Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 160 Jiang Zhi Passes Away!
The seventh day of the third month in the third year of the Zhiping era.

The end of Yin hour (5 o'clock).

Jiang Mansion, Yiyang Hall.

The embers flickered, glowing like tiny beans.

On the long rattan couch, which was six feet long and three feet five inches wide, Jiang Zhao supported his grandfather in a half-lying, half-sitting position.

The old man had bright, piercing eyes and was remarkably vigorous.

More than ten clan elders and Jiang family members gathered together, silent and filled with sorrow.

A 75-year-old man, who has been seriously ill for a long time, suddenly becomes radiant and healthy, like a withered tree suddenly sprouting new life. This is not a good thing.

"Zhao'er."

With a wave of his withered hand, the old man said calmly, "Have someone cook me a bowl of mutton soup."

“In the past, I preferred mutton soup. Unfortunately, I haven’t had it for half a year since I became seriously ill.”

I have abdominal bloating and edema, making it difficult to eat, yet I'm not hungry.

For Jiang Zhi, eating or taking medicine was an unspeakable torment.

Therefore, there was no desire to taste the mutton soup.

However, this time is destined to be different.

"Second brother, third brother," Jiang Zhao called out, grasping his grandfather's hand.

"Yes."

The two nodded quickly and ran out.

"Help me sit up." Jiang Zhi patted his grandson.

Jiang Zhao nodded, shifted his body back, and reached out to support his grandfather's back.

More than a dozen clan elders and Jiang family members stood solemnly, their faces serious.

A dying speech!

Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, then glanced around and said, "Under heaven, there are many powerful families, some of which have been corrupt and arrogant and have perished, while others have just established themselves."

"It has been nearly a hundred years since the Jiang family established itself. Far from declining, it has become more and more prosperous. The reason for this is nothing more than unity, fairness and integrity."

Jiang Zhi instructed, "After I leave, you must work together in harmony. Do not emulate those corrupt and incompetent people who bring shame to our family."

More than ten people quickly bowed and said, "We will remember the teachings of our ancestors."

Jiang Zhi nodded, his eyelids drooping.

One moment they're full of energy, the next they're exhausted.

"grandfather."

Jiang Zhao quickly called out, "The mutton soup hasn't been served yet!"

"Lamb soup?"

Jiang Zhi frowned, but forced himself to stay awake: "Let's talk for a while. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll never wake up again."

With a grandson like Jiang Zhao who could support the Jiang family, the old man was not afraid of death.

Even when he speaks, there's an inexplicable calmness about him.

"Thinking back to those days, when I entered officialdom through the imperial examinations..."

"and then?"

"And then, this old man..."

"Any more?"

The grandfather and grandson, one speaking and the other constantly echoing and playing the straight man.

During this time, elders and younger generations kept coming to investigate, quietly observing without daring to utter a sound.

About half an hour later, Jiang Zhi's eyelids drooped, and he was drowsy.

"Mutton soup!"

"The mutton soup is here!"

A startled cry jolted the old man awake, rousing him slightly.

"Come."

A bowl of mutton soup was passed to Jiang Zhao, who held a soup spoon, scooped up some tender bits of meat, and fed them to his grandfather.

"what!"

"Little lamb!"

After just one bite, Jiang Zhi could tell: "The meat of this lamb is the most tender, and it is only lamb meat that I can barely chew."

"They're both good kids." Jiang Zhi looked at his two grandsons, Jiang Xiao and Jiang Xu, and nodded with satisfaction.

"call."

Jiang Zhao gently blew on the mutton soup and fed the old man little by little.

After a while, he had swallowed about seven-tenths of the bowl of mutton soup.

"I can't eat anymore." Jiang Zhi waved his hand, his eyelids drooping, half-open and half-closed.

Dozens of people watched, not daring to make a sound.

Even Jiang Zhao couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

After about an incense stick's time, the old man let out a hoarse gasp and peacefully closed his eyes.

His withered hand trembled and then fell limp.

"Father."

With a cry of grief, Jiang Zhong collapsed to his knees.

"Dad!"

Hess staggered to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

Sheng Hualan quickly covered her eldest son's eyes with a handkerchief.

As for Jiang Heng and Jiang Xun, they were too young, so in order not to leave a shadow on the children, they were not brought to the nursing home.

