Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1031 Yudu Yangcheng
The successful meeting of the "Three Wonders" and the "Three Heroes" was not a surprising event on the way north to Luoyang.

People travel from all over the country to the capital. There are only a few main official roads, and the routes are similar. It is normal for them to meet in an important prefecture or ferry crossing.

Xie Yu, one of the "Three Heroes," mentioned that a few days ago they met Lu Nan, a talented scholar from Bailu Academy, at the previous post station and helped him solve a big problem.

However, that guy didn't come to Xingyang with us; instead, he set off for Luoyang a step ahead.

It is said that before leaving, Headmaster Shen of Bailu Academy specifically instructed him not to get too entangled with certain people from Chongqi Academy.
That's a very vague statement. It seems like we haven't had any contact since our study tour to Jiangnan two years ago.

So sometimes things between adults are really inexplicable.

Of course, Lu Nan himself also had important duties, which required him to escort several precious treasures of the academy to the capital and hand them over to the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy and the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

It is said that the important sacrificial vessel passed down by the academy needs to be nurtured anew by the center of humanism.

This is no small matter. Everyone knows that Bailu Academy has a long history and its sacrificial rites are second to none.

Could it be that some powerful figure was able to pass through Shen Shanzhang's greatsword and destroy the sacrificial artifact?
Everyone has curiosity, so Qian treated the other party to a business dinner, a three-on-one affair, and also invited several professional women who were particularly good at persuading others to drink.

It turns out that even renowned scholars are not that good at drinking.

According to Lu Nan's drunken remark, he vaguely heard some story about the scandal being exposed. In any case, the headmaster was surrounded by several old professors and whipped several times with bamboo sticks, leaving him humiliated for several months.

Sanqi instinctively felt that this matter was most likely related to Master Xu, while Ji Rui felt a chill run down his spine—could it be that Bai Lu's matter was...
Since everyone had their own thoughts, the matter was simply dropped.

When it came to the "Three Wonders'" turn, Zao also mentioned that they had encountered many disciples of Jintian Academy on their journey.

At the time, the group of scholars, who had little experience in the ways of the world, were being harassed by several local thugs and were about to be extorted and get into trouble. A few passersby then took on the task.

As a scholar who had studied Confucian physical training under Master Yu, I had some connection with Jintian Academy and could be considered a fellow student.

His approach to problem-solving is simple and direct; no matter how much the other party schemes or entangles them, he breaks through with sheer force.

Those local bullies were utterly helpless against the innate superhuman strength.

The group of disciples from the Imperial Academy felt both grateful and happy, but also a little envious, muttering to themselves, "Our dean is so learned, why doesn't he teach us this practical stuff..."

Because of these shared experiences and similar backgrounds, the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious when the six of them met.

We chose a rather elegant restaurant in the city, booked a private room, ordered fine wine and dishes, and chatted while we ate.

During the meal, Ji Rui and Qian Zhongyu could hear their usual banter and witty remarks, making them incredibly happy and carefree, as if they had temporarily forgotten about the escalating turmoil in the north.

Of course, people don't just eat and drink during banquets; they always exchange other things.

Discussing the meaning and scholarship of scriptures? That's far too boring.

Talking about women of ill repute? That would seem vulgar and lacking in ambition.

Someone started the conversation, and everyone decided to share their interesting stories and strange tales from their journeys north.

As a result, the atmosphere inside the private room of the restaurant completely changed.

One story tells of "encountering a ghostly being who has been resurrected in a certain place," while another recounts "personally witnessing a water monster that has become a spirit in a tributary of the Huai River seeking a title." Various bizarre and fantastical tales take turns appearing, with plots so convoluted and bizarre that they can be described as dramatic and unpredictable.

After all, most of what they encounter are the sinister secrets hidden beneath the surface of everyday life, including emotional entanglements, local power struggles, and even the twists and turns of the previous dynasty.

It's packed with information, a top-notch "appetizer" to enjoy with drinks, and so captivating that you can't stop listening.

Even the waiters in the restaurant who were waiting outside were so engrossed in listening that they strained their ears to catch every word. They would have forgotten to refill the wine if the guests inside hadn't called out to them.

The waiter inwardly marveled, "This student from the South really knows how to brag! He can make up all sorts of stories about demons and monsters, and official secrets, and he tells them as if they were true!"

Little did he know that eight or nine out of ten of the things the other person experienced were true events, and much of the content was already being kept under wraps because it was too sensitive.

