand, which appeared ordinary on the surface but actually contained hidden secrets.

It has been confirmed that this is a magical artifact that can only be activated under specific conditions, somewhat like the legendary "secret plan" of Zhuge Liang.

It seems he intends to verify the truth or falsehood of his prophecy at a crucial moment, demonstrating his abilities.

Seeing the other person's departing figure, his expression became somewhat strange:
"It seems like I've become Old Zhang's prized commodity this time?"

It's okay. As long as you don't say, "I am not a physiognomist, but a magistrate," we can still be good friends.

Zhu Suzhen, who had witnessed the entire conversation between the two, finally came to her senses.

Although she had long known of her master Mr. Zhang's ambitions.

That is why he did not serve his father, who was essentially the same as Shaozhi, but instead became a tutor to his siblings.

He behaved like an ordinary, third-rank Confucian scholar, quietly waiting for an opportunity when the world changed dramatically.

"I never expected that this younger brother of the Wang family would be valued so highly by Master Zhang and regarded as a like-minded 'fellow Daoist,' a treatment that even my father did not receive."

No, the younger brother of the Wang family seems to have even more radical and groundbreaking ideas than Master Zhang.

He's more like the one in charge.

Clearly, the phrase "The wheat has ripened thousands of times, but this is the first time it has ripened" had a shock effect on this era of heroic historical perspectives that was no less than a magnitude 18 earthquake.

Zhu Suzhen was shocked and hesitated to speak.

After walking halfway silently, she tugged at Wang Cheng's sleeve and whispered a reminder:

"Brother Cheng, as Master Zhang just said, before you advance to the third rank of living ghost god and have the power to change the world and at least protect yourself, you must never reveal your thoughts to outsiders."

If those treacherous and scheming people overhear this, we'll be constantly attacked, both openly and secretly.

What about Emperor Shaozhi, the ruler of the state?
He has taken on the destiny of the Zhu family, and he will also bear the calamities of the Zhu family. Isn't he being assassinated every few days?

This is only because he offended the civil officials and gentry. If you offend all the vested interests in one fell swoop, what will happen?

Even within your Eastern Sea Kingdom, things are unlikely to be peaceful.

Hearing this heartfelt advice, Wang Cheng felt a warmth in his heart. This Miss Zhu was indeed a good person, and he smiled at her.
"I speak my mind because I trust Sister Suzhen, who is one of my own."

If an outsider were here, they would know the principle of speaking human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts.

Sister Suzhen, please keep this a secret for me.

At this moment, he finally made up his mind to find an opportunity to help her change her destined fate, but he couldn't let Uncle Zhu know that it was his doing.

Emperor Shaozhi was a political animal, and so was this Uncle Zhu.

Zhu Suzhen glanced at him sideways with her beautiful eyes and said reproachfully:

"Oh, so you dare to tease your older sister?"

I've figured it out. You seem serious and mature on the surface, but deep down you're more arrogant than anyone else. You're clearly a lawless, unruly devil who climbs walls and roofs.

While verbally criticizing Wang Cheng, she secretly felt exceptionally relaxed and at ease around him.

These brothers and sisters of his were like caged birds bound by the "Zhu-Han destiny," but when he got close to him, he seemed to have infinite possibilities.

Of course, more importantly:

"This younger brother is a bit annoying, but he's really both naughty and handsome!"

She glanced at Wang Cheng furtively out of the corner of her eye, then glanced again, then glanced twice more, and unconsciously slowed her pace considerably as she led the way.

Wang Cheng did not expose the truth and toured the Wu King's Palace.

The two arrived at the door of Zhu Yaozhai's alchemy room, where he was in seclusion refining elixirs. Through the door of the room, they exchanged a few words with Zhu Yaozhai, who was focused on refining elixirs, and rekindled their family friendship.

Back then, it wasn't just Emperor Shaozhi who collected all five temple deity treasure flowers; Uncle Zhu was also among them.

Emperor Shaozhi, as a first-rank [Dan Ding Daoist], needed forty-nine days to refine a [Five Organs Returning to Truth Pill], but Zhu Yaozhai's cultivation was inferior, requiring eighty-one days to refine it.

According to their destiny, they should have been born on the same day, month, and year and died on the same day, month, and year.

But Zhu Yaozhai heard that Shaozhi had his elixir taken away by his son, Prince Jing, Han Zaizhen, and was nearing his death.

So, holding his breath and wanting to catch up, he felt that perhaps this one pill would be the beginning of a turning point in their destinies.

“Nephew, I agree to the deal you proposed.”

I have already made arrangements with your elder brother Shunzhai; you can now communicate with him.

"From now on, whether you need to consult your uncle for alchemy or if there's trouble in Southeast Asia, just ask your sister Suzhen. With great changes imminent in China, our two families should keep in touch more often."

Knowing that his mind was focused on the elixir and the throne of Shenzhou, Wang Cheng respectfully responded and withdrew with Zhu Suzhen.

Then, in the small hall, they met the Crown Prince Zhu Shunzhai, who had been waiting for a long time.

The other party greeted them warmly upon meeting.

"My dear brother, we've been waiting for you!"

With just a few words, an overwhelming sense of familiarity welled up in Wang Cheng's heart, quickly overlapping with another figure in his mind.

The same dazzling and oppressive atmosphere, the same fifth-rank "Divine Strategist Taoist", the same fervent admiration for "The Influence of Sea Power", and still his own devoted fan.

A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and after a few casual words, he said:

"Brother, how about you do me a favor?"

Zhu Shunzhai patted his chest and repeatedly assured:

"Just let me know if you need anything. As long as I have a set of your autographed merchandise, anything is fine."

Wang Cheng repeated the idea of ​​the Thunder and Fire Revolution that he had once told Prince Yu, Han Zaiji, to Zhu Shunzhai, who immediately applauded in admiration.

Some of the tasks originally assigned to Crown Prince Yu were given to the heir apparent, Zhu Shunzhai.

"By bringing these two talents, who are mirror images of each other and highly similar in everything, into the same research group, we can encourage and inspire each other in our passionate research and development work."

It will definitely have a synergistic effect, where one plus one is far greater than two!

Wang Cheng felt he was a genius boss and silently gave himself a thumbs up.

He then used a blueprint for the Heavenly Crafted Treasure Ship, the Xuanming Dinghai Ship, to exchange for the Victoria, the last ship in the Global Fleet to be planted with "spleen flowers".

The shadow beneath Wang Cheng's feet twisted and instantly swallowed the Victoria into the realm of the Earth Officials and Laws.

The five warships, each radiating divine light, roared and merged into one.

(End of this chapter)