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

Chapter 59: When you achieve your goal of conquering the enemy, I'll give you a motorcycle! [Seeking monthly votes]

Inside the Hunyuan Palace, Huo Qubing changed into a Taoist robe and wore trousers and underwear for the first time.

During the Western Han Dynasty, there were no trousers or underwear. Everyone wore a top and a skirt. Wealthy families would wear silk brocade or open-crotch trousers under their skirts. This is where the idiom "纨绔子弟" (wanku zidi, meaning a spoiled, dissolute young man) comes from.

"How does it feel?"

Huo Qubing stretched his body, trying to adapt:

"It felt a little tight, but it was quite smooth. Thank you, sir!"

Zhou Yi took a watermelon, cut it open, and prepared to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Marquis of Champion, so that the great Han dynasty could sail further and more steadily.

Although Emperor Wu of Han's early reign had some flaws, his overall policies were positive and progressive.

In particular, the strategy of rejecting the Xiongnu's marriage proposal and launching an attack on the Xiongnu from the position of the weaker party to destroy the Hu people is still inspiring even after more than two thousand years.

"Several major battles demonstrated the confidence and bravery of the Han Dynasty, and at the same time, they instilled self-assurance, giving the Han army a significant psychological advantage when facing the Xiongnu."

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the biggest problem for the Han army was not that they could not defeat the Xiongnu, but that they could not find the Xiongnu. Whenever they encountered the Xiongnu, they could basically take a piece of their flesh.

Huo Qubing took a bite of watermelon and thought it tasted amazing, so he couldn't resist taking two home for his uncles and other elders to try.

Listening to Zhou Yi's introduction to the era of Emperor Wu of Han, I asked curiously:
"We can even defeat the Xiongnu, so the Han Dynasty should be getting stronger and stronger. Why do you say that the situation is deteriorating rapidly?"

This issue would probably require a whole bunch of papers to discuss.

For example, Emperor Wu of Han's excessive military campaigns and selling of official positions, such as the fact that a year's tax revenue was not enough to cover the rewards for a single major war, the appointment of cruel officials, and the outbreak of the witchcraft scandal, were all factors that contributed to the decline of Emperor Wu in his later years.

Ultimately, there is only one reason—Emperor Wu of Han lived too long.

Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Che's grandfather, died in his early forties, and Emperor Jing of Han, his father, also died in his forties. Liu Che felt that he could only live to be in his forties as well.

Not only did he believe this, but the ministers, noble families, and even his children around him also believed it.

So he has never been idle since he took the throne, especially after he turned thirty-five. He wished he could conquer all the surrounding small countries so that he could make enough room for the crown prince.

He knew very well that continuing the war would be like draining the pond to catch all the fish, but he also knew that the benevolent Crown Prince could allow the Han Dynasty to recuperate and even recreate the prosperous era of Emperors Wen and Jing.

From the moment he first entrusted the crown prince with the responsibility of overseeing the country, he was prepared for death.

But after touring the country for nearly twenty years, Emperor Wu of Han did not get to see his perfect farewell. Instead, he was met with the witchcraft calamity, where people cursed him to die early.

At first it was just a minor problem, but it escalated. Crown Prince Liu Ju committed suicide, Empress Wei Zifu committed suicide... Liu Che reviewed the whole incident and felt that his son had been framed and killed. He immediately showed his ruthless side.

He began investigating the witchcraft scare. All officials, whether they supported it, opposed it, or even just stood by, were executed along with their entire families if they knew about witchcraft. He even reinstated the extermination of clans that had been abolished during Emperor Wen's reign, resulting in a bloodbath with countless heads rolling and rivers of blood flowing.

Huo Qubing was so surprised that he forgot to eat the watermelon:
"Was the witchcraft scandal ever fully investigated?"

Zhou Yi shook his head:

"The historical records are vague. It may have been investigated, or it may not have been. In any case, there was no conclusion about this matter until your uncle Liu Che passed away."

Given the level of investigation at the time, this was impossible.

The only explanation is that the witchcraft accusation was real, and Liu Che's children and descendants were indeed cursing this emperor to die soon.

This outcome was unacceptable to all parties, so they could only try to appease the situation until Emperor Wu of Han passed away, at which point the matter was hastily concluded and the matter was put to rest.

The Book of Changes says:

“Go back and tell your uncle that he has a lifespan of seventy years. Any sorcerer who says he can only live to his forties can be executed for spreading heresy.”

If Emperor Wu of Han hadn't worried about his age, he would have been able to avoid many pitfalls.

Huo Qubing then asked:

"May I ask, sir, how did I die?"

Zhou Yi shook his head again:

"The historical records say that you died of illness, but the details are very vague. Before you died, you were supposed to launch a final battle against the Xiongnu to completely annihilate the Xiongnu royal family, but you passed away suddenly, and the matter was left unresolved."

After hearing this, Huo Qubing put down the watermelon he was holding, stood up, and bowed deeply to Zhou Yi.
"Please teach me how to survive, sir. If you agree, I am willing to take you as my teacher."

