Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 265 The God of Wealth of the Southern Road, Lord Chai! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Xiande was the reign title of Emperor Guo Rong of the Later Zhou Dynasty. In the sixth year of Xiande, he launched a northern expedition against the Liao Dynasty, capturing three passes and three prefectures in just over a month, gaining control of seventeen counties.

Unfortunately, just as he was preparing to take down the Liao Kingdom in one fell swoop, he suddenly fell seriously ill at night and had no choice but to withdraw his troops and return to the capital.

He died in the Wansui Hall a few days after returning to Kaifeng, at the age of thirty-nine.

Guo Rong died in June and was buried in November. Just after New Year's Day, Zhao Kuangyin launched the Chenqiao Mutiny, seized the Later Zhou dynasty, ascended the throne, and established the Song dynasty.

Guo Rong looked up at Zhou Yi, sheathed his longsword, and replied:

"Today is the Bingwu day of the fifth month of the sixth year of Xiande. I, along with my generals, offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, intending to announce the attack on Youzhou... Where is this place?"

Li Bai replied:

"This is Hunyuan Palace. I am Li Bai, the eldest disciple of Yiyuan Immortal, with the Daoist name Qinglian. As the emperor after the Tang Dynasty, you should have read my poems, right?"

Guo Rong looked incredulous:

"Are you Li Bai, the poet immortal? The one who famously said, 'Enjoy life while you can!'"

"Indeed, it is I!"

Guo Rong rubbed his eyes, feeling like he hadn't woken up properly. He had only held a sacrificial ceremony to the heavens, so how did he end up in this unfamiliar place and meet a young man who claimed to be a poet?

Chen Tang threw down the wooden rafter he was holding, put his arm around Guo Rong's shoulder, and said:

"Can't figure it out, can you? That's good. Would I tell you that this handsome young man is Huo Qubing, the hero who sealed the wolf's lair? And that woman is Gongsun Da Niang, the famous swordswoman from the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty? And that one on the shelf in the middle is Xi Shi, the most beautiful woman in China... And that one above her is Empress Wu Zetian of the Great Zhou Dynasty. You were all emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty, what a coincidence!"

Guo Rong couldn't believe his ears; the people in front of him actually came from different dynasties.

From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Western Han Dynasty, and then to the Tang Dynasty, it feels like it spans the entire river of history.

He bowed to everyone one by one, then turned to look at Chen Tang:
"May I ask who you are...?"

"My name is Chen Tang. In the third year of Emperor Yuan of Han's reign (1564), I led an army on a raid of thousands of miles and annihilated Zhizhi Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu in one fell swoop. Of course, this matter is not worth mentioning at all."

While saying it was nothing to mention, he wished he could recount every detail of the entire war.

Guo Rong completely let go of his pride:

"I have met General Zigong. Your words, 'Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished,' are always in my heart."

Interestingly, at this time, the Later Zhou Dynasty still had the Han regime, namely the Northern Han regime, which occupied most of Shanxi and had Jinyang as its capital. Guo Rong's first personal expedition after taking power resulted in a defeat for him in the Northern Han.

Zhou Yi came down from the roof, checked the time, and said:
"Let's eat. It'll be a good opportunity to talk to Guo Rong about what's going to happen to him... You've come at just the right time. Historical records show that you announced the northern expedition to Youyan to the generals on the day of Bingwu, but you fell seriously ill that very night and had to return to the capital. Judging from the timeline, you don't have many hours left."

Historical records are vague about Guo Rong's illness. From the time he fell ill and returned to the capital to his death in the Wansui Palace, it only lasted about twenty days.

Prior to this, there was no record in historical books of Guo Rong's illness, and his family members were not short-lived; for example, his biological father, Chai Shouli, lived to the age of seventy-two.

Zhao Xu climbed down from the shelf and looked at Guo Rong, feeling somewhat guilty.

The Zhao family usurped someone else's throne, and now the person involved has come to Hunyuan Palace. This scene is even more exciting than a creditor meeting.