After several rounds of drinks, Xie Yu proposed an idea:
"The three of us plan to select and compile our observations and experiences along the way into a book. If we have the opportunity, we will publish it. Even if it is not a formal classic, we will donate it to the academy's library as a miscellaneous book, which can also provide some reference and talking points for future generations."

Upon hearing this, the "Three Wonders" immediately felt that there was great potential in it.

When it comes to such bizarre experiences, the three of them are truly "big shots".

Along the way with Master Xu, we have encountered countless hardships, dangers, demons, and monsters!
He has even personally visited the underworld, and more than once!
With readily available material, the "Three Wonders" and the "Three Heroes" not only joined forces but also decided to compile this record of their experiences, bringing together their adventures from both the East and West into one volume.

This not only bears witness to their journey north, but also adds a unique treasure to Chongqi Academy, making it a story that will be passed down through generations.

The content of this book, at first glance, seems rather unorthodox, with chapters filled with fox spirits, fairy tales, ghost stories, and demonic traces, resembling a collection of supernatural tales.

However, upon closer reading, one will discover that the words reflect the real people behind the story, as well as the bizarre social relationships and the face of the times.

It records the various aspects of people's lives, satirizes the deep-seated problems in officialdom, and explores the subtleties of human nature, making it far superior to ordinary works of entertainment.

If scholars only talk about strange and absurd theories, wouldn't they be wasting their natural resources of paying attention to current affairs and liking to "make arguments"?

The books written by Zhuge Wolong, who worked odd jobs at Bao'an Hall in Jiangnan, were probably of this style: sharp writing and insightful observations of the world.

Unfortunately, he had no powerful backing, and his books were confiscated and his associates were imprisoned.

After discussing the book-writing matter, Ji Rui changed the subject and asked:

"By the way, you've arrived a bit early. Do you know if there's been anything unusual or troublesome happening in Xingyang lately?"

He was quick-witted and thought that since all his fellow disciples were gathered together and there were enough people, why not organize a small "team building" activity?

Anyway, he had experienced all sorts of ups and downs along the way, and he also took care of some thorny issues in Xingyang. This was both a way of eliminating harm for the people and a way to show off his strength in front of the three "good students".

Ji Rui has always longed for a chance to "show off his abilities in front of others," but unfortunately, either the occasion was too grand or the timing was wrong, so he never had a perfect opportunity.

Now, isn't this a golden opportunity?
And the performance is in front of Qian Zhongyu, whom I "hate" the most. Just thinking about it makes me feel excited and full of energy!

Zao and Ning Caichen exchanged a glance at their friend's slightly boastful suggestion but did not object. Reflecting on their experiences since heading north, they realized that they had indeed overcome all the hardships and obstacles on their own.

Especially after leaving Master Xu's side and dealing with those grand events that often involved the Five Lakes, the Underworld, and dynasties, he realized that the troubles and difficulties encountered in ordinary life were just so-so, and there weren't that many life-or-death crises~~.

This quietly growing confidence made them feel that it was perfectly acceptable to stretch their muscles and get some exercise in Xingyang.

The three heroes also thought the suggestion was good.

After all, this place is practically under the emperor's nose, not far from Luoyang, and has a very strong influence from the political core.

What extraordinary event could possibly happen, or what formidable demon could possibly emerge?

So, by relying on their family backgrounds and connections, the group made some inquiries and actually heard some strange local stories and official developments.

The most eye-catching and talked-about issue among the locals is the recent actions of Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang.

As officials, their yearning for power and their desire for advancement are almost limitless.

However, Xingyang County was no ordinary place. It was one of the "famous cities under heaven" in the Great Jin Dynasty, with a prosperous economy and a prominent position.

Sitting in this position, it's extremely difficult to "advance".

Because going up further up would no longer mean being an ordinary prefectural or county official, but rather being able to reach the central government and enter the core of the court, a true leap that could change the color of one's official robes.

To achieve this crucial leap, simply maintaining Xingyang's current prosperity and stability, and avoiding any major mistakes, is far from sufficient.

After all, any average official in this position, as long as they don't make any major mistakes, can do a decent job of occasionally repelling border raids by scattered foreign soldiers, without showing any special achievements.

Only by doing something "different" and making a splash that stands out from the crowd can one catch the eye of the central leaders or even the emperor.

Unfortunately, Xingyang is right next to Luoyang, making it extremely risky for local officials to easily expose their shady practices, such as "raising bandits to enhance their own power" or "exaggerating their border achievements."

So, whether it was because he recently encountered some "expert" who gave him some advice, or because he racked his brains to come up with the idea, Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang, suddenly started to play a long-standing and enduring traditional trick—offering auspicious omens.