No, you're already going to become an apprentice?
Zhou Yi began to reflect: was it a bit too much to frighten this young man who had just turned eighteen with lightning strikes on their first meeting? But Li Bai must be very happy. He had always admired Huo Qubing, and now that they could become fellow disciples, this young man would probably be laughing in his dreams.

Zhou Yi neither agreed nor refused Huo Qubing's request. Instead, he went back to his room and retrieved two telescopes and twenty lighters as a gift for the Marquis of Champions.
“Take these back with you; they will be helpful in the war. You can come every five days. I will give you more supplies as well. Try to kill as many Xiongnu as possible… As for how to extend your lifespan, I still need to study that further. Don’t worry about it.”

The greater Huo Qubing's victories, the more merit he would accumulate. Consider these telescopes and lighters as investments. As for his lifespan, leave that to modern medicine.

"Sir, this is..."

Huo Qubing examined the telescope for a while, then climbed onto the roof and looked into the distance. He keenly realized the telescope's military applications:
"If this item were used on the battlefield, it could detect enemy activity in advance; it would truly be a divine weapon!"

He looked around and quickly noticed the high-voltage power lines on the distant mountain. He started asking all sorts of questions, expressing his desire to learn modern knowledge and also wanting to ride a motorcycle.

Zhou Yi patted his TR300 motorcycle and said:
"How about this, once you've completed the Fenglangjuxu project, I'll give you a motorcycle so you can show it off in Chang'an."

Huo Qubing was overjoyed and patted his chest to guarantee:

"Rest assured, sir, your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations!"

With the motorcycle as a reward, he immediately became a disciple. It must be said that Huo Qubing was a clever man; no wonder Liu Che liked him.

Zhou Yi also gave him two fully charged high-powered flashlights and several watermelons, which Huo Qubing took back with him.

"Your mother must be very worried about your sudden disappearance during the worship. I won't keep you for dinner. Go back early and report what you've seen and heard to Liu Che, then set off with the army. Remember to give the binoculars to your uncle. I'll bring you a few more next time you come."

"Thank you sir!"

Huo Qubing had a cheerful personality, and it was easy to be infected by his vitality when you were around him.

Unfortunately, this big man's cheat code was only valid for a limited time, and he passed away at the age of twenty-three... Since he came from the Hall of Longevity this time, it wouldn't be unreasonable to try to make him live to eighty, right?
I wonder if this will create another Huo Guang.

Thinking about all sorts of things, Zhou Yi and Huo Qubing arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Longevity.

"Sir, that voice is coming again."

"I agree that Huo Qubing was free to travel to and from the world of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty."

Emperor Wu of Han had many reign titles, and the Book of Changes (Zhouyi) didn't know how to name this world, so it simply used a science and engineering approach and called it the "Emperor Wu's World".

As for whether Liu Che (Emperor Wu of Han) minded having his posthumous title used as a world name, that was completely outside the scope of the I Ching's considerations.

Huo Qubing, carrying large and small bags, bowed deeply to Zhou Yishen.
"This disciple takes his leave and will return to pay his respects to his master in five days."

After saying that, he stepped over the threshold and disappeared instantly.

Zhou Yi took out his phone and ordered some items such as binoculars and lighters, as well as some stainless steel soup buckets, so that Huo Qubing's army could set off lightly.

This military genius captured a group of Xiongnu nobles on his first battlefield, boosting the confidence of the Han Dynasty and quelling much opposition in the court.

Then, he was on a winning streak. Even the Xiongnu would get lost in the northern desert, but he seemed to have a Beidou navigation system, accurately locating the Xiongnu settlements every time and striking them down.

If Huo Qubing had lived a few more years, the Xiongnu wouldn't have caused so many troubles later on, and Li Guangli, Emperor Wu of Han's brother-in-law, wouldn't have ended up surrendering to the Xiongnu.

After finishing his shopping, Zhou Yi was about to go to the kitchen to prepare lunch when a message suddenly came from the account of a shop called "Custom Auspicious Statue".
"Zhou Bansian, have you seen the video of the Xi'an rainstorm?"

The shop name looked familiar. Zhou Yi opened Uncle Ming's chat history and finally recognized it. This was the shop that Uncle Ming had planned to hire him to scold.

Before I could even accept this Didi (ride-hailing service) order for someone to verbally abuse me, the other party contacted me first.

He sighed for a moment, then replied with a message:
"My grandfather has passed away. I am Zhou Yi, and I am now the abbot of Hunyuan Palace."

The shopkeeper who customized the auspicious statues sent a series of exclamation marks, clearly expressing the same surprise as Uncle Ming.

After quite a while, the shopkeeper finally sent a message:
"I was hoping to consult your grandfather about something, but since he has passed away, I won't bother you any longer. Goodbye!"

The Book of Changes: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Is this because they look down on my abilities or what?
What secrets are behind the Xi'an rainstorm? Why bring this up all of a sudden?
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Huo Qubing's character card is out! Please give it a thumbs up! Here's the first update, please vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)