Fortunately, Guo Rong didn't recognize Zhao Xu. Seeing him jump down from the scaffolding, he even took the initiative to greet him.
"Brother, you're quite skilled, and you're a very imposing man. If you were in my army, you would surely be a general!"

Zhao Xu chuckled twice, unsure how to respond.

Li Qingzhao approached Zhou Yi and asked softly:

"How did Chai Rong get out of the Temple of the God of Wealth? Didn't you and Sister Meiniang write his name in the Hall of Longevity?"

I've been hoping this guy would come out of the Hall of Longevity and extend his lifespan a little, but I never expected him to show up at the crucial moment of repairing the Temple of the God of Wealth, and almost get into a fight with Chen Tang.

Wu Zetian thought for a moment and said:

"Perhaps it's because he is the God of Wealth that he appeared when the God of Wealth Temple was being topped out."

There is a saying among the people that there are five gods of wealth, and the god of wealth of the southern route is Chai Rong, who is also known as Lord Chai. It is said that Guo Wei's family was not wealthy in his early years. In order to supplement the family income, Guo Rong often set off from Ye City to do business in the south to earn money to support his family. Later, he was revered as the god of wealth.

Chai Rong, like Zhao Gongming and Guan Yu, is a martial god of wealth. However, he sometimes appears in royal robes and does not always wear armor, making him a relatively unpopular figure among martial gods of wealth.

Hearing their discussion, Guo Rong cupped his hands and asked:

"Is the Chai Rong you're talking about my name?"

Gongsun Da Niang nodded:

"That's right, you were soon usurped from the throne by someone surnamed Zhao, and your name was changed from Guo Rong to Chai Rong. He even belittled you, saying you came from a merchant family and weren't related to Guo Wei..."

This act of tattling on someone to their face left Zhao Xu speechless. But thinking about it, he had nothing to do with Zhao Kuangyin. On the contrary, his ancestor Zhao Guangyi usurped Zhao Kuangyin's throne, which, strictly speaking, meant he helped Chai Rong avenge himself... Well, that's the only way to explain it.

Guo Rong humbly sought advice:

"May I ask, how did he usurp my throne? Was I placed under house arrest? Or was I stripped of my military power?"

Grandma Gongsun took off her work gloves and said:

"If you die, you'll fall seriously ill tonight. You'll die right after returning to Kaifeng, leaving behind a widow and orphans to be bullied by that Zhao fellow. That guy put on the yellow robe and then hypocritically claims it was his subordinates' idea. He has none of the domineering spirit and responsibility of a founding emperor..."

This girl speaks without thinking, saying whatever comes to mind, and Guo Rong quickly understood:
"Zhao Kuangyin, how dare he usurp my throne! How dare he!"

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Zhou Yi went to the kitchen to cook. Chen Tang, Huo Qubing, Li Bai, and others pulled Guo Rong aside to tell him about the history of the Later Zhou Dynasty, and then solemnly introduced Zhou Yi's identity.

After listening, Guo Rong quickly went to the door and bowed deeply to Zhou Yi:
"Please, Immortal Master, save my life!"

Zhou Yi had stewed a pot of meat that morning; it could be eaten after just a quick reheat. He thought for a moment and said:
"I was going to invite you to stay for a meal, but I'm worried that your subordinates have already started plotting to seize power... How about this, I'll first extend your lifespan and strengthen your physique, and then give you a protective token. You can use the token to summon divine lightning and strike down those who are disloyal to you."

After saying this, Zhou Yi went back to his room, took out a brass token, and gave it to Guo Rong. He also exchanged it for an extension of life and a physical enhancement.

Life extension can automatically add a year to one's lifespan, while physical fitness can make the body strong and less prone to disease.

With the blessing of metaphysics, Guo Rong will not be in danger of losing his life for the next two years. As for whether he can live longer, that depends on his ability to accumulate merit.

As long as he can expand his territory and restore the glory of China, the gods enshrined in Hunyuan Palace will also bless him.