Jiang Huaijin pulled at his mother's hand and knelt down, imitating her.

"grandfather."

Jiang Zhao helped the old man lie down and then bowed deeply.

The clan elders and Jiang family members had almost all arrived and bowed in unison.

For a moment, the hall was filled with sobs and cries of despair.

As dawn breaks, the sky turns a pale white.

The plain lamp weeps, the white gauze shrouds the lamp.

The Jiang family, from top to bottom, were dressed in mourning clothes or white mourning clothes, and the sound of wailing was incessant.

Servants kept going back and forth with "death notices" to inform people of the death.

Main hall.

Led by Jiang Zhao, there were more than ten people.

They may be elders or the main male members of the family.

To symbolize their grief, they all wore hemp clothing, mourning caps, hemp belts, and plain shoes.

At this moment, more than ten people were gathered around a wooden table about ten feet long.

On it, a map of Huaizuo is spread out, which records the topography of Huaizuo.

"Uncle, how is it?" Jiang Zhao looked around and focused his attention on an elder who was skilled in feng shui.

When my grandfather passed away, it wasn't enough to just grieve and weep.

There are many things to do when it comes to burials.

From the day of death, there are specific customs and traditions surrounding the initial encoffining, the final encoffining, and the funeral rites.

Xiaolian, which is the first day after death.

During this period, the sons and daughters-in-law must wipe the father-in-law's body in preparation for burial.

The funeral rites are usually performed the day after the death.

On this day, the main purpose is to place the elderly person in a coffin and lay the body there for mourning.

From the encoffining to the funeral, it takes anywhere from a month to two or three months.

This period was mainly spent on preparations for the burial.

Choosing an auspicious burial site, constructing the tomb chamber and burial chamber, preparing burial goods and memorial tablets, submitting memorials to apply for posthumous titles, imperial edicts, and the issuance of spirit tablets—all of these processes are extremely time-consuming.

At this moment, a dozen elders have gathered to survey auspicious feng shui sites.

The elderly man, around fifty years old, pondered for a moment, then picked up a vermilion brush and sketched out four names.

Slender West Lake, Ganquan Mountain, West Gate, and Shugang Hill.

"The Slender West Lake is shaped like a jade belt, which is a feng shui pattern of 'jade belt encircling the waist'. Because the water of West Lake flows slowly, it has the power to 'gather wind and accumulate energy', which can bring wealth and good fortune."

"Ganquan Mountain features tombs arranged in a unique 'Big Dipper' pattern. The highest peak, in particular, embodies the 'solitary peak standing out from the crowd' motif, signifying 'standing out from the crowd'."

"Ximen Mountain is shaped like five fingertips, resembling lotus petals. The character 'palm' implies power and wealth. The five palms correspond to the five elements, hence the name 'Five Stars Gathering'."

The elder paused for a moment, then added, "Our ancestor was also buried here."

This refers to Jiang Yuan, the founder of the Jiang clan of Huaizuo.

"Shugang conforms to the meaning of "backed by mountains and facing water". To the northwest is Ganquan Mountain and to the southeast is the ancient canal, forming an embracing shape of "left green dragon and right white tiger". It complements the water system such as Slender West Lake and Baozhang Lake, presenting a "dragon coiled and tiger crouching" feng shui pattern.

The Shugang Spring flowing on this mountain is one of the "Five Great Springs of the World," where water gathers energy, and the mountain stores that energy.

A few words were enough to make more than ten people fall into deep thought.

When an ancestor passes away, the best burial site must be chosen to ensure blessings for future generations.

“Ganquan Mountain is too bad, let’s eliminate it,” Jiang Zhao asserted.

Compared to the "gathering of wind and energy" of Slender West Lake, the "five-fingered lotus" of Ximen Mountain, and the "dragon coiled and tiger crouching" of Shugang, Ganquan Mountain is far inferior.

The so-called "Big Dipper" is merely the tomb of a fallen nobleman from the Han Dynasty. Crucially, it was man-made, not natural.

Previously, our ancestor Jiang Yuan held only a nominal fourth-rank official position. The Jiang clan of Huaizuo had not yet risen to prominence, and they acted cautiously, not daring to choose auspicious feng shui locations.