Moreover, they're playing a rather "high-end" game, and have already begun to subtly build momentum through various channels within their jurisdiction, seemingly preparing to make headlines.

It is said that, since some unknown time, a faint yet continuous sound of a river rushing can be heard from deep underground in Xingyang.

The voice was deep and resonant, and almost everyone in the city could faintly hear it in the dead of night, sparking much speculation and discussion.

Prefect Zheng Lian immediately seized this opportunity and invited many famous feng shui masters, sorcerers, and even retired scholars to jointly "calculate".

Ultimately, using the ancient riverbed of the ancient "Yu River" as a clue, they claimed to have found the legendary ruins of "Yu's Capital Yangcheng" near Xingyang!
Even more shockingly, he claimed to have "glimpsed" a "treasure" concerning the fate of humanity in the ruins and was preparing to retrieve it and present it to the emperor.

"That was a clever move."

Even the usually composed Zao couldn't help but nod in agreement.

This elevates the auspicious omen to a level concerning the origins of humanity and the legitimacy of the monarchy.

The practice of offering auspicious omens appeared very early in human history.

From the dragon-horse carrying the map during the time of Fuxi, to the divine tortoise carrying the book during the time of Yu the Great, to the He Shi Bi jade symbolizing the mandate of heaven, all are of this kind.

The unusual phenomena that occurred during King Wu of Zhou's conquest of the Shang Dynasty, such as "white fish entering the boat" and "red crows floating on the roof," became classic examples of early auspicious political omens.

During the Han Dynasty, after the great Confucian scholar Dong Zhongshu systematically proposed the theory of "interaction between Heaven and man," auspicious omens were widely used as a tool to demonstrate the legitimacy of the regime and the virtuous rule of the monarch.

In the Confucian system, auspicious omens are regarded as manifestations of the will of Heaven. Their forms are all-encompassing, including natural phenomena such as colorful clouds, favorable weather, sweet springs, and strange birds and animals. They are often associated with the virtues and achievements of the monarch.

This system of auspicious omens even developed a strict hierarchy:

Jiarui: The highest level, referring to the "Five Spirits" of Qilin, Phoenix, Tortoise, Dragon, and White Tiger.

Great auspiciousness: refers to astronomical or meteorological phenomena such as auspicious stars, auspicious clouds, and sweet dew.

"Shangrui" refers to auspicious beasts with uniquely colored fur, such as the white wolf and the red hare.

Zhongrui: refers to birds with symbolic meaning, such as the bluebird and the red goose.

Xia Rui: refers to plants such as Jiahe (auspicious grains), Lingzhi (reishi mushroom), and herbaceous plants.

But since it is a tool, it is bound to be abused.

Before usurping the Han throne, Wang Mang had fabricated over 700 auspicious omens to bolster his own position. Although some Tang dynasty monarchs advocated replacing auspicious omens with actual political achievements, this cultural tradition stubbornly persisted until the late Qing dynasty, making it one of the distinctive political cultures that ran through the entire feudal era.

The actions of Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang, clearly demonstrate his deep understanding of this method, and he has directly targeted the highest level of "great auspiciousness" or even "auspiciousness".

That said, in the more than 30 years of his reign, the current Emperor of Jin has received dozens, if not hundreds, of auspicious omens, so it is nothing new.

So why did Zao praise the Xingyang Prefect's move as "very good"?

The key is timing!
This was the time after the ominous sign of "Mars guarding the heart" appeared, causing turmoil and unrest throughout the court and the country. The emperor's authority and "mandate of heaven" were being severely questioned.

However, the Xingyang Prefect Zheng Lian presented "relics" and "treasures" that were related to the ancient sage emperor Yu the Great.

This symbolizes the will and legacy of the orthodox human ancestors, and it is perfectly suited to counteract the ominous influence of "Mars guarding the heart".

What's even more remarkable is that the origin of this "auspicious omen" can be traced back to historical records.

Legend has it that during the reigns of Emperors Yao and Shun, floods caused widespread devastation. Yu the Great dug a canal in the Gaocheng Town area west of Xingyang to divert the floodwaters and guide the Yellow River water southeast into the Huai River. This is the first large-scale artificial river in history with clear records – the Yu River.

This significant Yu River, according to legend, flows through Yangcheng, the first capital of the Xia Dynasty established by Yu the Great.

The earliest legend about Yu's capital, Yangcheng, appears in Mencius, Book 1, Wan Zhang, and is later recorded in authoritative documents such as Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Xia, and Book of Han, Geography.

(End of this chapter)