After bestowing the brass token, Zhou Yi went to the kitchen to busy himself. Huo Qubing and Chen Tang taught Guo Rong how to use the token, and Wu Meiniang gave him a powerful flashlight and a telescope.

Gongsun Da Niang gave him a bag of loose snacks from the supermarket, instructing him to take them back and distribute them to the generals, saying they were divine gifts.

Guo Rong was deeply moved and thanked them repeatedly. Looking at the silent Xin Qiji, Li Qingzhao, and Zhao Xu, he asked:
"Why are the three of you so dejected? Shouldn't I be here?"

Zhao Xu said:

"I am the emperor of the Song Dynasty. My ancestor, Zhao Guangyi, ascended the throne..."

Upon hearing this name, Guo Rong was somewhat puzzled:
"Wasn't it Zhao Kuangyin who usurped my throne? He had children, so why did he let his brother Zhao Guangyi take the throne?"

Li Qingzhao said:
"The story here is very complicated. It is said that when Zhao Kuangyin summoned Zhao Guangyi to the palace, not long after, the sound of an axe hitting the ground was heard. This is known in history as the 'Candle Shadow and Axe Sound'."

Upon hearing this, Guo Rong laughed loudly, looking up at the sky:
"Hahaha, that's great! I never expected Zhao Kuangyin to end up like this. I feel much better now..."

Those who usurp the throne will always be usurped, and those who bully orphans and widows will ultimately end up with orphans and widows having nowhere to stand... The Song Dynasty royal family fully proved that the cycle of karma is not just empty talk.

After laughing heartily, Guo Rong patted Zhao Xu on the shoulder, went to the kitchen door, and respectfully bid farewell to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi led him to the Sanqing Hall to pay homage to the Three Pure Ones, and then to the Changsheng Emperor, Ziwei Emperor, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun and other deities.

As they passed the main hall, Zhou Yi said:

"Your actions in destroying Buddhism are commendable, but to be on the safe side, it would be better to pay homage to the Buddha. In case the Buddha holds a grudge against you, it would be good to have Aunt Gongsun help you reconcile."

Guo Rong asked in confusion:
"That Miss Gongsun, can she speak with the gods?"

"Yes, she has a good relationship with the Three Pure Ones, and all the gods give her face."

Guo Rong went in to worship Buddha, explained his reasons for persecuting Buddhism, and then followed Zhou Yi to the God of Wealth Temple. After Zhou Yi gave his permission, he bid farewell to everyone and disappeared at the entrance of the God of Wealth Temple.

After seeing off this God of Wealth, Zhou Yi looked up at the half-finished roof and asked Wu Meiniang:
"Did Fan Li urge the construction of the God of Wealth Temple last time so that Guo Rong could come sooner? Luckily, they started today. If it had been any later, it might have been Emperor Shizong of Zhou who was on his sickbed."

Wu Meiniang felt that this possibility could not be ruled out. Today's juncture was the perfect opportunity to turn the tide and maximize the importance of Hunyuan Palace.

Guo Rong had just crippled the Southern Tang, destroyed the Later Shu, seized several prefectures from the Northern Han, and taken three prefectures from the Liao. If he hadn't died, he might have actually realized his political ambitions.

Ten years to conquer the world, ten years to nurture the people, ten years to bring peace.

To be honest, this kind of ambition and vision already surpasses most emperors in Chinese history.

Now that he's here, let's see how much power this long-lived version of Chai Rong has!
While this place was looking forward to a bright future, in the Later Zhou world, at the Xiongzhou camp...

After returning from Hunyuan Palace, Guo Rong looked at the telescope, flashlight, and other items in his hands, confirming that he wasn't dreaming. He took a deep breath and said to a military officer in his early thirties not far away:

"Zhao Kuangyin, come here for a moment, I have something to say to you..."

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The God of Wealth from the South, Lord Chai, has arrived! Wishing everyone abundant wealth and prosperity!

(End of this chapter)