Even so, they did not choose Ganquan Mountain, but instead buried him at Ximen Mountain.

Now that the Jiang family is thriving, it's impossible for them to return to their former glory.

"Ah."

People kept nodding in agreement, without any objection.

Ganquan Mountain is indeed not a good choice!

Let's rule out Ximenshan too.

Jiang Zhao waved his hand: "Our ancestors have passed away, and their descendants are cautious and timid, so they dare not choose a better burial site. Now, things are very different, and it should be changed."

Jiang Zhong nodded: "Then let's choose between Slender West Lake and Shugang Hill."

Upon hearing this, even the elder who was skilled in feng shui fell into deep thought.

The Slender West Lake is known for its "gathering of wind and energy," and its water is said to nourish people. Shugang Hill is described as "a dragon coiled and a tiger crouching," nestled against the mountains and facing the water.

Both of these are top-notch feng shui configurations.

"Shugang, please."

"Backed by mountains and facing water, with a dragon coiled and a tiger crouching, it has an excellent auspicious meaning."

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, then made his decision.

"Row."

Slender West Lake and Shugang Hill are quite similar.

Since Jiang Zhao has chosen Shugang, then we should follow his will.

More than ten elders unanimously agreed.

"The construction of the tomb and the making of the coffin must follow the official rank. My grandfather was granted the title of Second Rank, Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light. According to the regulations, the coffin should be made of cypress wood, in vermilion and dark black, eight feet three inches long, and can be decorated with patterns."

Jiang Zhao looked over and pointed to several elders, saying slowly, "The elders have discussed and come up with a set of rules, which must not be overstepped."

In feudal times, one's official rank determined the type of tomb one would be buried in.

Going too low would be beneath one's dignity, while going too high would be overstepping the bounds; one must remain impartial.

Just like the length of a coffin, eight feet three inches is the length of a second-rank official, while eight feet six inches is the length of a first-rank official. The lengths differ by only three inches, but the significance is very different.

Several clan elders nodded in unison, looking very solemn.

"Let Father take charge of preparing the funeral items and memorial tablet," Jiang Zhao said, looking at his elderly father.

The so-called burial items mainly consisted of documents, ceramics, lacquerware, the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper), figurines, and clothing, with different restrictions on the number of items depending on the official rank.

"Mm." Jiang Zhong nodded.

Jiang Zhong didn't find it strange that his son was instructing his father to do something.

He is not as good as his father, nor as good as his son.

All he has to do is lie down!

"Let's go."

Jiang Zhao said, "I will submit a memorial to the court regarding the posthumous conferment of titles, the official designation of posthumous titles, and the issuance of epitaphs."

The term "posthumous conferment" refers to the conferment of an official title.

In his early years, influenced by the opening of the Xihe border, Jiang Zhi was granted an additional title, becoming Minister of Rites and Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light.

However, bestowing a title is not the same as posthumously bestowing one, and the two are not contradictory.

Generally speaking, a title is bestowed upon a living person, while a posthumous title is bestowed upon a deceased person.

Of course, even if it is a posthumous conferment, the possibility of Jiang Zhi being promoted to the first rank is not high; it is estimated that he will be granted a noble title.

After all, apart from the Grand Chancellor, the only other first-rank officials are the Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Protector.

To be posthumously granted the title of one of the Three Dukes, Jiang Zhao would at least have to become the Grand Chancellor.

Grand Master Han Zhang posthumously conferred the title of "Grand Tutor" upon his grandfather, father, and both his mother and wife were among the highest-ranking officials in the imperial decree system.

The posthumous title was used to define the status of officials. Officials of the third rank and above were eligible to submit a memorial to apply for an imperial posthumous title.

The spirit path stele mainly records the name, birth and death dates, place of origin, official position, achievements, and contributions of the tomb owner.

This item was officially issued, similar to an "epitaph".

Depending on the official rank, there were different specifications.

In theory, one can apply if they are a fifth-rank official, but approval is not guaranteed.

After the clan elders left, Jiang Zhao walked towards the study with his hands behind his back.

He's really busy!
Besides submitting a memorial to the throne to seek honor for my grandfather, I also had to inform some friends of his death by sending them letters.

A rough estimate suggests at least ten letters were required.

That's difficult!

(End of this chapter)